What 2013 was for me… & what 2014 will be.

As the year comes to an end we naturally look at what the year was and what lies ahead. A year ago yesterday I ditched the remainder of my Southeast Asia travel plans to go back to Cairo for the man I love. I spent the first two months of this year that also happened to be the last two months of my trip around the world with him. I kicked off 2013 with a midnight kiss kissing the man I love at a Gay party in the heart of Cairo. I think of that party often not only because I was able to be with him, but because the risk we all faced that night being at a GAY PARTY in CAIRO. One day I will get the nerves to actually write about Gay life in Cairo, but for now just won’t because it’s not worth putting anyone at risk. The first two months of this year were amazing… up until well I said the last goodbye and it was back to reality for me as my 2 year trip around the world ended and I went back home with a broken heart.

Houston St. in NYC & well Houston, Texas is where I live.

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I’ve already written about the reality of coming home after you have traveled the world and well for me that is what 2013 was. It was about going back to reality of life at home and the roller coaster of emotions that came with it. It wasn’t as bad as it may sound… I’m seriously sitting here smiling at what a difficult yet amazing year I actually had and how I didn’t break my New Years Resolution. You heard that right… I sure didn’t and haven’t. This will be the 3rd year I don’t break my New Years Resolution. I’ll share what it was at the end because it’s going to be the same for next year.

This year something I had been doing through out my travels went viral. My TOE TOUCHES AROUND THE WORLD photos that I shared on my Facebook fanpage were picked up by Mashable and Yahoo/Good Morning America/ABC. I was also interviewed on NBC Latino. In 2013 I didn’t do much travel, well obviously not as much as I had done the previous 2 years. I did though still manage to do a bit. I went to New Orleans, San Antonio, Austin, The Valley (in Texas), New York City and Toronto (Canada was a new country for me). I didn’t write about any of that… I actually didn’t do much blogging this year. I kind of neglected my blog quite a bit and am okay with that. I shared a ton of IN PHOTOS post seriously like a lot of them, because I had most of them in my drafts for a long time ago (some for even almost 2 years). I still have a few more to share so expect just a few more of those in 2014. When I did write though I feel like I wrote some great posts. Here were some of my favorite and most popular from this year:

• The night I was arrested and almost sent to jail in Manila.
• The best prank in travel blogging history.
• This is what budget travel is…
• Random statistics from a 2 year backpacking trip around the world.
• How much did it cost me to travel the world for 2 years?
• What a passport looks like after 2 years of travel.
• My top 10 travel destinations.
• 52 Toe Touches around the world.
• The reality of coming home after you have traveled the world.
• The day I got my haircut from a survivor of The Killing Fields at home.
• Pay yourself first! Why don’t we start #SavingSunday?

Photo of my mothers side of the family. That is my Grandma in the center with my cousins and second cousins. Still missing quite a few family members who couldn’t make it. 

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The best part of 2013 though was spending time with my friends and family. It’s something I missed so much on the road and made sure I made the most of while I was home this year. I was home for many occasions like birthdays, graduations, a family reunion (pictured above), the birth of another nephew and many more moments. Another part of the year I loved was the luck I had coming home to a job. Within 2 weeks of coming home my sister asked me if I wanted to start working for her & her boss at the law firm because they needed help. It was supposed to be a temporary 10 day job and has now lasted well over 9 months and will hopefully last until I reach my goal in July and get back on the road.

So as I sit here thinking of what 2013 was for me I’m thinking in my mind aside from being an emotional mess because I miss the man I love so much and still do… I had a pretty amazing fucking year. Like I mentioned above I didn’t break my New Years Resolution, because I continued to live life on my terms. Yup I sure did… I am home because I want to be home and working a job I love because I want to work that job. I know I can easily quit, pack my bags and get back on the road and work on the road, but that’s not want just yet. That’s what 2014 will be for me… oh yes I will reach my goal and get back on the road. I have plans to hopefully take off in July and spend a few months in Mexico before spending who knows how long in South America and then going who knows where after that. This time I will be taking off and not have a return date and just go with the flow and find work along the way if I can and just enjoy the life I love on the road, but more on all that later. For now I will end with my 2014 New Years Resolution…

CONTINUE LIVING LIFE ON MY TERMS!!!
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Oh & in 2013 I also joined Instagram after saying I never would & would loved it if you followed along!!! I promise I am not nearly as annoying there as I am on Twitter. Thanks again for following along and like always if you need anything let me know and if I can help you I sure will!!!