Categories
Travel

21 Things I LOVE About Travel

love travel

I travel a lot.

I’ve basically been a digital nomad for over 5 years, earning a living running (and failing at) start ups and various internet companies.

I have visited hundreds of cities and met a lot of crazy people. Thus I know a thing or two about sleep hacks and travel gear.

But even after all this time, I still love travelling.

Travel is awesome. Here’s why:

  1. I don’t have to shave
  2. Every day is an adventure
  3. I have more time to read
  4. I get to try new beer
  5. I’m a friendlier person
  6. I’m less fashion conscious (usually)
  7. I’m forced into awkward situations outside my comfort zone
  8. There’s no TV
  9. I meet someone new everyday
  10. Every day is the weekend
  11. I have more time to write
  12. I’m getting used to funky smells
  13. I learn all day every day – kinda like school, only fun
  14. I judge less
  15. I no longer let ‘what I do for a job’ define me
  16. I’ve become more comfortable on my own
  17. Food! So much new food
  18. I sleep less… It’s ok, I can sleep when I’m dead
  19. I’m more relaxed
  20. I have few material possessions to worry about
  21. I smile more

What do you love about travel?

Categories
Business

Mexican Story – Four Hour Work Week

Girl-on-Beach-Hammock

This story kicks ass. Its from the Four Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss.

I don’t think the lifestyle is for me I’d probably get bored, but the story has stuck with me.

The perspective is the complete opposite to my capitalist mindset so I like to think it brings me closer to the middle somewhere.

Enjoy!

American consultant was at a pier in a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellow-fin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them.

The Mexican replied only a little while.

The consultant then asked why didn’t he stay out longer and catch more fish?

The fisherman said he had enough to support his family’s immediate needs.

The American then asked the Mexican how he spent the rest of his time.

The Mexican fisherman said, “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siesta with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life, senor.”

The American consultant scoffed, “I am business consultant and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and, with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat, you could buy several boats, eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing and distribution.

“You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA and eventually NYC where you will run your expanding enterprise.”

The Mexican fisherman asked, “But senor, how long will this all take?”

To which the American consultant replied, “15-20 years.”

“But what then, senor?” asked the fisherman.

The consultant laughed, and said, “That’s the best part! When the time is right, you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public. You’ll become very rich, you would make millions!”

“Millions, senor?” replied the Mexican. “Then what?”

The American said, “Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siesta with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos.”

Categories
People Travel

A Simple Tip for Socialising while Travelling Solo (or How to Have Mind Blowing Nights Out when you’re on your Own)

bar scene

Travelling alone is one of the best things I’ve ever done. It opened my eyes to both the external world and internally into my own personality and mind.

One of the changes I had to quickly adapt to was that if I wanted any type of human interaction I had to go out and find it. Moving about constantly means you need to be able to make friends quickly or else you may find yourself eating dinner alone, which is no fun.

While there are hundreds of ways you can go about meeting people while travelling, with hanging out in a hostel being one of the easiest, I want to share a simple strategy that I used all the time in every country with a 90% success rate (I just made up that number but it basically works all the time). It’s also a strategy you can use if you are staying in a nicer hotel or on a business trip so don’t worry if you don’t plan on going backpacking any time soon.

The Bar Strategy

Sounds like a pretty unique strategy right? Just read…

If you’re travelling on your own (even if you’re in your own city really) and feel like meeting someone new and not spending the evening alone, here is what you do. Spend your day sightseeing or in your meetings. While you’re going about during the day look out for bars that you feel are your kind of style. When I say a bar, I mean a place with a bar. Not a lounge, not a club and not a beer garden. You want somewhere that has an actual bar, around the bar tender area with stools you can go and sit on.  Plus they should serve food. If you see a place during the day, pop in quickly and chat to the bar tender.

You: “Hey, I’m new in town and looking for somewhere to hang out tonight, what’s this place like?
BT: Its good / Its bad.
*If it seems like somewhere cool that you could hang out at, and it seems like it gets a little busy follow up with this.*
You: Awsome, sounds cool. I think I’ll head back here later. Thanks so much for helping me out. What’s your name?
BT: No problems, I’m Julie.
You: Julie, nice to meet you. I’m Vinay. Are you going to be working tonight?
BT: Nah, I finish at three.
You: Ahh, too bad. I wanted to see you again so I could give you a HUGE tip for helping me out. Do you know who is going to be working tonight?
BT: Yeh its Dave I think.
You: Dave hey, what does he look like?
BT: (blah bla description)
You: Ok cool. Thanks again Julie, it was nice talking to you. I may see you again tomorrow.

What you have just done there is properly sussed out a venue. It’s only a 1 min conversation but if you jump into 5 different bars throughout your daily venturing, it can seriously help out the quality of your night. Plus, now you have something to talk about when you go back in later. It works just as well if the bartender is still going to be working that evening.

Come back into the bar, ideally earlyish. 6 or 7. With the plan to eat dinner and get a few drinks (or not if you don’t drink). Sit down at the bar, in the middle of the bar. Next to other people and ideally near the section where people come and buy drinks. Strike up a conversation with Dave telling him how you met Julie earlier. Tell him you’re new into town or on holiday. Ask him what is happening in the area tonight. Talk LOUD (but not obnoxiously) so that others in the bar can hear your conversation and contribute. As soon as you get chatting with the people next to you, introduce yourself. Find out what they’re up to (if they’re staying for a few or about to leave is all you need to know). If they’re staying for a while, offer to buy them a drink straight away. Don’t worry, you will get one back. Tip the bartender big the first time.

You now have a whole bar full of friends. When people (read girls) come up to the bar to order their drinks, bring them into your conversation. Introduce the girls to the bartender and to your new friends. Can you see the snowballing effects here?

Don’t worry if the bar isn’t the coolest place in the world. You can always move on later in the night. Also, don’t worry if you don’t get a chance to check it out during the day. If its fairly busy and has a bar, it still works fine.

I can’t tell you how many crazy nights I have had that have started off in this exact manner. I’ve ended up being taken out by the bar tenders, the people next to me and the girls that walk up. To all sorts of crazy places, in different countries. You never know where you’ll end up.

As a closing rule, if you are travelling and out to experience. Try Do not to say no to anything. If some old dude invites you to his kids birthday: Yes. If two seedy guys invite you to a strip club: Yes. If two beautiful girls invite you back to their place…

Life can be awesome if you let it.

Categories
Travel

How to Sleep Anywhere Anytime – Travel Sleep Hacks

sleep anywhere

I’ve been travelling for over 3 years and while I love it, I have found myself in dire need of sleep in many strange places.

Couches in random peoples houses, rooms in raging college parties, bustling 18 bed dorms in hostels and of course planes, airports, bus stops, trains etc…

With so many changing sleep environments it is essential to create a fool proof system to be able to sleep anywhere anytime, below is my system. The system might change a little depending the environment but this post will cover the essentials:

Light blocking

1. Eye Mask

sleep mask

The eye mask is really the best tool for blocking light. Your face structure will depend on which mask works best for you. I have gone through a few. If you fly business they usually give you a pretty decent one, or you can pick them up at most airports.

2. Hoodie

hoodie

Hoodies are an essential tool for traveling on planes, ideally zip up. Not only do they keep you warm and can be used to block light by putting the hood over your eyes (make sure hood is big enough to do this) but they are also great because you can hide your headphones without the flight attendants seeing that you are still listening to an electronic device (you will see why this is important below).

P.S. I have not turned my electronic devices off on the last 40 flights I have taken… Don’t worry, you won’t bring down the plane.

Noise Cancellation

ipad-white-noise

White Noise App

This is a super hack. The White Noise App is available for both iOS and Android costs around $2 (there is a free lite version too) but is totally worth it. Even for 1 nights good sleep, $2 is a small price to pay, but for countless nights sleep, the value is infinite. Possibly the highest ROI app I have ever purchased. Get some quality noise cancellation headphones (sport headphones work well to if your roll around in your sleep a lot), close your eyes and listen to the world fade away. Use this in conjunction with a hoodie on flights, and sleep right through the safety announcements, takeoff and landing to get a sold extra 30-45 min sleep on a flight.

Alarm

gentle-alarm-app

Gentle Alarm

I currently use this  on my Nexus 7 tablet and really like it. It allows you to wake using any music on your device, I have it just play randomly from my playlist, it fades in music so you are not woken suddenly, it tracks your sleep patterns if you keep your tablet on your bed while you are sleeping and only wakes you when you are in a light sleep pattern within your given window and it makes you do math problems to turn it off!

There you have it. With this combo you will be able to sleep through the next world war and wake up fresh for work on Monday.

You can thank me later 😉

 

 

Categories
Business Featured People Technology Travel

99 Abstract Life Hacks – Make your Life Easier Today!

wet papertowel tip
 
ice cold water trick
 
picture fridge hack
 
comb nailholder lifehack
 
cupcakes icecreamcones tip
 
organize powercords trick
 
extension cords hack
 
recycled pencilholder lifehack
 
clipper tip
 
popsicle holder trick
 
iphone speaker hack
 
pringles container lifehack
 
ghettoaccessory silencer tip
 
headphone tip
 
crib clever trick
 
abort shutdown hack
 
books rollingsuitcase lifehack
 
remove strawberry stem tip
 
binder clips trick
 
cat boardgame box hack
 
direction pizzadeliveryplace lifehack
 
brownie mug tip
 
sponge icepack trick
 
blt sandwhich hack
 
clothespin lifehack
 
shoe cupholder tip
 
microwave corn trick
 
holder baseball hack
 
pencil sunglasses case lifehack
 
picture places traveling tip
 
outdoor dining kit trick
 
lent items friends hack
 
unpopped kernels lifehack
 
exit marker tip
 
icecoffee trick
 
magnet find nails hack
 
poolnoodle garagewall lifehack
 
paper organize parts tip
 
paint lock white trick
 
spring oldpen hack
 
water microwave pizza lifehack
 
spaghetti light candle tip
 
cd envelope trick
 
heating leftovers hack
 
unusual locking lifehack
 
perler beads tip
 
unrolling toiletpaper trick
 
squeeze ketchup bottle cleaner hack
 
keeping bag safe lifehack
 
wireholder tip
 
sealer trick
 
passcode hack
 
keyring zipper lifehack
 
filter unsubscribe tip
 
groceries trick
 
cellphone lantern hack
 
holes garbage can lifehack
 
powerplugs tip
 
coaster top drink trick
 
cardboard ziplock hack
 
sliver soap lifehack
 
tv charger tip
 
velcro strips trick
 
tape breadtab hack
 
tangled cords lifehack
 
emergency money tip
 
remotes trick
 
hold oreo fork hack
 
crunchy tacoshells lifehack
 
straw tip
 
dental floss trick
 
ketchup bottle hack
 
pants hanger lifehack
 
seatwarmer tip
 
sandwhich guide trick
 
wooden spoon hack
 
cd bagle tote lifehack
 
muffin condiments tip
 
doritos kindling trick
 
opening knots hack
 
stocking lifehack
 
vinegar bag tip
 
cordholder trick
 
soda pop tab hack
 
nailpolish lifehack
 
safer keeping tip
 
dustpan scoop trick
 
breadclips hack
 
toothpaste lifehack
 
can opener tip
 
hanging shoerack trick
 
fitted sheet hack
 
toilet paper rolls lifehack
 
scratched furniture tip
 
paint trick
 
staple remover hack
 
dustpan lifehack
 

Categories
Travel

Travel and Me

One of the best things about my life recently has been the amount of travel I have been able to do. I love travel and am so grateful for all the places I have been and experiences I’ve had.

Travel is amazing for so many reasons. It boosts confidence like nothing else, constantly facing the unknown makes you more comfortable in every situation. It makes you more social with people of all walks of life. It expands your knowledge in so many areas including culture, geography, history and language just to name a few. It makes you more interesting and gives you a holistic perspective of the world just to name a few.

This has been my travel for the last year and a half:

  • Sydney, Australia – Dec 2009
  • Bangkok, Thailand – Jan 2010
  • Vientiane, Laos – Jan 2010
  • Bangkok, Thailand – Feb 2010
  • Vancouver, Canada – Feb 2010
  • Manhattan, USA – Mar 2010
  • Vancouver, Canada – Mar 2010
  • Amsterdam, Netherlands – April 2010
  • London, UK – April 2010
  • Leeds, UK – April 2010
  • Edinburgh, UK – April 2010
  • Whitby, UK April 2010
  • Budapest, Hungary, April 2010
  • Dublin, Ireland – May 2010
  • Budapest, Hungary – May 2010
  • Lake Balaton, Hungary – June 2010
  • Budapest, Hungary, June 2010
  • Berlin, Germany – July 2010
  • Dublin, Ireland – July 2010
  • Barcelona, Spain – August 2010
  • Ibiza, Spain – August 2010
  • Barcelona, Spain – August 2010
  • Vancouver, Canada – September 2010
  • Las Vegas, USA – October 2010
  • Vancouver, Canada – October 2010
  • Las Vegas, USA – Jan 2011
  • Vancouver, Canada – Jan 2011
  • Tempe, USA – Feb 2011
  • Las Vegas, USA – Mar 2011
  • Tempe, USA – Mar 2011
  • Lake Havasu, USA – Mar 2011
  • Tempe, USA – Mar 2011
  • Pittsburgh, USA – Mar 2011
  • Fort Lauderdale, USA – Mar 2011
  • Miami, USA – Mar 2011
  • Tempe, USA – Mar 2011
  • Los Angeles, USA – April 2011
  • Current Location – Australia, April 2011
UPDATE – 25-Nov-2012
  • Tempe, USA – Jul 2011
  • Cabarete, Dominican Republic – Sep 2011
  • Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic – Jan 2012
  • Punta Cana, Dominican Republic – Apr 2012
  • Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic – Ju 2012
  • Tempe, USA – Jul 2012
  • San Francisco, USA – Jul 2012
  • New York, USA – Aug 2012
  • Bangkok, Thailand – Aug 2012
  • Koh Samui, Thailand – Sep 2012
  • Sydney, Australia – Oct, 2012
  • San Francisco, USA – Oct 2012
  • Tempe, USA – Nov 2012
  • San Francisco, USA – Nov 2012

UPDATE – 4-April-2013

  • Las Vegas, USA – Jan 2013
  • Santa Cruz, USA – Feb 2013
  • Los Angeles, USA – Feb 2013
  • San Diego, USA – Feb 2013
  • Tempe, USA – Feb 2013
  • Pittsburgh, USA – Feb 2013
  • Shanghai, China – Mar 2013
  • Ningbo, China – Mar 2013
  • Hong Kong, China – Mar 2013
  • Macau, China – Mar 2013
  • Los Angeles, USA – Mar 2013
  • Buenos Aires, Argentina – Mar 2013

Update – 28-April-2015

  • Santiago, Chile – Mar 2014
  • Uruguay – Apr 2014
  • Chile – Apr – 2014
  • New York  – Sep 2014
  • Boston – Sep 2014
  • San Francisco – Feb 2015
Categories
Travel

$2,000 Black Jack Hand – #ASW11

Here is the video of the $2,000 Blackjack hand I did at Vegas.

Here is the story in case you missed it:

Video of the $2k Blackjack Hand

Awesome time, thanks Shoemoney!

Categories
Business Travel

Affiliate Summit West #ASW11 – Recap, Video and Photos

Its been more than a week since I have gotten back from Affiliate Summit West 2011 (#ASW11) and wheels are turning. I am thinking it may have been the most productive few days of my life, even though all I did was get wasted all night and wake up at 5pm each day.

Here is a video of my time in Vegas. (click here if you cant see the video)

 

 

You may notice there is very little of the ‘actual conference’. That’s because I didn’t really go to much of the ‘actual conference’…. Hell I didn’t even use my free breakfast’s, lunches and I think I used about 2/10 of my drink vouchers…

Some people may say that I wasted the time there because I didn’t go to any of the sessions and didn’t learn anything (which I know is what many of the others who entered Shoemoney’s Contest wanted to do.

But I beg to differ.

I learned HEAPS. But what I learned, will never be told at a session or keynote. Its the real shit. I also made some deep relationships. I went to Affiliate Summit knowing nobody. Like literally nobody. But I have gotten very used to rocking up to places knowing nobody and quickly making friends. It is kinda necessary when you are a solo traveller.

I left ASW with a bunch of new contacts. But not just business cards. Real projects that are in the works. On top of that I made new friends.

It is really hard to really befriend someone when you meet them during the day at a networking event. Sure you may have things in common, sure you may have an interesting conversation, maybe even go for lunch or something. But it is still surface level.

To build a relationship and you need to have shared experiences. There is almost no way around it. So how do you do this?

Well… going out partying until 8am is a good start. Doing stupid shit helps too:

ASW11

My goal at ASW11 was to make some solid connections. I didn’t want to come back with a bunch of business cards and no follow up plans and I didn’t want to come back having not met anyone but listed to a bunch of speeches which I could learn in a few hours of research on my own (no disrespect to any of the speakers).

But hey, that was just my strategy going in knowing nobody. Next time it will probably be a little different as I will arrange to meet people in advance now that I know a few people.

What is your general conference strategy?

Categories
Travel

A Day at Affiliate Summit West 2011 #ASW11

4:50pm – Woke up at the Wynn overlooking Las Vegas Blv.

4:55pm – Got out of bed to check my phone that kept beeping. Had message to go to lunch – 4.5 hours ago… Organise to meet a friend downstairs for food and to watch the BCS game.

5:45pm – Get downstairs and get in line for food.

5:50pm – Realise Shoemoney is launching his new product in 10 minutes, so run off to the announcement room for the only event/speech I will see all ASW.

6-7pm – Watch product launch of Link Control and get a free lifetime pass. C ya later Hypertracker.

7:30pm – Roll with Shoemoney to play my $2k blackjack hand. I get dealt a 13 against a 10, land an 8 on the hit for 21. Dealer is 18. Winner winner chicken dinner!

8:00pm – Eat dinner/breakfast with Shoemoney and crew at Switch.

10:00pm – Head over to the Affiliate Ball at Rio with a VIP ticket. Watch 3-6 Mafia rock the house.

1:00am – Head over to the Veniusian for a drink

1:30am – Head over to XS at the Wynn

3:00am – Have a ‘drink’ with a nice young lady in my hotel room

7:00am – Sleep time

It’s a tough life…

Photos and video to come

Categories
Business

My Half Assed and Very Late Affiliate Summit West Schedule

Tomorrow I leave for Vegas baby, second time in a few months, and second time with a $1k+ free conference ticket in my hand. The universe must want me to go to Vegas…. You rock universe!

But more importantly Shoemoney, his sexy staff, all my friends and family who voted for me, all the people who don’t know me but I harassed them via email or Facebook and to a few hundred random s from Mturk in some third world country. YOU ALL ROCK!

If you don’t already know, I am headed to Affiliate Summit West on an all expenses paid trip because I won the Shoemoney Crazy Affiliate Contest.

Travel Plans

I am a very last minute traveller.

Some people spend days even weeks planning their trips. I usually wake up in a haze, walk out the door and figure out where I’m going while I’m walking. OK, that might be a bit extreme but I am closer to the latter than the former.

Spending 10+ months travelling last year taught me that its not worth spending all your time planning if its going to cost you enjoyment in the moment. Plus sporadic planning can turn into crazy adventures. It can also turn into a looming and costly disaster but that’s a story for another day.

I have a 9am flight which I booked at 6pm tonight. I then booked a nights’ accommodation at Circus Circus which looks very entertaining for its modest price tag, and is close to the Wynn so I wont have much of a trek in the morning when I switch to the Wynn.

ASW Schedule

Looking around the web for some things to do, I stumbled upon the Canadian Affiliate Marketing meetup which is from 5:00PM – 6:30PM at the Wynn Parasol “Up” Bar. I figure I gotta go and get my pass so could be a good opportunity to meet some Vancouverites.

Then I’m headed off to DKs Poker Tourney. I figure this will give me a good opportunity to chat with people and maybe make some plans for the rest of the summit.

And that’s about all… Ill figure the rest out when I’m there. If anyone has any tips on specific events or parties to attend I’d be keen to hear about them.

I also had some questions about whether I will be blogging live from the event. In all honest, no probably not. I’d like to, but yea, doubt its going to happen. Will try and do a few post about it when I land – if I don’t come back with 100 business ideas that lock me down for the next few months!

Anyways, if anyone is at ASW hit me up. We can grab a beer.