The Modern Nomad
I am currently not writing new articles, but most of them are still relevant.
I still update the Daily Photo page, so check that out to see what I'm up to.
Welcome to the Modern Nomad, a blog about living life without a fixed address.
Through travel, I explore what makes life exciting, meaningful and authentic.
First visit? Check out the blog introduction, the image wall and subscribe!
Cape Town
My travel guide to Cape Town. Expect plenty of stunning panoramas of a beautiful city.
Cape of Good Hope and Franschhoek
Comments on and photos of two day-trips out of Cape Town: the famous Cape of Good Hope and the wine district of Franschhoek.
Skeleton Coast
A four-day road trip up the Namibia desert and down the Skeleton Coast. Cave BDSM painting, safari, elephants aplenty and shipwrecks only a click away.
Swakopmund
Swakopmund, adventure capital of Namibia. Featuring me sandboarding, quadbiking, hugging a boa constrictor and marveling at Sandwich Harbour, where the dunes meet the sea.
Octoberfest and Windhoek
Thoughts on the Namibian capital, Windhoek, and the best, and most surprising, Octoberfest.
Sossusvlei
The giant red sand dunes of Sossuvlei is one of Namibia's top destinations. And they are not just pretty to look at, but fun to climb too!
Walker & Rodeo
A quick photo-heavy article about Walker River Resort and the San Francisco Rodeo, two places Don and I went to before and after this year’s Burning Man festival. (I just couldn’t help share some of these photos.)
Burning Man 2015
Photos and videos from Burning Man 2015, my seventh burn (in a row!)
The highlight this year was flying over the city and watch people jump out of the plane.
Barcelona, Ljungby, London and Ireland
A guilty recap of the last six and half weeks. Click through for fan fetish, leather cops, murder of passion, stag torture, beer swigging bears, unlocked chastity, gay weddings and a ratty bum castle.
Allure of the Seas
Updates from the Allure of the Seas, the largest cruise ship in the world. Topics touched on include continuous waves, rock climbing walls, a buried city and the law of relativity.
Loneliness
Loneliness is a recurring issue for most nomads. In this article, I explore ways to handle and eventually beat this sometimes crippling emotion.
Madrid Guide
My quick-and-dirty travel guide to Madrid, including the Royal Palace, Toledo, Churros and Chocolate breakfasts, oldest restaurant in the world, the Prado and Christian torture porn.
Personal Madrid
A personal account of my two months in Madrid, mostly focusing on the friends I made and gruesome details of my poor health you'll wish you'd never read.
International Money Transfers
Nomads often have to move money from one country to another. But what is the best way to do so? Find out in this experiment-based article.
Remote vs Office Work
What are the pros and cons with remote working versus office work? I have the fully incomplete list right here!
Phoenix Gay Rodeo to Zion’s Angel
On my latest U.S. roadtrip, I competed in the Phoenix Gay Rodeo, squeezed through Antelope Canyon, gazed out over Horseshoe Bend and climbed Angel's Landing in Zion.
Virtual Private Networks
Virtual Private Networks greatly improves your online privacy. Find out how, and why this is particularly important for nomads.
Podcasts
Podcasts are a great way to turn ironing, queuing and other boring times into a chance to enjoy comedy shows, news or investigative journalism. You’ll never be bored again!
Year Review 2014
A year review of 2014, where I look at where I've been, accomplishments, failures and a highly scientific take on numerology and the year.
Salvation Mountain and Slab City
Join me in the Californian desert to explore the surreal Salvation Mountain and the deeply disturbing Slab City.
Rio de Janeiro, part 2
The second half of my travel guide to Rio de Janeiro, featuring downtown sightseeing and cycle routes.
Rio de Janeiro, part 1
The first half of my travel guide to Rio de Janeiro, featuring the five must-see things to see and do, safety advice and some general advice.
Dealing with Physical Violence
I've been the victim of a violent robbery. This post is partly an account of the assault and partly some hard-earned lessons on dealing with physical violence.
Nomadtopia Interview
Too tired to read another article? Then sit back, close your eyes and listen instead to this interview I gave to Nomadtopia Radio!
São Paulo & Belo Horizonte
Guides to Brazil's Sao Paulo and Belo Horizonte. Six new friends over five weeks, and a ton of pictures await!
Packing Like a Nomad
My collected "wisdom" on packing from almost four years of living out of a suitcase.
Burning Man 2014
An image gallery from Burning Man 2014 as well as a gallery for my post-BM trip through California.
Year Finances 2014
Can you afford to be a nomad? What does it cost? Am I broke yet? Find out in my third annual financial review as a nomad!
Berlin and Tuntenhaus
I spent ten days in Berlin, living at a east-Berlin ex-squat all-gay community house. Also includes the Jewish Memorial.
Warsaw Wedding
A short update from my time in Warsaw. I attended a wedding and learnt more of the dark history of Warsaw.
Ljungby vs. London
If there was a war between London and my childhood home of Ljungby, which would win? Find out!
Greenwich Festival
London’s best festival is the Greenwich and Dockland International Festival, where performers from all around the world to put on a superb and free outdoor festival packed full of theatre, dance and experiences that defy classification.
Lake Havasu
A personal account of my trip to Lake Havasu and El Mirage dry lakebed. Lots of photos and an animated GIF inside!
Brandon & Yaron’s Wedding
I was honoured to attend the wedding between Brandon and Yaron. This post is my personal account of these two amazing guys.
Personal Vancouver
A personal account of my three months in Vancouver, one of the happiest long-term stays I've had.
Vancouver Travel Guide
Vancouver has a lot to offer, such as snow sports, nude beaches, gaming bars, museums and a couple of suspension bridges. Find out more in this Vancouver Travel Guide.
Whistler
Whistler is a renowned Canadian ski resort. Does it live up to its reputation as the alpine resort of the north Americas? Find out in this video-and-picture heavy article!
Vancouver Arrival
A quick video blog where I tour my new place in Vancouver, Canada, and recount the horrors of room 101 of the Canadian border police.
The Want/Act Disparity
How is it possible that we want one thing, but then do another? If we are our minds, then this disparity is a riddle. How can we overcome this want/act disparity? Is it even desirable?
Year Review 2013
A year review of 2013 where I look at where I've been, accomplishments, failures, numbers and the future of The Modern Nomad.
Gaming in Antwerp
Why did I travel 9000 km to play board games? Find out in this article on board games and Antwerp.
Philadelphia
Conjoined foetuses, broken bells, declarations of 'screw you' are all to be found Philadelphia.
Friendship Observations
My experiences of how communication with my friends diminished after becoming nomadic. I offer no advice on how to deal with this, for I have none. Yet. Only hope.
I got a job!
I have gotten a job! Where? How? Does it mean the end of my nomadism? Read on to find out.
Burning Man 2013
A few memories and lessons from Burning Man, but mostly some wicked-awesome photos!
Year Finances 2013
Can you afford to be a nomad? What does it cost? Am I broke yet? Find out in my second annual financial review as a nomad!
Stockholm Pride
Find out why Stockholm Gay Pride is the best pride in the world, the state of GLBT politics and social issues as well as yours truly wrestling in pink slime. My gayest article so far, by far.
Play Week
Do you have groups of friends in far-off places that you aren't spending much time with anymore? A simple but effective remedy is the Play Week.
Preparing Your Post-Mortem
What will happen to your digital accounts e.g. Facebook when you die? Nomads have additional concerns such as detection of death in foreign lands and notification of disparate friends.
Life as a Board Game
Life is a board game, but is it the ruthless Monopoly or a finely balances Eurogame? I say the latter, and Eurogames can teach us important lessons on how money is only a tool - not a goal - and how we should focus on what really matters - our victory points.
Finding vs Creating Yourself
Should we search for ourselves? I say no. There are fatalistic undertones to the concept, and I suggest that we should actively create and evolve instead.
Madam Rodeo of Ghostly Memorial
A visual summary of last month's adventures in Palm Springs, Vegas and Long Beach Island, including rodeos, sailing, mad RV riders, Hoover Dam and Calico ghost town.
Homes and Identities
A home and the objects within reflect and shape the identity of the inhabitant. Nomads, however, have no home and very few possessions. How does this affect our ability to grow, maintain and change our identities?
Rationing the Internet
Learn how to ration your data when travelling with limited Internet plans, allowing only your essential applications access while blocking others.
Cogs in the Civilization Machine
Imagine civilization as a great machine, and every person is a cog, playing some part. Is there room for a nomadic cog? There may be, but it is hard to find, and whilst searching, one’s sense of self-worth suffers.
New Zealand (Part 2)
Second part of the New Zealand South Island travel guide, featuring classic Nintendo games, timeless mines, dolphin swims, helicopters, earthquakes and much more.
New Zealand (Part 1)
Join me on a road trip through New Zealand's dramatic south island. This first part includes mysterious boulders, tragic castles, ancient petrified forests, daring swings, fjords and a lost gypsy bus.
Justify Your Roots
Help me understand your decision to live a geo-static life by answering two quick questions about your decision to do so.
Sydney inFAQ
Infrequently Asked Questions about Sydney. Find answers to what might kill you, the sex-appeal of the locals and what mental disorder the Sydney Opera House suffers from.
Mardi Gras
Your guide to Sydney’s world famous Mardi Gras, including little black dresses, leather straitjackets, bishops, fair days, parades, harbour parties and an explanation of LGBTQI.
Nomadic Banking
Learn how to access your money from abroad while avoiding cross-border fees, how to keep your cards from becoming blocked and other travel tips.
Gratitude
Gratitude is a state of mind. Far too often, we lose sight of it, and not only do our own lives become poorer for it but also the lives of those around us. This article explores the art of gratitude and its life-affirming qualities.
The Sofa
This is an analogy between the seemingly harmless mistake of falling asleep on the sofa instead of going to bed, and life at large where many push the work towards a better life (the bed) to a tomorrow that never comes.
Autumn Farm
I spent Christmas and New Year’s Eve in a gay nudist B&B eco-farm. Read on to find out how I became the king of this place, and many other stories from this my least-traditional holiday season ever.
Year Review 2012
A year review of 2012 where I look at where I've been, accomplishments, failures and the future of The Modern Nomad.
Merry Christmas
A Christmas greeting to all my wonderful, handsome, clever and funny readers, from a rather bizarre place.
Panorama Tutorial
Learn how to create impressive panoramic photographs using any digital camera and the free software Microsoft Image Composite Editor (ICE). It is surprisingly easy!
Income-Independent Identities
We are more than our work. Yet the question, “What do you do [for a living]?” is ubiquitous. Why is that? Are there consequences? What can we do about it?
Glowworms & Mt. Doom
On a drive from Auckland to Wellington, I saw the glowworms of Waitomo, walked around Turangi, visited Mount Doom in Tongariro and fought Gollum over fish at Taranaki.
Lessons from the Airport
I had a hellish journey from the US to New Zealand. But, hardships teach us lessons. Click through for seven unorthodox travel-hacks and a story of perseverance!
Hawaii
Naked paddle boarding, golden beaches, frozen mountaintop sunsets, Arrakis-styled wormholes and running over lava – it all awaits you in Hawaii!
Aloha!
An Empty Seat
Is the nomadic life doomed to forever be devoid of deep and loving relationships? Is a nomadic partner too much to hope for?
Halloween Disappearance
Today, I do not exist; I am trapped in the Twilight Zone! Click through to find out why. Happy Halloween!
Carbon Footprints
Is a nomadic lifestyle inherently bad for the environment? Many think so, but I disagree. Read on for details on the carbon footprints of a nomad and a wider theory on how to avoid global warming.
2-Stepping Biker Clowns at Gay Disneyland
My Los Angeles weekend including a motorcycle ride, charity work as a sexy clown, Gay-days at Disneyland and country-western dancing!
Year Finances 2012
Can you afford to be a nomad? What does it cost? Am I broke yet? Find out in this financial review of my first year as a nomad!
Burning Man 2012
My personal experiences from Burning Man 2012, including a Black Rock Cock, two sad goodbyes at the Temple and a talk on nomadic lifestyles. (and lots of pictures!)
Audiobooks
Audiobooks are a fantastic way to read. You can read while e.g. commuting to work, and a masterful narration will breathe life into any book! You’ll never be bored again!
Buenos Aires in 4 Days
My travel guide to Buenos Aires, designed as a four-day itinerary sprinkled with some social commentary.
Leaving Buenos Aires
A personal retrospective on my five months in Buenos Aires. I go over what I've accomplished, where I struggled, the friends I made and what I plan to do next.
Salta
Salta is a popular tourist destination in the north of Argentina, but does it live up to its reputation?
Iguazu Falls
The Waterfalls of Iguazu are one of the seven natural wonders of the world, and for good reasons! Click through to see why this should make your list of places to see before you die.
Nomadic Fitness & P90X
You can get into great shape without going to a gym. P90X, a 3-month home fitness program which I've just completed, is a great way to do so, and it's perfect for nomads. Click through for a review, before/after photos and a video guide.
Tango
Tango is like a dominatrix - sexy in its strictness, as well as sumptuous, sensuous and seductive! Click through for your tango survival guide and a video of my progress as a tango dancer!
The Language Barrier
Living in a country where you don't master the language is difficult. The practicalities can be dealt with, but the social problems are much more insidious.
Colonia del Sacramento
Colonia is a day-trip from Buenos Aires that offers a UNESCO World Heritage historic centre, crumbling cobbled streets, vintage cars and a history of war and conflict. What more could you want? How about a renewed Argentinian Visa?
Mendoza
Photos, videos and random observations from my long weekend in Mendoza, the wine country at the foot of the great Andes. Expect dead dogs, overcome police barriers and serene beauty.
Nomad ≠ Tourist
Nomads and tourists share a love for travel, but the way they travel and what they get out of it is very different. Any budding nomad should be clear on these differences!
Mental Monsters
Our minds sometimes turn against us. This post explains why nomads in particular need to worry about these mental monsters and how best to deal with them, no matter if you are a traveller or not.
Spreading the Word
My main writing goes into The Modern Nomad, but I occasionally write articles for other sites or give interviews. This is a round-up of the recently published items that I've been involved with.
Falling
Is your life on-track, or are you falling helplessly towards a messy end? What if you can’t even tell anymore? You may not if you’ve moved far enough from your normal frame of reference, and that is where the real adventure begins.
Moving to Buenos Aires
An update on my first three weeks in Buenos Aires, where I am staying and how I'm settling in. The post includes a video walkthrough of my new place and a video of a crazy hailstorm that ripped holes in our skylight!
From Switzerland to Buenos Aires
An update on where I've been, what I've done and with whom I've done it during my three weeks between leaving Switzerland and arriving in Buenos Aires.
The Matryoshka Cage
Ever noticed how your personal growth comes in bursts, often after a period of frustration with the status quo? This post explains this using a metaphor of nested cages which we must escape to keep growing.
Switzerland
I spent a month and a bit in Switzerland. This post is a personal recap of what I got up to there as well as some fun facts about the country.
Blank Canvas Paralysis
Nothing can paralyse like a blank canvas. Non-artists face similar situations too, especially nomads.
This post explains why we freeze like this when starting something new and suggests ways to deal with it.
The Paranoid’s Guide to Backups
Afraid you might lose your data? You should be. They are out to get it; you know they are! This guide to backups might just save you from their evil schemes.
Mission Statement
In this post, I elaborate on geo-independence, sustainability and eudaemonia, the three principles of my mission statement and a successful nomadic life.
Tarot
Through the power of Tarot, my future has been revealed to me. But I’m greedy, and so I want your interpretation too.
Airline Patron
Nomads fly a lot and therefore need a good airline patron to keep their travel flexible, cheap and smooth. But they come with certain risks.
Rocks, Pebbles, Sand
We all want to do great things with our lives, but unless we know what they are and put them ahead of everything else, we won't get there. This post is a guide to how to do this in time for a brand new year of possibilities!
Year Review 2011
A summary and review of 2011.
Merry Christmas
A short Christmas greeting to all my subscribers.
Leaving Mexico City
I'm done with Mexico City! This is my wrap up post, featuring comments on traffic, salesmen, running green men, sinking pyramids, wrestling dwarf parrots, dancing mummies and me being thrown out of a convent.
Our Lady of Guadalupe
Every year, millions of visitors visit the Virgin of Guadalupe, a miracle apparition of the Virgin Mary on an apron. But the most fun is to be had just outside!
Hidalgo
My weekend trip to Hidalgo, featuring potent pulque, a beautiful hacienda, the place for human lemmings to die and a joke gone wild.
Purpose
Norm-breaking lives raise the question of purpose. Why do you do what you do? It is a question rarely asked of those who follow the norms. If you don't, then remembering your purpose is particularly important.
Teotihuacán
Teotihuacán is an amazing and mysterious archaeological site featuring two enormous and beautiful pyramids. Who built them? No one knows. Probably not aliens.
Moving to Mexico City
A quick catch up on my first twenty days in Mexico City.
Saying Goodbye
Frequent goodbyes are an unavoidable part of the nomadic life. It is, however, more complicated than a matter of scale. Read on to find out what makes the nomadic goodbye different, for better and worse.
Don Kendrick
My unlikely friendship with Don Kendrick made me reflect on the importance, particularly for nomads, to be able to make friends across cultural and ideological boundaries.
Carpet Cleaning
I tried being a carpet cleaner for a day. It made me realize that I am free to try any odd little job that I can find. What a great opportunity that is for gaining new experiences.
Palm Springs
I spent a weekend in Palm Springs, and there explored two amazing hiking spots: alpine Mount San Jacinto and desert Joshua Tree National Park.
San Francisco
This is the wrap-up post for my five weeks in San Francisco, summarizing my experience of this foggy but fun city.
Homesickness
How do you deal with homesickness when, as a nomad, you don’t have a home?
Folsom Street Fair
Folsom Street Fair is the largest open-street fetish fair. It is the perfect place to discover this often-misunderstood sub-culture.
Not entirely safe for work.
Rodeo
I am no longer a rodeo virgin. I competed in three events: Goat Dressing, Steer Deco and Chute Dogging. Click on to see me manhandle an animal three times my own weight.
Zipping through Lake Tahoe
A short update on the days I spent around Lake Tahoe after Burning Man, including a video from a zip-line tour.
Principles of Burning Man
The most important part of Burning Man is the community, and to understand it, you must understand the ten principles that shape it.
The Burning Man Guide
Burning Man is an annual festival in the Black Rock Desert. This post covers the fundamentals of what you might see and do at this unique event.
Bodie, a Ghost Town
The ghost town of Bodie is an eerie snapshot of a Californian gold rush town. There is no gold to be found here now, but Bodie has yet many treasures.
Mono Lake
Mono Lake is not only a beautiful high-altitude lake; it may also hold the key to life on other planets.
NY, LBI, LA & LB
An update from New York, Long Beach Island, Los Angeles and Long Beach. Read on for luxury bidets, an epiphany on a motorcycle and a handsome group of burners!
Ignorance and the Norway Massacre
The Norway massacre made me reflect on ignorance and how, through travel, we can fight it.
Blooming Glen Farm
America has many small ecological farms that occasionally host open-day events full of local delicious food and country music. This post describes my visit to one such farm: Blooming Glen Farm.
The London Stag
I returned to London for a stag weekend. Read on to find out what I think about strippers and mad hatters!
Working From Home
Even nomads have to make a living, and an option is working remotely. I've just finished a two month remote project, and in this post I will share my experiences of working from home.
Allemansrätten and Canoeing
Allemansrätten protects everyone’s right to enjoy the Swedish nature. One great way of making use of this law is going canoeing in one of the many lakes.
Getting Things Done
GTD is an amazing productivity system that helped me organize everything that I needed to do to leave London and start my new nomadic life. I recommend you take a look at it, even if you just want a stress-free everyday life.
Swedish Midsummer
Everything you need to know about the Swedish midsummer, from the Big Bang to the inevitable hangover.
Ljungby Storytelling Festival
I love traditional storytelling. If you haven't tried it then this post explains why you owe it to yourself to do so. I also describe the Ljungby Storytelling Festival.
Time-Out at Home
When making big changes in life, there are a lot of benefits from taking a time-out in between the old and the new. Read on to find out what.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to London
My unconventional guide to some of the hidden gems in London. Bring your towel and don't panic!
Leaving London
I finally left London. This post reminiscence about what the city has meant for me as well as whines about the amount of work involved in breaking away from your job, city and country.
Nomadic Culture
This post launches the Society for Nomadic Culture, a club for books, games, DVDs and CDs that travel the world, jumping from one owner to another.
Give-Away Party
If you need to quickly get rid of your stuff, don’t throw them. Throw a give-away party instead!
Last Day in the Office
Today was my last day at work. Read on to find out why I slept in the office last night and the meaning of friggatriskaidekaphobia.
Mr Crociere
Midnight rendezvous with Mr Crociere, a man who found inspiration to his nomadic life in atheism.
Cruise Destinations
In the second post about my Mediterranean cruise, I describe the places we visited along the way: Venice, Bari, Katakolon, Santorino, Mykonos, Athens, Corfu and Dubrovnik.
Mediterranean Cruise
This is the first post about my week-long Mediterranean cruise where I write about the cruise, but not the destinations.
Rubicon Birthday
Today was my 30th birthday. I picked this day to announce my nomadic plans to my family, work colleagues and friends. This post explains why I picked my birthday for this and how it all went.
Fear
Becoming a nomad means leaving the safety of normality. Naturally, this is quite frightening. The fear can do strange things to your mind though, so be wary of it.
Temptation
I was promoted at work today. Money and titles are great temptations. Should I settle for the money and give up my dream of a nomadic life?
Inventory
Time to get rid of my stuff! As a mad control-freak, I naturally began with a full inventory of everything I own. Does it sound dry? Perhaps. I bet the booty at the end of the post will spice things up though. No sneak peeking!
The Map
When I start a big project, I create a visual map of how to do it. In this post, I explain how I did this for my goal of becoming a nomad. Read on for details on this productivity trick.
Minimalism
Minimalism is living life with few possessions. This is relevant to a modern nomad for three primary reasons: focus, mobility and work options. Read on to find out why.
New Year, New Life
On New Year's day, I reviewed my life and realised that I needed a change. I decided to leave both my job and London, the first steps in becoming a modern nomad.