Welcome to BWAB!
I’m Jona—a full-time SEO and content manager, weekend travel blogger, and lifelong storyteller. My journey began with reading Resil Mojares' House of Memory and Oliver Sack's The Island of the Colorblind, inspiring me to explore over 30 countries across Asia, Oceania, and Europe.
For over a decade, Backpacking with a Book has grown from a personal blog into a trusted guide for digital nomads—packed with practical travel tips, thrilling dive experiences in Southeast Asia and beyond, and thoughtful bookish destinations. I also run homehums.com, where I share my experiences as a traveling mom along with practical parenting hacks and honest product reviews.
I’m open to paid collaborations and travel sponsorships in exchange for high-quality UGC or SEO-optimized content. Let’s create something impactful together!
For real-time puns and awkward travel stories, follow me on Instagram.
what's popular
destination guides
You may not know how to save your soul, but you know how to put one foot in front of another.—Rebecca Solnit
March 30, 2025
We all have that one story of how the travel bug bit us. Mine? It started back in university. I was leading the school publication, and the student body president and I were invited to a nationwide student leaders’ press con… in Boracay. That was nearly twenty years ago. Since […]
March 29, 2025
I moved to Munich, Germany in November 2021. Despite being three hours by train away, Paris never appealed to me and only traveled there in December 2022 to meet some dearly missed friends. Traveling to Paris in December has its own charms and pitfalls. I would love to visit the […]
January 16, 2025
When I learned that Vienna has a Shakespeare and Co, I knew I had to visit. As someone who fell in love with its Parisian counterpart, stepping into its Viennese location felt like revisiting an old friend in a new city. Nestled in the heart of Vienna, this cozy bookshop […]
January 9, 2025
After living in Hanoi for four years, I often found the city’s unrelenting energy both exhilarating and exhausting. On days when the honking motorbikes and narrow alleyways felt too constricting, I would escape to Ninh Binh. Just a few hours away, it became my sanctuary—a place where life moved at […]
digital nomad guides
And her joy would become a restless thing, flapping its wings inside her, as though looking for an opening to fly away.
― Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
January 22, 2025
As a seasoned travel blogger with over a decade of experience and deep expertise in SEO, I’ve witnessed how strategically optimized content can directly influence a traveler’s booking decisions. Today, travelers are savvier than ever—they research, compare, and weigh their options before making a commitment. This is where SEO-driven content […]
January 18, 2025
As a travel blogger with over a decade of experience and a strong background in SEO, I’ve witnessed how a single, well-optimized blog post can outperform even the most viral social media campaigns. Social media offers fleeting engagement, but it lacks the staying power that SEO-driven content provides. A thoughtfully […]
November 9, 2024
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with being financially dependent on your partner, especially if you’re the main caregiver. It’s a role that deserves respect and recognition. However, the narrative of the man as the sole provider, often perpetuated on social media, oversimplifies the reality of many households. Financial contributions are just […]
November 8, 2024
Sometimes, me yapping about a lot of things get me some personal stories and letters that I think may resonate with others. So I’m sharing someone’s story and take on that matter. Yes, I know I talk a lot about my own financial independence (for sure, therapists, armchair or otherwise, […]
reading life
My grandfather says that's what books are for," Ashoke said, using the opportunity to open the volume in his hands. "To travel without moving an inch.― Jhumpa Lahiri
January 16, 2025
When I learned that Vienna has a Shakespeare and Co, I knew I had to visit. As someone who fell in love with its Parisian counterpart, stepping into its Viennese location felt like revisiting an old friend in a new city. Nestled in the heart of Vienna, this cozy bookshop […]
December 22, 2024
For book lovers, the State Hall of the Austrian National Library is more than a repository of books—it’s a living testament to Austria’s cultural and intellectual legacy. Nestled within the Hofburg Palace, this awe-inspiring space merges history, art, and literature in a breathtaking display of Baroque grandeur. The State Hall, […]
July 12, 2024
I personally believe Joan Didion, Jennifer Egan, Mia Alvar, Eula Biss, and Ada Limon capture the essence of New York. These writers embody the city’s literary spirit, and its independent bookstores are a testament to this legacy. New York City’s independent bookstores are hidden gems offering an intimate dive into […]
July 4, 2024
Summer vacations and a good book go hand-in-hand. My very blog won’t be named as such if I don’t pack at least three books with me wherever I travel. It is just a force of habit because you will never know one book will never be enough. Talking about books, […]
life and food
One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.—Virginia Woolf
March 30, 2025
We all have that one story of how the travel bug bit us. Mine? It started back in university. I was leading the school publication, and the student body president and I were invited to a nationwide student leaders’ press con… in Boracay. That was nearly twenty years ago. Since […]
March 29, 2025
I moved to Munich, Germany in November 2021. Despite being three hours by train away, Paris never appealed to me and only traveled there in December 2022 to meet some dearly missed friends. Traveling to Paris in December has its own charms and pitfalls. I would love to visit the […]
January 8, 2025
Living in Hanoi made me long for the vast quietness of the countryside. Ninh Binh was always my weekend fix during my four-year stint in Vietnam’s capital. Ninh Binh’s huge rafts of farmed white ducks wallowing in its many waterways, with the expanse of rice fields in different shades of […]
December 14, 2024
Having roamed over 15 European cities since planting roots in Munich, I can confidently say Vienna holds my heart—seconded by Prague. This imperial treasure along the Danube composes a symphony of culture, history, and effortless elegance. From its grandiose palaces to its unparalleled classical music legacy and its coffeehouse culture […]