Ten Years As
A Digital Traveler
In April 2005, I left my job in Dublin and began life as a digital traveler. At the time, I had no idea I had just become a digital traveler or that this lifestyle would define my next decade. My longest job until then had lasted three years and three months, far longer than I had hoped to endure. Leaving behind a year of dull office work, I felt a profound sense of relief as I embraced a career I genuinely enjoyed one that allowed me to work from anywhere in the world.
Today, I find myself in Penang, Malaysia, filled with gratitude for the life I’ve built. Reflecting on my journey, I can see how both the digital traveler landscape and the travel blogging world have evolved dramatically. Since I started blogging well after establishing my online work, this feels like the right time to share more of my backstory.
The Working Holidays That Changed My Life
My expat journey began in 2003 when I moved to London on a two-year working holiday visa. Unsure of my long-term path, I took temp jobs while traveling across the UK and Europe between assignments.
Living and working abroad gave me a fresh perspective on life and sparked new ideas about my career. In London, I discovered both a passion for the internet and a strong case of wanderlust that hasn’t subsided since.
After returning to Australia, it didn’t take long for my desire to live overseas to reignite. I spent a year working and completing a web design course before applying for a working holiday visa to Ireland.
I arrived in Dublin in 2002 during a downturn in the Celtic Tiger economy, making jobs harder to come by than in previous boom years. With only limited savings, I took a bold step by maxing out my credit card to buy a laptop during my first week. Despite the challenging job market, I managed to stay employed for 12 months, picking up casual work that sustained me throughout my time there.
I managed to stay employed throughout those 12 months, picking up casual jobs that ranged from one-week gigs to four-month stints. Evenings were dedicated to learning web design, SEO, and affiliate marketing. The monotony of those office roles only strengthened my determination to forge my own path and become self-employed.
Every dollar I earned went toward repaying debt and building savings, while nearly all my free time was invested in developing my business. The dreary weather and mind-numbing jobs nearly drove me back home at one point, but without a return ticket, I had no choice but to push through. Looking back, that challenging year stands as one of the most formative periods of my life.
The Beginning of Location Independence
On April 25, 2003, I officially began working for myself full-time. With just $100 per month from affiliate sales, I wasn’t financially ready, but the expiration of my Irish work visa left me no alternative. Thankfully, I had enough savings to last through the year and the good fortune of staying with my then-girlfriend in Switzerland.
While Switzerland may seem an unlikely place to start a business on a tight budget, cooking at home kept living costs comparable to those in Australia and Ireland at the time. Unaware of the benefits of currency arbitrage, I had yet to discover the more affordable lifestyle Southeast Asia could offer.
Switzerland proved to be an excellent introduction to living a location-independent lifestyle. Despite long working hours, I made time to swim in the lake and take peaceful countryside walks during the day.
By the end of that year, I was earning enough to sustain myself without dipping into my savings.
The Emergence of a Business-Travel Lifestyle Scene
In the early days, my business knowledge came entirely from online webmaster and marketing forums. These were invaluable for learning and growth, but discussions rarely touched on lifestyle topics. Most of the people I connected with worked from home without incorporating travel.
For years, I traveled solo without encountering other working travelers. While many were undoubtedly living similar lifestyles, I wasn’t seeking them out at the time. This began to change in 2007, particularly after The 4-Hour Workweek popularized the idea of running a business while traveling.
Today, countless websites are dedicated to remote work and location-independent living. I’ve even found a forum where seasoned entrepreneurs discuss both business and travel some of whom have been doing this since the 1990s.
The Rise of Social Travel and Blogging
As social media expanded, travel blogging became more interactive, sparking a vibrant community on platforms like Facebook and Twitter. I started Melody Miles to connect with this emerging network of travel bloggers and to create a non-business online space where others could find me.
Naturally, as travelers, these virtual connections led to real-life encounters. My first in-person meetup was in Bangkok in February 2010 at an aptly named “Unconventional Meetup,” hosted by Larry Dubois. It was a fantastic opportunity to meet familiar online faces in the travel community.
In recent years, there’s been a surge in conferences, meetups, organizations, summits, and unconventions tailored for travel bloggers, online entrepreneurs, and lifestyle designers. These events have grown so common that I now find myself crossing paths with some of my online friends multiple times a year.
That said, a formal event isn’t necessary for a great meetup. I’ve naturally gravitated toward places like Chiang Mai and Saigon when not traveling, drawn by the opportunity to connect with fellow bloggers and like-minded individuals.
Home Base vs. No Fixed Address
Over the past decade of living a location-independent lifestyle, I’ve alternated between having no fixed address and maintaining a home base in Melbourne. For several years, I rented a room in a shared house there, occasionally subletting it when I traveled for extended periods. Yet every time I returned, it became clear that my desire to live abroad hadn’t waned. In September 2010, I left Melbourne once more and have been without a permanent home ever since.
During the first five years of my digital nomad journey, I split my time between Europe and other destinations. Over the last five years, my focus has shifted to Asia. If I were to establish a home base again, it would undoubtedly be in Southeast Asia.
Aren’t You Tired of Traveling?
I’m often asked, “Aren’t you tired of traveling?” The honest answer is: sometimes, yes. When I feel travel fatigue setting in, I slow down and settle in one place for a while, such as Playa del Carmen, Chiang Mai, or Ho Chi Minh City.
What I find far more exhausting, though, is the thought of waking up at 6 a.m. every day and spending an hour commuting to a job I don’t enjoy. Compared to that, my current lifestyle feels incredibly easy.
Where to Next?
When I started this journey a decade ago, I couldn’t have imagined the incredible life it would lead to. Occasionally, I wonder if it might all come to an end and if I’d have to return to an office job. There were a few lean years where I nearly did. Because of that, I’ve always tried to make the most of every travel opportunity while I can.
Looking ahead, I can’t imagine a life that doesn’t revolve around travel, though I envision it being slower, with fewer destinations each year. For now, Southeast Asia remains my heart and home base, both personally and professionally. I plan to continue taking shorter, more regular trips from there.
On the business front, I’ll keep working on online projects while exploring offline ventures, like reviving my property rental business.
As for Melody Miles, the site will remain centered on my travels, but I plan to share more long-term travel tips, digital traveler resources, and, of course, my favorite cafes around the world. This blog has been a gateway to countless friendships and business opportunities, and I’m excited to keep it growing.
Thanks for following along on the journey!