Greg Goodman - Photographic Storytelling - a Journey Awaits
  • TRAVEL
    • Close
    • BASEBALLPhotos and stories from Baseball Stadiums in America
    • USAUSA United States of America stories and photos
    • INDIAIndia photography and storytelling
    • ASIAPhotography and Stories from Asia
    • SOUTH AMERICAPhotography and Stories from South America
  • STORIES
    • Close
    • CITYSCAPESFine Art Photography and Stories of Cityscapes and cities
    • EVERYDAY LIFEPhotos and Stories of Everyday Life Around the World
    • A TRAVELER’S LIFEPhotos and Stories of what traveling is really like
    • MY TV SHOWWatch Get Lost in Korea - a National Graphic Channel TV Show staring Greg Goodman
    • FAVORITE STORIESMy favorite stories from backpacking and traveling the world
  • PHOTOS
    • Close
    • INSPIRATIONAL PEOPLEPhotos and portraits of inspirational people
    • CHIANG MAIFine art photography from Chiang Mai, Thailand
    • NATURENature photography and stories
    • LANDMARKS & RUINSFine art photography of landmarks and ruins
    • FAVORITE PHOTOSMy Favorite Photos from around the world
  • ABOUT
    • Close
    • GREG’S STORYgreg-menu
    • PHOTO CAREERgg-photokina-menu
    • GRATITUDE JOURNALgreg-menu-gratitude-journal
    • WORK WITH MEhire-greg-menu
    • BUY MY BOOKgreg-career-menu
  • SHOP
  • CONTACT

THANK FOR SIGNING UP

Please check your email for instructions on how to get your free postcard.

In the meantime, here are 12 of my favorite stories

Sunrise with 12,999 Monks

A devotee is surrounded by 12,999 monks in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Hiking the Inca Trail.    Ruins, Nature & the Gringo Killer

Sitting above Aguas Callientes and facing Machu Picchu Mountain, the Intipata ruins are a spectacular place to rest after conquering the Gringo Killer.

Transformation in the Amazon Rainforest

The Amazon Rainforest is full of spiritual, astral and natural energy

An Amazin’ 2013 MLB All-Star Game

The American Flag is unfurled in centerfield during the 2013 MLB All Star Game pregame ceremony at Citi Field in Queens, NYC

How I Caught an Octopus and Ate it Alive

The Nakji Terminator - an octopus farmer on Aphae Island, South Korea

Watch my National Geographic TV Show

Get Lost in Korea on NGC

Why I Love Living in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Giving an elephant a bath at Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai, Thailand

A Sky Full of Magic

How I Saved a Burning Thai Village

Christian escapes across a bamboo bridge after running into his burning bamboo hut to save his favorite sweatshirt

The Beatles Ashram in India

Meditation dome eggman Beatles Ashram Rishikesh India

Rock and Roll Photographer For a Day

Chasing a Naked Thai Thief into the River Kwai at 3am

River Guesthouse
SEE MORE OF MY FAVORITE STORIES

Hi. I’m Greg Goodman

Photographic Storyteller โ€ข Entrepreneur โ€ข Truthsayer โ€ข Dad

@Adventures of a GoodMan, I use my travel archives to help fuel wanderlust โ€“ while creating new art that reflects my current lifeโ€™s journey.

@Goodman Creatives, I help business owners get more clients with ease and flow through a mix of web design, marketing, and coaching.

@Greg Goodman, I dedicate myself to radical honesty on social media, giving voice to the internal struggles we all face โ€” but seldom talk of.

A Journey Awaits

Adventures of a GoodMan is the graphic novel of my life and the next chapter is still being written.

Here are 4 good places to start your journey.

Sri Lanka Train Ride - Ella

PHOTOGRAPHY

Imagery from 14 years of world travel

Sunrise at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, India

STORYTELLING

Travel guides, journals & photo essays

Monk sunrise in Bagan, Burma

GRATITUDE

28-days of thank you’s and honest reflections

10,000 Thai lanterns go off in one giant wish at the Yi Peng festival in Chiang Mai

SHOP

Treat yourself to a piece of art (or a book)

Beautify Your Inbox

Sign up for my newsletter and get travel inspiration + photographic storytelling guides and tutorials.

Follow My Instagram Feeds

Greg Goodman - Photographic Storytelling - a Journey Awaits     

adventuresofagoodman

View

Sep 26

Open
How are you celebrating Sunday Funday?โ  โ  Or Monday Funday?โ  โ  Or any other the other days of the week that don't rhyme quite as well?โ  โ  Always remember - life is supposed to be FUN!!!โ  โ  Go be silly.โ  โ  Laugh at a bad joke.โ  โ  Make a funny face.โ  โ  Giggle when someone farts.โ  โ  Do something that brings you JOY!โ  โ  You deserve it!โ  โ  You.โ  Are.โ  Awesome!โ 

How are you celebrating Sunday Funday?โ 
โ 
Or Monday Funday?โ 
โ 
Or any other the other days of the week that don't rhyme quite as well?โ 
โ 
Always remember - life is supposed to be FUN!!!โ 
โ 
Go be silly.โ 
โ 
Laugh at a bad joke.โ 
โ 
Make a funny face.โ 
โ 
Giggle when someone farts.โ 
โ 
Do something that brings you JOY!โ 
โ 
You deserve it!โ 
โ 
You.โ 
Are.โ 
Awesome!โ  ...

adventuresofagoodman

View

Sep 25

Open
This castle inspired Walt Disney's designs of Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella's castles.โ  โ  Castle Neuschwanstein also inspired my visit to Bavaria, Germany in 2006.โ  โ  With my head full of photographic dreams, I longed to create the perfect postcard shot ... facing the front of the building with the Alps in the background.โ  โ  Upon arriving, I hiked up the nearby mountains.โ  โ  I wandered all around the castle.โ  โ  But, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't find the vantage point I wanted.โ  โ  Frustrated, I stopped into the gift shop, found a mousepad with my dream photo on it, and asked the clerk where I could go to get that shot.โ  โ  She smiled and replied, "you need a helicopter!"โ  โ  My dreams were crushed!โ  โ  In the years since, I have treated myself to several helicopter and hot air balloon rides to get the perfect shots of a famous location.โ  โ  However, in 2006, I wasn't quite there yet in terms of my dedication to photography.โ  โ  All that said, this photo that I did manage to get from a nearby bridge remains one of my all-time favorite images. โ  โ  I even have a large-format, mounted print of it hanging in my office.โ  โ  And, the next time I find myself in Bavaria, you better believe I'm splurging on that helicopter ride!

This castle inspired Walt Disney's designs of Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella's castles.โ 
โ 
Castle Neuschwanstein also inspired my visit to Bavaria, Germany in 2006.โ 
โ 
With my head full of photographic dreams, I longed to create the perfect postcard shot ... facing the front of the building with the Alps in the background.โ 
โ 
Upon arriving, I hiked up the nearby mountains.โ 
โ 
I wandered all around the castle.โ 
โ 
But, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't find the vantage point I wanted.โ 
โ 
Frustrated, I stopped into the gift shop, found a mousepad with my dream photo on it, and asked the clerk where I could go to get that shot.โ 
โ 
She smiled and replied, "you need a helicopter!"โ 
โ 
My dreams were crushed!โ 
โ 
In the years since, I have treated myself to several helicopter and hot air balloon rides to get the perfect shots of a famous location.โ 
โ 
However, in 2006, I wasn't quite there yet in terms of my dedication to photography.โ 
โ 
All that said, this photo that I did manage to get from a nearby bridge remains one of my all-time favorite images. โ 
โ 
I even have a large-format, mounted print of it hanging in my office.โ 
โ 
And, the next time I find myself in Bavaria, you better believe I'm splurging on that helicopter ride! ...

adventuresofagoodman

View

Sep 23

Open
๐™’๐™๐™ฎ ๐™™๐™ค๐™š๐™จ ๐™จ๐™ค๐™˜๐™ž๐™š๐™ฉ๐™ฎ ๐™ฉ๐™š๐™ก๐™ก ๐™ช๐™จ ๐™ฉ๐™ค ๐™๐™ž๐™™๐™š ๐™ค๐™ช๐™ง ๐™š๐™ข๐™ค๐™ฉ๐™ž๐™ค๐™ฃ๐™จ?โ  โ  What is it about strong feelings that makes other people so uncomfortable?โ  โ  Is it because they force us to explore our own feelings that we may not have acknowledged?โ  โ  Do other peopleโ€™s emotions trigger all the outdated stories we were consciously and unconsciously told as a child?โ  โ  Kid Gregory regularly got the message that his feelings were too big.โ  โ  โ€œStop crying Gregory.โ€โ  โ  โ€œWhy are you making such a big deal out of this?โ€โ  โ  โ€œWhatโ€™s wrong with you?โ€โ  โ  โ€œYouโ€™re too sensitive.โ€โ  โ  โ€œWhy are you so angry?โ€โ  โ  โ€œWhy canโ€™t you just be normal?โ€โ  โ  Upon reflection, that last one was probably the message I gave myself.โ  โ  In my mind, there was clearly something wrong with me. โ  โ  As far as I could tell, other people didnโ€™t have feelings as big as mine. โ  โ  I just want to be like all the other kids.โ  โ  Now, as a parent, Iโ€™m realizing just normal I actually was.โ  โ  I see my reflection in my 5 year old son.โ  โ  Since birth, Bodhi has had extremely big feelings. โ  โ  Lots of energy that he doesnโ€™t know what to do with.โ  โ  TBH, itโ€™s taken an emotional toll on me.โ  โ  I get frustrated.โ  โ  Angry.โ  โ  Overwhelmed. โ  โ  Itโ€™s like I have to look in a mirror every day โ€ฆ and Iโ€™m still uncomfortable with what I see.โ  โ  At times, I find myself using the same phrases that were said to me as a child.โ  โ  A waterfall of words I later wish I hadnโ€™t said.โ  โ  Usually, I am able to catch myself before the dam fully breaks.โ  โ  Take that precious moment to breath and reset.โ  โ  To feel my feelings in the moment and choose where I go next.โ  โ  Some days are better than others.โ  โ  CONTINUED IN COMMENTS

๐™’๐™๐™ฎ ๐™™๐™ค๐™š๐™จ ๐™จ๐™ค๐™˜๐™ž๐™š๐™ฉ๐™ฎ ๐™ฉ๐™š๐™ก๐™ก ๐™ช๐™จ ๐™ฉ๐™ค ๐™๐™ž๐™™๐™š ๐™ค๐™ช๐™ง ๐™š๐™ข๐™ค๐™ฉ๐™ž๐™ค๐™ฃ๐™จ?โ 
โ 
What is it about strong feelings that makes other people so uncomfortable?โ 
โ 
Is it because they force us to explore our own feelings that we may not have acknowledged?โ 
โ 
Do other peopleโ€™s emotions trigger all the outdated stories we were consciously and unconsciously told as a child?โ 
โ 
Kid Gregory regularly got the message that his feelings were too big.โ 
โ 
โ€œStop crying Gregory.โ€โ 
โ 
โ€œWhy are you making such a big deal out of this?โ€โ 
โ 
โ€œWhatโ€™s wrong with you?โ€โ 
โ 
โ€œYouโ€™re too sensitive.โ€โ 
โ 
โ€œWhy are you so angry?โ€โ 
โ 
โ€œWhy canโ€™t you just be normal?โ€โ 
โ 
Upon reflection, that last one was probably the message I gave myself.โ 
โ 
In my mind, there was clearly something wrong with me. โ 
โ 
As far as I could tell, other people didnโ€™t have feelings as big as mine. โ 
โ 
I just want to be like all the other kids.โ 
โ 
Now, as a parent, Iโ€™m realizing just normal I actually was.โ 
โ 
I see my reflection in my 5 year old son.โ 
โ 
Since birth, Bodhi has had extremely big feelings. โ 
โ 
Lots of energy that he doesnโ€™t know what to do with.โ 
โ 
TBH, itโ€™s taken an emotional toll on me.โ 
โ 
I get frustrated.โ 
โ 
Angry.โ 
โ 
Overwhelmed. โ 
โ 
Itโ€™s like I have to look in a mirror every day โ€ฆ and Iโ€™m still uncomfortable with what I see.โ 
โ 
At times, I find myself using the same phrases that were said to me as a child.โ 
โ 
A waterfall of words I later wish I hadnโ€™t said.โ 
โ 
Usually, I am able to catch myself before the dam fully breaks.โ 
โ 
Take that precious moment to breath and reset.โ 
โ 
To feel my feelings in the moment and choose where I go next.โ 
โ 
Some days are better than others.โ 
โ 
CONTINUED IN COMMENTS ...

adventuresofagoodman

View

Sep 21

Open
9 years ago, Samsung flew me to Germany to share my lifeโ€™s adventure at Photokina: the worlds largest photography trade fair. โ  โ  I still remember the thrill. โ  โ  Standing in front of a 25 foot screen - telling the stories behind 100 of my best photos. โ  โ  Inviting trade show visitors to join me on a journey of Travel, Personal Growth, and LOVEโฃ๏ธโ  โ  Demonstrating a different way of life.โ  โ  One where we follow our hearts and trust that success will follow us. โ  โ  That was my mantra throughout Carrie and my decade of travel. โ  โ  Itโ€™s a belief that Iโ€™m excited to welcome back into my life today. โ  โ  Hereโ€™s the story of how it all happened โ€ฆโ  โ  There I was, sitting at my desk in Chiang Mai, Thailand, when an e-mail from someone named Haksu Kim came in through the contact form on my Web site.โ  โ  โ€œHi Gregโ€ฆ The reason of my email is that we are searching some famous blogger, who can make presentation in Samsung booth during the Photokina 2012 in Cologne, Germany.โ€โ  โ  โ€œIs this some sort of scam,โ€ I wondered? โ  โ  โ€œWas there an African prince waiting for my bank account number?โ€โ  โ  Turns out, the e-mail was legit. โ  โ  KEEP READING IN THE COMMENTSโ  โ 

9 years ago, Samsung flew me to Germany to share my lifeโ€™s adventure at Photokina: the worlds largest photography trade fair. โ 
โ 
I still remember the thrill. โ 
โ 
Standing in front of a 25 foot screen - telling the stories behind 100 of my best photos. โ 
โ 
Inviting trade show visitors to join me on a journey of Travel, Personal Growth, and LOVEโฃ๏ธโ 
โ 
Demonstrating a different way of life.โ 
โ 
One where we follow our hearts and trust that success will follow us. โ 
โ 
That was my mantra throughout Carrie and my decade of travel. โ 
โ 
Itโ€™s a belief that Iโ€™m excited to welcome back into my life today. โ 
โ 
Hereโ€™s the story of how it all happened โ€ฆโ 
โ 
There I was, sitting at my desk in Chiang Mai, Thailand, when an e-mail from someone named Haksu Kim came in through the contact form on my Web site.โ 
โ 
โ€œHi Gregโ€ฆ The reason of my email is that we are searching some famous blogger, who can make presentation in Samsung booth during the Photokina 2012 in Cologne, Germany.โ€โ 
โ 
โ€œIs this some sort of scam,โ€ I wondered? โ 
โ 
โ€œWas there an African prince waiting for my bank account number?โ€โ 
โ 
Turns out, the e-mail was legit. โ 
โ 
KEEP READING IN THE COMMENTSโ 
โ  ...

adventuresofagoodman

View

Sep 19

Open
This was my first attempt at a long exposure of waves at sunset using a neutral density filter. โ  โ  For those who don't speak photographer, that means I put dark glass over my camera lens and left the shutter open for 5 seconds.โ  โ  Usually, if I left the shutter open for 5 seconds, the sun would have made the photo so bright that it would have been a solid white image. โ  โ  Thanks to the filters, I got the "silky water" look I had hoped for.โ  โ  Photo: Bodega Bay, 2014โ  โ  #travel #travelblog #travelblogger #digitalnomad #travelbloggers #travelbloggerlife #travelblogging #travelbloggervibes #worldtravel #worldtraveler #worldtravelpic #worldtraveller #worldtraveler๐ŸŒŽ #backpacker #backpackerlife #digitalnomadlife #digitalnomadlifestyle #digitalnomadspirit #onlinebusinessowners #dreamlife #gratitude #yes #love #like #bodegabay #longexposure #californiacoast #neutraldensityfilter #sunsets #sonomacoast

This was my first attempt at a long exposure of waves at sunset using a neutral density filter. โ 
โ 
For those who don't speak photographer, that means I put dark glass over my camera lens and left the shutter open for 5 seconds.โ 
โ 
Usually, if I left the shutter open for 5 seconds, the sun would have made the photo so bright that it would have been a solid white image. โ 
โ 
Thanks to the filters, I got the "silky water" look I had hoped for.โ 
โ 
Photo: Bodega Bay, 2014โ 
โ 
#travel #travelblog #travelblogger #digitalnomad #travelbloggers #travelbloggerlife #travelblogging #travelbloggervibes #worldtravel #worldtraveler #worldtravelpic #worldtraveller #worldtraveler๐ŸŒŽ #backpacker #backpackerlife #digitalnomadlife #digitalnomadlifestyle #digitalnomadspirit #onlinebusinessowners #dreamlife #gratitude #yes #love #like #bodegabay #longexposure #californiacoast #neutraldensityfilter #sunsets #sonomacoast ...

adventuresofagoodman

View

Sep 17

Open
How do we make internal change come faster? Most therapists, coaches, gurus, and guides will tell you the path to change is going deep inside our selves. Retraining our brains, one thought at a time. In the beginning, simply recognizing an outdated pattern or reaction is cause for celebration. Bringing awareness to a place where there formerly was none is a huge accomplishment. But, thatโ€™s just the first step. Once we are aware, the question becomes โ€ฆ how do we change? How do we have a different response? How do we realize what we are going to do before we even do it? Then, how do we consciously choose a different path? Meditation. Mindfulness. Awareness. Being present. These are the most common tools those aforementioned guides offer. They have been my path for several years now. Yet, they all take time. None of them are a โ€œquick fix.โ€ When we are by ourselves, thereโ€™s a bit more leeway. However, as a husband and a father, I want change to come faster. I see all the ways I let down my family. All the ways I disappoint others and myself. And, Iโ€™ve gotten better at forgiving myself. My wife is incredibly supportive of me on my journey. I know that I am evolving and trust that these things take time. Yet, I sometimes just want to speed it up. As my kids would say, โ€œare we there yet?โ€ โ€œHow much longer?โ€ Can anyone else relate?

How do we make internal change come faster?

Most therapists, coaches, gurus, and guides will tell you the path to change is going deep inside our selves.

Retraining our brains, one thought at a time.

In the beginning, simply recognizing an outdated pattern or reaction is cause for celebration.

Bringing awareness to a place where there formerly was none is a huge accomplishment.

But, thatโ€™s just the first step.

Once we are aware, the question becomes โ€ฆ how do we change?

How do we have a different response?

How do we realize what we are going to do before we even do it?

Then, how do we consciously choose a different path?

Meditation.

Mindfulness.

Awareness.

Being present.

These are the most common tools those aforementioned guides offer.

They have been my path for several years now.

Yet, they all take time.

None of them are a โ€œquick fix.โ€

When we are by ourselves, thereโ€™s a bit more leeway.

However, as a husband and a father, I want change to come faster.

I see all the ways I let down my family.

All the ways I disappoint others and myself.

And, Iโ€™ve gotten better at forgiving myself.

My wife is incredibly supportive of me on my journey.

I know that I am evolving and trust that these things take time.

Yet, I sometimes just want to speed it up.

As my kids would say, โ€œare we there yet?โ€

โ€œHow much longer?โ€

Can anyone else relate? ...

adventuresofagoodman

View

Sep 16

Open
Would you believe me if I told you this was a fig tree?!โฃ โฃ Well, it is!โฃ โฃ A ginormous fig tree at the Kandy Botanical Gardens in Sri Lanka.โฃ โฃ Wild, huh?!

Would you believe me if I told you this was a fig tree?!โฃ
โฃ
Well, it is!โฃ
โฃ
A ginormous fig tree at the Kandy Botanical Gardens in Sri Lanka.โฃ
โฃ
Wild, huh?! ...

adventuresofagoodman

View

Sep 15

Open
I turned my phone off for 8 hours yesterday. It felt like 8 years. In the middle of the day, I decided I wanted no distractions. Just quality time with my family. With the exception of an off the grid camping trip in June, I donโ€™t know the last day that Iโ€™ve had my phone off for that long. In the beginning, I tried counting all the times I thought about going to check it. I lost count pretty quickly. It was actually amazing to witness my mind. A moment of nothing going on? I should check my phone. My kids want to do something that doesnโ€™t really excite me? I should check my phone. Need a distraction but canโ€™t use my phone? I should get a snack. I have to go to the bathroom? Whereโ€™s my phone? 30 seconds to myself while Carrie and the kids are on the deck? You guessed it, I thought about my phone. โ€œOh my gosh. I have a great idea for a post. Itโ€™s going to be about what life is like without my phone. If only I had my phone to dictate it.โ€ โ€œWill I be able to remember this post later?โ€ โ€œMaybe I should turn my phone back on.โ€ โ€œJust for long enough to dictate this post.โ€ Spoiler alert - this is the post - and I did indeed remember it 8 hours later. At one point, the kids wanted to listen to music. I told him my phone was off because daddy wanted to be present with them. Luna, my two-year-old, brought my phone over from the counter, handed it to me, and said here you go daddy. Neither of them truly understood. โ€œJust turn your phone on dadaโ€ Yet, both of them are always telling me to get off my phone. At this point, you may be nodding your head thinking, โ€œthis sounds like my life.โ€ Or, you may be thinking, โ€œGreg clearly has a technology addiction.โ€ Maybe itโ€™s a combo of both. I fully admit that I am addicted to technology. I have been for decades. Web design has been my passion for 25 years. I have multiple online businesses. As a photographer and storyteller, everything I do involves a screen. ยปยปยป CONTINUED IN COMMENTS

I turned my phone off for 8 hours yesterday.

It felt like 8 years.

In the middle of the day, I decided I wanted no distractions.

Just quality time with my family.

With the exception of an off the grid camping trip in June, I donโ€™t know the last day that Iโ€™ve had my phone off for that long.

In the beginning, I tried counting all the times I thought about going to check it.

I lost count pretty quickly.

It was actually amazing to witness my mind.

A moment of nothing going on?

I should check my phone.

My kids want to do something that doesnโ€™t really excite me?

I should check my phone.

Need a distraction but canโ€™t use my phone?

I should get a snack.

I have to go to the bathroom?

Whereโ€™s my phone?

30 seconds to myself while Carrie and the kids are on the deck?

You guessed it, I thought about my phone.

โ€œOh my gosh. I have a great idea for a post. Itโ€™s going to be about what life is like without my phone. If only I had my phone to dictate it.โ€

โ€œWill I be able to remember this post later?โ€

โ€œMaybe I should turn my phone back on.โ€

โ€œJust for long enough to dictate this post.โ€

Spoiler alert - this is the post - and I did indeed remember it 8 hours later.

At one point, the kids wanted to listen to music.

I told him my phone was off because daddy wanted to be present with them.

Luna, my two-year-old, brought my phone over from the counter, handed it to me, and said here you go daddy.

Neither of them truly understood.

โ€œJust turn your phone on dadaโ€

Yet, both of them are always telling me to get off my phone.

At this point, you may be nodding your head thinking, โ€œthis sounds like my life.โ€

Or, you may be thinking, โ€œGreg clearly has a technology addiction.โ€

Maybe itโ€™s a combo of both.

I fully admit that I am addicted to technology.

I have been for decades.

Web design has been my passion for 25 years.

I have multiple online businesses.

As a photographer and storyteller, everything I do involves a screen.

ยปยปยป CONTINUED IN COMMENTS ...

adventuresofagoodman

View

Sep 14

Open
๐๐ก๐จ๐ญ๐จ๐ ๐ซ๐š๐ฉ๐ก๐ฒ ๐š๐ง๐ ๐’๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ฒ๐ญ๐ž๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐  ๐“๐ข๐ฉ๐ฌ ๐Ÿš’ ๐…๐ข๐ซ๐ž๐ญ๐ซ๐ฎ๐œ๐ค ๐„๐๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง Be honest - Are you excited about looking at random photos of a fire truck in a playground? Odds are, you wouldnโ€™t care enough to look at a single one. But, what if I presented a series? A collection of photos of the details and the fun. Something to draw you in and make you experience it with me. Maybe you would look at it โ€ฆ What if I also told the story? Described the way the sun glistened off the recently painted red engine. Told you how my ass burned like a blazing fire when I sat down on the metal seat in a sunny 95 degree day. Mentioned the sounds of children laughing and playing all around โ€ฆ A joyful symphony of โ€œlook at meโ€ wee tag youโ€™re it Ready or not here I come Broken up by the occasional scream of โ€œthatโ€™s my toy.โ€ Or, โ€œouch! Waah. Whereโ€™s my mommy/daddy?โ€ Meanwhile, the smell of lighter fluid, charcoal, and cooking meat wafts past your nose like a Fourth of July weekend bbq. Itโ€™s a very happy day at the playground. But, are you interested? Or, are you still needing something else to get excited about a random firetruck in a playground? What if I went into the history? ** Spoiler alert, I Googled the firetruck and couldnโ€™t find anything other than the fact that itโ€™s from the 1930s. But, can you imagine it racing down a city street? Spinning around corners with the firemen hanging on to the sides, ready to jump out and douse a raging blaze. The siren echoing through the air ... ๐Ÿšจ โ€œweee, wooo, weee, wooo, weee, wooo.โ€ The spray of hot steam and ash as the water hits the fire and saves the day. Yay for the firemen and firewomen. Yay for life. Yay for photography and storytelling. Yay for parks that have fun things for my kids to do so I can take a few minutes to get creative. So what do you think? Are you excited about these firetrucks yet?

๐๐ก๐จ๐ญ๐จ๐ ๐ซ๐š๐ฉ๐ก๐ฒ ๐š๐ง๐ ๐’๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ฒ๐ญ๐ž๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐  ๐“๐ข๐ฉ๐ฌ ๐Ÿš’ ๐…๐ข๐ซ๐ž๐ญ๐ซ๐ฎ๐œ๐ค ๐„๐๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง

Be honest - Are you excited about looking at random photos of a fire truck in a playground?

Odds are, you wouldnโ€™t care enough to look at a single one.

But, what if I presented a series?

A collection of photos of the details and the fun.

Something to draw you in and make you experience it with me.

Maybe you would look at it โ€ฆ

What if I also told the story?

Described the way the sun glistened off the recently painted red engine.

Told you how my ass burned like a blazing fire when I sat down on the metal seat in a sunny 95 degree day.

Mentioned the sounds of children laughing and playing all around โ€ฆ

A joyful symphony of โ€œlook at meโ€

wee
tag
youโ€™re it
Ready or not
here I come

Broken up by the occasional scream of โ€œthatโ€™s my toy.โ€ Or, โ€œouch! Waah. Whereโ€™s my mommy/daddy?โ€

Meanwhile, the smell of lighter fluid, charcoal, and cooking meat wafts past your nose like a Fourth of July weekend bbq.

Itโ€™s a very happy day at the playground.

But, are you interested?

Or, are you still needing something else to get excited about a random firetruck in a playground?

What if I went into the history?

** Spoiler alert, I Googled the firetruck and couldnโ€™t find anything other than the fact that itโ€™s from the 1930s.

But, can you imagine it racing down a city street?

Spinning around corners with the firemen hanging on to the sides, ready to jump out and douse a raging blaze.

The siren echoing through the air ...

๐Ÿšจ โ€œweee, wooo, weee, wooo, weee, wooo.โ€

The spray of hot steam and ash as the water hits the fire and saves the day.

Yay for the firemen and firewomen.

Yay for life.

Yay for photography and storytelling.

Yay for parks that have fun things for my kids to do so I can take a few minutes to get creative.

So what do you think?

Are you excited about these firetrucks yet? ...

adventuresofagoodman

View

Sep 13

Open
If youโ€™re grateful and you know it clap your hands. ๐Ÿ‘โฃ โฃ If youโ€™re grateful and you know it clap your hands. ๐Ÿ‘โฃ โฃ If youโ€™re grateful and you know it ...โฃ โฃ and you really want to show it โ€ฆโฃ โฃ If youโ€™re grateful and you know it clap your hands.๐Ÿ‘โฃ โฃ Did you clap?โฃ โฃ There is so much power in gratitude. โฃ โฃ So many things to be grateful for every single day of our life.โฃ โฃ ยป Health.โฃ ยป Relationships.โฃ ยป Family.โฃ ยป Nature.โฃ ยป Electricity.โฃ ยป Food.โฃ ยป Clothes.โฃ ยป Air to breathe.โฃ ยป A roof over your head.โฃ โฃ The list goes on forever โ€ฆโฃ โฃ Each day at mealtime, my family takes turns expressing our gratitude. โฃ โฃ Itโ€™s fun to see how many different people we can thank for the meal we are about to eat.โฃ โฃ There are so many people who are directly and indirectly responsible for all of the things we have. โฃ โฃ The farmers.โฃ โฃ The delivery truck drivers.โฃ โฃ The seamstress who makes clothes for the workers.โฃ โฃ The people who make the robots for factory assembly lines.โฃ โฃ The engineers at the power plants that keep everything running.โฃ โฃ My five-year-old son, Bodhi, really enjoys telling us which ones we forgot.โฃ โฃ ๐Ÿ™We also share our gratitude as a family before laying down to bed.โฃ โฃ Ending the day reflecting on all the beautiful moments and experiences.โฃ โฃ And, gratitude for the strength to get through some of the โ€œless wonderfulโ€ moments.โฃ โฃ What about you?โฃ โฃ What are YOU grateful for today?

If youโ€™re grateful and you know it clap your hands. ๐Ÿ‘โฃ
โฃ
If youโ€™re grateful and you know it clap your hands. ๐Ÿ‘โฃ
โฃ
If youโ€™re grateful and you know it ...โฃ
โฃ
and you really want to show it โ€ฆโฃ
โฃ
If youโ€™re grateful and you know it clap your hands.๐Ÿ‘โฃ
โฃ
Did you clap?โฃ
โฃ
There is so much power in gratitude. โฃ
โฃ
So many things to be grateful for every single day of our life.โฃ
โฃ
ยป Health.โฃ
ยป Relationships.โฃ
ยป Family.โฃ
ยป Nature.โฃ
ยป Electricity.โฃ
ยป Food.โฃ
ยป Clothes.โฃ
ยป Air to breathe.โฃ
ยป A roof over your head.โฃ
โฃ
The list goes on forever โ€ฆโฃ
โฃ
Each day at mealtime, my family takes turns expressing our gratitude. โฃ
โฃ
Itโ€™s fun to see how many different people we can thank for the meal we are about to eat.โฃ
โฃ
There are so many people who are directly and indirectly responsible for all of the things we have. โฃ
โฃ
The farmers.โฃ
โฃ
The delivery truck drivers.โฃ
โฃ
The seamstress who makes clothes for the workers.โฃ
โฃ
The people who make the robots for factory assembly lines.โฃ
โฃ
The engineers at the power plants that keep everything running.โฃ
โฃ
My five-year-old son, Bodhi, really enjoys telling us which ones we forgot.โฃ
โฃ
๐Ÿ™We also share our gratitude as a family before laying down to bed.โฃ
โฃ
Ending the day reflecting on all the beautiful moments and experiences.โฃ
โฃ
And, gratitude for the strength to get through some of the โ€œless wonderfulโ€ moments.โฃ
โฃ
What about you?โฃ
โฃ
What are YOU grateful for today? ...

adventuresofagoodman

View

Sep 11

Open
โ€œAn airplane has accidentally flown into the Twin Towers,โ€ said the voice on my car radio. It made no sense. "A plane did WHAT," I thought to myself? "How could that have happened?!" "I have to watch this on the news!" So, I turned my car around, headed home, and promptly woke up all my sleeping roommates so they could watch with me. I remember watching the second plane crash on live TV. The first tower coming down. People running from the plume of smoke. The second tower coming down. The Pentagon. The field in Pennsylvania. The realization that America was under attack. On that day, there was no talk of inside jobs. No conspiracies. Just fear, confusion, anger, and uncertainty. I was born and raised in New York City. When 9/11 happened, I was in college in Washington, DC. The only two places I had ever called home had been attacked. That night, my housemates and I piled into a car, hung an American flag out of the sunroof, and drove to the Pentagon. It was 3am. We had to see it with our own eyes. Long story short, the military didn't like us being there. Next thing we knew, we had a police escort all the way back into Washington, DC. That was another surreal sight. Downtown DC was abandoned. Soldiers sat atop Hummers holding fully automatic weapons. Sandbag walls flanked key government buildings. The District was under lockdown. Two weeks later, I returned home to New York City. Took my camcorder and a disposable camera and headed down to Ground Zero. My heart raced as I stepped out of the subway station. As buildings burned and cranes dug through rubble, entrepreneurs had set up shop on every corner. "Get your 9/11 souvenirs." "Get your photobook of the buildings coming down." "Get your Never Forget hats." Capitalism at it's finest. Between 2001 and the Freedom Towetโ€™s opening in 2014, I went back to Ground Zero several times. It was like therapy for me. Now, it's a tourist-trap with a $25 entry to get into a 9/11 museum. I no longer feel the need to return. Instead, I reflect on the needless loss of life that day - and in the years since. What about YOU? What's your 9/11 story?

โ€œAn airplane has accidentally flown into the Twin Towers,โ€ said the voice on my car radio.

It made no sense.

"A plane did WHAT," I thought to myself?

"How could that have happened?!"

"I have to watch this on the news!"

So, I turned my car around, headed home, and promptly woke up all my sleeping roommates so they could watch with me.

I remember watching the second plane crash on live TV.

The first tower coming down.

People running from the plume of smoke.

The second tower coming down.

The Pentagon.

The field in Pennsylvania.

The realization that America was under attack.

On that day, there was no talk of inside jobs.

No conspiracies.

Just fear, confusion, anger, and uncertainty.

I was born and raised in New York City.

When 9/11 happened, I was in college in Washington, DC.

The only two places I had ever called home had been attacked.

That night, my housemates and I piled into a car, hung an American flag out of the sunroof, and drove to the Pentagon.

It was 3am.

We had to see it with our own eyes.

Long story short, the military didn't like us being there.

Next thing we knew, we had a police escort all the way back into Washington, DC.

That was another surreal sight.

Downtown DC was abandoned.

Soldiers sat atop Hummers holding fully automatic weapons.

Sandbag walls flanked key government buildings.

The District was under lockdown.

Two weeks later, I returned home to New York City.

Took my camcorder and a disposable camera and headed down to Ground Zero.

My heart raced as I stepped out of the subway station.

As buildings burned and cranes dug through rubble, entrepreneurs had set up shop on every corner.

"Get your 9/11 souvenirs."

"Get your photobook of the buildings coming down."

"Get your Never Forget hats."

Capitalism at it's finest.

Between 2001 and the Freedom Towetโ€™s opening in 2014, I went back to Ground Zero several times.

It was like therapy for me.

Now, it's a tourist-trap with a $25 entry to get into a 9/11 museum.

I no longer feel the need to return.

Instead, I reflect on the needless loss of life that day - and in the years since.

What about YOU?

What's your 9/11 story? ...

goodmancreatives

View

Sep 11

Open
When I founded Goodman Creatives, I made a big mistake. โฃ โฃ Instead of defining my niche, as they taught me in business school, I decided I wanted to help everyone.โฃ โฃ While thatโ€™s not necessarily a bad thing, I was burning through tons of money advertising to such a broad audience. โฃ โฃ Even worse, I never really managed to make a personal connection with anyone. โฃ โฃ It wasnโ€™t until I narrowed down my niche to therapists that the floodgates of success opened wide.โฃ โฃ A niche is can be summed up as โ€œa specific problem that you help solve for a specific group of people.โ€โฃ โฃ The logic is that if you narrow your scope to only a very small demographic (i.e., families with toddlers or corporate executives), youโ€™ll be able to make your marketing more targeted.โฃ โฃ For therapists, the first step toward getting more paying therapy clients is identifying your niche. โฃ โฃ Once developed, your niche acts as the foundation for everything you do to promote your practice.โฃ โฃ LEARN MOREโฃ LINK IN BIOโฃ โฃ โฃ #therapist #psychotherapist #psychotherapy #therapistmarketing #psychotherapistmarketing #privatepracticemarketing #marketingtips #marketing101 #therapistmarketing101 #digitalmarketing #mentalhealthmarketing #therapistwebsites #psychotherapistwebsites #websitesfortherapists #websitesforpsychiatrists #psychiatristmarketing #therapistwebdesign #gratitude #thanks

When I founded Goodman Creatives, I made a big mistake. โฃ
โฃ
Instead of defining my niche, as they taught me in business school, I decided I wanted to help everyone.โฃ
โฃ
While thatโ€™s not necessarily a bad thing, I was burning through tons of money advertising to such a broad audience. โฃ
โฃ
Even worse, I never really managed to make a personal connection with anyone. โฃ
โฃ
It wasnโ€™t until I narrowed down my niche to therapists that the floodgates of success opened wide.โฃ
โฃ
A niche is can be summed up as โ€œa specific problem that you help solve for a specific group of people.โ€โฃ
โฃ
The logic is that if you narrow your scope to only a very small demographic (i.e., families with toddlers or corporate executives), youโ€™ll be able to make your marketing more targeted.โฃ
โฃ
For therapists, the first step toward getting more paying therapy clients is identifying your niche. โฃ
โฃ
Once developed, your niche acts as the foundation for everything you do to promote your practice.โฃ
โฃ
LEARN MOREโฃ
LINK IN BIOโฃ
โฃ
โฃ
#therapist #psychotherapist #psychotherapy #therapistmarketing #psychotherapistmarketing #privatepracticemarketing #marketingtips #marketing101 #therapistmarketing101 #digitalmarketing #mentalhealthmarketing #therapistwebsites #psychotherapistwebsites #websitesfortherapists #websitesforpsychiatrists #psychiatristmarketing #therapistwebdesign #gratitude #thanks ...

adventuresofagoodman

View

Sep 11

Open
Ever go backpacking?โฃ โฃ Travel Solo?โฃ โฃ Buy a one-way ticket somewhere?โฃ โฃ Would love to hear a story from your favorite trip in the comments.

Ever go backpacking?โฃ
โฃ
Travel Solo?โฃ
โฃ
Buy a one-way ticket somewhere?โฃ
โฃ
Would love to hear a story from your favorite trip in the comments. ...

adventuresofagoodman

View

Sep 10

Open
All I wanted to do was find a specific photo from my travel archives. It was a sunrise image of Myanmarโ€™s U Bein Bridge - the worldโ€™s oldest and longest teakwood bridge. My goal was to write a quick blurb and queue it up for sharing on IG. It should have taken me 5 minutes โ€ฆ Two hours later, the photo still isnโ€™t ready โ€ฆ but, I just finished an epic virtual trip through memory lane. Turns out, I had 250 photos in my archives from that morning. Most of them had gone untouched since they left my cameraโ€™s memory card in 2013. As I edited my favorite shots, I was instantly transported across the world and back in time โ€ฆ Arriving at 5am and standing in shin-deep mud to create a long exposure of the bridge and the stars above. Hearing the sounds of monks chanting in unison as the sun peeked out from behind the mountains. Chuckling when I later saw those same modern monks using cameras and cell phones to chronicle their visit to this popular tourist attraction. Feeling the bridge creak and buckle as you walk across it. Quickly hopping out of the way as a bicyclist wizzes past you - lightly blowing your pants in his wake. Squatting down to find the perfect angle where the morning sun peeks through the beams that hold up the bridge. Offering the lone beggar 50,000 kip as her first charity of the day. Stopping at the covered wooden benches along the way to have a sip of water and check your camera. Smelling wood burning as the first catches of the day are gutted and placed on the grills that line the shores. Marveling at the ecosystem of fishermen, hawkers, vendors, and people carrying baskets of unknown stuff back and forth. Itโ€™s like an entire world exists on the bridge. One that I had completely forgotten about until last night. Now, I have 40 edited photos that Iโ€™m excited to use for a blog post. Itโ€™s currently called, โ€œA Sunrise Walk Across the Worldโ€™s Oldest Teakwood Bridge.โ€ Or โ€œSunrise Hustle and Bustle on Myanmarโ€™s U Bein Bridgeโ€ Both are pretty clunky titles โ€ฆ Got a better one? I would love and appreciate any suggestions in the comments.

All I wanted to do was find a specific photo from my travel archives.

It was a sunrise image of Myanmarโ€™s U Bein Bridge - the worldโ€™s oldest and longest teakwood bridge.

My goal was to write a quick blurb and queue it up for sharing on IG.

It should have taken me 5 minutes โ€ฆ

Two hours later, the photo still isnโ€™t ready โ€ฆ but, I just finished an epic virtual trip through memory lane.

Turns out, I had 250 photos in my archives from that morning.

Most of them had gone untouched since they left my cameraโ€™s memory card in 2013.

As I edited my favorite shots, I was instantly transported across the world and back in time โ€ฆ

Arriving at 5am and standing in shin-deep mud to create a long exposure of the bridge and the stars above.

Hearing the sounds of monks chanting in unison as the sun peeked out from behind the mountains.

Chuckling when I later saw those same modern monks using cameras and cell phones to chronicle their visit to this popular tourist attraction.

Feeling the bridge creak and buckle as you walk across it.

Quickly hopping out of the way as a bicyclist wizzes past you - lightly blowing your pants in his wake.

Squatting down to find the perfect angle where the morning sun peeks through the beams that hold up the bridge.

Offering the lone beggar 50,000 kip as her first charity of the day.

Stopping at the covered wooden benches along the way to have a sip of water and check your camera.

Smelling wood burning as the first catches of the day are gutted and placed on the grills that line the shores.

Marveling at the ecosystem of fishermen, hawkers, vendors, and people carrying baskets of unknown stuff back and forth.

Itโ€™s like an entire world exists on the bridge.

One that I had completely forgotten about until last night.

Now, I have 40 edited photos that Iโ€™m excited to use for a blog post.

Itโ€™s currently called, โ€œA Sunrise Walk Across the Worldโ€™s Oldest Teakwood Bridge.โ€

Or

โ€œSunrise Hustle and Bustle on Myanmarโ€™s U Bein Bridgeโ€

Both are pretty clunky titles โ€ฆ

Got a better one?

I would love and appreciate any suggestions in the comments. ...

adventuresofagoodman

View

Sep 9

Open
๐™€๐™ซ๐™š๐™ง ๐™›๐™š๐™š๐™ก ๐™ก๐™ž๐™ ๐™š ๐™ฎ๐™ค๐™ชโ€™๐™ง๐™š ๐™จ๐™ฉ๐™ช๐™˜๐™  ๐™ž๐™ฃ ๐™‚๐™ง๐™ค๐™ช๐™ฃ๐™™๐™๐™ค๐™œ ๐˜ฟ๐™–๐™ฎ?โฃ โฃ Aka, the time loop movie with Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell.โฃ โฃ Whatever you do, nothing ever seems to change. โฃ โฃ You step in that same puddle.โฃ โฃ Have the same tired conversations over and over again. โฃ โฃ โ€ฆ Iโ€™m looking at you, Ned Ryerson.โฃ โฃ Every day feels like a repeat.โฃ โฃ Doing the same boring job that doesnโ€™t fulfill you. โฃ โฃ Battling the kids to get them to do something simple.โฃ โฃ Popping leftovers into the oven.โฃ โฃ Having the same tired arguments in your relationships. โฃ โฃ Dreaming of that new house. โฃ โฃ New car. โฃ New life. โฃ New whatever.โฃ โฃ Nothing.Ever.Changes.โฃ โฃ Or, so it feels.โฃ โฃ You wake up every morning to the same song. โฃ โฃ โ€œI Got You Babeโ€ โฃ โฃ A broken record. โฃ โฃ So, you try to escape.โฃ โฃ Let Punxsutawney Phil drive the car for a while.โฃ โฃ Switch off your mind with your favorite vices or devices. โฃ โฃ Ignore the inevitable storm thatโ€™s headed your way.โฃ โฃ But, after a while, even that doesnโ€™t provide the escape you need.โฃ โฃ The world around you feels out of your control.โฃ โฃ So, you look inward.โฃ โฃ See all the opportunities for change within your own life.โฃ โฃ You learn how to play the piano and speak French fluently. โฃ โฃ Carve picture-perfect ice sculptures of your sweetie. โฃ โฃ Save that kid from falling out of a tree.โฃ โฃ Life is all about the small changes.โฃ โฃ All the small ways we can break out of our own ruts. โฃ โฃ Even as the days, months, and years repeat around you.โฃ โฃ Even as the same stories play out ad infinitum.โฃ โฃ There is always hope.โฃ โฃ Make enough small changes and the butterfly effect takes over.โฃ โฃ You wake up one morning and itโ€™s February 3. โฃ โฃ The same song is playing on the radio, but now thereโ€™s snow on the ground. โฃ โฃ A new day of infinite possibilities.โฃ โฃ So I ask YOU โ€ฆโฃ โฃ What change can you make today?

๐™€๐™ซ๐™š๐™ง ๐™›๐™š๐™š๐™ก ๐™ก๐™ž๐™ ๐™š ๐™ฎ๐™ค๐™ชโ€™๐™ง๐™š ๐™จ๐™ฉ๐™ช๐™˜๐™  ๐™ž๐™ฃ ๐™‚๐™ง๐™ค๐™ช๐™ฃ๐™™๐™๐™ค๐™œ ๐˜ฟ๐™–๐™ฎ?โฃ
โฃ
Aka, the time loop movie with Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell.โฃ
โฃ
Whatever you do, nothing ever seems to change. โฃ
โฃ
You step in that same puddle.โฃ
โฃ
Have the same tired conversations over and over again. โฃ
โฃ
โ€ฆ Iโ€™m looking at you, Ned Ryerson.โฃ
โฃ
Every day feels like a repeat.โฃ
โฃ
Doing the same boring job that doesnโ€™t fulfill you. โฃ
โฃ
Battling the kids to get them to do something simple.โฃ
โฃ
Popping leftovers into the oven.โฃ
โฃ
Having the same tired arguments in your relationships. โฃ
โฃ
Dreaming of that new house. โฃ
โฃ
New car. โฃ
New life. โฃ
New whatever.โฃ
โฃ
Nothing.Ever.Changes.โฃ
โฃ
Or, so it feels.โฃ
โฃ
You wake up every morning to the same song. โฃ
โฃ
โ€œI Got You Babeโ€ โฃ
โฃ
A broken record. โฃ
โฃ
So, you try to escape.โฃ
โฃ
Let Punxsutawney Phil drive the car for a while.โฃ
โฃ
Switch off your mind with your favorite vices or devices. โฃ
โฃ
Ignore the inevitable storm thatโ€™s headed your way.โฃ
โฃ
But, after a while, even that doesnโ€™t provide the escape you need.โฃ
โฃ
The world around you feels out of your control.โฃ
โฃ
So, you look inward.โฃ
โฃ
See all the opportunities for change within your own life.โฃ
โฃ
You learn how to play the piano and speak French fluently. โฃ
โฃ
Carve picture-perfect ice sculptures of your sweetie. โฃ
โฃ
Save that kid from falling out of a tree.โฃ
โฃ
Life is all about the small changes.โฃ
โฃ
All the small ways we can break out of our own ruts. โฃ
โฃ
Even as the days, months, and years repeat around you.โฃ
โฃ
Even as the same stories play out ad infinitum.โฃ
โฃ
There is always hope.โฃ
โฃ
Make enough small changes and the butterfly effect takes over.โฃ
โฃ
You wake up one morning and itโ€™s February 3. โฃ
โฃ
The same song is playing on the radio, but now thereโ€™s snow on the ground. โฃ
โฃ
A new day of infinite possibilities.โฃ
โฃ
So I ask YOU โ€ฆโฃ
โฃ
What change can you make today? ...

adventuresofagoodman

View

Sep 8

Open
Imagine getting off a bus and being surrounded by dozens of locals - each trying to sell you on their tour. Thatโ€™s the scene in Sapa - a popular tourist destination in Northern VietNam. Each day, people from around the world flock to Sapa to trek through the nearby mountains and explore the regionโ€™s bountiful rice fields. When viewed from above, these terraced plantations look like bright green stairs. However, when you get closer, it becomes apparent that they are muddy platforms with thousands of rice stalks pointing towards the sky. Rushing rivers cut through the landscape, as visitors cross over narrow, shaky, wooden foot bridges to get across. These precarious crossings are washed away every few years during the rainy season. As for the experience itself, the tour is like a walking bazaar. When my wife and I visited in 2009, this was our experience, as I wrote in my travel blog โ€ฆ Our group was small and we had a private tour guide, but we left at the same time as a dozen other tours. Surrounding each group were a handful of Hmong tribeswomen. Though, not the same ones who found us at the bus station the day before. While walking, the women took each turns talking to us. However, before long, it was quite apparent which ones had โ€œclaimedโ€ each of us. They never asked us to buy anything. At least, not at first. In the beginning, they just brought us little hand-woven gifts of leaves, stems and flowers. They also held umbrellas over peopleโ€™s heads to shade them from the sun. This charade went on for hours. When we finally stopped for lunch, it was time for the show. **** The story continues in the comments

Imagine getting off a bus and being surrounded by dozens of locals - each trying to sell you on their tour.

Thatโ€™s the scene in Sapa - a popular tourist destination in Northern VietNam.

Each day, people from around the world flock to Sapa to trek through the nearby mountains and explore the regionโ€™s bountiful rice fields.

When viewed from above, these terraced plantations look like bright green stairs.

However, when you get closer, it becomes apparent that they are muddy platforms with thousands of rice stalks pointing towards the sky.

Rushing rivers cut through the landscape, as visitors cross over narrow, shaky, wooden foot bridges to get across.

These precarious crossings are washed away every few years during the rainy season.

As for the experience itself, the tour is like a walking bazaar.

When my wife and I visited in 2009, this was our experience, as I wrote in my travel blog โ€ฆ

Our group was small and we had a private tour guide, but we left at the same time as a dozen other tours.

Surrounding each group were a handful of Hmong tribeswomen. Though, not the same ones who found us at the bus station the day before.

While walking, the women took each turns talking to us.

However, before long, it was quite apparent which ones had โ€œclaimedโ€ each of us.

They never asked us to buy anything.

At least, not at first.

In the beginning, they just brought us little hand-woven gifts of leaves, stems and flowers.

They also held umbrellas over peopleโ€™s heads to shade them from the sun.

This charade went on for hours.

When we finally stopped for lunch, it was time for the show.

**** The story continues in the comments ...

adventuresofagoodman

View

Sep 7

Open
In the past 18 months, most of us have invested in an online course on something. Often, itโ€™s a course on growing a new business. Maybe you finished it. Maybe you got close. Maybe you never even logged in. Why? Because for most of us, we need a little extra motivation. Donโ€™t get me wrong โ€ฆ for some people, automated trainings and prebuilt funnels are all you need to succeed online. But, a lot more people donโ€™t. After a short while, realistic results come head to head with unrealistic expectations. Burnout sets in. When youโ€™re left alone to fend in an environment thatโ€™s full of DIY resources, the sheer magnitude of it all can shut you down. Thatโ€™s why itโ€™s so important to have that mentor. Thatโ€™s where I come in. There are so many ways we can work together. If you have a course, offer, product, or business you love, I can help you as a marketing coach. Or, if you are looking for a way to create a life of freedom and want someone to guide you through the process, Iโ€™m there for you too! Whatever you need, I would be honored to use my 25 years of experience in growing a business online to help you SOAR! Want to learn more? Drop a #yes! ๐Ÿ‘‡ or send me a DM to chat. Love, Greg #PhotographicStoryteller

In the past 18 months, most of us have invested in an online course on something.

Often, itโ€™s a course on growing a new business.

Maybe you finished it.

Maybe you got close.

Maybe you never even logged in.

Why?

Because for most of us, we need a little extra motivation.

Donโ€™t get me wrong โ€ฆ for some people, automated trainings and prebuilt funnels are all you need to succeed online.

But, a lot more people donโ€™t.

After a short while, realistic results come head to head with unrealistic expectations.

Burnout sets in.

When youโ€™re left alone to fend in an environment thatโ€™s full of DIY resources, the sheer magnitude of it all can shut you down.

Thatโ€™s why itโ€™s so important to have that mentor.

Thatโ€™s where I come in.

There are so many ways we can work together.

If you have a course, offer, product, or business you love, I can help you as a marketing coach.

Or, if you are looking for a way to create a life of freedom and want someone to guide you through the process, Iโ€™m there for you too!

Whatever you need, I would be honored to use my 25 years of experience in growing a business online to help you SOAR!

Want to learn more?

Drop a #yes! ๐Ÿ‘‡ or send me a DM to chat.

Love,
Greg

#PhotographicStoryteller ...

adventuresofagoodman

View

Sep 6

Open
๐—›๐—ผ๐˜„ ๐—œ ๐—ฆ๐—ป๐˜‚๐—ฐ๐—ธ ๐— ๐˜† ๐—”๐˜‚๐—ป๐˜'๐˜€ ๐—”๐˜€๐—ต๐—ฒ๐˜€ ๐—ฃ๐—ฎ๐˜€๐˜ ๐—ง๐—ฎ๐—ท ๐— ๐—ฎ๐—ต๐—ฎ๐—น ๐—ฆ๐—ฒ๐—ฐ๐˜‚๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐˜๐˜†โฃโฃโฃ โฃ My plan simple: bring Donnie in, take her on a tour, and leave a handful of ashes under a tree overlooking the Taj Majal.โฃ โฃ โฃโฃWhat I didnโ€™t count on was a thorough security inspection by a pair of stern and armed guards.โฃโฃโฃ โฃ Upon arriving at the Taj Majalโ€™s front gate, the security guards checked everything. โฃโฃโฃ โฃ First they took out my tripod and laid it on the inspection table. โฃ โฃ โฃโฃNext, out came a simple set of crayons. โฃโฃโฃ โฃ There was no doubt in my mind that Donnie was soon to follow.โฃ โฃ โฃโฃโ€œWhat is this,โ€ the stern and heavily-armed security guard asked in broken English?โฃโฃโฃ โฃ โ€œItโ€™s my Great Aunt Donnieโ€™s ashes. She was 91 years old. I want to take her to see the Taj Majal,โ€ I replied.โฃโฃโฃ โฃ My words were met with blank stares.โฃโฃโฃ โฃ Next, I tried hand gestures. โฃ โฃ โ€œMy aunt. Puja. Like the Ganga. Puja.โ€โฃ โฃ (๐˜๐˜ ๐˜ - ๐˜ข ๐˜—๐˜ถ๐˜ซ๐˜ข ๐˜ช๐˜ด ๐˜ข ๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ญ๐˜ช๐˜จ๐˜ช๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ด ๐˜ค๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ๐˜บ ๐˜ธ๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ข ๐˜ฑ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ด๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ'๐˜ด ๐˜ข๐˜ด๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ๐˜ด ๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฑ๐˜ถ๐˜ต ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ ๐˜ข ๐˜ฑ๐˜ข๐˜ฑ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ ๐˜ฃ๐˜ฐ๐˜ข๐˜ต ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ด๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ต ๐˜ฅ๐˜ฐ๐˜ธ๐˜ฏ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜Ž๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜จ๐˜ฆ๐˜ด, ๐˜ธ๐˜ฉ๐˜ช๐˜ค๐˜ฉ ๐˜ช๐˜ด ๐˜๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ๐˜ช๐˜ข'๐˜ด ๐˜ฉ๐˜ฐ๐˜ญ๐˜ช๐˜ฆ๐˜ด๐˜ต ๐˜ณ๐˜ช๐˜ท๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ).โฃ โฃ โฃโฃThis seemed to click, as the guard uttered โ€œAhhโ€ and moved on to the rest of my bag. โฃโฃโฃ โฃ Once he was done, the only items on the security table were my tripod, crayons, and Donnie.โฃ โฃ โฃโฃโ€œWhat is this,โ€ they asked again?โฃโฃโฃ โฃ โ€œMy Aunt. For Puja. Ganga.โ€โฃโฃโฃ โฃ โ€œWhere did you get it?โ€โฃ โฃ โ€œAt the funeral home. In the USA. Cremation. Ashes.โ€โฃ โฃ โฃโฃMore blank stares, as they tried to comprehend what was going on.โฃโฃโฃ โฃ Why was this man taking a box of gray powder into Indiaโ€™s most treasured national monument?โฃ โฃ โฃโฃKEEP READINGโฃโฃ LINK IN BIO

๐—›๐—ผ๐˜„ ๐—œ ๐—ฆ๐—ป๐˜‚๐—ฐ๐—ธ ๐— ๐˜† ๐—”๐˜‚๐—ป๐˜'๐˜€ ๐—”๐˜€๐—ต๐—ฒ๐˜€ ๐—ฃ๐—ฎ๐˜€๐˜ ๐—ง๐—ฎ๐—ท ๐— ๐—ฎ๐—ต๐—ฎ๐—น ๐—ฆ๐—ฒ๐—ฐ๐˜‚๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐˜๐˜†โฃโฃโฃ
โฃ
My plan simple: bring Donnie in, take her on a tour, and leave a handful of ashes under a tree overlooking the Taj Majal.โฃ
โฃ
โฃโฃWhat I didnโ€™t count on was a thorough security inspection by a pair of stern and armed guards.โฃโฃโฃ
โฃ
Upon arriving at the Taj Majalโ€™s front gate, the security guards checked everything. โฃโฃโฃ
โฃ
First they took out my tripod and laid it on the inspection table. โฃ
โฃ
โฃโฃNext, out came a simple set of crayons. โฃโฃโฃ
โฃ
There was no doubt in my mind that Donnie was soon to follow.โฃ
โฃ
โฃโฃโ€œWhat is this,โ€ the stern and heavily-armed security guard asked in broken English?โฃโฃโฃ
โฃ
โ€œItโ€™s my Great Aunt Donnieโ€™s ashes. She was 91 years old. I want to take her to see the Taj Majal,โ€ I replied.โฃโฃโฃ
โฃ
My words were met with blank stares.โฃโฃโฃ
โฃ
Next, I tried hand gestures. โฃ
โฃ
โ€œMy aunt. Puja. Like the Ganga. Puja.โ€โฃ
โฃ
(๐˜๐˜ ๐˜ - ๐˜ข ๐˜—๐˜ถ๐˜ซ๐˜ข ๐˜ช๐˜ด ๐˜ข ๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ญ๐˜ช๐˜จ๐˜ช๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ด ๐˜ค๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ๐˜บ ๐˜ธ๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ข ๐˜ฑ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ด๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ'๐˜ด ๐˜ข๐˜ด๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ๐˜ด ๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฑ๐˜ถ๐˜ต ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ ๐˜ข ๐˜ฑ๐˜ข๐˜ฑ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ ๐˜ฃ๐˜ฐ๐˜ข๐˜ต ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ด๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ต ๐˜ฅ๐˜ฐ๐˜ธ๐˜ฏ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜Ž๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜จ๐˜ฆ๐˜ด, ๐˜ธ๐˜ฉ๐˜ช๐˜ค๐˜ฉ ๐˜ช๐˜ด ๐˜๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ๐˜ช๐˜ข'๐˜ด ๐˜ฉ๐˜ฐ๐˜ญ๐˜ช๐˜ฆ๐˜ด๐˜ต ๐˜ณ๐˜ช๐˜ท๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ).โฃ
โฃ
โฃโฃThis seemed to click, as the guard uttered โ€œAhhโ€ and moved on to the rest of my bag. โฃโฃโฃ
โฃ
Once he was done, the only items on the security table were my tripod, crayons, and Donnie.โฃ
โฃ
โฃโฃโ€œWhat is this,โ€ they asked again?โฃโฃโฃ
โฃ
โ€œMy Aunt. For Puja. Ganga.โ€โฃโฃโฃ
โฃ
โ€œWhere did you get it?โ€โฃ
โฃ
โ€œAt the funeral home. In the USA. Cremation. Ashes.โ€โฃ
โฃ
โฃโฃMore blank stares, as they tried to comprehend what was going on.โฃโฃโฃ
โฃ
Why was this man taking a box of gray powder into Indiaโ€™s most treasured national monument?โฃ
โฃ
โฃโฃKEEP READINGโฃโฃ
LINK IN BIO ...

adventuresofagoodman

View

Sep 5

Open
As a photographer who wears glasses, I find myself constantly needing to take them off to see my screen.โฃ โฃ Sometimes, they fall off my head.โฃ โฃ Can anyone else relate?

As a photographer who wears glasses, I find myself constantly needing to take them off to see my screen.โฃ
โฃ
Sometimes, they fall off my head.โฃ
โฃ
Can anyone else relate? ...

adventuresofagoodman

View

Sep 5

Open
Every day before dawn, travelers wipe the sleep from their eyes, board a small bus, and converge on a wide open field. โฃ โฃ Their destination is a hot air balloon for a sunrise tour above Cappadocia.โฃ โฃ This small Turkish town is best known for its distinctive โ€œfairy chimneysโ€ โ€” which are tall, cone-shaped rock formations clustered in a valley.โฃ โฃ Before arriving in Cappadocia, I had found countless breathtaking photos of the balloon ride on social media.โฃ โฃ My head was swirling with ideas of creating my own.โฃ โฃ However, on the morning of our tour, Carrie and I woke up to find a cloud-covered sky.โฃ โฃ "Maybe it will burn off before sunrise," I said with my fingers crossed.โฃ โฃ Long story short, it did not.โฃ โฃ The clouds stayed in the sky all morning.โฃ โฃ Though, for one brief moment in time, a window of clear skies appeared above the horizon.โฃ โฃ As luck/fate/whatever would have it, that window opened exactly as the sun rose above the horizon.โฃ โฃ So, while the majority of my photos are of cloudy skies, I did get the one "money shot" that you see in this post.โฃ โฃ Mission accomplished!

Every day before dawn, travelers wipe the sleep from their eyes, board a small bus, and converge on a wide open field. โฃ
โฃ
Their destination is a hot air balloon for a sunrise tour above Cappadocia.โฃ
โฃ
This small Turkish town is best known for its distinctive โ€œfairy chimneysโ€ โ€” which are tall, cone-shaped rock formations clustered in a valley.โฃ
โฃ
Before arriving in Cappadocia, I had found countless breathtaking photos of the balloon ride on social media.โฃ
โฃ
My head was swirling with ideas of creating my own.โฃ
โฃ
However, on the morning of our tour, Carrie and I woke up to find a cloud-covered sky.โฃ
โฃ
"Maybe it will burn off before sunrise," I said with my fingers crossed.โฃ
โฃ
Long story short, it did not.โฃ
โฃ
The clouds stayed in the sky all morning.โฃ
โฃ
Though, for one brief moment in time, a window of clear skies appeared above the horizon.โฃ
โฃ
As luck/fate/whatever would have it, that window opened exactly as the sun rose above the horizon.โฃ
โฃ
So, while the majority of my photos are of cloudy skies, I did get the one "money shot" that you see in this post.โฃ
โฃ
Mission accomplished! ...

Load More...

Let’s Connect

Follow Greg Goodman on Facebook     Follow Greg Goodman on Instagram    Follow Greg Goodman on YouTube 

Greg Goodman - Photographic Storytelling - a Journey Awaits
  • TRAVEL
    • BASEBALL
    • USA
    • INDIA
    • ASIA
    • SOUTH AMERICA
    • Back
  • STORIES
    • CITYSCAPES
    • EVERYDAY LIFE
    • A TRAVELER’S LIFE
    • MY TV SHOW
    • FAVORITE STORIES
    • Back
  • PHOTOS
    • INSPIRATIONAL PEOPLE
    • CHIANG MAI
    • NATURE
    • LANDMARKS & RUINS
    • FAVORITE PHOTOS
    • Back
  • ABOUT
    • GREG’S STORY
    • PHOTO CAREER
    • GRATITUDE JOURNAL
    • WORK WITH ME
    • BUY MY BOOK
    • Back
  • SHOP
  • CONTACT
Send this to a friend