Loving earth & preparing for my trip

All i have packed for my trip - in 2 bags

Love earth! A bold message. But what does it stand for? I will start to explain in a bit...

Welcome to my blog! I am very happy you found your way here.
L.O.V.E. EARTH is about my traveling life in 2018. Me (Julez - a 30 year old German guy) loves our little blue planet earth and wants to take some time to go out and explore it a bit more.

That is why I’ve decided to pause my busy consulting job and take a break for several months to travel around the world, get to know different cultures, new people, exciting places and learn more about this beautiful planet of ours - and with it maybe even also about myself...

Sounds good, but “what's your plan?” you might ask. Actually the plan is to have no plan: I only know that I want to fly as little as possible, i want to couch surf with locals, travel slowly, do not rush and enjoy my time wherever I am. That is pretty much all there is.

So a brief update about what has been happening so far during my first month off in January. Getting everything prepared basically and leaving my hometown Stuttgart behind:
- doing some basic research about where to start and places to go
- where and when (not) to go
- check medical advices
- having couch surfers at my place
- quitting my apartment in Stuttgart
- getting rid of (most of) my belongings
- purchasing a bit of travel equipment
- meeting friends and family to say goodbye
- packing all (I think) I need - which is still too much - in 2 backpacks
- go to the airport

Check out the video below to see what leaving the flat and packing my bags has been like and what i actually packed - it is a looot! And which first destination i'm getting ready for...

There also have been quite a few boring and administrative activities involved incl. tax statements, address registration, vaccinations, etc. and I’m glad these stressful last days are finally over now :)
My couchsurfing trip has basically already started two days before my flight, when I first crashed on my best friend's couch and then last night at my friend’s (deluxe bed instead of couch) in Frankfurt, close to my starting airport. 

So what is the first stop? DUBAI !
I’ve been there before and it‘s only a quick stop over for a few days. Actually I do not like this bright, modern yet artificial, money-focused, western-oriental-mixed concrete jungle too much, but i want to give it a second chance and try to get to know more of the good sides! But more important, a good friend of mine lives here and i didn’t want to miss the chance to meet them and their (not so) newborn baby finally. 

Next time i will tell and show you a bit more about my experiences in Dubai and I might start to reveal what the letter “L.” stands for... - stay tuned and see you here soon!

PS: I know flying business class to here does not quite sound like a typical “backpacker” experience - but I got it for less than usual economy class (big thank you to my aunt!) and I have to admit it was worth it: Nice comfortable flight, great food and arriving in a quite relaxed mood - and gave me some time to work this blog :)

PPS: please tell me in the comments - ask me questions, tell me what you're interested in and what not, and of course what would you like to hear & see more of: blogs, videos, pictures, lists (e.g. equipment), etc...?