What's up, I'm Zach Houtenville.
World Explorer & Author of "Duck-off & Travel", just to say it fancily

Seeing the World, One Region at a Time

Throughout any travels I plan on doing, I want to show young adults and future graduates that life isn’t just about locking into a 9-to-5, buying a house, or slowing down. There are 7 continents on Earth, all different in their own little ways— and I’m betting most of you haven’t seen half of them with your own eyes. Bit theatrical way to say it but screw it I guess.

We’ve got our whole lives to figure out where we want to settle, build a career, or take a break. With the cost of living going through the roof, rent prices off the charts, and a job market that’s more about who you know than what you can do, those “golden goals” are looking tougher and tougher by the minute. The world’s not exactly handing us the keys to that perfect future, so why not spend some time exploring and experiencing all the little things that make the world great? There’s no deadline to chase someone else’s idea of success when the world’s out there, wide open and waiting for you to SIMPLY SEE IT!!!!

My Travel Counter

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Who am I? Why am I spending my time traveling?

I grew up in East Windsor, New Jersey, for the first 19 years of my life. Until I was about 16, I had zero interest in leaving. Then, I took a trip to my Mum’s home country, Australia. Sure, I’d traveled outside the U.S. before, but this time? It was different. I felt at home 10,000 miles away. That’s when the travel bug bit me hard, and I couldn’t get enough. So, I hauled my ass to the University of Wollongong. It wasn’t the most glamorous uni, but it hit the spot. And the beer? Absolutely mind bending—though I’m pretty sure it’s the same across most of Australia..

While I was there, I decided to study and eventually graduate with a bachelors in journalism and communications and media, which—surprisingly—actually made me enjoy the “studying” part of Uni for once. Growing up, I always thought I’d do something with sports. I loved them, all of them really and so with this degree I assumed sports writing would be it. I was still on that track until I went on a trip to Southeast Asia last year (and yes, I’ll dive deeper into that in the next section). That’s when I realized the world had way more stories to tell than just sports.

Travel has been a part of human history for centuries, as early as the Vikings sailing  across oceans to explore unknown lands. More recently, in the 1960s, backpacking became a popular trend, with many taking the famous hippie trail from Europe to India. People like my dad have done it and many others in successful positions have as well, with zeroooooo regrets. I intend to do the same. The difference between those before me and myself is that the opportunity to see incredible things now is so much more vast. From advancements in communication, you can stay in regular contact with friends and family, to transportation, which has opened the door to experience more in just a small period of time, the world truly feels endless.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did.” 

~ Mark Twain: American humorist, novelist, and travel writer.

Recent Travels

Like I mentioned earlier (in case you decided to skip ahead for some reason), last year I got the chance to take a trip to Asia. The boys’ trip finally left the group chat and became a reality. And yes, we partied. A lot more than you might think –trust me, this will be a recurring theme for future trips. But beyond the debauchery, we all had this moment where it hit us: the world ishuge, and life outside the bubble of our comfort zone is completely different.

To set the record straight, we started off in Thailand—originally the only spot on our itinerary. But after one long train ride (which, by the way, was a whole other adventure), we ended up in Cambodia. And then another never-ending car ride later, we found ourselves in Laos. I honestly hadn’t even heard of Laos before stepping foot in Asia, but it turned out to be one of my favorite places on the trip. Between chilling with elephants, raves on an island where it’s pissing down rain, floating through an actual floating village, visiting a kids school in Cambodia and walking on the side of a 900 year old temple, I saw how vast and crazy the world really is. The real stories were out there, waiting to be uncovered— raw and a hell of a lot more interesting. I realise that might mean a few more long ass bus rides, cardboard beds and food my stomach second guesses but that’s part of it, I kind of like to laugh at those lowlights now.

Long story short? It was unforgettable. Life-changing. Cultural. And a real wake-up call for what I wanted to do next. So next stop… Latin America.

Photos and Videos From Asia:

The Nicaragua Chicken Bus Chronicles

All over Latin America we had taken buses that have just made me want to bin the whole transportation as a whole, just look at my bus story from Colombia.  To be honest, at first, this was just a funny thought. I’d read online that the best way to get around Nicaragua...

TREK TALK 8: Ometepe Island, Nicaragua

Sunset on Playa de Mango.Ometepe Island. This was one of the last two places we hit on the trip—and no doubt, a top 3 spot in all of Latin America for me. Sitting right in the middle of the massive Lake Nicaragua, the island is shaped like a giant figure 8, formed by...

TREK TALK 7: São Paulo, Brazil

Sao Paulo city View from a club (can't remember the name).Brazil is a country I can sum up in just one word: cool. That’s it—straight to the point. The people ooze this effortless charisma, this laid-back chilledness that somehow makes you feel welcome, even if the...