I'm a web designer, travel marketer and long term wanderer, on the road since 2003. Check out my
Walking Men 99 is a public art installation featuring pedestrian traffic light walking men from around the world. The work can be found at Church Street, Park Place and Barclay Street, near the WTC construction site in Downtown Manhattan.
Southernmost Point of Continental USA, Key West – USA
The Southernmost point bouy in Key West, Florida. Technically the southernmost point of the Island of Key West is on U.S. Navy land, but I wouldn’t try taking a photo there!
Art Deco Hotels, Miami Beach – USA
Neon lit art deco hotels on Miami Beach, Florida – USA.
Coffee of the day – Portland, OR – USA
[Stumptown Coffee - Portland - USA]
While going through my photos for this weeks travel photo I realised I didn’t have a photo of a compelling Portland landmark. Portland is more of a place to be than a place to see. It’s an industrial city that gradually lost its way when the tradional industry moved out. Then the cool kids moved in, so to speak, and it became one of the places to be in the US.
With the cool kids came the third wave coffee movement, with Stumptown Coffee leading the way in Portland. I’m all for cities that care about coffee, so I knew I was going to like Portland.
When you get to this city you will notice that the locals are always complaining – or at least apologetic – about the weather, which is famous for its cool and drizzly climate. No need for apologies, Portlanders – your miserable days are ideal working in nice cafes kind of days for me. In fact you should market it as that, especially for people like me who tend to live in the tropics and might actually like a break from the heat and sunburn.
Jimi Hendrix, Seattle – USA
[Jimi Hendrix statue - Seattle]
Jimi Hendrix was born in Seattle and appropriately there is a statue in the Capitol Hill neighborhood.
Walking the High Line – New York City
New York now has two walks in my good walks section (New York is that kind of place) with The High Line Park now added to my collection. While not as epic as the Broadway Walk, this walk is far more relaxing, with no traffic to contend with and a length of just one mile.
the High Line is a disused railway viaduct that runs along 10th Ave on the Lower West Side of Manhattan, between 30th st and Gansevoort St (near 12th St).
An easy walking path, with no bikes.
Parts of the walk feature the railway track that used to run along the line.
Walking above the traffic at W17th St.
The park features landscaped gardens of wildflowers and grasses that you might expect along a disused railway line, and there are plenty of resting benches along the way.
The highline ends, so soon – boo. Originally the High Line ran south to Clarkson St (about another 14 blocks), one street short of Houston St, but that was demolished. Thankfully such a large section of track was spared. The good news is that there are plans to extend it further north from 30th St.
Haleakala Observatory, Maui – USA
The Haleakala High Altitude Observatory site, on the Island of Maui, is 10,000 feet (3,000 m) above sea level. It is ear stinglingly cold up there, something I didn’t expect to experience in Hawaii. Bring a jacket!
Kamehameha the Great, Honolulu – USA
Kamehameha Statue in front of Aliʻiolani Hale in Honolulu, Hawaii. Kamehameha conquered the Hawaiian Islands in 1810 and formally established the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi.
Waikiki Beach Trees, Honolulu – USA
Trees along Waikiki Beach in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.
Pandas, spies and capsule hotels – 7 posts from the archives
My 7 Links is a project started by Katie at Tripbase, offering a chance for travel bloggers to highlight posts from the archives. It has been great way to get to know many travel bloggers I follow, and some of their older material which I missed.
The project also involves nominating other travel bloggers to participate. I was nominated by my housemate in Playa del Carmen, Wandering Earl, and my friend Jodi from Legal Nomads. With nominations from two awesome people, I am happy to join in as well. I present to you My 7 Links.
My Most Popular Post
[Capsule Hotel - Tokyo]
On my first stop-over in Tokyo I knew I had to try out a Capsule Hotel. I booked in for 2 nights, not knowing that one was more than enough. It was an interesting experience at least, and it turned out to be my most viewed post. Maybe it was my fetching capsule pajamas [click through to see].
Staying in a Japanese Capsule Hotel
My Most Controversial Post
[Aww, look at the Panda]
I wouldn’t say I’m a controversymonger, but not everyone agreed with my light hearted plan on how to save the Giant Pandas. When I was in China I discovered that Pandas were once domesticated. Who knew? All domesticated animals were once wild, so why not pandas, right?
My plan for saving the endangered Giant Panda
My Most Helpful Post
[Train passing through market - Maeklong Thailand]
Maeklong Market Railway in Thailand has always been on my to visit list. Problem was it is almost always referred to as being in Bangkok, which it is not, and I could never find how to get there. It is about 80km south of Bangkok, but quite fiddly to get to. I recorded how I got there, and it has become one of my most linked to posts so far.
Maeklong Market Railway, Thailand – The Train That Goes Through a Market
Surprisingly Successful Post
I love long urban walks, so it was only a matter of time until I walked the length of Broadway from the top to bottom of Manhattan. I thought it was a slightly eccentric idea, but I floated the idea with another eccentric friend, and he wanted to go as well. What I also found out was when you publish seemingly eccentric ideas the internet you will find plenty of other people who think the same way as you.
Walking the length of Broadway, New York
My Most Beautiful Post
[Buddhist quote in Chiang Mai, Thailand]
I don’t know if this is my most beautiful, but I have gotten some beautiful emails from people who read my picture post featuring Buddhist quotes and sayings on life, which I found in a temple garden in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
52 inspiring Buddhist quotes and sayings on life
Didn’t Get the Attention it Deserved
As a long term traveller with no fixed address, I have often been accused of being a spy. This is an accusation that I neither confirm nor deny – afterall it is a pretty cool job title. Did you know you can apply to be a spy online in some countries? I compiled a list of countries and their espionage agencies, and how you can become a spy in your home country.
Travel the world as a spy
I’m Most Proud Of…
[Dusun wedding party - Sabah]
My preferred method of travel is solo and with changeable travel dates. When I was in Sabah (Malaysian Borneo) I was invited to a wedding which I promptly changed my travel plans to attend. This turned out to be a remarkable weekend where I stayed with a family in a small village, and I was even supplied with formal wedding attire.
Attending a Dusun Wedding in Sabah
Blogs I nominate for 7 links
Next, I nominate the following bloggers to share their 7 Links:
Kevin from The Mad Traveler
Jo from ActionJoJo
Lillie from Around the World “L”!
Melanie from Travels With Two
