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
May 9, 2025
Having roamed over 15 European cities since planting roots in Munich, I can tell you—Vienna didn’t just waltz into my heart, it strutted in like it owned the place. Sure, Prague’s right up there, giving me moody romance and cobblestone poetry, but Vienna? She’s the full symphony. This city along […]
May 8, 2025
Lugano is the kind of place that doesn’t need to try hard – it just is. Tucked into the steep shores of a glimmering alpine lake that stretches across Switzerland and Italy, it’s a town where Swiss efficiency flirts unapologetically with Italian flair. And honestly? It works. Big time. This was […]
May 8, 2025
For book lovers, the State Hall of the Austrian National Library isn’t just a place—it’s a mood, a hush, a full-body goosebump. Tucked inside the Hofburg Palace like a secret too good to keep, this Baroque beauty isn’t just stacked with books—it glows with them. Frescoed ceilings swirl like a fever dream, towering shelves […]
May 7, 2025
As someone who grew up surrounded by waters, I thought I’d seen every kind of blue – but then came Lugano. It was my first taste of Switzerland, and let’s just say… it left a lasting aftertaste of awe. My German-Swiss partner, ever the meticulous planner, mapped out a week-long […]
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
November 15, 2023
Last month, I started taking my travel blog seriously as a source of passive income. That means I have to show up every day and improve it every day. Updating old content. Writing new ones. SEOing everything. Doing backlinking. The whole shebang. Here are some strategies I put in place […]
October 29, 2023
Making my own money has always been my biggest motivator in almost everything that I do except my imposter-syndrome-heavy-foray in creative writing. But the rest? Blogging. My shift to the B2B content writing space. And even my recent dip into the Tiktok world. But my biggest problem has always been […]
May 2, 2023
Money Guide for Travelers from Developing Countries is not usually discussed. Personally, the courage to travel is one thing; having the dough to travel is another. In most cases, I build my courage and travel fund together. The Importance of Why You Should Keep a Separate Travel Fund Account should […]
May 2, 2023
EDIT: This was written in 2016. A lot has changed in my life. I moved to Vietnam, went back to teaching, and lived the expat life. In November 2021, my two cats and I moved to Munich, Germany. You can follow me on Instagram: @jonajournals for more current life updates. I am […]
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
life and food
One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.—Virginia Woolf
July 8, 2024
Durham, where history’s grit mingles with vibrant modernity, is a city that defies expectations. Imagine wandering through old tobacco warehouses repurposed as trendy eateries by day, then enjoying a craft beer in a buzzing pub by night. This isn’t just a place; it’s a testament to transformation, where tradition and […]
July 7, 2024
There is New York the city and there is New York the state. Nestled in the heart of the Adirondacks, Lake George is where rugged wilderness meets old-school charm. Picture this: you paddle across crystal-clear waters by day and relish a hearty meal in a cozy lakeside tavern by night. […]
July 5, 2024
Boston is a city that wears its history on its sleeve, where cobblestone streets meet cutting-edge innovation. It’s a place where you can sip chowder in a centuries-old tavern, then catch a game at Fenway, where the ghosts of revolutionaries linger in the crisp New England air. This isn’t just […]
May 3, 2024
Welcome to Tulum, where the sun-kissed shores meet the charm of imperfect plumbing and a thriving iguana community. This coastal haven, just an hour and a half from Cancún, has evolved beyond its quaint past. While traffic and waiting lists now dot the scene, fear not – Tulum’s allure persists. […]