Rainbow Street in Amman

Alright, this was my second time in Jordan so I felt like mixing it up. My video skills have a long way to go but in 2009 when I made a weird vlog with a mustache, I knew video was the future. Long story short, when I got to Jordan I took out my camera and started filming and then I’ve been filming my days ever since. This is the first video and it’s Rainbow Street in Amman.

The whole point of SHABL was/is/always will be to chronicle an endless trip around the world because following the herd is boring. Just traveling, taking photos and writing is getting old so I’ve decided to make more work for myself. That said, as a somewhat single guy in his 30’s with no real responsibilities, I have lots of time. Also, by making a video diary it keeps me accountable and should encourage me to do more cool stuff / take better care of myself.

I filmed this on my iPhone 5S. Following that I’ve gone to my GoPro Hero 4. As of now, I’m in Meteora, Greece(check an instagram here) which is insane by the way with these crazy monasteries on top of mountains but more on that later. Was going to take a night bus to Tirana, Albania tonight but I hate night buses and arriving in city centers at 3am so I’m off to Corfu tomorrow with an old acquaintance I reconnected with in Athens.

As of now, plan is to get to Tirana, fly to London and then go to NYC to buy some new electronics before heading home for a week. After that, I’m in the UK for a week or two again. Going home was really cool and it was good seeing family again so going to try and make more random stops for a week or two whenever I can, life is short. The world will always be there, family won’t.

I’m getting electronics because my computer is cramping my style and I live on it aka it’s my life for better or worse. I’m thinking of the MacBook Pro 13″ Retina fully loaded. I’m still hesitant but I think it’s time, yes? In other news, I got invited to the White House with 99 other online travel media outlets but much more on that later.

My video game has a long way to go but you need to start somewhere and this should give you an idea of what it’s like. I’ve got footage from hikes in the Dana Biosphere, taking the back roads to Petra, hiking to the monastery in Petra, hanging out in Wadi Rum, scuba diving in the Red Sea and even skydiving at the Dead Sea. That, my friends, was mental. You’re not supposed to bring a camera because most can’t hold on and if you drop it you can kill someone. My guy was cool and let me do it, the footage is nuts and I never gripped a camera so hard / ripped my shorts getting it out of the pocket.

Suffice to say, lots happening here at SHABL.

Tips hat,

P.S: Jordanian food is next level and I’d go back in a heart beat.

This video is from the opening night of Top Hill Nighclub in Budva, Montenegro. It’s a crazy club and on this night it was only at partial capacity. Supposedly when it’s in full swing, there is an electric buzz throughout the place.

I only got a taste of what this place is like and loved it; should I return to Budva next summer a little later in the season, without a doubt I’ll be hitting it up. If you’re in Budva, regardless if you go to Top Hill or not, do check out Jef Bar; I went there countless times and it was always quite eventful.

If the video isn’t working; try this link -> Top Hill in Budva.

Tips hat,

P.S: I think I need to buy a Mac and should have years ago.

Greetings,

Many tourist attractions on this planet are overrated but some definitely live up to the hype and the Dead Sea is one of them. This was my third time visiting and it seriously never gets old. You really can’t imagine how it feels to float and if you have any cuts or wounds, they will get healed in a real hurry after some slight discomfort.

To say you float is an understatement. You can stand erect with your hands out of the water and still float, it’s insane really. I stayed at the Kempinski Ishtar and it was easily one of the nicest hotels I’ve stayed at in recent memory and of course they had smoked salmon and champagne for offer at breakfast like all top shelf places should.

If you’re looking for something different, consider the Dead Sea sometime. If you’re visiting Jordan it’s a great way to unwind after visiting Wadi Rum or Petra. I also went scuba diving in the Red Sea and it felt like I was in a tropical fish thank but more on that later.

Big thanks to the Jordan Tourism Board for their hospitality; it was appreciated.

I’m at the airport and off to Athens, Greece in two hours.

To celebrate 500,000 views I figured I’d share this here with you now, it’s “Eating Rats in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam”. These days I’m a little more relaxed but given the opportunity in the right setting; I’ll eat anything anytime and always will.

Jordan is great so far much more on that later.

Greetings,

I’m writing this late from the Movenpick Petra in Jordan. Petra is a UNESCO site for good reason as it’s totally out of this world and very “Indian Jonesque” if you know what I mean. This is my second time and should I one day have a family, they are most certainly coming to see this spectacle.

It’s just a magical place and goes far beyond the treasury which is pictured above. If you’re physically fit or not, you can still go to the monastery which is also out of this world. Those that are out of shape, lazy, old or any combination of the above can always ride a donkey up and it’s worth it; so cool up there.

Also great views from the top if you walk past the monastery. Think of it as going for the monastery and then getting a bonus. Today I went to the view-point before realizing there was another. When I got there, everyone left as though I smelt or something but it’s just a coincidence, I assure you.

Anyways, while there I just sat on a chair and stared into the endless canyons in a moment of complete perfection. A strong(ish) wind cooled me down and I was just happy. Did I have a zen moment? Absolutely. If you’re a single guy and not a troll, don’t be surprised if all the Bedouin girls invite you for tea along the way.

I don’t do caffeine but I also don’t do “no” so I left buzzing and floated up the rest of the stairs like a manic magician eager to learn the next trick or something like that. Tricks aside, here is a tip; go to Petra sometime and bring the family as it’s truly out of this world and if you’re of proper age to read this website you’ll love the whole Indiana theme.

Heck, carrying a murse is even cool here, I mean Indiana is about as hardcore as a gentleman can get without being a blackbelt or cage fighter, yes? Anyways, I’m really glad to be back and had a wonderful time. Having been here before in 2011, wasn’t sure how it would feel but it was just as good if not better and that’s cool if you ask this gent.

Click here to read my monster post from 2011.

Tomorrow I’m off to Wadi Rum, indeed.

Big thanks to my friends at the Jordan Tourism Board for their hospitality; it’s most appreciated.

P.S: Petra is a selfie approved spot on this planet.

P.P.S You can check my instagram for more, lots more.

The photo below is Wadi Dana, Jordan and yesterday, myself and an intrepid crew hiked it all the way to Feynan Ecolodge. The hike is about 16km or so and it took us just shy of 6 hours. That said, we did stop for tea and even had some Bedouin style bread made for us on the spot; good times. That photo is from Dana Village where the excitement all starts.

The hike isn’t difficult but it’s also not easy. Feynan Ecolodge was a cool spot to crash for the night and it uses less power than a two bedroom apartment in Amman when at full capacity of roughly 60 guests, impressive. Lots of candles but it does have wifi in the lobby and the dinners are all vegetarian. If you’re doing the hike, do stay the night as it’s part of the experience in my opinion.

To say I slept like a baby would be an understatement and it was much needed as for some reason was awake like an insomniac most of the night before after a 24 hour trip to Jordan from Montreal, never good. This morning we took a jeep into Petra through the ancient route which winds through the mountains, great views.

Petra is unreal but that’s for another day.

Hiking Wadi Dana was good times, if you’re in Jordan do look into it.

Big thanks to Visit Jordan for the hospitality, it’s appreciated.

Greetings!

I’m 9200+km away from Montreal, Canada and feeling alive here in the Middle-East. It took me 24 hours to get here as I had to train to Montreal which was late and than the flight was late but that’s how she goes sometimes. I’m writing this from the Grand Hyatt in a pretty sweet room going through emails and toying around with some vlogs etc…

It feels GOOD to be back on the road, I feel years younger and alive. Also, it feels good to be back in Jordan. I was here in 2011 and had a blast, now I’m back to do some similar stuff as well as sky dive above the Dead Sea weather permitting. So far, everyone I’ve met has been super friendly from my driver to the randoms I met on the plane, just like I remembered.

I’m off to Rainbow Street today which is a popular spot in Amman for some dinner. I’m looking forward to it as I don’t really eat airplane food anymore. I’m just over it but will always pick at the main course. Those stale buns though, just say no. Look, life is about pleasure and endless pleasure but wise men get pleasure after the fact, not during, yes?

Big thanks to my friends at the Jordan Tourism Board for inviting me back.

Tips hat,

Thanksgiving was great and I’m on a train to Montreal to catch a flight to Jordan. I wanted to share this photo with you from a stroll I took with my father yesterday. It’s easy to ignore the beauty in your backyard and lots of people without seasons travel the world to see scenes like the one above.

That said, I’m ready to get out of here. I think ~7 days is the perfect length to visit family and friends on an annual / semi-annual basis because you get to see everyone and still leave when you’d like to stay another day. I’m always confused if I really want to stay another day or I’m just turned off by packing?

You see, when you live out of a suitcase you’re never really packing so just throwing everything in your bag and moving isn’t such a big deal. It’s when you’re leaving home and you have all these decisions to make about what stays and what goes that packing becomes a pain.

I digress but will mention that I quite like train travel.

Don’t play like you’ve never been to a sausage party; they are unavoidable in the life of a gent like a random murder hole should one be trading. This sausage party took place in Rodi Garganico along the coast of the Adriatic Sea in Italy.

The sausages were amazing, so were the chops and the pizza was cool too.

It’s a Friday night and the temperature has to be near 0 here in Ottawa, Canada. I just got out of a shower and it feels like I’m in the arctic; is there anything worse than getting out of a hot shower into a cold house? I’m sure there are some but I can think of none right now.

I’m not going to get all emo as that’s not my style or the point of this post. I was at a friend’s house yesterday when the mail man came by, hooray! Above are the three fliers which were delivered on said day which was a balmy 8 degrees and raining. Just take a look from top to bottom.

It basically sums up how I saw my future here which is why I decided to jump ship. I also knew there was more out there or I thought that and guess what? I was right. If you’re not married which is highly overrated anyways and have a portable income; I urge you to weigh your options as there are great spots everywhere for you to frequent. I’ve been on both sides of the coin for equal time and there is no question as to which is the winner.

Alright, back to the topic at hand, yes? Basically these pieces of mail symbolize how I felt about living here. First it says “Too early to think about snow? You know it’s coming, might as well get prepared. Forget good times, they are gone for another ~8 months or so; the freeze is coming! Next it has a free month of satellite TV because soon, the weather will be so shit that you’ll pass your precious time here sitting on the couch while eating and watching crap.

Finally, the nail in the coffin if you will is the message from our friendly neighborhood funeral parlor. It’s a friendly reminder that you’re going to die and hey, you have a a precious pension so why not start paying for some of that funeral to take the burden off your loved ones? Really? These three pieces of mail are depressing enough but packaged together, it’s insanity.

I’d go on but it’s a Friday night aka the one night a week friends of mine are let off their leashes for a few hours from their wives. A time to forget about the week and fill yourself with toxins effectively sedating yourself before tuning into satellite television and waiting for the snow…

The loop goes on and on until a loved one is calling Kelly’s Funeral home for you and your time is done. I was leaving a friend’s house with another on Monday night which is what happens every Monday night here and he laughed saying “nothing has changed eh?” Then we realized, not only has nothing changed but it’s effectively the same day… Is it October 6th, 2014 or 2013? 2007? 2005 or 2019? The same day just goes on and on and on…

Life’s short… Don’t get tricked into the escalator to nowhere.