https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/categories/travel/ Recent content in Travel on Way of Wander Hugo -- gohugo.io en-us Wed, 08 Jul 2015 00:00:00 +0000 https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/we-always-have-a-choice/ Wed, 08 Jul 2015 00:00:00 +0000 https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/we-always-have-a-choice/ I’ve been in 4 different countries within the past month, which is a break-neck pace for me. I am winding up my travels as I get closer to winding down within the coming weeks. I’ll be transitioning away from backpacking for a while. And one of the countries that I was saving “for last” and anticipating the most, has been New Caledonia. A French territory found at the western edge of the South Pacific Ocean, lying nearly as far as possible from mainland France. https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/to-cherish-what-you-have-you-must-discard/ Mon, 27 Apr 2015 00:00:00 +0000 https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/to-cherish-what-you-have-you-must-discard/ As I prepare to depart for my next destination within Indonesia, I begin to lay down all of my belongings—the entirety of what I have been carrying on me during my travels. And there is something here that has been troubling me. This something is a pair of board shorts. Bali, Indonesia - April 2015 That’s because I had decided on this particular morning to throw out all that I didn’t love. https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/saved-from-jadedness/ Wed, 01 Apr 2015 00:00:00 +0000 https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/saved-from-jadedness/ When my plane landed in Siem Reap, Cambodia, I knew I was better off flying in from Bangkok than taking a mini-bus this time around. A 1 hour hop, instead of 9 hours stuffed into a sweltering van. I swiftly pass my co-passengers to the front of the immigration queue, because I knew to have the proper paperwork and photo ready for my visa-on-arrival. I knew to keep a crisp 100 dollar bill on me in order to avoid the high ATM fees at the airport. https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/a-traveling-introverts-story-of-drinking-and-socializing/ Tue, 17 Feb 2015 00:00:00 +0000 https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/a-traveling-introverts-story-of-drinking-and-socializing/ Since I began traveling through Thailand at the start of this year I have found friends and companions along the way. Recently it was by asking someone who was also sitting solo at a breakfast table, “what are you up to today?”, which then lead to sight seeing, biking, and boating around together until the sun went down. I seek out moments like these because I hold a deep desire to share my experiences with others, but since I’m an introvert, socializing is a concentrated effort for me. https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/having-my-smartphone-stolen-was-a-godsend/ Mon, 09 Feb 2015 00:00:00 +0000 https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/having-my-smartphone-stolen-was-a-godsend/ A couple years ago I went to Northern Borneo, which aside from the tiny oil country of Brunei, is all part of Malaysia. I was heading for the minuscule island called Sipidan. A place where sea turtles and sharks are as common underwater as pigeons in New York City. But the whole area was plagued with issues. I was warned about muggings by a friend. And within the port town that I was catching my boat from, death was in the air. https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/the-destruction-of-ton-sai-beach/ Wed, 28 Jan 2015 00:00:00 +0000 https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/the-destruction-of-ton-sai-beach/ It was my first week in Thailand and the beginning of January. It’s been close to 2 years since I’ve last been here. I had come full circle on my travels. Nostalgic and eager to return to some of the places that have supplied my greatest memories. Though I knew it would be dangerous to try to re-live the past, I was on my way to a small rock climbing community located in Southern Thailand, an area called Ton Sai. https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/introducing-way-of-wander/ Fri, 23 Jan 2015 00:00:00 +0000 https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/introducing-way-of-wander/ Hi, hello, and welcome to Way of Wander. A site about travel, adventure, and exploration of both the world and one’s self. Not all those who wander are lost - J. R. R. Tolkien That’s right, I’m quoting the author of The Lord of the Rings here. And if you’re okay with that, then I think we’ll get along just fine. Seriously though, the first question I would be asking at this point if I was you, is why does this site even matter? https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/what-is-your-greatest-self-imaginable/ Wed, 24 Dec 2014 00:00:00 +0000 https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/what-is-your-greatest-self-imaginable/ It’s December, and that means its time for me to reflect on the past year as part of a larger process that I’ve put together over the years. This begins with reviewing the vision I’ve created for my own life. A vision that’s formed by answering this single question: What is the greatest self that I can possibly imaginable? The answer to this is only constrained by the imagination. https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/the-opportunity-within-discomfort/ Thu, 18 Dec 2014 00:00:00 +0000 https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/the-opportunity-within-discomfort/ Travel acts as the great intensifier of all experiences. Instead of just having fun I can be in a state of bliss. More than a feeling of control, I often realize the total freedom we have in life. And on the other end of the spectrum—instead of getting sick, illness brings me to a halt. Loneliness elevates into a complete disconnect, and jadedness is overshadowed by simply not giving a shit. https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/dealing-with-ngs-not-giving-a-shit/ Tue, 08 Jul 2014 00:00:00 +0000 https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/dealing-with-ngs-not-giving-a-shit/ Dealing with NGS syndrome can be a tough one. You could be a having a great week not long before, but then it happens—you find yourself with zero motivation and wanting to give up on it all—because you really do not give a shit. This doesn’t happen out of the blue though. It isn’t a random phenomenon. While NGS can be triggered by a major event (such as spectacularly failed expectations in yourself or others), it slowly builds up inside of your system long before any major symptoms. https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/reunion-island-the-gem-of-france/ Wed, 09 Apr 2014 00:00:00 +0000 https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/reunion-island-the-gem-of-france/ Réunion Island, a region of France, yet 10 hours away from Paris by plane. It has been my home for the past couple months, and until I took my long journey here from California, I had no clue, about this true gem of an island. So I’ll be sharing just why I feel this way—from the jaw-dropping landscape, seemingly limitless activities, to the incredible food and culture. Maido, Réunion Island https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/why-quitting-photography-felt-good/ Fri, 28 Mar 2014 00:00:00 +0000 https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/why-quitting-photography-felt-good/ I love photography. Ever since I discovered Diane Airbus, around the age of 18, I had a deep appreciation of it, as an art form. Back then photography seemed unreachable to me. My compositions were crap. I had no clue about color or lighting. What I once thought were great photos of mine, are now laughable. Things changed drastically over the past 2 years though. I took the time, to learn how to properly use my camera. https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/incredible-food-of-india/ Tue, 28 Jan 2014 00:00:00 +0000 https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/incredible-food-of-india/ During my recent two months in Southern India, food was a constant enjoyment for me. Not just the rich flavors, textures, and smells. It was the entire experience of it all—learning how to truly eat with my hands, going vegetarian, and discovering my favorite meals. thali meal with roti Getting Hands On with My Food Before coming to India, there were a few ethnic foods that I enjoyed, which were traditionally eaten with your hands: Ethiopian, Moroccan, and of course—nachos. https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/my-unexpected-pilgrimage/ Mon, 23 Dec 2013 00:00:00 +0000 https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/my-unexpected-pilgrimage/ Two weeks before my arrival to Southern India, I didn’t even have a plane ticket, nor any plan. The only thing I knew, is that I would meet a friend of mine—a former colleague, one who I created software with, most often, while halfway around the world from each other. When I told this friend, Vishnu, my arrival date through a Facebook message, he mentioned something about seeing a temple—the train and everything else, that would be pre-arranged for me. https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/places-i-love-and-hate/ Mon, 18 Nov 2013 00:00:00 +0000 https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/places-i-love-and-hate/ When I mention to others that I have been traveling for a while, I get the almost inevitable question, “what has been your favorite country?” As with food, I have no particular favorite, as there is just too much to love. I always managed to dodge this question, but I’ll at least present this for you—11 places that I love, and to make this fun, 3 others that I hate have yet to appreciate. https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/2-insights-from-1-year-of-world-travel/ Tue, 22 Oct 2013 00:00:00 +0000 https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/2-insights-from-1-year-of-world-travel/ A year ago, I set off on my world trip, with no idea what this experience would lead to. It’s impossible for me to capture in a single blog post, the multiple ways that this journey has transformed me—I can however, reflect on how I arrived here, and share the two most significant insights that my travels have led me to so far. Arriving in Sydney, Australia. November, 2012 https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/learning-and-growing-in-thailand/ Wed, 11 Sep 2013 00:00:00 +0000 https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/learning-and-growing-in-thailand/ I have a few travel goals, but ultimately, I am looking to grow as a person. I’m constantly doing this throughout all my travels, but I came across one country in particular, that just felt like life’s classroom—that country is Thailand. From Thai massage, to rock climbing high above the open ocean—I’ll be sharing with you 5 skills that I picked up in this country, which has expanded both the person I am, along with my perspective on life itself. https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/health-and-travel/ Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:00 +0000 https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/health-and-travel/ Before setting off for my around-the-world trip, I seldom ever became sick. Within weeks of arriving in South East Asia though, I had a terrible bout of food poisoning, and later averaged 1 sick day, for every 4 days of healthy travel. This is the story of how I dealt with pain and isolation, dropped 20 lb/10 kg of weight, and how I survived malaria. Recovering from food poisoning in Thailand. https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/angkor-wat-blocks/ Sat, 04 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000 https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/angkor-wat-blocks/ During my 2 days of exploring the famous Angkor Wat and surrounding temples of Cambodia, I developed a subtle obsession with the unexpected—blocks. You see, these massive temples, carved from sandstone and volcanic rock, that’s all they are—just blocks of rock. After nearly a thousand years, nature made this obvious, revealing the stitch work in once seamless structures. When they finally gave way to the weather and tree roots, they simply tumbled down. https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/wat-umong-thailand-meditation-retreat-experience/ Sat, 13 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0000 https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/wat-umong-thailand-meditation-retreat-experience/ Within a forest monastery, for four days and three nights, I plunged myself both physically and mentally into practicing meditation. I never once tried formal meditation before this. Maybe a few times a year I would close my eyes and try to “clear the mind”. I didn’t come back from this experience knowing how to bring about world peace, but I did come back with a new awareness, along with being incredibly relaxed. https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/food-and-chai-of-pai-thailand/ Tue, 02 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0000 https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/food-and-chai-of-pai-thailand/ I was originally lured to Pai, within the remote north of Thailand, to practice traditional Thai massage, but soon discovered a side of the town that I was never told about. The food, chai, and many other drinks here, are prepared so well, that they challenge the best of Penang, Malaysia, the widely accepted king of cuisine within South East Asia. I’ll be sharing the many dishes and drinks from Pai, that were able to awaken the dormant foodie within me. https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/guide-to-hitchhiking-for-travelers/ Tue, 08 Jan 2013 00:00:00 +0000 https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/guide-to-hitchhiking-for-travelers/ Successfully hitching a ride with one cool bus driver. People have been hitchhiking for ages; yet until recently, I never had any luck with what is commonly known as hitching. While not extremely complicated, hitchhiking involves more than just standing on the side of the road and sticking out my thumb. With the five lessons that I’ll be sharing, being stranded in the middle of nowhere or waiting hours for a lift can be avoided (along with having some fun through the experience). https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/5-great-hawaiian-hikes/ Tue, 04 Dec 2012 00:00:00 +0000 https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/5-great-hawaiian-hikes/ There is no better way to take in the beauty of Hawaii, than by strolling through it directly. Here are the top 5 hikes I recommend, which range from an easy walk, to a heart-pounding 2 day trek. So let’s get to it. Quick Links: Koko Head Crater, Oahu Koko Crater Botanical Garden, Oahu Diamond Head, Oahu Kilauea Iki Crater & Thurston Lava Tube – Volcanoes National Park, Big Island Kalalau Trail A.