Frequently Asked Questions

I don’t get it.  What does Vlogabond mean?

It’s a combination of vlog (or videoblog) and vagabond.  We’re going to be producing a vlog, and we’re vagabonds.  A vlog is basically an online video journal, and vagabond means incredibly attractive young men, or something like that. 

So what is Vlogabond all about?

Our vlog will explore the experiences of two 20-something backpackers traveling abroad.  Immersing ourselves in the backpacker culture, we will live on a shoestring budget; we will eat locally, stay with host families or in youth hostels, and embark on exciting adventures.  We’re just two guys traveling the world.  We’re not actors and we don’t have a crew.  Hell, we don’t even have any money.

Check out the About page to learn more about our project.

Who are you guys?

Vlogabond is produced by Justin and Dan.  We’re 23 and 24 years old, respectively. We both graduated from the University of Michigan a couple of years ago.

Check out the about us page for more info.  If it doesn’t make sense, it’s because we outsource most of our writing to some guy in India .

Has this ever been done before?

Not like we’re doing it.  There are other travel vlogs out there, and there are of course the Travel Channel shows, but those are filmed on the road and produced back home.  Ours is the first that is will be exclusively filmed, edited and uploaded on the road.  That and the fact that we’re traveling on a shoestring budget and experiencing new cultures first hand.  We’ll be living locally, eating locally, and aiming for authentic experiences instead of that prearranged tour guide feel you get from a professionally produced travel show.

Where will you be traveling to?

Have you checked out our Map?  We plan on spending six months in Asia for the “first season” of Vlogabond.  Who knows after that.

How are you deciding on a travel route?

Darts and a wall map of the earth. We’ve used past experience, suggestions from friends and family and research online to plot our general heading.  The specifics of our travel plans will be made on the fly, however.  We go where the action is.  Parts of Asia are changing so rapidly that guide books written today will be obsolete by the time they’re published.  We’ll take a lot of wrong turns while traveling and end up way off the beaten path, but hey, that’s half the fun.  

Why keep a vlog?  Why not just travel and enjoy yourselves?

The videoblog is an incredible new form of media that we both want to be part of.  We’re going to have an incredible time traveling and want to tell everyone about it.  We would love for everyone to see the world firsthand, but if you’re unable, hopefully you can live vicariously through our travels.  Plus, our Mom’s said if we kept a vlog we wouldn’t have to call home as often.

Aren’t you guys supposed to have real jobs?

Who are you, my Dad?  The real world sucks and we’re staying away from it as long as possible.  In all seriousness, we think people, especially us Americans, are suffering from a lack of cultural understanding these days.  Did you know only 11% of Americans even have a passport?  The most important thing people our age can do is step out of their comfortable surroundings and go out and see the world.  We don’t have wives, children, or mortgage payments.  There’s nothing holding us back.

I just came back from Asia , can I suggest a place to visit?

Of course.  We’re very open suggestions and we love to hear about first hand experiences.  We get such an incredible amount of fan mail though it’s sometimes difficult to sort through it quickly.  Well, our Mom’s are really the only ones who send us any mail.

Can I submit my original content for your site (travel writing, videos, etc.)?

Absolutely, that’s what we’re all about. We’re passionate about creating a community of travelers.

What’s the worst thing that could happen on this trip?

Losing our equipment, our passports, or our lives.  In that order.

Speaking of which, what kind of equipment are you bringing with you?

Macintosh Macbook: Primary Laptop Computer
2 Ghz Intel DuoCore processor, 1 Gigabye RAM, firewire, wireless Ethernet, built in webcam, hard carrying case
Relevent software: Final Cut Express, Adobe Photoshop, Macromedia Flash, Adobe Dreamweaver

Primary Video Camera: planned purchase
Camera Accessories: Tripod, soft carrying case, microphone, underwater housing

Panasonic PV-DV700: Secondary Camcorder
Firewire (IEEE 1394) uplink to computer, stores data on mini-DV tapes

Olympus Stylus 400: Dan’s Digital Camera
4 megapixel, video capable with no sound, shock and water resistant

Casio Exilim: Justin’s Digital Camera
3 megapixel Video capable with sound, ultra compact

Aren’t you worried about monsoons?  Mudslides?  Tsunamis? Malaria? Coup d’ Etas? Civil Wars?

Um, yes?

How will you know your project is a success?

A success?  We’re in our mid-twenties traveling around world having the time of our lives while all of our friends are stuck in office cubicles sending us emails about how jealous they are of us.  We’re already a success.

What are your plans for the future?

We hope to have just enough success to be able to continue to fund our travels and keep the videoblog going.  We’d like to keep traveling until we’ve hit all of the continents, and then, um, we want to be the first vlog in space.  Hah. Inside joke.

How do I pronounce "FAQ"?

Well Justin likes to pronounce it like its a word, saying "fack."  Dan says each letter of the acronym; F - A - Q.  Good question, though.  This is especially important for you grammar sticklers out there.  Is it "a fack" or "an F - A - Q"?  I guess you're on your own here.  I bet you can guess who wrote the next question, however.

Do people really frequently ask these questions?

No. Unfortunately, like Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy, that is just a myth told to little children.  Both the questions and answers found in an FAQ are carefully composed by the author in order to push a selfish agenda.  In this case, we are trying to provide important details about our project in a manner that says "hey, we're cool.  We're funny."  We're sorry to have to be the ones to tell you.