On The Road Again

Otavalo, Ecuador Guatape, Colombia Bocas del Toro, Panama Mancora, Peru Galapagos Islands, Ecuador Valparaiso, Chile Cali, Colombia Uyuni Desert, Bolivia I’ve added another resolution to my list for 2013. I really need to stop doing this in photos. Can you spot it? Do you notice yourself making the same face or striking the same pose in pictures? I swear my mouth is open in half of my photos from South America… *Follow me on Facebook and Twitter!*

A s the name suggests, NYAH Key West is self-described as ‘ not your average hotel’ . A bold statement that had me intrigued. While in town seeking out all the odd attractions in Key West and the best places to drink that don’t suck I had the opportunity to stay at NYAH Key West and see for myself just what makes it not your average hotel . In This Post... Discreet Beginning Versatile Versatility Cost Friendly Hostel Hybrid Common Grounds Get Around Not-so-Average Discreet Beginning Entering NYAH from its street-side gate you already see that this is not your average hotel. There is no grand entrance or manicured grounds. Just what appears to be another gorgeous Key West home . Past the lobby (and the free Starbucks coffee machine ) you enter the courtyard which consists of 3 stunning pools , loungers, and a breakfast bar. The whole area gives off a laid back and easy style only found in the Keys.     Compare prices on flights to Florida with Skyscanner   Versatile V

T he first time I went to Vietnam I made the mistake of not bringing back coffee. I would not make this mistake again. On a recent layover in Ho Chi Minh City I made it a goal to pick up some  beans from the world’s number two coffee supplying country. With these beans came this little Vietnamese coffee press that is simple to use and makes a great cup on ice in the summer or in a mug any other day. The condensed milk compliments the strong coffee flavor and makes for a sweet treat any time of the year. Follow these super simple steps on how to prepare Vietnamese coffee and see for yourself why it is one of my favorite beverages around. In This Post... How to Prepare Vietnamese Coffee Recipe Before you Start: Ingredients: Directions: What say you? Have you tried to prepare Vietnamese coffee like this? Let’s hear it! How to Prepare Vietnamese Coffee Recipe   Before you Start: Time: ~10 min Serves: 1 To make things easier: – Vietnamese Coffee Press – Buy one here! – Ke

                          The Galapagos Islands, Ecuador There are really no words, and the photos do not do the day justice. When you are surrounded by dozens of sharks, sea lions, turtles, schools of fish, and a 5-metre manta ray, when you are seeing one of the most diverse and unique ecosystems in the world, when you cry from joy with your mask still on, when your heart nearly explodes out of your chest you’re so overwhelmed with the luck and the beauty in your life – it’s all worth it, every last penny and every last drop of sweat and every last second standing in line at immigration. It’s all worth it. *Follow me on Facebook and Twitter!*  

Cali, Colombia What do you get when you mix a club full of salsa-ing Colombians, free-flowing aguardiente, and some amazing new friends? You get the best night ever. *Follow me on Facebook and Twitter!*

The first time I went to Mount Sunday, it was nothing more than a desolate high country sheep station at the end of a poorly paved road. There were no tour buses. No well-worn hiking trails. And, to get to Mount Sunday itself, you had to take off your shoes and ford a handful of bone-chillingly cold rivers. It was only for fanatical “Lord of the Rings” fans wanting to see Edoras (Tolkien's fictional city of the Rohan horse lords) in person — and it was difficult to find for anyone not in-the-know. My second trip to Mount Sunday was, in many ways, very similar to the first. It was a blustery, chilly day (though in a completely different season). The sky was partially blue and the mountains were dusted with fresh snow. And I was once again in the company of a bunch of “Lord of the Rings” fans excited to climb Edoras. But, unlike that first time when we crawled through fences and forded streams, this time the site was practically groomed for tourists. Instead of fording strea

After an amazing time at Up Helly Aa — from the parades and bar singalongs to the festival of fire to the epic all-night party, it was time to head back to mainland Scotland with our Haggis Adventures crew. We finished our Up Helly Aa experience with a final hazy day in Shetland, exploring the northern part of the islands, images of which you can see here.  I actually made it through all day following the all-night party without so much as a nap — I passed out on the ferry at around 9:00 PM and slept like a log until we docked at 7:00 AM. With a full day left on our tour, we had time to check out the sites of Scotland’s east coast, from Aberdeen to Edinburgh. Stop #1: Stonehaven Stonehaven, at first glance, was a pretty but ordinary seaside town.  It was nice.  Nice is good. And then we came to Dunnottar Castle. Dunnottar Castle will take your breath away.  It’s that spectacular.  Even captioning it is an insult, as I can’t possibly bring words that will describe its beauty.