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Dallas

27/6/2017

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What I did-
Visited JFK sites-
Dallas was the site of one of the most infamous events in American history. President John F. Kennedy was shot while in Dallas. There are many theories as to who actually killed Kennedy and it was behind the killing of Kennedy. I visited the site of the shooting and was able to see the window where Lee Harvey Oswald allegedly shot JFK.

UFC 211-
I had the opportunity to attend UFC 211 in Dallas at the American Airlines arena. Although I didn't have great seats, it was a solid night of fights and a good experience. I was also able to go to many of the fight week events such as the open workouts, the weigh-ins, and the quarterly UFC press conference previewing the upcoming fights taking place in the next few months. I also saw many different UFC fighters around the city of Dallas that were in town for the fights.

Foam Fest 5K-
On my way over to Dallas I happened to sit next to a guy who runs some of the mud races around the US and Canada. He gave me free tickets for myself and a couple of my cousins to run the Foam Fest 5K. It was a lot of fun and I was happy to have the opportunity to do it.

Comedy show-
I also had a chance to go to a comedy show just outside of Dallas at the Verizon Center in Grand Prairie, Texas. It was a very sizable theater and a fun show.

Buc-ee's-
Buc-ee's is unlike any other gas station I have been in. It really should be in a gas-station-superstore category of its own. In addition to filling up your car, you can sample and buy many different varieties of jerky and purchase furniture, grills, clothes, or groceries.
Where I stayed and how I got around-
I had some family living in the Dallas area, so I was able to stay with them. To get around when I wasn't with them, I used ridesharing apps Lyft and Uber.
What I ate-
Method Coffee-
Nice little coffee shop with some quality coffee.

Pecan Lodge-
Pecan Lodge has some of the best barbecue I've ever had. Although there was a long line when I went, it was well worth the wait.

Twisted Root Burger Company-
Twisted Root is a cool, high-quality burger joint. In addition to the regular beef, they also offer exotic meats such as buffalo, venison, elk, ostrich, and kangaroo. Everything they make is done with care, and you can taste the results.

Meso Maya-
Meso Maya my had some of the best Mexican food I've had. Although it's not the cheapest Mexican restaurant I've been to, the prices are very reasonable, especially considering the quality of food you get.

Hard 8 BBQ-
Hard 8 is a nice and tasty pay-by-the-pound barbeque restaurant.

Local Press + Brew-
A great coffee spot. The coconut nitro cold brew was especially good. The ingredients are locally sourced, and the coffee is roasted by Dallas-based Noble Coyote Coffee Roasters.

Babe's Chicken Dinner House-
Babes offers a limited menu, but what they have they make well. The Hickory smoked chicken was especially good.


Favorite thing-
Having the opportunity to go to a live UFC event was an awesome experience. Also, the BBQ and Mexican food was very good, and I got to spend some time with some family I hadn't seen in a while.

Least favorite thing-
Dallas is very spread out. While there is some decent public transportation, it is not at the level of some other major cities.

For next time-
If I went to another UFC event, I would try to get better seats. For next time I am in Dallas there are still some food spots such as Velvet Taco that I have heard about and would like to check out. Also, although I normally cut my own hair rather than pay to get it cut, there is a Barbershop/Speakeasy called High & Tight Barbershop that I would like to check out.
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Petra

20/6/2017

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What I did and how I got around-
Met some awesome people-
I went to Petra with a group from Abraham tours that left from Jerusalem. There were interesting people in my group from all over the world. I was very fortunate to get the opportunity to spend my time in Jordan with them. We were driven on a bus and had a great tour guide.

Visited Jerash (Gerasa)-
At the height of the Roman Empire there where a group of ten cities in the southeastern Levant known as the Decapolis. Jerash is one of these cities. It is relatively well preserved and lacks the crowds of many other historic sites.

Explored Petra-
Petra is absolutely amazing. Pictures do not do it justice. It was built over two thousand years ago and was a major trading hub. It was even featured in Indiana Jone and the Last Crusade. It is one of the seven wonders of the modern world along with the Great Wall of China, the Taj Majal, Chichen Itza, Machu Picchu, the Colusseum, and the Christ the Redeemer Statue. In addition to buildings that are intricately carved into the side of the mountains, there are areas you can hike to for amazing views of Jordan and Israel. For anyone planning on being in the area in or around Jordan, I highly recommend making a trip to Petra.

Where I stayed and what I ate-
Bedouin campsite-
After leaving Jerusalem and visiting Jerash, I stayed the night in a Bedouin camp just outside of Petra. My hosts were very hospitable and I was treated to some great local food. The tea was especially good. Although the weather was especially cold, there was a nice fire going in the common area. When I first got into bed it was freezing cold, but with the abundance of heavy blankets it didn't take long to get warmed up.

Favorite thing-
The overall magnificence of Petra. It is amazing just to look at and explore.

Least favorite thing-
There wasn't really anything I disliked about my trip to Petra. If I had to pick something it would be the weather. Although it wasn't that bad, the weather colder than I would prefer.

For next time-
Due to time constraints we were not able to go to Amman. If I went back to Jordan I would be interested in visiting the capital city.
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Merino Wool Shirts

13/6/2017

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I have used merino wool shirts for almost a year now, and I highly recommend them. They are great to use for travel for the following reasons:
Temperature regulation, quick drying, and durability

Temperature regulation-
They help to keep you cool when it is warm, and help to keep you warm when it is cold.

Quick drying-
They also dry relatively quickly.

Durable-
I have shirts from Smartwool, Ibex, and Icebreaker. All of them are as good as new after a year of use.


The downside-
In my opinion, the only real downside to merino wool shirts is the price. Most merino shirts will typically cost between $40-$100.


Bottom line-
In my opinion, although merino shirts are expensive, they are worth it. I have been happy with the merino shirts I have used.
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Tortuga Backpack V2

6/6/2017

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Why I bought it-
I bought the Tortuga backpack prior to taking a month long trip through Europe. I wanted a bag I could carry with me wherever we went. It needed to meet carry on requirements and still fit everything I wanted to bring with me. One of the things that appealed to me about the Tortuga was the comparison page they had on their website. The listed all of the major competitors in the maximum carry on realm, and listed why the Tortuga was better than each of them.

Specs-
The Tortuga is 45L and is the maximum size for carry on baggage with airlines in the United States (22"x14"x9"). It has lockable zippers and tough, but not waterproof, material. The main compartment opens fully, like a suitcase. It also features a smaller front pocket, two small side pockets, a laptop pocket in the back, and two small pockets on the weight belt. I also purchased the packing cubes that are designed to fit perfectly into the main compartment. When being placed in overhead bins or other storage, the backpack straps can be covered so they do not get caught.

My experience-
I have used the Tortuga to go through many different countries and it has held up well. The durability of the backpack has been very good, and after a significant amount of use I have not noticed any significant wear and tear. It is still the bag I currently use for travel. I have been very happy with this backpack and plan to keep using it. While it has some room for minor improvements, it is a great option that has served me well.

Future outlook-
Tortuga has now come out with a new line of bags called the "Outbreaker" series. I am considering buy the 35L to try and use as a personal item on airlines in the United States and a carry on for the more strictly limited European budget airlines. While it would technically be slightly to big, unless I ran into a flight attendant having a bad day, I would probably be fine using it for this. The new line appears to have ironed out some shortcomings of the previous line, such as using a more durable, waterproof material.
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    Welcome to the Healthy Explorer Blog.  If you like travel stories have a look around my blog and check out my podcast— maybe you'll find an extra spark for your own adventures.

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