Welcome and thanks for reading.
My name is Jodi and I’m a former lawyer currently traveling (and eating) my way around the world, one country at a time. I don’t tend to have a set plan or bucket list of things I want to see or place I need to enjoy. Instead, I’ve found myself organically moving from one place to the next based on a food recommendation or a fellow traveler’s enthusiasm for a city somewhere far away. It’s meant that my travels have had a flow to them, linked by common connections and shared meals.
While I went to McGill for law school in my hometown of Montreal, I worked as a corporate lawyer for 5+ years in New York with a plan to save up for round-the-world travel. In April 2008, I finally took off, having saved enough to hopefully travel without working for a year or a bit more. That was obviously quite a few years ago, and I’m thankful that my initial plan of a career break has turned into more of a transition into a new field of work entirely, one of photography, travel and food writing.
Thus far, I’ve traipsed through South America and then moved on to South Africa, Russia, Mongolia and China. After several months in each of the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia, I spent 6 weeks in Burma (Myanmar) and 3 months in Bangkok, Thailand during its tumultuous protest-filled spring. Coming back to North America in the summer of 2010, I had a chance to explore the Dominican Republic, take a whirlwind trip through South America and catch up with friends and family in between my travels. 2011 began with a flight back to Asia, a continent I love (where the food is cheap and delicious, and the clothes fit me!), as well as travels through Laos and Jordan. The year has progressed with a continued affection for food and spices, a summer with friends and family in North America and a fall in countries I’ve never visited before, to Morocco and Turkey.
Has my Trip Been Fulfilling Thus Far?
People often ask if my travels have been fulfilling, or if I regretted taking off. In my ”Why I Quit to Travel the World’ post I wrote about moments of overwhelming happiness on this trip. That’s not to say every day has been perfect, but on the whole I have been lucky enough to explore some extraordinary countries, meet terrific new friends and eat as much food as possible. That’s also not to say that travel fixes everything – it doesn’t. But if I was bored, or unhappy with my travels I would have gone home. Travel has also helped me keep life in perspective in the long and short term, and led to many reflections on what it means to be ‘home’ in a world of in-betweens. For a longer-form answer, please see my talk on taking risks, long-term travel and finding your passion in life from the WDS conference.
How to Connect with Me
You can connect with me on Twitter, on Google Plus or via the Legal Nomads Facebook fan page, or by leaving a comment on this site. If you have any questions or comments that you want to share privately, please feel free to email me using the contact me page – I would love to hear from you!
Resources
After many great emails from readers asking about packing, planning and budget for round-the-world travel, I’ve build a Resources Page that hopefully serves as a starting point for those feeling overwhelmed. The page (which started small but has sprawled into quite the list) now includes information on how to stay positive on the road, some recommended reading, what to put in your first aid kit and gadgets to bring along as you travel.
There’s also a list of 21 practical tips for long-term travel, cobbled together after 4 years on the road.
Best of Legal Nomads
For those new to the site, please see the Best of Legal Nomads page with my favourite stories, misadventures and food-fests from my time on the road. For travel photography, please check out the full photo gallery or my Tumblr site highlighting my favourite of the photos from my travels.
Thanks for reading!
- Jodi
I am a former lawyer from Montreal currently eating my way around the world, one country at a time. Marshmallow enthusiast, volcano climber and cave spelunker - and also a geek. Traveling since April 1, 2008. See the 
Dear Jodi,
What an amazing adventure you have had! My wife and I have been reading and following your blog for sometime now as we hope our story will turn out as successfully as yours. We are both big-law lawyers, but like you, have always wanted to travel the world. And we have decided we are doing it (our first one-way ticket is also NYC – Santiago booked for Oct 1!). I have read with great interest your posts on your gear (and your comment on hours of research only to be left paralyzed is spot on!), but we hoped you could help us with a question that I don’t think you have addressed. What are you views, if any, on wheeled/backpack combination packs – and especially since you finished the most rigorous hiking/trekking portion of your trip in South Amer. because our plans do not include much hiking/trekking? Have you seen them? Do you wish you had one? Any thoughts on these types of bags would be most appreciated. I’ve included a link to the type of bag we are thinking about below (sorry to be a bother with such specific questions…). And if you are right that the universe is tiny, we’ll hopefully meet up someday.
Now, back to Seamlessweb dinners at our desks :(
JD
http://www.swissarmy.com/TravelGear/Pages/Product.aspx?category=e-motion360&product=30384101&
Hi JD, I remember those hours (and nights at the printer) well. I think it depends on what your comfort level is on the trip – I’ve met a lot of people with the wheeled packs in South Africa, but I personally did not use them because I wanted to keep my pack weight to a minimum and the wheels are quite heavy. I will send you an email with more info. Thanks for reading!
Thats is one hell of an adventure and I am incredibly jealous of the tiger photo. Enjoy Bangkok, Cody is a good guy, he will show you around.
very inspiring! i’ve been working for 6 years now as an HR practitioner…working my way up the corporate ladder. now that i’ve achieved the title and level, i have a new purpose for working…save up for travel and enjoy life.
by the way, i was amazed that you miss Tanduay. i never liked that alcoholic drink :-D glad that you enjoyed your travel in the Philippines. i too, would love to see Thailand…probably next year.
You are the daughter I wish I had. My mother, born in 1897 told me of her grandmother’s tales, of Indian raids in Minnesota. Dear lady, you have the key; live life as a gift – it is a pearl of great price. God Speed lady…
Don Ross Bangkok
Dear Jodi,
I am enjoying following your blog as my wife and I have done a similar thing. The only difference is that we go on “short-term” working vacations (one to nine months) which allows us to not have to give up our day job. It is sort of nice to have six months off but then have a job, home, and paycheck waiting for you when you return. My wife and I have been on 15 of these working abroad experiences, never once reaching into our own wallet and never once giving up our day job. It is a nice alternative for those of us who cannot quit our jobs and lives. Check it out.
Michael Schneider
Just came across your blog and love what you’ve done. My wife and I quit our high-intensity management consulting jobs in March and have been traveling in South America and blogging about it ever since. We have some thoughts that we need to go back and find jobs/income sometime soon, but your blog provides good inspiration to try to keep going as long as possible. Thanks!
Ryan
Thanks Ryan! Glad that you’ve enjoyed reading the site and best of luck to the both of you in your travels.
-Jodi
Hi Jody!
I came accross your blog only this week, and came to me coincidentaly over the AONC mail, just as decided to set a date for my travel to begin. I had been thinking about it for a long while but decided to finish my fellowship here first and save up while at it. I guess I identify a lot with what you’ve done, i’m graduated as a doctor, ear nose and throat surgeon and doing a fellowship on facial plastic and reconstructive surgery, but even though I got where I wanted professionaly it seems like I need more to be really fulfilled!
Thank you so so much for the inspiration! If you ever want to come and visit Brasil let me know, otherwise may be we’ll meet on the road!
Cheers,
Anna
Thanks for the comment, Anna! I’m happy you’ve found the post inspiring. What about reconstructive surgery in 3rd world countries? That could combine your love of travel with a fulfilling use of time as well. Best of luck with your fellowship and thanks for reading.
thank you so very much for sharing your beyond words awesome pictures, you’ve traveled to so many places that have fascinated me and by viewing your pics, i feel as though i have an insiders view of how beautiful our world truly is – My more SPECIFIC question is “WOW where did was the picture taken on your twitter background” i beyond love moss and would love to visit that location ………your background pic speaks a 1000 words to my heart n soul – thank you for sharing it
look forward to learning where :}” much inner peace, always
marean
Hi Marean,
The photo on my Twitter background is of the rice terraces in Batad, in Northern Philippines. I spent several weeks up there trekking but never got to posting all my pictures on the blog. However, it was beautiful and I highly recommend going. The photo you like is actually here: http://www.legalnomads.com/2009/11/featured-photo-batad-rice-terraces-the-philippines.html.
Thanks for reading.
Hi Jodi.
I’ve just listened to the interview on the Amateur Travel Blog, where you tallk about your time in Chile. Very interesting for me as an Australian with a Chilean wife, now retired three months ago in Santiago, after us being in Sydney, Australia for the previous 23 years.
I understand what you said in that interview about nothing really standing out about Chile, as it’s not at all the exotic place that those who have not been here might imagine it to be. For me, it’s a great place to live, though, and an excellent base for the travels we have planned in Latin America.
Now to catch up on your past travels…
Muchos saludos desde Santiago,
Andrew.
Hi Andrew. Thanks for listening! I agree that it is an excellent place to live and as I said in the podcast it offers a tremendous amount of geographic variety. The mountains and the desert were both spectacular and seeing them both back-to-back made the contrast stand out even more. Personally, I found myself drawn to the history and culture of Bolivia and Ecuador more but Chile is an ideal place to start travels in South America as it allows you to ease into the continent in a comfortable way. Gracias por su comentario!
awesome blog Jodi,
I am so inspired. will you be coming to India?
Jodi,
I have been following your blog for about a year. You are an inspiration to long term solo female travelers. At the age of 48 I am embarking on the journey of a lifetime: 14 months of solo travel. I am excited, nervous, anxious & deliriously happy. Your blog made the planning process easier & it’s nice to know there are other women who want to set out on their own.
I am so sorry about the theft of your computer. The bitch about karma is that we rarely get to see the outcome.
If you are in SEA or India between january 2011-march of 2012 give me a holla.
suzanne
Thanks Suzanna! I’m glad you’ve enjoyed reading and that my posts have helped inspire you to set out on your own. I should be in Asia during that window, so let’s keep track of each other and try to cross paths. Safe travels!
Preethi – I plan to get to India in 2011. There’s so much to explore that I wanted to be able to devote quite a bit of time to it. Thanks for reading!
hi jodi, very interesting and humorous writings. i`ve passed 18 of the last 36 months in philippines and am currently in the midst of moving there permanently. palawan is lovely, with realy great diving. however, in my travels so far, nowhere has compared with india and i cannot wait to return. do not miss Hampi, it is a magical place. Jog Falls, off the beaten track, is also very beautiful. best wishes and healthy travel to you.
really enjoying your travel blog and RTW adventures… but officially jealous of your tiger photo! puts my koala pic to shame ; )
~cheers, @hiptraveler
Graeme: I’m glad you’ve enjoyed the blog and also find the Philippines and compelling place to stay. I will probably be back there in 2011, so do let me know where you end up. Safe travels to you as well.
Kelly: The tiger photo was one in a series: the first one (when he put his giant paw on my knee) wasn’t quite so serene! Are your koala photos from Adelaide?
Wow. Jodi, you are my hero.
Thanks Ryan. Re your latest post, I always joke that us Canadians are constantly seeking affirmation (hence our use of “eh?” all the time), but when you think about our respective national animals it makes more sense. Yours is an eagle. Ours is a beaver. Hope law school is going well & glad to see you’re also a fan of the popurls. Thanks for reading!
Hi Jodi!
This is so inspiring. Thanks for sharing such grear story. Love it!
I am an accountant from Jakarta, save up for my dream journey .. now you make me want it even more!
Thanks for reading Annisha. I’m glad you’ve found my site inspiring!
Hi..
I’m a Student planning to start my own journey someday… Came across your blog… Inspiring story and Envious Picture u have there… Shall Start small Soon…
Hiya!
Wicked blog. Everyone has said everything I would, so I’ll leave it at that.
I am heading from Calgary to New Delhi in April for a contract with the UN for 6 months. If you are going to be in New Delhi then and want some Canadian company for a day or two lemme know! Who knows how busy I’ll be, but I’d gladly buy you lunch in exchange for some stories!
Good luck on the Asian leg, and thanks for providing us with the opportunity to be arm-chair travellers!
Greg
Hi Jodi,
Just following the same path you did. Working for 4 or 5 years en then do what we love most. Travel!
Good luck!
Thomas
Hi Jodi!!
Remember me, the Nigerian Lady you met at the bed and breakfast in Barcelona sometime in November of 2010?
Well I still have that same feeling that we will meet again and that we have something in common. :)
I am so Proud of you and to know you are an inspiration to so many of us who follow…
Pls keep travelling and hope our parts cross again someday soon… Travel safe
Bless You Jodi.
Tosin
Tosin, of course I remember you! How are you doing? I hope life is treating you well and that you continue to view it with the joy and sense of self I saw in Barcelona. All the best in 2011! Hope we cross paths again soon.
Every lawyer needs to take a sabatical from time to time as we may be the most socialized group of people in the world, and not in a good way. In my case, after I took the bar exam in 1978, I took an 11 month trip around the world that still sticks in my mind (as opposed to the 30 years I spent in an office, most of which I have already forgotten).
The most memorable image of that trip? Seeing the Taj Mahal in India, which, again, after 30 years is still the most single most perfect “man-made” thing I have ever seen.
Anyway, contratulations Jodi for your journey and may you never have to enter a recepption room with an oriental carpet again!
Hi Jodi,
I too am a lawyer, now part-time, and hope to travel the world like you are doing. All we are waiting for is our son to grad from high school in 4 years, send him off to college and off we (my wife and I) will go. I too have been looking at SE Asia and your experience makes the wait more exciting. A former Philippine national, I can’t wait to go there after 40 years, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, etc. And plan to live at each place as long as allowed. Then maybe parts of South America and Europe. Thank you for sharing your experience and I can’t wait for my turn. I’ll keep visiting your site for inspiration.
I love your blog! There are so many travel blogs out there from the male perspective – it’s really refreshing to hear your female perspective on solo travel! I’m about to embark on solo travel/work this October (starting in Thailand) and it’s encouraging to hear your stories. There are just certain things men don’t have to worry/think about when solo traveling that we women do!
Thanks for sharing!
Your blog is awesome! I have really enjoyed ready many of your posts! My boyfriend and I are planning a round the world trip for next year. We are hoping to visit Europe and Asia over the course of a year. Right now I have a food blog but we are looking into starting a travel blog in the near future.
Thanks Vicky! I’m happy you’ve enjoyed the post. Looking forward to hearing about your travel adventures in the coming year.