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At 21 Years Old, I Went On Adventures Around The World That You May Not Even Know Were Possible
I'm Marsha Jean. A girl from Hong Kong that's been traveling and working solo around the world since I was 18.
I'm not your typical backpacker. I do real - off the beaten path, shoe-string budget travel.
Here are some of the few adventures I have gone on (pre-2020).
More info: marshajean.com | Instagram
This post may include affiliate links.
Rented A Donkey And Trekked For 19 Days Through Afghanistan’s Wakhan Corridor, At 21
One of the most remote places on earth. There is no postal service, cell signal, or internet. (Summer 2018)
The Wakhan Corridor of Afghanistan - A.K.A. the world's roof, is where one of the world's most remote nomadic communities live.
Most of my days on the road are spent living with local families. I use sites such as bewelcome.org, trustroots.org, and workaway.info.
I’m either camping or have been invited into local homes. In 900 days of traveling, I probably spend less than 100 days in hostels/ guesthouses. (Always give back by bringing back an adequate amount of food and gifts!)
There's nothing I'm more passionate about raw experiences and adventures. Camping alone in the wild, meeting people from all corners of the world. I try my hardest to be as sustainable and ethical as possible. Nothing staged for the gram or Youtube. No people exploited for "Nat Geo worthy" shots.
How Did It All Start?
At 18, I left my abusive home and bought a one-way ticket to Australia. I wanted to spend all the money I had and commit suicide.
Throwing myself into the real world broke all the beliefs my parents and society had put in me. I stopped living in other people's fears.
I hope to change your perspective about the world. I can show you the 'lesser-known' side. Venturing out in the world as a girl alone isn't as hard as you think. Most of the world is abundant in kindness and generosity. More importantly, girls, we are much more capable than we are taught to believe.
Disclaimer: My personal travel experience is not traveling advice!
Hitchhiked Alone From Iran To France (Through Iraqi Kurdistan) At 19-20
With no plans in mind, I just went with the flow.
Hitchhiked Over 15,000+km, Including In Afghanistan, Pakistan, Etc.
Hitchhiking 200km in Badakhshan, Afghanistan.
Spontaneously Bought A Bike And Cycled Alone Across Central Asia (Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Pakistan)
The Pamir Highway is the second highest road in the world! Ventured off-road via Zurkul lake and Wakhan Valley, all along the border with Afghanistan. At one point, we had no fresh water sources for 3 days. (summer 2018)
Couchsurfing In Places Such As Kandahar (Former “Capital” Of The Taliban) And Iranian Baluchistan (Where Many Governments Consider One The Most “Dangerous” Places In The World)
The adventures may sound absolutely nuts, but they really aren't.
The world is really nothing like what you think. My own personal experiences, break all the stereotypes and misconceptions popular media propagates. The world is a much warmer and kinder place than what society may want us to believe.
(Disclaimer: My personal experiences are not traveling advice!)
I take my time; 6 months in Pakistan, 7 weeks in Afghanistan, 10 months in Australia is my speed.
Thanks to the Aussie citizenship I inherited, I have been to over 40 countries and have done all kinds of odd jobs/workaways. Theses include: working in a private casino, scuba diving shop, cafés, and restaurants, teaching yoga in Sri Lanka, and scraping paint off walls. I also do freelance writing and photography.
Want to hear more about my stories such as celebrating the Yazidi new year in Lalish, experiencing the insanity of the annual fire balloon festival in Burma, or living with a nomadic family in Morocco in traditional cave homes?
Follow my journey on Instagram or on my blog.
Good on you! In 2001-02 I used a small inheritance to spend a year traveling around Southeast Asia and had a blast. While in Laos I accidentally ended up on a gun run to the border of Cambodia.
Wow that's crazy! Glad you made it!
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Good on you! In 2001-02 I used a small inheritance to spend a year traveling around Southeast Asia and had a blast. While in Laos I accidentally ended up on a gun run to the border of Cambodia.
Wow that's crazy! Glad you made it!
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