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My name is Kien and I’m an international photographer and filmmaker. Over the last 10 years, I’ve traveled to 70+ countries to find the most wonderful things to check off my bucket list. I hope to share that experience and what I’ve learned to help you do the same.
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Let's Be Adventurers
Bucket List: Surviving Bolivia’s “Death Road”
It’s one of the top things to do when you’re in La Paz, Bolivia and for good reason. If you’re looking for the adrenaline rush that comes with mountain biking down something called the “Death Road”, you won’t be disappointed.
Read First: Swimming With Whale Sharks In Oslob 2024
As a diver, there’s been 3 things I’ve really wanted to see underwater and those damn 3 things have eluded me for the last 6 years across countless dive sites.
Editor’s Pick: 5 Slot Canyons To Explore Around Zion In 2024
Slot canyons are fun to play around in, unless you’re that guy from 127 hours. While visiting Zion National Park, my friend Alex and I went on a canyoning adventure through a slot canyon (just outside the park) and wanted more.
The Real Faces of Cuba
I’m fascinated by faces. When I first started traveling, I would be instantly drawn to capturing certain types of faces. The grizzled old man with lines and wrinkles carved into his faces.
Bear Grylls Survival Challenge Review: That Time Bear Grylls Gave Me A Condom
“Sh*t!” Instinctively, I look down at my watch to check for my heart rate. It’s pumping at 164 BPM. This is a bad idea.
Happy Centennial: My Favorite NPS Memories
Today marks the 100th birthday of the National Park Services. And damnit, I am especially proud to be an American today.
Ski Dubai: Indoor Skiing and Snowboarding Review
It’s no secret that Dubai is a statement of excess and luxury. It is home to the tallest building in the world and the largest mall in the world.
That Time I Fell Down A Mountain And Krazy Glued My Head
Adventure Survival Tip #5: Carry Krazy Glue. Once upon a time, I glissaded down the side of a snowy mountain, lost control, slipped, tried to self-arrest for the first time without any prior practice, split my head open with my ice ax, self-arrested properly the second time around, and preventing myself from serious harm or death.
Travel Thoughts & Tips
How To Visit Iceland’s Vatnojokull Glacier Blue Ice Cave In March
Deciding to go to Iceland is the easy part. Choosing the time of year to go is much harder. During the summer, you can get nearly 23 hours of daylight, which opens up all kinds of possibility for traveling at different hours of the day.
My Travel Photography Gear For 2024
At the end of 2020, I’ve made a complete switch to Fuji’s X-System to cut down size and weight on my travels.
Ultimate Guide To Sayulita 2024: Mexico’s Hidden Gem Surf Town
Update 2024: Sayulita has seen quite a bit of tourism uptick over the last few years. While the charm is still there, one notable thing I’ve found is that accommodations can be booked up much earlier than I expected in the past.
Is It Safe To Travel Abroad Alone As A Girl From A Guy’s Perspective
You’re hitchhiking and need to get to Tajikistan from somewhere in the middle of Kyrgyzstan. No car has stopped in the last 3 hours.
Why I Love To Travel Alone
I’ll start off by saying that there are two sides to every coin. For all the reasons I love to travel alone, there are just as many reasons why I hate it.
Is Your Phone Camera Good Enough For Travel Photography in 2022?
Sensor image quality has advanced so much over the last few years that phone manufacturers are boasting photographs that rival those from larger mirrorless and DSLR cameras.
How To Actually Travel Well for $50 A Day
There are plenty of guides out there that teaches you how to travel on the cheap. You’ve seen it. Travel for under $50 a day.
A 54-Page Guide To Better Travel Photography
You’ve booked your flight and packed your bags for that big trip. Passport. Check. Travel towel. Check. Camera. Check. That last one is important.
Is It Worth It To Ride A Gondola In Venice?
One of the questions I get a lot is whether some activities are worth the cost. Case in the point is whether it’s worth visiting the Blue Lagoon thermal pools in Iceland for $90.
Top 16 Things To Do In Sayulita
Sayulita is a gem of a town in Mexico known for its surfing, but there’s plenty of other things to do if you are tired of sunbathing and want to burn off some of the calories from all those late night tacos.
My 10 Year Search For The Perfect Camera Brought Me Back To APS-C
In 2015, I fully committed to switching from my Nikon DSLR system to a Sony mirrorless system starting with the Sony A7II.
11 Questions With Sayulita Sports Massage
Those who know me know I love massages and it’s something I seek out in every country I travel to. I partly attribute it to also the wear and tear of being on the road and traveling, but over the years I’ve learned that my upper back muscles compensate a lot for the lack of curvature in my spine.
The Perfect 7 Day Iceland South Coast Winter Ring Road Itinerary
NOTE: This was my carefully researched and curated ICELAND WINTER road trip itinerary for our 7 days THERE during the month of February.
Demystifying The Dolomites: How To Plan A Fall Trip
The first time I heard the word Dolomites in passing, I confused it with the Annamites in Vietnam and then promptly forgot about it for years.
13 Tips and Hacks For Booking A Hostel In 2024
The first time I stayed in a hostel, I opened the door to my room to find three beautiful Swedish girls walking around in their underwear.
Things To Do In Puerto Vallarta: Making My Own Chocolate at Cacao Magico
Mexico’s one of the places that has been mostly opened during the pandemic and as a result Puerto Vallarta has become a very popular destination –
Why You’re Never Going To Travel Around The World
This is not going to be easy and I’m going to say some stuff you’re not going to want to hear.
What To Do When You’ve Been Robbed While Traveling
Any seasoned traveler will eventually run into some sort of problem. When you have all your possessions in a suitcase or a backpack, getting robbed abroad while traveling can be devastating.
Travel Gear I Always Have With Me
Planning ahead and having the the right gear while balancing need, practicality, and weight has really made traveling a lot less stressful and more efficient.
Review: Breakfast and Brunch At Red Bull’s Hangar-7 In Salzburg
Salzburg is supposedly known for three things: Mozart, The Sound Of Music, and Red Bull. Did you know that? Because, to be honest, I didn’t know that Red Bull was from Austria, let alone, Salzburg.