Our Stories
Kelsi George
Vayable team
Former Peace Corps volunteer in Thailand
At the heart of Vayable is a community devoted to experiencing the world better. Vayable enables people to not only share their stories, but to invite others to participate in them. This is the future of travel. We believe that by taking a trip, you can change the world.
Discovering a sherpa in a shopkeeper
Jamie Wong - Co-Founder of Vayable - San Francisco, CA
When I was twenty years old, I went to Morocco. One afternoon I walked into a carpet shop with my bulky guidebook in tow, telling the shopkeeper that I wanted to visit the Sahara Desert. Before I’d finished my cup of mint tea, I was in the back seat of the shopkeeper’s Honda Accord, tearing through the windy roads of the Atlas mountains for fifteen hours until we reached the desert where his cousin, Ali, was the chief of a caravan tribe.
After five nights traveling on camel back, subsisting on bread our guide baked in the sand, and sleeping under the stars tucked in wool blankets, I returned to the caravan camp, just as the sun descended into the horizon, marking the first night of Passover. Atop a sand dune, my new friends and I drew the Seder plate in the sand and together sang “Let my people go.”
Gazing up at the brilliant stars, Ali says to me, “The only real difference between us is that my tribe reads one more book than yours.” For the first time I knew why this night was different from all other nights.
The modest amount of money I spent had given Ali and his cousin enough to live on for a month. And my newly gained understanding of the world, and of myself, instigated a decade of exploration that has aimed to positively impact the world, not least of which, was founding Vayable.
-Jamie, Co-Founder and CEO, Vayable
Exposing underground beauty
Russell - artist - San Francisco, CA
A long-time, avid street art lover, Russell has been involved in the art scene for more than a decade. Through his tours, he hopes to re-direct tourism dollars to build community and foster awareness about the arts. He is heavily involved in CELLspace, a local non-profit that provides affordable workspace to artists, and uses the money he makes on Vayable to create and maintain community murals.
Around the world in 80 bites
Jeffrey - Food blogger - New York, NY
A long-time urban explorer eating his way through Queens, Jeffrey is able to monetize off of his knowledge of lesser-known delicacies and passion for bridging cultures. He is a supporter of street vendor rights and encourages others to eat fearlessly and open their minds to new experiences.
Keeping the South of Italy alive in SOMA
Sheila - amateur chef - San Francisco, CA
After college, Sheila followed her passions for food and travel and became a full-time chef at a villa in Southern Italy. She fell in love with the slow food movement and the beautiful Italian countryside but came back to the states after getting her fair share of cuts scrapes, and burns. She keeps her passion alive by sharing her knowledge about food with others.
Making a living on the streets
Milton - Glide volunteer - San Francisco, CA
We met Milton while volunteering in the soup kitchen at Glide Foundation. Even though he is homeless, he works tirelessly to help others in need and spreads awareness about complex socioeconomic issues that affect the homeless population. Through Vayable, he has guided everyone from celebrities to out-of-state policymakers on his tour about homelessness in the heart of San Francisco.
Building community 6,000 miles from home
Stewart - traveler - Rio de Janeiro
Hailing from Silicon Valley, Stewart moved to a favela in Rio de Janeiro to experience a new culture. When the government occupied his neighborhood, he decided stay and offer travel activities, hoping that people on the outside can get a different point of view than that offered by mainstream media.
Cultural exchange as a way of life
Christopher - world traveler - San Francisco, CA
In a previous life, Topher was an Indian a cappella singer and wrote a graphic novel about Japan. Now he keeps cultural exchange alive at Airbnb by connecting travelers with locals that provide places or them to stay. He loves immersing himself in local culture, embarking on adventures to faraway lands, and meeting people who are passionate about what they do.
