I had been working at a Dutch bank for ten years when it was taken over. Months passed before it became clear to me that I needed a break. I was exhausted and I felt jaded. Many aspects of my life had gone into auto-pilot mode and I was just there for the ride. I was [...]
The Velvet Parade – celebrating 150 velvet escapes
It all started with a simple “Hello world“. I was just back from an exhilarating and in certain ways life-changing five month round-the-world trip. I had experienced so much, seen so many places and met so many fascinating people that when I returned home, I felt I had to share it all. The creative and [...]
Video interview with Solo Traveler
I was recently interviewed by Janice from Solo Traveler about my experiences during my round-the-world trip last year. What made me go on that solo trip, which places I visited and what I learned about the world and about myself? These were some of the questions posed by Janice. The video interview was conducted via [...]
Ten things to do when you travel alone
Some people love travelling alone and there are some that simply wouldn’t dream of it. I used to belong to the latter group. That all changed when I went on a (predominantly) solo, five-month round-the-world trip last year. I had the time of my life and rarely experienced a lonely moment! Most of all, I [...]
velvet escape’s ‘Lone Traveller’ series (10)
Things to do when you’re travelling alone: learn a new language Travelling alone provides us with a great opportunity to learn new things or pick up a new skill. In the increasingly globalised village we live in nowadays, what skill could be better than languages? During my travels, I’ve often met other fellow tourists who [...]
Ten reasons to travel alone
I love travelling. Period. However, I’ve always been rather hesitant about travelling alone. It’s probably got to do with the fact that I’ve never liked eating alone. So, when I embarked on a solo five-month round-the-world trip in 2008, I was terribly excited but I was also a bit doubtful if I would enjoy it. [...]
velvet escape’s ‘Lone Traveller’ series (9)
Things to do when you’re travelling alone: make new friends One of the great things about travelling alone is that it makes you a lot more approachable. There will be countless opportunities to meet new people. So, take good advantage of these factors and make some new friends along the way. Take the time to [...]
velvet escape’s ‘Lone Traveller’ series (8)
Things to do when you’re travelling alone: stop for a recap When you’re travelling a lot and seeing and experiencing so much in a relatively short space of time, it’s great to stop for a moment, maybe while you’re having a coffee in a cosy café or a glass of wine on a sunny terrace, [...]
velvet escape’s ‘Lone Traveller’ series (7)
Things to do when you’re travelling alone: take your own picture If you haven’t done this before, maybe because it looks silly (ok, I admit, it does look silly), get over it and give it a go. Turn the camera around, point it at yourself and snap! It’s great fun and you’d be surprised how [...]
velvet escape’s ‘Lone Traveller’ series (6)
Things to do when you’re travelling alone: beware of scams Travelling alone makes you more approachable but this factor unfortunately also makes you an easier target for all sorts of scams. Some are quite transparent and can be easily brushed off by a friendly shake of the head and a smile but some scams are [...]
About Keith Jenkins
I'm Keith Jenkins. In July 2008, I left my ten-year banking career to travel around the world. I've not looked back since.
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