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I've been in China for a year and a half and I have created almost 50 videos about my life and experiences there. Here is a quick summary of all my videos. Subscribe to my YouTube Channel!

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Travels

I have explored many different cities in China, including my home city of Beijing.

• Hainan
• Datong
• Shanghai
• Qingdao
• Harbin
• Zhangjiakou
• Tianjin
• Huashan
• Xi'An
• Chengdu and Chongqing
• Shaolin
• Luoyang
• Leshan and Chengdu

I have also visited Korea and Japan since I've been here. So many more amazing places to go and visit!

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Food

I like food. Doesn't everyone? Yes. The answer is yes.

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Culture

One thing China is NOT lacking is culture. I lived in Europe for 10 years and traveled to over 30 countries, but never have I experience anything like China. Culture shock has been a close friend of mine since I arrived.

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Language

Why did I move to China? Besides wanting to experience the culture, eat the food, and travel, I really want to learn the language. And what better way to learn than through immersion? Or so I thought...

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Daily Life

So what is life like in China? Just like anywhere else in the world, but the Chinese version of it... plus air pollution, Chinese Festivals, and interesting daily interactions with Chinese people.

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Train with TMax

After launching a fitness-in-the-park community in Pamplona, Spain, I decided to try it again in Beijing, and with much more success than I anticipated!

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Becoming Famous

Now that more people are meeting me and realizing how awesome I am, I'm getting new opportunities to show off my talents and participate in interesting events.

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How did I create all of these videos? I filmed them on my phone, then edited them on my phone, and then shared them from my phone. If you want to make super sweet videos like me, check out this video tutorial!

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Exploring China with Ainhoa

So, Ainhoa recently came out to visit me in China and I did a seven-part vlog on our wonderful adventures together. Here, you can relive those moments with us, as I provide a brief explanation of the highlights of each video.

Giant Buddha in Leshan (Vlog #8 - 3rd video below)

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San Francisco, California, USA: My Golden Gate To China

I've been considering incorporating more video in my blog posts, and even replacing some posts with video. Well, this is the first post that I will do entirely as a video.

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Comment, like, and share the videos with everyone you've ever met in life. Thank you, that is all.

My First Vlog

From the description on YouTube:

Come Travel with the TMax

The full Chinese Visa Process

My trip to Sofia (and details on the free walking tour)

Online kettlebell course (discounted for you lovely people - ONLY $11)

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San Diego, California, USA: It Never Rains in Southern California

My mom is going to San Diego for a work conference and initially my dad was going to join her but now he has to work. I guess I'll be a good son and go enjoy southern California on his behalf. The sacrifices I make for my family!

Things are about to get more Funner!

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A Weekend Getaway to Fairbanks, Alaska

From Anchorage to Fairbanks

Drive up to Fairbanks to see Alaska's 3rd largest city, and with hopes of seeing the Northern Lights (aurora borealis).

On the open road to Fairbanks, Alaska

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Mexico: How Little I Knew About My Next Door Neighbor

Traveling with Ainhoa to her old stomping grounds of Guadalajara and then to travel through Guanajuato, León, and Puebla, before hanging out a few days in Mexico City.

Viva Mexico!

Interesting observations about Mexico

• Mexicans are humble, honest, and generally friendly. 
• Mexicans put chili on everything. No, seriously, everything.
• Many things named after Miguel Hidalgo (Mexican revolutionary).
•  Public bathrooms cost between 3-10 pesos, including some stores.
• At the toilets, they give you a certain amount of toilet paper, or there is one roll outside of the toilet, and you take some in with you.
• Mexicans speak in the simple past, like the Asturianos. 
• "Alto" instead of stop signs. (Morocco is the only other country I've ever seen it say anything other than "stop").
• Mexicans drive very aggressively. 
• 'E' for estacionamiento instead of 'P' for parking, unlike rest of world.
• Mexican street sellers are loud, but not aggressive (read: bothersome) like in some other countries.
• Despite the intense heat, people have on long sleeves and even jackets, in the middle of the day. 
• The women wear a lot of makeup.
• Mexicans aren't fat but also no one is skinny. 
• Volkswagen beetle may be the official car of Mexico.
• Mexicans don't throw toilet paper in the toilet, but in a trash can. 
• Mexico is more similar to US when it comes to smoking - they do it way less than in Europe.
• In Europe you see people with fútbol shirts (i.e. Barça, Man U, Bayern), but in Mexico you see American cities and (all) sports teams.
• I learned many new words, and new definitions for words I already knew.
• The fruit here is so good: bananas, papaya, guava, dragon fruit, mango, zarzamora (blackberry).

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Barcelona, Spain: More Coca, Si Us Plau

Ainhoa and I are heading to Barcelona to hang out with her sister, Irantzu, and some other friends we have there. It is also during the fiesta of San Juan (or Sant Joan), so let's see how the Catalans celebrate compared to the Navarrans.

At the national museum of art, looking out on the city (on day 2)

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6 Things This American Has Learned From Traveling

Reflecting back on my last few years of travel around Europe, and I've realized that I learned quite a few things that, otherwise, I would not have learned. These aren't enlightened discoveries, but simple things that I think have made me a better person.

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Veliko Tarnovo and Vratsa, Bulgaria: The Balkans by Bus Road Trip Christmas 2016 pt. 6

This is a six-part blog. Here are the links to all of them:

Sofia, Bulgaria / Initial synopsis

Thessaloniki, Greece 

Tirana, Albania

Prizren and Pristina, Kosovo

Skopje, Macedonia

Veliko Turnovo and Vratsa, Bulgaria / Final thoughts

Having fun at Tsarevets fortress, even though it's -3 degrees

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Skopje, Macedonia: The Balkans by Bus Road Trip Christmas 2016 pt. 5

This is a six-part blog. Here are the links to all of them:

Sofia, Bulgaria / Initial synopsis

Thessaloniki, Greece 

Tirana, Albania

Prizren and Pristina, Kosovo

Skopje, Macedonia

Veliko Tarnovo and Vratsa, Bulgaria / Final thoughts

Just an amazing shot for so many reasons

I bruised my ribs climbing this, but it was worth it

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Prizren and Pristina, Kosovo: The Balkans by Bus Road Trip Christmas 2016 pt. 4

This is a six-part blog. Here are the links to all of them:

Sofia, Bulgaria / Initial synopsis

Thessaloniki, Greece 

Tirana, Albania

Prizren and Pristina, Kosovo

Skopje, Macedonia

Veliko Turnovo and Vratsa, Bulgaria / Final thoughts

Pretending I'm not cold along the river in Prizren, Kosovo

Day 9: We cross the Albanian border without stopping and continue straight through to the Kosovo border, but they don't let us through because the bus doesn't have paperwork saying it can take food and cigarettes across the border. So we have to go back to Albania and offload the food and cigarettes at a small shop, then pass the border control again, though they don't check our passports the second time, or even come on the bus to see if any new people joined. 

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Tirana, Albania: The Balkans by Bus Road Trip Christmas 2016 pt. 3

This is a six-part blog. Here are the links:

Sofia, Bulgaria / Initial synopsis

Thessaloniki, Greece 

Tirana, Albania

Prizren and Pristina, Kosovo

Skopje, Macedonia

Veliko Tarnovo and Vratsa, Bulgaria / Final thoughts

5h30 at Skanderbeg Square, inaccessible due to construction

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Thessaloniki, Greece: The Balkans by Bus Road Trip Christmas 2016 pt. 2

This is a six-part blog. Here are the links:

Sofia, Bulgaria / Initial synopsis

Thessaloniki, Greece 

Tirana, Albania

Prizren and Pristina, Kosovo

Skopje, Macedonia

Veliko Tarnovo and Vratsa, Bulgaria / Final thoughts

Leaving the "lion country" behind and heading to Greece

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Sofia, Bulgaria: The Balkans by Bus Road Trip Christmas 2016 pt. 1

Synopsis: This is actually the first Christmas I've ever spent without my parents. I haven't traveled much outside of Spain since I arrived here, with the exception of Andorra, Gibraltar, and a couple of trips back to the states. 

I want to see some of the countries in Europe that I haven't seen, so I finally decide on Bulgaria, Greece, Albania, Macedonia, and Kosovo - all by bus. Last time I did a multi-country trip like this was to the other side of the Balkans (Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro). 

Super cool map of the Balkans, from the hostel in Prizren, Kosovo

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Les Cases D'Alcanar, Spain: In Between Cataluña, Valencia, and Aragón

Synopsis: Ainhoa has been telling me about her parent's beach house that is on the Costa Dorada, in the province of Tarragona, right on the edge of Cataluña and Valencia, and near to many natural sites, including beaches, mountains, and the Delta del Ebro. Although we've invited a few others to go with us, no one else can make it, so we will venture out on our own. 

You gotta look at the castle from a different point of view

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30 Amazing Places This American Has Visited in Navarra

So, what's in Navarra? I've been here for a year and a half two and a half years, traveling, discovering, eating, and aprovechando (taking advantage of) my time here. There is so much to be discovered within the small northern province of Spain. Here is a glimpse of some of the places that I have been to in Navarra. If you are from Navarra, have you been to all of these places? Join me on my adventures in and around Spain VEN con TMax.

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This American's Travel Checklist

I think it is hilarious when I see people traveling with rolling suitcases and two handbags, plus a backpack, and they are only going on a week-long trip. I understand, they are afraid they might need something, so they pack everything. I prefer to pack light and hope I don't need anything else. I didn't have a lot of money to invest in a professional backpacker's backpack, so I simply used my backpack from when I was in college. I did recently upgrade to a bigger backpack, one) because my old one was ripping along the zipper, and two) so I can carry more souvenirs back from my trips.

So, because you all didn't ask for it, I'm going to give it to you: how this American packs for his travels. (I know, different title than above, so you get two titles!) 

1. One good backpack is enough.

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Guest Blog: Neal Taylor - Skiing in Spain and Dancing with the Stars (Baqueira)

Skiing in Spain - the journey to Baqueira/Beret 

We picked up Aussie Pete from the bus station and threw his snowboarding gear into the back of the van.

As soon as the van door slammed shut, the banter began. For four hours the banter didn’t stop as the three of us were swapping stories, jeering and joking as we edged closer to the mountains.

The wives, girlfriends and children remained in the safety of Pamplona (i.e. out of earshot) whilst we headed closer towards Baqueira/Beret - a ski resort noted for her excellent snow, elaborate trails and substantial infrastructure. Baqueira was also known as being the preferred choice for celebrities, nobility and the upper echelons of society.

The banter van contained none of those finer gentry and the obscenities emanating from the van could only be matched by the miasmic smell of our room the following morning.

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Galicia, Spain: Semana Santa, Mariscos, y el Fin del Camino

Synopsis: Semana Santa is Spring Break in Spain, and I have 11 days free to travel. I've been planning to go to Galicia for a long time, and now I finally get my chance. This time I will road trip with some new travel buddies: Alberto, Cristina, Hugo, and Julia. I don't know them that well, and some of them don't even know each other, so this is going to be a really interesting trip!

1,857 miles (2.989 km) including the day trips everyday

(from left to right) Me, Cristina, Julia, Hugo (behind), and Alberto

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León, Spain: Carnaval and Free Pintxos

Synopsis: I have a three-day weekend and I look at my list of places I want to visit and see my next stop: León. I invite several people, but in the end, it comes down to the faithful few adventurous friends I have, Ainhoa and Greg. We plan to stop at a few places along the way, since we are following the Camino de Santiago and will likely encounter some interesting sights.

Seems so much closer on the map

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