We were lucky to catch up with Eric Camela-Howard recently and have shared our conversation below.

Eric, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

My travel website, www.amazingsoutheastasia.com, is a project I’ve been working on for over a year, but I’ve had the idea ever since returning from my year-long backpacking trip in 2019. During that trip, I had the experience of my life. I hopped from country to country mainly by bus, experiencing the rich and diverse cultures of countries such as Vietnam, Thailand, and Laos. The natural beauty, lovely people, delicious cuisine, and fascinating cultures that make up the countries of Southeast Asia left me with fond memories of adventures that I had dreamed of since I was very young.

To create the most authentic travel experience possible, I limited technology to a minimum. I knew I would eventually create a travel blog, but I didn’t want it to define my trip. This is the primary reason I waited until a few years later to begin writing the blog. Since I started the blog last year, it has continued to grow as I add content daily. I aim to create a website that is easy to navigate for those wanting to travel to Southeast Asia for a few weeks or those planning an extended backpacking journey. I also want to increase tourism in this region, which relies heavily on revenue from travelers.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I currently live in Minneapolis, Minnesota with my wife Kleidy. In addition to working on Amazing Southeast Asia, I work as an operations manager at NoSweat, a company based out of Minnetonka, MN. I enjoy running, working on my website, reading travel books, and exploring new places. I’m also passionate about travel photography, and I’m currently planning my next adventure in Southeast Asia.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

Social media has been instrumental in boosting brand awareness for my website. Since this is a solo project, I devote a substantial amount of time to interacting with followers, crafting compelling content, curating relevant material, and devising effective growth strategies. In the rapidly evolving landscape of 2023, maintaining a robust social media marketing approach is crucial to staying relevant in any industry. Thus, I have embraced an assertive strategy for my website.

Presently, my Facebook page has amassed a sizeable following of 142,000, while my Instagram account has nearly 15,000 followers. Additionally, I have established a Threads account, which is Meta’s response to X (previously known as Twitter). Moreover, I leverage my X account to disseminate Southeast Asia travel news and photography.

As I forge ahead with growing my website, social media will undoubtedly remain an essential staple of my growth strategy. In the immediate future, I intend to integrate more video content across my social media platforms while working with fellow content creators to enhance my TikTok presence—an invaluable platform I have not yet utilized.

Have you ever had to pivot?

In 2017, after dedicating a substantial part of my post-college years to a corporate job in Lincoln, Nebraska, I found myself wanting something more. While I cherished the extensive travel opportunities my job offered both within the U.S. and internationally, a lingering desire for a backpacking adventure, a break from the routine, became increasingly undeniable. Despite my commitment to academics and employers, I sensed a need for change, a craving to shake up my life.

Adding fuel to this longing was the end of a serious relationship, intensifying my determination to embark on this transformative journey. It was during this pivotal moment that I stumbled upon the book “Vagabonding” by Rolf Potts. This book altered my perspective entirely. Its pages describe the concept of long-term travel, emphasizing the possibility of exploring affordable countries for extended periods using savings. At this time, I realized that I didn’t have to be rich to travel for an extended period.

With this revelation, I made a life-changing decision: I would take a gap year. Over the following year, I meticulously saved, planned, and daydreamed about the adventures that awaited me. In October 2018, equipped with nothing more than essentials packed into a 65-liter backpack, I set off for Bangkok, Thailand, marking the beginning of my epic year-long expedition across Southeast Asia.

My journey took me through the bustling streets of Bangkok and many other parts of Thailand, the serene landscapes of Laos, the vibrant culture of Vietnam, the historical allure of Cambodia, the mystique of Myanmar, the diverse tapestry of Malaysia, the modernity of Singapore, and the natural beauty of Indonesia. Traveling by various modes of transportation – boats, trains, tuk-tuks, taxis, buses, and scooters – I immersed myself in an adventure that profoundly shaped my character and altered my outlook on life in ways I could never have anticipated. This epic adventure became the catalyst for my newfound confidence, which continues to empower me to pursue my dreams.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://amazingsoutheastasia.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amazingsoutheastasia/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amazingsoutheastasiablog/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-howard-58158566/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Amazing_SE_Asia
• Other: Threads: https://www.threads.net/@amazingsoutheastasia Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/748026170135638 Email: eric@amazingsoutheastasia.com Link to a portion of my work: https://amazingsoutheastasia.com/photography Phone: (531) 739-8770

Image Credits
All photos are mine.