Photo Essay From 21 Months of Travel
Greetings friends,
This is one of those once in a lifetime updates, it’s 21 months to the day that I left Ottawa in search of something. Before we go any further, I’ve still not found it, if I knew what I was looking for, that would be a start…
I digress.
We’re going to take 1 photo from each month on the road. If you wish to really get started on this blog or dig deeper, click on the the link stating the month above each photo, it will give you the archives of that month.
This photo is of Sombrio Beach on the coast of Vancouver Island outside of Victoria. It’s an old hippy hang out that has good surf. We checked it out to maybe surf it never materialized. Vancouver Island is a rocking place. The blog was registered the day, check the first entry.
Coming from the land of $15 meals at Denny’s, I was in total shock when I rented this beach bungalow in Koh Tao, Thailand for $9 a night with a priceless view. This month includes passing time in Victoria, Thai Islands, Vegas, LA & Bangkok. This was a special month for me.
This photo is from Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur. This month includes passing time in the Thai Islands, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Lots of updates from the Thai islands if you’re curious what they’re about.
This photo is from a sunset on the beach in Kuta, Bali. December 2009 includes time spent in Singapore, Bali & Java. Most of the month was spent living in Kuta, Bali. Some hate it, really grew on me. Not in any rush to return but glad I went. Also wrote the most popular piece from this site ever regarding social media… “How to live on $500 a month in Bali“
This photo is from some of the rounds of golf played in Kanchanaburi, Thailand. This month involves flying from Indonesia to Thailand and exploring most of the north. Golf in this area is some of the most affordable I’ve found anywhere. The courses were very well kept as well, greens like pool tables!
This photo is from Luang Prabang, looking over the Mekong at sunset. Many cruise through Luang Prabang, ended up spending a week there. This month involves more of northern Thailand, Laos, back to Thailand for rabies vaccines and then into Cambodia.
Photo is from old town of Hoi An, Vietnam. This month includes travel from Cambodia and Vietnam. Spent a long time in Hoi An, decided to stay for a month. Hoi An has everything, culture, great food, the ocean, UNESCO world heritage site and custom tailors, what is not to like?
Photo is from Trekking in Sapa, Vietnam. One of the more worthwhile and memorable experiences I’ve had on this trip. You don’t need to organize anything, just ask a lady who seems cool in town, she will be more than glad to show you around.
This photo is from Amsterdam, spent a while there. Rest of month was in France.
This photo is from Lagos, Portugal. It’s the nearest beach to town, always a good time. A solid place for some good fun with beautiful beaches, can see why it’s already so popular. Spent most of June in France, Spain & Portugal.
This photo is from a bath house in Budapest, Hungary. July was a crazy month that involved the 83 hour train trip with 74 photos to a Polish wedding. Many countries visited across Europe, arguably most manic month of my life.
Regrettably I bought VXX at the start, sigh.
This photo is from Lake Bled in Slovenia. Thought last month was intense until I went through the archives of this one, wow. It includes a solid week without a hotel riding overnights to random cities and rocking the spot, so to speak.
This photo is from Chiang Mai, Thailand. This is the month the blog almost died. Was really tired from Europe and this city did nothing for me. I felt as inspired as an earth worm drowning on the road after a heavy rain.
This photo is from Pai, Thailand. This month covers Chiang Mai and Pai. Pai is worth checking out if you’re in Chiang Mai, you’ll love it or hate it. The entire blog while I was in Chiang Mai sucked.
This photo is from Mirissa beach, Sri Lanka. Spent this month in Koh Chang, Thailand and Sri Lanka. Both are lovely destinations. Unawatuna aka “the tuna” is my favorite place in Sri Lanka, fyi. Just figured the surfing photo is cool so might as well use it.
This photo is of the Ngorongoro crater taken from a private plane ride with a buddy of mine who is a pilot. Also had a night out in Dubai. Most of the month discusses random this or that from Arusha, Tanzania or those “photo of the day” I started while uninspired in Chiang Mai.
This photo is from a camping safari in Lake Manyara, Tanzania. Spent the entire month in Tanzania, in fact, spent close to 4 months in Tanzania. Africa grows on you, kinda like malaria did in my blood count. May be interested in how I got malaria on anti-malaria drugs.
This photo is taken from a friends cottage outside of Pangani, Tanzania. We were having a picnic, it was splendid. This month was spent living in a cashew tree fort on the coast of Tanzania outside Pangani, one of the coolest months of my life. This experience is when my perspective switched and realized everywhere in the world has much more in common than different.
This photo is taken on a local dhow from Nungwi, Zanzibar to Pangani. This month was spent in Dar Es Salaam, Stone Town and Nungwi, Zanzibar. Definitely worth checking out the archives, Zanzibar is a very unique place.
This photo was taken at BED in Bangkok, Thailand. This entire month was basically kicking it in Bangkok aka my second home on this planet. When in doubt, I just fly to Bangkok for a month.
This photo was taken from Taormina, Sicily. What an awesome place, fact I was there with my mother made it that much better. This month covers some Greek Islands, Italy and Turkey… It was a busy month loaded with photos.
This photo was taken from the roof to terrace of our hotel in Kalkan where a week was spent. So far this month has included Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania. Needed in Ottawa at the end of July, as a result this trip will be somewhat whirlwind…
So yeah, it’s been 21 months and I’ve been to 34 sovereign states, if we were to count territories it would be considerably higher. I don’t think travel changes you but makes you more of who you always are. Recently hung out with a childhood friend who said I’m “painfully the same” aka haven’t changed a bit.
Would I do it all over again? Absolutely.
Tips hat,
Wow, you have certainly been to some amazing places in the last 21 months! What a whirlwind. Great that you have done a round-up like this so that people can catch up on posts or dip into interesting stories.
What an amazing mixture of destinations and adventures. Thanks for sharing!
I have had the glorious pleasure of immersing myself in your blog from the beginning. Like a favorite book I cannot put down, reading slowly so to make it last longer, your travels have hit a deep re-awakening in my lust for living life. You sir, are my cult hero. Your enthusiasm, energy and guts are peerless. Hopefully someday we cross paths. Keep your tuxedo pressed indeed.
Glad you’re back on the make the most of it all trip, only way to play it, good sir.
Tips hat and thanks!
Great wrap up Rob! I might have to throw one of these together one of these days. It’s a great way to look back at a long journey. You’ve had one hell of a trip so far, that’s for sure! Good luck on your future travel and stay safe! Hope to see you this fall.
Great review and for all of us who have followed your trip, it is amazing.
Awesome. Looks like you have seen a lot of cool places. Now I want to go to Sri Lanka!
Cool
Amazing and congrats to keep this up this long.
Quite the bloggeries you’ve got here, gentleman. An amazing journey, indeud.
Indeud
Hi Rob,
Big congrats to your 21 months of travel and a great round-up the best your travels. Love the sail boat photo from Zanzibar – I’m jealous! Keep going with these travels, you’re a citizen of the world
- Lily
Almost, few more countries for such a title.
Great collection here, Rob. Congrats! It’s nice to see that you actually did/do some slow travel and not just rush around just to be able to say “I’ve been there!” And in defense of Chiang Mai, I have to say this! Chiang Mai wasn’t YOUR hang-out though it is a beloved city by many, especially us! Be well.
A
Agreed, many love Chiang Mai but I don’t. Has nothing to do with saying I have been there, everything to do with actually having been there.
After a few days in any location most develop a routine anyways.
Wow, 21 months. A perfect post for a blog — a journal of your travels. Paired with your passport and photos you’ve got quite the travel anthology. I’ve “been” with you through each post and always look forward to the next.
I’m just hoping once you get back to Ottawa you don’t delay getting back out there once you’re done what needs to be done. It won’t be the same around here without you filling us in from far off lands.
Thanks Fran, aware you have been here since the beginning. Hopefully it won’t suck mr back in!
Love this.
xo
This is a great way to show the highlights of your travels, as well as see how diverse and interesting places you’ve seen.
Thanks everyone, Mucho gracias!
Awesome round-up! $9 for that, bloody hell. I honestly can’t believe stuff like that
until my eyes see it (which will be soon).
I’m not saying I don’t believe you. I mean it’s hard to grasp, as I am used to
everything in the UK being so pricey!
wow, you’ve been to really diverse places, that’s great, so far from looking boring!
The picture of the DJ is a nice contrast. I like it a lot! And the picture of Sapa valley too.
This is amazing. Happy Travels!!
Hello Rob,
I read almost everything here. But I felt like this whole trip couldnt make you happy or make any changes into your happiness. The reason of this journey sounded like you wanted to find something special inside but it did not work. Sorry ?f my comment is wrong. I dont feel good myself and I imagine to do something similer as you did but now I dont feel to. Thanks for sharing your journey with friends and strangers. Wish you best from Turkey..