253: Smoking Hash with the Taliban, Getting Kidnapped in Bangladesh, and Acting in a Bollywood TV Show with Derek Baron

Learn how Derek got kidnapped for 3 nights and escaped & what it’s like to spend an evening talking with the Taliban. 

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 Derek Baron takes us on his journey growing up in Boston, studying abroad in Australia, and then taking a life-changing trip to Angkor Wat in Cambodia for the Millennium that inspired him to travel full-time, forever. 23 years later, he reflects on his travels to 133 countries, how he financed it all, and shares some of his highlights. After 40 trips to India, Derek makes some recommendations on where to go, and how to approach the country, and shares the story of how he acted in a Bollywood TV series. He then explains why Romania and Mauritius are some of his top recommendations for digital nomads looking for medium to long-term stays. Derek also reflects on his trip to East Timor two decades after the genocide. Next, he shares his 6-week experience in Pakistan, which included unexpectedly spending a hash-and-opium-filled evening with the Taliban, traveling through the Tribal Regions, and crossing the Khyber Pass into Afghanistan. Derek then shares the story of trying to return through U.S. customs after that experience and what happened when they found a bullet in his pocket. Next, he talks about his experience being kidnapped in Dhaka, Bangladesh for 3 nights, how he eventually escaped, and what overall safety lessons he learned. And, finally, Derek reflects on processing negative travel experiences and how it impacts his overall impression of the place and of travel safety more broadly. FULL SHOW NOTES WITH LINKS TO EVERYTHING DISCUSSED AVAILABLE HERE.

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