Travel writer

Kristin Schlitter

In my former life as a Personal Banker, I often felt somewhat disarranged and unfulfilled. My mundane 40-hour work week had taken the front seat and was driving my life into everything I never wanted it to be. The moment that I abandoned a decade of advising people of what they should do with their money and escaped the soul-draining room of walls often referred to as a cubicle was when I really started to feel alive. I chose to live a life less ordinary full of creativity, adventure, alertness and freedom. I was determined to build a life of travel. My overly priced heels and handbags that provided temporary satisfaction became unwanted "baggage" and were quickly traded in for a backpack and hiking shoes. My guaranteed paycheck and luxury apartment were replaced with odd end hospitality jobs in exchange for dinner and hostel bunk beds and my calendar that once consisted of dreaded Mondays, short weekends and an absurd amount of countdowns until 5pm became illusory. I fell in love with the world; I experienced fascination. Not everyday has been easy, actually some have been quite hard... but all worth it. Fast forward nearly a year later of countless aircraft, ferry, bus, train and tuk tuk rides all around the world, I'd now like to share my experiences and the stories of other backpackers with you as I continue to wander the globe! Enjoy! "The routine is the enemy of time. It makes it fly by. I want to be aware of every day I'm alive. I want to choose a mind and soul that is wide awake." -Jedidiah Jenkins

1 guide on Travelista ClubKristin’s website