In June 2014, German-Brazilian traveller Franz Huber, 26, quit his job at a major telecommunications company in Rio de Janeiro, took his backpack and made it his goal to visit 65 countries in a year. And he’s still on the road. Here are some Instagram moments from the Asia leg of his journey.
Franz Huber aka Franz Explorer with Thai schoolkids on his English teaching stint in Bangkok, Thailand
BALI, INDONESIA
“Bali is a great place to explore. You can see temples everywhere, a mix of local food, different fruits and beautiful landscapes near the beach. In the first moment, I was impressed by the temples and every house is a temple in the Balinese cultural tradition. After renting a motorbike to visit a famous temple, I was impressed with the view of the cliffs.”
DHARAMSHALA, INDIA
“Dharamshala is a great place for people who are looking for peace and want to discover more about themselves. I did yoga, meditation and Ayurvedic massage. McLeod Ganj, a tiny town near the big city of Dharamshala, is even more special because it is where the Dalai Lama lives and has his temple. I had a great experience visiting the temple while the monks were praying, and I admired the beautiful prayer wheels, which I saw for the first time. In the same week, I went hiking in the Himalayas and saw the snow and the donkeys, which are the main means of transport and responsible for transporting food and equipment every day to the small shops that run because of tourism.”
GILI TRAWANGAN, INDONESIA
“The Gilis are for people who are looking forward to relax and lay on the beach for long hours and have fun at great parties. The turquoise blue water and the nice restaurants in front of the beach are great spots to have a drink. I stayed in a famous hostel in Gili Trawangan where I could climb a five-metre high wall and jump into the water. It’s a great exercise and hangover cure (Gili T is a party island). While walking on the beach, I collected beautiful shells and made some art that I left there since I am against taking natural things from where they are supposed to be.”
HA LONG BAY, VIETNAM
“Ha Long Bay is a World Heritage Site just four hours by bus from the capital of Vietnam, Hanoi. The place has beautiful landscapes and limestone caves. After having lunch on the boat, I went kayaking through the caves for almost one hour. It was a great experience because besides the exercise, I could also see how locals used to live in the boats nearby these touristic islands. Dau Go Cave in Ha Long Bay is impressive and full of fascinating details. It was one of the most beautiful caves I have ever visited in my life.”
HAMPI, INDIA
“Hampi is a unique place in India and one of my favourite spots. After renting a motorbike, I went up a hill to a temple with an Italian friend and saw a great auto rickshaw on the way. On the top of the hill there was a temple full of people waiting for food. Behind the main area I discovered a big open kitchen where strong men were cooking a meal for more than 100 people. After exploring this area, I went back to a very famous sunset spot on the top of another hill and admired the rocky landscape of Hampi.”
After travelling for over 400 days and visiting 50 countries in Europe, Africa and Asia, Franz has decided to travel for two more years–one year in Australia and another in the Americas. Never homesick but always eager to learn about new cultures, he says that quitting his job to travel the world has been the best decision in his life so far. Certainly the nomad’s life if not for everyone, but for those who can do it, the rewards are priceless.
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