I’m Simon the Backpacker
My name is Simon Zhelyazkov. I’m a 30-something-year-old Bulgarian traveling around the world.
I love backpacking, hitchhiking, couchsurfing, authentic experiences, cool destinations, and of course, helping you have memorable moments and save money.
About Me
The way
I haven’t always been a traveler. As a teen, I even hated traveling. In my defense traveling with your parents as a teen is not the best fun. But then I discovered the joy of solo backpacking. This has been my way ever since.
The goal
By the time I was 30, I had already visited 60 countries. Had you asked me a couple of years ago, I’d’ve said my goal was to visit all of them. But now, I want to have fun, peace, and enjoy life. Travel is my way of achieving that.
I am also a huge trivia fan. I love fun facts, quizzes, and trivia challenges. So I created my own game – Factbomb. Check it out, I promise it’s fun!
The experience
I was solo backpacking around the world for a long time. Visiting new places, exploring countries big and small. My mission was to meet the people of the world and humble myself in the face of this great diversity.
At some point in the journey, I met Yulli, who’s now a full member of the team. It’s now a duo backpacking experience. You will see pictures of her throughout the blog. You can also read more about her on her own blog, Midsize Woman.
The story
I have one & it’s awesome!
Young, stupid, inexperienced.
It all started with
a short
trip…
In 2016 I invited at least 5 different friends to come with me to the Netherlands on a 10 day trip. All of them had excuses – had to work, the dates didn’t work, low on money, etc, etc. I said “the f with it, I’m going alone!“
That was my first solo trip. It’s like a bug. Once you do one you want more and more.
Still young, still stupid, still inexperienced. This time also sweaty and unshaven.
I continued
my
journey…
Since 2016 I’ve backpacked many times in Europe and Asia.
In 2018 I went to Japan and backpacked my way back to Bulgaria through South Korea, The Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand.
In 2019 I did an even longer Asian trip visiting more countries, more places and meeting more fascinating people.
A bit older, and I hope at least a tiny bit less stupid now.
All I ask is to
travel
around the world
The Pandemic halted my globetrotting. That’s why, come 2022, I decided it’s now or never to travel the world. I put everything else on hold, packed my backpack, and went East.
Now I am stuck in a never-ending loop of leaving before my visa expires.
The vision
I created this blog to share my backpacking moments. The blog’s name tells you that much.
But over the months of travelling through dozens of countries, I realized how important it is for backpackers to have first-hand information about certain places.
My vision for this blog is to help other backpackers be prepared for their journeys!
