Jonny Blair – The Business Backpacker

My name is Jonny Blair and I am a business backpacker. While I still travel the world on a tight backpacking budget, I work for myself online these days as well as with a load of other travel sites and apps. While my niche is in budget backpacking, I have also written about football, music, lifestyle design, luxury backpacking (flashpacking) and digital nomadery. I currently live in Poland and am known locally as the Northern Irishman in Poland.

business backpacking jonny blair
Jonny Blair – The Business Backpacker

Through becoming a business backpacker I have been able to finance my travels entirely through my online projects, working for myself and other companies online as I travel the world.

My stories have featured on over 200 different websites in the last 5 years. I work online for myself and a number of travel and media companies as a business backpacker and professional travel blogger and writer.

In order to be a business backpacker you need to work hard, budget well, travel the world and the most important thing – internet access. I need to be constantly online these days as I travel the world.

If any of you reading are interested in how backpacking can become a business, please get in touch with me through my Contacts page.

Safe travels and don’t work too hard,

Jonny Blair

Jonny Blair - the Business Backpacker
Jonny Blair – the Business Backpacker

My Football Articles

I love football and have followed it since the early 1980s. I have attended over 500 football matches on my travels through almost 100 countries.

Personally my favourite clubs teams are Glentoran FC (from Belfast, Northern Ireland) and AFC Bournemouth (from England).

My favourite international football team is Northern Ireland and I have been to watch them over 100 times, across 20 different countries.

I will post a list of my football articles here:

northern ireland england 1-0 healy
Watching Northern Ireland beat England 1-0 in Belfast in 2005.

If you read this and want to help me find my stolen World Cup tickets please visit these sites and contact me:
DHL stolen World Cup tickets
FIFA stolen World Cup tickets

My Music Articles

I have a keen interest in music and have written on a wide range of British rock platforms since 1997. I also used to manage a rock band. Here are the best of my music articles and stories:

Music Articles

1997 – Terrible Beauty

1997 – Milan When I Was  Kitten

1998 – 1999 – Regular contributor to REPEAT fanzine

2005 – 2006 – Manager of Rock Band “the Waves”, doing PR for the band including appearances in local music fanzines, magazines and gig fliers.

2007 – Contribution to an article on Ash on BBC Radio Ulster

2014 – My articles on watching Oasis live in the 1990s in Ireland appear on the music section of Irish Website.

jonny blair business backpacker music
Jonny Blair – My Music Media Appearances.

My Online Appearances

Online Media Appearances – Jonny Blair

This is a list of my entire online media appearances for sites other than those I own. I have featured on over 130 different websites in the last 5 years. I work online for myself and a number of travel and media companies as a business backpacker and professional travel blogger and writer.

business backpacker jonny blair
Jonny Blair – the Business Backpacker working online in China.

2014

January:

2nd – Appeared on the daily Iraqi Kurdistan newsletter on my post about getting a visa for Kurdistan.

2nd – Appeared on the Love Affair Travel Website with a link to my latest travel interview from Yerevan in Armenia (this also appeared on iTunes and as an online Podcast)

2nd – Appeared on the Kerala website as a contestant in their Win a Trip to India competition.

4th – Featured as one of the top posts from December 2013 on Sam and Zab’s Indefinite Adventure site.

6th – I’m interviewed on Allan Wilson’s site Live Less Ordinary where he describes me as The Best Travel Blogger in the World.

7th – Three of my articles on backpacking in Iraq are featured on the site GoKurdistan.com

7th – Contributed to an article on staying safe in South America on Sam and Zab’s Indefinite Adventure site: Safety in South America.

8th – A few of my articles are featured on Travel Iraqi Kurdistan website including my report on Amadiya.

10th – Interviewed as an inspiring traveller on Mapping Megan – Inspiring Traveler – Jonny Blair

10th – Featured on Alexandra’s Cool Site Travel Fashion Girl – Interview with Male Traveler Jonny Blair

11th January – Interviewed on Mighty Travels: Interview with Jonny Blair of Don’t Stop Living

15th – Featured on an article about workers on Overseas Job Centre Workers of the World page

22nd – Featured on Wanderlust Wednesdays on Used York City.com in an article called 10 Bloggers Share Their Most Anticipated Trip of 2014.

24th – Featured on a series about Beers around the World on eTramping: Beers Around the World – Petra in Jordan.

30th – Featured as the Thursday Traveller on Amanda’s Site A Dangerous Business: Thursday Traveler – Jonny Blair from Don’t Stop Living

February:

8th – My Travel Podcast and interview appears on Love Affair Travel: Jonny Blair unstoppable travel Mindset

8th – View my Travel Podcast on iTunes from Apple: Jonny Blair Travel Podcast iTunes

17th – My meal in Kurdistan, Iraq is included in an article on Backpack Me Around the World in 80 Dishes

21st – My weeding in Tasmania post and idea is included on Rudolph Musngu’s site 10 Cool Job Titles

27th – My tickets for Oasis gigs in 1996 and 1997 plus a short report are included in an awesome “12 Moments of Nostalgia in Ireland’s Love Affair with Oasis” post on Daily Edge.

March

5th – Featured on Zofia’s site The Piktures on Ex Pat Wednesdays – Jonny Blair in Hong Kong

10th – Interview on the Curious Nomad Website: How They Did It, Meet Traveller Jonny Blair of Don’t Stop Living

21st – I compiled an Iraq Travel Guide for Boots’n’All

2013

January:

9th – Shockingly my article on doing a shit in a broccoli field makes it onto “Tent Camping Fun”: Doing a Shit in a Broccoli Field

11th – Nominated for a Shorty Award: Jonny Blair of Don’t Stop Living

Ongoing from January 2013 – Writer and Blogger on We Blog the World: We Blog the World – Jonny Blair

February:

2nd – Guest Post on Almost Fearless Backpackers about Antarctica: Visiting the British Base at Port Lockroy, Antarctica by Jonny Blair

3rd – Guest Post on Teach English Travel Overseas on Teaching English in Hong Kong: Teaching English in Hong Kong – Interview with Jonny Blair

21st – Guest Post on Santa Fe Travelers: A Wee Guide to Northern Ireland by Jonny Blair

March:

2nd – Article on Antarctica on Inspiring Travellers Arrival on Antarctic Mainland

10th – Featured on the DFR (Double F**king Rainbow) as an awesome site: The DFR

18th – Interview on Getting Stamped: Meet a Traveler – Jonny from Don’t Stop Living

31st – Nominated for a Super Sweet Blogging Award on Accelerated Stall

April:

3rd – Listed on The Working Traveller in the post Travel Blogging Until They Die

4th – Guest Post Short Travel Tips on my arrival in Antarctica: Epic Arrival on Antarctic Mainland by Jonny Blair

8th – Interview for The Professional Hobo on A Week in the Life of Jonny Blair

17th – My photo from the top of Mount Kinabalu is featured as the first “Wordless Wednesday” on Accelerated Stall: Wordless Wednesday – Mount Kinabalu

19th – Interview for Teaching Travel on Travel, Teaching in Hong Kong and being Northern Irish, From RTW Travel (Even Antarctica!) to Teaching in Hong Kong

26th – Interview about my home country on Uniquely Northern Ireland: Interview with Northern Irish Blogger Jonny Blair of Don’t Stop Living

May:

3rd – Interview on “The Travel Ten” on Gotta Keep Movin’ : The Travel Ten – Jonny from Don’t Stop Living

9th – Interview for Victoria of Pommie Travels on “Travel Bloggers Who Rock”: Travel Bloggers Who Rock – Jonny from Don’t Stop Living

18th – Included in Tripologist’s Pick of the Week for my Doing Antarctica on the Cheap Story

19th – Interview for Flip Nomad in his “Meet The Nomads” series: Meet the Nomads – Jonny Blair of Don’t Stop Living

23rd – Guest Post on Suitcase Stories on the Best Things to do in Northern Ireland: The Best Things to do in Northern Ireland by Jonny Blair

27th – Interview with Adam Finan – The Tropical Nomad: Interesting Interviews – Jonny of Don’t Stop Living

29th – Guest Post on We Said Go Travel on top 5 things to do in Deception Island: Top 5 Things to See and Do in Deception Island, Antarctica

31st – Guest Post on eTramping on 10 Reasons to Visit Antarctica: 10 Reasons to Visit Antarctica

From May 2013 – Contributed Articles to TripGoggles: China Rice Fields

June:

3rd – Interview for the Grown Up Gap Year: If We Can Do It So Can You with Jonny Blair of Don’t Stop Living

4th – Contibutor to Essential Travel.co.uk with an article called 10 Ways to Organise a Budget

6th – A guide to getting a Chinese Visa on Visa Nerd: A Guide to Getting A Chinese Visa in Hong Kong

11th – Interview with Dave and Vicky on A Couple Travelers: Interview with Jonny Blair

19th – Interview on My Destination: Big Blogger Interview – Jonny Blair of Don’t Stop Living

25th – Featured for my advice on saving money on internet and Wi-Fi usage on Round the World Expenses: Essential Tips to find free wi-fi or internet service

25th – Interviewed on Almost Fearless Backpackers: Tuesday Talks with Jonny Blair of Don’t Stop Living

26th – My Happiness Story on Adam Pervez’s site Happiness Plunge: Stories of Happiness Pursuers – Jonny of Don’t Stop Living

28th – Included in Nomadic Samuel’s Top 100 Travel Blogs – Don’t Stop Living in at 96 on Alexa.

29th – Signed up and posting articles for Trip Goggles: Trip Goggles

 July

1st – Featured Travel Expert on Think Places: Travel Experts – Jonny Blair

10th – Interviewed on Santa Fe Travelers: Meet the Travel Bloggers – Jonny Blair of Don’t Stop Living

12th – My Working Wednesdays feature is included on Francsa’s WordPress Page: 12 Phrases that mean Big Travel Savings

17th – Interviewed on Mo Saffer: Get Inspired – Interview With Jonny Blair of Don’t Stop Living

19th – I am interviewed by The Good Web Guide: How Travel Changed My Life

19th – I wrote an article on China for Asia Rooms: 5 Unusual World Heritage Sites in China

22nd – I wrote and article for Ian at Borderless Travels on 5 Incredible Activities You Shouldn’t Miss in Antarctica

23rd – Interviewed on the Globetrotting Canuck: A Fellow Traveller – Jonny from Don’t Stop Living

From July 2013 onwards – Featured Itinerary Writer on Vadovia.com

August

4th – Interviewed on Clover Signs Blog: Signs of a Real Irish Pub

14th – Interviewed on Super Nerdo: Funding my Travels – Jonny of Don’t Stop Living

16th – Included in a list of Blogs that want to interview you on The Working Traveller

16th – Interviewed on Go Power Kick: Today’s Traveler – Jonny Blair of Don’t Stop Living

21st – Guest Post on Wanderlust Wednesdays: Travel Talk – Backpacking in Antarctica

22nd – Interview on Oh Hey World! Inspiring Travelers: Travel Inspiration – an interview with Jonny Blair

22nd – Interview on RiteSim Sim Card Website: We chat with Jonny from the Don’t Stop Living Blog

22nd – Contestant in a competition to travel the world for free: Travel the world for free Jonny Blair

23rd – Featured on the Working Traveller: Worldwide Worker Jonny Blair teaching English in Hong Kong and other jobs abroad

26th – Guest Post on Living That: 5 Things to see and do in Northern Ireland

27th – Guest Post on the Easy Hiker: Hiking Tiger Leaping Gorge in China

29th – Featured on Essential Travel.co.uk with 5 other travel bloggers: The Truth Behind Travel Blogging

29th – Interview on a World To Travel: 50 Jobs on the Road with Jonny Blair of Don’t Stop Living

29th – Interview in Espanol (Spanish) on Mindful Travel By Sara: Entrevista viajera con Jonny Blair de Don’t Stop Living

29th – Interview in English on Mindful Travel By Sara: Travel Interview with Jonny Blair of Don’t Stop Living

29th – Guest Post on Mapping Megan: Arrival in Barrientos Antarctica by Jonny Blair

30th – Mentioned on We Said Go Travel for the interview with Lisa and George.

September

1st – Featured on Visislife: 7 Continents, over 70 countries and a life of travel with Jonny Blair

1st – Included on Blogs I Still Bother Reading on Jarrlemen’s Blog.

2nd – Contributed to an article on Renegade Travels: Do You Really Need Travel Insurance?

9th – Featured on BBC Northern Ireland online based on my travels around the world with my Northern Ireland flag: Bangor man travels the world with Northern Ireland flag.

13th – Featured as a Guest Writer on Travel Wonders with my article on: 5 Off the Beaten Track World Heritage Sites in China

14th – Featured on Young Pioneer Tours Website for my review of the Mass Games on National Day: Jonny Blair’s review of Mass Games

19th – I wrote a Guest Post for Top 10 Things to do: Top 10 Things to see and do in Belfast, Northern Ireland

25th – Featured on My Morning Routine, sharing how I spend my mornings: Jonny Blair’s Morning Routine.

26th – Featured on Backpack Me’s Travel Blog Exchange.

27th – Interviewed on Travel Blogger Interviews: Interview with travel blogger Jonny Blair

30th – I nominated the Northern Irish Ulster Fry in this post by Agness and Cez at eTramping.com: Breakfasts From Around the World

October

4th – Interviewed on Travel Buzz: Interview with Jonny Blair

4th – Guest article on After Globe: A Weekend in Belfast, Northern Ireland by Jonny Blair

7th – Travel Blogger Interview on Backpacks and Bunkbeds: Jonny Blair Travel Blogger at A Lifestyle of Travel

8th – Travel Writer Interview with Kristin Mok: A Conversation with Jonny Blair

11th – A few of my job tips for travelling the world are featured on the Working Traveller: Workers of the World

13th – A conversation with the guys at Travel Writing 2.0 Blog: A Conversation with Jonny Blair of Don’t Stop Living

14th – Travel Blogger Interview on the DFR Blog (Double Fu#king Rainbow): Blogger Talk – Don’t Stop Living

19th – Featured in the Bournemouth University Alumni Magazine online PDF (also appeared in print), talking about backpacking, travelling and working: Jonny Blair in Bournemouth University Magazine

21st – “The 5 Easiest Jobs to Travel With” wins Blog of the Week on Wanderlust: 5 Easiest Jobs to Travel With.

25th – Featured on an Azerbaijan Website thanks to my recent story on the Mud Volcanoes Near Baku: Silkyway Travel Blog – Mud Volcanoes

28th – Featured on Asia Rooms as a blog of the month: Best blogs of the month on Asia Rooms – Don’t Stop Living

28th – Nominated in the Babble Top 100 Travel Bloggers of 2013: Best Travel Blogs Jonny Blair

28th – Interviewed on Next Stop Who Knows: Travel Tales with Jonny Blair of Don’t Stop Living

29th – Featured Travel Expert on Tripoto: Jonny Blair on Tripoto

31st – Featured on Jewish Heritage for a video from Bethlehem University.

November

6th – Finished in the Top 5 Newcomers Category on Asia Rooms 2013 Blog Awards: Jonny Blair on Asia Rooms

6th – Interview on Suitcase Stories: Interview with a Traveler – Jonny at Don’t Stop Living.net

13th – Included on a Feature on weird foods on A Luxury Travel Blog: 10 More of the World’s Weirdest Foods Eaten By Travel Bloggers

14th – Article on the Global Grasshopper on China: 10 off the Beaten Track Spots in China by Jonny Blair of Don’t Stop Living.

18th – Interview on Relaxing Travel on Soothed in the City: Chilled Travel with Travel Blogger Jonny Blair

December

6th – My article on “Broccoli Fields Forever” is featured on the Working Traveller’s Workers of the World Post

13th – Featured on Digital Mint’s Top 100 Travel Blogs

13th – Article on We Said Go Travel on my trip to Hebron: Two Sides of Hebron, Palestine

14th – Featured on a list of 50 Awesome Travel Blogs on Want to Discover.com

27th – I contributed to an article on Coffees of the World on eTramping.com

27th – My post on holding two passports was shared on the Friday Link Round up on Go Click Travel

2012

August:

17th – Interview for No Place To Be series “Meet a Random Traveller: Jonny from Don’t Stop Living

November:

5th – Guest Article on Backpacking Spirit: A Peek into a Backpackers Journal – Antarctica – Foyn Harbour and Cuverville Island

12th – “How to Do Australia on the Cheap” wins Travel Blog of the Week on Wanderlust: “How to Travel Australia on the Cheap

December:

– Article on Watching Hong Kong v. North Korea on the Unofficial Football World Championship Website: “My First UFWC Match

2010

October: Interview for No Place To Be series “Meet a Random Traveller: Jonny Blair