A Brief History
Born and raised in Bangkok, Thailand, I was fortunate enough to extensively study English at a young age. This helped me to get into a Computer Science program at a university in Bangkok.
Like most Thais, I got a job immediately after university and started working as a web developer. I was trying to climb the usual corporate ladder, just like everyone else. Back then, I had never dreamt of having a traveling lifestyle because we don't have the traveling culture like in the West. It seemed almost impossible, as I was earning around 600 USD per month.
With that kind of salary, you might think the work would be easy. On the contrary, it was extremely demanding and stressful due to the nature of my position as a Client Technical Service. I was dealing with big UK-based clients who demanded nothing but perfection.
Because of that and the time zone differences, I found myself working late many nights, hoping there would be less work the next day. That continued for 3 years until I eventually burned out and swore never to set foot in the corporate world again.
I started freelancing as a UI designer for the first time in 2012. I began traveling solo around the world and documenting my journey through my writing and filmmaking. That was where it all began.
Me Today…
Me working in Dresden Germany 2015
Fast forward to today, I am now a travel blogger running this blog while continuing to pursue my passion for storytelling. I report my travel experiences through my writing, travel videos, and photography. All the while, I run my freelance design business over at The Pete Design.
I was a digital nomad even before I knew what a digital nomad was.
A digital nomad is simply a person who uses technology to perform their jobs. When I was starting out, I simply wanted to see the world and experience all the cultures and people it has to offer. But as you all know, this kind of dream requires money and time, and I had neither.
The burnout from my corporate job set me on a path to seek a career type that would allow me to manage my money and time flexibly, on my own terms, while continuing to work and earn money.
Since I was no stranger to programming and design, I decided to leverage the skills I already possessed. I combined them and started my journey as a freelance designer before becoming a full-time travel blogger.
Me working on a project before sleeping inside a 2000 years old church in Armenia
By freelancing at The Pete Design as a User Interface designer who also knows how to code a website — a rare combination back then — I was able to offer an all-in-one service for my clients. This gave me the opportunity to work with many brands from all over the world, remotely, while pursuing my life goal of traveling the world.
The freelance work funded the majority of my travels for the first 5 years, but work eventually dried up. Thankfully, that 5-year period was more than enough for me to create a launchpad for BucketListly Blog and begin my journey as a full-time travel blogger.
By mid-2018, I had shifted my complete focus to BucketListly Blog. I started running this blog more like a business than a hobby, with a proper schedule and a business plan.
That was the moment I realized the full potential of BucketListly Blog and the possibility of creating a career out of travel blogging, which I always thought was only for a lucky few who rode the first wave of travel blogging in the late 2000s.
From then on, BucketListly Blog has propelled itself into a travel blog that backpackers and those who prefer to plan their own trips come to for real accounts and detailed information on places not so easy to travel to, like Pakistan, Ukraine, and Timor Leste.
My passion for different cultures and people around the world has brought me to places that not many travel to. Through these experiences, I have found a travel style that is uniquely my own, which has allowed me to find a distinct voice in the travel blogging industry.
My Travel Style
Morning coffee in the Peruvian Andes after trekking for 3 days on the Santa Cruz trek in Huaraz, Peru.
I travel solo most of the time, filming and photographing the interesting things that come my way. Despite my flexibility, I'm always drawn to stunning mountain ranges and places that are off the beaten path.
When it comes to travel costs, I lean more towards the budget side of things (sleeping in dorms, taking long-hour bus rides, and preferring to walk instead of taking taxis, etc.). However, I won't shy away from suggesting activities that might cost a bit more, such as Skydiving in New Zealand or going on a cruise around the Galapagos Islands, for example.
All in all, I enjoy heading where the adventures are, and I don't mind getting my hands dirty to experience them.
BucketListly Blog
Initially, the blog was meant to be a place where I documented my random travel thoughts (more like shower thoughts, if you ask me), which I often had while enduring 14-hour bus rides from hell. However, after years of experimentation, the blog has evolved into something far beyond its initial conception.
These days, I write comprehensive travel guides and create backpacking itineraries to help you plan your trips to places you've never heard of. In between travel guides and itineraries, I often squeeze in some personal inspirational articles that highlight my favorite travel experiences and life lessons I've learned from living as a digital nomad.
Fun fact: I have funded every one of my travels all by myself ever since I started in 2013. Every 👏 Single 👏 One 👏. I have never taken any sponsored trips, nor would I ever request free services from businesses, small or big.
I believe in supporting the local community through travel spending. Additionally, I am a business owner and a freelancer, so I understand how crucial sales are for the survival of businesses. I mean, people have bills to pay, after all.
All of the content that I wrote on this blog are based solely on my opinions and experiences alone. I never get paid to say these stuff, so rest assured that the authenticity of my words remains uncompromised.
My ultimate goal is to simply share genuine insights, personal perspectives, and firsthand encounters with very little external influence or financial motivation as possible, and this blog should remain that way for as long as I am alive 😉.
A Personal Story from the HimalayasOn My Way to Everest Base Camp
My Mission
My main goal for BucketListly Blog is to help you plan your travel and ease the stress of planning and dealing with the unknown. By providing you with the information you need, I aim to ensure you can enjoy your trip to the fullest. Additionally, I want this blog to be a repository of travel knowledge where you can learn from my past experiences and mistakes.
My personal travel goals, on the other hand, are much simpler:
- To visit every country in the world.
- To write at least one travel guide for each country I visited.
- And to assist you by providing you with all the information to do the same.
My Thoughts On AI Travel Content
With all the buzz about AI and the flood of AI content on the internet since the launch of ChatGPT, I can reassure you that all the travel guides on BucketListly Blog are written by me, with 2-3 articles contributed by our travel blogger friends.
99% of the places I've written about have been personally visited by me. In only a few cases did I rely on locals' or experts' suggestions, mainly due to unforseen circumstances like a place being renovated, etc.
99% of the photos you see on the blog were also taken by me. In a few instances, I had to resort to stock photos, either because I didn't have suitable images or simply forgot to capture them, but that's very rare.
Everything you see on the blogs, whether it's a destination guide or a review of photography gear, has been paid for with my own money. I have never accepted any press trip in my life, and I don't think I ever will. So, rest assured, BucketListly Blog's content will continue to stay true to its authenticity and budget-friendly roots.
Follow my journey
To follow my journey, you can connect with me on any of these social networks. I am most active on Instagram, where I frequently share my travels in real-time via Instagram Stories, and post some of my favorite travel photos on my profile.
For videos, you can subscribe to my YouTube Channel and get notifications when there's a new travel video to keep you inspired.
I also share articles on Facebook, X (Twitter), and Pinterest. If you want to stay updated, be sure to follow me on these platforms as well.
Want to Contact Me or Work With Me?
If you have any questions regarding one of my travel guides, or you're interested in collaborating with me in your business, feel free to contact me or read more about how we can work together on the Work With Me page.
First of all, thank you for reading this far. I doubt many managed to stay with my ramblings for this long 😂. This year, I plan to share even more of my travel guides, videos, and inspirational content, so stay tuned for more. Thank you for reading, and have a great journey!