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Exotic Arizona & Turning Any Trip Into a Lifelong Memory

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things to do in arizona
Enjoying the views of Horseshoe Bend, Arizona

A few weeks ago, we got invited to Phoenix to meet up with a public relations company that manages various brands. We were excited to learn more about the company we had been working with and discuss various ideas for marketing in the age of video and social media. We had also never been to Phoenix and we’re excited to see the city that so many people visit each and every year.

However, Phoenix itself wasn’t a dream trip for us. Sure, we were excited to meet the people we had previously only knew through email and yes, Phoenix is a pretty cool city, but it wasn’t a trip we would have made if not for the meeting we had been invited to.

But, whenever we do anything, I always try to maximize the experience and turn it into something amazing. In this case, we didn’t have a lot of time because we had to come back and shoot some winter videos for our Must Do Canada YouTube channel. We were also on our way home from both Cuba and Mexico and we’re kind of excited to return home for a change. Despite the lack of time, we still had four additional nights we could make use of, so I began looking at the map. Google Maps in this case.

Grand Canyon in the Winter
Witnessing the beauty of the Grand Canyon in January

The first iconic park that came to mind was the Grand Canyon. Karla and I had visited the Grand Canyon many years ago during the summer but we had never seen it in the winter. As a photographer, being able to see the Grand Canyon surrounded by snow seemed like a magical experience. Located just five hours north of Phoenix, the Grand Canyon became our main point of interest. I then continued looking at areas around it and remembered a place called Antelope Canyon, which just so happened to be two hours from the east side of the Grand Canyon. Antelope Canyon is another incredible work of mother nature that I’ve been wanting to visit ever since I saw a photo in a Las Vegas art gallery. Check, Antelope Canyon added to the list. Then, all this red rock scenery got me thinking about another place called Monument Valley. This is another area I’ve always wanted to visit and its only 2-hours from Antelope Canyon! Check again!

Dream Trip Grand Canyon
Standing next to the edge, Grand Canyon, Arizona

Our trip was planned. After three days in Phoenix, we would travel to the Grand Canyon for one night, Page for one night (Antelope Canyon), and Monument Valley for a night, before returning to Phoenix for one last night before flying back to Canada. I especially love road trips, so we rented a small car (just $25 per day, including all taxes), booked our accommodation, and prepared for what we knew would be an incredible adventure. [Read more…] about Exotic Arizona & Turning Any Trip Into a Lifelong Memory

Bringing in the New Year and Reflecting on the Last 365 Days

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Writing this from Mexico City as we bring in 2018 with my wife’s side of the family, I’ve found writing this article to be quite difficult. Maybe I’m just tired. Maybe it’s because I don’t like planning all that much or maybe it’s because I always struggle with what to write. At the same time, it can be quite satisfying to think of the last 365 days and what’s been accomplished. It’s also a good idea to think of the next 365 days and the biggest goals I’d like to accomplish.

As many of you know, I also have a massive 100-item list that I’ve compiled, with goals I’d like to accomplish over the next 10 years (9 years from now). I completed my first 100-goal list in 10 years (still need to write about that) and thought I’d continue with the spirit of it all. However, we change along the way and some goals that might have seemed important last year might not be so important this year. So, I like to look it over at least once per year and erase any goals that no longer feel all that special. To be honest, it can also be hard to come up with 100 items. It used to be easy but as I complete some items, I’m finding 100 is almost too much. At the same time, if a list of 100 things helps inspire me to accomplish 80 really cool things, then it’s still a massive win in my books. Who cares about the other 20 right? [Read more…] about Bringing in the New Year and Reflecting on the Last 365 Days

Raja Ampat and the Richest Marine Biodiversity on Earth

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Diving Raja Ampat

Back in 2009 when I got my diving certification on the Great Barrier Reef, I never imagined how far it would take me. I had no intention of ever diving again. I did it mainly to step out of my comfort zone and to try something new. Fast forward five years and I’ve now dived many of the worlds top spots including the Galapagos in Ecuador, the pristine waters of Sipadan, Malaysia, the Thresher shark cleaning stations of Malapascua in the Philippines, and the deep cenotes of Riviera Maya, Mexico. However, there was still one place that was constantly lurking in my mind.

Raja Ampat.

This remote archipelago on the far east of Indonesia is known for having the richest marine biodiversity on Earth, which includes more than 600 species of hard corals and over 1,700 species of reef fish. [Read more…] about Raja Ampat and the Richest Marine Biodiversity on Earth

Swimming With Manta Rays | A Raja Ampat Scuba Diving Dream Trip

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It’s a really special feeling to be standing on a boat looking out over gorgeous paradise that up until now was just a dream. Just a place that I wanted to visit one day. And now, I’m here. I made it happen, and just for a moment, the scenery around me seems extra vibrant.

As I thought about the sheer awesomeness of sailing around the islands of Raja Ampat, the bell rang for our dive briefing. It was time to get into the water. I was standing on the Jaya, an old sailboat used by Wicked Diving to host budget live-aboard diving trips in one of the most biodiverse areas in the world. When the sails are open, it looks like a pirate ship but this is done only for photos. The onboard engine makes it much easier to navigate at will.

Briefings are done before each dive. It’s important that scuba divers know what to expect in the water and so one of the guides explains to the group about the next dive, the currents, and anything else that might be helpful. It takes about 10 minutes and then it’s time to slide on our wetsuits (slide makes it sound too easy. It’s much more of a struggle), prepare our masks and fins, hook up our BCD, and step into the zodiac. [Read more…] about Swimming With Manta Rays | A Raja Ampat Scuba Diving Dream Trip

Reasons I Want to Visit Iceland

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ten reasons to visit iceland

If you’ve seen my list of 100 things I want to accomplish over the next ten years, you’ve probably noticed that visiting Iceland is one of them. The list is full of all kinds of very difficult personal development challenges, business challenges, and of course, places I want to travel. Iceland has gotten a lot more popular over the last few years and it’s not difficult to see why. It’s incredibly beautiful, unique, and full of adventures not found anywhere else. Since Iceland is basically half way between Canada and Europe, I’m going to use my travel hacking skills to include Iceland as a free stopover when I fly to Ireland to trace my roots sometime in the next couple of years.

There are many different reasons I choose various travel destinations to visit. It might be for their nature or for a particular attraction I can’t find anywhere else. It might be to visit family or it might be to scuba dive. One thing I definitely don’t take into consideration is recommendations from big travel publications. I highly recommend ignoring all the “must-visit places in 2017 and yadda yadda” articles splashed across the internet. Figure out your own reasons and go where you want to go. For me, anytime is the best time to visit Iceland. [Read more…] about Reasons I Want to Visit Iceland