UMM - Urban Male Magazine - "The Top of Europe"

Have a peek at my latest article, "The Top of Europe". Copies are on the newsstands from now through December 2009. Pretty damn hot cover to boot!

THE TOP OF EUROPE

Live 88.5 FM "Start Up" Interview - September 8, 2009

My second time chatting with the Live 88.5 Start up crew...although there were some new and improved faces this time around! (Nothing personal Kornicky and sorry Dave, I wasn't referring to you)

Our talk will focus on ways for you to take advantage of your traveling budget (tips, places to visit, ways to travel, etc) and stay on the road for as long as possible.

As always, my motivation is to get you to put on a pack, take off and explore this trippy planet of ours.

Live 88.5 FM "Start Up" INTERVIEW

CTV - "News at Noon"Interview - August 12, 2009

Great talk with Leanne Cusack...Discussing some of the cheaper ways to travel as well as some of the truly beautiful destinations on the planet.

PART 1

PART 2

UMM Article - OFF THE BEATEN PATH

Do you want to make the most of your buck on the road? If so, then check out my article, "Off the Beaten Path" in the current edition of UMM.

The magazine is available on the stands from now until September.
Click on the sexy link to have a peek at what I have to say...If you want to know where to visit (I recommend some hidden gems), you will have to pick up a copy.

OFF THE BEATEN PATH

Q107's "Derringer in the Morning" Interview

John Derringer, Bill Hayes and myself have a great conversation about my book...We talk about some of the problems and dangerous places that I came across, quash some of the misconceptions about backpacking and visiting 3rd World countries, as well as get into some of the funnier moments of traveling naive and without a clue...

Part 1

Part 2

More Confessions...Chapter 27. CULTURE SHOCK

They say that "all good things must come to an end." However, 'they' can often be clueless idiots.

I had zero intention of letting the magical and educational experiences of the past two years come to an end. Despite being forced to return home to deal with a family dilemma, I knew that my time in Canada was going to be short....I would be back travelling soon enough.

Nonetheless, my return was met with a lot of uncertainties...the main one being whether or not I would be leaving the airport in handcuffs...

More Confessions...Chapter 27. CULTURE SHOCK

More Confessions...Chapter 26. THE EMAIL

Between my incredible job running a pub, living on a beach and having Southern Africa as my playground, one could say that life was pretty good. Even the 'stressful' moments, such as being in a bus accident, ultimately proved to be incredible experiences and fascinating stories.

It couldn't stay this sweet forever...

It didn't.

A simple email from home would dramatically change my perspective, attitude and future travel plans... A simple email would unlock the cage that I had so wonderfully stored my anger and frustrations within...

Chapter 26. THE EMAIL

More Confessions...Chapter25. LIVING IN REALITY

A common theme seemed to pop up anytime I contacted anybody from home. Friends and family were both curious when I was coming back to Canada...when I was going to come back to reality.

This was a question that I didn't have an answer for. I wasn't even sure if I understood what 'reality' was supposed to be. I knew that the past two years of traveling had taught me a lot about life and, more importantly, myself.

Life of a beach, watching the sun rise over the Indian Ocean each and every day is a pretty sweet 'reality' by my definition...

Chapter 25. LIVING IN REALITY

More Confessions...Chapter 24. HOLD THAT THOUGHT BABY...HOW BIG?!

The past few chapters have been a tad hectic...interesting, but hectic. This one, however, touches on a lighter side of my travels.

I've always been an athletic guy and have relished every opportunity on my travels to try a new sport or to push the adrenaline button. Having said that, I never learned to surf. Despite living on the Ocean and having many friends who were surfers, I spent next to no time on a board. The reason why I avoided the teaming-with-life Indian Ocean and the joys of surfing might not be what you expect.

Chapter 24. HOLD THAT THOUGHT BABY...HOW BIG?!

More Confessions...Chapter 23. B to C (Part 2)

I thought the bus accident was bad...getting stranded with dead bodies while all of your worldly possessions driving off into the night is even worse...Could my journey from Malawi to South Africa become any more disastrous?

I hoped not...

Chapter 23. B to C (Part 2)

More Confessions...Chapter 23. B to C (Part 1)

If you thought that my journey to Malawi was an adventure, then the voyage back to South Africa will truly blow your mind. The hurdles and challenges that I faced during this torturous, unfathomable and tragic journey were, without question, the most difficult that I had come across on my travels.

However, the struggles and predicaments also provided me with a taste of the power of positive thinking and how this simple mindset can help overcome even the most improbable circumstances.

Chapter 23. B to C (Part 1)

More Confessions...Chapter 22. FINDING MALAWI

The harder it is to reach a destination, the more rewarding that destination ultimately becomes...

My journey to a tiny, remote Malawian village certainly provided many unique and challenging hurdles to overcome, slaughter and, in some cases, wash off...

Despite the copious amounts of "space chicken", the adventure was an experience that will never be forgotten.

Chapter 22. FINDING MALAWI

More Confessions...Chapter 21. A to B (Part 2)

The second installment of my journey from Zimbabwe to Malawi picks up right where the previous one left off...me and a pile of hookers and dodgy pimps. Welcome to Lilongwe!

The rest of the adventure to Nkhata Bay was just that...an adventure. One of the beauties of African travel is that you never know what might happen along the way from A to B.

Chapter 21. A to B (Part 2)

More Confessions...Chapter 21. A to B (Part 1)

The worst part of traveling is the actual travel...getting from one place to the next. However, when you use "African transportation" to get from A to B, a whole variety of unbelievable and unpredictable experiences makes the voyage anything but 'the worst part'.

Okay...there might be a few rough and uncomfortable times but, overall, the journey unforgettable part of the trip.

My adventure from Zimbabwe to Malawi was just that...an adventure. So much so that this tale had to be divided into two parts. I hope that you enjoy the madness of Part 1.

Chapter 21. A to B (Part 1)

More Confessions...Chapter 20. TRUST

This is one of my favorite stories. "Trust" is a tale about an eye-opening encounter that I had while traveling through Zimbabwe.

The experience taught me that there are good people to be found all over the world, even in places and situations where you might not expect to find much goodness and honesty.

Don't let the insanity and actions of Zimbabwe's dictator, Robert Mugabe, be any indicator of the true character of this country's people.

Chapter 20. TRUST

More Confessions...Chapter 19. BLAME CANADA

With a two-month break from my pub duties in Chintsa, I had loads of time to go explore Southern Africa.

My plan was to travel to Malawi.

However, making Canadian political history in the most unlikeliest of ways, was NOT in my scenario.

Oh well, this was Africa...anything could happen.

Chapter 19. BLAME CANADA

More Confessions...Chapter 18. SHIT HAPPENS

Some say, "seeing is believing". I'm here to tell you that just seeing something with your own eyes doesn't always explain the unfolding madness.

I wasn't sure if I had I lost the plot or if my 'experimental days' were finally catching up with my perception of reality.

Common sense and basic logic said that what I was witnessing had to be a figment of my imagination...

Incredibly though, it wasn't.

Chapter 18. SHIT HAPPENS

More Confessions...Chapter 17. THE CHASE

I thought that I was living in paradise. Life in Chintsa was as sweet and care-free as I've ever had it. Borderline perfect...

Then something happened that burst the Utopian bubble which had shielded me from some of the tougher realities of South Africa. Was it time for me to go?

Chapter 17. THE CHASE

OTTAWA METRO NEWS Article

February 19, 2009 - Article by Tracey Tong

METRO NEWS

BOOK SIGNING

I'll be at Kanata Chapters signing books and talking about all of the lovely and warm tropical destinations out there on the planet...It may be cold outside but you can let your mind wander off somewhere hot and sunny.

Where: Kanata Chapters

When: Feb. 21, 09

Time: 1:00 - 3:00 pm

More Confessions...Chapter 16. WERNER

One of the incredible perks of my job in South Africa (and traveling for that matter) was that I was in an fantastic position to meet people from all over the world. Literally thousands upon thousands of travelers passed through the Skebenga Bar during my time...backpackers representing all walks of life and the four corners of the planet.

However, of all the people I have met, one in particular stood out. Werner was a unique individual...okay, strange individual for many, many reasons. Leading the list of Werner oddities was his terrifying encounter practically ripped from the pages of science fiction...one that he said he had experienced on multiple occasions.

Chapter 16. WERNER

K-ROCK 105.7 FM INTERVIEW

K-Rock 105.7 FM Interview with Kornicky and Lisa Ray

A great duo...two travelers at heart who like to get into some of the wilder and wackier moments of my time floating around the world.

The interview in its entirety can be accessed on Kornicky's blog.

http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/krockmorningkrew/

More Confessions...Chapter 15. A TRANSKEI BUY

Although Chintsa was my South African 'home', there existed a remote village nestled along the lush, pristine and stunning Transkei coastline that ultimately became my South African 'refuge'.

Mpande, a very special and very powerful part of the World, exposed me to a simpler way of life... a way of life containing ideals and principles that we in the 'West' have regrettably forgotten.

Chapter 15. A TRANSKEI BUY

More Confessions...Chapter 14. MONDAY

WARNING: This reading might make you want to pack in all in and run for the coast. I don't hold anything back in this one...I'll give you a glimpse into the type of lifestyles that do exist out there on this incredible planet of ours...the type of lifestyle that I was able to find in South Africa. Some of you may get jealous when you hear about my dreamlike experience. Instead, I urge you to use my tale as a source of motivation to follow your passions.

Chapter 14. MONDAY

More Confessions...Chapter 13. WHO KNEW

Even though I had learned not to have expectations on my travels, there was no way to predict the impact that Chintsa, South Africa would have on me nor was it possible to foresee how this magical spec of paradise would dramatically change my life.

Chapter 13. WHO KNEW

More Confessions...Chapter 12. EXPECTATIONS

When I arrived in South Africa, I had zero expectations...well, I kinda expected to be mugged but that's it...climate, culture, hot water, no idea? Thankfully, I wasn't mugged and my ignorance about this distant land proved to be beneficial for I was completely overwhelmed by the magic of South Africa.

Furthermore, this story deals with arguably the most incredible and life changing event of my travels...Being in the right place at the right time stars in this tale.

Chapter 12. EXPECTATION

More Confessions...Chapter 11. A NAME FROM THE PAST

Getting out of Tenerife safely was my one and only concern. However, once I had done so, I needed to figure out where I was heading next. A random thought of a random encounter determined my next destination. As it would turn out, this distant land would play a dramatic role in my future travels.

Chapter 11. A NAME FROM THE PAST

More Confessions...Chapter 10. GANGSTER'S PARADISE

Although I was able to settle into Tenerife, I was never able to properly relax. There were many factors that contributed to my unease...most notably, my employer.

Chapter 10. GANGSTER'S PARADISE