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

Hear what decades of unconventional travel taught him about risk, safety, and how to process difficult experiences abroad. ============================ Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds. ============================ ON THIS EPISODE 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, 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 direct links to everything discussed are available here. ============================ FIND YOUR NEXT EPISODE Explore The Maverick Show Starter Packs — some of my favorite conversations curated by theme so you can easily find the episodes that match your interests. ============================ FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU See my Top 10 Travel Apps See my Top 10 Books that Shaped the Way I Travel See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ============================ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram and DM Matt to continue the conversation Please leave a rating and review — it really helps the show and I read each one personally Support the show by buying me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes!