Travel
Check out @nomad_nicholas for up-to-date content
Oceans: 4
Summits: 0
Countries: 58
Continents: 5

Botswana | Zimbabwe | Zambia ๐ถ๐
Wrapping up what’s likely my final official post of the year (๐ข) by highlighting 3 countries unique in biodiversity, terrain, and feel. Top moments:
• Rafting the Mighty Zambezi
• Copiloting over Victoria Falls
• Dawn game drive in Chobe Park
• Elephant tracking on Mocorros through the Okavango Delta
• Sunset cruise down the Chobe River
• Finishing the Brooklyn Follies on the most remote campsite I’ve been
Thanks for following along on this latest adventure— already looking forward to 2024! Now off to the big city… ๐
___
I realize that I’m breaking an unspoken rule of the account by grouping multiple countries together within one post. Rest assured that it’s not for a lack of content or individual identity (Livingstone couldn’t have been more different from Vic Falls), but the best portrayal of how I experienced this region. With the Kaza Visa, we were back and forth between the 3 every day, rendering a chronological post both impossible and nonrepresentative.

Namibia ๐๐ถ (2/2)
The second half of Namibia saw a massive change in environment as we transitioned from the coastal dunes to national parks.
Animal spotting was incredible, the people we met were unbelievably knowledgeable, and sunsets over the Kavango were a different breed…
Was also introduced to a Rock Shandy— might have to pull that one out at an upcoming event ๐

Namibia ๐๏ธ (1/2)
With 5 days left in this glorious country, I’ve realized that I’m going to have too much content for a single post. As such, here are some highlights from our expedition up the Skeleton Coast to Swakopmund:
• Sunrise hike up Dune 45
• Kayaking down the Orange River
• Napping under a petrified tree in Dedvlei
• Converting to a board man for a day (apologies @bryce_murrin)
• Quad-biking on the Skeleton Coast
• Amarula
• Sunset over the Fish River Canyon
Currently heading east through Etosha toward Botswana and the Okavango Delta— full Namibian recap to come

โฐ๏ธCape Town ๐
No description, picture, nor comparison can do justice to just how beautiful this city is… All I really can say is you have experience it yourself! Still, I’ll give it a go…
Take the best natural features of San Francisco Bay, Rio Harbour, and Tuscany, add in an incredibly embracing and stimulating population with deep cultural history, plus some of my personal favorite tastes and smells (brings me back to Brighton and Carcassone at the same time), and somehow I still feel as if I’m falling quite short.
The best compliment I can give CT is that I feel as if there’s a part of the city for everyone— no matter how unique or different your taste and style.
Some highlights:
• Exploring Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope (southwestern-most point of Africa)
• Hanging out with penguins on Boulder Beach
• Hiking Lion’s Head Mountain
• Wine tasting in Constantia
• Watching the Springboks win their opening match on Kloof Street
• Fish & chips at Mariner’s Wharf on Hout Bay
• Touring and whale-spotting at the Robben Island Museum (Nelson Mandela Gateway)
Have to give a massive shoutout to @luyandaaaa and @sarah_ebell for some fantastic recommendations ๐๐ผ
Can’t wait to come back! Time to head north…

Utah ๐ฅ
A new top-5 state has entered the mix… Coming in hot, dry, and red, tied for 5th with Alaska, we have Utansn.
Second only to California in ‘biome diversity’ and up there with Yosemite for most dramatic landscape I’ve seen in the States, we had the pleasure of hitting 3 national parks, driving through 2 more, and stopping in 2 state parks on our tour. Highlights:
(1-2) Bryce Canyon
(3-4) Angels Landing, Zion
(5-6) Escalante
(7-8) Arches
(9) Sand warrior transformation
(10) Origin of the wild horse
+ honorable mention to Goblin Valley for an immaculate setting and puppet show ๐, and Escalante for slot canyons worth pushing physical boundaries for…
A big thank you to trip leader and star photographer (literally took 9/10 of these) @bryce_murrin โค๏ธ
Time to spend some time in civilization ๐ต

๐ผTokyo๐ผ
And LAST but not least, the final stop on our 43 day expedition: Tokyo.
Thank y’all for following along! We’ll be back with more activity this summer, where the adventure continues:
7.20 — Utah
9.7 — South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe

โ๏ธ Hiroshima โ๏ธ
A city rebuilt and redefined— embracing its past to become one of the most influential contributors in the atomic world. Loved being around all of the history.
Better late than never, didn’t feel right not rounding out the trip.

โฉ๏ธ Kyoto โฉ๏ธ
12 hours of Torii trekking and bamboo booling
+ Bryce downing the biggest bowl of ramen seen yet ๐ฅต

Kumano Kodo๐ถโ๏ธ๐พ
For our final mode of transportation on this expedition, 121.5km of pure walking. Featuring:
• 7 days
• 6 towns
• 3 Grand Shrines
• Climbing, at a 1:2 vertical-horizontal ratio, the Everest of Japan (most difficult hike I’ve ever had)
•Befriending an array of people (the Chair of ASC, the Spirit of Kumano, and Japan’s loveliest grandparents)
• A rice-eating competition for the ages
• Teva-Foot convergence
• Black Mirror Season 6
• An exercise in empathy
And of course, an incredible set of lads. Onto our grad trip finale: Tokyo.

Osaka ๐๏ธ
A little late to this one, and an insane change of pace coming from Hanoi. Couldn’t think of two more opposite places…
Biggest surprises:
• No j-walking
• Pod living ๐ (iykyk)
• Ramen
• Sound of silence
Many thoughts on Japan to come!

Ha Giang Loop ๐๏ธ
5 days, 1000+ kilometers, 6 boys, 6 bikes, 0 tour guides, 1 ransom, 1 crash, 2 police standoffs, and an absolutely brilliant way to wrap up our time in Southeast Asia.
Shoutout to the main man Dan (my dad) for organizing everything and captaining the team โค๏ธ Much love! And to @leoboening16 and @allhailsebri for jumping on board with us ๐ ‘Til the next adventure!
Japan, here we come…

Hanoi ๐จ
Such an interesting and imposing place… Started out rough, but the city grew on the team a lot— just had to get used to our first interaction with some really uninviting people. Highlights:
1. Special appearances from Maddie and Coby
2. International Dolphino dominance
3. Spring roll heaven
4. Mustache Bryce
5. Beesneez Speakeasy + Balloon Bar

Ninh Binh ๐ชท๐
(1) Tam Coc
(2) Dot Cave
(3) Trong Nha
(4) Rescuing Gerald
(5) Healing Gerald
…
(9) Vietnamese Rowing Team
(10) Dragon Summit

Phong Nha — “The Adventure Capital of Southeast Asia”
Paradise and Phong Nha Caves were dope, but the scooter ride in between was the highlight. Apparently I’m not a big cave guy. Don’t video and drive btw, bad idea. Terrible combo. Who would do that.
Series of sleepy Leo coming soon.

Hôi An ๐ป๐ณ
Welcome to Vietnam! No visas, no problems— lads celebrating last-minute immigration in style.
New cuts, new linens, new suits. Ran into my dad, mom hates the haircut. No surprises there! XD

Siem Reap ๐
‘I’ve wrestled with alligators…’. Turns out the Cambodian crocs are a bit tougher.
Favorite town thus far (Floating Village and Tonle Sap). Best ruin and temple thus far (Angkor Wat). Top meal thus far— a 9 course tasting and lesson in gastronomy @ the all-female restaurant Embassy… Unreal. Only had a couple of days in the country, sad to leave so soon!
Cambodia has my heart ๐ฐ๐ญ

Half Moon Festival — Koh Phangan
Yikes… Oops…
I used to dislike House. Then I loved House. Now I hate House. Boo House. Never have I wanted to listen to Drake more.
We actually went to listen to the Frat Boy music, the main stages were that bad… And it was still worse than Snakes basement.
Bye bye Thai Thai.

! Khao Sok !
Cancelled out a sprained wrist with an abundance of THC… Classic. #IYKYK
Resulted in a truly natural appreciation for a lake that puts even the late great Biopond to shame.
Wrist feeling better thanks for asking. Rish’s spontaneous approach to travel huge for securing a last minute boat and being the only people on the lake. Dude even lit up with us…




















Whatโs Next?
2025
(April) Egypt & Jordan
Cairo, Luxur, and Aswan
Amman, Petra, and Wadi Rum
2025
(September) Machu Picchu
Inca Trail
Amazon Rainforest