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Featured Article: Exploring Mexico, Central & South America (@aatre)
Hi! We're Ashwin and Olivia, a couple from Southern California that has opted for the adventure of life on the road. In 2015, as Ashwin wrapped up a 6 year PhD program and Liv finished up years of teaching dance, we realized that it would only get harder to take time off to travel as our lives progressed (jobs, kids, mortgage, etc!), so why not travel now? Inspired by Ashwin's parents (who drove through Central America in a Ford Bronco in the 70s), we decided to drive the Americas, with the goal of visiting every country south of the border. We figured that overlanding would give us the freedom to set our own pace, explore hard to reach places, and bring along a few creature comforts.
We spent a few months preparing for the trip, starting with the most important part: buying and upgrading a 2000 Toyota 4Runner. We focused mostly on mechanical robustness - new tires and suspension to handle all the potholes, bumpers and skid plates for protection, fixed AC to survive the tropical heat (so important!). As for our gear, we aimed to stay cheap and pack light, but made sure to bring the essentials - 12V fridge, gas stove, yoga mats, etc.
With our entire lives packed into the back of the car, we left home in November 2015 with the vague idea that we'd be on the road for 6 months to a year. Having spent almost 7 months exploring just a few countries (Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras) we've come to realize that our trip will be a bit longer than we expected - and that flexibility is the best part. Those 9-5 jobs and that potential mortgage back home are looking less and less appealing. We've also come to appreciate that the beauty of overlanding is the necessarily slow pace and the intimacy forced on us by a tight budget. Some of our favorite moments so far involve spontaneously deciding to camp in someone's backyard for a few days and getting to experience the local culture firsthand. Oh, and we can't forget the amazing places we've been able to drive only because we have a 4x4!
But let's be real here, this overlanding lifestyle can be hard too. It's not all rainbows and butterflies, but luckily there have been plenty of those along the way. With a new and growing appreciation for the unexpected, we are so excited to continue our adventure south! Follow along at www.AshLivin.com
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