H-TownJourneyman's VirtualTourist Home Page
| Page Views: 12,686 | I LOVE A GOOD BEACH by H-TownJourneyman - last update: Oct 19, 2008 |
Thanks For Stopping By!!!
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|  | ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Me, Myself, & I ~~~~~~~~~~~~
I was born in Houston, Texas in the United States, and have lived here for most of my life. I also attended college in Houston. ( UofH - Go Coogs! ) During my years in school, I worked in the hotel industry, which allowed me to meet and chat with people from all over the world, which became a huge influence on my desires & wishes to travel as much as possible.
Growing up in Houston, where it is basically summer 9 months out of the year, I became very accustomed to warm temperatures. And whenever my family went on vacation, it was usually somewhere in the southern U.S. or Mexico, also places known for balmy climate. This to an extent has had an impact on my travels. I love to travel, and whenever I have the opportunity to visit a new place, no matter where it is, I try and take advantage of it. But I looooove the beach! And I looooove warm weather! You won't find a happier person around when you see me laying on a towel in the sand with the sound of the waves crashing about!
Although I am not a huge book reader, I do enjoy reading books of historical events. Issac's Storm by Eric Larson, about the 1900 Galveston Hurricane is a great one! I also love National Geographic magazine, which I have had a subscription to for almost 20 years now! I am a big movie watcher as well. I love comedies, and historical & period movies. The Mission starring Robert De Niro, about Jesuit priests in 18th century Brazil, is one of my all time favorites!
I love sports! I enjoy watching sports on television, but I really like to attend live sporting events whenever possible. Basketball is by far my favorite, but I also like watching soccer (football), even though it is not that popular here in the States, yet it is growing! And don't even try and say anything bad about my Houston Rockets, or we're gonna have words! :) "Catch me in more Houston Rockets than an Astronaut!" - Chamillionaire
Music has also been a big influence on me throughout my life. As a kid, my parents subjected me to endless hours of 50's, 60's & 70's Rock & Roll music, which I began to really like as I got older. Johnny Cash & Creedence Clearwater Revival are 2 of my favorites of this era. Then as a teenager, I began to listen to such Rock artists as Tool , Nirvana and Sublime , as well as Rap artists like Tupac Shakur and Snoop Dogg . And as I began traveling around the U.S., and then other countries, I started really enjoying as well as appreciating other forms of music. Zydeco music from southern Louisiana is one I can really get into, along with Techno and Trance music from the turntables of some of the great DJ's I have been fortunate enough to see. And you can't go wrong with Salsa music to dance to! :) Traveling has really allowed me to experience many types of music that I might not have had the opportunity to hear otherwise.
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Some Traveling Thoughts
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"I travel not to go anywhere, but to go" - Robert Louis Stevenson
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I love this quote, because it is so true! Those of us who really enjoy travelling enjoy just that, the journey. The excitement I feel before I arrive somewhere I have never been before, or a place that I have and really enjoy for that matter, turns me into a little kid on Christmas morning opening a bunch of presents! I love the rush that traveling gives me; a feeling of exploration, discovery, and of course, happiness! :) For me, there's nothing like first stepping foot off that airplane, or boat, or even out of that car, and getting ready for whatever this place brings my way!
"There are two emotions on a plane: boredom & terror" - Orson Welles
I have a tremendous fear of heights, it's my one big fear, and it's a HUGE one. So along with this, I am not the biggest fan of flying, which can be quite a problem when getting to a certain destination requires me to be on a plane for several hours. As long as the flight is a smooth one, I am bored silly like everyone else. But if that plane starts shaking, or drops, like one terrifying experience I had over the Gulf of Mexico, I will have a Death Grip on the arm rests, and my face will look like I am in a tug-of-war contest with a 400 pound professional wrestler! But I deal with my fear for what the payoff will be in the end! But the actual transport to somewhere for me can be an interesting experience to say the least, especially if there is turbulance! :)
Many people have different philosophies and preferences in regards to traveling. Some people like everything luxurious all the way: first class airfare, 4-5 star resorts & hotels, top notch restaurants, etc., etc. Others like to throw on a backpack, hop on a plane in a coach seat, get to your destination, and take off, not knowing where you will lay your head that night. Well, what is wrong with either of these? We all have our own styles when it comes to traveling, and what gives us the most pleasure when we do venture off somewhere. I think that whatever makes someone the happiest when they are traveling is the best way to go. If you like spending time at an exotic resort being pampered, DO IT! If you wish to venture out into the wilderness, and then sleep in a tent along a muddy bank of a river, DO IT! I have been known to do a little of both extremes on various trips and vacations, but I do what makes me the happiest, whatever that may be. In this busy world we live in, it can be quite difficult to find the time to travel anywhere near as much as we would like to. So when you do decide to go somewhere, find out at least some basics, and then do whatever makes you happy! WOW! What a good promo for VT , huh?!!! :)
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Journeys
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"The world is a country which nobody ever yet knew by description; one must travel through it one's self to be acquainted with it" - Lord Chesterfield
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I have always known that I wanted to travel, and I always had dreams of visiting some of the places I would see on television or in National Geographic magazine. But it wasn't until fairly recently that I started actually going to some of these places. I know many of my fellow Vter's have the same sentiment, but I just can't put into words the feelings I get when I am actually in a place that I had seen many times before, but only through a televsion program or an internet website like VT . And the more locations I visit, the more I want to travel. And it's great knowing that no matter how much I do travel, there will always be somewhere else that I still haven't experienced.
Memorable Trips Of Mine
2007
Istanbul,TUR
2005
Prague,CZE; Vienna,AUT; Munich,DEU; Ibiza,ESP; Barcelona,ESP; Amsterdam,NLD; Alanya,TUR; Istanbul,TUR
San Jose,CRI; Jaco,CRI; Quepos,CRI
2004
San Antonio,USA
San Jose,CRI; Jaco,CRI; Quepos,CRI
Maui,USA; Lanai,USA
New Orleans,USA
Las Vegas,USA; New York City,USA
2003
New Orleans,USA
Los Angeles,USA; South Lake Tahoe,USA; San Francisco,USA
Oahu,USA; Maui,USA
Las Vegas,USA
2002
New Orleans,USA
New York City,USA
Maui,USA; Oahu,USA
San Diego,USA; Los Angeles,USA
2001
New Orleans,USA
San Francisco,USA; Los Angeles,USA
Cozumel,MEX
Texas Hill Country,USA
2000
South Padre Island,USA; Brownsville,USA; Matamoros,MEX
New Orleans,USA
1999 & before
Cozumel,MEX
New Orleans,USA
Mississippi,USA
Memphis,USA
Washington,D.C.,USA
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Friends, Old & New
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"A Friend Is Someone Who Gives You Total Freedom To Be Yourself" - Jim Morrison
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Where would we be without our friends? Friends are such a vital part of our lives, we often forget just how important they are. A true friend is something that I cherish so much, because a true friend is something that is so rare. They are there for you in the good times, and they are there for you in the bad times. Friends are there to to support you. Usually we tend to gravitate towards people that are similar to ourselves when we develop friendships. I have quite a few friends who have the same principles, same background, and the same lifestyle as myself. Yet I also have many friends who are quite different than me, with different values and a different way of looking at things. But I enjoy this, and enjoy discussing differing views and opinions with others who disagree or simply are not from the same mold as me. It keeps things interesting. If you can have a friend like this, and at the end of the day sit down and have a beer with them, what a great friend indeed!
"I have found out that there ain't no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them" - Mark Twain
When I read this quote, I laughed hysterically! This is SO true that it actually isn't even funny! :) I have become closer to friends than ever before who were travel companions on trips that I have taken. And I have also lost a friend after a trip before, but I won't get into the messy details of that one! There's ALWAYS 2 sides to every story I suppose! :) But there is indeed truth to Twain's comment; traveling does fill you in on the inner workings of a person a lot more than at any other time. Maybe it's the fact that being away from home and being sort of exposed, out of your comfort zone if you like, that forces you to either bond, or break a relationship with someone who is with you. Well, whatever it is, it's pretty darn true! Hehe! :)
One of the things I absolutely love about VT is being able to meet people from all corners of the globe, and compare stories and experiences. No doubt you find some people here that are similar to yourself, but you will surely meet people that have absolutely nothing in common with you whatsoever! And it all is just great! I have met so many nice and interesting people here, and have made friends with many of them. Some have many things in common with me, and some couldn't be more different than me. This is what I love about it, and I hope to keep it going for a long time to come!
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 Comments for H-TownJourneyman | | | | |
Nicckie Thu May 28, 2009 17:53 UTC
Hey Josh- I love Texas and you bring a new vantage point from the state. Very cool and thanks - Nicole | clueless83 Wed Apr 15, 2009 16:42 UTC
Hey, I couldn't agree more with you there, we do all have our own styles of travelling and its those styles that make places like VT more rounded and inviting to everyone! :) Happy travels! | Phalaenopsis03 Tue Feb 17, 2009 18:28 UTC
Hey Josh in Houston! Haven't been on VT much these days so a belated belated HAPPY BIRTHDAY to ya guy!!! I'm sure you enjoyed celebrating your special day. Have a fabulous 2009 H-TJ! | davidtahd Sat Jan 31, 2009 14:03 UTC
Happy belated Birthday Josh :) I hope that you are enjoying life in Houston, TX and your travels. You have some awesome travel photos. Take Care, Todd |
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