The travel blog is heeeeere! Ciaraaaaaa. this. beat. is…. automatic…supersonic…hypnotic…funky fresh

Alright alright. Excuse me for that. I vowed to not start off my blog with “Hello my name is Keanu.” Now, with that said…

Hello my name is Keanu and welcome to my travel blog! This has been something I have wanted to do for a long while, maybe a year, and so it is super nerve-wracking, but especially exciting to be writing this first blog post.

So what to talk about in this first blog post? You know the mildly bizarre thing about this is that I know the first (and maybe only?) people that will be reading this will be my boyfriend, cousins, and friends. Hi guys! They of course all know me, but on the off chance you don’t, check out my About Me page.

One thing those closest to me may not know too well is my unhealthy obsession passion for creating travel itineraries. Actually they might know, but I had to somehow segue into the next paragraph.

Yes, I love to travel just like many others do, but one thing that sets me apart from the herd, is that I also love to plan trips. I put a lot of time, research, and soul into creating these travel itineraries. I find it extremely fulfilling. I scour information all over the internet — YouTube, Reddit, Instagram, TripAdvisor, AllTrails, Yelp, Pinterest, other Travel Blogs, Google Maps, etc. — and synthesize it into one hell of an itinerary that is 100% practical, comprehensive, and epic.

Practical. One of my biggest pet peeves with travel bloggers is that their itineraries seem to suggest that there are 48 hours in one day! Their itineraries look like this: 3 museums, 2 hikes, breakfast, lunch, and brunch, a walking day tour, a walking night tour, a cycling tour, an underground-brewery-pirate tour, the botanical gardens (every time!), the beach, a walking tour on the beach, and lastly another hike to watch the sunset on the hill to then stargaze afterwards! I’ll be the first to admit that I like to pack as many things as I can in one day in order to get the bang for the buck, but I also know there are only 24 hours in a day (Einstein et. al 1945). For my blog, I will create itineraries to share experiences that I honestly did, tell you the exact order in which I did them, and confidently comment on the practicality of it all. My travel itineraries will be actually doable.

Comprehensive. Let’s say you are planning a trip to Seattle, Washington. If you use Google, I bet you’ll find something titled “10 Things to Do in Seattle, Washington.” I also bet that if you click on it, it will list 10 things to do. But what it won’t do is tell you where to park, the driving distance between destinations, the best time to go, the order in which to see these points of interest, and all of those other details you didn’t know you needed until you are there and lost! In essence, these posts are typically suggestions/lists, I have itineraries. *mic drop*

Epic. Having a trip that is sensible and detailed is great, but having a trip be epic is what it is really about. If you love adventure, doing daring/immersive activities (skydiving, bungee jumping, hiking to alpine lakes, going on food/cultural tours, spelunking, and exploring hidden gems), then this blog is for you. In my regular life I am a very stick-by-the-rules, no-nonsense type of guy [I don’t even jay walk, or if I do, I feel reallly bad about it!]. I do not actively seek athletic or risky activities on the daily, but when it’s time to adventure and explore somewhere around the world, I go all in. I want the full experience. I want something epic. And I want to share that epicness with others.

So let me acknowledge something real quick: my itineraries may not be perfect for you! Maybe you like more spontaneity during your travels. Maybe you like relaxation and vacation more than adventure. Maybe it’s Maybelline. However, I really believe that everyone can take something from my travel blog, whether it is advice on things to see, where to stay, or how to travel from A to B. And if you want something adventurous that is also sensible and detailed, by all means plagiarize me and go on your trip!

In all seriousness, to be able to share the places and experiences I’ve been, and for someone to replicate or at the very least become inspired by, is just so incredible! My blog serves to deliver content that I would like to see if I was a traveler trying to plan my trip. I hope this is of value to you, as it is for me!

Okay. Let’s end this first blog post with some expectations.

I expect this blog to provide insight and inspiration for travelers.

I expect this blog to encourage myself to travel more.

I expect this blog to be a roller coaster of unexpected twists and turns. Because reality, right?

With that, I am going to hit the publish button now. Thanks and stay tuned for the adventures to come.

Til’ the next adventure,

— Keanu (aka 9 to 5 Travel Guy)