About Daniel
Daniel Badcock is a wanderer at heart, who dreams of exploring as much of the world as possible. His first big adventure started when he traveled overland from Europe to the Far East.
It was a six-month trip that ended up lasting 18, after which he found a job in Beijing and stayed there for five years. On leaving, Daniel planned a six-month farewell tour of Asia that was extended to another 15.
These days, Daniel spends his time traveling and writing articles and posts related to travel. For him, travel is about experiencing cultures, meeting people and trying new dishes. Daniel also loves to learn a bit of the language wherever he goes. He speaks pretty decent Chinese as well as reasonable Thai and a bit of Indonesian.
How did you get into travel
I've always been a keen traveller, and I've always had a passion for writing, so combining the two seemed an obvious path for me to tread. After spending over ten years teaching English in France, Italy and China, I was looking for a new challenge, so I decided it was time to try my hand at earning a living from writing. That was eight years ago, and now, with a huge number of articles and posts related to travel and many other topics under my belt, I'm still going strong!
Daniel's unique travel experience
I travelled from Tallinn in Estonia all the way to Xiamen in China overland via Russia and Mongolia without taking a single flight. The four-day leg in third-class on the train from Moscow to Irkutsk was a particular highlight.
My favourite region to travel is Southeast Asia, and my top two destinations are Thailand, where I've been 16 times and counting, and Indonesia, where I've spent about six months total but have barely scratched the surface. Honourable mentions also go to Laos and Malaysia.
Latest travel articles and insights by Daniel Badcock
Traveling alone can be a liberating experience. You are free to go where you want, when you want and change your plans as you please. Statistically, solo travelers also tend to meet far more people than those traveling in groups. But this doesn’t happen automatically, especially for the more introverted or naturally shy.
For anyone looking to meet people or make friends while traveling solo, we bring you our top 19 solo travel tips for initiating interactions and starting up conversations. Here are our top tips on how to make friends while traveling to make sure you don’t get lonely on the road.
India is a special, unique destination; it doesn’t matter where you’ve been before, nothing will prepare you for the experiences that await in this fascinating country. Unfortunately, due to a growing reputation for scams, the infamous Delhi-belly, pollution and increasing cases of sexual harassment on women, many wonder if traveling to India is safe and thus worth it. Let’s find out!
As one of the most enchanting cities in the world, Barcelona is never likely to fall short on things to see or do. It boasts of a beautifully preserved historic city center and its architectural wonders date back almost 2000 years. From the mystical genius of Antoni Gaudi (one of the greatest architects of all time) to unparalleled artworks by grandmasters such as Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali and Joan Miro, a quick tour around Barcelona is enough to understand the rich offerings this city holds. Better yet, the fascinating art and architecture is beautifully complimented by a magnificent dining and drinking scene, a fabled culture and limitless possibilities. Here is a list of some of the top 10 best things to do in Barcelona.
Goa, the state that was once Portugal’s colonial toehold in India, has evolved through several distinct iterations. First, hippies drifting around India in the 60s were seduced by the state’s laid-back vibe and pristine beaches. Then, in the 80s and 90s, they were superseded by ravers who came to party; the state even gave its name to their particular genre of dance music – Goa trance. In more recent times, Goa has tried to reinvent itself, with many places now discouraging low-budget backpackers in favor of a new, higher-spending clientele.
The hippies, the ravers and the package tourists with their families can all still be found, and what draws them is the same as it has always been – Goa’s gorgeous coastline of sandy tropical beaches that stretch dreamily up and down the shores of the Arabian sea. Here are ten of the best spots.
The Hindu festival of Holi in India is undoubtedly the country’s most vibrant — and outside of India, probably the best known. Although now celebrated in many places around the world, Holi is best experienced in its country of origin, but just being in India at the right time won’t guarantee you will find what you are looking for. Here is our guide to the significance of Holi, the best places to go for the most spectacular events — and also how to have the safest and most enjoyable time possible.