G'day! I'm Chris. I left my home in rural Australia back in 2007 to pursue a life less ordinary.
I specialize in ambitious travel - bucket list worthy journeys such as the Great US Road Trip, the ultimate African safari, and following the length of the Silk Road.
It’s a scorching hot day in Florida as our car slices through air thick with humidity. Every second sign is for an airboat tour or an alligator feeding – we’re deep in the tourist portion of the Everglades National Park.
The fast pace and expensive restaurants of Miami are behind us. The buzzing of neon has been replaced by the buzzing of mosquitos. Gone are the Botoxed buxom beauties of South Beach, replaced by the toothy grins of ‘Gators.
Eating the Locals
Our car noses into the car park of a sleepy roadside cafe only minutes ahead of the arbitrary Florida thunderstorm. We’ve barely slid into our booth seats when the heavens open and rain comes down in drenching sheets. We can’t even see the car park through the shifting torrent.
Just a sprinkle of rain to brighten our day
We order up an Everglades sampler including fried plantains, gator bites, fry bread, and fried frogs legs. A pair of sweet teas are on hand to wash it all down and we’re soon ready to tuck in before we head out to the Everglades proper to do a little exploration.
I wouldn’t go so far as to say our meal was delicious, but it was certainly a memorable buffet of too oily delicacies and a welcome change from store bought bagels and Taco Bell.
Heather is a tad bemused by our lunch selection
For your viewing pleasure, I’ve filmed a special Test Drive on the road. You can see my reaction to eating frogs legs below:
Biking the Everglades
The misleadingly named ‘Shark Valley’ is quite busy despite it being the middle off the week, and I’m not just talking about fellow tourists. The air is thick with mosquitos lured out by the recent thunderstorm and it necessitates an expensive purchase of insect repellent before we can get underway.
Bike rentals are $8 an hour and I’ve got to admit it felt great to be back in the saddle. I can’t even recall the last time I’ve been on a bike, but the big kid in me is out in force before we’ve made it very far. It’s all I can do not to race away and leave poor Heather behind, so eager are my legs to peddle away.
Shark Valley also offers tour hour tram tours that cover the entire track and include a ranger’s narration to better explain things, but it’s late in the day and we don’t much fancy waiting until twilight to catch the last tour of the day.
Our bikes rest by the road while we snap a few photos
It’s not humidity or heat that makes speeding up difficult, but the clouds of insects that hover over the path. Mosquitos, dragonflies, and other nameless swamp denizens leap into view like enemies in a fast paced video game. I’m surprised I didn’t finish the ride picking pieces of them out of my teeth.
Alligator Hunting
I’m not quite Burt Reynolds in White Lightning, but damned if I’m not screaming through the park at a decent clip when I catch sight of my first alligator.
I come screeching to a halt so suddenly that Heather careens into the back of my bike, but her protests are ignored as I snatch up my camera and race back to where I’d spotted our reptilian friend.
He’s not the threatening giant I’d hoped to spot. Hell, he’s not even as big as my arm. But he’s scaly and toothy and that basically qualifies him to be my first wild alligator sighting. A few minutes snapping photos and it’s time to go off in search of bigger game.
Not the intimidating specimen we’d hoped to spot while biking the Everglades
Alas, our little friend is as big as our wildlife sightings get. We had to content ourselves with more dragonflies than we cared to count and a pair of grasshoppers doing it on the side of the road. Enjoy your insect porn, perverts.
You people disgust me
Our experience biking the Everglades wasn’t quite as exhaustive as I’d have hoped. We spent barely ninety minutes exploring due to our tight schedule and late arrival, but I enjoyed it immensely. Shark Valley also boasts numerous walking trails and a lengthy tram tour for those not eager to test the old ‘easy as riding a bike’ adage.
More bad-ass Everglades wildlife
Someday I’d like to go back and do the place justice, Gator Mcklusky style. Air boats, twelve footers, and high adventure? Yes, please!
Your Say
Have you ever been to the Everglades? Did you live out my dream and ride an air-boat? Or do it in a more conventional way?
What about close encounters with wildlife? Had any thrilling moments on the road?
“Chris,” Heather’s arm across my chest stops me in my tracks, “I don’t mean to alarm you, but that’s a bear”.
It’s shortly after sunset in Yosemite and what little light remains is a thin strip of fiery orange smothered by thick sequoia trunks. We’re in a relatively dense portion of the wood on our 1.1 mile walk from Sentinel Dome back to the safety of our car and we’ve got about one mile of it to go.
Surrounded by hulking Humvees, Toyota Land Cruisers, and Jeep Cherokees – our humble Nissan Altima doesn’t look like it’s ready for the great outdoors, but at that moment it’s a towering fortress to we two slightly frazzled explorers.
There’s a bear about 50 meters away from us. We’d joked all day about wanting to see one of the bears in Yosemite National Park, and now we’re getting our wish.
I hear it first. The snapping of twigs and the rustle of undergrowth as something much larger and heavier than either of us makes its way through the forest to our right. In the rapidly fading light, it takes my eyes a long moment to adjust and make out the shape made familiar by countless nature documentaries.
“Chris,” Heather hisses urgently, “We need to move”.
Earlier…
It’s already after seven as we pull off the Glacier Point road and into the parking lot for both Sentinel Dome and Taft Point, but we’re confident we’ll be able to make it out to the dome in time for sunset and a spectacular view of the valley floor.
With cameras and Camelbak at the ready, we begin to pick our way along the trail. After spending the morning on more clearly marked and evenly paved trails such as Bridalveil Falls and Mirror Lake, it’s a fun challenge for us to clamber over rocks and spot the footprints that are to guide us to Sentinel Dome – which is said to boast the best 360 degree view of the park.
“The sun sets at 8.15 or so,” I advise Heather sagely as the parking lot disappears behind us and we begin to make our way through the forest, “We should be back before it’s dark”.
The sun is already beginning to set over Sentinel Dome as we begin our 2.2 mile round trip hike.
It’s a 2.2 mile round trip and while it’s not particularly strenuous, there is considerably more up and down then we had planned for. The sun is already beginning to dip behind the mountains when we pass a German couple on their way back.
“Is it worth the walk?” I ask.
“Oh yeah,” the man replies with a big grin, “And you’ll be there just in time for the sunset”.
Buoyed by his encouragement, we continue on. Soon enough we’re clambering up the side of the massive stone dome and joining ten or fifteen of our fellow sunset chasers to witness a truly stunning spectacle.
We’d intended on being there only a few minutes, but we become so enamoured of the stunning light show and the scenery rolled out before us that we soon abandon our plans to be back at the car by the time night rolled in over the park.
Heading Back
After about forty minutes of posing and photo-taking, we decide it’s time to head back. The last slivers of sunlight guide us down the steep rock face and then we’re shouldering our cameras and loudly discussing the photos we’ve taken and our plans to see the stars come out over Glacier Point.
And that’s when Heather speaks:
“Chris, I don’t mean to alarm you, but that is a bear”.
It’s about fifty meters away but I can see that it’s roughly my size. Black bears in Yosemite don’t grow quite as large (or aggressive) as the notorious grizzly bears or brown bears, but they’re not exactly Yogi and Boo Boo either.
“Chris,” Heather speaks up, “We need to move”.
We do move, but in totally different directions. I move back towards Sentinel Dome and the ten or twelve people we’d left there, while Heather smartly heads farther down the trail and towards the car. In hindsight, I’d basically moved parralel to the bear and not removed myself from danger.
Thankfully, the bear seemed more interested in sniffing at the ground than in the two big bundles of stupid meat to its left.
“Chris!” Heather hisses, “Come here!”
I join her and we’re soon moving down the park.
“Oh my God,” her voice is thick with panic, “We’re going to die. There’s more of them, I know it”.
As we rush down the trail our own passage and the movement of her backpack convince us that the bear is on our trail. The last of the light is rapidly fleeing behind the horizon and for all we know, there’s a curious bear wandering after us.
I can’t begin to describe the tension on that mile long walk back to the cars. Heather’s cellphone provides feeble light as the last of the day’s light fades and the moon does a poor job of covering for it. She steadfastly refuses to look left or right, but I see mountain lions and bears in every tree stump or looming rock along our path.
The last of the day’s light fades as we trek back to our car with a bear hot on our tails (maybe)
“This is it,” she’d occasionally say with certainty, “It’s just around the corner now”.
But then we’d see another stretch of forest or another expanse of rocky hillside and our hearts would sink.
“Did we lose the trail?” I ask at one point, keenly aware that we’ve got no food with us, a half empty Camelbak, and nothing warmer than the shorts and t-shirt I’d spent the day in.
“No,” Heather assures me, “Just shut up”.
It’s full dark by the time we break out of the last stand of forest and spot the car park. It’s all we can do not to break into a frenzied run, despite knowing full well the bear is a mile distant and probably no more interested in us than I am in the lazy buzzing of a dragonfly while I’m out walking.
Once the adrenaline has left our systems and we’re able to think about the situation logically, we realize how lucky we were. Not to survive, because we were never in any real danger, but to have seen one of the black bears in Yosemite in its natural environment. The big, beautiful creatures are not so uncommon around camp grounds, but to see one so far from civilization going about its business was a truly unforgettable experience.
And not just because I’m out a perfectly good pair of underpants.
And Heather’s first words after we’d reached safety?
Travelling around the world can be both exhilarating and overwhelming, but with the right tools and company, it can be an adventure of a lifetime. Your phone is one of those essential tools that can help you navigate new and unfamiliar destinations and find new adventures along the way. With the help of ane-sim card, you’ll never have to worry about getting lost or missing out on essential information.
With the convenience of global coverage, you can access the internet and stay connected to your loved ones, no matter where you are. So, turn your travels into an adventure and let your phone lead the way with the help of the Holafly e-sim card. Say hello to new experiences with new your new buddy!
How your phone can help you navigate seamlessly
Language Translation
Your smartphone can act as a handy tool to bridge the language barrier while you travel the world. With the help of language translation apps, you can quickly translate written or spoken words into your native language.
Some apps also can listen to spoken words and translate them in real-time, making it easier to have a conversation with locals. Whether you are ordering food, asking for directions, or trying to negotiate a price, your phone can help you communicate effectively and make your travels much more enjoyable.
Maps and Navigation
With GPS and map applications, you can easily find your way around unfamiliar territories without getting lost. These apps provide turn-by-turn directions, and real-time traffic updates, allowing you to search for points of interest such as restaurants, hotels, and attractions. By using your phone for navigation, you can save time, avoid getting lost and make the most of your travels.
Flight Information
With flight tracking apps, you can stay up to date on the status of your flight, including real-time updates on gate changes, delays, and cancellations. These apps also provide you with information about your flight’s estimated arrival time and gate number.
You can use your phone to check in for your flight, access your boarding pass, and receive notifications about any changes to your flight schedule.
Accommodations
Deciding on accommodation while travelling the world can be done easily with the data on your phone. Various accommodation apps allow you to search for and book hotels, motels, hostels, and vacation rentals directly from your phone. These apps often have user reviews and ratings, so you can get an idea of what others think of the places you’re considering.
You can also compare prices and locations, making it easy to find the best option for your budget and travel plans. With the ability to book and manage your accommodations right from your phone, you can spend less time worrying about where you’ll stay and more time focusing on the adventure ahead.
Currency Conversion
Using your phone for currency conversion while travelling can be incredibly convenient and helpful. You can download a currency conversion app that provides up-to-date exchange rates.
You can use it to quickly convert the currency of the country you’re visiting to your home currency, allowing you to keep track of your spending and budget more effectively. You can also use the internet to search for currency conversion websites that provide real-time exchange rates and perform conversions for you.
Those who read regularly probably know that Aussie on the Road tends more towards the romantic and idyllistic than the wild and uninhibited sexcapades of many of my travel brethren. While Will and the lads at TravelSexLife horde tales of debauchery from around the world, my own tales tend to be more heart-breaking than booty shaking.
But when Neil from Around the World in 80 Girls and I spoke about me interviewing him about his travels, his pick-up artistry, and his new book – I couldn’t resist. Here was a chance for a hopelessly romantic and criminally awkward Aussie guy to speak with something of a travel Casanova. What tricks could I learn to help me achieve the more red light of my bucket list items?
So it was that I sat down at my laptop and Neil sat down at his and we did an interview. I won’t waffle on any further. Here’s my interview with Neil, the backpacking Casanova and scourge of women’s chastity around the world.
The Interview
How long have you been on the road now?
Well, I’m back home in the Netherlands now but I made a round the world trip of nearly 3 continuous years through 40 something countries. People always say “Home sweet home” but give me a pile of cash and I’ll be sitting on a plane two hours later.
What took you on the road originally?
I was really bored with both my life and my crappy love life. I was in need of some adventure and some personal improvement since I was always a bit shy and introverted. Not that I was a total social retard but it was definitely something I wanted to improve on. My world was pretty small and when the company I worked for went bankrupt I immediately sold most of my stuff and took of a month later. It was time to see something of the world.
What draws you to the travelling lifestyle? Is it just the girls?
The first 7 or 8 months were all about sight seeing and the traveling lifestyle. Of course I tried to get laid also but I wasn’t really making a serious effort with it until I reached South East Asia and things changed rapidly. Girls are one factor that is always exciting no matter where you go. I mean, how many Buddha statues, waterfalls and churches can a man see before it’s all one big blur?
The first temple you see is impressive but once you’ve seen a few hundred in a very short time it gets old soon. Girls never seem to bore me. I almost saw it as a sport picking them up. It felt like a job sometimes.
Girls not being a factor, what would you say has been your favorite country to spend time in?
Honestly, I can’t choose one. Every continent is so different from another that I have to choose at least 3 of them. I’d say Russia, Indonesia and Argentina. Russia for the genuine friendliness of the people. They may not smile much but they sure are friendly and hospitable people. I might be a bit biased since I’ve been with a couple of Russian girls and was quite serious with one of them. Indonesia just has all natural wonders you can wish for and the people
and the girls are just great. Argentina has a great vibe, it was the first country I visited in South America and I loved everything there, especially the music.
Neil carries off his latest conquest
More importantly, which country has the best women in your experience? What makes them stand out?
Kind of similar to the last question. I can’t just name one. I’d say Russia for its beautiful girls, the Philippines for its easy and crazy girls, and Brazilian girls for overall raw sexy vibe.
You say you started off as a shy guy. What happened to turn you into such a successful pick-up artist?
I actually had a few “aha” moments while traveling which made me think differently about the mindset that had paralyzed me for so many years. Becoming a popular guy and learning about Pick Up made me change my mind on a whole lot of things. Especially the discovery of books on learning how to pick up girls was astonishing. I had never even heard of things like that before the end of 2009. I soon found out that a lot was bullshit and learned to develop my own style. The shy guy has never completely left me but I know how to suppress him better. I love going out but I still don’t like those party places like Vang Vieng or Kho Phi Phi.
You’ve recently published your book ‘Around the World in 80 Girls’. Do you still remember the girl who got you started on your adventures? Or has her face been lost in the mists of time?
I remember each and every girl I have been with on my trip. Most of them are still on my personal Facebook and I keep in touch with them every once and a while. I remember almost everything about them but the sex part is becoming a blur at times. A bit fragmented so to say.
You’re one of several ‘travel pick up artists’ out there. Do you guys have a secret fraternity where you exchange tips and tales of your conquests?
There really aren’t that many of us around. You can count the “big names” on one hand (and still have a few fingers left). Sure, some websites touch the subject more than others but I can’t say it’s very mainstream. Will Peach of TravelSexLIfe is doing a pretty good job building up his websites. Others try but fail. There are no secret fraternities but there are of course public forums on this subject.
I know Roosh has drawn some ire in his time, have you been the target of much hate mail? How do you deal with negative feedback?
I had my share of death threats from a bunch of expats in Cambodia. Most of the hate I received from them stopped after a few weeks but some were very persistent. I guess they were angry that was banging “their” girls without having to resort to paying girls with gifts/expensive dinners or just plain money. I’m a backpacker, I’m not going to drop money on that.
Since I upgraded and changed my website the hate mail has gone down a lot but there’s still some hate mail every week. Funny thing is that I almost never receive hate mail from girls. I did receive fan mail from them though. It’s 99% white-knighting keyboard jockeys who can’t get a (foreign) girl themselves. One even reported me to Lonely Planet for using the subtitle: The not so Lonely planet. I stopped using that tagline after Lonely Planet threatened to sue me. The hate mail used to bother me but now I just delete it.
Neil fends off his detractors with poise, wit, anda big fucking tank.
Without giving away too much from the book, what is one tip you’d give to any aspiring lothario?
I have 50 bonus pages of tips and tricks in my book so it’s hard to choose one but one thing I have always been successful with is learning some words of the local language. I don’t mean speaking fluently (which would be 10 times better) but just learn 30 to 50 words that are practical for picking up girls even if the local girl speaks fluent or good English. There’s a list on my website here. The most important thing you need is just sheer persistence to keep
on going even when you don’t feel like it.
As I’m sure many travel bloggers also aspire to publish in book form, what have you learned from the self publishing experience? What advice would you give to other bloggers looking to make the leap?
I’m sure it’s different for native English speakers with a decent education but I went through hell and back to get this book finished. I’m born and raised in Holland and barely finished high school which was still in the no internet/mobile phone era. I struggled a lot with editing and formatting the book. Let alone the website and promotion. I had to learn everything myself by reading and experimenting with MS word to Photoshop and website building. I could have easily written a 1000 page book but had to edit so many things out just to keep the book readable. The book still has 468 jam-packed pages and I would have hated it if I wrote a book you can just quickly read in two days.
One advice is to make sure you have the time to write, edit, format, design and publish it. A couple of hours a day won’t cut it. Think more like 12 to 14 hours a day for months. I have put in so many hours that I could have earned me a half a year on the road again but instead I choose to write this book and help others having fun abroad.
Aussie on the Road tends toward the romantic side, so it needs to be asked – What kind of woman would it take to make you settle down?
Hey, I’m one romantic dude too, why do you think I’m successful in what I do? It’s hard to describe the kind of woman that would make me settle down but one thing is sure: She has to be beautiful on the inside as well as the outside. She has to be smart but not a brainiac. I don’t like lazy of masculine girls either. Flip flops? Really? In Brazil girls do their groceries in a dress and on high heels.
Only three girls have made me think about giving it all up and settling down. My Russian girlfriend the most but I would always opt to live in their country instead of my own. The big problem would be making money to live there. I don’t think I’m quite ready yet to settle down. I already tried the whole girlfriend/house/car and good job back home many times and was never really satisfied with it. In a couple of years from now I can see it happen but I’m not just wiling to give up a great lifestyle yet. If I don’t make a zillion dollars from this book I’ll have to stay and settle down eventually but not as long I still have my fighting spirit.
With your book out and the world seemingly conquered, what’s the next challenge for you?
Oh, there are so many new countries and cultures I want to experience and so many people worldwide I would like to visit again that I don’t think this is quite over yet. Only thing is that the clock is ticking and I’m not getting younger. My next challenge would be making some money and to hit the road again despite my family and friends wanting to keep me grounded this time.
Go Look at the Book!
Neil’s book, Around the World in 80 Girls, is available now in both eBook and paperback versions. Packed full of stories of debauchery and love from the road, the book also has fifty bonus tips for those shy guys wanting to wet their wick in international waters.
The halfway point in 2012 and in my five week tour of the United States has crept up on me and it’s hard to believe how fast time flies when you’re having fun. With my life only getting busier as I prepare for a two week west coast road trip and my return to Chinese life after that, I thought it was a good time to stop and reflect on what has helped make the first six months of 2012 so memorable.
I also wanted to apologise for the lack of genuine updates on here lately. When you’re bouncing from state to state and spending your days out exploring, you don’t get the time you’d normally have to update and write. I’m used to working a hefty two hour a day schedule that gives me plenty of time to update. Nobody said having the time of your life was so much work!
So, before I reflect on 2012, here’s a taste of what’s gone down in the past two weeks and what you can look forward to reading about in a few weeks time when I’m safely back in China with free time in abundance.
USA 2012: Six States Down…
The US trip so far has been a blur of activity. While I have had a few days of downtime here in Annapolis to get my head together, all too soon we’re off on another adventure. My girl Heather has been a fantastic host and a tireless tour guide – taking me to many places she’s already been so that I can experience them first hand.
While we did manage to fit in a new stop for her during our tour of Florida, she’d already been to Miami, Sarasota, and the Everglades. Still, I think I repaid her generosity by following her around for four or five hours on Sanibel Island while she looked at seashells…
Heather and I enjoying some sun and sand on Sanibel Island in Florida
After we parted ways in Florida, I met up with an old friend from my early days of internetting and had a blast checking out live wrestling and visiting Disney World.
Back in the north, we’ve not exactly been lasy either. There’s been an exhausting two day visit to New York, nights out exploring Annapolis and its surrounds, a wonderful day at Assateague Island and on Ocean City’s boardwalk, and most recently – a day in stinking hot Washington DC roaming the halls of the Smithsonian museums.
In the past two and a half weeks, I’ve not only done a lot – I’ve checked off a healthy chunk of my bucket list as well. So far on the trip I’ve ticked off nine bucket list items including seeing a show on Broadway, riding a tandem bike, eating Philly Cheese Steaks in Philadelphia, and attending a professional wrestling pay-per-view. I fully anticipate finishing more than a few more before this trip is through.
Posing out front of Pat’s Cheese Steaks in Philadelphia. Good eats!
Over the next two weeks I’ll explore west coast beaches, camp in Yosemite, visit Disneyland, indulge my love of fine beer at the Oregon Brewfest, attend my first real baseball game with old friends in Seattle, and finish it all off seeing my friends tie the knot in Chicago. I couldn’t be more excited.
Of course, the excitement is also tinged with sadness. I’ve had a wonderful time in the States, and that’s been because of the fantastic girl(friend?) I’ve been travelling with. Heather has opened up her home and her life to me, she’s taken far too much time to show me around, and she’s a pretty swell kisser as well. I’m very grateful for the experience.
But now, onwards! We’re at the halfway point in my trip, but we’re also at the halfway point in 2012. Let’s see how I am doing with those 2012 resolutions, eh?
But first, a word from our partners…
Well, not really. But the good people over at MoneySupermarket did shoot me this interesting little video about Brits Abroad. While I’m not a Brit myself, I don’t doubt that there are plenty of truths in this amusing clip about men and women travelling regardless of their country of origin.
What do you think? Does the video ring true to your own travel experiences?
2012 Resolutions: How Am I Doing?
Heather actually pointed out that it was halfway through 2012 and that I should update my readers on how I’m doing with my ten new year’s resolutions. After re-reading them, I was surprised at how well I’ve done. Let’s take a look at the list in short:
Complete my TEFL certification and return to ESL teaching
Travel to two (or more) countries
Improve my physical shape
Be a better friend and brother
Finish a race of 10km or more
Get Korean Tourist up and running
Finish a novel
Tick 5 to 10 items off my bucket list
Improve Aussie on the Road’s web presence and profitability
Be happier
I’m not only astounded, but also quite proud of how many of these I’ve achieved at the halfway point of 2012. I’d actually forgotten some of them were even on there, so to have achieved them anyway is pretty groovy.
I completed my TEFL certification on June 27th, and have been teaching ESL in China since I moved there in late March. That’s one I checked off in the wrong order, but I won’t complain about that.
In class in Shuanggou, China with 50 or so students. Exhausting, but rewarding.
I’ve also travelled to two more countries in the form of China and the United States, and I still have some plans to make use of my October vacation to visit South Korea, Hong Kong, or maybe Thailand if money allows.
#3 (Improving my physical shape) is also technically accomplished. I’ve lost 5kgs (10lb) since the year began, but I’m not going to be satisfied with that. Nor do I think that weight loss will remain true after another two weeks of take out food, over-indulging, and quality beer. The running will begin anew when I return to China on August 6th.
Of the middle chunk, I haven’t made the progress I’d like in a few of them. Korean Tourist (my side site devoted to tourism in Korea) has barely moved an inch since I registered the domain and set up the categories; I’ve had precious little time with my family to improve as a brother (and haven’t been the best friend I can be, if I’m being honest with myself); I’ve yet to run more than 9km in a single day; and my novel continues to grow at a snail’s pace. At this rate, it will be done by 2020.
But while I’m on the subject, congratulations to Talon of One Dad, One Kid, One Crazy Adventure fame on finishing his novel and getting it published. You’re an inspiration, mate! Go check out Rise of the Djall and help a fellow aspiring fantasy author get his career off to a running start.
But back on topic, the resolutions continue to tumble like houses of cards. I’ve cruised past the ‘achieve five bucket list items’ mark and have actually already hit the magical #10. I don’t doubt I’ll get another 5-10 checked off before this trip is through, and the year is still young. Go me!
Heather and I prepared for a tandem bike ride in New York City
Aussie on the Road is enjoying its best viewing figures ever, and I thank all of you for your Retweets, Likes, Shares, comments, and views. The site would not be what it is without the engagement and support I get from my readers. And that increased traffic has also meant substantially increased revenue from the site. In the month of May alone I made $1600 from the site. That’s more than I made from my actual teaching job. Sweet Lord.
And the final one: be happier. After the dark days of the battle with the black dog earlier this year, I’m pleased to say I’m at the happiest I can recall being in a long time. Between my website’s success and my enjoyment of my teaching job, I’m at a level of unmatched job satisfaction. I’ve got great friends both in China and abroad, I’m travelling more than ever before, and I’m moving towards being the healthiest I’ve ever been.
I’ve just been cast in a Chinese sitcom, I’m heading up a Men of Travel Blogging and a Women of Travel Blogging calendar for charity, and I’ve got 2-3 other sites I intend to launch by year’s end. My novel is moving along at a decent enough pace and I’m rediscovering passions that I thought I’d lost when my depression first reared its ugly head.
Touch wood, but I might be finally in the place I want to be and achieving the things I want to. It only took me ten years after high school to figure it out.
Your Halfway Point
The first half of my 2012 has been fantastic and I’ve achieved a lot of the things I’d set out to. How are you doing with your 2012 resolutions? Are you better off or worse off than you were when the year began?
I’d love to hear how you’re doing with your own resolutions and bucket lists!
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