Getaway at Mont Sainte Anne

Where did that week go? Was it really a week since I updated?

I just recently got back from a winter getaway at Mont Saint Anne which is just outside Quebec City, Canada. I’ve been before and it’s always a good time as it’s a big mountain with lots of terrain. It’s early in the season so naturally not all was open but still had a blast. We had this crazy blizzard one day which was cool and reminded me of how much I like winter… at the slopes.

If you’re not from the great white north, I suggest you take a trip with the family or your friends and hit it up for a week. Pray for snow and when it comes rejoice by making snow angels and the like. I’m a huge fan of winter getaways but not a fan of winter if that makes sense. I did some skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing and concluded that snowboarding is simply more fun than skiing on any type of terrain.

Snowshoeing is cool and think of it as hiking but on snow covered tracks.

Click here to read my full write up on SHABL.

I think 3-5 days is the perfect duration for a winter getaway.

Tomorrow, I fly to Miami and hopefully Managua.

Next time you’re up in arms about the state of traffic near you, just remember this video. Remember this is like mid afternoon on a weekend aka not rush hour. Once you learn to cross the street in Vietnam the rest of this planet becomes a cake walk, so to speak. Yes, I do believe that Vietnam has the worst traffic ever.

It’s Sunday and I’ve got a fatty artery clogging breakfast to guzzle down with a friend before doing some packing and heading to Montreal for a ski trip with an old friend. I also bought a MacBook Pro Retina 15″ last night and wow… The moment I started learning the shortcuts I knew I had found my new “ride” so to speak.

It’s freezing here.

This video is some classic SHABL if there is any. I’m in Laos circa 2010 and I met this girl walking down my street so we started hanging out. I passed this snake whisky stop filled with all sorts of snakes and creepy crawlers and got involved. This was the strongest drink I’ve had in my entire life without a doubt…

I ended up staying in Luang Prabang a while after meeting this cool couple from the USA and drank numerous shots. I think Uncle Buccs would love it and it goes well with a pipe full of whatever you got around. Full post here.

More videos here and wish I had uploaded more back in the day…

Greetings,

So looks like the canal is moving forward this month according to this article written by the BBC; hooray! Sure lots of environmentalists playing on their new iPhone 6+ will say it shouldn’t be done but throw them into poverty for a few seconds and their tune will change; they are unwashed weirdos anyways.

Also, I got news that on a property not far from mine these gents got permits to build cabins for rent AND a discotheque!? Huh!? At first I was like this is insane this can’t be then I realized wait a second… This is a train that is being run by those who live there and if I don’t like it, I can just jump off at any station aka sell my stake and move on. That said, I’m not.

Who knows what’s good or bad or what’s here to stay? What I love about foreign investment is that anything can happen and you need the right mindset for it. You can’t think how people should develop their area because you’re not from it. In the history of the spot you’re merely a visitor who has been there for a sliver of a short nano-second and in the long run if you left nobody would care or remember you.

Everywhere will develop the way it should and if you can’t handle it don’t get involved. I’m dying in Ottawa, what a wretched place to live. I am glad to be back as I love my family dearly and I’m on a 32″ screen which is sensational. That said, this is a great reminder of why I left and the more I travel the more I realize that on a global scale Canada is like say Norway, Finland or Sweden… Cool spots to visit but so far removed from the action it’s almost laughable.

I’m itching to get down to Nicaragua but biding my time and waiting for some kite surfing equipment to arrive at Grandma’s house in Boston. Apart from that going on a four day ski trip near Quebec City on Monday I think; that should be cool.

Tips hat,

This is a video from the second day of TBEX aka Travel Blog Exchange and yes it’s as geeky as it sounds. I usually just show up to chat with a few people during the conference and apart from that can be found at the social functions. It’s nice to mingle with new and old friends who share the same sort of lifestyle as yourself. That said, I’m more on the extreme end of this travel game but that’s just how I roll.

You’ll also see my estranged wife who I see every few years for a few hours and frankly, that’s enough. She’s mock introducing the video on the way to Drunk Sinatras. These conferences really kill the old immune system and going forward not sure how many I will attend unless I have a specific reason. It’s basically the same speakers talking about the same stuff aimed at the same target market which is the new people.

So much inspiration it’s nauseating.

In other news, it snowed in Ottawa which I’m cool with for a few reasons. I also somehow started drinking coffee again as my room had an espresso machine at Hotel Cafe Royal. Now i’m pounding an XL and ordering another moments later for the road; what have I become? My gluttony knows no bounds so it’s time to quit again. Coffee is a cheap buzz that makes your teeth brown; what’s the point?

Tips hat,

P.S: Audio on GoPro is killing me.

Woah!

What a ride the last week or so has been. Basically a lady friend of mine that I had been spending time with in London got tonsillitis and my throat felt like I had a dagger in it. I died in Manchester and had to cancel my trip to Boston to visit granny, shakes head.

I took the long way to Ottawa via Dublin & Toronto as I had plans on seeing friends in each but was literally out of the game. I cranked my hotel heat to 26 and sweat it out and now I feel oddly alright with no antibiotics or anything.

I’m home for a week or so before going back to the Corn Islands to take care of some business. I basically plan on having my foundations done before I leave. Nothing else matters right now, not trips, nothing.

I’ll be updating more often but now I need to get going to pick up an iPhone 6. No, not the 6+ because it’s too big. If you don’t carry a purse or have lumberjack hands I think it’s ridiculous. Also, the 6 isn’t that much better than the 5S whatsoever but there is a method to my madness.

Oh, while here I’m also going on a ski trip near Quebec City with a friend which feels weird as there is no snow here. That said, it is -15 here right now so I guess that counts for something. I’m quite happy to be home actually it’s nice seeing my parents and we’re having an early Christmas.

I’ve said enough, talk soon.

Tips hat,

Greetings from Hotel Cafe Royal in London.

I’m writing this from my bedroom with the blackout screens down and house music playing; what else would I be doing at 9am on a Tuesday morning? I am staying at this fine establishment in the heart of Piccadilly Circus for the next few nights and all I can say is that this place is class.

I teamed up with my friend’s at Booking.com in search of epic accommodation. I chose a few different places but really, you can’t get more epic than this. My room is minimalistic but also futuristic if that makes sense. Every detail you’d ever want including a television in the bathroom mirror has been taken care of and the location is arguably as good as it gets. Another thing is that London is known for small rooms, this place is larger than some small apartments.

Last night I met up with a friend I hadn’t seen in a while from Abu Dhabi at the Green Bar in the hotel for some Absinthe; strong stuff. When that came to an end she suggested we go to Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park and it was this sizable amusement park; I had no idea what to expect but wasn’t expecting that.

The weather was perfect yesterday and now it’s cloudy. I need to get some breakfast and decide what to do with myself today so I’ll leave you now and drink my second cup of completely unnecessary coffee. I don’t sleep much to begin with and decided to have some coffee for the heck of it this morning; wow what a pick me up!

If you’re looking for a class experience in London, look into Hotel Cafe Royal.

Click here to read my full write up with more photos.

Tips hat,

Greetings,

I’m on a train somewhere in the English countryside on 4G; seriously.

This photo is from a week or so ago when I was flying into London from Istanbul on a perfect day. This shot is good but could have been better but I was filming with my GoPro for an upcoming vlog. You can’t beat London on a sunny day really. I was telling my father that when the weather is just right and you aren’t skimp on skins in your pocket there is no place like London.

I’m visiting my cousin for the night then off to London.

Wales was great and I’ll be back as it’s a candy store for castles with the lushest of dark green carpets and lamb chops so large you’ll fall in love with the place. For the sake of mint sauce I need to return in the summer and get a few rounds of golf in and see a few more of the ~640+ castle sites.

Oh, since you’re distinguished readers of the web’s finest financial blog you must be informed of the difference between a fort and a castle. Do you already know? A fort is a fort but a castle is a fort that is fit for a king and suitable for them to stay.

Snowdonia National Park in North Wales is surreal and I had heard good things about it but wasn’t expecting this. These photos are just the tip of the iceberg so to speak and if you want to read a little more, you can click the top link and read what I just wrote. North Wales is really cool and I’m off to see one of the best preserved castles in a few minutes.

Side note, my father’s family is from Wales so it’s cool being back and I owe a lot to the Welsh; my first job ever was from Terry Matthews who happens to be the first Welsh billionaire. He hooked me up with a job at Newbridge outside Ottawa before he sold it to Alcatel. There aren’t many Welsh at all, let alone outside the country but they do look out for each other and that’s cool.

If it wasn’t that job in tech at the age of ~14 or 15 I’m not sure I’d of followed the same path so endless thanks to Sir Matthews. Side note, I’ve seen lots of castles and hopefully will update you more on them soon.  Alsom still uploading my daily vlogs every few days and I have a huge backlog which is good as once I hit the islands doubt I’ll be filming daily. Alright, I’ve said enough and wishing you all a pleasant day.

Huge thanks to my friends at Visit Britain for the hospitality.

The Shard is the tallest building in Western Europe and I have no idea how high it is but it’s high. You can take a trip to the top which is 72 floors and if so inclined even sip on 10GBP glasses of champagne. It offers some incredible views of London so I recommend it AND it’s close to Borough Market which is filled with delicious foods; also recommended.

Was there two nights ago or so and stayed at the Mondrian which is a new hotel, sweet spot right on the River Thames. Now I’m in Conwy, Wales and tomorrow I’m going to explore the castle before doing some other stuff. Things have been quite busy but making this update because it’s a force of habit and thought I’d let you know about The Shard should you visit as I had no clue about it until I went.

Lots of lamb chops available here in Wales and 640+ castles; I’m loving it.

In closing, big thanks to Visit Britain for the hospitality; I’m having a great time.

Tips hat,