De Mochilas [EN]

China -> Beijing: why China is actually big, not just big on a map

In Mexico City, two metro stations is about fifteen minutes on foot. In Beijing, those same two stations are thirty minutes at a normal pace, no traffic lights stopping you. I learned that on day one, and it completely changed how I moved around the city. But the scale of Beijing wasn't the only surprise. There were also cities we wanted to visit and didn't, for a reason we didn't see coming until we were already there. In this episode I talk about distances: the ones I walked, the ones we underestimated, and the ones I wish we'd understood before leaving Mexico. 🔗 Follow me and join the community: 🌐 Web: https://mikel.world [https://mikel.world] 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MikelMateosC [https://www.youtube.com/@MikelMateosC] 💬 Discord: https://discord.com/invite/hNG6UJXhPY [https://discord.com/invite/hNG6UJXhPY] 🎒 Fluxer: https://fluxer.gg/bgkcyAQd [https://fluxer.gg/bgkcyAQd] 🐦 X: https://x.com/MikelMateosC [https://x.com/MikelMateosC] 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikel.mateos [https://www.instagram.com/mikel.mateos] 🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mikelmateos [https://www.tiktok.com/@mikelmateos] 🎮 Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/MikelMateos [https://www.twitch.tv/MikelMateos]

China -> Beijing: no hotel, wrong soup, and that's how China started

We arrived in Beijing with no breakfast, no confirmed hotel, and our bank accounts on life support. After a month in Japan and Korea, China was next, and it wasted no time with the welcome. The first thing I ate there was large intestine soup. I figured it out halfway through the bowl. Andrés was out of commission for two or three days. And I stole a cup. This episode kicks off the season of the trip that started this whole podcast. China has a lot to say, and this is just day one. 🔗 Follow me and join the community: 🌐 Web: https://mikel.world [https://mikel.world] 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MikelMateosC [https://www.youtube.com/@MikelMateosC] 💬 Discord: https://discord.com/invite/hNG6UJXhPY [https://discord.com/invite/hNG6UJXhPY] 🎒 Fluxer: https://fluxer.gg/bgkcyAQd [https://fluxer.gg/bgkcyAQd] 🐦 X: https://x.com/MikelMateosC [https://x.com/MikelMateosC] 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikel.mateos [https://www.instagram.com/mikel.mateos] 🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mikelmateos [https://www.tiktok.com/@mikelmateos] 🎮 Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/MikelMateos [https://www.twitch.tv/MikelMateos]

Incheon: from travel to global esports

In this episode of DeMochilas, we close our journey through South Korea with one of the most unexpected highlights of the trip: attending the League of Legends World Championship Final in Incheon. What started as a travel experience turned into something much bigger, being part of a global event surrounded by thousands of people sharing the same passion. From the atmosphere outside the stadium to the intensity inside, every moment felt charged with energy. Despite challenges like overwhelming sound, packed spaces, and long hours, the experience was unforgettable. Being there, witnessing the final live, and sharing it with friends made it one of those moments that stay with you long after the trip ends. This chapter is about passion and opportunity. How sometimes travel brings you to places and events you never planned, but that become some of the most meaningful memories of all. 🔗 Follow me and join the community: 🌐 Web: mikel.world [http://mikel.world] 📺 YouTube: @MikelMateosC [https://www.youtube.com/@MikelMateosC] 💬 Discord: Join the community [https://discord.com/invite/hNG6UJXhPY] 🎒 Fluxer: Join the Fluxer community [https://fluxer.gg/bgkcyAQd] 📸 Instagram: @mikel.mateos [https://www.instagram.com/mikel.mateos/] 🎵 TikTok: @mikelmateos [https://www.tiktok.com/@mikelmateos] 🎮 Twitch: @MikelMateos [https://www.twitch.tv/mikelmateos]

Guanajuato -> León: three hours, four exhibitions, and a pair of boots I didn't expect to find

I was in León for work. Between shifts I slipped away for a few hours to walk around, visit a museum, and cross the street into the shoe and leather goods district. At the museum I found a cave inside a Mexican history hall, an exhibition on art and divination, and a sculpture by Leonora Carrington that kept me standing there longer than I planned. At the plaza I came across a pair of cowboy boots made for a one-year-old that I definitely did not see coming. A short León, but León nonetheless. And with the Hot Air Balloon Festival still on the list. 🔗 Follow me and join the community: 🌐 Web: https://mikel.world [https://mikel.world] 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MikelMateosC [https://www.youtube.com/@MikelMateosC] 💬 Discord: https://discord.com/invite/hNG6UJXhPY [https://discord.com/invite/hNG6UJXhPY] 🎒 Fluxer: https://fluxer.gg/bgkcyAQd [https://fluxer.gg/bgkcyAQd] 🐦 X: https://x.com/MikelMateosC [https://x.com/MikelMateosC] 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikel.mateos [https://www.instagram.com/mikel.mateos] 🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mikelmateos [https://www.tiktok.com/@mikelmateos] 🎮 Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/MikelMateos [https://www.twitch.tv/MikelMateos]

Seoul: contrasts between tradition and modern life

In this episode of DeMochilas, we arrive in Incheon and Seoul, exploring one of the most dynamic and complex cities in South Korea. From iconic places like Gangnam and COEX Mall to spaces like Starfield Library and Myeongdong, the city presents a powerful mix of modern culture, technology, and daily life. Shopping, entertainment, and K-pop culture create an exciting and fast-paced environment that feels constantly in motion. But beyond the surface, there is another side. Walking through subway stations and public spaces reveals messages addressing loneliness, pressure, and mental health. Reminders that even in the most developed cities, people carry invisible struggles. This chapter is about contrast: tradition and modernity, energy and silence, connection and isolation. Seoul becomes more than a destination; it becomes a reflection of how societies evolve and the challenges that come with it. 🔗 Follow me and join the community: 🌐 Web: mikel.world [http://mikel.world] 📺 YouTube: @MikelMateosC [https://www.youtube.com/@MikelMateosC] 💬 Discord: Join the community [https://discord.com/invite/hNG6UJXhPY] 🎒 Fluxer: Join the Fluxer community [https://fluxer.gg/bgkcyAQd] 📸 Instagram: @mikel.mateos [https://www.instagram.com/mikel.mateos/] 🎵 TikTok: @mikelmateos [https://www.tiktok.com/@mikelmateos] 🎮 Twitch: @MikelMateos [https://www.twitch.tv/mikelmateos]