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WHY A WEBSITE AND A
BLOG?
I created this website as a way to journal my travel experiences and
other hobbies. And my blog was started mainly to entertain myself
rather than the great masses out there in Blog Universe. Honestly, my life just isn't exciting enough
to cause thousands of perfect strangers to flock to their computers to read it. Sorry!
But, if by some miracle someone out there finds my website useful
or even remotely entertaining then that's also cool!
I have two rules: First, I won't talk about anything too personal!
Why? Because it's well . . . personal! Secondly, I won't discuss work! Why? Well, I just can't!
Confidentiality issues and all!
When I'm not traveling I'll use my Trekcapri website and blog to record
things and thoughts that may come to mind.
When traveling, I thought that I could use my blog to post live accounts
while on the road. However, I was not able to post on my blog while in Europe on my recent trip in November 2006. To
record and post live accounts I may have to create a blog on one of those free sites to blog while on the road.
Or I could just e-mail my accounts to my home computer than post it when I return home. Not quite sure how I'll set
that up. Either way, I will post a trip report and post my photographs when I return.
Lastly, I placed a copywrite on this website but it only applies to not using text/photos
for commercial/profit/publishing purposes (not that I think anyone would, but you know what I mean). All interested
travelers and/or non travelers who find any information beneficial for their personal use are more than welcome to
copy, print, use, follow or even ignore any and all content as they see fit. I did this website as a personal
hobby and wanted to share what I've learned, discovered and experienced with others.
A LITTLE ABOUT ME
I knew at a very early age that I was destined to travel when I told my kindergarten teacher
that I wanted to fly to the moon! These days I still want to travel to far off and exciting locations . . . just
not too . . . too far!
I also knew that I was destined to love adventures and exploration
when as soon as I learned how to ride a bike I just took off for miles with no regard of how far I'd gone or how much
it took to get there!
I love to travel and so far I have traveled to 14 different countries. Other interests
and hobbies include: photography, music, running, biking, and hiking.
I really enjoy taking pictures. On my most recent
trip I snapped about 1,500 pictures. This spring I will be taking a photography class through a local professional store
in order to improve my borderline skills as a photographer.
I have an absolute eclectic taste in music. I love
it all! Hip Hop, Rock, Country, New Age, Old School, Latin, Techno, Jazz, Opera, Easy Listening, R&B, Christian,
Hawaiian, Brazilian Jazz, and more. I own two IPODS - one for my home stereo and the other for my runs. I
believe that music is the most universal language in the world.
I have what's called a multi-sport disorder!
I enjoy cycling for miles and I have done a century (100 miles) and a metric century (63 miles) bike ride in Solvang just
north of Santa Barbara.
I have completed 3 marathons, 12 half marathons and numerous smaller races
(10K's). Growing up in Hawaii - - I went to the beach on the weekends quite a bit - - while living up north (Washington
State) I dabbled in skiing. These days - - I'm becoming interested in hiking or trekking.
I think that a combination of all these interests influence
my travels in many ways. I consider traveling an adventure-a learning experience-a
way to feel and experience other cultures in the world.
Many travel guides, and experts preach "go off the beaten
path" - immerse yourself in the places that you visit! Yes it's a cliche and yes there are many
authors that are making a lot of money off it - - but guess what! They are spot on right!
Traveling
to other countries isn't always exclusively about their art, history, fine wine or gelato! Well . . . maybe it could be about the Gelato!
The most important part of travel in my opinion is the interaction
you have with your destinations. I mean mingling with the people (not your fellow tourists) - - hiking
their beautiful hillsides and mountains - - driving along a small road in Tuscany, stopping in a mom and pop store or cafe
. . .
In my recent trip
to Italy I went to hike the very beautiful trails of the Cinque Terre. A fun adventure that I would never
had previously thought of doing until I visited a Website called Slow Travel: http://www.slowtrav.com/ That's when a member recommended that I stay in the small fishing town of Vernazza. It was this experience that
made me realize that Europe has so much more to offer than just history and art.
In Cinque Terre - - I got out there and hiked all five trails. Along the
way we stopped to converse with a local selling his homemade wine. We greeted the local wine growers we saw
along the trails with a smile and a Buon Giorno. We dipped our feet in the Mediterranean and participated
an Monterroso's Annual Town "Lemon Festival."
History & Art are great, but it can also be one dimensional.
Getting out there and interacting with the town or city that you're in is in my view the actual reward for traveling.
During
our stay in Vernazza, one of the best part of my days were spent in the early morning hours before sunrise. I would
get out and walk around. I smelled the aroma of the one bakery in town. Said Buon Giorno to the locals washing
down the street and to the baker setting up their shop for the hoards of day trippers who
will visit their town. Across from the bakery, a local woman sets up her stand made up of two crates
and a piece of wood going across them for a table to put her fresh vegetables. The other locals would
be out greeting her and chatting while they pick out their vegetables.
Engaging yourself in your surroundings will make your travel experience a
part of you. Something that you can't put in a photo album or place on your bookcase for everyone to admire.
The kind of experiences I'm talking about will become a part of
who you are and how you view and live your life. After my last trip to Europe, I gained a new found respect for
the simplicity of life. I think the Europeans understand this concept much more than Americans. In one
of my blog entries I spoke of this. I realized that life is quite simple in Europe. As well it should be.
People tend to make things in life more difficult and complicated.
My goal is to visit at least 11 more countries and do an
adventure hike in Nepal
and a safari adventure in Africa.
Eventually, I'll slow down and when I do I intend to spend
more time back in Italy, England, Austria
and Switzerland.
To read more about my future travel plans read here:
Future Trips
Well, I hope you've enjoyed reading my website. Thank you for stopping
by.
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