danielincandela.com

For the past few months, I’ve been obsessing about Aurora Borealis, also known as The Northern Lights – not that I need an excuse to plan a trip to Norther Canada, Serbia or Norway. Sign me up. The images of this natural wonder are, well, wonderful.

They’re like a spell from Albus Dumbledore.

They could be from the brush of Thomas Kinkade, Painter of Light

Or suddenly appear in an episode of J.J. Abrams LOST.

Northern Lights by Flickr user Joar Andre

The Northern Lights appear magical, conjured, out-of-this-world and spell binding. Who wouldn’t want to see them? (more…)

Filed under: Pail Tally by Daniel
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With days left in 2011, I’m following up on my top-5 images on Flickr with my 5 most viewed posts of 2011, as well, my favorite 5 of the year. Lucky you.

5

Here are most viewed 5, based on Google Analytics.

1. Depression is My Nemesis
2. Fatherhood
3. The Perfect Penalty Kick
4. The Roman Colosseum Hot Tub
5. Indianapolis Memorial for Sal Incandela

All are easy to explain. #1 was the most honest, revealing thing I’ve ever written (over 160 comments). Who doesn’t like to be a voyeur? It also got picked up by lovebomb (still so touched), and the reason I got so many hits/comments. #2, Fatherhood, was my most popular post of 2010 and after my father died, it got a lot of traffic. #3, this one got picked up by some sites in Europe and I’m not sure anyone was expecting it. #4, I love this one – funny, creative and outrageous – this one got lots of love online and was only published in December. #5, this one is pretty obvious.

So what are my favorite 5? Drum roll please.

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Filed under: Random by Daniel
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I’m flying home today and I started thinking about the rituals I go through when traveling through airports, that now seem like second nature. I know how to fly. I know how to navigate airports. I know how to get my own way. This only happened after years of being the idiot traveler, over packing, lost luggage and sitting in the middle seat on international flights. I’m no savant when it comes to air travel, I just made a million mistakes along the way. I’m like the guy that finally graduated high school…

I sometimes get texts from friend’s asking for air travel advice. I’m always happy to oblige. The time has come to drop some of my knowledge.

It's going to be ok

Some of my tips are common sense, some are unorthodox, but all have gotten me to from point A to B with a smile on my face. And you all know how much I like to smile. Here are my 10 tips. I hope they help, but mostly, I hope they make you laugh.

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Filed under: Travel by Daniel
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To the 8 readers a day that frequent my site, you’ve gotten to know me as someone that loves everything about travel. I don’t mind delays, changes in the schedule, jet lag or any planning for that matter. So readers, you’ll be saddened to learn I threw away my trusty Samsonite suitcase recently (it was also Ludwig’s favorite too).

My old, trusty Samsonite (and my cat Ludwig)

Now that I’m dangerously close to 40 years of age, I wondered to myself – Is it time to own a grown up suitcase – is there such a thing? Well, I think they exist, in the form of two brands RIMOWA and Tumi.

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Filed under: Travel by Daniel
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I’ve not been shy in previous posts about sharing my love for travel. Or riding on planes. I also love sitting on trains and buses. Basically anything that lets me sit, think and look out the window. Each day in Japan, we take a 1-hour bus ride to a from the Twin Ring Motegi race track. I awake in my itsy bitsy room and Hotel Sunshine, shower, get ready and head down to the local 7-Eleven and buy some coffee drinks and a weird pastry. Then I get on the bus.

Lots of coffee in Japan

A lot of people complain about the bus ride. I get that. It’s two hours out of a day when you’re already jet lagged and working. But I love it.

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Filed under: Japan, Travel, Video by Daniel
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