Hippie Van Man’s Steadfast Step-By-Step Guide To Avoiding Police Bribes
Sadly corruption plagues, and is rampant in many countries in Central and South America as well as Mexico. If you are going to drive in these countries (as a local or foreigner) you will almost certainly be a quested for a bribe at some point. I guess I have either been lucky to this point […]
First Developing Nations Shoot of the Trip, Juayua, El Salvador
For those who didn’t know, as part of my travels on my last trip around Asia that began in 2011, I started a project called the Developing Nations Project, giving back by giving self-portrait prints to people in remote communities and developing regions. I haven’t gotten geared up for a Developing Nations shoot until now. […]
2013 Year In Review
For the past couple years, I have decided to do an annual end of year recap, to look back on the highs and lows of the year as it comes to an end. After spending more or less the entire last year traveling in Asia, I thought it would be pretty hard to top, but […]
Posadas, Ponche and Piñatas – A Mexican Pre-Christmas Tradition
I was lucky enough to be introduced by a mutual friend, to Luis, in Mexico City. Luis’s family was having their annual Posada and he invited me to come with. So what is a Posada? It’s a celebration during the 9-days leading up to Christmas. The tradition originated in Spain but is now mainly celebrated […]
Discovering Ayahuasca, My First Encounter (Part 2)
The following is a recollection of my first encounter with Ayahuasca. In part 1 of Discovering the Ancient and Sacred Amazonian Medicine, Ayahuasca I give a brief summary of how I came to know about Ayahuasca and what Ayahuasca is. If you haven’t read part one, I suggest doing so before proceeding with this post. […]
Discovering the Ancient and Sacred Amazonian Medicine, Ayahuasca (Part 1)
In 2010 I journeyed around South America for six months. I started my trip in Chile making my way counterclockwise through Argentina, up into Brazil, on to Colombia and eventually to Peru, before heading down through Bolivia and returning to Chile to fly back to Canada. Half way through my trip, while in Brazil, I […]
Crossing the U.S.A. / Mexico Border
Today the journey heads onward in to Mexico. I had a great time the past couple months, an expensive couple of months touring the USA, but finally we make our way South in to Mexico. Here is a break down of the border crossing today. We crossed the border pretty easily. No search really. They […]
Visiting NHS Inc. a.k.a. The Home of Santa Cruz Skateboards
Santa Cruz, CA is known for being a super laid-back surfer town along the coast of California. I approached Santa Cruz Skateboards with a sponsorship proposal for my Pan-American adventure. They responded saying that currently, they didn’t have the budget for it but I was welcome to come check out headquarters. I thought this would […]
Jim’s Spirit and my Trip to Phoneix, Arizona
As some of you may know from my previous post Reminders of Carpe Diem; Lessons from a fallen friend, my good friend Jim Sissakis passed away a little over a year ago at the age of 24, after a battle with cancer. He ended up seeking treatment in Scottsdale, AZ and shortly before passing away, […]
Driving Across America and Taking My Mom to Burning Man
A little over three-weeks ago I set out from Toronto, Canada in the Hippie Van with my friends Yana and Germaine as well as my Mother. Over the past three-weeks I have probably heard the exclamation, “You’re bringing your mother to Burning Man!?” at least a couple dozen times. Some inquirers were amazed my mother […]