World Traveling Nomads Reveal Harsh Realities of Life on the Road: An Exclusive Interview
Rewritten Article:
Embracing the Nomadic Life: A Couple's Brutally Honest Account of Globetrotting Misadventures and Hard-earned Lessons
In 2017, Canadian duo Rob, aged 58, and Masha Glanville, 61, embarked on a thrilling yet unpredictable journey as nomads—selling their home and ditching their nine-to-five jobs—with only a backpack's worth of possessions. Since then, they've voyaged to an astounding 196 countries, vividly demonstrating that life beyond the daily grind can offer breathtaking sights and spirited adventures. Yet, their journey hasn't been all sunshine and selfie opportunities.
The couple has seen their fair share of harsh realities and hidden perils that come with the nomadic lifestyle. From nearly being murdered due to a simple oversight to having to cough up thousands for travel mishaps, their experiences have painted a vivid picture of the lesser-known challenges that nomads often face.
Masha recently shared some of these bracing challenges with DailyMail.com, providing a striking contrast to the romanticized notion that nomadic living is always a picture-perfect escapade.
One of their early missteps occurred in Italy, where their rental car was targeted, resulting in the heist of all their belongings—even their toothbrushes. This unfortunate event prompted them to reevaluate their possessions and downsize their backpacks further.
Another near-death encounter took place in South Africa, where the couple found themselves in a fifth murder capital after placing blind trust in an online booking platform for accommodations. This harrowing experience served as a grim reminder of the importance of being vigilant and choosing locations wisely.
Masha admitted that they've made other costly errors over the years, such as booking back-to-back, unconnected flights without allowing enough time for delays. This mistake, made after eight years of travel and over a thousand flights, resulted in them missing their connected flight from Delhi to Tehran—a costly setback indeed.
While the lack of a sense of community, constant disconnect from loved ones, and frequent adjustments to new surroundings have been amongst the most disheartening aspects of their nomadic existence, it's the life-threatening and dangerous situations that have left the deepest scars.
Despite these challenges, Masha emphasized that there are numerous advantages to the nomadic lifestyle. From never feeling bored to constant learning opportunities about new cultures and places, the perks are often worth the sacrifices. Waking up to breathtaking city skylines, mountains, or oceans—a view that constantly changes—is just one of the many benefits they treasure.
Masha and Rob usually spend around four days in one place before moving on to the next but plan to slow down and spend about a week in each place in the future. They've visited 196 out of the 197 countries, with just North Korea remaining on their bucket list.
When it comes to expenses, Masha insists that the lifestyle doesn't have to be expensive, as they've mastered savvy money-saving hacks as permanent budget travelers. They generate points and miles through their credit cards to score free hotel upgrades, flights, and other perks. They currently spend anywhere between £6,000 and £12,000 per month, but that number is expected to decrease to around £3,000–£6,000 per month once they settle down in their destinations.
For those considering a similar lifestyle, Masha advises doing your homework before diving headfirst, as it's not for everyone. She suggests starting small by storing belongings and testing out the nomadic lifestyle. If it doesn't suit, it's relatively straightforward to return and resume the usual routine.
In the end, Masha and Rob are in no hurry to change their lifestyle, as they thoroughly enjoy their flexible, action-packed, and immersive way of life.
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- Embarking on their nomadic lifestyle in 2017, Rob and Masha, a Canadian couple in their late 50s, disregarded their previous nine-to-five jobs and sold their home, venturing to 196 countries across the globe.
- Despite the breathtaking sights and adventures that their travel lifestyle offered, Masha and Rob encountered numerous hardships, such as a stolen rental car in Italy and a near-death experience in South Africa due to a trusted online accommodation booking platform.
- Masha, a seasoned traveler after eight years of globe-trotting and over a thousand flights, once missed a connecting flight from Delhi to Tehran due to a scheduling oversight, resulting in significant financial setbacks.
- Aside from the challenges, the couple values the nomadic lifestyle for numerous reasons, including constant learning opportunities about different cultures, never-ending adventure, and waking up to breathtaking views that constantly change.
- For those considering the nomadic lifestyle, Masha advises performing thorough research before diving in, and starting small by testing the waters, as the lifestyle may not suit everyone.
