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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

Making Dreams Happen, 150 Days At A Time

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Road to 150

It’s interesting how life works at times. Last year I was miserable. With the local economy crumbling all around me, I felt like I was drowning. I couldn’t find a job, my condo dropped in value by almost 35%, I got hit with a special assessment of $45,000, and had to rent out my apartment at a loss of $500 per month. Life really sucked. While staying hopeful was difficult, I kept telling myself to keep thinking big. After all, I get most of my inspiration from living limitless.

Around Christmas time, I started thinking of what I could do in 2017. With a 9% unemployment rate affecting my city, the chances of getting a decent job were pretty slim. As far as I could tell, this wasn’t going to improve for quite some time. So, I began thinking of other cool things I could do. As a travel writer and photographer who’s always wanted to create a travel show, I began thinking of big ideas. Then, one felt like a home run. 2017 just so happened to be the year of Canada’s 150th birthday. The country was celebrating it in a big way. I have a Canadian travel blog called Must Do Canada. What would be a cool thing to do to celebrate Canada’s big birthday?

Then it hit me. A 150-day road trip. But not just any road trip. A multimedia road trip where we feature iconic attractions, local delights and interviews with everyday Canadians about what they feel makes Canada the great country that it is. This is actually something that I have been asking myself for the last few years. As someone who has spent many years backpacking around the globe, I’ve come to realize that Canada has a pretty darn good reputation everywhere I went. Whether I was talking with someone in Asia or someone in Europe, most people look up to Canada for one reason or another. Some admired our vast nature and low population while others admired our kindness and openness. Some people dreamed of exploring Canada as a tourist while others dreamed of immigrating here and beginning a new life. Regardless of the reasons, it was obvious that Canada had done something right. [Read more…] about Making Dreams Happen, 150 Days At A Time

Why Everyone Should Explore Their Own Backyard

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This past December, I finally hiked to Johnston Canyon in Banff National Park. Despite living only two hours away, I had never even heard of Johnston Canyon before. Sure, I go to Banff and Lake Louise fairly often but I had never explored other activities and adventures in the area. I’ve been to 38 countries over the last seven years and yet I had never visited this beautiful place, which is basically in my backyard. Look what I was missing! It’s incredible!

Johnston Canyon Alberta

My first true hiking experience was near Queenstown, New Zealand, which is 13,000 kilometers from my home city of Calgary, Canada. New Zealand was the first country I visited on my first long-term trip overseas. My cousin joined me for the first three weeks and we decided to spend three days and two nights hiking along the Routeburn Track, passing by soaring mountain peaks, gorgeous waterfalls, and huge valleys. It was the experience of a lifetime to pitch our tent each night, carry a big 20-kg bag with all of our food and supplies, and just enjoy the wilderness of a new country. The irony of it all is that my home city of Calgary is just 200-kilometres away from the Canadian Rockies, which offers some of the world’s most stunning scenery as well as a plethora of hiking opportunities. Yet, my first hike took place in New Zealand. [Read more…] about Why Everyone Should Explore Their Own Backyard

How A Beautiful African Safari Became One Of My Worst Travel Experiences

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Elephants in Tarangire

When one thinks of an African safari, thoughts of wild plains filled with giraffes, lion’s and elephants likely come to mind. After all, it’s one of the best places on Earth for wildlife encounters. A safari was something I had always dreamed of doing but due to the high cost, I had no immediate plans of making it happen. Then, an email arrived in my inbox.

The email came from an African safari company in Arusha, Tanzania called Tan-Pride. According to the email, I was talking to the co-owner, Greyson, who was interested in expanding internationally. He read my blog and wanted me to be their Canadian partner. I was intrigued by the offer but my “scam radar” went on high alert. I had to do some research to make sure it was a legitimate company.

I started with their website, which was very dull. Most links didn’t work and it certainly didn’t bode well for a company offering $4,000+ tours. I couldn’t find any reviews online, which also seemed odd. At this point, I would have turned down the offer but then I found a woman in one of my travel-related Facebook groups who also operate a safari company out of Arusha. After explaining the situation, she had her husband look into the company for me. After a few days, he confirmed that Tan-Pride was real. He confirmed that they had an office and a fleet of vehicles, although he also mentioned that the vehicles were not maintained to his standards. [Read more…] about How A Beautiful African Safari Became One Of My Worst Travel Experiences