GoldenBookTraveler is a blog about traveling around the world. Originally the plan was to log my 7 month trip around Europe and Africa. However, after experiencing the trip of a lifetime, a Pandora’s Box of new travel ideas has been opened!
World travel is an expensive endeavor only manifested after decades of hard work for some of us and an unattainable imagination reserved for the rich and brave for others. Traditional advertising taught us that travel is expensive, a once in-a-lifetime experience, and full of dangers or hassles UNLESS you sign up for that special guided [...]
South by Southwest 2012 (SXSW2012) has officially ended. Well….it ended last week. Suffice to say, events like these take some time to recover from and reflect. I spent my time during these 10 days (March 9 – 18th) volunteering, watching movies and concerts, attending panels, and scoping the city for free food and drinks. The [...]
I’ll admit. It’s been quite some time since I’ve done my last update, almost 8 months to be exact. During that time I have not done much traveling. I took a couple of business trips to New York and San Francisco, but I do not consider those Golden Book Traveler material. I’ve settled back into [...]
Do you remember in history class the first time the teacher explained Charles Darwin’s Origin of Species? I do. Remember the pictures of the different species of Finch’s beaks, the groundbreaking idea of evolution itself, and the mesmerizing abundance of plant and animal species in the Galapagos Islands? I’m sure YOU do! Visiting the Galapagos [...]
I’m writing this post on my iPad in Quito, Ecuador. Tomorrow I head to The Galapagos Islands. I arrived two days ago on a trip that took me less than 5 minutes to plan. One of good friends recently returned from a week long trip to Nicaragua. He explained to me the wonderful people and [...]
I hope that everyone who attended my SXSW Core Conversation panel on How to Make Money Traveling Around the World enjoyed the presentation. As promised, I have a listing of my top 20 favorite travel websites (in no particular order). I’m still working on my eBook “70 Vacations in 7 Months“. The project has consumed [...]
Konya is one of Turkeys largest and most conservative cities. I visited Konya on my way to Dalyan for a couple of days to experience suburban Turkish lifestyle. I think I received a better understand of Turkish lifestyle in Konya than anywhere else. I really enjoyed walking the streets of Konya observing the people. The [...]
My short trip to Amsterdam, Netherlands featured many crazy and bizarre experiences. I prepared myself for the freedoms of drug use and outlandish experiences, but still received a few surprises. Below is a collection of stories from my 5 -day stay in Amsterdam. The Christian Hostel I arrived in Amsterdam via train from Brussels. Snow [...]
The remote fishing village of Plakias, Crete features some of the most secluded, pristine beaches in all of Europe. I was mesmerized by everything the quiet little village has to offer. Mountains, fresh water rivers, private white-sand beaches, and carefree people combine to make Plakias a fantastic vacation hot spot. I took my first trip [...]
A trip to Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia stimulated my imagination and warmed my heart. I’ve never seen such a well preserved, harmonious natural park. The tranquility and beauty of the UNESCO World Heritage Site enhanced my travel experience by providing me the opportunity to bear witness to a stunning Mother Nature creation. I [...]