My name is Jordan Wheeler.
I seek new perspectives
in everything that I do.
May 19th, 2011
Land of Smiles
Click to view video
I’ve been in Bangkok, Thailand, for about two days now. I still have yet to go to a temple. I have not taken a river boat tour. I haven’t really done any of those “touristy” things you might expect a traveler might do.
So what have I done, in the last two days? I’ve met some amazing people. I’ve made new friends, celebrated a birthday, eaten amazing home-made Thai food, and cannon-balled into a pool.
Those are my feet, I jumped a little too late for this photo
These are things I did back home, of course. But that certainly doesn’t make it any less special.
May 13th, 2011
This is not a travel blog
This isn’t your typical travel blog.
A travel blog is about places, destinations, and trips.
The adventure that is my life.
In my life, I am constantly seeking new vantage points,
and looking from different perspectives. I crave variety, and
haven’t yet been able to stay in one place too long.
Seeking new perspectives is a constantly humbling experience.
The more I live my life, the more I realize how little I know.
I hope that my life might inspire my friends, readers, and
followers to find some new perspective within their own lives,
or within the world around them.
May 11th, 2011
In 1966, two young British women hitch-hiked from the U.K. to Israel, with £75 between them
This was their route: Belgium, Germany, Austria, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Israel. Elizabeth had £40, Judith £35. They carried sleeping bags, rucksacks.
The story, which was originally reported in a British newspaper, occurred in 1966, and was shared recently on the social news website reddit.com. The daughter of one of the travelers posted a photo of the original news clipping (pictured below), with the title “Mum casually told me she hitchhiked to Israel with £35 and a knife when she was 20. These days she can’t sleep until I get home.” The young redditor noted that she herself is also now 20 years old.
Commented the young redditor:
I would love to [do something like that] too! I suppose it’s just a different world now because sadly I would never attempt something as crazy as that. I think it’s because I’m the youngest and known to be quite carefree and reckless, and now she’s old and a control freak. (I’m pretty sure it’s just that she sees herself in me and only she knows what shenanigans she got up to..)
And noted another user:
£35 in 1966 is about £500 today. Add another £570 (£40 in 1966) for the other girl, that’s about £1070 or $1749 USD.
If you’re only paying for transport if absolutely necessary (when batting the eyelids doesn’t work), that’s more than enough for a cracking holiday.
The story and full commentary can be read on reddit.com here
Apr 13th, 2011Amazing! This guy biked 28,000 miles through 37 countries in eight years – what an adventure!
Here’s an incredible story that was shared with me recently.
Keiichi Iwasaki biked around the world with $2 in his pocket
Keiichi “Kei” Iwasaki , 36, of Japan began such an adventure when he grew tired of working at his father’s air-conditioning company. ”I thought to myself that ‘My life will soon be over before I do what I want to do!’ so I decided to start this trip,” Iwasaki told the London Telegraph.
Iwasaki left his home in Maebashi, Japan in April 2001 with just 160 yen, around $2, in his pocket with the intention of biking through Japan. He enjoyed the trip so much that he caught a ferry to South Korea. He has since been robbed by pirates and arrested in India, nearly died after being attacked by a rabid dog in Tibet, and narrowly escaped marriage in Nepal.
Click go to National Geographic Blogs to read the full story
Apr 13th, 2011TED Talk: A kinder, gentler philosophy of success – Alain de Botton
In this video, Alain de Botton, author of the books such as The Art of Travel, and The Architecture of Happiness, examines our ideas of success and failure — and questions the assumptions underlying these two judgments. Is success always earned? Is failure? He makes an eloquent, witty case to move beyond snobbery to find true pleasure in our work.
His perspectives are refreshing, and they beg a real dissection of what we as a culture value as evidence of “success.”
This video very much inspired me prior to my travels, and I hope it inspires you too!
Apr 13th, 2011Finalizing trip details, and good news!
Today I received a check from the insurance company representing the individual whose van hit my vehicle a few weeks ago. I’m glad to finally be done with this whole situation. Now all that’s left to do is sell my car, and then all the big stuff will be out of the way, and my journey can really begin!
All said, I’m actually receiving more than I expected for the vehicle, but unfortunately, it means that unless I leave for Thailand today or tomorrow, I’ll be missing Songkran, the Thai New Year water festival. Oh well, it’s certainly not the end of the world! And it means the chances of me being shockingly soaked to the bone with ice water for a week at a time is significantly reduced!
Quickly dwindling list of things to do before I go:
- Sell my damaged car
- purchase backup batteries for my mobile device
- purchase travel insurance
- purchase plane ticket to Bangkok
- finalize format and graphic design of this travelblog
and of course: - Going-away-on-adventure Party!
Mar 4th, 2011
The first step in a long journey
Two days ago I quit my job working as as a Guest Service Associate at the front desk of Laguna Surf Resort in Laguna Beach, California.
Over the next few weeks, I’ll be selling almost every single item I own, and finishing preparations for an epic tour of Southeast Asia.
Adventure on the horizon!
