A bit About Me

A backpacker. A photographer. A (hitch)hiker. A vanlifer. A sweet tooth. A friend. A traveler for life.

Catherine xu nomadicated profile picture

Welcome, I’m Cat!

Since 2015, I have been on a mission to experience everything humanly possible. It’s taken me on adventures to over 65 countries and 38 states. I’ve lived in Israel, Malta, Japan, Austria, Thailand, and Indonesia and even vanlifed across the USA!

And I want to share the beauty of the world with you through the great outdoors, off-the-beaten-path travel, and adrenaline-pumping hikes and rides.

Nomadicated is all about helping you cross off your bucket list, adventurously and independently!

My path has brought me traversing across the Himalayas to living in the jungles of Myanmar to learning KungFu in a Shaolin Temple. I have been on countless flights, hitchhiked with hundreds of strangers, and walked countless miles at some of the most iconic and remote places in the world. Check out my full bucket list here!

Here at Nomadicated, you’ll find detailed destination guides, bucket list places to see, and honest reviews of my experiences. I want you to go out and have your own epic journey, no matter how big or small. Let’s cross off your bucket list together!

Why I Started this Blog

“Happiness is only real, when shared.”

  • This world is a magical place, and I want to pass on knowledge on how you can see it too (Independently and budget-friendly)
  • I want people to find what makes them happy. The more things you try, the more you know what you like (or don’t like)
  • I want to encourage people to step out of their comfort zone. I did it (twice), and it was the best thing that ever happened to me.

Blast to Cat’s past

At 19, I left my straight and narrow path, setting out with my too much luggage, to “find myself” by traveling the world. Little did I know that this gap year would completely change the trajectory of my life.

I ditched the clothing hoard and the nail art, swapping them for a backpack and a camera. Since then, I’ve been hitting the road whenever I get the chance.

Catherine Xu doing lungful in a Chinese Shaolin temple
Catherine xu nomadicated vanlifing in the forest

What I’m Up to Now

At yet another crossroads between “normal” life and Nomadication, I decided to call it quits on my corporate consulting job and sold everything in 2021, even my beloved van home, to once again commit to chasing my travel dreams…full-time.

Some Goals for the Next Trips

  • Traverse across Mongolia on horseback
  • Hitchhike across Central Asia
  • Walk across Iceland
  • Learn ice climb in Nepal
  • Whitewater kayak a “small” waterfall
  • Be a pupil again at a KungFu temple for 6 months
  • Make a sustainable travel blog!

Some of my Ultimate Life Goals:

  • Hike the tallest mountain of each continent
  • Visit every country before I’m 80

The meaning behind “nomadicated”

Nomadicated: The Dedication to being a Nomad.

I have accepted the fact that travel and the thrill of the unknown will always be a part of my life.

As much as “traveling” in the name of experience is filled with beauty and joy, it is also filled with hardship.

That mountaintop view? It took 5 days of hiking in frigid -20 degree weather. And along the way, there have been some big bugs in sketchy hotels and some odd, odd people.

Traveling is my passion and I just want to be able to share information to make it easier for the next soul and inspire them to take the leap.

It is never too late to begin, and it is never too early to start. I hope this site will spark your own wanderlust.

I don’t know about you, but I want future generations to think “Damn, she’s a badass grandma!”

Countries Visited
USA States
Shots Taken
Adventures
lower antelope canyon see you on the path about me

Where I鈥檝e Been

The path less traveled has taken me to 65+ countries on 5 continents as I’ve lived, traveled, and fallen in love (with people and places).

I’ve picked up Spanish in Costa Rica, scuba dived in Indonesia, learned Kung Fu in China, sailed the Caribbean, hitchhiked in Israel, and built a livable van with just YouTube.

I’ve crashed in some crazy spots: an electrical plant in Azerbaijan, a roller coaster pod in Japan, an igloo in Austria. Park benches, hammocks in random parks, camped behind a gas station, and even a towel on a concrete slab in desperation.

Countries I’ve Lived In Or Super Slow Traveled In

馃搷USA (Home Country): New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Missouri, Los Angeles, California, Vanlifed West USA for 2 Years (Las Vegas, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Colorado, Montana, Washington, Oregon, Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone National Park)

馃搷Thailand (8+ times, 6+ months): Chiang Mai (Winter Homebase), Bangkok, Chiang Rai, Pai, Golden Triangle, Krabi, Phuket, Pattaya (Yuck!), Koh Phayam, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao, Koh Phi Phi, Sukhothai, Ayutthaya

馃搷Indonesia (3 months): Java, Bali (Homebase), Nusa Lembongan & Ceningan, Nusa Penida, Lombok, Flores, Komodo National Park

馃搷Vietnam (1 month): Hanoi, Ha Giang Loop, Ha Long Bay, Sapa, Cao Bang, Ninh Bihn

馃搷Austria (2+ months): Salzburg, Wels, Vienna

馃搷Malta (3+ months): St. Julians, Valletta, Gozo, Comino

馃搷China (2 years in total): Shanghai, Yunan

馃搷Israel (6 months): Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, 2nd Largest Regional Burning Man

馃搷Japan (3 months): Osaka, Tokyo, Hokkaido, Hiroshima, Kyoto

馃搷Mexico (3 months): Yucatan, Acapulco, Mexico City, Oaxaca, Pacific Coast (Puerto Escondido, Zihuatanejo, Huatulco)

馃搷Turkey (1+ months): Istanbul, Antalya, Kas, Ephesus, Pamukkale, Capadoccia, Black Sea Coast

馃搷Greece (2+ months): Athens, Icaria, Hydra, Samothraki, Koufinisia, Amorgos, Mykonos, Peloponesse Road Trip

馃搷Nepal (2 months): Kathmandu, Everest Base Camp, Kathmandu Valley, Chitwan, Trisuli & Karnali River Rafting, Pokhara

Full List of Other Countries I’ve Traveled To

ASIA
Armenia 路 Azerbaijan 路 Brunei 路 Georgia 路 India 路 Jordan 路 Malaysia 路 Mongolia 路 Myanmar 路 Palestine 路 Philippines 路 Singapore 路 South Korea 路 Timor-Leste

NORTH AMERICA 
Belize 路 Canada 路 Costa Rica 路 Guatemala 路 Panama 路 USVI 路 BVI

SOUTH AMERICA
Argentina 路 Bolivia 路 Brazil 路 Colombia 路 Ecuador 路 Guyana 路 Peru 路 Suriname

EUROPE
Belgium 路 Bosnia and Herzegovina 路 Croatia 路 Cyprus 路 Czech Republic 路 Denmark 路 England 路 France 路 Germany 路 Iceland 路 Italy 路 Kosovo 路 Lithuania 路 Netherlands 路 Luxembourg 路 Montenegro 路 Poland 路 Slovakia 路 Spain 路 Switzerland

AFRICA
Egypt 路 Madagascar 路 Morocco 路 Tanzania

Some of my highest Achievements

See you on the Path!

START PLANNING YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE!