Reader Tale: A Trip To Karimun Jawa, Indonesia

This is the first of a new Active Backpacker segment I’m calling “Reader Tales”. These are stories from the readers who make up the world wide community of backpackers. Whether you’re travelling the globe or just exploring the beauty of your own country, everyone has a travel story to tell! This one comes from Juanda who lives in Indonesia, who tells us about a trip to the island of Karimun...

China: Where No Assumptions Come True

This is a guest post from a Dutch friend of mine that I met via a Couch Surfing get together here in Rotterdam. Having lived for four years in China, she offered to do a guest post for me on the subject – to which of course I readily agreed. It’s an excellent post with a wealth of information, thanks Chantal! A perpetual motion machine may be a scientific impossibility; but China comes pretty darn close...

Mongol Rally Advice: A Complete Guide To Preparing For The Rally

Ed note: Look out for Caitlyn’s team at 1.14 of the video, chasing the ambulance! Much of the Mongol Rally’s appeal can be attributed to the brash and chaotic nature of this adventure, the idea of getting lost in a country that most of your friends couldn’t place on a map. Despite the laid back and disorganized design of the rally, modern day bureaucracy necessitates a certain level of forethought and...

Mongol Rally Tips: Accommodation On The Road With Caitlyn

I’m extremely happy to introduce a good friend of mine, Caitlyn, who will be doing a number of guest posts for Active Backpacker focusing on many of her varied experiences, from completing the Mongol Rally in an old Ambulance to the extensive backpacking of South America (which is still on my to do list – jealous!). There are really only two options to consider when it comes to accommodation on the...