“Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.” Miriam Beard
I have always had the wanderlust. Even as an adolescent, limited to my own neighborhood, I mapped out new routes to the same old destinations each day, curious about every alleyway, every new flower sprouting through a sidewalk crack, every neighbor not yet met. When finally old enough to travel solo, my innate curiosity drove me to experience new cultures. Early on, I understood that if we knew one another better, we would be less likely to want to kill one another.
For years my traveling was confined to annual vacations and squeezed into extended weekends, with the unhappy remainder of the time spent earning a living, until I finally stopped fighting my desires and chucked my career for a life of travel. This was not an easy process. I came to it at the age of 54 with good writing skills, but with no portfolio or any understanding of the way the industry works. But I was determined to pursue my only true passions in life: travel, writing, and photography. I strapped on a backpack and journeyed solo around the world for six months, blogging as I went. Upon returning, I spent a year begging editors to publish the work of an unknown writer with no credentials or references.
If it is true that fear and faith cannot exist in the same space, then I am living proof of this adage, for I never lost faith that I would succeed. Since late 2006 I have been honing my writing skills, developing networks, and building a respectable portfolio. My articles have now been published in traditional printed publications as well as other online venues. I write about all things related to travel, including destinations, accommodations, culture, and human interest features about interesting people I meet along the way. Although I will occasionally visit the most popular, crowded tourist sites, I prefer off-the-beaten-path, little-known places blessed with natural beauty or uncommonly welcoming people; places where stress melts away and spirit is renewed.
Please take a few moments to meander around my blog. Alternatively, please feel free to sample some of my published work. Clicking on any of the images below will allow you to download the article onto your local computer in an Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format. Wishing you happy travels, be they actual or virtual.
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| Lonely Planet | Huffington Post | Malaysia Tourism |
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| Travel + Escape | Wild Junket | 65 Things To Do |
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| Port Charlotte Herald | Creative Loafing | Scene Magazine |
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| Coastal Angler Magazine | New Scientist | Ocala’s Good Life |
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| Keys Life Magazine | Uptake.com Beaches | Uptake.com Attractions |
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| WowOWow.com | YTravel Blog | HostelBookers.com |
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| World Nomads | Art of Backpacking | Nomadic Matt |
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| Velvet Escape Travel Blog | Trazzler.com | Go Galavanting |
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| Uptake.com Hotels | 4Beachnuts.com | CheapoAir.com |
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| Uptake.com Lodging | Positive Change | Le Figaro Magazine |
