Kevin Eassa is well known for creating unique and inspiring content, sending a message of appreciating surroundings as he travels around the world. With years of experience, the photographer, filmmaker, and digital artist has a great understanding of what comes along with the travel lifestyle. After dropping out of college only 24 credits short of his finance degree, Eassa has explored around 50 different countries, and expanded his appreciation for this planet while taking in its beauty.
For an individual who’s passion lies in the art of creation, there is no better inspiration than the incredibly vast and diverse landscapes and environments that can be found in nature. His curiosity and passion has led to opportunities working with big brands, hotels, tourism boards, musicians and all of his followers and fans. Face the Current connected with Eassa to discover his thoughts on the ‘conscious travel’ lifestyle and how everyone can make an impact in today’s world.
Ty Johnson: What does ‘conscious travel’ mean to you?
Kevin Eassa: Conscious travel means a lot to me. First and foremost, it means being aware of the world you are entering into, and not just being an obnoxious traveler. Appreciating surroundings, being aware that not everybody has the same upbringing and culture; not everyone has the same childhood, teenage years, adulthood, or some of the privileges that I personally have been given. It is sometimes hard to grasp, but many of the people you meet while traveling (not necessarily including other travelers) have never left their own country, city, or 5 mile radius.
Some people work in a shack selling bottled water to tourists and never leave that shack their entire life. Conscious travel, among many other things, is having mindfulness to understand people are different, and the world is extremely stratified, it is super important to help these people, to be humble and understanding towards them, and lastly to be extra grateful for the privileged life I have been given.
There are hundreds of examples of this, every single time I go to Southeast Asia I always have experiences with people who have never left their island or 5 mile radius, because they are born and do what their parents tell them to, which is to work the family shack, and also because there isn’t really much opportunity to do anything else. People ask me all the time my favorite place in the world, and my answer is always the Philippines and Indonesia.
When I tell locals of those countries that, they are absolutely mesmerized. I think it is because they have a conception towards Americans that we are ‘top of the world,’ I totally understand where they are coming from, and most people don’t appreciate their roots when they see so many other things out there. But to be honest, Indonesia and the Philippines are the most beautiful places I have ever been and I can’t wait to go back.
TJ: What are some ways that people can help reduce their carbon footprint in order to preserve National Parks and natural landscapes as we explore and experience the world?
KE: People who travel (for the most part) I like to believe are very conscious and sustainable. Traveling opens up people’s eyes, and exposes them to a world that others don’t get to experience, and it is such an amazing and humbling thing. We see people who have nothing when we come from everything, even if we don’t always appreciate it.
My friends and I, as influencers, have a duty to help spread awareness and help people enforce sustainable travel. For example, when I post certain photos of beautiful places in the USA, I geotag “Protect our public lands.” People ask me about this all the time, and obviously that’s not an actual location.
However; people need to be aware that if certain things are not cared for and certain actions are not taken, our incredible public lands will no longer be so beautiful. Appreciating surroundings; when I travel I also try to recycle every time possible. I pick up trash when I see it, and as hard as it is for me personally, I try to eat vegan sometimes.
I can in no way call myself vegan, but by sometimes choosing a vegan alternative meal, it reduces the impact on animals and lands, and neither were “abused” to get that final meal. Also, when I roll up to one of the 7 wonders of the world and I see trash, it makes me sad, so I will pick it up in a heartbeat, and I think when people see this, hopefully it inspires them to do the same. Appreciating surroundings is important.
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Instagram: @kevineassa