Tag: backpacker

Safe Budget Travel Around Jamaica

Post author By Anthony Perez
Post date January 14, 2014
1 Comment on Safe Budget Travel Around Jamaica

Jamaica is a small absolutely wonderful island to travel to. Despite poverty and still a continuously developing island nation, it is very rich in culture and music known to the world, its scenery is magical, and its people are absolutely friendly. If not the biggest, tourism and travel is one of Jamaicans biggest resources for Jamaica with travelers from the US, Europe, Canada, and all over the world. Based on travel stories, YouTube videos, and other internet resources, most people associate or remember Jamaica via Cruise ship stop. Those that fly there, tend to lock themselves away from the island within the boundaries of an all-inclusive resort and tour guides.

I have stayed at an all-inclusive before in the Dominican Republic. It’s a fun amazing vacation experience and certainly a getaway. I respect the many that want to escape life’s everyday realities. But that is exactly what it is, a dream. It is an illusion, at least to me. Everyone deserves a vacation. Even travelers do in ways that do make sense. However for me, nothing excites me more than to surround myself with more reality. The best part of traveling is visiting a foreign land, embracing the culture, and returning home appreciating the things you have that most others don’t.

Not sure how a tab would look like for an all inclusive trip to Jamaica. For me, I left Jamaica with a unique cultural experience that I will never forget. With a price tag next to that, my trip was cheap. Fortunately, I took enough video footage to inspire YouTubers from around the world as well that budget travel, or should I say solo budget travel is possible in Jamaica. If you do consider asking what my tab was, it was approximately $1,100. Broken down that is:

$460 Flight (ATL-MBJ)

$220 Hotel (Ocho Rios)

$25 Cabin (Negril)

$80 Bus Transportation

$85 Dunns River Falls with Mystic Mountain & Bobsled

$60 Taxis (Approximately)

$80 Food (Approximately)

$60 Souvenirs/Money to bring back (Approximately)

= Amazing cultural experience in Jamaica

It certainly took a lot of thorough research through travel forums, Q’s and A’s, and YouTube videos to make my vision of this solo trip possible. Using your typical flight and hotel search engines, I managed to find a safe cheap hotel in Ocho Rios. I also discovered the cheap cost efficiency of hostels, Bed and Breakfasts, and guesthouses by staying in a cabin on Negrils 7 Mile Beach. If had known any better at the time, I would have stayed at a Bed and Breakfast within the Ocho Rios city limits and lowered my costs instead of a hotel. Oh well, It was right on the beach. But any-who, how did I manage to go from Montego Bay to Ocho Rios or Kingston to Negril without a tour accommodation? With a video of my whole trip on YouTube, I am constantly asked how I did it. Even had one person tell me that I had seen more in 5 days than he had in 5 years. When it finally comes down to the main topic of, “Safe travel around Jamaica for cheap”, the answer turned out to be very simple and very useful resource in travel to Jamaica.

“Knutsford Express”

If you are an adventurer like me or simply don’t care for tourist accommodations, ride with the locals in a comfortable, safe, coach bus with local Jamaicans. These buses run daily and frequently around the island in “Style and Comfort” as they put it. They are correct and it was the best low cost investment to make my Jamaica dream possible. They even include a movie to watch during the venture across the island.

Although I may sound like I am advertising a bus company abroad, they truly deserve all my credit and more. My dreams of seeing four major Jamaican cities in less than 5 days were made possible through them. Now, the media displays all acts of violence in Kingston and I’m not denying its existence. However, I would have never known that Jamaica’s capital does have a lot of gorgeous parts and would have never have had that opportunity without this bus company. This is the same for my short yet highly desired one night venture to the rocky cliffs and laid back beaches in Negril.

Now if you are all about the all-inclusive thing and just want to have a nice getaway out of your homeland, you will have no problems doing so and enjoy. But if you want to get off the beaten path and do it YOUR way, whether you are a returning visitor to Jamaica, a new one, or even a native Jamaican going back home after many years, consider getting out of your comfort zone and ride the awesome bus I rode. If you feel even more adventurous, go ride in a traditional Jamaican bus! Get away from the all-inclusive and stay at a guest house or cabin like I did, Jamaica is purely awesome and I guarantee you will return home with great memories, that is if you do decide you return home.

Tags across, airport, alone, backpacker, backpacking, beaches, budget, bus, cheap, getting around, guesthouse, hostel, hotel, jamaica, kingston, montego bay, negril, ocho rios, solo travel, taxi, things to do, travel, traveling, traveling alone

Bermuda General North America

Life Changing Moment in Bermuda

Post author By Anthony Perez
Post date January 4, 2014
No Comments on Life Changing Moment in Bermuda

Everyone has a moment at some point in their life where you sit back, shut everything out, and think your life through as a whole. No judgement, no interruption, no feedback. Just you and your mind. This could be that moment where you grow up or simply become a better person. At first I thought this was silly but realistically this was a life turn around for me. I recently spoke to a good friend about this and he had a very similar experience where he realized key aspects in life by comparing youth wants to future necessities. As a result, on his ride home from a simple city night out, he balled in tears in such a way that was cleansing to him. Until this day, he has become a changed man and has in his words, become a happier and better person.

As for me, ironically and fortunately, I had this very similar life changing moment during one of my travels which I take advantage of every several months. This moment took place on the beautiful, unique, and rocky island of Bermuda. During the turn of the year from 2012 to 2013, I went through a transition from one doctor’s office to transferring to another. First of all, I shall add that I went to school for web design, failed at finding a stable job and moved on to something more, stable. During my transition, my ex-boss found a way to dislike me and work very hard at making me quick and leave. For a field that was supposed to promise decent stability, this was only putting me back in the direction of unemployment which I had started off at in 2012. Fortunate for me, A job transfer went through at the turn of 2013 to a new office. In addition, to expand my social atmosphere in South Carolina, a state I would last consider to live in, a second job opportunity at a gym opened up. In conclusion, I had a lot on my plate to balance out and work out.

Why am I mentioning all this? Because this short trip to took place right in the middle of all of this. I didn’t plan the great timing, it just happened that way. Bermuda, to those who are not geographically inclined, is the Bermuda triangle, or even worse, The Bahamas. Incorrect, It is a British Overseas Territory about 1/10 off the coast of the Carolinas in the United States. It’s geographic location and its existence goes back beyond the dinosaurs. It’s poking out of the Atlantic and rocky coast line make this island absolutely unique and scenic. It’s pink sand beaches, blue water, narrow roads, fauna, and kind people make even the shortest stay very, very memorable.

Although most people I know consider a cruise, As always, I flew. Bermuda is very expensive but worth every dime spent. For the first time, I stayed in a cozy guesthouse and could not have felt any more at home. Everything I had done between fort sight seeing, cave discovering, scooter riding, to lighthouse climbing was by far a one of a kind experience. But nothing beat the sunsets I caught on the rocks at Horseshoe Bay Beach and Cove. Here you will find Bermudas infamous pink sand and rock formations. Here was where my heart desired to be throughout the whole trip and worked extra hard in returning every evening to watch the sun touch the Atlantic Ocean and vanish into the pink sky.

Retuning to that “moment”, despite all the problems I had faced in the past up to that moment. From career struggles, to sour relationships, to loss of friends, and life mistakes, I literally felt like every single negative encounter I experienced in life was lifted from from my mind and soul and carried away in the cool winter Bermudian air. As this moment occurred, I immediately balled into tears and shut everything out. This very moment right here changed me forever as the past remained past and I opened the door to the future to allow more opportunity, more experiences, and more memories to create. I not only left that island prepared for a new year with a new lifestyle, but I left that island a changed man. I left Bermuda a happier person with the positive mindset I have always wished to have. So here I am, one year since that very day I had that moment, looking back smiling twice as happy with a great life in the Carolinas, continuing to pursue my dreams of traveling, with an amazing girlfriend who I little by little show the world of travel to, now closer to my family than ever and last but not least closer in touch with myself as a happier more positive, inspiring person in life as a whole. Cheers to an amazing trip to the island of Bermuda.

Tags abroad, alone, backpacker, backpacking, beaches, belize city, bermuda, bermuda cruise, caribbean, scooter rental, solo traveling, things to do, traveling, traveling alone

Canada General North America Quebec

Quebec, Oh So French!

Normally, I have a perspective or a certain vision about a place before I go to it. I admit, I am always wrong. In Jamaica, my vision said, walk around and be cool. Go to Jamaica and I’m constantly being hustled for a taxi, ganja, and money. Traveling to a new place, I feel re-lost then rediscovered. A fearful, yet amazing feeling in repetition. As for Montreal, I was completely thrown off. My vision said, ” Hey, French part of Canada, It’s still Canada, whatever.” Now, I have never been to France, however, I still felt as if I just wandered into a city in France. Left and right is French and as much as I look like a foreign Latino. I still am getting looks as an outsider (probably because of my rucksack).

I can not speak for all of Canada, but alike the U.S., it is a large country. Out of all that I have experienced, it is surely a beautiful country at least from the far edges of Ontario and Quebec. Canadians take pride in being Canadians. They love there flag, culture, and free way of life Especially differentiating themselves from Americans. One amazing thing I’ve seen for my own eyes is that despite being one nation, the French certainly protected there, well, French. This is what called for a blog post.

French Canada! At least for half of my American friends and acquaintances, they have no clue French is even a part culture and language of Canada. As for me, most of my life, I thought Canada was not a very populated country. That goes to show how much American pride keeps our minds within our US boundaries. Not so much for countries abroad but our neighbors up north tend to get ignored greatly. Unfortunate that doesn’t work the same for Canadians as Americans, according to the Canadians I spoke to, the US gets too much of a spotlight.

Returning to the good old French, despite my lack of knowledge, I had no clue there was still a deep French culture intact up north. In the most recent years I had no clue how French Quebec was up until I arrived via train from Ottawa and Toronto. Arriving in Montreal was beyond a culture shock and was absolutely mind boggling and yes, confusing. Quebec is so French I can see why they wanted to separate from the rest of Canada. First of all, the train car announcement switched from English to French once we crossed into Quebec. All the signs were completely in French, rarely ever seeing English. And last but not least, 90% percent of people I walked past spoke completely in French. In regards to city cleanliness, lets just say that the city reminded me of good old metropolitan New Jersey. Graffiti unlike much of Ontario I traveled to was all over the place. Some graffitti however, was far more artistic than at home.

I’ve always been told “The French are snobs” “If you’re English or American, they will treat you like shit”. Can’t say I can agree with the second just yet, perhaps the second. My first encounter was in Ottawa prior to departing for Montreal. A lady asked me in English if I spoke French. I said, “no” and the woman blew me off in a heartbeat. In Montreal, I asked a man for directions and he could not understand what I was asking for. Not to forget my taxi driver en route to the airport home misunderstood something simple I had asked.

The French surely and truly care about the preservation of there culture. From the pronunciation, to signage, to hockey game announcements. Avoiding sounding at all negative here, the language and culture is still very beautiful. As a Latino still working on Spanish fluency and improving my desired skills in Brazilian Portuguese, French is surely a language I would love to learn next as it is a worldwide language.

Tags backpacker, backpacking, canada, french, quebec, solo travel, travel, traveling, traveling alone

Canada General North America Ontario Quebec Voyage Journal

Work Hard And You Shall Follow Your Dreams

Post author By Anthony Perez
Post date November 15, 2013
No Comments on Work Hard And You Shall Follow Your Dreams

Traveling to Canada is no difficult task. Or shall I say, is no challenge like traveling to lets say Venezuela or Angola. However, from what I have been through in the past few years post college, in and out of work, going through unemployment, any trip somewhere new and different satisfies my wanderlust regardless. Traveling to Toronto was a desire for me since the towers fell to terrorists in 2001 as I had an infatuation with tall skyscrapers around the world. Because the CN Tower was and still is one of the tallest structures, going up it for the past 10 years has always been my desire. Eventually with hard work, motivation, and passion, two stables jobs in the state of South Carolina gave me the ability to not only make a trip to Toronto to go up the CN Tower and fulfill my thrill of leaning over the edge over the city, but allow me to explore Niagara Falls, Ottawa, and Montreal as well. Perseverance is key to achieving goals.

Here is my inspiring HD video of my first time in Canada.

UPDATE: My Canada Trip video on Youtube was removed due to Copyright! Those days, I didn’t know better about using music that was not mine! Sorry 🙁

Tags backpacker, backpacking, canada, cn tower, edge walk, montreal, niagara falls, solo travel, toronto, travel, traveling alone

Bermuda Canada Caribbean Florida General Jamaica North America Ontario Quebec USA Voyage Journal

Traveling Solo Is Great

Traveling alone! Most people frown upon it as a sign of loneliness, a lack of fun, dangerous, or just plain out stupid. Everyone is surely entitled to there own opinions. One word I would like to generally tie to all of these responses is the word fear. Sure there is fear of loneliness or danger. Of course there is a fear of not enjoying ones self. I was once there. Typically, these mindsets share the common feeling of fear when it comes to travel alone or let alone doing anything alone just like going to the movies. Personally and oddly, I can easily go to the movies alone just because I love movies with a passion. Although I prefer company, If I really want to see a flick and can’t bring my girlfriend with me, unless she really wants to see it also, I just go alone and enjoy the movie. The same goes for traveling. Traveling alone is something I just do out of norm and by default. Although it can entail missing out on more moments, spontaneous group decisions, less safety or having that extra cameraman for that perfect picture, you do end up finding it easy to make decisions on the fly and worry less about who can afford what. As for having a girlfriend who wishes to travel but can’t right now, it does make planning solo trips slightly more painful.

If I do plan a trip to a new place overseas or within my side of the world, chances are I will travel alone and meet people along the way based on how my trips have turned out. Solo travel for me didn’t begin by choice though. Several years ago, a week after my college graduation, I made a stop in Miami for a few days before celebrating my first travel trip post-college in Key West. Ready for a nice celebration with about five people, the day of departure, I saw each individual back off for different reasons leaving me, my bag, my car and the road in front of me. Although the Florida Keys is not off the beaten path, a simple drive down the scenic US 1 changed my perspective for travel in an entirety. I left for the Keys with the hopes of enjoying myself and returned twice as satisfied as anticipated.

Later on, I’d find myself enjoying the island of Jamaica, Bermuda, and the cities of Toronto and Montreal alone with many more destinations possibly solo as well. Although the appreciation of having a plus one, two, or three would be better, I still do not let invitation stand ups hold me back. You are more than welcome to come but I shall not be your chaperon. I just go! Do it now and while you can. Traveling solo does not mean you’re alone, you just don’t depend of the company of others to follow your dreams. It is a discipline and surely a lifestyle at this point. The world is far too big, life too short, and youth far shorter to say I can do it later. So if you want to go somewhere that may be difficult for others to tag along, don’t turn away from that dream. Just do a little research, go, be safe, and come back with great memories and no regrets.