About BoB

Manouk4 Backpack Fjallraven Travelbags

Hi there!

My name is Manouk, but you may also call me BoB (short for Bunch of Backpackers). In daily life, I work as a medical doctor and I recently obtained a Ph.D. degree in Medical Sciences.

However, I still haven’t found a cure for my travel bug…

So, I keep on exploring. Travel has and probably will always play a crucial role in my life (if you don’t know me yet, this is a good article to start with).

As an adventurer by heart, I have a zest for:

  • visits to offbeat destinations such as Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Zimbabwe, Iran, Iraq, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Sudan, Ethiopia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast etc.
  • history and culture
  • city tripping / micro adventures
  • independent travel / backpacking
  • long-term travel
  • solo travel
  • outdoor activities such as hiking, mountaineering, and camping
  • diving
  • hostels
  • surfing (recently discovered, still at beginner level) & kitesurfing

Oh, and I love karaoke (this might be due to my Korean roots)! And mountain lakes!

What started out as ‘lengthy emails with travel tips’ to friends, led to the start of my own travel website in 2013. In the years following, Bunch of Backpackers became one of the world’s leading female adventure travel blogs.

Bunch of Backpackers is known for its:

  • expert travel advice
  • down to earth trip reports
  • extraordinary adventures

I hope you enjoy reading this blog and don’t hesitate to contact me personally through bunchofbackpackers[at]gmail[dot]com!

Love, Manouk

P.s. I’m also active on social media such as Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Bloglovin which is a great way to connect and talk about travel!

Learn about local culture (such as the Xhosa culture)!Want to know more?
FAQ page for popular questions about me and the blog
Travel curriculum vitae: Where I’ve been (75+ countries)! 

To get you started, these are four of my favorite articles:
Eight ethical dilemmas I encountered during my travels
How to keep your money safe while traveling?
40 photos that will inspire you to visit Tajikistan
Freaky, geeky Japan: 11 quirky things to do in Japan for travelers 

Interested in working together? 
PR and advertising
Bunch of Backpackers in the media

This photo was taken just after I had conquered the strenuous Allaudin Pass (3860 meters) in the Fann mountains of Tajikistan. Not the best photo, nor my best look, but definitely the best view! You can find more photos of Tajikistan here.