Nora Dunn
Member statistics
- Member since
- 25th April 2009
Nora is a Professional Hobo and Freelance Writer, who enjoys living life on the road with no fixed address. Since selling all and leaving her Toronto Canada home in 2007, she has:
Climbed 60 meters down an icicle into a cave in the Rockies,
Fallen off the grid (literally & figuratively) in Hawaii,
Started international NGOs on the fly in Thailand, and
Survived Australia's worst natural disaster,
..among other adventures, past, present, and future.
Jump to Nora's Blog: theprofessionalhobo.com
Money Saving Advice from Nora's Book: '10,001 Ways to Live Large on a Small Budg
Nora Dunn's activity
- March 2013
Nora Dunn wrote a blog post How Much Money You Need to Start Traveling
Here are some questions to ask yourself that will help you define your travels, set a travel budget, and figure out how much to start with:"
Nora Dunn wrote a blog post Grenada Gets a Face Lift
It’s autumn in Grenada, and the streets are getting wider."
Nora Dunn wrote a blog post Saving for Travel – Changes You Can Make Today
One of the biggest stumbling blocks for aspiring travelers (full-time, long-term, or otherwise) is about having enough money to get started."
Nora Dunn wrote a blog post Unique Transportation: Buses in Grenada
Living, and travelling, at a different pace in Grenada"
- February 2013
Nora Dunn wrote a blog post Colourful Grenada: A Random Street Parade
In Grenada, I really never know what I’m going to find when I leave the house. Sometimes it’s the most amazing sunset, sometimes it’s a local child who smiles and jumps into my arms."
Nora Dunn wrote a blog post Financial Travel Tip #67 – More Airfare Saving Hacks
Airfare usually marks a big portion of any travel budget, so it pays to do what you can to ensure you get the best flights for your buck."
Nora Dunn wrote a blog post Unique Transportation: Ode to the Scooter
Nora's love for the scooter has turned poetic..."
Nora Dunn wrote a blog post Financial Travel Tip #61 – Providing Onward Travel Tickets
Many countries’ immigration departments require you to provide proof that you’re leaving their country (in the form of an onward travel ticket) before they’ll let you in."
- December 2012
Nora Dunn wrote a blog post Souvenirs, and Controlling Impulse Buys
Even if you’re a guru at applying everything in moderation, when you’e constantly seeing and discovering new things on the road, sometimes it’s hard not to get caught up in the impulse shopping fray."
- September 2012
Nora Dunn wrote a blog post The Swiss Life: Random Observations
Given that my summer in Switzerland has come to a close, it’s time to share with you some random observations that – for me – makes Switzerland unique."
Nora Dunn reviewed The World’s Largest Techno Party: Street Parade in Zurich in Zürich, Switzerland
When I emerged onto the hectic streets of Zurich for the Street Parade, I immediately realized I was overdressed. Er. Underdressed. Er. Dressed. Suddenly it made sense why everybody had been asking me what I would wear to Street Parade. Some…"
- August 2012
Nora Dunn wrote a blog post Swiss National (Surprise) Day
“Make sure you go somewhere with bonfires and fireworks for Swiss National Day,” said a Swiss friend of mine in regards to my upcoming plans for Wednesday August 1st."
- May 2012
Nora Dunn reviewed Turtle Watch Volunteering at Levera Beach in Grenada
A permit is required to access Levera beach (in northern Grenada), so they can control the environment and conserve this key nesting site for endangered Leatherback turtles. Volunteer researchers are on the beach every night between April and July from 8…"
Nora Dunn reviewed Clabony Sulphur Springs in Grenada
The only way to get to Sulphur Springs is to go with somebody who knows where it is, and who has a hardy 4×4. There are no street signs, maps are unreliable when it comes to anything other than main roads, and asking bystanders for directions is fa…"
Nora Dunn wrote a blog post The Art of Liming: Grenada’s Unofficial National Pastime
In Grenada the unofficial national pastime is “Liming”. It has nothing to do with the citrus fruit, and it’s less of an actual definable activity and more of a state of being."
- April 2012
Nora Dunn wrote a blog post Easter Sunday on the Beach in Grenada
“Get your tings. We goin da beach,” my neighbour said last Sunday, just after lunch. “It’s what we do for Easter,” was her explanation."
Nora Dunn wrote a blog post Financial Travel Tip #22: What is a Realistic Travel Budget?
You could probably keep your travel budget that low, providing you do a few things"
- February 2012
Nora Dunn wrote a blog post Passport Pictures for Pennies on the Dollar
Of course you travel with your passport. But do you travel with passport pictures? If not, then why not?"
Nora Dunn wrote a blog post The Most Dangerous Beach in the World
The warning signs along the roadside suggesting I might lose my life should have been my first clue that this wasn’t your average beach."
Nora Dunn wrote a blog post Managing Currency Conversion Rates
No matter how you manage and spend your money while you travel, you’re going to have to pay for the privilege of spending money in another currency."
- January 2012
Nora Dunn wrote a blog post Driving in Grenada
I slam on the brakes. On the bank is a goat grazing dangerously close to the road."
- November 2011
Nora Dunn wrote a blog post Financial Travel Tip #3: Debt Management
Get your financial house in orderbefore you travel."
Nora Dunn wrote a blog post How to Cross the Street in Saigon – and other Bike-Centric Observations
My first lesson in Vietnam pedestrian culture was that there aren’t really any pedestrians"
Nora Dunn wrote a blog post 13 Random Experiences on Asian Trains
Between Beijing and the final Ultimate Train Challenge destination of Saigon six days later, we ride on five different trains, including the flashy world’s fastest train from Beijing to Shanghai, some not-so-flashy trains, and a few in between."
- September 2011
Nora Dunn wrote a blog post No Baggage Challenge Wrap-Up: Lessons Learned
Here's what I learned:"
Nora Dunn reviewed Granada
Imagining southern Spain, somehow I constructed a picture in my mind that was devoid of elevation. So when the train pulled into Granada – which is surrounded by mountains – I was both surprised and pleased, since mountain hiking is one of my…"
- August 2011
Nora Dunn wrote a blog post Ultimate Train Challenge: Planning for the Trans-Siberian Railway
Planning for the Ultimate Train Challenge has been a monumental effort, and a team effort at that."
- July 2011
Nora Dunn wrote a blog post Florida with No Baggage
As I window shop in the beach town of Hollywood Florida, I’m being eyeballed left right and centre."
Nora Dunn wrote a blog post Flying with No Baggage
Although I normally travel with everything I own, this time I left just about everything behind in Toronto while taking this side-trip. In fact, not only did I not bring my usual bags, I brought no bags at all."
- April 2011
Nora Dunn reviewed Coromandel Peninsula in North Island, New Zealand
With 16,000kms of Australia’s rail lines under my (slightly maniacal) rail-enthusiastic belt, I recently conquered the formidable train infrastructure on New Zealand’s Coromandel peninsula: all 2.6kms of it. But this 2.6km train journey has …"
Nora Dunn wrote a blog post Tell me Where to go Next!
I have a request, dear readers, and I need your help!"
- March 2011
Nora Dunn wrote a blog post Motion Sickness on the Road
…The state of being dizzy or nauseated because of the motions that occur while traveling"
- February 2011
Nora Dunn reviewed The Indian Pacific in Sydney, Australia
This is the last installment of my mammoth series about the Indian Pacific, which is part of an 11,000km train journey I took across Australia – and back again. My mission: to see if spending eight days on a train could inspire boredom. So far, no …"
Nora Dunn reviewed The Indian Pacific in Sydney, Australia
What a journey so far! I’m two/thirds of the way through my 11,000 km train journey across Australia and back. After four nights on a train (with a night in Perth nestled in there), I’m still three days away from Sydney. And to my surprise, I…"
- January 2011
Nora Dunn reviewed The Indian Pacific in Sydney, Australia
So far in my 11,000km train journey across Australia and back, I’ve been aboard the Indian Pacific for three nights since getting on in Sydney. We’ve stopped in Broken Hill, Adelaide, Cook, and Kalgoorlie. Today, I ar…"
Nora Dunn reviewed Perth
My train arrived in Perth on a Saturday morning, and after a flurry of text messages describing what we were each wearing(!), Amanda and I spotted each other on the platform and gave each other a big hug. “Right. So what do you want to see while y…"
Nora Dunn reviewed The Indian Pacific in Sydney, Australia
At this point in the series, I’m four days into my epic 11,000 km journey across Australia (and back), and have spent the last two nights aboard the Indian Pacific, traveling from Sydney to Perth (and back).DAY THREEMy early night to bed last night…"
Nora Dunn reviewed The Indian Pacific in Sydney, Australia
Thus far in this series, I’ve set the stage for my epic 11,000km train journey, boarded the Indian Pacific train in Sydney, explored my digs, and settled in for the night.Indian PacificDay TwoAccounting for a half-hour time change back before bedti…"
- December 2010
Nora Dunn reviewed The Indian Pacific in Sydney, Australia
This Indian Pacific series is intended to give you a sense of what it’s like to travel on the Indian Pacific; from the people you meet, to the scenery you pass by, to simply living life on a train. Long-distance train travel is much less about the …"
- November 2010
Nora Dunn wrote a blog post Train Travel: The Ghan from Darwin to Adelaide – Day Three
Almost 48 hours after boarding The Ghan on Day One in Darwin, and with only a few hours to go to Adelaide, I was surprised to wake up and discover that we were still very much in the Australian outback."
Nora Dunn reviewed The Ghan in Northern Territory, Australia
One of my motivations in returning to Australia for a few months has been to experience the world-class multi-day train journeys that venture through some of the most uninhabitable parts of this sunburned country. The first of these train journeys that …"
Nora Dunn reviewed The Ghan in Northern Territory, Australia
On day two of my three-day epic journey on The Ghan, I awoke from my slumber and gazed out the window. One of my favourite things about overnight train travel is laying in bed and watching the sun rise over the moving landscape..."
Nora Dunn reviewed The Ghan in Northern Territory, Australia
Almost 48 hours after boarding The Ghan on Day One in Darwin, and with only a few hours to go to Adelaide, I was surprised to wake up and discover that we were still very much in the Australian outback... However, as the minutes and hours rolled by, inc…"
Nora Dunn wrote a blog post Train Travel: The Ghan from Darwin to Adelaide – Day Two
One of my favourite things about overnight train travel is laying in bed and watching the sun rise over the moving landscape."
Nora Dunn wrote a blog post Train Travel: The Ghan from Darwin to Adelaide – Day One
The Ghan; a three day, two night adventure from Darwin on the north coast through the Red Centre to Adelaide on the south coast."
Nora Dunn reviewed Darwin
“Watch out for crocs,” was the advice of a friend ringing in my ears as I slipped off the steps and onto the rocky beach in Darwin, Australia. I knew better than to swim in the ocean (rife with box jellyfish, salt-water crocodiles, and other …"
- October 2010
Nora Dunn reviewed Guinness Factory in Dublin, Ireland
I’m a dubious beer-drinker at best, and back in Canada the few times I tried Guinness, I thought it was a vile brew. But on the prompting of absolutely everybody I knew, I had to try this world-famous concoction – in Ireland, from the source.…"
Nora Dunn wrote a blog post Arriving in Ireland
I stepped off the ferry in Belfast with exactly ₤2.29 in coins and no bills."
- September 2010
Nora Dunn reviewed Edinburgh
The minute I stepped off the train in Edinburgh (by the way, taking trains and ferries all around the UK and Ireland is the way to travel – but more on that in an upcoming post), my jaw dropped. “Edinburgh is kind of like York on crack,&rdqu…"
Nora Dunn reviewed Carcassonne in France
I must confess. One of the reasons I wanted to take a day trip to Carcassonne had very little to do with the place itself, or my knowledge of this medieval walled city with a formidable history and a place on the UNESCO World Heritage list. No. It had t…"
- August 2010
Nora Dunn wrote a blog post Winding our Way Through the South of France
“Oh my gosh. I can’t believe it. Just look at that view,” I said, in awe of the vista we were driving by."
- July 2010
Nora Dunn wrote a blog post Thoughts on (and many pictures of) Spain
I have fallen – head over heels – in love with Spain."
Nora Dunn wrote a blog post Volunteering at Vaughan Town in Spain: A Cultural Experience
As I sit on the bus departing from the old restored town of Valdelavilla for the second of my two weeks of volunteering in Spain..."
Nora Dunn wrote a blog post Encountering the Artist: A Random Experience in Spain
His name was Toro Bravo..."
- June 2010
Nora Dunn wrote a blog post What to Pack for Full-Time Travel
For the purposes of this post, I recently unpacked my bags and took pictures of everything."
Nora Dunn reviewed Mt Tarawera in North Island, New Zealand
New Zealand is a very active volcanic zone, as evidenced by White Island – New Zealand’s most active volcano, just off the coast. But you don’t have to leave the mainland to feel the presence of volcanic activity, past and present. Roto…"
- May 2010
Nora Dunn wrote a blog post Living at Mana Retreat
For the last month, I’ve been working in trade for my accommodation at a little piece of paradise in New Zealand:"
- April 2010
Nora Dunn wrote a blog post Maori Culture in New Zealand
Rotorua is the hub of Maori culture in New Zealand"
Nora Dunn reviewed Black water rafting at Waitomo in North Island, New Zealand
Waitomo is north of Rotorua and is known as one of the largest cave regions in New Zealand. And in typical Kiwi style, caving tours and adventures abound in Waitomo. You can enjoy black water rafting (which is glorified tubing – except in a cave), …"
Nora Dunn wrote a blog post Abseiling, Caving, and Spotting Glow Worms in Waitomo, New Zealand
Waitomo is north of Rotorua and is known as one of the largest cave regions in New Zealand. And in typical Kiwi style, caving tours and adventures abound in Waitomo"
Nora Dunn wrote a blog post Helicopters, Sledges, and Jet Boats: Oh My!
We really had no idea what lay in store for us when we were driven to Kaitiaki Adventures for the day."
Nora Dunn wrote a blog post White Island: New Zealand’s Most Active Volcanic Site
50kms off the coast of New Zealand in the Bay of Plenty exists a living, breathing, steaming, venting, bubbling, heaving entity called White Island: New Zealand’s most active volcanic site. To walk on its shores gives you a true feeling for the earth’s po"
Nora Dunn reviewed Helicopter over White Island Volcanic site in Rotorua, New Zealand
50kms off the coast of New Zealand in the Bay of Plenty exists a living, breathing, steaming, venting, bubbling, heaving entity called White Island: New Zealand’s most active volcanic site. To walk on its shores gives you a true feeling for the ear…"
- March 2010
Nora Dunn wrote a blog post The Australian Aboriginal Tent Embassy: A 38 Year Protest
While I was visiting Canberra last month, my friend (also a Nora) and I wandered by a derelict collection of tents and temporary-looking dwellings in front of the old parliament building."
- February 2010
Nora Dunn wrote a blog post Why Would I Want to Visit Canberra?
Canberra (pronounced more like “Can-bra” with the emphasis on the “can”), gets a bad rap."
Nora Dunn wrote a blog post Australian Seagulls, Spider Bites, and Blue Mountains
My visit to Sydney was beautifully rounded out by staying with some friends just outside of the city. And aside from a chance encounter – or rather encounters (37 in total) – with some nasty spiders, all was beautiful."
Nora Dunn wrote a blog post The Manly Scenic Walkway, and How to Catch a Bus in Sydney
While enjoying Sydney, I decided to explore the 10km coastal Manly Scenic Walkway. And no…the walk isn’t particularly masculine in nature…Manly is the name of the Sydney suburb where the walk begins."
Nora Dunn wrote a blog post Random Observations from Sydney, Australia
If you want a guide to seeing Sydney Australia, this post is not going to be very fulfilling. But if you would like to enjoy some random observations and tips I have from roaming the streets of Sydney for almost a week, then please, feel free to continue."
- January 2010
Nora Dunn reviewed Hawaii (Big Island) in Hawaii, United States
Not only is the Big Island of Hawaii the least known and least visited Hawaiian island, but it is arguably the most diverse and spectacular. As a whole, the island is home to 11 of the 14 micro-climates that exist in the world, and both the world’s…"
- November 2009
Nora Dunn wrote a blog post Our Living Lawn Mowers
Well, if hiding my recent hobby of playing-with-fire was sneaky, then hiding the addition of two new members to our household would probably be construed as extra sneaky."
Nora Dunn wrote a blog post Camping with Koalas at Cape Otway
Enjoying a piece of the world famous Great Ocean Walk, I happen to find myself camping on night two in a little spot that wasn’t idyllic. As a former paddock, cows had trampled through not so long ago, as was evidenced by the dried out cow patties that co"
- October 2009
Nora Dunn wrote a blog post A Week-In-The-Life of Rosie in Spain
Having lived in London (England) all her life, Rosie has traveled extensively through America, Europe, Asia & Africa as a solo female visiting some 32 countries. She met her partner (Paul) on a singles holiday (the one & only package she ever took!). Aft"
Nora Dunn wrote a blog post The Sounds of Australian Birds
I’ve already written enthusiastically about the king parrots and close encounters with a Rosella or three..."
- June 2009
Nora Dunn commented on And the Web 2.0 Winner is:
"Awesome! Congratulations on a well-deserved award."
- December 2007
Nora Dunn reviewed Giant's Causeway and Causeway Coast in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
“Who built this thing?” is apparently a common awe-inspired (yet stupid) tourist response to the Giant’s Causeway, located in Northern Ireland. But who was I to surmise the true stupidity of these people? Maybe this ancient geographical…"
- July 2007
Nora Dunn reviewed Tongariro Crossing Hike in North Island, New Zealand
Shortly after I arrived in New Zealand, a number of people who knew of my passion for hiking and mountaineering told me it was worth my while to hike the 19km Tongariro Alpine Crossing. Yup. They were right. The crossing has been described as the best …"
