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Welcome to Flashpacker HQ!

My name is Travis Ball and these are my images, stories and tips meant to inspire you to travel.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”full_width_background” bg_position=”left top” bg_repeat=”no-repeat” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” bottom_padding=”30″][vc_column width=”2/3″ animation=”none” column_padding=”no-extra-padding” background_color_opacity=”1″ column_padding_position=”all”][vc_column_text]My first trip abroad was a 3-month backpacking trip through Europe in 1999.  For the 8 years following that trip I tried out numerous jobs seeking a career that would make me happy.  After some soul searching in 2007 I made the decision to set off for a 5-year trip around the world on the belief that I was happiest while traveling.  With that goal in mind, I picked up a second job and worked hard for two years to pay off my debt, eliminate my possessions and create a travel fund.  I left in May of 2009 and haven’t looked back. Flashpacker HQ initially came into being as a way to keep everyone back home up-to-date with what I was up to while teaching English in Japan.  I stumbled upon the term Flashpacker and instantly knew that described me – a traveler in his early 30s who loved traveling with the mentality of a backpacker but without the dorm rooms or self-made dinners in the hostel kitchen.  My intent with FPHQ is to create a conversation about travel through my photography, tales of travel, guides and resources. More Details [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”full_width_background” bg_position=”left bottom” bg_repeat=”no-repeat” scene_position=”center” text_color=”light” text_align=”center” bg_color=”#000000″ top_padding=”50″ bottom_padding=”40″ bg_image=”3143″ parallax_bg=”true”][vc_column width=”1/1″ animation=”none” column_padding=”padding-7-percent” background_color_opacity=”0.6″ column_padding_position=”all” background_color=”000000″ background_color_hover=”FFFFFF” font_color=”FFFFFF”][vc_column_text]

What is a Flashpacker you ask?

Think of a flashpacker as an evolved backpacker – a traveler who focuses on local experiences and adventure but without the dorm beds and pasta from the hostel kitchen.  More money and more gear leads to a similar, but different, style of travel than your typical backpacker.

Flashpacker Defined [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”full_width_content” vertically_center_columns=”true” bg_position=”left bottom” bg_repeat=”no-repeat” scene_position=”center” text_color=”light” text_align=”left” parallax_bg=”true”][vc_column width=”1/3″ animation=”none” column_padding=”padding-3-percent” column_padding_position=”all” background_color=”#000000″ background_color_opacity=”0.4″ font_color=”#ffffff” background_image=”3139″][vc_column_text]

My Photography

Travel and event photography from home and abroad.

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My Blog

Travel tips and regular updates from my travels.

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Travel Resources

Everything from planning your trip to working abroad and more.

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