It began in California
So let’s return to the start of the 12 months. Personally and professionally issues have been altering fairly shortly as I had accepted a brand new place in my firm that will transfer me to Singapore. However earlier than we get to Asia, I took a visit with a great good friend out to the San Francisco space the place we explored Massive Sur, Alcatraz, and a precarious cliffside picture spot in Sausalito.
Off to Asia
As a part of my new position I ventured off to Asia to begin getting the lay of the land of my new territory/continent. I spent two weeks touring round Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Singapore. It was my first time doing enterprise in Japan, which was…nicely let’s simply say it was a bit completely different. However I acquired my legs beneath me and bowed at principally acceptable occasions by the top of my keep there earlier than venturing onto extra acquainted Hong Kong and Singapore.
On the tail finish of my Asia journey I took a “fast hop” over to Dubai to satisfy up with some associates at Gulf Picture Plus. I acquired to expertise Enterprise Class on Qatar Airways new A350, which was an amazing expertise, and in addition acquired a beautiful image of the Burj Khalifa from my lodge room!
Burj Khalifa
I returned from Asia with plans to begin packing and setting a shifting date round my birthday in April, although I used to be a bit nervous concerning the transfer.
Mileage Runs to Asia
I wished to verify I locked in American Airways Government Platinum standing via January 2018 so I wanted to fly 100,000 elite-qualifying miles in 2016. My enterprise journey to Asia positively acquired issues off to a great begin, however I figured some mileage runs wouldn’t harm. February and March are often nice for airfares to Asia and in February I managed to discover a $460 roundtrip flight to Hong Kong from Chicago! It was manner too fast of a visit however I used some systemwide upgrades to improve to enterprise class so a minimum of the flights didn’t kill me. It was throughout this primary mileage run to Hong Kong the place I took considered one of my favourite Hong Kong footage ever!
March introduced one other mileage run, however this one had extra of a objective. Properly, barely. An organization referred to as Bluffworks acquired in contact with me and requested if I’d prefer to evaluate their tremendous superior journey pants. Not eager to do a typical “I wore these pants, I favored these pants, I’d purchase these pants” evaluate I as an alternative discovered a dust low-cost flight to Hong Kong and Beijing and flew off to Asia but once more. I acquired some good footage and climbed the Nice Wall of China once more, all in these pants. I put collectively two movies concerning the journey that I’ll insert under. All in all this was one of many first journeys the place I set out particularly to make a video and I started to understand simply how arduous videography is and not using a crew!
My flight again from Beijing was aboard American’s 787-8 in Enterprise Class, which was a completely beautiful journey.
In between all of those mileage runs I managed to seize some unbelievable footage of bluebonnets in my beautiful hometown of Dallas in addition to a beautiful area of bluebonnets in close by Ennis, Texas.
New York Metropolis
April introduced some tough moments. Initially, and I by no means actually posted a lot about this, however I’ll say it now: my transfer to Singapore fell via. It was one of many greatest shocks of my life, having dedicated to shifting the world over solely to seek out out per week earlier than shifting that it hadn’t labored out for some purpose (we’re nonetheless unsure why). In order that was a shock to the system, however a good friend inspired me to get my crap collectively and never let it get me down an excessive amount of, so I attempted to select myself up as finest I may and transfer on.
My candy youthful cousin obtained a devastating most cancers prognosis in December 2015: stage III ovarian most cancers. It rocked our whole household. As she courageously took on chemo she displayed a power that helped me and jogged my memory that each one issues occur for a purpose. As a part of her remedy she was scheduled for a extremely complicated surgical procedure at Sloan Kettering in New York Metropolis. I used to be capable of head as much as NYC for just a few days to be with my household and pray with everybody as she went off to surgical procedure. I additionally had time for a keep on the new Park Hyatt New York, which was superb.
I’m very glad to report that my cousin’s surgical procedure was a large success and it actually saved her life. She’s thriving and having fun with life and provoking 1000’s together with her story.
Wanting again on the Singapore factor and the confusion and anger I felt when it fell via, I’m reminded that the moments I spent with my household in New York Metropolis are reminiscences I’ll cherish for the remainder of my life and I’d not have been capable of be there if the Singapore transfer had gone via.
Europe and my new all-time favourite image
After issues settled down on the workplace post-Singapore I ended up heading off to Europe to work with some prospects there to see if we may present some worth for them. I spent just a few days in Paris and London earlier than extending the journey for a fast journey to Italy. I did arrive somewhat early, nonetheless, so I may drive out to see an unbelievable place that was definitely worth the journey, Mont-Saint-Michel.
My journey to Italy was fairly great. I flew into Milan after which took a practice south to Cinque Terre, the place I captured two new all-time favorites within the village of Vernazza.
I completed off that journey in beautiful Bellagio overlooking Lake Como.
Again to Asia
In a little bit of an ungainly journey I went again to Asia for work to do just about the identical journey I did in January, solely this time I wasn’t going to maneuver there just a few months afterward. I adopted nearly the identical itinerary and hit up Tokyo, Singapore, and Hong Kong.
Sundown at Tokyo Tower
I put collectively somewhat informational video concerning the historical past of Singapore as nicely since I had a while to kill over the weekend.
Even after I was again house in Dallas I made it a behavior to maintain taking nice footage of my hometown too.
After which the journey kind of…stopped
After my Asia journey my big-time journey got here to a little bit of a halt, which was in all probability for one of the best (I used to be bodily and emotionally exhausted). July consisted of some enjoyable helicopter flights in addition to a composite image from the Addison Kaboomtown! celebration for the 4th of July.
To Zion
August featured a return to Zion Nationwide Park to hike Angel’s Touchdown once more. Most individuals would take their time and luxuriate in all the character however I’m form of a moron and did the whole journey from Dallas in in the future. I did handle to seize an incredible sundown image although the place a bolt of lightning was within the left aspect of the body whereas the superb sundown was in the appropriate.
Again to the skies for an additional inaugural
Lets fast-forward to October. Resulting from some gracious and sunny of us at American Airways I used to be granted entry for some once-in-a-lifetime pictures of American’s new 787-9 plane on the tarmac at LAX after the inaugural home flight!
The inside, with its new enterprise class seat, was very good as nicely.
Dallas discovered its manner into the weblog but once more with the assistance of some new tilt-shift lenses.
Wrapping up the 12 months with Canada and Mexico
It had been nearly 6 months since I had traveled for work in November however I lastly made my return to the street with a sudden journey to Toronto the week of the US Thanksgiving vacation. We labored arduous and discovered quite a bit, sufficient in truth to immediate a return go to in December.
My journey 12 months resulted in Mexico simply final week. Some household associates invited me to hitch them at an unbelievable home they rented in Cabo San Lucas, the place I noticed a few of the most superb sunrises and sunsets ever!
That’s it for 2016!
I hope you’ve loved my recap. Placing this submit collectively jogs my memory how blessed I used to be to have the ability to journey the way in which that I do. Even via arduous occasions there’s a sure vitality I get from touring (to a sure level) and my urge for food to see the world is as robust as ever. I don’t actually know what 2017 will convey however I discovered a large lesson in 2016: regardless of your circumstances you may at all times discover the nice in life however you may need to look more durable than you ever thought potential.
The place did you go in 2016? The place was your favourite place? Inform me within the feedback under!
