Here at Backpacking with a Book, we find sincere stories as our core. We also know that our stories are but small fractions; the world is composed of stories worth telling, after all. We know that you have your own story to tell. So we want to be the venue, the platform, the microphone for your voice, for your story to be heard.

DEAR: LETTER PROJECT

Letter writing is a dying art. I still practice handwritten letters and handwritten poems for people dearest to me. Surprisingly, some of the most read entries on BWAB are my open letters to real people who emailed me for their frustrations of not traveling, to inanimate objects like our passports. If there is someone or something dear that you want to talk to, this project is the perfect fit. When we feel there is a need for a story to be shared—beautiful, painful, ugly, or what-have-you in the wide spectrum of human emotion—may we not hesitate to use our blog as a platform to tell our story. 

Email your story with DEAR: A LOVE LETTER PROJECT in the subject to backpackingwithabook@gmail.com. Please include at least four personal and relevant photos. Don’t forget to include your social media handles and a short bionote.

THANK YOU: KINDNESS PROJECT

We relied on kindness on the road. Some people invited us over in their home for some drinks and chat. Some made sure we made it to our hotel safe and sound. Some guided us to destinations many travelers don’t go to. In a world filled with terror and violence, we must be reminded that kindness exist, beam in many hearts.

Email your story with THANK YOU: KINDNESS PROJECT to backpackingwithabook@gmail.com. Please include at least four personal and relevant photos. Don’t forget to include your social media handles and a short bionote.

MY TOWN, MY STORY: MY HOMETOWN, MY PRIDE

I’ve written a lot my hometown, Tuburan, but not in a saturated way that makes it an ideal travel destination. But I intend to. Someone from Isabela messaged on Instagram, asking me to travel to her homeprovince and write about it. And it dawned me, why do we look for others to write about the place we come from when we can do it on our own. If you want to highlight your hometown, if you want your hometown to be included in a tourist trail, feel free to write about it.

Email your story with MY TOWN, MY STORY: MY HOMETOWN, MY PRIDE to backpackingwithabook@gmail.com. Please include at least four personal and relevant photos. Don’t forget to include your social media handles and a short bionote.backpackingwithabook@gmail.com

MY MONEY, MY KEEP PROJECT

I advocate for financial literacy. The more so because  travelers are often viewed as financial illiterate and happy-go-lucky. I am very open about my finances and how I funded my trip. I’ve written about money here on BWAB, and I would say it is one of the most popular category here. If you have a financial story to tell, feel free to write for us.

Email your story with MY MONEY, MY KEEP PROJECT to backpackingwithabook@gmail.com. Please include at least four personal and relevant photos. Don’t forget to include your social media handles and a short bionote.backpackingwithabook@gmail.com

WOMEN WHO TRAVEL

I’m looking for women travelers from different nationalities and religion, especially women of colors. If you know someone from Asia, Africa, the Pacific, or South America, please email me, I would love to interview them for a feature. Or don’t be shy, let yourself be featured.


If your writeup defies any form of labeling, email me, and I will surely get back to you. It’s backpackingwithabook[at]gmail[dot]com

Love, laugh, and live,

Jona