Odd Jobs - A Vagabond's Bread and Butter

“I’ll wash dishes for a quick cash binge, ’til April comes and its into the wilderness again.” - Nahko Bear

Was my job to teach Trevor Hall how to slackline? Nope, but it was a perk.

When it comes to being a vagabond, one has to be creative to continue down the dusty, often times abusive, road. While other walks of life offer things like savings, health insurance, and a consistent bed, travelers and nomads aren't always proud owners of these luxuries. Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a complaint, as the majority of us chose this life because we love it. This is just the nature of trying to live unyoked in an age where everyone and everything seem to want to clip your wings. While navigating foreign streets and finding adventure are the tumbleweed’s fortay, one of their often undervalued skills is straight hustling. 

Being from the states, the number one question I get about traveling is not what I’ve seen, where I’ve been, or where I will go next, it is always a question about money. How do you afford this? Where does this money come from? Who funds you? While I’ve gone into detail about this before, this past week I was reminded of another tool in the transient shed of travelers; odd jobs.

The thing about odd jobs is that, starting down this path is sort of like joining a gang. Once you begin, it almost seems as if you are sucked it. Maybe it’s not for life, but it also isn’t something you necessarily dabble in. This, though, is a good thing for those ready to make the leap. Odd jobs don’t offer job security, since most of them are time-sensitive, seasonal, under the table, or one-time gigs. Scary, yes, but once you open that door, it will always remain ajar. After working one job, you will see a flood of these potent positions that are always searching for someone just like you to fill it at the perfect time. It’s as if there is a meta-physical Linkedin that knows when you are getting low on cash, and delivers a high-paying, short-term gig directly to your doorstep. I can’t scientifically explain it, but my growing belly should be proof enough I’ve been eating well while living this life. 

In the last year two years alone I’ve worked as a freelance writer, a sports coach for youth, a travel guide for affluent high schoolers, an urban taxi driver, an “environmental” educator, and a specialist of nutritional and dietary delivery, aka a server. Have all these jobs been great? Nope, not at all. But what they have done is offered the means necessary to live, while also offering the great benefit of flexibility and a free-schedule. While many of us grew up being told following our passion would lead us to financial prosperity, how this would come about wasn’t specified. It would be oh so grand if we literally got to do our favorite thing all day, everyday and get paid for it, but it doesn't always happen that way. Some of us are quite content finding jobs that fit a schedule of our own creation which maximize free time, yet still let us not only survive, but thrive. 

 

A typical day on the job as a tour guide

While odd jobs are appealing to travelers for obvious reasons (quick cash flow, no strings attached, work when you want) the truth is that they also offer many aspects of travel that we consciously or subconsciously need to make it through the day. Odd jobs normally occur during times outside regular work hours. On top of that, they are also often in fields that introduce you to places, people, and ways of life that are far from the mainstream. These (occasionally somewhat shady) posts grant an opportunity to see the inner or under-workings of places you may have thought you’ve known, blossoming a new interest in a place you may have written off. 

This past week I worked for a transportation company at the largest convention in the United States, CES, hosted in Las Vegas. While I know full well I don’t particularly like Vegas, this job offered me a few things. First things first, I got paid quite a bit to work my butt off for a week. Second, it offered comped meals. Even though I’m not into gambling or clubs, I do love eating, and being able to check out some interesting restaurants was a nice treat. It also showed me a glimpse of both the Tech World and the inner-workings of Vegas. Most days we were waking up at 4:30 am and working about 15 hours. Being able to see what Vegas looks like in the wee hours of the morning, not under the influence, was a very telling experience. Seeing folks stumbling back to their temporary residence, trying to express their need for something to a poor cashier or their spouse, even though their ability to fluently communicate had dissolved with the last drink that hit their lips, was a spectacle to say the least. This, as well as getting to know some of the folks working in the hotels and restaurants, was an intimate view of what makes up vegas, that most weekend bingers don't see. Matched with getting to spend my lunch hour walking around a gaudy show of all the latest electronics the world has to offer, this odd job was a previously unknown experience I'm happy to have lived. 

Odd jobs offer views of the world those in set positions may never see. Though it’s true this lifestyle isn’t for everyone, those who are curious, I implore you to take the leap. It may be scary not knowing where your next paycheck is coming from, but if you take the plunge and get your feet wet, it will come. For this Tumbleweed, I can only dream of what my next short-term, hopefully high paying gig will have me doing, and what sub-culture it will introduce me to.  

It took 28 years to get backstage at Red Rocks...and the only reason I did was due to odd jobs

Photos courtesy of author - First photo taken by a friend on my camera 

How We Do it

The beauty of reaping the benefits of making travel a priority

One of the most frequent questions I am asked by friends and family of my nomadic lifestyle is "how do you do it?" Most people, save for a few who may have no cognizance of the slightly judgmental tone in their voice, are generally curious about how one becomes a nomad in the modern age. While I'm working on a larger, more in-depth piece about ditching the 9-5 for a more non-traditional lifestyle, the answer to this question can be found with ease. The first step, of course, is commitment to a goal.


When I left the states for my first extended travel in 2012, I had made travel a priority. I started saving and planning (which was more an exercise in excitement than actually creating a concrete itinerary) over a year out, and made decisions based on wanting to be abroad. Most of these decisions revolved around my personal budget. While I was willing to spend $800 on a TEFL certification (a source of travel income) I became less and less inclined to spend frivolously on nights out. Turning down happy hours, dinners, and bar crawls in your early twenties isn't always fun or easy, but the money saved each night-in equated to literal weeks in Chiang Mai where my daily budget was around $9-a-day. With any goal comes sacrifice, and part of that sacrifice is taking a hard look at your weekly expenditures, deciphering between necessity and excess. You can be as lax or as hardcore as you like, but 10, 20, $30 goes a long way in some of the most loved backpacking destinations.

At the start of my trip, I had saved between 7,000-8,000 USD. With my initial plan of only traveling for 6-months, and hopefully returning with a little fallback money, that gave me a budget of between $30-40 per day. Take out the $900 for my extremely cheap, extremely uncomfortable Eastern China Airline flight, and I was looking at closer to $25-30 per day. While this is more than sufficient to travel around SE Asia if youz a hustla (holla atcha boy), traveling with a small source of income can make a huge difference. Before my trip, I acquired a freelance writing job. It started out very humble, but by the end I was making close $225 a week. This was small potatoes in the states, but in Asia this allowed me to subsidize my trip, only dipping into my savings for things like travel, higher-priced activities, western indulgences, or the extended stint in Australia. Small injections of funds is the performance enhancing drugs of travel.

Leading high schoolers into the desert...while playing dress up. A job is a job!

Though writing was my PED, travelers have a slew of fancy tricks to continue their time abroad. The best way to do this is with passive income. If you are lucky enough to have a place to rent out, this extends travel. If you have a benefactor, sugar mama/daddy, know a good pyramid scheme or can procure a grant, this is gold too. For the less lucky, creativity is key. Travelers I've met have done anything from joining the Malaysian circus to teaching online TEFL classes to Brazilians while working under the table and living in Vietnam. I'm currently subsiding off of a mix of rent money, savings, and working as a guide for a travel company specializing in high school summer trips. Do any of these jobs pay well? No, in fact, it is sometimes a joke how many hours you put in for dismal pay, but what they don't offer in salary they make up for in subsidized experiences. If you have any talent, skill, or hobby you can translate into a good, you will be able to make money while abroad. It just takes a leap of faith.


While the preceding advice is important, the idea of a leap of faith may be the most necessary tool of becoming a nomad. Growing up in the states, I feel we are programmed to be constantly working towards a goal, a new position, a higher pay scale, etc. With this idea,  the idea of stepping out of line and reflecting seems ludicrous. We rarely take time off, so why devote a month, 6-months, or a year to travel or pursuit of something that doesn't necessarily equate to one of the proceeding goals? My answer? Because you can, and you should, and in many other developed countries it isn't an insane idea, it is something lauded. It also helps a society grow and progress. It's my personal view that Americans are too calculated. We need concrete evidence that something will work before we even begin to dream about it. With travel, doing before defining makes all the difference in the world. If you want to live in Spain, move to Spain. You can figure out the details when you get there. If you want to travel, buy your ticket and let the numbers and budget come to terms with all the new insights you will gain once abroad. On our money in the US it states "In God we Trust," yet I feel what we leave up to fate is truly minimal. To step outside of ones comfort zone, to step outside what we view as a normal way of life, one must truly take a leap of faith.


While I've existed on both sides of the faith fence, I can tell you that the most important thing I've learned from travel is believing that what you want can become a reality. While saving, creating multiple sources of income, and penny pinching can and will make travel a reality, nothing is as potent as being ready to take a leap of faith. Once you believe that your dream is possible and put yourself in position to pursue it, good things are bound to follow. It may not be instantaneous, but the will of the world works wonders for those willing to let it.
 

The beatiful stairs of Essaouria. One may not know what they are misssing when they stay put, but they will only find out if they take off

Photos courtesy of author and Wayfinderali

Do date a man who travels

It’s easy to tell him apart. While his long hair and feral appearance stand out in a crowd, that isn’t why the man who travels is illuminated. No, it’s the brazen look in his eyes. Behind the adorning wrinkles bestowed by stories of smiles and joy is man who has tasted the fruits of foreign lands. Behind that gaze lies a man of conviction, a man who has experienced, and a man who knows a thing or two about life.

Though our female counterparts beg to differ, do date a man who travels. Through experiences ranging from lavish to lackluster, he has learned to thrive in all environments. He can woo a crowd while dining at the swanky night spot, but will always prefer the company of a single companion under a moonlit sky. He appreciates moments of western indulgence watching a movie in bed, but has never understood the idea of a rut. Life is always fresh, and with him, there is never a dull moment.

Do date a man who travels. While he may only have enough material possessions to fill 60-70 liters of rucksack, he’s not afraid of the material world. He may not have room for the newest trend, but he can admire those who OWN their possessions, instead of that of the opposite. His end goal may not be money, but he has learned the value of a dollar. He enjoys the good life, and knows how to fashion it in any atmosphere in which he’s found.

Don’t expect to see him working in a typical job. While he doesn’t mind occasionally adorning the suit and tie, a man who has seen this much can’t be restrained. He is creative, but even that is in the atypical sense. He’s a hustler, a go-getter, an alchemist forging a lucrative amalgam out of his passions, yet still does not lose himself to the daily grind. While others may not understand what he does and why he does it, they do respect it. He explored the world to uncover the lifestyle he loves, and now refers to it as reality.

The unknown can be scary, but the man who travels has learned to befriend his fear. He may be unpredictable in nature, but for the trained eye, this chaos is a far cry from an uncontrolled variable. He knows the only constant in life is change and navigates the unchartered territory as if calm waters in a familiar bay. He approaches question marks with a sense of ease, placating all those who find themselves in his presence. 

Some lessons can only be learned through experience, and the man who travels has been down that path. He has been to places where rights are not in abundance. His demographic may not be oppressed, but through the eyes of his companions, he has learned what it feels like to be restrained. He realizes that the hands of a true ally are dirty, bloody, and calloused, because this is what he posses. He may never fully understand these injustices, but has realized this understanding is half the battle.

His life is unplanned. He loves the feel of wind in his hair, and the image of clear landscape in his rearview mirror. Exploring new environments with an open-mind and open-heart is a perfunctory act because adventure and understanding are etched in his DNA. His compass is tuned to the seasons, with falling leaves acting as mile markers, and rolling scenery as roadsigns. He is transient. He finds comfort in motion. He loves all things that revolve, but still finds a yearning for a home. For him, this is not a physical location, but a loyalty felt towards others who have fallen for the same pulls, the same passions.

Do date a man who travels. Though he does have his faults - wanderlust, selfishness, a skewed sense of reality - above all else, he knows what compliments his being. He will adore the independence and confidence you posses, and awe at your lively soul. He may not acquiesce without a fight, but will be eternally grateful for your ability to twist his less than desirable traits into functioning aspects of something lasting and beautiful. He will not forsake the goddess or god in you, showing prostrations through reciprocation of work that comes with falling in love. A man who travels may not have everything figured out, but he understands confusion isn’t a bad place to reside, especially if you’ve a counterpart to occupy it with.

Traveling in Borneo in a nutshell

It seems that, nowadays, there are only two ways backpackers intake information about new destinations: Lonely Planet and word of mouth. While the internet is becoming a huge resource as well, it is so easy to have conversations with travelers about a destination that leads to some form of the statement, “…well Lonely Planet said (insert outdated price, guesthouse name, restaurant, etc.).” For me personally, I’m more of a word of mouth, stumble upon something awesome with dumb luck type person. In the case of traveling in Borneo, Malaysia, this type of travel did me well.

I didn’t do any research before coming to Borneo. I knew one could hike a 4000 km mountain called Kinabalu (but apparently only if you have a spare $1000), and I knew there was massive amounts of deteriorating jungle. This, of course, isn’t much to go off of. While I thought this indecision could come back to haunt me, upon initial introduction to Kota Kinabalu, before even checking into a hostel, I found out there was a Couchsurfing meet up the night I arrive. This lead to new friends, new faces, and a wealth of information. It also defined the rest of my time in Borneo.

After going on a random jungle cruise excursion with a dude I met on a bus (dude gets on bus, says he is going to a river in the jungle. Chris gets off bus, they see elephants!) I found myself in the second largest city in Sabah, called Sandakan. While the harbor area of the city is decently pretty, besides the super fast WIFI at my hostel, Sandakan didn’t have much to offer. This, though, was remedied by two British girls telling me about the town of Sepilok about 30 minutes away. It cost the equivalent of $1 to get there by local bus, and if I wanted to stay the night, there was a hotel called Paganakan Dii that was literally in the jungle. While the hotel was pricey, the traditional long house style structure that offered dorm beds for around $10 with breakfast was a deal in Borneo. Once again, with little foresight, I found myself on the bus to a new destination with no idea what I was getting in to.

Sepilok, for most travelers, is a place visited for a day or 2 at most. The visited part of town is literally based off of 2 tourist destinations and a jungle research center, with no other businesses, structure, or buildings besides a few resorts popping up next Orangutan Rehabilitation Center. Excited visitors normally head to the Orangutan center around 10 am to see the morning feeding, then trek over to the RainForest Discovery Center to sweat in the jungle heat, then back to the Orangutans at 3 pm for the afternoon feeding. After this, they drink beer, eat food, and get ready for the next adventure. This, of course, is a mistake.

While on paper a town with 2 attractions doesn't sound that great, the fact is Sepilok is so much more than what is advertised. For those with a keen eye, you will find that the Rain Forest Discovery center has access to nearly 25 kms of hikes in the jungle. 25 km! While the main attractions are the raised canopy walk and a few small stretches of groomed jungle made for tourists, for an extra 5 Ringgit (less than $2) you can hike from the RDC 8 km to a mangrove forest on an inlay from the South China Sea. The research center here is called the Speilok Laut Research Center, and is also host to a camp ground (which I think is free due to no staff being there anymore). On top of that, The Paganakan Dii resort offers an entire complex with short hikes, free paddle and pedal boats, fishing, and thousands of places to sit, listen, and enjoy untouched nature that may or may not make it past our lifetime. Sepilok has more to offer than meets the package traveler’s eye.

Although Borneo has a lot to offer, it seems to be moving farther and farther off of the backpacking radar. Malaysians have no problem charging foreign visitors 50% more than locals. This, as well as the preference for packaged tours instead of the DIY backpacker approach, has made the ability to visit the jungle, scuba dive, raft, hike, or climb become only available for those with deep pockets. Borneo may be trying to head in a different direction, but for the time being, a trip to Sepilok can still offer even the thriftiest of budget travelers an introduction to the jungle, and a gloriously relaxing nature escape.



Photos courtesy of Mulv Jones