Short Bio/Why Travel?

About Travel Enlightenment:

Travel Enlightenment.net is based on the depths of long term traveling by observing the negatives and positives within each culture and country. Considering the history, current economic situation, past and current dynamics of government rule, and the dominating religious overtone that includes all minority religions aids to ascertain the truthful dynamic context of the mind-set and culture of each country.

My travel writing consists of the positive and negative reality of cultures, the travel industry, and basic human behavior with a blend of deep thinking concepts. In addition to studying the dynamics of a country, pictures of people, top sites, and beautiful landscapes are a highlight of this website.

Short Bio

I was born and raised in Minnesota. I moved to Honolulu in 1994 for two years, then to Ohio for three years. Lived in California the last eight years before I departed to travel in November of 2007. I live a life of Independent Spirituality devoid of all religious organizations of Idolatry.

Why Travel?

Many people ask, why am I traveling? the situation just happened—there’s no particular reason. I got the idea to travel the world in the year 2000 from a housemate that shared his world travels. During that same year, I also met people that traveled, although, one thing they had all in common was that they would save a lot of money—travel for awhile and come back, save more money and leave again. I decided a long time ago, once I leave—I am leaving for a long time.

The reality of traveling eluded itself as an actuality until January of 2005. I found myself in an ideal economic situation. I started to live with a developmentally disable person, living with him at home. During this time, I started a small EBay business and did some professional massage work at home. Working at home gave me plenty enough time to research and plan to travel. I kept my plans to myself except for sharing my ideas with my best friend. I began to share my plans with family and friends after I started blogging in May 2007.

Back in March 2006 and Beyond:

March 2006 I knew I would be leaving in the autumn in 2007. I researched the type of gear I wanted to bring and purchased everything by January 2007. I decided to leave the country November of 2007. I will be traveling at least 4 years, although it’s looking like from 5 to 7 years. From the spring of 2006, I started to sell all my material possessions. By November of 2007, I sold everything I owned except for my backpack with 25 pounds of gear.

Back in 1989, I remember buying backpacks and gear that I never used. Deep down within, I knew I was someday going to leave to travel, and the moment arrived November 11th 2007.

The Decision:

I decided on the destination where I was going to start in March of 2006. I took a long time contemplating and studying maps for a good location to start, and what would be a tentative route. I decided, I would rather stay on the ground for the most part—not that I dislike flying—I love flying, just that I would rather walk, take the bus, train, or a boat from place to place.

I also thought about who’s footsteps, of a historical figure, would I want to follow. Since I have studied history all my life along with archeology on an independent level—I have chosen the second oldest city-state civilization as known in humankind’s history. Sumer was the first city-state civilization, which blossomed with a precipitance around 3500 BCE. Egypt was the second that happened around 3000 BCE as a city-state civilization.

The Starting Point:

Egypt is the choice I made in the spring of 2006. I bought my one-way airline ticket to Cairo for $650.00 in December of 2006. One other reason I selected Egypt, because Egypt will be an inexpensive place to start. I might be able to live on my interest one or two months. Hostels cost about $1.50 per night, the hotel I reserved for my arrival in to Cairo will only cost me $50 for 5 nights, which I have my own room with a shared bathroom. I got my own room for recovery from the jet lag.

Who’s foot steps did I think of following? The only person I could think of is Moses—the man that wrote down the commandments of human behavior. A historic person I have always look up to and have taken an immense amount of time examining his writing style to figure out what he taught. Sad to say the world teaches the complete opposite of what Moses taught.

The Original Plan:

My tentative route is to travel the Middle East first. The spring of 2009 I am planning on traveling Eastern Europe north to Poland. I could stay in Europe for two years depending on the organic farming situations and resources that cross my path; I am also willing to work under the table for extra money. When I leave Europe to travel east, I will be taking the Trans-Siberian railroad east through Russia, Mongolia, to China. That will not be until the summer of 2010 or 2011. From China, most likely after visiting Tibet, the tentative plan would be to go south to Southeast Asia and head toward India on the ground. The countries on the way will be Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, from Thailand the question will be, can I stay on land through Burma to India, I will decided at that time.

From India, I don’t have any plans. The plan has been to stay on the ground. Of course, most of this is tentative except the Middle East. Moreover, I will be taking the Trans-Siberian Railroad east to China. Never know when and where I might end up.

Note: After Poland I went to Germany and Flew from Munich to India on my third year anniversary of traveling.

When will you Stop Traveling?

Many people ask when will I stop traveling and do I have any plans to return to America?
Once the Universe tells me to stop traveling. Then I will stop and live where I am meant to live. I don’t have any plans except for tentative travel plans for the upcoming few months.

Updated 6/3/2010:

What happened after traveling the Middle East, Turkey and Greece, I went to Bulgaria and ended up staying for the winter and departed in May 2010.

As a person travels long-term the perception of travel changes in addition to the travel style. I lived/nested in Bulgaria for 13 months and two days. The original plan can still occur, however, through the flexibility of long term travel I have more of an interest to visit certain locations longer than shorter. This spring I departed from Bulgaria and decided to continue with my original travel style and travel the Balkans up toward Poland for the Fall.

I ended up staying in Bulgaria for the summer of 2011 and fly back to America after just shy of 4 years on international travel.
Currently Nesting in America

Life is all about the moment.