Travel Bloggers I Follow

Gypset Travel with Style
As coined by free-lance Journalist Julia Chaplin, Gypset: (gypsy + jet-set) to describe a new type of travel, and cultural foraging at home, that redefines the optimal adventure as something with the global references and chic speed of the jet-set mixed with the alternative, anti-commercialism and nomadic wile of a gypsy.

Frank Cheng Israel, Christianity, Europe
The moment Frank met me in Taiwan for our Fun Taiwan audition, and I said that I was from Hacienda Heights, he immediately sensed the comfort of home. As his wanderlust is greater than any that I've met. He's grown up in the US & Taiwan. Attended school at UCI, studied abroad in Egypt, Lived in Taiwan working for a travel magazine for half a year, San Francisco, and now back to the root in LA. 1 year later after we met, as Frank & I sat in my patio, smoking hookah after a nice home-cooked Taiwanese meal, blasting Arabic music he glances over at me and goes "You know I was thinking why You & I click so well? It's cuz you're Chinese, you love to travel, and you have this fascination with the middle east like me. How many others can you find with such odd circumstances?"

JennySeoulMate Teaching English in Korea, London, Paris, Amsterdam
Jenny is a good college friend of mine who daringly stepped out of her comfort zone 2 years ago to quit her dreadful 9-5 job in LA to teach English at a private tutoring institute in Korea. This blog contains her daily experiences interacting with the kids, life lessons learned and Korean culture.

Media Set Free Documentary Filmmaker, Haiti, Afghanistan
My partner in Crime Boaz, in developing Documentary Films on World matters. "There are people, events and places in this world that, when visited, allow us to see things in a totally different light . It opens our eyes to how the world can really  be, what’s possible and ultimately who we really are. Some of us have lived rich full lives, while others have still far to go. No life is less important than any other. We live, we love, we cry and we pass on this knowledge of life to the next generation."

Marc in the Wild Central America, India, SE Asia
Robbed clean in Belise while sleeping in a hostel w 6 other individuals, spent 3 months train-riding throughout India & now with a breath of fresh air in SE Asia: An awesome character I met at the border of Thailand & Cambodia. Through the hazing some of these local animals put you through, you sure get close to other travelers around. Esp these guys since they were the only Americans we met (from Chicago) the whole month in SE Asia. Marc is backpacking with Justen for this year & blogs about his exciting travels. We shared an awesome dinner over 50 cent beers & insightful conversations of the Joy in Nomadic Travels & the complete bore in a stable 9-5 life. I have now become one of those in the States living vicariously since I've been home.

Tiffany Burnett China Town, Chinese culture around the world
A gorgeous & talented young Travel Host for the Travel Channel. Also, itsthepelican.com

Angilee Shah Politics, India, Singapore, Islam, Globalization
I met Angilee at the Asian American Journalist Association Convention. I was instantly inspired by her interests in World News & involvement at such a young age.

Kyle Mikami South America & Europe
College buddy who just recently backpacked through South America for a year on his own. His blog on music, culture, travel, politics and more. We are currently in the works of some High HD projects.

Lisa Ling
My True Inspiration and Hero

Wanderlust and Lipstick Beth Whitman
One of the most well-known name in the independent Women Travel Industry. She leads tour groups, Acclaimed writer of many travel books, featured in travel magazines, conventions, etc.

Where the Hell is Matt!? Just your average guy from Conneticut..
Who quit his video game job with some meager savings & started traveling the world. At one moment, his friend asked him to do that silly dance he does instead of a boring picture pose to post on his website. Countries later, his compiled videos became an international hit on YouTube. He's still travelin' & bloggin'.. and inspires all of us to continue being silly!
"Matt is not rich. Matt also doesn't have some magical secret for traveling cheaply. He does it pretty much the same way everybody else does. Matt thinks Americans need to travel abroad more. Matt was a very poor student and never went to college. When he got older, he was pleased to discover that no one actually cares."

Indiana Paul & The Jungle India, Canada, Korea, Geoff
2 Canadian friends I met in India on a 1 day excursion of Bamboo Rafting at Thekkady Periyar Wildlife, where we spotted elephants & shared incredible stories among our group of diverse friends from all over the world. These 2 sites contain their blogs/photos in India to provide some more insight & info of backpacking in this beautiful country.

Jen Leo Queen of Travel Blogs
Jen Leo has been featured in LA Times, author of Sand in My Bra, among other hilarious women travel books. Insight into mis-adventure in Travels yet finding the fun in it.

Foodie & Lifestyle Bloggers

Phó the Love of Food Amy Powell
Trained in cooking, skilled at writing, expert in eating. See where Amy's hunger for adventure in food takes her next...

Zen Habits smile, breathe, go slowly.
Zen Habits is about finding simplicity in the daily chaos of our lives. It’s about clearing the clutter so we can focus on what’s important, create something amazing, find happiness.

Sweet Sayaka Sayaka Pereira
My belly Dancing teacher on Saturday mornings (to keep me out of trouble). A kindred soul I've met in LA who works in Real Estate like me, but has a passion for the Arts in Dancing. I am absolutely mesmorized by all her moves in Belly Dancing, Jiujitsu, Brazilian Samba, Jazz and so much more.

The Visceral Absurdist Travis McMichael III
A deep beautiful writer who's moved from LA to NY, brief but sweet memories of our conversations on Life years ago. With an amazing music playlist on the site I keep on for hours as if Pandora.

Must Love Pork Venessa
My college girlfriend who has followed her Food Passion and is enrolled in her 2nd semester at Culinary school in San Francisco. She blogs about new recipes and Restaurants she Loves.

Yoga with Diana Diana Cohanzad
"From my very first experience with yoga, I was instantly attracted to the holistic approach that yoga takes, integrating body, mind, spirit and breath.  In 2008, I decided to begin my journey as a teacher so that I could share the benefits of yoga with others." Diana has inspired me to get my Yoga teaching license. She is currently teaching at Yoga Works. Follow her blog on everything Yoga!

Pitter Pattern Kacie
A dear friend of mine:: a twenty-something year old finding herself through the ways of creativity, fashion, traveling, & spontaneity.

Photography at it's Finest

Ed Kashi
One of my favorite Travel/Documentary Photographer/Blogger. His photography is daring, it's bold, it has no censor. It shows life as it is. War & Happiness, Danger Zones. Third World Countries, He spent 5 months in Kurdistan, Iraq. Photo Essays on 'Arab Christians', 'Oil in Niger Delta'.. & many more I'm still exploring.

Steve McCurry
The photographer who captured the famous cover of National Geographic's magazine 'Afghan Girl'.

Time & Action Productions
Matt Wardenaar One of my best college buddy, extremely talented. If you need a Professional Photographer or Video in Los Angeles to hire for any event!

Erich Chen
23 States in 23 Days
For Wedding, Bodour, Headshots Photography.

Ashes and Snow
Gregory Colbert My FAVORITE. Simply Euphoric.
"With profound patience and an unswerving commitment to the expressive and artistic nature of animals, Gregory Colbert has captured extraordinary interactions between humans and animals."