Snazzy Snaps & Travel Tales
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Canadian Rockies Pt 3: Jasper National Park and the Icefields Parkway
To round out my 3 part Canadian Rockies series, it’s the home of Spirit Island—Jasper National Park! A true gem that deserved even more of my time. What I saw left me wanting more! I will return…
Jasper National Park
JASPER is a cool name and this national park lives up to the cool name!
Most of the features of Jasper are off of the Icefields Parkway, which is such a gorgeous drive! More info on Wiki
Only spent a couple days in Jasper, as I was nearing the end of my road trip in the Rockies.
Check out some of the cool stuff I saw:
Icefields Parkway
Most of my time was spent driving up and down the Icefields Parkway, and really, that alone is a spectacular attraction. The environment ranges from crazy glacier passes, to mountains abloom with purple flowers, and gobs of delicious glacier fed rivers and lakes.
Some serious glaciers!
There are plenty of different colored flowers along the way…
Peyto Lake
OK, technically, this is in Banff National Park. If you read my Banff blog, you may remember me opting to put it in my Jasper post because the short walk to see this view is on the Icefields Parkway, so I’m including it here.
If I remember, there is a decent walk to get to this vista, and it was very crowded. Definitely a hot spot!
More blue Gatorade! DELICIOUS!
Coleman Creek
This is some random spot I pulled over to take a walk and check out the river.
The color was fascinating…Gatorade needs to make a drink this color…
Back on the Icefields Parkway….
Drove through this area a couple times and pulled over to walk around and admire the views. Each time it did not disappoint!
Come on now…Canada…
Some rich reds, and magenta or violet flowers seemed plentiful in this area:
Ahhh when the sun goes down, the colors just get sooo cool!
After dinner, I decided to head back on the road and check out the scenery around sunset.
Pulled over in some spot for reflection photos:
And why not some long exposures on the Icefields!?
The next morning, I was back on the road, nice and early. This may be my favorite snap of the day:
Sunwapta Falls
When I stopped at Sunwapta Falls, I had some time on my hands. I decided to go for a little trail run along the river trail. Felt so good to get out and stretch the legs! Beautiful area.
More views from the river side:
Maligne Lake Scenic Drive
Ok, my final destination was good ole Maligne Lake. Maligne Lake is the largest natural lake in the Canadian Rockies. It gets a ton of hype and may be the most quintessential spot in Jasper.
The Scenic Drive to get there is really cool also!
And, I finally arrived…
Maligne Lake
Maligne Lake has such a rich turquoise color!
Maligne Lake Cruise to Spirit Island
This is the tourist upsell spot, but I did not even hesitate. I wanted on that boat ASAP!
Get me out onto those turquoise waters and I gotta see Spirit Island.
I got lucky with a really cool tour guide, and I completely forget their name. They filled in nice little info about the lake, and answered our questions about Spirit Island.
Spirit Island
Arriving at Spirit Island was super cool, a spiritual experience! Naw, I’m messing, but it was a beaut. And we got to walk by ourselves for a while on a nice little trail with various views of the iconic feature.
Like everyone else, I took a gazillion snaps…
My last night in Jasper was a bit sad—the end of the road trip! So, I took my time, slow and steadiy made my way back down the Icefields.
I’ll be back some day I said!
And that concludes my 3 part series on the Canadian Rockies!!!
If I was forced to rank these 3 Canadian Rockies National Parks: Yoho, Banff and Jasper, I would have to go:
But they all have such unique charm! LOVED THEM ALL!
I would love to visit again during wintertime.
Would love to do some boarding…
maybe hit up Whistler!?
And, who am I kiddin’, I just want some o that POU-TIINE!!!
Here’s a couple other random Canadian snaps from the road:
What do YOU think of the Canadian Rockies!?
Leave a comment below!
Canadian Rockies Pt 1: Yoho National Park
In 2017, I embarked on a 2 week road trip in the Canadian Rockies, visiting 3 National Parks and driving through a couple more on the way. This is the 1st of a 3 part series, starting with Yoho National Park!
After this, Banff National Park and Jasper National Park! Coming soon…
In 2017, I went to Vancouver for the first time to watch the World Championship of Public Speaking live!
BTW, Vancouver is an incredible city!
I could see myself living there because I love coastal cities and it’s so close to some amazing mountains!
Rockies Road Trip!
After Vancouver, I head east to begin my road trip through some of the Canadian Rockies — which are HUGE.
When I set out to visit the Canadian Rockies, I didn’t even realize it was the 150th birthday of Canada and all national parks were free for the year! YEAH BABY!!!
On the way to the Rockies, I pulled over at this “beach”, Rutherford Beach which is right outside of Revelstoke. My timing was on point and the views were fantastic!
I should mention that during this trip there were some pretty heavy wildfires raging in the Canadian mountains. This is normal for the mountains during this time and sometimes it created an interesting ambience of warm colors in the sky. But most of the time it just meant that the visibility was crappy and the sky was tainted. Here you can see the warm tones up in the smoky sky.
Revelstoke seemed like a cool little town, maybe better in the winter when you can hit the slopes!
Yoho National Park
First blog will be about Yoho National Park. There are lots of gorgeous sites and things to do in Yoho, and below is just a sample. I think I spent 3 days there, which is really not enough.
I stayed in the small town of Golden, the Gateway to the Western Canadian Rockies and drove into Yoho each day. Golden was a great spot to post up. One note about the Rockies, is that almost all hotels and lodging are expensive. You are paying national park touristy prices. Golden had a hostel which I believe was about $50 USD per night for a bed in a dorm. I didn’t have all my camping gear, so I needed a hostel.
And, Golden had some incredible poutine! If you like cheese and fries…you need to try poutine. I ate a LOT of poutine on this trip. :P
One of the first places I stopped was Emerald Lake, a gem indeed!
I would have loved to spend more time here and see a sunset or a sunrise, but I had so much to see! Next time…
My solo posing skills are sub-par but I do my best. Nice remote clicker in my left hand.
Leaving Emerald Lake, heading back toward the vacation town of Field, British Columbia in Yoho National Park.
A small lake in the town of Field:
And this is the view in the opposite direction…fascinating colors especially the water juxtaposed against the warm color smoky sky:
When I was in this location, I decided to make a video about my newfound Canadian accent.
Ok, so maybe I didn’t really pick up a Canadian accent but I did find myself pronouncing words differently and picking up the local phrases.
I just recently realized that this accent video has over 200 views on Youtube. Super random, and I’m surprised the video hasn’t gotten troll comments!
Faeder Lake
In the Canadian Rockies, there are some huge glacier fed lakes and then there are some little lakes like this: Faeder Lake. You could almost call it pond cuz it’s so small. There are some picnic tables, a parking lot and then this cute lil cozy spot! Loved it.
I ended up stopping at Faeder Lake almost every day before returning to Golden, because it was so peaceful. Especially when the sun is going down!
One of the nights I ran into these two car-camping, bear-seeking gals from Denmark, Sophie and Julie. They were nice enough to share the lake with me, and we had a great time chatting! We ended up meeting up one more time a few days later up in Jasper National Park. They were so amped to try and see some bears and I personally was so amped NOT to see any bears. I gave them my bear spray as a nice parting gift. Thankfully, they did not have to use it.
After leaving Faeder Lake, I had to pull over for these colors!
Takakkaw Falls
What’s a mountainous national park without some waterfalls, eh?! Takakkaw Falls is a nice short walk from the parking lot and well worth the stop.
I love how every stream, lake, river, pond, etc has its own unique color scheme! Takakkaw is sweet.
And you know the ole saying from the sea: “where there are waterfalls, there are usually rainbows!”
That’s a saying, right?
The road to exit Takakkaw is a view of Yoho Valley. I absolutely love driving in mountain scenes like this! EPIC.
There is a lot more to see in Yoho, so I will have to go back sometime. Lake O’ Hara seems really nice and Wapta Falls also.
NEXT TIME.
Overall, Yoho is gorgeous YOOO!!!
Next up, Part 2: Banff National Park!
Coming soon…
South Dakota and the Bad Ass Badlands
I had no idea what to expect from South Dakota, but the state really surprised me! This blog should probably be called 'West South Dakota’, because, I only really stopped in the western part of the state, which I think is certainly more picturesque! I spent time in both the Badlands National Park, and Mount Rushmore.
See more snaps and a review of the experience!
I had no idea what to expect from South Dakota, but the state really surprised me!
(Sorry SouthDakotaCJ, I should have known how good it would be from your IG!)
I left my friends in Louisville CO, which is a fine town in Boulder, BTW!
Actually, it got voted “2nd Best Place to live in America” recently. It features this dog / people park the Davidson Mesa, which is where this sunset video comes from.
Nice big park, big time dog-friendly! Great neighborhoods!
This blog should probably be called 'West South Dakota’, because, I only really stopped in the western part of the state, and just drove straight through the east.
The West is certainly much more picturesque! I spent some time both in the Badlands National Park, and Mount Rushmore!
Badlands National Park features these iconic rolling hills
BTW, if you want the ULTIMATE Guide to the Badlands National Park, the folks at 10Adventures.com have an incredibly detailed website and gobs of info about it here. Free to download route maps, with reliable GPS coordinates and much more info.
Mount Rushmore is set in the Black Hills National Park.
I arrived at Mount Rushmore kinda late, but got there just in time to set up my tripod and see sun down and the ceremonial pre-show they put on before the nightly lighting of the Monument.
The scene is pretty epic!
First, a Black Hills National Park Ranger starts the show with a warm welcoming speech.
He told a touching story about the history of the park and the creation of the monument, which is a little bit…let’s just say…complicated. Read more here and more here.
After the initial welcoming speech, they played a ~35 min video tribute to the 4 men featured on the famous monument:
George Washington
Thomas Jefferson
Abraham Lincoln
Theodore Roosevelt
Legends!
The cinematic video was well done!
A great history refresher featuring stories about each man. The show is loaded with tons o pomp and circumstance, good ole Americana values and and just the right touch of cheesiness!
And then…they lit the monument!
“Ahhhhhhhh….oooooohhhhh….wooooooowwwww….”
I felt this incredible sense of pride for my country when I visited this monument. So much that I felt I needed to invest in a souvenir t-shirt:
Ok time to go.
Here is the scene looking back from the main entrance.
Driving out of Mount Rushmore, we had some tough traffic, but it gave me a chance to snap this side view of George Washington.
Nice posed profile pic Georgie! Sign him up for an Instagram!
The next day, I headed west toward Badlands National Park!
I basically just took an afternoon to drive the Badlands Loop Road (Highway 240), which takes a couple hours and features plenty of scenic vistas, and stopping points.
I had no idea what to expect about the Badlands but I was big time impressed! Super cool rock features, super unique coloring on the mountainous terrain and just overall weird! (In a wicked awesome way)
Where’s Wildlife?
Get after the view player, I got your back! 100 Insta Likes right there.
Boy vs Goat Standoff!
The vast landscape is quite nice all over the park!
A fellow park visitor asked me to take a snap of him, and I agreed to send it to him.
I sent it through email, but I don’t think he ever responded. Not surprised.
It’s cool, I ain’t mad at ya, Badlands Guy.
The Park was cast in a decent amount of clouds that day creating some sweet mood.
Glad I had my wide lens for some if these vast long shots!
Fascinating colors…
Would be a blast to do some longer hiking around here!
“Hey guys, come here check out this view!”
The coloring in these hills is so unique and cool! For more info about it and free downloadable hiking routes, 10adventures.com has tons of info!
If you look close, you’ll see a bunch of lounging mule deer, maybe? Maybe pronghorns!?
Hmmm, looks like it’s about to rain…
STORM WATCH!
Then, it cleared up.
Watch out for rattlesnakes!
I really only drove through the Badlands National Park for a few hours, but it was a total blast!
Every National Park has its own style, aesthetic and flavor.
A goal of mine is to visit ALL the US National Parks someday.
I highly recommend visiting the Badlands National Park.
And I can’t say enough good things about the Mount Rushmore experience!
Visit South Dakota!
The Thrill of Uber Moto
Forget skydiving, or bungee jumping, Uber Moto is where it's at! In Vietnam, for as low as $1 you can ride the gnarliest thrill ride!
A year ago almost to the day, I hopped on the back of an Uber Moto for the first time and had one of the most thrilling joyrides I've ever experienced! Forget skydiving, or bungee jumping, just spend $1 and take an Uber Moto and your adrenaline will be through the roof!
Ho Chi Minh City is home to roughly ~8 million people, and there are ~7.5 millions motos. It's how most people get around. To a westerner like me, it just seems like total chaos. Madness!
They get so close to each other.
They drive on the wrong side of the road.
They drive on the sidewalks. They dart out in front of oncoming traffic. The rules of the road seem like merely suggestions.
But, there is a fascinating harmony about it all. It's the norm for them and it just kinda works.
Except for the half a dozen accidents I saw during my month I was there. The accidents weren't bad, thankfully. But, they bump n grind a bit.
Hanoi
It reminds me of India, although not quite as chaotic. For me, nothing will ever top that! The traffic is unreal. SOOO many vehicles on the road. Bikes, motos, cars, rickshaws, trucks, cattle, monkeys, etc.
4 or 5 family members on one moto. Dozens hanging out of rickshaws. Monkeys and cows crossing the roads and everyone just swerves around like it's no big deal.
I saw a mother with two small children, probably ages 2 and 4, smack dab in the middle of a busy rotary. All 3 begging for money. I couldn't believe the 2 year old was just right there! A little sad actually.
This was a different girl:
The other strikingly different thing about the traffic in India is the incessant beeping. They are not beeping to be jerks. It's how they communicate. Beeping is just someone saying, "Hey, I'm on your right."
India is by far the most incredibly culturally rich travel country I've been to!
The traffic in Vietnam seems tame compared to India. But, it is still thrilling!
Check out the video of my first Uber Moto experience. My heart was pounding!
These next two snaps are from Hanoi, long exposure shots from the top of the hotel I was staying at. You can see the crazy traffic madness:
Wonder if UBER Moto would ever happen in the U.S.? Probably not.
Guess that means I need to go back to Vietnam for my next adrenaline fix. Hmmm...
Grand Teton & Delta Lake
If you visit Yellowstone, don't ignore the Grand Teton! Read on for the story of how I came face to face with a bear and survived!
Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming.
If you visit Yellowstone, why not throw in the Teton?! If you drive south and exit Yellowstone, you're entering the Grand Teton park. And, it is indeed grand.
The Tetons, as they are commonly referred to, are much different than Yellowstone. They feature the Teton mountain range (~4000 m), which is omnipresent throughout your experience in the park.
Most of my time in the park was on the east side of the Teton range, which meant that the sun was setting behind the range. The result are these majestic, sharp backlit mountains that seem to glow in the evening.
Before I left for the Tetons, I asked a Yellowstonian what I should see and do in their Tetonic neighbor. She highly recommended taking a walk around Jenny Lake.
Jenny Lake is a gorgeous little body of water nestled just in the valley of the Tetons. A lot of campers come and camp out along the edge of the lake. Hammock abound. And, the views are stunning. Unfortunately, the lake water levels were a bit high, which obfuscated the path around the lake. Yes, I did just use the word obfuscate.
But, I met a local gal who was hangin' in a hammock and we got to chattin'.
Told her I had ~2 days to play with, and she recommended I hike the Delta Lake Trail. It takes about 3 hours to get up to the top, but apparently, the view of this emerald green Delta Lake is worth the difficult and lengthy trek.
She also warned of serious bear action on that trail.
You can't go anywhere around these national parks without hearing about bear safety. And, at a certain point, you think, "Well maybe I should stop and listen to this action?"
Knowing I was going to hike alone, I decided to invest in some bear spray. Bear spray is like high powered pepper spray, shoots up to 30 feet. Maybe saves your life.
Next up, I stopped at the National Park Visitor Center to see if they had any updates about the Delta Lake Trail.
Also, met the moose outside.
When I told the worker I planned on doing the Delta Lake hike, she went from playful, positive happy-go-lucky government worker --- to concerned & cautious parent.
I guess she trekked it a few days before and there were some slippery spots near the top.
"Oh, ok, that's good to know. I also heard there are bears up there, so I bought bear spray."
She looked me in the eyes and said, "Oh, bears are probably the least of your worry."
She went on to tell the story of a girl who was trekking earlier in the week, and stepped on a snowy patch, only to realize the snow was just covering up a shallow crevasse. She stepped into the crevasse and a stick impaled her calf. 30 stitches.
Ok, I get it. it's a tough trek.
But, I'm still gonna send it!
Halfway up the trail, the weather is gorgeous, the views are great. No bears yet.
Met some nice trekkers from Canada. And then, 90% up the trail, I run into these 3 Bostonian hikers. I'm from the Boston area too! Serendipity.
Andrew, Ana and Alice---I later dubbed them the "A team". Or, "Triple A".
It was nice to have a crew to summit with, especially so close to the top and especially when the trail gets a little dodgy. Here is Ana and Alice crossing this avalanche-y area which I felt a little uneasy on.
And, YUP. We made it! The reward: Delta Lake.
I wish I had gone a little earlier in the day, because the sun was setting right behind the range, and affected my snaps. If you're goin' for the high quality snaps, check where the sun will be on PhotoPills first.
It was already getting late and it was gonna take a couple hours to get back down, so we didn't spend much time at the top, even though we all wanted to.
This was one of the better hikes I've done in my life and truly satisfying to reach the top! The adrenaline was flowin' for all of us as we headed back down.
We were hootin' n hollerin' n yuckin' it up nice. The A-Team was awesome and I was super glad I met them and got to share the experience with them!
Also, we were stoked we didn't see any bear action!
We traded stories about recent run ins with wildlife. I shared my story of seeing the mama griz and her two cubs at Yellowstone 2 days before.
And, the A-Team shared their story of how they were surrounded by bison TWICE on a Yellowstone trail days before!!!
We talked about how we had no idea how we would react if we did indeed run into a bear.
And, then we turn a sharp corner and Andrew says, "Guys, there's a bear right there...and we need to keep moving."
JYNXED OURSELVES.
WE RAN INTO A BEAR.
10 YARDS AWAY.
Here's a full video description of the experience, OR continue reading.
The bear was no more than 10 yards away. A black bear. As soon as I see it, it sees us. And, stands up at attention.
Andrew is in front, then Ana, then Alice then me bringing up the rear. The first thought that went through my head was, that we should actually retreat and put distance between ourselves and the bear. But that's because I was in back. And, going forward meant that I was actually cutting the distance between me and the bear!
Second thought that came to mind was, "I should take a photo." I had my camera hangin' off my neck, and thought, this would be an epic National Geographic snap that will put me on the map!
My third thought was, "NOOO, this will be the last photo I ever take."
And, my next thought was, "Oh, Alice has her bear spray out. Oh yea...bear spray."
It is incredible how quickly thoughts race through your mind in a traumatic experience. It all happens so fast, yet time seems to stand still.
And then, "Don't make eye contact. No sudden movement. Talk a little bit..."
Seconds after pulling out the bear spray, I realized my legs were very shaky. Everything else felt ok, but I was a little jelly-legged as I continued to walk.
3 out of 4 of us had bear spray. And, petite Ana had a knife. Which is slightly funny in hindsight.
Thankfully, the bear did NOT charge. It was probably eating some berries and simply let us walk by.
Maybe if I was alone, I might have been viewed as prey. But, there's strength in numbers when it comes to bears in the wilderness.
We still had about ~1 hour to get back down and the rest of the way was giddy! We were all freaked out and tried to joke as much as possible. While nervously scanning our surroundings like paranoid fiends.
Thankfully, no more bear action. We made it down. What an incredible experience! What a day.
Ohhh, Delta Lake, you!!! You gave us the thrill of a lifetime! And, thank you for being kind.
My thoughts in the immediate aftermath:
Sadly, I had to part ways with the A-Team. They were heading to West Yellowstone and I was heading to Jackson Hole. And, driving out, I was lucky to see some non threatening wildlife.
And, stopped to admire the heavenly glow behind the Teton range.
And, back to Jackson, which rivals West Yellowstone in its charm and design!
All in all, an epic adventure in Wyoming, which now ranks up there in my list of most underrated U.S. States. Do yourself a favor and book a trip to Yellowstone and Grand Teton. I know you will not be disappointed!
Oregon Trails
Oregon does not disappoint! I spent ~a week and a half hiking trails, putzing around Portland, looking at lava lands and floatin' down the Deschutes River. Oregon is on point!
Oregon does not disappoint! I spent ~a week and a half hiking trails, putzing around Portland, looking at lava fields and floatin' down the Deschutes River. Oregon is on point!
Portland gets a lot of hype and I get it now! Very charming city. Culturally rich! Coffee shops, boutique art shops, and big time beer culture. Here is a snap of Portland from the Ross Island Bridge.
But at the end of the day, I'm more inspired by nature than cities. I'm going to let the images do the rest of the lifting from here. No need for words when you got beautiful imagery!
On Father's Day, I hiked the Mirror Lake Trail to see some reflections of mighty Mount Hood.
Gorgeous weather...only thing better would have been to stay for the sunset to capture golden hour colors.
The opposite side of the lake is also sweet.
I got lucky when someone pointed out a snake swimming on top of the water. Not every day you get to see a snake on a lake.
A day or so later, I made my way down to Bend Oregon, aka "the new Aspen of Oregon" where I was going to meet up with my friends, Alexis and Roger. They highly recommended hiking at Smith Rock and even though it was 97 degrees that day, I embarked on the Misery Ridge Trail.
Hiking alone is nice, but when it's 97 degrees and you're huffin' n puffin' up the steep switchbacks, it's sometimes nice to have a buddy. Met this local girl Peri, and we headed up together.
Peri was only going halfway up the trail, so we hung out for a bit at this summit, before we parted ways.
This is the view on the opposite side of the mountain as you can see Bend off in the distance.
Smith Rock is known for having great rock climbing routes, and I saw tons of climbers diggin' deep in the heat. There were actually a few on this thumb-lookin' rock formation. Definitely a multi-pitch climb.
Seeing white capped mountains off in the distance when it is near 100 degrees is always bizarre to me.
That thumb-lookin' rock formation looks like a face from the other side!
Deer aplenty.
Did I mention it was hot? The hike is about a 3 hour hike, and by this time, I was definitely dehydrated and squinting from the sunblock that seared my eyes.
And, this is the final stretch of the Trail, a nice reflection photo for the road.
Here's a sweet little state park: The Cove Palisades State Park.
Some cool bridges.
Some rivers and waterfalls in Bend.
Floatin' down the Deschutes with Alexis Brandow!
And later that day, we visited the Lava Lands, or Lava Buttes, which are out of this world. A volcano erupted thousands of years ago, and today the lava still lies. Fascinating. Creepy? Maybe. Odd? Yup. Cool though!
Unfortunately, I did not make it to the Lava River Cave, but at that time, I realized, I gotta start heading east if I want to be in NYC by the Fourth of July. I never made it to Crater Lake either, which gets highly recommended, especially for photography.
Will put them on the list for future trips! So much to see in this great country. Good ole' USA! It is truly GREAT!!!
Joshua Tree National Park (in June)
I’m almost embarrassed to admit I had never been to Joshua Tree, ~2 hours from LA. This rare jewel hidden deep in the desert is fascinating and freaky and hotter than hell (in June).
I’m almost embarrassed to admit I had never been to Joshua Tree National Park which is only ~2 hours from LA. This rare jewel hidden deep in the desert is fascinating and freaky and hotter than hell (in June).
Campground #1, Joshua Tree Lake Campground
When I first got into Joshua Tree, I realized that I'd have a lot of freedom to sightsee, camp and hike because June is the off season. It’s dangerously hot in June! But that didn’t stop me.
I think I was one of 3 people in the Indian Cove Campground which has 101 campsites.
Joshua Tree National Park is essentially a big garden of Joshua Trees in the Mojave Desert. Which, at first, I thought was a bit strange. Why isn't there an Oak Tree National Park?
But, there is something mystical about these Seussian looking trees and the fact that they only grow in this specific unique climate. Very surreal.
The trees have this Keith Haring-like energy to them, almost as if each one is caught mid-dance:
And, I'd be remised if I did not mention that Joshua Tree is a rock climber's paradise! (Just not in June)
After a day or two of sweating, hiking, sweating, camping, sweating, hiking --- my hair started to reach for the sky and resemble the trees!
Maybe it was the heat stroke, but I started to see creatures in the desert flora. Seemed like the cacti turn into monsters when they don't get enough water.
Decaying cacti look weirdly otherworldly:
Some desert animal made a nice little camp in this small cave, using some especially caustic cacti to shield their nest from nasty predators:
Ran into a tiny toddler tumbleweed, that acted all timid when the camera started rolling.
Joshua Tree has these cute little creamy colored chameleons that blend in with the light sand.
How has this big boulder not toppled?
Skull Rock!
If you visit Joshua Tree, I highly recommend stopping by the Cholla Cactus Garden! More Seussian shrubbery!
One hiker I ran into said, "Yeah, it looks like someone just dropped a pile of rocks in random spots around the park. So true.
Overall, I had a blast exploring this national park, even in the hellish conditions.
Joshua Tree is a mystical must-see attraction!
Just don't go in June!
My Remote Year Marathon
12 months, 19 countries. A year of new experiences and constant stimulation. A year that can never be replicated, and never fully comprehended by anyone outside of RY3 . A year that probably seemed so luxurious on social media. But, in reality, it was just as challenging as it was rewarding. Like running a marathon.
12 months, 19 countries. A year of new experiences and constant stimulation. A year that could never be replicated, and never fully comprehended by anyone outside of RY3 . A year that probably seemed so luxurious on social media. But, in reality, it was just as challenging as it was rewarding. Like running a marathon.
It's been 2 weeks since I completed Remote Year and you may have noticed the radio silence on my part. The reality is, I'm recovering from the marathon!
Our first week in Remote Year, Carlos Paz, Cordoba, Argentina
In our very first meeting in Cordoba, Argentina, the staff played a video for us. It was an advice compilation from the original RY group that was in month 9 of 12. One of the older guys in the group said,
“RY is like a marathon, not a sprint. Pace yourself, because a year of travel and work is really challenging.”
Being a marathoner, I took these words to heart. In the beginning of the race, I know I always feel like this:
The adrenaline is flowing and I'm so excited the race is finally here!
But, I know that the mid to late miles are tough. The initial adrenaline wears off. Fatigue sets in. I get numb. And the last few miles I'm on auto-pilot, emotionally and physically. I sometimes can't remember a lot in those late miles, because my body is in this weird state of confusion. I'm just going through the motions, and everything is a blur.
And, when I get to the finish line, I'm often not able to savor the moment. I'm just numb. I may have an emotional moment for a minute, realizing that I just completed a big race that I'd been training so hard for. But, then, it takes me a couple hours to get some feeling back.
On my Remote Year marathon, I didn’t quite realize how tough the late months would be!
It wasn't tough to visit gorgeous National Parks, UNESCO sites, and Wonders of the World. It wasn't tough to adapt to the local culture or find my way around a new city. It was not hard to get along with such a great group of people who cared for each other and treated each other like family.
But, the combination of: constant travel, sightseeing, work, time zone challenges, lack of sleep, blogging, photography, the high of forging new friendships, the lows of saying goodbye and start all over, etc, etc. It's all amazing but exhausting!
The last few months of RY were challenging. I constantly felt fatigued. Got sick a bunch of times. Wasn't sleeping much. Was pushing my mind and body to the limits, trying to see all the sights. In a lot of ways I was just going through the motions. Checkin' stuff off the list.
Oh, another UNESCO World Heritage site. Neat.
A Wonder of the World...huh. Cool.
Most people plan their whole year's vacation around some of the things that I probably took for granted. I got emotionally numb in the late miles.
And, towards the end, I just wanted to hit that finish line.
Final day of Remote Year, just finished packing up my stuff.
But, now, I'm getting my feeling back. :]
Looking back, I realize just how lucky I am to have been able to be a part of Remote Year. So few people on this Earth will ever have the opportunities that I've had. It was the most extraordinary journey I've ever taken. The best race I've ever run.
And, the best part about it is, I'm not numb any more! And, while I may have been fairly unemotional during certain times, I still experienced it all. And, I can look back on those experiences now and fully appreciate them. And, I've got thousands of photos and videos that I haven't even looked at.
In a marathon, sometimes I forget the mid-to-late miles.
But I will never forget one mile, one day or one month of Remote Year.
Patrick and I on day 1 of 365. We were just babies back then.
Fuerza Bruta show, Buenos Aires, Argentina---one of the best nights of the year.
Wandering the streets of La Paz, Bolivia
Climbing Mount Huayna Potosi, one of the gnarliest, craziest things I've ever done!
Cusco culture, they love their little lambs and llama and alpaca.
The train to Edinburgh, Scotland
My romantic weekend in Paris
A phenomenal weekend in the Czech countryside to hike and watch the Perseids meteor shower.
A solo trip to Santorini, Greece, and some gorgeous beaches.
The slow boat in Laos with the Golden Shower Trio!
Admiring the Kuang Si Waterfalls in Laos
Sure, I'll buy a straw hat for $1 in Myanmar
The sweet hotel owner and her daughters in Inle Lake, Myanmar
Zaw Min! The best driver / tour guide of the year, hands down. Loved this man.
Inle Lake!
Jumped on the mic on the cruise in Halong Bay!
HA LONG BAY
Vietnam Mekong Delta cruise.
Vietnam welcome party spilled into the streets for the Tet New Year!
My final memory of Remote Year. A candlelight speakeasy. Magical.
Floating Village and Forest
After temple running at Angkor Wat and seeing the circus in Siam Reap why not check out the “Floating Villages” tour at Kompong Phluk? I was skeptical about this at first, but was pleasantly surprised by the beauty and tranquility of the experience.
After temple running at Angkor Wat and seeing the circus in Siam Reap why not check out the “Floating Villages” tour at Kompong Phluk? I was skeptical about this at first (lots of negative reviews online), but was pleasantly surprised by the beauty and tranquility of the experience.
What is a floating village? Basically, houses built on stilts to accommodate monsoon season flooding on the Tonle Sap river in central Cambodia.
It’s a bit funny to me that this is a tourist destination, since back home, my Dad’s boat is docked in a river with houses on stilts. But those stilts accommodate the varying water levels brought on by tide fluctuations.
So, essentially the floating village tour features “flood-proof houses”. But, either way, being on a boat ain’t so bad, especially when it’s 90 degrees F!
TRAVEL TIP: DON'T BOOK A FLOATING VILLAGE TOUR ONLINE IN ADVANCE. You can get it much cheaper in Siam Reap. Actually, this is something I have experienced almost the whole year through for all tours. Almost NEVER book in advance. This theory is completely contrary to how I used to travel. You want to feel safe knowing you have travel plans and tours solidified. TRUST ME. 9 times out of 10 you will get ripped off. Unless the tour is something like the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, which requires special permits and a guide---you can almost always get something cheaper by booking through your hotel or asking around town. Be patient. Been burned many times on this year trip by booking in advance.
There are lots of tour companies that feature the floating villages, but beware---lots are overpriced and get really bad reviews. Some of the more well known companies are $40 - $50 and some include a visit to the crocodile farm.
But, my Siam Reap travel buddy Carolin and I did our homework. Well, she did most of it. She found a small tour ticket booth in Siam Reap that offered a tour for $18 USD! And it was really nice.
We were picked up first thing in the morning and our tour guide ‘Vanna’ was quite charming. He grew up in the village and was eager to show us his hometown. He was entertaining too, “I am lucky, I am the most handsome man in my family. I am 30 years old. My wife is older than me, but it’s ok because I love her.”
Our cruise was only ~8-10 people total. Lots of the big companies pack you in like sardines on 50-70 person boats.
When we got on the boat, a 10 year old Cambodian boy named ‘Ka’ joined us. As soon as we sat down for the cruise, he got in the seat behind me and started massaging my neck. I realized he was looking for a tip...and sure enough he says, “$1 dollar.” It felt really good though, so I was happy to oblige. But, as soon as I said yes, the quality of the massage went down the drain. Ahhhh, what do you expect I guess. He was a good kid and kept me plenty entertained throughout the day.
We cruised for a while down the Tonle Sap river and stopped at the center of the village to check things out. Lots of kids getting out of school! Super cute.
Optionally, the tour featured an up-sell of $5 USD for the ‘floating forest’ cruise through the mangrove trees. Mangrove trees have special roots that allow them to grow in brackish water. I know, nice use of the word ‘brackish’, Matt!
This was SO worth it! It was incredibly peaceful. And, the shade of the mangrove trees provided a cool relief from the unbearable heat. We even saw a monkey climbing in the trees. Monkeys always make things more interesting, methinks.
The women of the village are the ones who row the boats. That’s their job, while the guys are out fishing. They even bring kids with them.
Our guide was super sweet, and paddled like a pro. Near the end of the tour, she pulled up a shrimp trap and sure enough, one little shrimp!
After the forest, we ate lunch on a floating restaurant and I had a huge craving for shrimp...which I devoured like a giant.
The ride back was quite nice. I mostly hung out on the roof of the boat, snapping pics of the locals and fishermen...
...and clownin’ around with my new buddy Ka. Good kid, he is.
All in all, our tour was ~5 hours with travel time to and from our hotel. A relaxing way to spend a half day in Siam Reap. And, an interesting Cambodian cultural experience!
A famous man once said, "No day on a boat is a bad day." Wait...I may have just made that up? But, you get the point.
Hot Air Balloon in Bagan
My 10 day vacation in Myanmar was marvelous! Traveled with some Europeans: Jacek, Kasia and Viktoria. Myanmar just opened their tourist doors a few years ago and it felt like the wild West. The highlight was the hot air balloon ride over Bagan, the ancient city with thousands of temples.
At the end of January, I left Cambodia early for a 10 day vacation (no work) to travel Myanmar with fellow Remote Jacek (Austria), his sister Kasia and her friend Viktoria. (Sweden)
Myanmar, aka Burma is a country that just opened its doors to travelers ~5 years ago and as such felt like the wild wild West. For me, the highlight was the hot air balloon ride over Bagan, the ancient city with thousands of temples!
We went with Oriental Ballooning, which was the most expensive of the 3 companies, but got the best reviews. If you want the best deal with Oriental Ballooning, you can find it here at Myan Marvels.
Ballooning ain't cheap. ~$350 to $375 USD for a ~1 hour flight. It’s the 2nd highest sightseeing thing I did this year, behind the Inca Trail hike to Machu Picchu ($675 USD). Some friends of mine opted out of ballooning because of the costly price tag.
But we all said, “Well it’s a once in a lifetime thing.”
Guess what? I know it won’t be JUST once in my lifetime. I want to fly again! Maybe in a different place with different landscape.
It was worth every penny!
And, I realized why it’s so costly. Of course, there is high demand for it. But also, it’s not easy getting that aircraft in the sky and landing it back down safely with anywhere from 9 to 13 people in it. I think it took a crew of ~8 to launch our balloon, plus our pilot.
We lucked out with the pilot. Donna, from Australia has been flying for 11 years, and works seasonally in Australia, New Zealand and Myanmar. She seemed to be the manager of the other pilots---or, maybe just the one who does the public speaking. Either way, she was really fun and charming and we couldn’t have asked for a better leader!
We lucked out with the weather too! Another gorgeous sunrise in Myanmar.
Breathtaking.
We even got to fly with some birds along the way.
Bagan was the capital city of the Pagan Empire that thrived during the 11th to 13th centuries. ~10,000 Buddhist temples were built and today there are still ~2200 temples remaining. This makes Bagan perfect for a bird's eye view!
The skyline is peppered with pagodas popping up out of the dry desert plains.
We flew fairly close to the ground, especially toward the end of the flight. So close we could say hello to the folks down below:
"Mingalabar!" (Hello)
One potential drawback of flying in Bagan is that the Bagan Airport is nearby and they restrict the top altitude that balloons can fly at. We got about 600 meters up, which was a gorgeous height. But, according to Donna, in areas like Inle Lake the flights get up to 4,000 meters! That would be very nice!
That being said, no complaints! What a magical experience seeing Myanmar from above. The flight was super smooth and peaceful. An adrenaline rush, but it felt really safe too.
I've got some videos that I'll compile at some point.
After the flight, we sat around eagerly chatting and enjoying fresh fruit, orange juice, and champagne for those who partake. We were told that the French invented hot air balloons and used to carry bottles of Champagne with them to give to the land owners when they accidentally landed on their property! And so the tradition continues.
If you want to do a hot air balloon ride in Myanmar, I highly recommend Oriental Ballooning! Go to MyanMarvels.com for the best deal!
More on Myanmar coming soon!
Phare, The Cambodian Circus
Siam Reap, Cambodia was a breath of fresh air compared to Phnom Penh, literally and figuratively. I ventured off on a solo trip for a few days to get out of the city and see the Angkor Wat temples. Angkor Wat was certainly impressive, but it was the Phare: Cambodian Circus that captured my heart!
Siam Reap, Cambodia was a breath of fresh air compared to Phnom Penh, literally and figuratively. I ventured off on a solo trip for a few days to get out of the intensity of the city see the famous Angkor Wat temples. While the temples at Angkor Wat were certainly impressive, it was the Phare: Cambodian Circus that captured my heart!
It's like Cirque du Soleil, but with Cambodian performers who studied at a local non-profit school for the performing arts. The NGO was started by 9 Cambodian men after the Khmer Rouge to help support local artists. Check out the website
The Phare Story is "Uniquely Cambodian. Daringly Modern. More than just a circus, Phare, the Cambodian Circus performers use theater, music, dance and modern circus arts to tell uniquely Cambodian stories; historical, folk and modern."
Phare was recommended by fellow Remote Translator.Liz who had visited earlier in the month. I went with a German friend (Carolin) who I met on the bus from Phnom Penh to Siam Reap. The only seats left were general admission and we were in the far back corner. But, it was a tiny tent venue and it didn’t matter. The performance was so powerful, there were no bad seats in the house!
Just like Cirque, the show featured music, dance, juggling, acrobatics and humor, all sprinkled on top of an overarching story of an outcast in a village who yearns for acceptance. It was brilliant.
The energy in the show is top notch! These performers had us eating out of the palm of their hands. Every audience member seemed entranced from start to finish. I found myself giggling and smiling so much my jaw hurt at the end.
I got emotional at one point during the show. My mind wandered back to the Fuerza Bruta show back in Buenos Aires, which was same same but different. BA was month 2 of Remote Year, and there I was in month 11. The whole year flashed before my eyes and the realization that the year is coming to an end brought a range of mixed emotions up to the surface.
I think the reason I loved the Phare Cambodian Circus so much was because Cambodia was a hard place to live mentally and spiritually. Phnom Penh is overpopulated. The streets are littered with trash. Poverty is ever-present. The dark history of the Killing Fields looms in the back of your mind. As a caucasian foreigner, everyone thinks your rich and merchants can be rather aggressive. It is probably the most challenging place I’ve lived this year.
For me, Phare represents hope! And Cambodians need hope. Feeling the positive vibes, the warmth of the circus and seeing the smiles of the performers was exactly what I needed. It was electrifying!
Hope.
Hope is not a dangerous thing, Red.
"Remember, Red, Hope is a good thing. Maybe the best of things. And no good thing ever dies."
Super Bowl Monday in Saigon
6:30 am. Monday. Sun's coming up and it's Super Bowl time! GOOD MORNING, VIETNAAAM! Yes, it's wicked weird but with wings and Coca Cola, feels just like 'Merica. Kinda. 'Same same but different'.
6:30 am. Monday. Sun's coming up and it's Super Bowl time! GOOD MORNING, VIETNAAAM!
Yes, it's wicked weird but with wings and Coca Cola, feels just like 'Merica. Kinda. To use a common Asian quote: "same same but different".
I arrived at the Guru Sports Bar about one drive into the game. The bar was packed inside, but thankfully I spotted a table with a great TV view outside. Sat next to Vietnamese couples on both sides --- Atlanta fans. Or, probably just Patriots haters.
The bar had some western style breakfast specials going on, but I opted for the wing platter. To my surprise, it did NOT disappoint! I dissected it like Matt Ryan did to the Patriots D in the first half.
BEFORE
AFTER
Everyone was rooting for the Falcons. Couple Pats fans inside but outside was all Hotlanta. No surprise. I’m used to the haters by now.
The first half was depressing. I was texting with Stevo, and we kept saying things like “lotta football left to play”, even though things were lookin' bleak.
On top of that, watching it on Sky Sports was annoying. (Sorry Jena) No ads. During commercial breaks they went back to the booth with 3 British announcers and Ndamukong Suh, a dubious choice at best. Suh is the Bill Laimbeer of the NFL, and has the personality of a Keanu Reeves or Vin Diesel. (More Suh dirt here)
My sis and I texted at halftime.
Sis: “Yes!!! Soooo disappointed. :[”
Me: “Ain’t over yet tho.”
The halftime show was the highlight of the day for me. I thought Lady Gaga was spectacular! She is a phenomenal performer! And she actually sings and plays music instead of lip synching. Loved it.
Then...
People on social media started ripping into the Pats. Nasty stuff, calling out Pats fans, ripping Brady, etc. I’m used to it. But, I'm also tired and cranky. (And also sick with a nasty cough)
One of my friends posted: “I don't even like football, but... GO FALCONS! Beat the cheaters!”
I felt like this was a good time to pick a fight with her. I messaged her and asked her if she was aware that the Falcons got caught cheating two years ago? She was unaware. Or that the Giants got caught cheating this year? She was unaware.
Of course she was not aware. Cuz no one cares if other teams get caught in scandals only the Patriots. This led to a healthy political debate, which strangely momentarily made me feel better. Guess I needed to blow off some steam. Ok, back to the game.
Watching the second half was SURREAL. I felt like we had a chance to come back but assumed we might fall up short. 28-3 is a big hole to dig out of. And especially when they got a beast like Julio Jones, and the MVP Matty Ice.
But, Brady is the GOAT. And Belichek is the GOAT.
Funny thing happened. When they started coming back, ALL of the people outside the bar switched sides. Slowly but surely, everyone started rooting for the PATRIOTS. Whaaaaaa!?!?!?
This was a fascinating turn of events. It proved to me that people just like the underdog. All of a sudden, the Pats were the underdogs. And, no one wants to see a blowout.
It was an incredible moment in sports history. Greatest comeback of all time.
We are so lucky in New England.
I wish people didn’t hate the Patriots so much, because we are witnessing greatness in the NFL the likes of which we may never see again. I never liked the Yankees, but I appreciated when Derek Jeter retired because he was GREAT and he was humble and classy. Brady is classier than anyone and always takes the high road. So happy for him. Maybe people will come around on Brady n Belichek? Not holding my breath.
I did shed a tear when the Patriots won. I didn’t cheer and scream and yell when they won. It was just a moment of elation, and relief after gritting my teeth, clenching my fists with a nervous leg twitch for 3 hours. I got handshakes from the Vietnamese couples next to me. And took some selfies with an Australian guy and a British guy.
Yup, teary eyes.
I'll leave the celebration up to my boy Mike Bracco, who recorded this raw, unfiltered reaction to the end of the game (NSFW): Click to watch here
And then I scowled when Goodell gave the most inauthentic presentation of the trophy to Robert Kraft.
And then I hopped on a motorbike home with “Son”. Rode through the streets of Saigon, Vietnam back to my home.
Just your typical Super Bowl Monday morning.
Well, same same but different.
The Killing Fields
Traveling the world is not all rainbows and waterfalls. It's a course in world history and sometimes history is horrifying. The hardest day of the year was visiting the S21 Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the Killing Fields in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Traveling the world is not all rainbows and waterfalls. It’s a course in world history and sometimes history is horrifying. The hardest, most humbling, sobering day of the year was visiting the S21 Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the Choeung Ek Killing Fields in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
In 1975, the Communist Khmer Rouge Regime under the evil dictator Pol Pot marched into Phnom Penh and took over the city after defeating the existing Cambodian government. The people were elated as they thought the many years of war were over. However, they were forced out of their homes and into the countryside. They were told they could return in 3 days. Instead, most were arrested and forced to work ridiculously long hours in the agricultural fields. If they resisted they were imprisoned. And tortured. And executed.
From 1975 to 1979, the Khmer Rouge regime killed anywhere from ~1 million to ~3 million innocent Cambodians.
Some were killed because they opposed the new political regime.
Some were killed because they wore glasses.
Some were killed because they had soft hands.
Pol Pot was as evil as any man in the history of the world.
We visited one of the Cheoung Ek Killing Fields, where ~9,000 bodies were found in mass graves. Every time it rains more bone fragments, teeth and clothing are unearthed.
When the mass graves were discovered, they found a tree next to one grave that contained women and children. The tree had skull fragments and brain tissue all over it. Studies indicate they killed babies by bashing their heads against the tree, and then tossing them into the graves.
They built a memorial the Cheoung Ek site which houses thousands of skulls, and bones dug up from the graves.
We then visited the S21 Tuol Sleng Prison, where victims were first brought, interrogated, starved and tortured. A lot of them died from starvation, or torture in this very prison. But, most were brought to the killing fields to be executed.
Only ~3 survivors remain. I got to meet one of them. After Bou Meng, was tortured for weeks, they found out he was a painter. He was forced to paint portraits of the Khmer Rouge leaders for the remainder of his time imprisoned.
His life was spared. But his wife's was not.
After these atrocities were discovered, and the Khmer Regime was overthrown, Bou escaped from the prison. He now paints images of what life was like in the prison. And, he volunteers at the prison.
I got to meet him and shake his hand. I bought his book. It was a fascinating firsthand account of what life was like in S21. And he testified in the court trial against the Khmer Rouge regime. What a brave man.
This happened during my lifetime. It’s almost impossible to fathom that people can be so evil.
The Khmer Regime was not even really held accountable for their actions. Pol Pot was able to live out the rest of his life with his family, and the other leaders were not prosecuted for their crimes until a few years ago.
I don't remember this event being covered in history class back in school. We learned a lot about the Holocaust, but not much about other genocides. I guess there's too much history to cover everything. But knowing world history is important for our future.
If you are interested in more info, there is a book by a Cambodian woman who was a young girl when her family was forced out of Phnom Penh: First They Killed My Father. Angelina Jolie is producing a Netflix film based on the book that will be released in 2017.
And, of course there was the 1984 film entitled The Killing Fields, by Roland Joffre which won 3 Oscars.
There is a memorial outside the S21 prison with all the names of the known victims.
And a monument with the inscription: "Never will we forget the crimes committed during the Democratic Kampuchea regime."
I know I will never forget.
Chiling Falls with Mr Baby
MEMORY MONDAY - One of my favorite days on RY was the Chiling Waterfalls in Malaysia. We took buses ~1.5 hours outside of Kuala Lumpur and I was lucky enough to sit in front with our driver: 'Mr Baby'.
MEMORY MONDAY - One of my favorite days on Remote Year was the Chiling Waterfalls day trip in Malaysia. We took buses ~an hour and a half outside of Kuala Lumpur and I was lucky enough to sit in the front seat with our driver: 'Mr. Baby'.
I have no idea what his real name was, because he introduced himself to us as Mr Baby. He said all his friends call him that because he has 10 babies.
Mr. Baby lives in a village outside of Kuala Lumpur near a gorgeous area called Perhentian. He said it was common in their village for men to have ~20-25 children! But, "Mr Baby only 10 children. And, only 1 wife, because Mr. Baby is good man." He was quite proud of the fact that while his religion said that he COULD have 4 wives, he only has 1 wife and loves her very much.
Mr. Baby made my day! He is a solid driver, not shy of steppin' on it. And he doesn't like it when other drivers are slow. "See, this driver is sleeping. Mr. Baby don't like this."
And, he thinks "Indian drivers are the worst". Not sure if he realized Abe was in the back seat, but not sure he really cared anyways. He didn't say it mean spirited, just matter of fact like.
The Chiling Falls are located near Selangor Lake, which is a really beautiful cool blue.
We had to trek through the jungle ~1 hour to get to the falls. It was SWELTERING HOT. I was sweating the second we got out of the air conditioned Mr. Baby-mobile. Welcome to Malaysia!
One thing I've learned on Remote Year---I love the jungle / rainforest. I love the outdoors in general, but the jungle has a bit more vibrance than the typical green forests I'm used to. The sounds of crickets and insects are constant. And, there is just a buzzzzzzzz that you can't describe unless you're in it.
In order to get to the Falls, you have to cross the river 4-5 times. Wading through the river was so fun! The main reason is because it was SO HOT and the river was so refreshingly COOOOOOL.
But also, it added a bit of extreme danger to the trek. I had my good camera with me, and one slip would be fatal (to the camera).
I love adventure!
When we finally got to the falls, I was so excited to see that we could swim in them! It was a great reward for the sweltering trek. The water was so cold and refreshing!
When you get into the water you realize you are swimming with MANY fish, and YES, they do nibble at your feet n legs a bit!
And, we could jump off the rocks!
Some of us were a little afraid of takin' that leap, like Heather. :]
But, I was in it to win it! Here's my plunge with the GoPro in hand.
We could even swim UNDER the falls! I will say, being inside a waterfall is not very fun. It's like being in a washing machine or a tropical storm. It takes your breath away and feels a little dangerous. But, our fearless leader TRAVIS is the waterfall KING!
Couple groups shots:
And then we had to trek back.
I think these are termites, not ants.
We made it back!
Thankfully, Mr. Baby stopped at Selangor Lake on the way back and let us snap a few shots of the lake, which was stunning.
Jungle + Waterfalls + Adventure + Camaraderie + Mr. Baby = 1 of my favorite days on RY!
New Year, New Pic Process!
Month 11 of Remote Year, and I’ve only published 5 months of snaps. It kills me, cuz I want to share them! But, pic processing takes time. So, New Year, new pic process.
Month 11 of Remote Year, and I’ve only published 5 months of snaps. It kills me, cuz I want to share them! But, pic processing takes time. So, New Year, new pic process.
People ask me, “I don't understand, why don’t you just upload them from your camera?” But, it’s not as easy as that. Processing a month of snaps usually takes me anywhere from ~6 - 15 hours!
I'm currently working on Prague, I took over 1000 photos. Often I take multiple exposures, testing out different settings. First, I’ve got to weed out the bad ones. And, then the good ones always require post processing. Tonal value, brightness, contrast, etc.
From now on, I’m just going to upload pics to Facebook here and there. No more waiting until I've completed a full set for each country. No more forcing myself to go in sequence.
I'm turning over a new leaf! Breakin' free from the old me! 2017!!!
Here are a few of my recent faves and I'll add these to Facebook as well:
Prague
Santorini
Belgrade
Split
Kuala Lumpur
Kuching
Borneo
Chiang Mai
Laos
Ko Samui
Phnom Penh
Elephants on Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve was quite different this year. Instead of being in Boston dreaming of sugar plums and reindeer, I was in Thailand, eating sugar cane and playing with elephants. I definitely miss family, but this was as sweet as Mom's homemade butterhorns!
Christmas Eve was quite different this year. Instead of being in Boston dreaming of sugar plums and reindeer, I was in Thailand, eating sugar cane and playing with elephants. I definitely miss family, but this was as sweet as Mom's homemade butterhorns!
Yesterday, I spent my day at the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary. It's a rehab center for mistreated elephants. In case you didn't know, the elephant tourism industry is quite controversial. You can watch this video about the dark side of riding elephants.
This sanctuary buys elephants from tour companies and gives them a better life! And they bring in tourists to play with them, feed them and bathe them. These gentle giants are really really kind, and they too, love Christmas.
We rode in the back of a truck which is a typical taxi here in Thailand. (Not to be confused with Tuk-Tuks, which are smaller, open-air rickshaw type taxis.)
It was 1.5 hours each way, but they gave us free water!
The group consisted of: Abby (Vermont)
Abe (Pittsburgh, but originally from India)
Derrick (Los Angeles)
Derryl (Los Angeles)
And, Natalie (Luxembourg)
Once we got to the sanctuary, we had to put on these snazzy shirts. They need you to wear similar clothing as the caretakers so the elephants know you're friendly.
I was pretty pleased with the color scheme of my shirt, since it matched my red tee n sneaks.
Then, we got schooled on how to approach the elephants. Do's n don'ts. Here is Abby and I not listening to the instructions.
Naw, I'm kidding, we were dialed in. I am not one of those people that takes wild animals lightly. Don't wanna get stomped or smushed.
AND, more importantly, you need to know eleph-elfie etiquette. Here is my eleph-elfie.
Just in case you wanted to see my eleph-elfie from a different angle, Abe got you covered:
And, maybe you want more eleph-elfies? Better quality wide angle eleph-elfies? I got you.
Here are a bunch of snaps of my friends feeding and chillin' w the ellies:
CRUNCH!!! These ellies eat bananas and sugar cane stalks. It's wild to hear them CRUNCH on the sugar cane, crushing it like it wasn't even a thang.
This is me, cautiously feeding, and petting the gentle, GINORMOUS animals.
Petting the elephants was throwin' me super weird! It feels like you're rubbing a spongy piece of staircase anti-slip grip tape, with wire bristles coming out of it. I definitely wouldn't want to snuggle or spoon with an ellie.
After the feeding, we went down to the mud pit, where everyone was encouraged to jump in n get dirty with the ellies. I opted to take photos. Not because I'm afraid to get dirty, I just wanted to take pics.
And then I saw this and think I made the right choice:
After ~7 mins, they led the ellies down to the river, and this time I got in and splish-splashed with em! (You have to watch the video to see me)
After a good swim, what do they want to do? Get dirty again.
But, they're not just showering themselves with dirt because they want to get dirty. It's a defensive move. Filling their pores with dirt helps them avoid tick bites when they sleep at night. Smart thinkin' fellas!
Here's one of the staff clownin' w the ellie---he held the trunk up to his ear like he was answering a phone call! LOL
Just a snap of one of 'em roamin' off in the distance.
I gotta say it was a good day. The views were gorgeous.
And, the experience was unforgettable.
It was pretty hot out there, and on the way back, we were zonked. Snoozin' in the ole truck.
Without further adieu, here is the video I made for you! It is ~6:40. Hope you enjoy! Merry Christmas!
It's a Wonderful Christmas Gift!
It’s a wonderful world and it is a wonderful life! And, yesterday, thanks to my wonderful family, I got to live my own It's a Wonderful Life movie scene. Thanks to ALL friends & fam who shared Christmas wishes from home!
It’s a wonderful world and it is a wonderful life! And, yesterday, thanks to my wonderful family, I got to live my own It's a Wonderful Life movie scene. Thanks to ALL my friends & fam who shared Christmas wishes via video from their homes this holiday season!
BACK STORY:
I'm 39 years old and this is the 1st year in my life that I will not be home for Christmas. I've lived in California for 17 years, and every year, I managed to make it home. :[
My parents were inspired by a Remote Year video that Travis and Samantha created for our transition from Europe to Asia. They recorded our families back home, wishing us well in Asia. Then, they showed the compilation at a group event. It was nothing short of spectacular!
So, my parents took a page out of Tramantha's book and reached out to all my friends and family to create a Christmas compilation video for me.
A very special THANK YOU to my parents, Mark and Jeanne, for putting together such an awesome gift! It is not easy to compile everyone’s videos and pics and assemble them in such a beautiful way. AMAZING!
I was blown away by the love, warmth and Christmas spirit. 34 mins of love!
The first 1/3rd of the video, my jaw was dropped seeing the wonderful wishes from various family groups around the U.S. Everyone got SO CREATIVE! There were custom poems, and songs, creative montages, and random awesomeness!
Then, it went into various friends from around the U.S., and I was thinkin’ “WHOA, this is unreal!”
Mind blown. Like when I watched the Battlestar Galactica Season 3 final.
And, then it circled back around to family, and even featured my teddy bear that I hadn’t talked to in 30+ years: Teddy!! Totally forgot what Teddy looked like!
And, then there was a nostalgic slideshow of throwback pics, and some video of my church from when I was a kid. The slideshows were set to one of my favorite Christmas hymns, “You are the Gift”, by Charlie Crutcher.
And, then...I may have just shed a tear.
This year, I’ve traveled the world, and seen so many awe inspiring sights. And, I appreciate the support of all my friends and family at home, following along with my Facebook posts, pics and blog.
It is hard to be away from friends and family while traveling. But, seeing this video reminded me how phenomenal my friends and family are!
- 130 people
- 6 dogs
- 1 fish
- 1 teddy bear
- ~20 figurines
That many people took the time out of their busy holidays schedules to send me some love.
I feel so loved and so wonderful. Like good ole' George Bailey from Bedford Falls.
"Remember, NO man is a failure who has FRIENDS.”
And here is the masterpiece! Feel free to watch or scrub through and find your video.
THANK YOU ALL, once again from the bottom of my heart! Miss you all!!! Much love from Chaing Mai!!!
Borneo's Wicked Wildlife - Pt 3
Want to know what millions of bats flying out of a cave looks like? Check out part 3, the finale of Borneo's Wicked Wildlife, featuring the bats in Gunung Mulu National Park!
Years ago, I watched BBC’s Planet Earth series and was transfixed by the Caves episode. Bats, snakes and insects make up this incredible ecosystem. Borneo’s Mulu National Park boasts some of the world’s most impressive caves and underground passages and is featured in the BBC episode I saw. Mysterious Mulu was beckoning me…
In Kuala Lumpur, we visited the Batu Caves, which was basically Mulu’s baby brother. It was but a mere appetizer before the Mulu main course.
We took a headlamp guided tour of the dark caves.
You see centipedes, and spiders and scorpions, and worms, and cockroaches, and all sorts of creepy crawlers.
And the whole time, you hear the chirping of bats above you.
But, the thing is, it’s not scary. It sounds scary, but, it’s actually quite peaceful.
Algae grows on the rocks that get sunlight inside the caves
The highlight of the tour (for me): deep in the dark trenches, they ask everyone to turn their headlamps off. We sat in the dark for a couple minutes, just listening to the chirping, the scurrying, the slithering, the whoosh of the wind and drips of water.
Nothing living in the caves has any interest in getting near humans. You have to trust that.
Deep in the dark caves, there really is NO light. You try to adjust your eyes, and still it’s complete pitch black. In normal nighttime environments, there exists some moonlight, and or ambient light. Not in the caves. Pitch black. It was INTENSE.
Once you get out of the cave you are confronted by tons of devious monkeys that seem like they are plotting or concocting some 12 Monkeys type plan...
But, that was just the Batu Caves! Back to Borneo...
Gunung Mulu National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, protected because of its unique wildlife and plant life and protected so people of future generations can visit and experience the beauty.
Mulu was next level cave madness. WICKED. WEIRD. And, MAGNIFICENT.
First, my hotel, the Mulu Marriott. It's nestled right into the rainforest. Just listen to the awesome SOUND of the jungle. I love that sound. Constant buzz, chirping, yawping geckos and frogs. So weird.
The Mulu Marriot’s mascot is the gecko (kinda). They sell gecko stuffed animals in their hotel store. Each guest gets a gecko in their room (joke). Here's mine:
Now, unfortunately, there was monsoon-season rain every day, and I did not get to go on the canopy walk, or the night hike, where I would have seen tons of crazy lizards, centipedes, etc. But the real attraction was the bats in the caves.
There are 4 main “Show Caves” that most tourists visit.
Deer Cave (named because Deer used to run through the passage and lick the salt covered rocks)
Lang Cave (Gorgeous interior walls that look like jellyfish)
Clearwater Cave (because of the gorgeous river running through it)
Cave of the Winds (named because of the wind vortex that exists in some of the narrow passages. Tons of cool stalagmites and stalactites!)
The caves are home to MILLIONS of bats. Bats are a vital part of these ecosystems---pretty much everything revolves around them. They eat mosquitoes and other insects. They poop out “guano” and other insects eat the guano, and other insects eat those insects and the circle of life continues.
I am thankful for the bats, because there’s enough mosquitoes in the rainforest already! I’ve got the bites to prove it.
In addition to the bats, there are Cave Swiftlets: birds that use a type of 'clicking' sonar. The chirping of millions of bats and then the clicking of the low flying swiftlets. INCREDIBLE.
The clicking gets more frequent the closer they get to their target. Click, click, click, click, click, click...like a horror movie.
Spooky-key-kuh key, key-ku-key, key-kuh-key.
There are also millions of spiders in the caves. They post up on the walls, and catch flies and other insects. Check out how many webs there are:
This is a different type of web, spun by the thread worm. It hangs and traps flying insects:
Day one of the tour ends at the Bat Observatory, outside the Deer / Lang Caves with the possibility of seeing the bats fly out of the caves in formation to feed.
Some lucky visitors get to see em. Some don’t. Some folks I met tried two nights in a row, and the monsoons were too strong --- no bats.
But, wouldn’t you know it, I’m like the Lucky Charms leprechaun and even though it was raining, they came out to play.
They come out in waves. About 5-7 mini groups exit the cave first. They flock in beautiful ribbon-esque formations. After the mini groups, the rest of 'em fly out in one long ribbony stream that can last ~45 mins! (Ours lasted about 5 minutes. Most likely not all came out due to the drizzle of rain) It's almost like a fireworks show with the grand finale.
Not a lot is known about bats and why they fly like this. Bats are blind, but SHARP. Their sonar is on point.
At my hotel the following night, I was having dessert at the pool bar, with a Dutch couple, and we realized bats were flying underneath the ceiling of the outdoor lounge and literally right over our heads. They’ll fly so close to you and so fast, but never hit you.
My, oh, my, Mulu is magnificent!
The idea of visiting caves that are fully encrusted in bat guano may sound gross to some, but for me it was spectacular.
Seeing the bats fly out of the cave was bananas. It was the icing on the cave cake.
That’s it for the Borneo’s Wicked Wildlife blog series. Borneo was one of the best travel experiences of my life because it was just so different and exotic. Never had been to the rainforest before ('cept one day in Iguazu Falls). But, Borneo was one week of wild and weird.
There is a buzz in the rainforest, literally. The sound of it is entrancing. And, I can hear still it in my sleep.
Borneo's Wicked Wildlife - Pt 2
No trip to Borneo is complete without seeing wild orangutans. Seeing animals in a zoo is depressing. Seeing them in the semi-wild is wicked sweet!!
No trip to Borneo is complete without seeing wild orangutans. Seeing animals in a zoo is depressing. Seeing them in the semi-wild is wicked sweet!!
If you visit Kuching, you gotta go to Semenggoh Nature Reserve. It's less than an hour from the city. For a little context, Kuching is the capital city of the state of Sarawak, which is on the island of Borneo, which is part of Malaysia. Here is the map in case you missed the last post:
Here are a few snaps of Kuching to give you an idea of what this charmingly cute and colorful little island city is like. (THANK YOU to Fritztastic and Celeste for recommending it!)
Ok, back to the wildlife. You probably are wondering why I said "semi-wild"? The Semenggoh Wildlife Center was set up in the 1970's as a rehab center for injured animals. They help sick animals and then release them into the jungle.
Semenggoh basically acts as a feeding center for the endangered Bornean Orangutans. Twice a day they call out for them and if they come, they get to eat fruit. During the fruitful seasons in the jungle, the orangutans don't even show up, cuz they're full. This makes the staff happy, but the visitors sad.
Semenggoh is actually a little controversial, because some think we are intruding on their space too much. See the article here. I didn't see any problem with it. They're endangered and making sure they are fed seems like a good thing long term.
There are a bunch of other areas on Borneo where you can see orangutans truly living in the wild. I've already got a spot I want to come back to: Danum Valley in Sabah (just up the coast on Borneo) came recommended by a guy who guides up there, and it is home to Proboscis Monkeys, Orangutans AND Pygmy Elephants. YUP, I'll be back.
Feeding time is 9 - 10am, and then the afternoon. I went at 9am based on the recommendation of a fellow traveler --- thanks Yogginy! Higher likelihood of seein' 'em early.
The workers led us on a short hike to get to the feeding area. And then, they call out to them, yawping wildly into the jungle every minute or two.
We waited. And waited.
9:15. No orangutans.
9:30. No orangutans.
At this point, the crowd seemed defeated. The adrenaline had faded. I started taking pics of cool jungle flora.
Then, all of a sudden...we see large treetops swaying irregularly way off in the distance.
The excitement was palpable!
And then, the tree next to it started swaying...they're getting closer!
The first sight of one off in the distance, was unreal. I've seen orangutans in zoos before, but this was like Jurassic Park type stuff. Thrilling!
These guys are so acrobatic and flexible.
They seem like they are having a blast as they are climbing trees, swinging and swaying.
It's just their way of moving around, but arboreal locomotion just looks so fun! Who wouldn't want to be Tarzan, swinging from vines? Maybe I should get into trapeze...
2 came out to get their fruit on and we watched them for about 20 minutes.
They did not come close to the crowds like when Yoginny was there. But, I didn't mind. Call me crazy, but I tend to appreciate a bit of distance with wild animals.
For the most part, they had their backs to the crowd.
But, every once in a while, they would check us out.
I love how they hold the fruit with their feet, and use their hands to eat---all while holding on to the ropes. Amazing animals.
After about 15 minutes, one of the feeders announced that there were two or three baby orangutans approaching the front area if we wanted to see them.
When he said babies, I had this vision of orangutans in diapers, sucking on passies. But, naw, these babies look pretty grown to me.
Look how flexible this one is. Doing a split, holding his weight with his toes, while scarfin' some fruit.
10am, feeding time was over! But, I'm thoroughly happy with my visit to Semenggoh. Thought I was gonna get skunked. Instead I got orangutan-ed.
Next up...the grand finale! Borneo's Wicked Wildlife Part 3.
Ever wonder what millions of bats look like flying out of a cave, all together in formation!?!? Subscribe to my blog, cuz you don't wanna miss the next post.
Borneo's Wicked Wildlife - Pt 1
The island of Borneo boasts the most wicked wildlife! Because of the climate, the rainforest is home to the most species of life on Earth. I went to Borneo for Thanksgiving on a solo journey and here is part 1 of Borneo's Wicked Wildlife!
The island of Borneo boasts the most wicked wildlife! Because of the climate, the rainforest is home to the most types of species of life on Earth. From plants to insects to animals, it is lush in life. And, it's simply gorgeous.
So I went on a solo journey over Thanksgiving to explore and see what this wildlife was all about. Best travel week of the year. (Maybe because I was not working?)
I could write for days about the trip and all of the interesting things I saw. But I want to focus on the wildlife. This is the 1st in a 3-part series:
Pt 1 - Bako National Park
Pt 2 - Semnggoh Nature Reserve
Pt 3 - Gunung Mulu National Park
First, you’re probably wondering, where is Borneo? Well, Borneo is the largest island in Asia and the 3rd largest in the world. The island is split between 3 countries: Malaysian, Brunei and Indonesian. And it’s in the South China Sea:
Bako National Park was out of this world! It came well recommended from Remote Tom, and cousin Jeffrey SS Johnson whose story of getting robbed by monkeys had me geeked to the gills.
You have to take a ferry to get to Bako. This ferry was a tiny river boat. A ferry for one.
At the landing, you learn of the crocs in the water. GULP.
Guess I won't be swimming in the water, just swimming in sweat. It is unfathomably hot and humid in the jungle.
Bako is known for being home to the endangered Proboscis monkeys, among many other wild things. It features 14 different hiking trails, and you can see different plants, animals, birds and insects depending on which trail you take.
And it's got this weird awesome vibe about it. Almost like Jurassic Park. Or the LOST island.
In addition to the day time hiking, they also offer a somewhat spooky, guided night hike, into the deep and dark jungle with flashlights to find nocturnal animals. Not many pics from the night hike. A little dark.
I was only on Bako National Park for ~24 hours and here's a list of the things I saw:
Proboscis Monkeys (Endangered)
Crab Eating Macaque (Monkeys)
Flying Lemur (Sadly did not get to see it fly. It was just hugging a tree.)
Snails
Mudskippers (Kinda like flying fish)
Swallows (Birds)
Tortoises
Spiders
Centipedes
Scorpions
Frogs
Praying Mantis
Shell Dwelling Hermit Crabs
Spotted Gecko
Lizards
Grasshoppers
Mosquitoes
More Mosquitoes
Did I mention Mosquitoes?
All in all, the most exciting species were the endangered Proboscis Monkeys!
Proboscis Monkeys, aka Long-Nosed Monkeys are all over Bako. They look like humans with their pot bellies & long noses. My first sighting was my best. As I was heading to the hiking trails I stumbled upon 3 eating in a tree ~10 yards away, right out in the open.
The 3rd one was behind these guys, a bit lower.
They noticed me. I got so excited, like the feeling of approaching a girl for the first time. Heart racing, "Don't do anything stupid, just be cool." I took a couple snaps, and they were fine. Inched a bit closer. Fine. And then i did something stupid. I took out my GoPro and turned it on. BEEP BEEP BEEP. They ran away. So sad!
The funny thing is that, in my giddy, kid-like state, I tried to call out after them and ask them why they were running away.
"Hey, wait! Guys, don't go!"
As if they're going to just turn around and listen to reason.
I saw a few more during my stay on Bako but never out in the open like this. And then monsoon season kicked in and they were scarce. Coolest animals I've seen in the wild! Gotta go back to Bako. Here are some shots from them up in the trees.
Caveat --- I'm actually NOT a good photographer. I may have a decent eye, but I make a lot of mistakes that cost me amazing snaps. When you're in the jungle, sweating profusely, and the adrenaline is pumping from seeing wild animals, you don't have a ton of time or mental capacity to figure out the perfect F-stop and ISO settings. That's why these are blurry. And, that's why I have to go back to Bako!
The beach is filled with holes in the sand. If you're patient and you watch closely, you can see crabs running out of the holes every once in a while. They're tiny and have super cute eyes.
Pit vipers...you would not even notice them if someone didn't tell you they were there. They stay in the same position on the same tree for weeks sometimes. They sit and wait...and wait...and wait for prey to go by and then WHAM! Gotcha!
Speaking of snakes, there is a formation that juts out of the water in the park, that resembles a snake. They call this the sea stack...what do you think? Snake like?
And a spider from the night hike:
Here's a short video of what I assume is a Silver Lutung Monkey:
And, here is a weird video of what I assume are maybe mud skippers in low tide? And then, towards the end of the video, maybe a fish that is about to go aground?
Oh and lastly...a huge shout-out to the bearded pigs!
These guys are shamelessly snorting their way around the island. Stickin' their lil snout in everyone's business. But, it's cool. They're not shy and fantastically weird. One of them just wandered on to the beach at sunset, searchin' for sea worms.
Next up, Part 2: Semenggoh Nature Reserve, wild orangutans!
And, if you are curious about bats...just you wait for Part 3: Mulu National Park. Stay tuned for some mind-blowing battiness...