The archetype at the core of the digital nomad identity is that of the backpacker or traveler. So you might say: earn like an entrepreneur or freelancer, and live like a backpacker or traveler and boom: digital nomad.

Over the past ten years, traveling and meeting with other entrepreneurs has become a way of life. And – thanks to the Dynamite Circle – our community has given me, and many others, a way to connect more easily with like-minded individuals while we are on the road.

The idea is that cities send signals through a variety of means – from overheard conversations, to architecture, to how residents decorate their living rooms. Like great books, great cities whisper their messages subliminally.

The real numbers will obviously vary from person to person, and from task to task. But, for me, I’ve always preferred working on big screens.

Our idea was to have a mix of food, cultures, landscapes and level of development. I wanted to maximize what we saw (because it might be our only chance to go together), but also have enough time to kick back a little and enjoy each location.

Fair warning: what follows is 6,000+ words about road cycling, a hobby I picked up last year. These words poured out of my hands the morning after my first semi-competitive event.

For me, few things are as pleasurable as neatly arranging all my possessions in just 2 bags, and heading off to the airport for another adventure.

Last week I cancelled most of my phone calls, dusted off my copy of Freedom app (to turn off WIFI capabilities on my laptop), and caught a flight with my fellow blogger and coffee enthusiast James Clark. We were headed to the capital city of Vietnam-- Hanoi-- a place I always thought had a bookish vibe.

I was confused, and disoriented, and not at all certain how I had come to be seated here in this room in this house with these people and thirty thousand dollars on the table in front of me.

What do Tourists think the 4 Hour Work Week all about? Working your whole life away is a waste, we should go after our true passions– like travel– while we are young and still able to enjoy it. We’ll figure out the income thing later. And anyway, those jobs aren’t going anywhere. Are they?

Relative to it’s neighbors, Vietnam is short on superlatives for people planning trips.

It’s a common set-up. I’m grabbing a coffee in Singapore. Sitting on my patio in Bali. At a food stall in Bangkok. A first time traveler to South East Asia sits next to me.

David is hanging out there for a month along with a huge crew of DCers and other bloggers. We did some comparing and contrasting on the phone today and it got me thinking about some of the downsides of Bali for digital nomads. I’m still a huge advocate for Bali, but I’d like to highlight some of the potential downsides of Bali if you are evaluating places to hang out for a few months or years!

I’ve got a spare room at my house in Bali. You can stay with us for free in return for some SEO work we need done. It’s the easiest TMBA internship to apply for ever.

Here in Singapore I’ve got a couple minutes before I head off to China and onward to JFK. I’ve got so much on my mind as 2011 winds down, and I can’t think of a better time to reflect than while in-transit.

Over the last few weeks– via my travels and the application process– I’ve had the opportunity to meet and talk with shit ton of blog readers, TMBA alumns, and members of the Dynamite Circle.

So here’s the deal: No plan. No itinerary. Just a relaxing few days hanging out in paradise. We’ll go hiking, swimming, and have a few beers. We’ll talk some shop as well. It’ll be a small group.