The City Scale

Every city is different and unique so it is difficult to judge them against each other. However, we all know that judging is what we do best and with judging there has to be competition. I write about my favorite cities but theres nothing real to back it up. To help me remedy this problem I've come up with some criteria to judge each city. They are:

1. The People and Culture

The people are what make the city. Are they friendly? Are they crazy? Do they take enough showers? The entire Human Resource of a country will be covered in this category. Closely linked to 'The People' is the culture. I've found that in several cities theres a definitely lack of an identity while in some cities thats the only thing going for them. But the real question is, 'Is it a culture which you want to experience?' 

2. Things To Do

The next thing is the attractions. This might not necessarily be just touristy things but really how active can you be. Even better, are the things to do worthwhile. There are loads of places that advertise many things to do, but the reality is they lack excitement and value.

3. Transportation

Getting around is an important factor in any place you go. Accessibility is key. There may be loads of things to do but lets face it, if you can't  get to any of them, then it is a big dud.

4. The Food

Undeniably one of the most important factors for me is access to good food. If cup-o-noodles is constantly on the menu because I simply don't trust anything else. Well then there is an issue.

5. Standouts

Last but not least, we have 'The Standouts'. There are many cities where there are several aspects that don't make sense but there is a unique factor which makes up for everything. This is where we will account for that. Whether, these are negative or positive factors, we will discuss them here.

Every category will get a score out of 5. Then we will tally up the marks and rank the cities accordingly. So what do you think of the scale? Do you think I missed anything? Let me know in the comments below. May the odds be ever in your favor.

Why I Love Traveling.

The thing I love about travel isn't always the seeing new things. Its not the where you should go or the what you should do. Its the thoughts and ideas and experiences that come out of it. Yes, going somewhere and doing something is the medium that brings out the thought, but its the thought thats what is really interesting. How something opens your eyes and makes you think. How being in that particular place changed you. And made you realize certain things. The experience may be the way you will react to certain stimulus. It may be something you don't particularly like, but at least now you know.

There are many different ways to travel and every travel experience is a thing in itself. Sharing places you went and what you did is important. But the main focus is what did it really mean. That meaning can be difficult to find and may not even show up until later but I think it is pivotal. Hell some parts may not seem that important, but its all part of the story. People are a sum of their experiences. Travel opens you up to experiences that you probably won't be able to get from sitting in your living room. You could watch tv, you could read a book but there is something to be said for going outside and taking in that view for yourself. All other mediums are second hand. Experience is allowing yourself to take in something with only your filter.

The truth is you don't have to travel to have profound thoughts and to experience life. For me though, its just easier to always be learning and stay open to new things if I am constantly putting myself in new situations. Or putting myself in the same position but handling it differently because of another recent experience.

I love seeing and doing new things because of the ways it changes me, even if I don't realize what it has done at the time. What if thats the reason travel is the greatest therapist? Because you do or see something and then you are allowed to ask yourself, 'How did that make me feel?'

New Logo

I've introduced this new logo a few other places, but I'm finally putting it here. We are getting legit guys. Hope you like it. Let me know what you think of our new logo. 

Hitch The World: The Chronicles of Patrick Joseph Falterman II

A friend of mine posted a comic strip by Things in Squares on my Facebook page which had a lot of insightful things to say about travel. It was the story of Patrick Joseph Falterman. Basically, there was this dude, living in Texas and he wanted to see the Amazon. So, he did.

It may not seem like a lot, but taking that leap can be a pretty horrifying experience. Luckily, this gentleman's journey was epic. On his site, hitchtheworld.com, you can find archives of his travels. Reading through them, he articulates things that I've felt, but have never been able to put into words. He perfectly expresses the need to get away and writes about all the hits and misses that come with that need. Something, which I find incredibly difficult to explain to people, especially if they've never felt it. For some, travel isn't just a thing you do because you have vacation time. For some, its a thing that lives inside, that can make you miserable if you don't listen to it, but can also bring you more joy than you ever expected.

I never got a chance to meet Patrick but I'd like to think that if we met on the road, we'd hang out for a couple of weeks. Reading about his trips, reminded me that while this may not be 'normal' there are other people out there doing the same thing. Some in way more extreme circumstances. Not everyone may be a nomad, but everyone should have the zest for life this guy did. 

Please check out Patricks website, hitchtheworld.com. There's loads of great travel stories and advice that would be a shame to go to waste.

Working On Your Blog While Traveling

Traveling should be about being in the moment. Experiencing things wholeheartedly so that you are able to maximize the journey you are on. But how do you balance that with work? I've found that when I'm traveling although I'm inspired, the last thing I want to do is work. My reasoning is, I should be able to work because I have free time. I should be able to give the blog the attention I can't while I'm working a regular job. However, working kills the adventure.

The problem I'm facing, which I know most people struggle with is, that elusive work and life balance. How do you get the rest you need while still being productive in a meaningful way? Thinking about it, it's a catch-22. Writing about the amazing experiences I'm having, stops me f
rom fully experiencing them. It takes you out of the experience itself and forces you to see it as a marketable commodity.

The reality is blogging is hard work. Any job is hard work, especially if you are trying to be good at it (even more so if you aren't being paid). It requires a lot of time and effort which are limited when you are only in a location for a couple of days. It takes a lot of time sitting down and writing a post and believe it takes even more effort to force yourself out of a comfy bed after a long night out to open your computer and stare at the screen begging for words, photos and videos to materialize. Personally, this blog came out of a need to use my travel experiences and thoughts. I've done some things and I needed to share them even if it is just being launched into cyber space without a paddle.

I think the moral of this story is; work is hard, travel is great and balancing the two is damn near impossible. But if this is the path that you have decided to take, its also necessary. So have fun when there is fun to be had and try to make the best of those necessary lulls in action, like an eight hour flight to China. What do you think? Have any tips on how to blog while you traveling?

High on Life: Great American Road Trip

The High on Life guys are back it again! Sometimes it feels like all I do here is repost the awesome things these guys do, but they do way too many things for me to not mention it here. This time they are doing something which I've talked with one of my best friends about doing for years - The Great American Road Trip.

Growing up somewhere that is water locked, I've always envied people who are able to get in a car, drive for a few hours and be somewhere completely different. Traveling doesn't have to be about getting on a plane. Get in your car and drive. Get in a bus. A train. Walk. Just go.

Also, if you want to check the guys out in Barbados, go here. Then, if you want to see the video that started my love affair with them, go here.

*Update* As of posting this The Great American Road Trip has been cut short due to some of The High On Life guy's stunts. I doubt these guys meant any harm, but as travelers its important we respect the laws of the lands we are traveling. Good luck to these guys and if you would like to read more about this predicament, click here.

Vlune with Adrian Bliss

Love travel bloggers? Great, well here's the best one! Just kidding. Adrian Bliss sucks, but his videos are pretty hilarious. Complete satire, mocking all that is holy about travel bloggers and travel blogging. He's doing this throughout June tracking his journey to Vidcon. And you get to watch from the very beginning! Its a truly inspirational tour he takes, not only across America, but to himself. And just remember to keep on believing, do all the things and have fun during the day... (Outro)

BEME

BEME is a social media app where you send video messages that you don't see or edit before you send. The app was created in part by the incredible, Casey Neistat. While not seeing what you are putting out into the world before you send it might seem like a crazy idea, its actually kind of cool.

With most social media apps you retake, edit and filter everything to the point where the finished product doesn't resemble the reality. With BEME, you get one chance to make it right, and then its out there. It makes everything more real.

The whole point of this is to make a more authentic experience through social media. Its more personal. I think its great for travelers because you can create content and then go back to enjoying the experience instead of getting caught up in creating the content. I say try it out. See if you like it. If you don't like it, I'm sure there are loads of other apps to fill that void. But try it out. Its fun. I think there are some bugs but its got some serious potential. And you want to be a pioneer.

If you want to download BEME check it out here. And if you want to follow me on BEME, add me at j.cho. So have you tried BEME? If yo have tell me your username and what you think in the comments down below.