Making the decision to be happy

Deciding to be happy, pursuing my passions, and volunteering my way toward a better world

Now

Happiness Plunge Twitter Happiness Plunge Facebook Happiness Plunge Youtube Channel

An Indian Wedding – Need I Say More?

Celebrating Diwali In India With Food, Fireworks, And Family

A Day With My Hero – Mahatma Gandhi

My 500th Post On My 500th Day As A Happy & Homeless Nomad

Hey Mom, Surprise, I’m Home For Christmas!

Buddha’s Beautiful Birthplace

Visiting Kids With Cancer In The Hospital

Meditating With Pythons – This Time I Was Scared!

An Amazing Week At A Rural Thai Buddhist Temple

A Magical Week In The Laotian Countryside – Ending With A Village Ceremony And Tears

Are Cambodians The Happiest People On Earth?

30 Things I’ve Learned About Life As I Turn 30

The Best Of Latin America – Best Photographs

A Weekend With The Tsachilas – Indigenous, Spiritual, And Fellow Nomads

An amazing weekend with the Tsachila indigenous people of Santo Domingo, Ecuador

Together, Let’s Help Kids With Cancer!

Help me raise money for kids with cancer while I grow out a future wig to help a child with cancer live a more normal life.

Celebrating The New Year In Venezuela – Impromptu Trip To The Most Beautiful Beach I’ve Ever Seen

The pictures speak for themselves, and yet could never really show how beautiful this place was!

Building A Website & Installing A Solar Panel System – An Awesome Volunteering Experience In Honduras!

One of the best and most rewarding volunteering experiences yet!

How I Improved My Trip And Avoided Being Alone On Christmas In Less Than An Hour By Embracing Change

December 15, 2011

On Thursday, December 1st I sat down to try and do some Happy Nomad Tour “administrative” things. I used to stay a month ahead in terms of planning, but I’ve long given that up and take comfort in knowing where I’ll be and what I’ll be doing 24-hours in the future. My brother, who planned [...]

Read the full story →

Worst Border Crossing Yet – The Not-So-Welcome To Panama Experience

December 14, 2011

Crossing the Costa Rica-Panama border was, by far, the worst border crossing experience I’ve had so far on The Happy Nomad Tour (well, in my life actually, but I think I’ve had good luck!). Leaving Cartago The day started with me getting up at 4am to leave Casa del Indio. I took a taxi in Cartago, [...]

Read the full story →

Cartago, Costa Rica – Churches, Ruins, And Freezing

December 12, 2011

Cartago is the capital of the Costa Rican state by the same name. It’s known as the most religious place in Costa Rica and its Basilica de Los Angeles is effectively the national cathedral. Cartago is 22km/15mi from San Jose, so it’s quite easy to hop on a bus and make Cartago a day trip. [...]

Read the full story →

Volunteering At Hogar de Pan Orphanage In Cartago, Costa Rica

December 10, 2011

From the outside, Hogar de Pan looks like a normal house. There is no sign and nothing remarkable about it. But inside, it is a remarkable story. The orphanage was started by inspirational couple Victor and Melba. Their son was extremely sick 30 years ago and the doctor told them that he wouldn’t make it. [...]

Read the full story →

Photo Friday – Universal Language, An Unforgettable Smile – Chichica, Panama

December 9, 2011

Read the full story →

Casa del Indio – An Inspirational House Full Of Stories, Character, and Love

December 7, 2011

It’s hard to explain what exactly Casa del Indio is. It was difficult for Chema (the friend I made in San Jose who introduced me to Casa del Indio) to explain it to me, and it’s hard for me now to explain what it is. For me, it’ll always be the savior of Thanksgiving 2011, [...]

Read the full story →

Orphanage Rejection, Furry Guest, And First TV Appearance – What A Day!

December 5, 2011

I started Tuesday, November 29th off by taking some pictures of this beautiful flower at Casa del Indio. Jilario, the superintendent, told me that it only blooms once a year and asked if I would take some pictures of it. I was happy to! It was while taking pictures of this flower that I saw [...]

Read the full story →

How To Make Coffee The Central American Way

December 3, 2011

Central American coffee is wonderful. It tastes great and is less acidic. But the way to prepare it is a bit different than what I’m used to. I’ve seen the machines that cafes use to prepare coffee, where water is heated and pushed through the coffee under high pressure and the milk is steamed/foamed. I’ve [...]

Read the full story →