Denver, Colorado

The first stop of the 3-day weekend was Loveland Ski Area . I took a snowboarding lesson on the green slopes and had a hilarious time. I spent most of the day falling, but managed not to break any bones.  

Day 2 was dedicated to photographing Colorado's landscape. I started the adventure at Loveland Pass, then explored the backcountry where many skiers and snowboarders finish their descend from the Rocky Mountains. Unfortunately, I lost my GoPro playing in the snow, but it was small sacrifice for all the fun I had. I spent the rest of the day making pit stops along I-70, which led us to a scenic lookout and frozen lake.  

I spent our last day hanging out in Downtown Denver with family and friends. Denver became one of my new favorite US cities. If you ever visit the area, definitely check out Denver Biscuit Company for brunch and Viewhouse. 

Nassau, Bahamas

Last trip of the year. No extreme adventures or detailed itineraries....just rest and relaxation. This trip was a much different experience for me. Nassau is much more commercialized than I am accustomed to; I definitely see why the Bahamas attracts American tourists. I spent the week resort hopping and pina colada touring. I visited Atlantis, Melia Resort, Cabbage beach and Arawak Cay. 

Closing the year with a renewed sense of purpose and drive. I'm thankful for the tranquility of Nassau and the ability to sit with my thoughts and conceptualize the goals I have for 2017. This will be my best year yet! 

Montego Bay, Jamaica

What do you do when you have 2 days to explore Montego Bay before a wedding ceremony? You float down Martha Brae's river on a bamboo raft, eat as much jerk as possible, drink a dozen pina coladas and relax on the beach. I now understand why everyone loves Jamaica so much. The locals treat you like family, the food will touch your soul and it's absolutely beautiful.  

San Juan, Puerto Rico

There's a strong possibility that when I retire, it will be in Puerto Rico. Everything about this trip was perfect....from the Airbnb to the food to the live music. I can't put into words how inspiring this trip was for me. I've visited quite a few islands in the Caribbean, but Puerto Rico is the best hands down (Barbados runs a close second). I cannot wait to return to this magnificent place.

Apia, Samoa

The South Pacific is a unique place. It's literally in the middle of nowhere. Many people visit islands like Fiji, Bora Bora and Tahiti, but there are countless other islands in this region as well. I wanted to go somewhere unique that had not been commercialized, so I narrowed my selection process down to the Cook Islands, Samoa and Tonga. Each island had something different to offer, but I essentially let my burning desire to visit To Sua Trench overrule swimming with humpback whales in Tonga. 

If I had to summarize our trip to Samoa, I would definitely refer to it as a learning experience. International traveling is not always as glamorous as it's perceived. Sometimes you can book a wallet-friendly 5 star hotel with an ocean front view and other times you can get a solar powered bungalow in the rain forest with no hot water, no wifi and a 1 ft mutant centipede. Do y'all remember the Chilligan's Island episode of Martin? I've got a similar story to the "puppy" scene. Despite the challenges I faced, I'm grateful for the experience. Life in Samoa is simple and their culture is fascinating. I came home with a new sense of gratitude and inspired to live more authentically.

Auckland, New Zealand

2016 was a year of unforgettable moments. When FareDealAlert  posted a direct flight from Houston to Auckland for $400, I immediately booked two tickets Down Under. At this point, New Zealand was the top destination on my bucket list. Upon discovery that it was winter in NZ, I cut our time there short and spent a few days driving through the North Island before heading to warmer climates. I made stops in Paihai, Piha and Mount Maunganui. The landscape was stunning. I definitely have to get back to New Zealand so that I can visit Waitomo Caves and the Bay of Islands.

Alberta, Canada

After visiting the Philippines, Alberta, Canada became the top item on my bucket list. Every picture I saw of Banff National Park seemed to resemble a postcard. I decided to begin my Summer Sixteen tour with this picturesque oasis. I also was blessed enough to be able to bring my baby brother Terry on his first international trip. Out of all the countries I visited, Canada was by far the most beautiful. When I look at the pictures, I'm still in awe. 4 days in Alberta was not nearly enough time to explore the park, but we were able to cover good territory in that amount of time. We visited Peyto Lake, Lake Louise and Vermillion Lakes.

Cebu, Philippines

The Philippines was the top item on my bucket list for over a year. Deciding which island to visit out of 7,000+ was a task within itself, but I trusted my instinct and went with Cebu instead of Manila, Boracay or Palawan. Thanks to social media, I did not have to plan much. I even found our Airbnb on Instagram! If used properly, social networks are the best resource when traveling abroad.

I arrived in Cebu City around 4am. The 3 hour ride to Oslob was unlike anything I've ever experienced. There is only one 2-lane road with no lights or stop signs that goes around the perimeter of the island. It amazes me that fatal accidents don't occur daily as wild as they drive. I was convinced our driver was playing chicken to pass the time. Also, seeing 2-4 people riding on one scooter is a sight I'll never forget.

I had dinner in town, then went down to a bar for drinks at the resort next door. I ended up meeting a nice gentleman named Joey from Ireland. Joey shared his life story with me and I later discovered he owned property on 3 continents. We talked for an hour or so about international travel, global politics and entrepreneurship. I left the conversation inspired and eager to apply the new knowledge I'd obtained. You truly can learn something from every person you encounter.

On the way back to the villa, I passed some young guys on the beach singing. I sang along with them, then discussed their experiences dealing with Americans. They worked for a Tracfone call center and complained that Americans speak to them poorly. It was heartbreaking to hear how mean spirited and arrogant we can be. Language barriers are no excuse to treat anyone with little respect. I connected with everyone we met that night on Facebook and still keep in touch with them to this day.

As I headed in to call it a night, I looked up witnessed the most beautiful sight. Every star in universe appeared to be shining on me. They literally stopped me in my tracks. As I gazed in to the sky in pure shock, I felt a sense of gratitude. We take so many things for granted in life, but how beautiful is it to be able to step back and really see God's work. I am thankful for that moment and the awareness to be able to appreciate it.

The next day I got up early to watch the sunrise. You have to take about 250 stairs to get to the beach, so I opted for the balcony instead. After getting the shots I wanted, I sat down to take it all in. I struggle being completely present, but I always make an effort to surrender to the "now".

My host Vilma arranged for a boat to take me to Sumilon Island. I could see it from the villa, so I expected it to only take 5 minutes to get there. To my surprise, it took about half an hour. I was overwhelmed with the beauty of the sandbar. Life felt surreal in that moment. The Philippines has countless sandbars and I'm thankful I got to experience life in the middle of absolutely nowhere. As soon as I took my first step, I was both blown away by the picturesque scenery.

After spending a few hours on the beach, I went inland to cool off and have lunch at the resort and explore the island. For just $25 USD I got to enjoy all the amenities at Sumilon Blue Island Resort, which included snorkeling, canoeing and a trek through the trails. That night, I enjoyed traditional Filipino BBQ in Oslob proper with the Airbnb host's son, girlfriend and friend.

The following morning, I woke up early to head to avoid the crowds in Oslob. Everyday, people come from near and far to swim with the whale sharks. Having the opportunity to swim with these gentle giants was one of the primary reason I chose Cebu over the other islands in the Philippines. I was scared at first, but they truly are harmless.

After swimming with whale sharks we headed to Algiers to canyoneer through the jungle. It was the most fun activity I had ever done.

On the last day I went back to Oslob to swim with the whale sharks and also spend the afternoon at Sumilon Island before heading to the airport. This trip meant more to me than words can express. I hope that everyone gets to experience checking the top item on their bucket list.

Beijing, China

15-hour layover in Beijing

I hired a driver for the day and he took me to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall of China and the Lama Temples. I was not particularly fond of the energy in China, but I enjoyed every minute at both places I visited.

It was a unique experience. Unless you have a burning desire to visit China, I would only recommend going on a layover. Here are a few of my favorite moments from our 15 hour layover in Beijing. One of my images was even featured by Essence magazine!

Playa del Carmen, Mexico

There's something about Playa Del Carmen that keeps pulling me back year after year. Here are some of my favorite moments from my most recent trip to the Riviera Maya.