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A Twenty-year old Gal Cycling Around the World

It sounds pretty crazy, until you actually begin. #GrandAdventures
 

People often email me to say that they would love to head out on a big adventure, but that they are scared. Scared to commit, scared they will be weak, scared that the world will be tough and frightening and dangerous. So today I want to share the story of Shirine Taylor, who describes herself as a Twenty-year old gal cycling around the world.

She’s not a rugged, grizzled veteran adventurer. She is a young person who decided to cycle round the world, and who made it happen.

Shirine has got a great blog, takes lovely photos, and is an inspiration to anyone wondering how to make their adventures become a reality.

I’mm currently cycling around the world, an adventure I plan to continue for the next three or four years as I slowly traverse diverse countries and cultures, and most importantly, the greatest mountain ranges our world has to offer. I have been on the road for ten months in which time I have cycled across my own country, the USA, and explored India and Nepal as a solo female. Throughout each of these three countries I have experienced unimaginable hospitality and kindness, and stayed with families in slums, big cities, and small farming villages for weeks at a time. I loved staying in these remote villages where I would cook with the women, run through the fields with the children, and experience daily life in a place so different than where I come from. I have also cycled through desolate high mountainous areas such as Ladakh where I spent weeks alone cycling across multiple 5,000m passes.

Before starting on this adventure I was a nanny, a simple young girl making ten dollars an hour. I decided that before finishing up my studies I wanted to see more of the world, and after hearing stories from others, I realized that cycling would be the perfect way to do so. Now, I couldn’t be happier. This adventure has turned into a lifestyle, a lifestyle full of adventure, fulfilment, and education.

“I’mm going to cycle around the world,” sounds pretty crazy, especially for a twenty year old solo female, until you actually begin. As I am living on five dollars a day – a mere two thousand dollars a year (though with flights and visas, it ends up being a bit more) – I figured with fifteen grand I would be able to cycle and live for years on the road as long as I was living simply.

At home I was living in a cheap apartment shared with others, and made sure to save my money by solely cooking for myself instead of buying food at restaurants and cafes. I didn’t have a car, saving me thousands on insurance, repairs and gas, and I choose to give up expensive habits such as drinking in order to put more money towards my trip.

Though my parents were a bit concerned that I was not following the norm of college, career, retirement, they now see how much happier and more satisfied I am living the life of my dreams. Though someday I do plan to make Oregon home, and will indeed need to find a “real” job at some point, there is absolutely no rush. I have the whole rest of my life to do so, and there are plenty of opportunities out there for those willing to work for them.

As a solo women you may be afraid to embark alone, either camping or to a foreign country, but once you begin you realize just how much easier it actually is for us girls. The reason I have been taken in by countless families in each and every country is because the women in those countries don’t see me as a threat, but a friend. I absolutely love adventure, and being a female will only spur me on, not stop me.

I love the freedom of travel, the freedom to live my life however I want, and the satisfaction and happiness that comes with living the life of my dreams. It doesn’t matter what your dream is, the important thing is that you fulfil it.

If you would like to make a donation to help keep Shirine going on her adventure, you can do so here. I’mm very impressed by her journey!

My new book, Grand Adventures, is out now.
It’s designed to help you dream big, plan quick, then go explore.
The book contains interviews and expertise from around 100 adventurers, plus masses of great photos to get you excited.

I would be extremely grateful if you bought a copy here today!

I would also be really thankful if you could share this link on social media with all your friends – http://goo.gl/rIyPHA. It honestly would help me far more than you realise.

Thank you so much!

Grand Adventures Cover

 

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Comments

  1. Pretty amazing indeed! I just took a look at her site and would certainly recommend to check out the about page on her site as well. This gives quite a “colourful” picture of her motivation and her outlook on life…
    Thanks for sharing her story Al!

    Reply
  2. Good on you young lady !!! Enjoy the world !!!
    Cheers Heike

    Reply
  3. Dunc Posted

    Looks like she’s having fun. Good luck, and all the best to her!
    But, its a bit cheeky of her (IMHO) to ask for donations to fund her travelling.

    Reply
    • Alastair Posted

      I wouldn’t have asked that myself, but I don’t see the harm, really (you don’t have to donate unless you want to).

      Reply

 
 

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