Nestled deep within an Oregon forest is an industrious individual's one-of-a-kind home, brilliantly rendered from a Boeing 727 retired from a now defunct Greek airline. How he managed to tuck this massive aluminum aircraft amongst the surrounding fir trees is still a mystery to me. I had the distinct pleasure of helping to reinstall the inboard flap's outboard track for the right wing.

I'm here! I am finally here! Continent #7 at long last! The coldest, highest, driest, brightest and windiest continent of them all. The purity of this place is breathtaking. I used to think that SCUBA diving was the closest simulation to visiting another world, but now that I've set foot on Antarctica that has all changed. Looking around at the unadulterated landscape feels as if I am the first one to ever lay eyes on this planet and come face-to-beak with its alien life forms -- the thousands of adorable penguins! Nature is just perfect, and even its imperfections are perfect.

This. Is. Patagonia. El Chalten, a tiny village at the edge Río de las Vueltas serves as the starting point for some intense hikes up to and around Mt. Fitz Roy and Cerro Torres, two of the most rugged and impressive peaks in the Patagonian Andes. Over the course of three days I hiked over 40 miles through these pristine landscapes. Foot massage anyone?

Useless factoid: Fitz Roy was the inspiration for the logo of Patagonia, the clothing company.

A short bus ride from El Calafate is Los Glaciares National Park, home to the magnificent Perito Moreno Glacier. This living mass of ice is in a constant state of flux, moaning & groaning, expanding & contracting with the rhythm of Mother Earth's breath. Taking in the sights and sounds of the glacier calving huge faces of frozen water into the very lake that itself birthed was such an invigorating start to the New Year!

One of the worlds biggest sporting events in one of the worlds most beautiful cities. Here in Rio de Janeiro, Christianity is the dominant religion, that is until the FIFA World Cup rolls around when they look to a new savior to redeem The Cup.

Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. Each seaside village joined to the next by the most picturesque coastline hiking trail in the world. Collectively they make up the UNESCO World Heritage site of "The Five Lands" but each of them are unique, with their own quaint culture & cuisine. Try the pesto! Mama Mia!

The quintessential Italian tourist destination. What more can be said that hasn't already been said before? Let's just let the photos do the speaking, shall we?

Norwegian Air had an insane fare to Italy: $105 from Newark to Milan, round-trip all taxes included. At that price I'd be an idiot not to return to Italy! Besides I had never been to Milan before and this would give me an opportunity to explore parts of Italy that I had never experienced before: Venice, Verona, Cinque Terra to name a few.

I've been fascinated with Petra ever since I was 13. I first saw the sandstone marvel in a whopping 256-VGA-color rendering in the "Kings Quest V" video game, and then later again in "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" in slightly higher fidelity. So when I had the opportunity to walk down the dark, narrow gorge called the Siq on my own two feet, you can bet I was the first one through the gate at the crack of dawn, and the first one to reach The Treasury! Sadly there was no more treasure left. But I did manage to find a magic lantern! I wonder what I should wish for next?

The best travel memories come from immersion. Let down your guard, drop all of your preconceived ideas, throw caution to the wind and just go 100% all-in! In the desert of Wadi Rum that means living like the local Bedouin people. You pack in your water – it's a desert after all, you hike over red sand dunes, and you sleep under the stars. For shelter you find caves, and for transportation you rely on camels. For food, you're either a trapper or you carry an AK-47 to hunt ibex. To stay warm you forage for kindling and some form of a fire-starter.

I met a woman on a bus in Alaska who had just returned from India. She summed up her experience in just three words: "A sensory blender!" Now I know what she means. On my first full day in India I literally walked out of my hotel, and stood on the street corner for no less than 2 hours, just watching the chaos around me. Senses blended! I love all the stimulation here!