I’d like to round up the year with 2011’s Top 10 posts from Gap Year Escape for your reading pleasure!

Finally, I would like to wish you all a safe and happy holidays; however you choose to celebrate, wherever you are in the world and whatever company you may be in. See you next year!

A Backpacker’s Guide to Hostel Sex

An ultimate guide to seeing Galapagos independently

Backpacking New Zealand: Kiwi Experience Review

Bosnia and Herzegovina Top 10

7 Compelling Reasons to Visit The Cook Islands

6 Dumb Reasons People Don’t Travel

Flashpacker’s Guide to Sydney Nightlife

5 Travellers You’ll Love to Hate

Backpacking the East Coast of Australia

Planning a Trip to Antarctica

Top 10 Gap Year Travel Backpacks

Selecting your backpack for your Gap Year can be one of the most important decisions you’ll ever make. If you make the right decision a well purchased backpack can last the duration of your Gap Year and make life that little be easier. In this post are the key factors to consider and a list of backpacks.

Top 50 Inspirational Travel Quotes

Being a writer I appreciate that the written word can be a powerful motivator and provide that little extra inspiration you need to take the leap. Let me know what your favourite quote is.

Top 10 Travel Essentials for your Gap Year Backpack

You can purchase a lot of items while you’re abroad but some items you really need to take with you before you embark. Finding quality in some back alley market in Thailand can be difficult. Check out ten items that you can get online at a reasonable price.

25 Travel Blogs You Should Know About

I created this post to showcase some of the up and coming blogging talent out there. Newer blogs tend to have that extra boost of enthusiasm that some old bloggers lose when on the path of long term travel.

30 Couple Travel Blogs: If they can do it, you can!

Travelling as a couple can be difficult but these 30 blogs, ran by couples, just goes to show that it doesn’t have to be. Check them out for advice and inspiration.

Backpacking the East Coast of Australia

The time I spent on the East Coast of Australia has to be some of the fondest memories I have. I met some fantastic people and I’m very grateful for my experiences. Check out the video to get a glimpse of what I got up.

It’s never going to happen to you

The rather painful tale of my near trip ending accident. It was certainly a difficult and emotional time for me and the only reason I pour my heart onto the page is because of the pills. Honest.

30 Photos to Inspire Travel in Australia

A collection of 30 images from my trip in Australia. It’s a beautiful country and so very backpacker friendly. It’s a must stop any anyone’s Gap Year.

Shark Cage Diving

This has to be one of the highlights of my trip and certainly an unforgettable experience. Great White sharks are far from terrifying. They are beautiful, majestic creatures and seeing one in the wild should be on everybody’s bucket list.

Melbourne Street Art

Although a photo post, clearly street art resonates with more people than just me. Melbourne’s art is in the street rather than the museums, which makes walking round parts of Melbourne incredible. I threw in my favourite Banksy quotes for good measure!

Image: williamcho

Are you travelling at the moment?

For those of you who are unaware I took a personal decision not to travel for the immediate future. The reasons for this are my own and I may decide to write about it at a later date. Cryptic I know but let’s chalk it down to health for now.

So what are you doing now?

I came back to my hometown; Warwick, England. Two days later I was offered a management position in a firm. Not really having a plan I decided to take it. I now do 52 hour weeks, sitting behind a desk, pushing money around and clicking buttons. I still run this site in my spare time of course.

Even though it’s picking up now, for a while you weren’t blogging so much. What was the dealio?

For anyone who has returned from long term travel will understand that it’s a confusing and turbulent time. I was unsure about my future and was trying to settle back in. You’ll forgive me if I am unable to do five posts a week. Please remember I am just one man and a laptop. I also do a lot of work behind the scenes that the casually observer doesn’t see. I’m hoping this will all become apparent in the future. I would like to state that I am far from done with writing and still have a lot of my adventures left to share.

A photo of the week that is all about you and not about travel really doesn’t make a travel blog does it?

Personally I was under the impression that my photo of the week segment was well received. My blog is about my journey and therefore I thought that actually having me in the photo was warranted. The photos were all taken while I was travelling so I feel they are travel related. Nevertheless if my readers feel that they aren’t suitable or don’t add value then please let me know and I will make some changes.

Do you want to sell your site?

Hell no! I decided to do my YTD for 2010. Including all sponsorship and advertising revenue this blog generated a sizeable sum. Considering earnings in Q1 were practically nothing, this blog is far too valuable to sell. But that’s the business point of view. Even if this blog made nothing I still wouldn’t sell it. It’s valuable to me personally. I enjoy running it, It’s my creative outlet and something that I have created from nothing.

So you enjoy travel blogging then?

On the whole yes. You need a thick skin doing this because not everyone is going to agree with you or be supportive. Conversely, there are some incredible bloggers in the community that have my respect and admiration. People like FoxNomad and Christine Gilbert who despite both being huge and established bloggers will still give you the time of day whoever you are.

So the community aspect is important to you?

There are people like Spencer Spellman, BackpackingMatt, AsWeTravel and Andi Perullo. These are all bloggers that ‘get’ it. They understand the importance of collaboration and community. Recently, I spoke to Spencer on Skype and had a conversation about travel writing as a paid profession. This guy is genuinely passionate about the betterment of all travel writers. BackpackingMatt and I regular discuss travel, advertising strategies… and women.

What about all the other stuff?

I don’t care about your Alexa ranking, what your Google PR is, what magazine you used to write for or your site traffic. If you are a real person with a genuine passion for travel and social media you will always have my attention. The bloggers I have just mentioned are not just colleagues in the community but to me they are friends. It’s forging these relationships that are more valuable in the blogging world than anything else. The sooner everyone realises that the more successful people will be.

What’s the future hold for Gap Year Escape?

2011 will bring some exciting changes and challenges. I already have an intern working for me, Charlotte Smoothy, and have been accepting guest contributions from select writers such as Fiona Soper. Next year I will be allocating a monthly budget to hire freelance writers to expand the site and it’s content.

So you’ll be working with other members in the travel industry?

Throughout this year I have been fortunate to embark on numerous media trips due to partnerships I have developed with travel companies. As I am currently not travelling , I have decided to offer up these media trips to my fellow bloggers. I see so many fantastic blogs out there and they are yet to reap the rewards they so justly deserve. I suppose in a small way it’s my way of giving back to a community, that on the whole, has been very supportive, fun and friendly. I won’t pretend that it’s completely selfless. Obviously, I will benefit from bloggers attending tours and activities on my behalf in terms of content but if I were to offer you a $900 trip would you really complain? I am piloting this with Caz and Craig from YTravelBlog who will be attending an event on behalf of Gap Year Escape. I’ll make a formal announcement nearer the time.

Some big changes then?

As I said there will be changes to the site but this will be evolutionary, not revolutionary. I want to build on the successes of this year. This site can’t exist without it’s readership and I want you to be included in guiding it’s growth and direction. If you have any suggestions or constructive criticisms please feel free to get in touch. Is there anything you want to see more or less of? You can get in touch by e-mail or on twitter.

You seem pretty positive?

I certainly feel that way. I finish this year with a smile on my face and a spring in my step. I’m so fortunate to have fallen into blogging. It’s enhanced my travel experiences that much more. Who knew that spending $10 on a domain and setting it up in my friends kitchen would lead me here.

Ok we’re bored of you. Can we go now?

I would like to wish you all a safe and happy holidays; however you choose to celebrate, wherever you are in the world and whatever company you may be in. See you next year!

Image: mbowman64

Image: .mw

Now this girl, who henceforth shall be called “Kate”, was on an infamous backpacker night out. Harmless enough right? She then met “this guy”. He was smart, funny and more importantly (we all know women are just as shallow as men) he was hot. They danced the night away, having a great time when Kate decided enough was enough. She wanted to take him back.

Kate told the guy she wanted to leave and said to wait as she was going to go the toilets. Minutes later she came back. Lust filling her, she kissed him, had one last dance and then dragged him out the club.

We all know what happened next…

*Insert telephone hold music here*

The next morning Kate wakes up when her phone vibrates. She has just received a text message.

“Sorry I left the club while you were in the toilet. I wasn’t feeling well. Hope you had a great night anyway.”

Image: only alice

This event will bring 200 individuals from all walks of life such as Travel Bloggers, Social Media Experts and PR Gurus and put them under one roof. This will be a fantastic opportunity for networking, the sharing of knowledge and the stimulation of creativity.

So why this event?

The rather genius thing about this event is that you can tailor your conference experience around you. The ‘How To’ sessions are repeated throughout the day at different times and you can attend them whenever you like. Topics include; Video, SEO, Podcasting, Affiliate Marketing, PR + Travel Bloggers and Facebook.

In addition to that you get keynote speakers, panel discussions and most importantly a social programme (I like to have fun too).

Should I attend?

Well quite simply, yes. Not only will you get to meet me (ahem), but you’ll meet quite a few people in the industry. As much as we all work online sometimes good old face-to-face works much better. Whether you are already blogging or thinking about it you should consider attending. If the networking opportunity doesn’t attract you enough as it is the wealth of information on offer should seal the deal.

Visit the Travel Bloggers Unite website or follow TBU on Twitter for more information.

Tickets for TBU11 are on sale now!

Gap Year Escape started off as a hobby. In it’s infancy it began as an expression and an extension of myself. It was my avenue for sharing my passion with the world; travel. There is nothing special about me and there still isn’t. I’m not a journalist, writer, editor or photographer. I guess I am now but not in the conventional sense anyway. Really, I just like to talk. I also just happen to write down what I say, publish it and hope that someone reads it. Whether they like it, find inspiration or have a giggle is entirely up to them.

A year later, thousands of readers, great sponsors and one hell of a great time later I find myself here. What I am trying to say is thank you. Thank you to my sponsors who make my travel possible. Thank you to the travel blogging community who have been supportive and made this fun. Finally, a massive thank you to my readers. Without you my site doesn’t exist and I appreciate every single one of you.

So what can you expect for the coming year? Big things! Competitions and an eBook for a start. You’ll have to keep a lookout…

Here’s to another year! Thank you everyone!

Walking around the Khao San Road in Bangkok I bump into three english girls on my first day. I’d booked myself on to a day tour to Kanchanaburi and after realising that we’d be going the same way for the next couple of weeks they decided to do the same tour. We all got on great and I definitely felt at ease. This travelling business seemed easy. We spent the day together, I said goodnight and that I would see them tomorrow.

I wake up and look at my watch. The tour bus left an hour ago. I’d set three alarms and even left the tour company my room number. Turns out I hadn’t set the alarms properly and I’d got my room number wrong on the form. I was gutted.

This is where my head starts to hurt just thinking about it. What would have happened if I’d woken up. Because I had over slept I was a day behind. But imagine if I’d gone. I would have travelled with those girls but then I’d never have got on that bus in Chiang Mai and met the guys I travelled round South East Asia with. I would have been on that boat that capsized and killed five backpackers in Halong Bay. I may have decided to stop travel writing. I might never had had that surfing accident. I’ve met hundreds of people on my travels. I may have never met any of them.

One incident. One insignificant moment changed the course of my life. A butterfly effect. A sliding doors moment. Even though I would love to see how differently my trip would have turned out I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I’ve had such a great time and made some incredible friends.

I hate cliches but they all fit. Everything happens for a reason. Don’t have regrets. Don’t eat yellow snow.

My advice: think about it, pause for a moment and move on. Don’t dwell and forget to live.

Gap Year Escape welcomes guest posts from other writers. How does this benefit you?

Guest posting allows you to showcase your talent to a related audience that isn’t your own and expand your readership. We have a large global readership among budget travellers and backpackers. We’ll include a by-line that includes a link back to your own content or profile.

What do we ask for?

• The content must be original and not posted elsewhere on the internet.
• We don’t set a word limit as such. Approximately 500 words but this can be more if the subject matter demands it.
• Images for inclusion in the post are desirable.
• Links are acceptable within the post but excessive linking to unrelated content is not.
• Subject matter can be varied. Our aim is to inform, inspire and entertain. If your article does at least one of these then we will consider it.

Some previous Guest Contributions can be found here:

Grenada, The Spice Isles – HopandJaunt.com

The Other Side of Bali – GreenAroundTheGlobe.com

Top 10 Tips for Safer Travel in South Africa – AussieTravelAdvice.com

We reserve the right to edit articles for SEO purposes. Quality is of utmost importance and submission does not guarantee acceptance. So if you are interested in featuring on Gap Year Escape you can send post ideas or on spec posts to Amar.Hussain (at) rocketmail (dot) com or get in touch here.

I must admit that blogging and running an online business started off as a hobby and became a lifestyle. Like any successful business, they grow, which of course means more work. I thought it was about time I got an intern.

I do need to manage your expectations. The work you will be doing isn’t glamorous, may even lean towards tedious at times but it’s fundamental to what I do.

What will you be doing for me?

• Search Engine Optimization
• Social Media
• Article writing
• Networking
• Research for my new book
• Advertising
• Reviewing tours and activities in Australia and New Zealand

What I am looking for?

• The ability to commit to approximately 15 hours a week.
• Available for a 6 week period starting August/September.
• You have plans to travel to Australia and New Zealand end of 2010 or 2011.
• A keen interest in writing, travel and social media.
• The ability to work efficiently and self-motivate.
• Professionalism. You will be representing Gap Year Escape and that means me.
• Good written English.

What do you get in return?

• My knowledge on social media and online marketing.
• Ongoing mentoring through the life of your blog.
• A reference should you apply for an online media or marketing role.
• I have also arranged for you to attend on my behalf (worth over $1200):
• 5 Day Sydney to Byron Bay Surf Tour, Australia
• Great Ocean Road, Australia
• Mornington Peninsula, Australia 
• White Water Rafting, New Zealand
• Franz Josef Glacier Hike, New Zealand 
• Additional tours and activities may be arranged nearer the time.

To summarise, in exchange for doing some less than glamorous work online from the comfort of a computer anywhere in the world you get; knowledge, experience and awesome trips. Sound reasonable to you? So if you’re planning on travelling to Australia and New Zealand in the near future and are interested send an e-mail to amar.hussain [at} rocketmail [dot] com. I’m a businessman so I appreciate a CV but this is online media. Be creative if you want to get my attention and a writing sample would help. Also, don’t try and astound me with eloquent prose. I’m not that kind of writer.

Look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards,

Amar

P.S If you think this may be of interest to someone else please pass it on or Digg, Stumble or Tweet. Thank you.

The below are 25 Travel Blogs you should know about. I am sure there are lots more but they tend to be quite hard to find. They are a mixture of new blogs (6 months old and less) and some which just deserve a bit more attention. Personally I think it’s nice to see a newly started blog. Especially when you see that buzz and enthusiasm of a new traveller which tends to resonate through their writing. It’s also interesting to see them develop their writing style and watch them grow. We all started somewhere didn’t we?

So if you fancy supporting some new blogs or want something fresh in your RSS or Twitter feed, take a look at the blogs below.

1. Traveling Fashionista
2. Travel Go Girl
3. Nancy Under The Stars
4. No Place To Be
5. Aussie Travel Advice
6. Filling The Pages
7. Adventurous Kate
8. A Wandering Sole
9. Travels of Adam
10. Traveling Savage
11. Explore Dream Discover
12. The Travelling Editor
13. Alison Bell
14. Solo Female Traveler
15. Vagabond Roots
16. Unstoppable Family
17. Gvee
18. Live Vicuriously
19. Curious Cheese
20. Carolina Nomad
21. The Aussie Nomad
22. Scott and Kenna
23. Traveling Canucks
24. Chelsea and the World
25. My Beautiful Adventures

I’m at Crescent Head, about 5 hours north of Sydney, ripping up the surf and having a great time. I had been surfing for around two hours that morning when I finally decided that it was time to come in. I just wanted to catch that one last wave…

My hands are under my chest and I’m ready to pop up. The next thing I know I am flung head first off the board. Now imagine someone held you by your ankles and smashed your head into the floor. Ouch right? Even though my head hit sand it still hurts, a lot.

Now I am fully aware I have a neck but it was only when my head connected with the ocean floor that I have ever ‘felt’ my neck. Every bone, every muscle, every nerve and joint. I felt it all. It’s even worse when you are upside down, underwater and gasping for air.

Obviously when accidents happen people focus on what they can see. After about 5 people had asked me if my head hurt I started to get a little annoyed. As far as I was concerned my head was fine (unbeknownst to me was that I had a nice gash which was dripping blood). My neck on the other hand was a different story. I was petrified. You don’t mess around with neck injuries. I tend to associate neck injuries with either death or quadriplegia. Maybe that’s my fault for watching too much Grey’s Anatomy.

As I was lying in hospital so many crazy things were running through my head. It might have been a mixture of morphine and that you think about random things in these situations.

I thought about my mum freaking out and whether my dad would be fit to travel such a long haul flight to Australia. Whether I would have to go back to England and how much a CT scan costs these days. I thought about whether the nurse had ever fallen for a patient before and even asked the doctor to take a picture. Yes these things make no sense and are unrelated but that’s what was running through my mind at the time.

I’m strapped down, neck braced up and unable to move. It’s something you take for granted; tilting your head in reaction to a noise. I was wheeled from room to room, x-ray to CT, test to test. I just distinctly remember how alone I felt gazing up at that dull hospital ceiling. Everyone I love is quite literally on the other side of the world.

The doctor came back with my test results looking rather serious. He led with “you’re very lucky” which was always a good sign. By some miracle I managed to escape with no broken bones, no ruptured discs or any neurological damage whatsoever. I recall just saying “cheers dude”. Good one. The guy has years of medical training, a doctorate and is a skilled professional and I call him “dude”.

The effects of morphine and the sympathy of twenty Scandinavian women.

I’ve seen a couple of doctors now and they’ve all said the same thing; that I am lucky. Do I feel lucky? I’m not really sure. On the one hand I am laid up in bed, find it difficult to sleep and have to drink through a straw because I can’t tilt my head back. On the other hand I can walk. I can wriggle my toes and press my thumb and index finger together. It’s peculiar taking pleasure in something so simple. It’s like that moment in Kill Bill when she tries to wriggle her big toe.

I’m now on the road to recovery. Yes it still hurts and yes I am going to moan about it from time to time. But nothing or no one is going to bring me down. The physiotherapist says six weeks. I’ll do it in four.

I’ve been asked a few times whether I would stop surfing or whether I would be more careful. The answer to both those questions is no. Hate to say it but shit happens. I could break my neck surfing, choke on my food, have a brain tumour I don’t know about it. Life is beautiful and yet perilous at the same time. I’m not going to be scared to live. I love travelling the world. I’m still going to jump out of planes and off waterfalls and dive with Great White Sharks. I’m going to get my heart broken, explore the world and take chances. Do all the things that make you feel alive. That’s what living is.

I’ll be back on my feet soon enough. I’m going to recover quickly, finish physiotherapy in Sydney and head off travelling again soon.

Watch me fly.

p.s To all my family and friends. I love you. I don’t always show it and if I do it’s not always in the best possible way. I’m flawed, I know that. Forgive me.

It’s just a part of hostel life someone pinching your food. I even had my external hard drive stolen in Brisbane. I dealt with that fine, but why my cheese? I have chocolate muffins and yet they still find my cheap supermarket brand cheese slices more appealing.

Oh I am not done.

I love meeting new people. Travelling is great for that. You get ever colour, creed, race, religion and general quirky individual on earth. It’s fantastic. Do you ever find you can’t be bothered though?

I have been on the road now for seven months and I have probably done the introductory questions about a thousand times. You know the ones. Where are you from, what country did you last go to, did you go tubing, can I drunkenly climb into your bed tonight? etc. etc.

Generally I still go through it. You have to, it’s just the way of things but sometimes I just can’t bring myself to do it. When someone walks into your dorm at 11pm and they are checking out first thing in the morning, you find your enthusiasm is found wanting. To top it all off their Engrish is nonexistent.

Finally, don’t you just love disagreeing with people?

One night I was quite happily reading a book in bed. A guy had just checked in and promptly got into bed. I am miles away from the light switch, this guy is right next to it and I assumed that if he wanted it off he would have done it himself. Sure enough he asks me if I mind that the light is switched off. I’m well into my book but it is quite late so I said yeah sure. Half an hour later the light is still on. Surely he didn’t expect me to turn the light off? He turns over angrily and asks if I am going to turn the light off or not.

The light switch is right next to him and the opposite side of the room to me. I know, I don’t get it either. Stupid people irritate me, especially if they are rude.

Anyway, I clearly am sleep deprived and in need of food. I get cranky without sleep and food. Don’t get me wrong I love my life and the things I do but I can’t be happy all the time.

Rant over.

Amar, Out.

If you have ever shared a dorm room with me you will know two things; I am notorious for skipping tracks after 30 seconds and I stick songs on repeat for ages.

The first thing I do in the morning is put on music. It’s a ritual of sorts. I constantly find myself charging my mp3 player as it is always on. Music is a big part of my life; it is a great source of inspiration. My only regret is that I never learnt to play an instrument.

Nevertheless I thought I would share with you the songs that have been keeping me going on the road these last few months.

They are all associated with people or moments. Who or what, I’ll never tell…

What songs remind you of travelling? Leave a commet.

As STA’s World Travel Intern programme comes back around again this year I caught up with one of last year’s winners; Lindsay Clark.

Hey Lindsay, from your blog looks like you’ve been really busy, what have you been up to lately?

I’ve been limping around the Highlands of Viti Levu because I keep kicking rocks while hiking. I’m hanging out in Fiji, trying to create a volunteer-based project for a community I’ve grown attached to: Nakavika. Who knows if it can come together or if we must reformat the whole deal, but I’ve spent the last two months trying…all while having a grand time with some fun kids.

What would be the highlight of your time as a STA Travel Intern?

The highlight was the job itself, but I could also say the lion sightings in East Africa or the sky dive in South Africa. The real thrill came when I returned to my hotel room and put together something that encapsulated the stellar country I was in. To continuously think, "I’m getting free travel" in exchange for some stories and videos…that was the best.

Your video was incredibly entertaining. Do you have any advice for this year’s applicants?

Make something you would willingly watch over and over…and as would a stranger. Don’t settle with for first video you create…let it be a first draft and make it bigger and better from there. I made 9 drafts before the final video came to be. Think about the first 10 seconds of your video and whether it would draw in someone with ADD. Use less common music that appeals to most people – get people bobbing their heads involuntarily. Remember that the position is about being an inspiration. Don’t calm the viewer down…pump them up. And by applying for the WTI, it’s implied that you love travelling. Saying it even once is redundant, and what time you have to impress the judges is vital. Don’t waste it saying things they can already guess about you.

Finally, a lot of my readers dream of travelling and never get round to doing so. What would you say to them?

Even for the weathered nomad, clicking the "submit" button or giving the travel agent the go-ahead is the hardest moment in planning a trip. You’re supposed to have that choking feeling when you think, "This could be a really bad idea." I’ve never regretted a trip I’ve taken. I’ve regretted time spent bored.

And to reiterate what everyone says:
- It’s never the right time, so go now.
- The vast majority of the time, you don’t miss much at home.
- Travel when you’re young and can handle an Indian sleeper train car or a nasty bout of Giardia.

If you want to get more information or better yet apply, click here or check out the video below.