Wait… You Can Work, Travel AND Earn? Here’s How I Did It!

Okay, so picture this: it's 2016. I'm locked in my room, nose buried in MBBS entrance prep books, and I finally get my first full-access smartphone and internet.

Somewhere in my endless scrolling, I came across this thing called "digital nomad." People were working from beaches, sipping smoothies in Bali, typing from mountaintops in Europe, and getting paid for it.

I didn't even fully get what they were doing. But I just knew one thing: "I want this."

Fast forward to 2023, and yeah, I actually did it. I worked remotely and traveled across Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Singapore, and Malaysia over 3 months. Wild, right?

So… here's how it all went down.

But, What Even Is a Digital Nomad?

It means you can work online and travel the world at the same time. No fixed office. Just you, your laptop, and good Wi-Fi (well, mostly good, some cafes lie).

I was working full-time for this company called Avo, doing my usual stuff from little cafés, hostel lobbies, and coworking spaces all over Southeast Asia. It still feels surreal when I think about it.

But… What About Visas?

Good question.
I was just on a tourist visa for each country. Nothing fancy. You just have to be mindful of the rules and exit before your visa expires.

But if you're thinking of staying longer somewhere, there are countries that actually offer a Digital Nomad Visa now. How cool is that? Countries like:

• Indonesia (hello, Bali)
• Portugal
• Croatia, Estonia…

And even Nepal is working on its own digital nomad visa, which is huge!

Do I Need a Certain Type of Job?

Short answer: not really.

As long as your work can be done online, you're good to go.
Here's what digital nomads typically do:

• Remote jobs (like mine)
• Freelancing (writing, design, marketing, etc.)
• Running online businesses
• Managing things like Airbnb or dropshipping

Even if you're not in a tech-heavy field, remote work has become so common that you might be surprised how digital-friendly your job already is.

Okay, Is It For Everyone?

Honestly… maybe not.

If your job needs you to be physically present (like if you're a nurse, a chef, this lifestyle might not work in full.

But you'd be surprised, remote work is everywhere now. There's a digital version of almost everything.

How I Actually Pulled It Off

So here's how it happened.
After working remotely for about 6 months and consistently delivering results, I felt confident enough to pitch the idea to my CEO. I didn't just wake up one day and say, "I want to work from Thailand."

First, I had to prove I could handle things on my own, without needing constant supervision. I showed up, met deadlines, communicated clearly, and built trust. That part is crucial.

Not every company will say yes. Many might have concerns around time zones, productivity, or simply not understanding the concept yet. But if your work speaks for itself and you've built that credibility, it's a lot easier to make the ask.

So when I finally said:

"Hey, I want to travel a bit while working. I promise my work won't suffer, it might actually improve. I'll plan it properly, work from coworking spaces, and make sure everything runs smoothly."

He said yes. Just like that.
That single yes changed everything.

A Little Taste of My Route

• Thailand - The first 15 days were pure vacation mode. I did nothing. Then came Pai and Chiang Mai, where I found my first international coworking space: Punspace. It felt weird but also amazing.

• Cambodia - Worked from rooftops, beaches, and cute cafés. I was thriving.

• Vietnam - My favorite. Traveled all the way from south to north while working. Met cool people like Felix (Germany) and Pierre (France), they even came to Nepal later and I got to show them around!

• Singapore - This one's funny. I landed 20 minutes before a meeting, took the call from the airport café, and acted like I was casually out grabbing coffee.

• Malaysia - This was supposed to be a 2-week stop. It lasted 4 days. I was exhausted. No shame, I needed rest.

Money Talk (aka How I Didn't Go Broke)

Nepali travelers, listen up, here's how I managed:

• Got a Mastercard linked to a USD salary account in Nepal
• Carried a $2500 travel card + some backup USD cash
• Pro tip: Always track your spending. Travel can get pretty expensive.

Thinking of Trying This Yourself?

Here's what I'd tell any friend asking:

• Learn a digital skill (writing, design, marketing, coding… anything).
• Get a remote job, or freelance, or start something of your own.
• Build trust with your boss or clients. Be reliable.
• Pitch the idea when the time's right.
• Or go all in and build a remote-first life from the start.

You don't need to be "ready." You just need to start.

Final Thoughts

This whole journey wasn't just about cool places and nice photos.
It made me more confident, open-minded, and intentional about how I live and work.

If you're reading this thinking, "Could I actually do this?", my answer is: **Yes. You totally can.
**You just need to want it bad enough to figure it out.