Sunday, October 13, 2013

Wrap Up of Me

So, I figured I would end my blog with a wrap up of myself. It is hard for one to observe oneself and describe who they are; it is always easiest for someone else to describe you. So if you have followed me through all, or portions, of this blog, then you would be better off writing this than me.

I'm just a boy from the south, raised with a shotgun in my hand and tobacco in my mouth; not exactly a characteristic of a world traveler. The more I traveled the larger my thirst for learning about new things grew. When you think of someone who has traveled as much as I, you may think of a guy walking around without his shoes on and sitting on the ground, eating with his bare hands. I can definitely admit that I did that a time or two, but why? The real question is, why do the locals in the countries I visited do it? The not knowing is the reason why I do those things; I want to know why.

Now, I don't want to sit here and answer all the questions that I think you may have about the world. I am going to charge you to go out and answer your own questions. Don't ever look at someone you know nothing about and judge him or her right off the bat. Try to look at where that person is coming from, try to understand why they do what they do. When I first started traveling, I was always afraid to ask why because I felt like it was disrespectful. I then realized that me not knowing and coming up with my own reasoning was more disrespectful.

Travel, see, do, experience, and live. You should never be unhappy with your life when there is a world out there that you have most likely seen less than 10% of.

Before we part, I want to thank you, the audience, for following me around the world. The main reason why I liked keeping this blog was that you kept me charged to do something different everyday. I felt like such a waste whenever I sat there and did nothing, knowing that everyone of you would have killed to be where I was. You are the reason why I visited 20 countries, you were the drive that helped me ask why, and you were the hand that pushed me out of my comfort zone time and time again.

To complete my journey around the world, I will leave you with this: An excuse is the easiest thing in the world to create; just close your eyes and jump, I promise you'll make it out alive.

Will our paths ever cross again? Only time will tell and anything is possible.

Good luck world

USA Wrap Up

My trip in the US was amazing. I never thought that I would enjoy traveling in the States as much as I did. Everything from playing volleyball on the beaches of San Diego to camping by a pond at the bottom of the Mt. Rainier National Park. The US is truly an under rated traveling destination. I feel sorry for all of those that I met while traveling who had said they just visited NY, LA, and San Francisco; visit three national parks and I'm sure you'll have a much better time.


Day 230: Columbia

This morning, we gathered our thing and I waved my friends goodbye. We made the long trip back to Columbia. Home sweet home. 

Day 229: Athens

Today is the day we have all been waiting for, Gameday.

An early hungover morning filled with ESPN, eggs, and beer started off my first true Gamecocks gameday.

Luckily I was able get a great ticket with William a couple rows from the Gamecocks sideline. This game ended up being a heartbreaking loss, 30-41. Our schools are both big rivals, so most of my friends were so upset with the loss that they just wanted to go back to the house and to sleep. I didn't let that get in the way of me and the other guys having a great time.

Day 228: Athens

This morning, more friends from Columbia showed up; literally a bus showed up and dropped off about 8 people in front of their house. One of their friends bought and an old bus and turned it in to a road trip machine.

By about mid-day the keg and most of the friends had arrived. It was great catching up with friends and sharing stories from around the world.

Later that night we headed out to a half-day music festival featuring Savoy and Wiz Khalifa, among other artists. Another night with good friends and live music.

Day 227: Athens

I decided not to finish my blog until I get back home. I trip around the world is not completed until I get back to where I started.

This morning, I caught an early flight to Atlanta, Georgia. The coast to coast flight was not as bad as I was expecting, but the time change did throw me off. Once I landed, I took a shuttle a hour away to Athens, Ga. This weekend, my alma mater, the University of South Carolina Gamecocks, play the University of Georgia Bulldogs; not only a football game worth coming back for but an even better group of friends to ease me back into home.

My friend William picked me up where I was dropped off in the center of town. We headed over to some friend of our's house, James and Harper, two guys that I basically grew up with through high school.

We all met up with my sister and my cousin later that night for dinner and some drinks. It was great to see two girls from my family, it has been way too long!

First night back on the east coast in 227 days with great friends and family, couldn't think of a better first night back.

Day 226: Seattle

So, today is my last day on the west coast... What to do?

I decided to see one more thing in Canada and then head back to Seattle, Grouse Mountain, which is in North Vancouver, across the Harbor. Grouse Mountain is a great ski park that becomes a green tourist attraction during the summers. I took a large skyride up to the park, which was filled with tourist activities. They had a really cheesy lumberjack show that had me laughing at them rather than with them.

I took a ski lift up to the park's wind turbine and was able to go up to the top of the turbine. I have never been this close to a wind turbine let alone take an elevator up to the top of it. It was pretty cool not to mention the view of the surrounding mountains were amazing. After I got done exploring the rest of the park, I had to head back to the US and return my car. The drive back to Seattle was a long ride; the entire ride was spent reflecting on the past eight and a half months of my excursion around the world. Its even crazier to think its been that long... Almost nine months. While each country seemed to take an eternity to explore, the world has flown by in a mere blink of an eye.

Once I got back to Seattle, I returned my car and made the walk to my hotel. The last walk I will take, the last backpack I'll pack, and the last hotel reservation I'll make. Until my next adventure.