It feels like an eternity ago that I was living the Beach Travellers dream down in beautiful tropical Costa Rica… a place where the only decisions and stresses of the day were: which flavor fruit smoothie should I order this morning? At what time is the surf best and how many times should I surf? Is tonight a beer night or guaro night? All legitimate questions to ask oneself down in Costa Rica.

“Po n’ Happy” is the lifestyle my partner Frederico and myself led down in Costa Rica for the extent of last summer. It was our way of life, our livelihood; it was the only thing we came to know. “Po”, slang for ‘poor’, indicates financial poverty as well as just being a beach bum in general. Fred and I lived day by day in Costa Rica for the extent of 4 months on a tight budget, sustaining ourselves on a healthy diet of casados, trits, avocados, mangos, flor de cana, bananas, granola, pilsens and peanut butter. The pumping surf and the groups of wild Beach Travellers kept po Fred and I 100% stoked at all times.

Po n’ happy is a state of mind; it’s a lifestyle that you choose to live, having no money but having it all. It allows you to develop a deeper sense of attachment and appreciation for culture and nature: the sun, water, wind and earth all around you. Po n’ happy is about detaching yourself from material possessions and embracing your surroundings, your environment, with what is authentic. Po n’ happy = authentic abundance –the realization and appreciation for what is truly abundant and authentic.

In the western world, which is dominantly dictated by the capitalist system, it is extremely unfortunate that our collective sense of happiness is shifting and warping as we are being conditioned that greater financial success and maximizing individual material possessions is the road to happiness.

As contemporary young working professionals are pushing and shoving their way into an increasingly competitive workforce in an attempt to secure great financial success, many people are finding themselves in careers that they have no interest in and consequently having their sense of happiness slip away.

The Beach Travellers employees certainly don’t cruise around town in fancy escalades with chromed out rims, or drink expensive champagne and eat caviar in privately owned jets… some of us may appear to resemble the local garbage man and some of us may eat way more McDonalds fish-o-filets with extra tartar sauce than the average joe in an attempt to save money…but one thing is for damn sure! Working for a company that is devoted to giving citizens of the world a life-changing experience, the BT crew is undoubtedly some of the happiest people found on the planet.

~Sean Sutherland, Beach Travellers Surf Camp in Costa Rica guide

Bangkok has got plenty to offer, from beautiful temples and colorful markets to insane nightlife. But let's not forget the incredible (and cheap) shopping! In Thailand it seems that no matter who you are, there are several things you always leave with. Here are my top 5:

1) Bracelets A Beach Travellers favourite! Not only do these handmade bracelets support local vendors, but they also tell a tale of your trip. Each one will become a mini story as you explain where it was from, who you bought them with, and why they were purchased. Each bracelet is a Thailand memory.

2) Tiger balm One of the hazards of being an adventure traveller: the cuts, bumps, bruises, scrapes, bug bites and sore muscles you get. Fortunately, there is Tiger Balm. The one stop fix for anything. But be careful when opening a jar around fellow travellers; you may find your Balm gone once everyone asks for some.

3) Fisherman pants They might seem weird at first; a one size fits all pair for pants with only a string at the back to hold them up. But once you figure out how to put them on you will never want to take them off! These are the most comfortable pants in the world. You will be leaving with several pairs in your bag guaranteed.

4) Buddha figure/image Thailand is the land of smiles. Many of these smiles stem from a ìmai pen raiî (no worries) attitude. Buddhism is the majority religion in Thailand and its teachings are the foundation for the laid back and friendly nature of the Thai people. This way of life will permeate your entire Thai experience and it is impossible to go home without something to remind you to have no worries and keep smiling.

5) Rainbow Bag Scattered everywhere are what we call rainbow bags. Dirt cheap (100 baht or 3 dollars), sturdy and in a variety of sizes. You will need to pick one up to bring home all your newly acquired Thai goods!

Thailand is the land of smiles, land of shopping and land of experiences. But no matter what or how much you bring home with you, you will surely want to go back!

~ Stephanie Schmidt, Beach Travellers Thailand adventure travel guide

Ever since I started guided, I've been asked this question many times towards the beginning of a trip: “how long is the travel day today?” When I answer, the response I get is usually something like this: “ughhhhhhh...” However, it doesn’t take long for most of travellers to realize the beauty of travel days, whether the journey is a three hour boat trip or an overnight train ride.

Travel days are an inevitable routine. Sometimes they’re quick, sometimes they’re longer, but people are always surprised at how much fun they can be. While scoping out the countryside from the back of a truck, gazing at distant coastlines from a ferry, and spotting constellations out the window of a night train, you’re getting the chance to see more of the exotic country you're visiting.

Group travel allows for so much bonding, and travel days are such a great chance to get to know each other. Really, if you’re spending four hours in a mini-bus with 10 people, why not strike up an interesting conversation? Before you know it you’re laughing, playing games, making inside jokes and having a blast with people you didn’t know quite as well earlier that day.

As much as travel days are long and sometimes tiring, they build up so much anticipation and excitement for where you’re about to go. Half the fun is getting there, so we might as well make the most of it. At the end of the day, it’s all part of the adventure.

~ Carter Buan, Beach Travellers Voyage en Thailande guide