Hi, I’m Jo, a British travel writer and former lawyer. On a rare sunny day in England, with my possessions packed into boxes and a Round the World ticket booked, I decided to start this website.
Had I known back in 2010 that Indiana Jo would still be going strong over a decade later, I’d have probably taken more notes and fewer naps on that epic global adventure. It was a trip that changed my entire life – but doing things like climbing down a volcano with no shoes on will do that to you.
But what about you? Are you sat at home dreaming of travel? Or are you on the road, looking for travel guides (if so, head over to my destination pages or make friends with the little search button above). Either way, I’m write this website for you – we all know that travel is good for us, but sometimes we need a little help getting started. And sometimes we even make the leap and take the trip only to find that travelling alone is more lonely than we thought.
Whatever reason you’re here for, know that I’m here for you. So, drop me an email. I always love to chat. Especially about travel. Good and bad. Or, as my nan used to say, warts and all.
PS: If you’re a business looking to connect, check out my Work with Me page.
About Indiana Jo
Want to know a bit more about me? Here’s a short run down of my life since I started this site:
- I used to be a lawyer in London. It was fun, but not really, ‘me’, if you know what I mean. That’s why I had few regrets quitting my job to travel. Ok, fine. I took a sabbatical, because it seemed like a sensible move.
- In 2010 I bought an around the world ticket and set up this blog.
- I started in South America, travelled up from Costa Rica and Central America, headed over to Malaysia, explored the Philippines, Japan and much of Asia and started to work my way back via India and the Middle East. It was the journey of a lifetime and I wasn’t ready for it to end.
- After a year exploring the world, I kind of forgot to report back to duty after my sabbatical. Actually, I didn’t forget. I sent my former employer a nice message, and went to go live and in a cave in France (true story). I was determined to start a new career as a freelance travel writer.
- It was cold in the cave but by the time I emerged at the end of winter, I’d learned how to make fire. And gathered enough clients to keep me in wine and cheese.
- For the next six or so years, I did the digital nomad thing. I returned to Vietnam, explored Colombia, grappled with the language in China.
- It was all fun and games until I screwed up my knee and had to limp home (literally) for surgery.
- It seemed like life’s way of telling me to stay still for a while, so I bought an apartment, car and coffee machine.
- I started exploring more of Europe. And, in doing so, I fell in love with Italy’s sparkling wine region – just an hour outside Venice. That one visit led to an entirely new website and business as I started offering Prosecco tours in Italy.
- After a while, I grew restless, as a traveller tends to do and I hit the road again on another one-way ticket. But after only 5 months away, Covid decided to bring that trip to an end.
- So, here I am, back in the UK. Exploring more locally a change. And, addict that I am, I started another site, this one dedicated to my very own home country: Guide To Britain.
What’s next? Who knows. But isn’t that the beauty of adventure?
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Loved loved that About Me. Made me laugh, recognizing myself in your story. I also quit my 14 years seniority job and bought a 1 one ticket with my boyfriend. And we are now trying to build a Digital Nomad life with our blog. We have some ideas and we are now working hard on them. But as you, maybe I am doing too many naps… ;O) I found your blog by looking for competitions on our nice. Anyway, thanks for the small break I had and the laughs. Karine
Thanks – always happy to provide a few laughs 🙂 Good look with the blog.
It’s funny (or maybe not) but I truly googled “how to not feel lonely traveling alone on vacation” and your article popped up. It’s one thing when I’m traveling alone for business—that’s a “reason”. It’s another when I was still married but my husband just didn’t want to go. But now that I’m single and it’s around the holidays—it’s a whole new level of awkwardness. Although I’m staying at an all inclusive (with really no bar space), your article reminded me that I’m in a beautiful spot to decompress from a tough year. Not to cut a vacation short and then wish I hadn’t. Thanks for writing this astute article.
Hi Ali, I’m glad you found my article though I’m not glad about the circumstances in which you were googling. I have to say, I find all-inclusive resorts to be one of the loneliest places to be. Surrounded by happy couples and families day in day out always seems to place a magnifying glass over my table and beach lounger for one. Well done for treating it as a retreat rather than heading home. If you take a similar trip in future, getting out for the day can really give you a boost. Happy future solo travels!!
Jo,
I came across your page while I was doing some research on travel blogging since me and my best friend want to start doing something which we always wanted to do..travel. This is a fresh start for both of us and even though its challenging in many ways..we are excited about it. Your blog is one of the best blogs, its motivating and I like the way you ask everyone to keep a positive approach about whatever happens.I would definitely take your suggestions and advice and share it as well.
Hey Ashwait, awww, thanks so much for you nice words. I’m really happy to help and motivate. If you have any questions about travel, drop me a line. Or come over o my facebook page – there’s a lovely community of fellow travellers there. Facebook.com/indianajoblogs
Hi Jo,
thanks a lot for this very interesting and inspiring blog! Since I am more and more seriously thinking about going onto a one-year trip like you did, I am very curious about the solution for
“I’ve discovered you can get travel burn out and I’ve learned how to deal with it” … 😉
Regards
Ingo
Ingo, that’s an entire post I keep meaning to write. I’ve tried many solutions – some work, some don’t but overall I’ve found that doing the exact opposite of what you’ve been doing is the best option. If you’re going too fast, slow down. If you’ve been stuck in the same place for a while, move on. If you’re at the beach, try a city…it can be kicker when you’re on a long trip and should be living the dream…I really should get around to writing this as a longer post. Hope you make your trip happen 🙂
Hello hello Mexicana Jo!
Loving the FB updates of your Latin adventures.
Just a quick note to say we have nominated you for the Liebster Award!
Ahhhh, thanks guys 🙂 Glad you’re loving the Latin adventures. Hope your own travels are going tickety-boo!
Hi ,Thanks for the info
I would like to travel around like you…
Pankaj, it seems hard at first but everyone can do more travel, even if it’s to the next city or village over or a different part of where you live. Start small and see where it goes. Let me know if you need any tips!
Hi!
I got to your website while doing my research about travel blogs. I am very much flirting with the idea of setting up a blog, sharing my already-done trips and travels. Kinda think i dont have “balls” big enough yet to do it. Bad wording i know. I fear a lot of things when it comes to it, from IT skills (which i dont have) to my ability to write in english (im not native as u probably realised within 1st setence), and most of all , whether i will have something interesting to write about, non stop.
Funny thing – I am also from the legal background, what is it with us lawyers that after so many years of hard work we just want to drop it and fly high? 🙂
In any case since i have just started my so-called “legal and financial career path” i cant afford 1y travel, what i can do howerver is to organise as many weekends, couple -of- days-gataways from the place I currently live in. To be very frank, its my very first comment on the travel blog/website. I trully like your site, your language, your way of thinking and I feel very much alike. Congrats to your success and keep on going! xxx
Hi Magda, the first thing I want to say is that your English is excellent!
As for starting a blog, the beauty is that you need little to no money to get one started and you can close it down if you find out it’s not for you. So, with that in mind, I’d strongly encourage you to go for it. I waiver on a weekly basis wondering whether I should continue (it’s a huge time investment) but then I realise how much I get out of it as well as being able to help and inspire others. You’ll pick up IT skills as you go along (I had no relevant skills when I started) and you’ll also develop your voice and article ideas will pop up more and more (I keep a list of ideas so when ideas are running low, I have a reserve to dip into). Seriously, you can have your first post live in 10 minutes with wordpress. If it makes you feel better, here was my first ever post: – barely 100 words and quite different to what you will see on here these days. My point: we all have to start somewhere…even if it is just looking at other people’s travel blogs…and making your first comment! I hope to see you back here and I hope some day soon I’ll be reading your blog! Good luck with your adventure! PS: There are many of us ex-lawyers out there – suffering from burn-out I presume 🙂
Just stumbled onto your site from another travel blog. Excited to read more about your travels!
Thanks, Katrina!
Lovely blog, Jo! Thanks for connecting with us on Twitter! Keep up the great work and travel safe!
Thanks! I’ll be over to check you guys out.
Jo,
Thanks so much for taking the time to write! I already read the post you suggested! Loved that one as well. Look forward to hearing about TBEX and BlogHouse! You are so correct, it’s a full time job this blogging and travel writing gig. I haven’t stopped – it’s so addicting! Funny, I feel badly if I don’t write for a day. I love the creative aspect of writing, and I am a fine artist, which provides quite a different perspective for my writing. The photography is entertaining me as well and I haven’t painted this month I am so busy writing! My family laughs at me as I write and take pics at just about every meal, restaurant, and hotel. Yes, I am on WP on my own domain hosted at WP-Engine. I am going to check out Google and Planet-D. Thanks again – you rock!
#urbanbackpacker #RochelleCarr
Thanks, Rochelle. I think you’ve just managed to summarise in one word what my blog is to me – addictive! That will make it so much easier to explain to my friends and family why it’s currently Saturday morning and I’m tapping away on my site instead of getting ready for the party I’m supposed to attend in an hour. The combination of art and writing is a dream. I don’t possess the former skill, so I will follow your site for that hit 🙂 Just heading over to check out your Amalfi post – I was there in the summer – lovely part of the world! Good luck with the guest posting and keep blogging!
Dear Jo,
Love your blog and this post! I am about to surf a tad more. I am a new Travel Blogger looking for any advice and expertise you might offer at your convenience. I am looking to increase my SEO – as usual. Seems to be the question everyone asks. Do you have any ideas/favorites as to where to “guest post” as a beginner? I have read that is helpful. Any other feedback for beginner Travel Bloggers?
Thank you in advance for your time!
Rochelle Carr
Hi Rochelle, thanks for the kind comments – glad you like the blog. You’re comment is timely as I’ve just attended a fantastic mentoring event called BlogHouse where I got the opportunity to learn from some blogging veterans and then I went on to TBEX where I learned even more. I’m pulling together a post to share the best blogging tips I picked up from the experts so keep an eye out for that coming soon. You might also like my post Guest posting is something I’m looking into more at the moment. I’d start with Google, although Planet-D one of the biggest travel blogs out there is currently looking for guest posts. Guest posting is helpful because every link you receive on another website increases your credibility with Google. My main additional tips are i) keep at it – it really can be a full time job, so dedicate as much time as you can; and ii) if you don’t have it already as a WordPress plugin (assume you’re on WP?), install Yoast – it will do most of the SEO job for you! Hope that helps but feel free to come back if you have any more questions.
IndianaJo forwarded to me by Steve B. back in Bali. you missed the royal cremation this week.
bedbugs? i know a lot, since the first bite in Guatemala City-1971.
other names: mr. jobless, durian don.
don’t try this: carried on an almost ripe (less odor) chanee durian aboard TG, BKK-HAN today…with gate manager’s permission.
add: mr. impossible.
you’ll have to spend May-Sept. in Indon and Malaysia.
aloha,
Wow, not sure which I’m more impressed by – that you got the durian onto a flight or that you want to eat it 🙂 Yep, bed bugs suck…though you give me an idea. If mosquitoes dislike quinine in your blood (cue: gin & tonic), I wonder if durian can repel all insects, including bed bugs. You have one to hand – let me know!