out of our
Life Backpack
"The world is a book and those who do not travel read only a page"
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ABOUT US
where it all began...
The story about how we met is not exactly as adventurous as the journey we have been on together ever since! On the 25th of December 2013, Christmas Day to most, we met at a Christmas Party whilst back home in Gibraltar on our short Christmas break. Thankfully we were both in our final year at Universities in the UK, Lou in Edinburgh, Scotland and myself in Newcastle, England, which were close enough to make the situation a little easier.
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Fast forward eight months from when we first met, we both had successfully completed our degrees, hung up our certificates and booked our one way tickets to Asia together which is where this whole journey begun!
Hey Guys, it is so nice to have you join us!
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We are Lou & Max, a travel couple originally from Gibraltar on an everlasting adventure where we explore this amazing world and share our personal journey.
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As a Veterinarian and a Structural Engineer, the safety and security of these careers back at home would have always been the safe and comfortable option in our lives, however our admiration of the planet’s raw beauty, love for wildlife and fascination of such diverse cultures is what has led us to living a ‘Life out of our Backpack’. We have intertwined this with our passion for both photography and videography allowing us to share our personal journey with you along the way.
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Through the combination of our adventures, professional work and all the moments in between, our mission is to use our individual style of storytelling to hopefully offer a slice of inspiration where you too can follow your dreams! For those who wish to go into a little more depth about our Journey, please just continue to scroll.
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I guess like most others, we were both taught to finish school, go to university, get a job and settle down at home where you get married, have kids and live happily ever after. In the eyes of modern day society this is what would be classified as being successful but we are not quite sure these pressures necessarily lead to success.
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“Success isn’t about how your life looks to others. It’s about how it feels to you”
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Fortunately for us we both have a similar mind-set which has allowed us to juggle our professions, embrace opportunities and make sacrifices in order for us to do what makes us enjoy life and break away from the societal mould if needs be.
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At 23 and 26 we were not ready to commit ourselves to careers that today will likely last in excess of 35 years. Prolonging this was going to have very little, if any impact what so ever, so instead we chose to spend a year wandering through South-East Asia, Australia and New Zealand. Having only known each other for 8months, we knew this journey would either make or break us but we were willing to find out.
After having spent a year abroad away from all “responsibilities”, we had challenged ourselves, met amazing people, submerged ourselves in some fascinating cultures and visited places we had never even dreamed of. This experience gave us a new sense of independence and appreciation for our planet. Having been on a fascinating backpacking adventure, we felt it would be great to share this experience with others which is when we created Life out of our Backpack!
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Relaxed, refreshed and ready to start our careers a year later, we decided to call Australia home for the next year. Lou found a Vet job in Sydney however, I didn’t have much luck finding an engineering job and soon found myself learning how to whip up the tastiest coffee in town. Yes, I became a barista and despite this never being my intention, it was something I would do all over again!
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365 days later my visa expired so we moved back to the UK (Newcastle) where Lou continued to work as a locum vet whilst I took on my first role as a structural engineer.
what we have been up to
Hi Guys, I’m Lou, short for Louise-Anne and the better half of Life Out Of Our Backpack (Only Joking Max). I am from the beautiful small British Oversees Territory of Gibraltar which is situated at the Southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula however left for University at the age of 18 and have since not returned to settle down.
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Along with my passion for travel, I have always had an eternal love and interest for animals which is why I went down the route of becoming a Vet. Fortunately my profession has provided me with some fantastic opportunities whereby I have worked full time in Australia, UK and now in the UAE.
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In addition to my contractual work, I, like Max, do also have a burning desire to take my profession to the developing world where I continue to visit animal shelters, clinics and charities to help in the care of stray and neglected animals.
Hello hello, I am Charles Maxwell Pizarro, better known as Max and as you probably guessed, the other half of Life Out Of Our Backpack. I, like Lou, grew up on the Rock of Gibraltar until I was 18 before I headed to University.
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Although I am a Civil & Structural Engineer by profession, I do however currently dedicate myself as a full time travel blogger where we look to share our experiences and adventures through our blogs, photography and videos. Despite yet to match the work of Shakespeare, I am however responsible for the written content amongst our website and apologise in advance if the grammar is not quite yet to perfection! My aim is to be able to provide inspiration and motivation to travellers where we can offer detailed insights and an array of meaningful recommendations for some of the most inspiring countries on the planet!
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Along with my everlasting curiosity and slight obsession for this amazing planet, I do also have a longing desire and a passion to put my profession to use in the developing world. Part of my travels lies in the opportunity to visit vulnerable communities across the globe where I work with non-profit organisations to assist in the construction and development of basic amenities for the less fortunate and help to better the lives of others.
about lou
about max
Countries
Cities
We Travel Not To Escape Life But For Life Not To Escape Us
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