It's nearly 2013 and time to gear up for a whole new year. Part of moving on is accepting and learning from the past. With that in mind, I'd like to say farewell to the fantastic past year with this countdown of the years top articles. Thank you all for joining me in this life journey through the world! The world is truly an amazing place with hundreds of lifetimes worth of beauty, discoveries and secrets. I know that I will never be able to experience them all, however I hope I've inspired you in at least some small way to venture out and discover your own slice of the world.
Melancholy at the Cliff’s of Moher
Salty fresh sea air permeates my senses. Wind brazes my skin in a sultry fierce fashion. The only lone sounds are of lapping waves and distant calls from the multitude of native Puffins. White specks flying gracefully, floating in figure eights. Few come billowing over the Northern cliff’s edge, mere feet from where I stand. While some remain lingering near their makeshift nests, nestled along the sharp crags.
Salty fresh sea air permeates my senses. Wind brazes my skin in a sultry fierce fashion. The only lone sounds are of lapping waves and distant calls from the multitude of native Puffins. White specks flying gracefully, floating in figure eights. Few come billowing over the Northern cliff’s edge, mere feet from where I stand. While some remain lingering near their makeshift nests, nestled along the sharp crags.
Short story - "Grave robbers of the Solway Coast, Scotland"
I watched as a head disappeared into the crater beside the mound of earth. Out of the deep, another head bobbed slowly, struggling with a heavy lifeless load cloaked in a grass tarp. A rush of thoughts gripped me as the driver closed the door beside me. I squeezed my eyes shut while I tried to put the thought of what I’d just seen out of my mind.
The hull shuddered as the ferry pulled away from the old ports of Belfast. The waves were lapping against the windows below me on the foot passenger deck. The ship was clean, newly modern and rather spacious. I was able to claim a private set of chairs next to a window - luckily, I’ve never been one to succumb to sea sickness. It was a perfect setting to be alone and process the cluster of thoughts from the previous evening.
I watched as a head disappeared into the crater beside the mound of earth. Out of the deep, another head bobbed slowly, struggling with a heavy lifeless load cloaked in a grass tarp. A rush of thoughts gripped me as the driver closed the door beside me. I squeezed my eyes shut while I tried to put the thought of what I’d just seen out of my mind.
The hull shuddered as the ferry pulled away from the old ports of Belfast. The waves were lapping against the windows below me on the foot passenger deck. The ship was clean, newly modern and rather spacious. I was able to claim a private set of chairs next to a window - luckily, I’ve never been one to succumb to sea sickness. It was a perfect setting to be alone and process the cluster of thoughts from the previous evening.
5 reasons to travel
I do not necessarily mean religious enlightenment, moreover the enlightenment of self discovery. If you let yourself surrender and become lost in the place you’re visiting and shed all of your preconceived biases, judgements and worries; you then become vulnerable. This vulnerability is a huge step in the right direction - without it you are a tourist, going sight to sight and never changing and never growing - taking nothing from the experience. There is a very strong feeling of freedom, knowledge and understanding once you fully release yourself and connect with your travels - within this feeling you actually begin to find who you really are and whom you wish to become. This is why many (myself included) tend to preach about letting travel change you. If you reach enlightenment through travel, you are never quite the same again - it’s a wondrous experience!
I do not necessarily mean religious enlightenment, moreover the enlightenment of self discovery. If you let yourself surrender and become lost in the place you’re visiting and shed all of your preconceived biases, judgements and worries; you then become vulnerable. This vulnerability is a huge step in the right direction - without it you are a tourist, going sight to sight and never changing and never growing - taking nothing from the experience. There is a very strong feeling of freedom, knowledge and understanding once you fully release yourself and connect with your travels - within this feeling you actually begin to find who you really are and whom you wish to become. This is why many (myself included) tend to preach about letting travel change you. If you reach enlightenment through travel, you are never quite the same again - it’s a wondrous experience!
Bucket list - Salar de Uyuni
The world’s largest salt flat, the Salar de Uyuni is located in the south western corner of Bolivia in South America. The flats sit near the crest of the Andes mountains at 3,656 meters (11,995 ft) above sea level, at the size of 10,582 square kilometers (4,086 sq mi) which is nearly equivalent of the state of Connecticut. The Salar was formed from prehistoric lakes which transformed over time to leave its exceptionally flat surface that it has today.
The world’s largest salt flat, the Salar de Uyuni is located in the south western corner of Bolivia in South America. The flats sit near the crest of the Andes mountains at 3,656 meters (11,995 ft) above sea level, at the size of 10,582 square kilometers (4,086 sq mi) which is nearly equivalent of the state of Connecticut. The Salar was formed from prehistoric lakes which transformed over time to leave its exceptionally flat surface that it has today.
A perfect pint and perfect night in Doolin, Ireland
I was heading into the tiny village of Doolin following a visit to the Cliffs of Moher and an hour shy of the night’s festivities. Feverishly unpacking my effects at the Aille River hostel, I managed to wash up and hastily set off just in time.
Doolin is one of those quintessential places that let you experience everything you’ve dreamt it would be like - or at least it was for me and my comrades. I want you to think of your ideal experience of Ireland, as it’s likely the same as I imagined prior to my travels of this past April. Beautiful views of a humble village, a pub of locals and other friendly faces passing the hours of night without an eye at a clock. Whilst having the time of their lives, accompanied with rounds of flowing pints and cheerful moods, inspired by vibrant local song.
I was heading into the tiny village of Doolin following a visit to the Cliffs of Moher and an hour shy of the night’s festivities. Feverishly unpacking my effects at the Aille River hostel, I managed to wash up and hastily set off just in time.
Doolin is one of those quintessential places that let you experience everything you’ve dreamt it would be like - or at least it was for me and my comrades. I want you to think of your ideal experience of Ireland, as it’s likely the same as I imagined prior to my travels of this past April. Beautiful views of a humble village, a pub of locals and other friendly faces passing the hours of night without an eye at a clock. Whilst having the time of their lives, accompanied with rounds of flowing pints and cheerful moods, inspired by vibrant local song.
Midnight stroll in Venice - part I - part II
Mysterious, yet entrancing. Venice by night, the most romantic place on earth, or so I was told by the thick accented French. Paris; delectable, enticing ‘Pair-eee!’ That is where I spent my nights previous. Paris is indeed magical, but rather built up larger than life by imagination and expectation, by market and misconception, through the tender visions of foreign dreamers. And yet I ask myself, ‘is this also true with Venice, Italy?’
Mysterious, yet entrancing. Venice by night, the most romantic place on earth, or so I was told by the thick accented French. Paris; delectable, enticing ‘Pair-eee!’ That is where I spent my nights previous. Paris is indeed magical, but rather built up larger than life by imagination and expectation, by market and misconception, through the tender visions of foreign dreamers. And yet I ask myself, ‘is this also true with Venice, Italy?’
Curing the dreaded travel itch
URGENT MEDICAL NOTICE: Find out if you are showing symptoms of Pruritic Peragritis... Additionally, if you’re reading this, you may have suddenly come down with Ideopathic Pruritic Peragrophrenitis!
Pruritic Peragritis or Ideopathic Pruritic Peragrophrenitis -
URGENT MEDICAL NOTICE: Find out if you are showing symptoms of Pruritic Peragritis... Additionally, if you’re reading this, you may have suddenly come down with Ideopathic Pruritic Peragrophrenitis!
Pruritic Peragritis or Ideopathic Pruritic Peragrophrenitis -
- The mental disability of one feeling displaced, even disappointed in current surroundings.
- A longing for travel, adventure or change.
5 tips to improve your travel photos
Shoot during the golden hours- When you photograph during the hour following sunrise and the hour prior to sunset, you have a much softer and more beautiful light to work with. A forgiving light, that brings landscapes to life. Instead of having to work around the light, you’re able to have the light work for you.
Remove obstructions- Removing obstructions can be one of the major catalysts that take your photography from being simply amateur to strikingly professional. By removing the power lines, unnecessary people, cars and houses, you can control the naturalism, power and legitimacy of the scene.
Shoot during the golden hours- When you photograph during the hour following sunrise and the hour prior to sunset, you have a much softer and more beautiful light to work with. A forgiving light, that brings landscapes to life. Instead of having to work around the light, you’re able to have the light work for you.
Remove obstructions- Removing obstructions can be one of the major catalysts that take your photography from being simply amateur to strikingly professional. By removing the power lines, unnecessary people, cars and houses, you can control the naturalism, power and legitimacy of the scene.
20 portraits of Puerto Rico in B&W
Facts about Puerto Rico and photography by Brandon Elijah Scott.
Facts about Puerto Rico and photography by Brandon Elijah Scott.
TOP 10: If money were no object
It’s always fun to dream what I would do if money were an unlimited resource. Besides the obvious first moves like pay off debt, buy real estate and help the unfortunate - like I talk about in my “If I had a million dollars” article - I would like to focus solely on travel. How wonderful would it be to look at money if it were a simple boarding pass? Suppose your credit cards were linked to an unlimited source of money, where you simply need to only slide it to continue on and receive whatever it is you wanted. Here are some of the more brilliant experiences available to those blessed few, who may believe that money is no object. Keep in mind that the point of this article wasn’t to find the most ridiculously overpriced travel options, but to focus merely on luxury options available for some of the world’s most interesting travel destinations.
It’s always fun to dream what I would do if money were an unlimited resource. Besides the obvious first moves like pay off debt, buy real estate and help the unfortunate - like I talk about in my “If I had a million dollars” article - I would like to focus solely on travel. How wonderful would it be to look at money if it were a simple boarding pass? Suppose your credit cards were linked to an unlimited source of money, where you simply need to only slide it to continue on and receive whatever it is you wanted. Here are some of the more brilliant experiences available to those blessed few, who may believe that money is no object. Keep in mind that the point of this article wasn’t to find the most ridiculously overpriced travel options, but to focus merely on luxury options available for some of the world’s most interesting travel destinations.
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