November 29, 2013

Visiting the Philippine School for The Blind in Manila

On my recent trip to the Philippines, I had the pleasure of visiting the Philippine School for the Blind in Manila. My friend Mark is in charge of PR and fundraising for the school, so I thought it would be respectable of me as a friend and foreigner to check out what the school was all about. I am no stranger to seeing the true ingenuity and almost unbelievable talent many visual impaired people possess. Human beings are remarkable in many ways, but take away one of our senses be it sight, hearing, or speech, and we just find ways…

November 18, 2013

Riding Hogs and Exploring Abandoned Cold War Army Bases in Miami!

Now that I’m back in Amurica, I need to find things to pass my days with until the next big adventure. Believe it or not, I actually have an office space now for all of my online endeavors which puts me almost, ALMOST on a normal 26 year old’s working schedule. That means I have the weekends “off” like the majority of people. So, what did I decide to do on my Sunday besides go to Target and watch football all day? Ride my motorcycle into the setting sun…(well it was only 1 PM, but in that direction). I bought…

November 1, 2013

Why Saigon Sucks and Rocks

Officially Ho Chi Minh City, known by everyone as Saigon, is a massive city in the south of Vietnam. Being it my 2nd trip to southeast Asia, I figured I better see some more than Thailand and the Philippines, so Vietnam sounded like a good option; it was, and wasn’t. Hold up, hold up. While there are some definite cool attractions, fun things to do (like getting your ears cleaned), and a unique culture to experience, Vietnam is worthwhile, but after coming from Thailand, in my opinion, it was incomparable. Here’s why I liked and didn’t like Vietnam. Liked: The Interesting…

October 15, 2013

Getting an Ear Cleaning in Vietnam!

When I travel, I try to take advantage of as many new weird experiences as I can. As I’ve gotten a bit older, things like bungee jumping and swimming with sharks has become less attractive to me, but, I’m always down to try strange spa treatments like Turkish bathhouse massages, fish in Thailand that eat the toe jam off of your feet and my most recent experiment in self-betterment, an ear cleaning in Vietnam. I was staying in Hoi An, a historic small town near the city of Da Nang. I was walking down the street when I saw the…

October 10, 2013

The Five Highest Capital Cities in The World!

After just spending some time in Baguio City in the Philippines, which rests at an elevation of 1450 meters (4760 feet), I was intrigued to see which were the highest capital cities in the world. So here are the top 5! 5) 2,325 m (7627 ft) above sea level: Asmara, Eritrea Whilst Asmara is not the highest capital city in the world, it does offer stunning architecture, temperate sunshine and lively markets that wonderfully demonstrate Eritrea’s vibrant culture. Sadly, in recent years the worn out economy has taken its toll on Asmara and there are now no ATM’s available in Eritrea at…

October 8, 2013

The Most Interesting City in The Philippines: Baguio!

Most people don’t go to the Philippines to enjoy the quaint, pedestrian-friendly cities (because they don’t exist). In fact, the cities in the Philippines are pretty much a nightmare minus a few areas in Manila like Makati and Fort Bonafacio, parts of Cebu, etc. Even in the most provincial of cities there is bad traffic because usually, there is just one main road that everyone has to use to get around. Overland travel is also brutal as there are only a few western-style highways and you can basically bet on your average speed being 35 km/hr…anywhere. I might be the…

October 1, 2013

Five Great Islands to Visit!

Thousands of islands scattered across the Caribbean and Atlantic… no wonder choosing the perfect destination can be a little overwhelming! From the popular haunts to the secluded hideouts, the Caribbean is awash with heavenly, picture perfect settings that would provide a welcoming, relaxing stay like no other. The problem for many people looking at holidays in the Caribbean is making a final decision on where to base yourself. Here are five great options that offer year-round sunshine, to help fill your mind with some inspiration. The British Virgin Islands Seclusion, tranquility and natural beauty – if all this sounds like it’s…

September 23, 2013

Exploring Colonial-Era Bangkok!

Bangkok is now one of my favorite cities. I visited last year and was completely overwhelmed to the point that I got the hell out as quickly as I could. I’m used to orderly, planned, grid-patterned cities with logical layouts. Bangkok is not that…at all. But once you begin to comprehend the calamity and learn the code of this bustling Southeast Asian megapolis, things get awesome. So, on my 2nd trip to Southeast Asia, I decided to give ole’ Bangy another try. One thing I always like to do when exploring a new city is to start in its oldest…

September 13, 2013

10 Ways to Drink Like a German

Drinking plays an essential role in Germany’s culture and traditions. It is of course renowned as a nation of beer-drinkers – a stereotype that has been reinforced across the globe thanks to the festival giant that is Oktoberfest. But there is a whole lot more to Germany’s drinking scene than litres of lager and pints of Pilsner. Drinking in Germany is a way of life, check out 10 of the most popular beverages from the land of lederhosen. 1. Schorle Pretty much anything can be made into a Schorle (something akin to a spritzer, but essentially any kind of liquid…

September 11, 2013

Win 7 Days in Morocco Learning How to Kitesurf for You and a Friend!

One thing I’ve always wanted to try is kitesurfing (or kiteboarding). If you haven’t been to a beach and seen anyone doing this awesome new sport, you’re missing out. It’s a mix between surfing, windsurfing and wakeboarding. Basically, you have a small board that your strapped into like a wakeboard, and then you hold onto a handle connected to a pretty large kite, that when catches the wind, propels you across the water’s surface. Experts can fly off waves 30 feet into the air! One of the biggest barriers to entry in the sport is the cost of lessons and…

September 10, 2013

Video: Crossing the street in Saigon at Rush Hour!

When I decided to hit Vietnam after a few weeks in Thailand, I didn’t think traffic could get any worse than I had experienced in Bangkok, but oh was I wrong. While the traffic in Bangkok is crazy, there is still a sort of order to it. People respect traffic lights (for the most part), and once you get off the main avenues, things relax a bit. Vietnam? Lawless… From the second I pulled out from the airport in Ho Chi Minh City (also formally and still known as Saigon), I knew I was in for one wild ride. The…

September 7, 2013

A Brief History of Holworthy Hall at Harvard University

Holworthy Hall is a freshman residence hall at Harvard University that was built in 1812 and renovated in 1990. The building is located on Plympton Street in Harvard Yard, which is the oldest section of Harvard University’s campus located in Cambridge, MA which essentially is part of Boston. It was originally built for the purpose of housing freshman men, but now also houses women. It was named after its original owner, Thomas Holworthy, who was a professor of rhetoric and oratory at Harvard from 1825 to 1828 as well as an alumnus from 1790. He also left the university a…

September 4, 2013

City of the Week Series – Brussels!

You could be forgiven for neglecting Brussels on your inter-railing or backpacking through Western Europe, but you’d be missing out on one of the most unique cities you may ever visit. Many people forgo Brussels, the quiet capital of Belgium, imagining drab government buildings or grey streets and opt for the photogenic canal-saturated town of Bruges. But Brussels is a European capital worth visiting, even if the EU isn’t your thing. Here are 3 reasons why you should consider Brussels as more than a train stop on your way between Paris and Amsterdam! 1. Amazing architecture If architecture is your…

August 28, 2013

5 Random Reasons Why I Love Thailand!

Thailand is a hedonis….westerner’s dream. Famous just for being a farang (foreigner in Thai)?, check. Delicious food, cold beer, great accommodation for half the cost of any country that you’re probably from? Check. Bustling cities that never sleep, pristine beaches, tropical islands and picturesque mountains? Check. While all of the above reasons why Thailand should be a must-visit on any traveler’s bucket list, there are some other reasons why I love Thailand and have spent a couple months here in the past year (two trips!). 1. Bathroom Massages If you like massages, then Thailand is the country for you. If…

August 24, 2013

10 Reasons to Visit Greece!

The top tourist attractions in Greece are there to remind us of the country’s role in shaping politics, sports, philosophy, architecture, theatre, and art. Worldwide, the influence of ancient Greece is beyond impressive and often unnoticed today as it’s so entwined into modern day society from democracy to architecture. A trip to Greece will surely be a memorable one, and now a days, things are very affordable compared to past years. Here are 10 of the top tourist attractions in Greece. #10: Mount Athos This mountain sits on the easternmost end of the Halkidiki peninsula. It is home to 20…

August 19, 2013

Three Awesome American Road Trips!

America was made for cruising. With thousands of miles of quality roads to explore, the USA is an auto enthusiast’s dream (well maybe no speed limit on the autobahn rivals it). This massive country spans two oceans and has everything in between. Remember, safety comes first, so when putting on your driving shoes, hiring a Tampa motorcycle attorney (or one in your area) makes perfect sense to make sure if the worst should happen, you are covered, and know you are in safe hands. With that in mind, its time to get the engine running, and get ready to check out one…

August 16, 2013

Why I use my iPhone camera more than my real camera!

There are two types of travel bloggers, ones that rely more on their words (I’m more in this camp) and those that rely more on their photography skills (not me). I never took any professional photography courses nor do I know how to use 90% of the functions on my simple, point-and-shoot Canon that I bought for $200 4 years ago. That being said, I think my photo game has been stepped up exponentially in the past few months. My photography “prowess” isn’t bettering because I’m some whiz with a $1000 DSLR, but because I’ve learned how to use something…

August 14, 2013

Post-War Bosnia – A European Gem

I just turned 26 years old, that means I was born in 1987 – quite the year. Gas only cost 89 cents/gallon, Alf was straight killing it and Arnold Schwarzenegger starred in one of his finest movies, Predator. Beyond acid wash jeans and ring pops, there wasn’t much else going on… Fast forward a few years to 1992 and I was happily enjoying eating my boogers in my 3nd grade class when our teacher introduced a new student. “Hello everybody, please welcome Janja, she’s from Yugoslavia”. To be honest, she could have been from anywhere outside of the states and…

August 13, 2013

Alien and UFO Themed Vacations – Screw the Beach!

Wanna rub elbows with extraterrestrials? Then maybe take a “UFO themed vacation” by visiting a few hotspots around the world where mysterious sightings are frequent! E.T., Chewbacca and the artist formally known as Prince, oh my! Puerto Rico Not only does this Caribbean island at the southern apex of the Bermuda Triangle have conventional UFOs buzzing around, they even have USOs, or Unidentified Submersible Objects, that dive into the ocean! Most of the documented sightings are reported in and around the El Yunque Rainforest which also is home to the mysterious chupacabra, an elusive and enigmatic creature first sighted here.…

August 2, 2013

Why Croatia Sucks…

Great, now that I sucked you into clicking on this post through my negativism, I’d like to first state that while I did just spend over a week in Croatia, it didn’t really suck, it just wasn’t what I expected. I think my Croatian road trip was a good travel lesson to not come with expectations to a place. Expectations just set you up for disappointment, and I have to admit, I was a bit disappointed with Croatia. Here’s why: 1. Croatia is ridiculously touristy While I didn’t make it to Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, I did in fact…