EXPLOREWITHMAX

YOUTUBER | PHOTOGRAPHER | URBAN EXPLORER 

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2020 Mentorship Program

· 2020 Mentorship Program ·

· SIGN UP ·

· MENTORSHIP OVERVIEW ·

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Copy of The wilds of Iceland!

The wilds of Iceland! 

"But can't you hear the Wild? — it's calling you. Let us probe the silent places, let us seek what luck betide us; Let us journey to a lonely land I know. There's a whisper on the night-wind, there's a star agleam to guide us, And the Wild is calling, calling . . . let us go." Shot on a DJI Mavic Pro Follow me on instagram here: Instagram.com/caseyberner

Nothing comes close to the excitement of Iceland but what made my recent trip even better was the fact I was leading 6 other photographers through this beautiful country over 6 days! Along the way, I was able to show them some of the most breath taking location the South part of the island has to offer but we didn't want to keep these beautiful locations to our self. So my amazing friend Casey Berner shot and edited this video for you to enjoy! So let us know what you think of it and if Iceland is in your photo destination travel list then stay tuned for another Iceland photo tour coming soon! 

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The wilds of Iceland!

The wilds of Iceland! 

"But can't you hear the Wild? — it's calling you. Let us probe the silent places, let us seek what luck betide us; Let us journey to a lonely land I know. There's a whisper on the night-wind, there's a star agleam to guide us, And the Wild is calling, calling . . . let us go." Shot on a DJI Mavic Pro Follow me on instagram here: Instagram.com/caseyberner

Nothing comes to the excitement of Iceland but what made my recent trip even better was the fact I was leading 6 other photographers threw this beautiful country 

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A New Year in Sydney!

A New Year in Sydney! 

It's finally 2017 & with the new year comes new resolutions, goals, & for me a new city/country which is Sydney, Australia. So with such a big change in my life you can imagine a lot of my resolutions and goals for 2017 have to do with Sydney & Australia in general. Thus I wanted to share a few of the bigger ones here with the Internet to use this as a motivation to get them done! 

· Host an Australian photo workshop! ·

This is a huge one for me seeing as my first photo workshop in Iceland has already sold out super early - that just tells me you want more of them! So while I am already here in Australia for the next year, why not put togeather a sweet workshop for all of you & the amazing folks here in Oz to show off its diverse beauty.

· Create more & Explore more ·

I just picked up everything to move out here to Sydney & the more I think about this move, the more I am motivated to make the absolute most of it. So over the course of 2017, I will be focusing more on creating new content for the blog, Instagram, & YouTube as well as exploring this beautiful country. Get ready to see more kangaroos, surfers, beach photos, & of course killer landscapes. There might even be some fun road trips in the works that I have something special planned for.

· Sydney Collaboration ·

Something I want to do way more of this 2017 is to collaborate with more creatives, especially with ones here in Sydney, Australia. I have seen so many killer Instagram accounts & creatives in general from this area that have just blown me away. That's why I want to make it publicly known that if you are in Australia or in Sydney & you want to go out with me to shoot something creative or fun then I am 100% in. Just hit me up here on the blog or on Instagram @EXPLOREWITHMAX, just let me know what you want to shoot or if you have a cool location in mind & we can go shoot together.

I know this is a super short list of what I want to do this year, but this is just the beginning of a very exciting year & I don't want to make too many promises I can't keep. Let's start off small with these 3 goals & build from here.

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Iceland: Photographer Workshop & 7 Day Tour

Iceland: Photographer Workshop & 7 Day Tour

· Iceland ·

A mystical landscape that is a photographer and traveller's dream! With misty days, beautiful landscapes, and nights lit green with the aurora high above, Iceland is a place that you cannot pass up. There are so many unique locations found only on this island. This is an amazing opportunity to experience why everyone falls in love with this incredible country. Not only will you be a part of a one-a-kind 7-day photo tour, you will also receive hands-on photo training along the way that focuses on landscapes, adventure/travel photography, and environmental portraits in extremely beautiful locations on the South Coast of Iceland.

· Overview ·

The focus of this 7-day photo tour/workshop is to explore, learn, and tell stories through photography, with hands-on instruction at some of the most beautiful locations in Iceland. At this workshop, you will be learning not only industry secrets about planning your own adventure photo shoots but also multiple ways to tell meaningful stories through the photos you take & share on social media or on your own blog.

During our daily photo adventures, we will be getting around in a 4x4 Land Rover Defender that will not only be our transport, but a lovely subject to take pictures of among the rugged landscapes of Iceland. Each day will include photo lessons, photo review, and daily photo goal setting. Together, we will establish new goals designed to help push your ability to capture images and tell stories on this amazing trip.

· The Trip ·

· Host and Instructor ·

Max Chesnut

Max is a professional photographer who specializes in adventure lifestyle and travel photography with 6 years of experience shooting all over the world. His goal is it encourage and inspire others to follow their passions every day though photos, stories, and travel which is why he created this workshop provides all three to his students.

He got his start at 18 while living in Japan working at a small fashion magazine, moving on to learn under famous photographer Chase Jarvis, & now he is a full time photographer based out of Seattle. Oh did I forget to mention that he absolutely love Elephants?

· Trip details ·

Dates: April 7th - 13th

Cost: $2000 (50% deposit due & balance due before April 1st)

Spots: 6

· Locations ·

Some of the main locations

Reykjavik

Vik

Ulfljotsrah Church

Dyrhokaey Lighthouse

Skogafoss Waterfall

Fjaorargljufur

Seljavellir Hot Spring

· Coverage ·

What's covered

Photo mentoring for seven days (Camera technique, composition and atheistic's; light and condition training; storytelling; photo-retouching; social media; and working with models.)

7 days full accommodations in Airbnb house 

Transportation to the coast

Breakfast each day & one final meal

New friends & awesome travel experiences!

What's not covered

  Flights (I will be helping to find the best flight for you. Everyone must arrive before the 7th)

Lunch, snacks, & dinner (Full kitchen at accommodations & access to restaurants in each location)

· Booking ·

Fill out the form below with a little info about yourself and we will get back to you with payment confirmation and invoice. All that's left then is to get super excited for Iceland and all the amazing photos you will be taking togeather! 

· Frequently asked Questions ·

What's the level of photographic skills do I need? "This workshop and Photo tour are open to all skills from beginners all the way to the pros. As long as you have a love of photography and a willingness to go out and learn every day."

What Camera gear do I need to bring? "The minimum you will need is a camera DSLR/mirrorless, one Lens, Tripod, and Laptop for daily group edit sessions. Also recommended to bring an ND filter and Wide angle lens for beautiful Landscapes."  

Will I see the Northern Lights (Aurora)? There is a good possibility, as they are still active during this time and we will be constantly on the hunt for them.  

What do I need to pack? The weather in Iceland never really gets warm, but it will be around 0c-5c so pack warm layers, hats, & gloves. I recommend wool base layers and waterproof layers is a must as well as a good pair of hiking boots.  

What is the weather like? We are hitting Iceland in the best time in the terms of light and weather, with Winter just ending and with Spring in full swing we will enjoy lovely days and starry filled night with the chance of the aurora every day.  

Will there be the opportunity to do other activities? Of course, we do have a packed 7-day itinerary to maximise your time on the trip, but we do recommend you arrive before and stay after so you can experience more of Iceland on your own & we will provide advice and recommendations on fun things to do that we might have missed.

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How to Instagram stories & why

How to Instagram stories & why

What is Instagram Stories?

Basically, Instagram has fully hoped on the Snapchat bandwagon like the rest of us in the world & now have implemented a 24-hour photo sharing system that will act the same as Snapchat, but won't affect your current feed. You can also add text, draw on your images, & add funny emojis just like in Snapchat, but these will be shared with your current followers or sent privately. This also isn't like Instagrams other apps that aren't fully integrated into the original app where you would have to switch between, Stories is fully built in & right on your home screen which is nice to see.

What's the difference between Stories & Snapchat? 

Well to make this short it's pretty much identical to Snapchats base photo & video sharing modes, but stories don't have the same robust filters & geo tags as Snapchat. As well it is lacking the emoji system to see who your most active with & scores/archives that Snapchat does. Now it's too early to tell if Instagram will go that far in ripping those off from Snapchat, but only time will tell. The last main difference is the lack of disappearing private messages, but Instagram already has a private inbox system that will keep all your messages safe and sound, so no random faded miss messages.

Why should I use Stories? 

I have been giving this a lot of thought ever since I saw this launch this morning & to be honest, I see myself using Instagrams Stories way more than my Snapchat simply because Instagram is already my main Social media app & now I have basically Snapchat built in. So now instead of focusing on two different apps that can be tried some at times, I can focus on the one app that I already love more than anything. Not to say I don't love snapchat, but I have been finding of late harder & harder to focus on creating content for it because I have to be in a different mindset when creating snaps, but now I can combine & focus on the one app that is already a home base for me. 

Tell me what you think about Instagram's Stories feature & will you be using it over Snapchat or will you keep snapping away? Also, make sure to share this with your friend & check out my Australia post to get some summer inspiration!

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JULY MUSIC VIBES "Summer time chill"

JULY MUSIC VIBES "Summer time chill" 

With summer time heat on the rise, its time to head out with some friends to the beach or to the lake to chill for a picnic. With that it's a must to have some Summer time vibes & chill beats to relax to and destress. So this months Spotify music vibes is based on some new indie & folk bands that will let you relax & have a fun time with friends. A few of my favorite are "River" by Bishop Briggs for a more upbeat vibe, "Sinking Sun" by Mt Warning for an acoustic chill vibe, & " Take Me to Church" by Hozier to wrap it up with some soul.

Don't forget to like, subscribe, & what was your favorite song is this month? -Cheers 

EXPLOREWITHMAX

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JULY MUSIC VIBES "Summer time chill"

JULY MUSIC VIBES "Summer time chill" 

With summer time heat on the rise, its time to head out with some friends to the beach or to the lake to chill for a picnic. With that it's a must to have some Summer time vibes & chill beats to relax to and destress. So this months Spotify music vibes is based on some new indie & folk bands that will let you relax & have a fun time with friends. A few of my favorite are "River" by Bishop Briggs for a more upbeat vibe, "Sinking Sun" by Mt Warning for an acoustic chill vibe, & " Take Me to Church" by Hozier to wrap it up with some soul.

Don't forget to like, subscribe, & what was your favorite song is this month? -Cheers 

EXPLOREWITHMAX

[explorewithmax-blog]

Photo tour of Sydney & Canberra

Like my last post "Why I fell in love with Australia" I wanted to share my love for Sydney & Canberra though more photos from my recent trip. Being able to experience not just the coast pf Sydney, but the bush pf Canberra really allowed me to see more than most see when they visit Australia.

· SYDNEY ·

· CANBERRA ·

Tell me, which was your favorite photo & why in the comments down below, also where is someplace that you really want to go explore? Make sure to also subscribe to keep up today on everything on Instagram @EXPLOREWITHMAX.

[explorewithmax-blog]

Why I fell in love with Australia

 Ever since I was little my mum always told me that she sees me living in Australia and loving Australia. Now I have always rejected that notion for the longest time until I took this photo & the moment behind this photo. For context, the reason, I was even in Australia & Canberra of all places started 6 months before in London where I met a girl named Erin.

 Erin & I meet at a bar and ended up hitting it off right away, but unfortunately, for us, we only had 2.5 days together in London where she had to fly home & I continue my trip to Paris, but we ended up staying in touch and growing on our connection we had in London. Now after six months of late night skype talks, many FB messages, & a promise to see one another again ASAP I found myself booking a ticket to Sydney for 2.5 weeks with plans on staying in Sydney, but also going to Canberra her hometown for a weekend. And with that I was on a plane flying to Australia where Erin & I spent the first week and a half in Sydney where she showed me around, I meet her friends, & I got to know her even better, but I also noticed myself falling in love with everything I was experiencing from the city to the lifestyle, even accents well especially the accents.

On the 2nd weekend I was there we ended up travelling to Canberra where Erin grew up & if you know anything about Canberra it is the fact that every Australian talks so much crap about their Capitol and how boring it is with nothing to do. Except for Erin now, so with mixed expectations and a vague idea of what to expect we ventured out to the Capitol. So on the first day of us arriving in Canberra, Erin set off on her mission for me to enjoy my time in the Capitol so we ended up going out for nature walk 2 minutes from her family home. This trail was beyond beautiful, with views of the mountains, the valley filled with horses, cows, & this family of Kangaroos that were just hopping around in the valley. 

As any foreigner in a place like Australia, I immediately bolted toward the Kangaroos in an attempt to take a photo of them, also never have seen one in real life I just wanted to get close. But every time I tried to get closer & closer they just hopped further & further away towards the sunset. And this is the moment when I captured this image above, I hit a point where I knew I couldn't get any closer & I had to just capture the moment as it was & to me it was the perfect one. With Erin right beside me in a field in Australia, with kangaroos hopping away it just hit me that I was half way around the world & my heart was just stolen by Erin & Australia.

Tell me what's one location or travel experience that has stolen your heart or made you realise how important travel is to you? Also, make sure share with your friends &  help be a part of this growing travel community!

[explorewithmax-blog]

Why I fell in love with Australia

 Ever since I was little my mum always told me that she sees me living in Australia and loving Australia. Now I have always rejected that notion for the longest time until I took this photo & the moment behind this photo. For context, the reason, I was even in Australia & Canberra of all places started 6 months before in London where I met a girl named Erin.

 Erin & I meet at a bar and ended up hitting it off right away, but unfortunately, for us, we only had 2.5 days together in London where she had to fly home & I continue my trip to Paris, but we ended up staying in touch and growing on our connection we had in London. Now after six months of late night skype talks, many FB messages, & a promise to see one another again ASAP I found myself booking a ticket to Sydney for 2.5 weeks with plans on staying in Sydney, but also going to Canberra her hometown for a weekend. And with that I was on a plane flying to Australia where Erin & I spent the first week and a half in Sydney where she showed me around, I meet her friends, & I got to know her even better, but I also noticed myself falling in love with everything I was experiencing from the city to the lifestyle, even accents well especially the accents.

On the 2nd weekend I was there we ended up travelling to Canberra where Erin grew up & if you know anything about Canberra it is the fact that every Australian talks so much crap about their Capitol and how boring it is with nothing to do. Except for Erin now, so with mixed expectations and a vague idea of what to expect we ventured out to the Capitol. So on the first day of us arriving in Canberra, Erin set off on her mission for me to enjoy my time in the Capitol so we ended up going out for nature walk 2 minutes from her family home. This trail was beyond beautiful, with views of the mountains, the valley filled with horses, cows, & this family of Kangaroos that were just hopping around in the valley. 

As any foreigner in a place like Australia, I immediately bolted toward the Kangaroos in an attempt to take a photo of them, also never have seen one in real life I just wanted to get close. But every time I tried to get closer & closer they just hopped further & further away towards the sunset. And this is the moment when I captured this image above, I hit a point where I knew I couldn't get any closer & I had to just capture the moment as it was & to me it was the perfect one. With Erin right beside me in a field in Australia, with kangaroos hopping away it just hit me that I was half way around the world & my heart was just stolen by Erin & Australia.

Tell me what's one location or travel experience that has stolen your heart or made you realise how important travel is to you? Also, make sure share with your friends &  help be a part of this growing travel community!

[explorewithmax-blog]

7 must have carry on items!

When it comes to traveling your carry on items is probably the most important bag you have to pack, even if its a short weekend trip or a long 3 month solo trek around Asia. Why you ask, well because this is the bag that will never leave your side no matter how many planes, trains, or buses you take during your travels. So with that in mind let me walk you though the 7 must have carry on items.

1: Camera / Electronic

This one is pretty simple when it comes to any sort of travel, always keep your most important items with you never check them. As for myself because I am a blogger & photographer the first thing I pack is my camera gear followed up with my Macbook pro. All together though making sure you have a camera on your trip will ensure you capture amazing moments that you can look back on long after you return for your trip.

2: Ipad

Okay be honest, how many times have you gotten onto a flight and either your screen for the inflight entertainment is not working or you have seen everything they offer. Well thats why you bring your own iPad loaded with comics, tv, movies, & your own bad ass Spotify playlist that is saved. Because no one ever want to get board on a 13 hour flight, that is literally the worst thing that can ever happen, well besides being the middle seat. I do recommend the iPad mini, because of its size, weight, & price you can't really beat it. 

3: Headphones

Having a good pair of headphones can be a life saver on any flight, especially if there is a crying baby or some every load snorers on your flight. For my self I swear by the Bose QuiteComfort 25 because of the fantastic sound quality & build quality, but mainly because they are beyond comfortable like two pillows on my ears serenading me the lovely sounds of Kaleo & Tame Impala. Did I also mention that they are noise canceling so you don't have to hear that child scream or your neighbor behind you snore...

4: A good book

With this one you can go old school like my self and bring aboard a paperback to read when you need a break from staring at a screen, or you can double down on that screen & buy a book for your iPad and save the space in your carry on. No matter what option you go for its beyond import now to pick a good book, I always check Amazons top picks & read old school classic like Hemingway when I'm off to Paris or a fantasy book before going to Iceland. Or grab your self a cool small print magazine like Men in this town (MIIT for short) or their sister mage WITT.

5: Converter

This is a must in any travelers bag, your universal converter is your electronic life line when traveling abroad. Now you can usually pick one up if yours breaks or get lost, but its better to be safe then sorry especially if your in a country that doesn't speak your native langue. That said you don't need to buy the most expensive or elaborate one, but make sure it has good reviews and all the different type of prongs you need. Google the country electrical connection before flying out. 

6: Portable charger

With that same note, once your on the plane you might not have access to a full power port unless your flying business or 1st class, but even then having a portable battery pack can save your 1% phone from dying before you land. Even more so if your going on day trips where you might not have access to power its nice to have a back up just in case once you land. 

7: Extra change of cloths

So this might not be the most obvious one out of the lot, but it's one of the most important ones you can do, pack an extra change of cloths can save you in the worst case when the airline looses your checked bags. Now you might think this will never happen to me, but trust me it can & it will at least once. So make sure to check the weather the day before you flight and pack accordingly so you can mix & match a few days just in case. Also if its a tropical place your flying to pack a pair of swimmers just to be safe.

Bonus: Mini bottles or flask

(Disclamer: You must be of legal drinking age to do this!) Well now, your all packed and ready to fly out tomorrow you know its going to be a 8 hour flight & you are as prepared as you could be. Except you realize that your budget doesn't account for your in flight drinks past the first free one. Then you realize that mixers like ginger ale & tonic water are free, so make sure you run to the store grab a bit of gin & bourbon so you can enjoy your flight only slightly enibrated.

[explorewithmax-blog]

7 must have carry on items!

When it comes to traveling your carry on items is probably the most important bag you have to pack, even if its a short weekend trip or a long 3 month solo trek around Asia. Why you ask, well because this is the bag that will never leave your side no matter how many planes, trains, or buses you take during your travels. So with that in mind let me walk you though the 7 must have carry on items.

1: Camera / Electronic

This one is pretty simple when it comes to any sort of travel, always keep your most important items with you never check them. As for myself because I am a blogger & photographer the first thing I pack is my camera gear followed up with my Macbook pro. All together though making sure you have a camera on your trip will ensure you capture amazing moments that you can look back on long after you return for your trip.

2: Ipad

Okay be honest, how many times have you gotten onto a flight and either your screen for the inflight entertainment is not working or you have seen everything they offer. Well thats why you bring your own iPad loaded with comics, tv, movies, & your own bad ass Spotify playlist that is saved. Because no one ever want to get board on a 13 hour flight, that is literally the worst thing that can ever happen, well besides being the middle seat. I do recommend the iPad mini, because of its size, weight, & price you can't really beat it. 

3: Headphones

Having a good pair of headphones can be a life saver on any flight, especially if there is a crying baby or some every load snorers on your flight. For my self I swear by the Bose QuiteComfort 25 because of the fantastic sound quality & build quality, but mainly because they are beyond comfortable like two pillows on my ears serenading me the lovely sounds of Kaleo & Tame Impala. Did I also mention that they are noise canceling so you don't have to hear that child scream or your neighbor behind you snore...

4: A good book

With this one you can go old school like my self and bring aboard a paperback to read when you need a break from staring at a screen, or you can double down on that screen & buy a book for your iPad and save the space in your carry on. No matter what option you go for its beyond import now to pick a good book, I always check Amazons top picks & read old school classic like Hemingway when I'm off to Paris or a fantasy book before going to Iceland. Or grab your self a cool small print magazine like Men in this town (MIIT for short) or their sister mage WITT.

5: Converter

This is a must in any travelers bag, your universal converter is your electronic life line when traveling abroad. Now you can usually pick one up if yours breaks or get lost, but its better to be safe then sorry especially if your in a country that doesn't speak your native langue. That said you don't need to buy the most expensive or elaborate one, but make sure it has good reviews and all the different type of prongs you need. Google the country electrical connection before flying out. 

6: Portable charger

With that same note, once your on the plane you might not have access to a full power port unless your flying business or 1st class, but even then having a portable battery pack can save your 1% phone from dying before you land. Even more so if your going on day trips where you might not have access to power its nice to have a back up just in case once you land. 

7: Extra change of cloths

So this might not be the most obvious one out of the lot, but it's one of the most important ones you can do, pack an extra change of cloths can save you in the worst case when the airline looses your checked bags. Now you might think this will never happen to me, but trust me it can & it will at least once. So make sure to check the weather the day before you flight and pack accordingly so you can mix & match a few days just in case. Also if its a tropical place your flying to pack a pair of swimmers just to be safe.

Bonus: Mini bottles or flask

(Disclamer: You must be of legal drinking age to do this!) Well now, your all packed and ready to fly out tomorrow you know its going to be a 8 hour flight & you are as prepared as you could be. Except you realize that your budget doesn't account for your in flight drinks past the first free one. Then you realize that mixers like ginger ale & tonic water are free, so make sure you run to the store grab a bit of gin & bourbon so you can enjoy your flight only slightly enibrated.

[explorewithmax-blog]

5 Must have travel apps for the solo traveler!

Having a smart phone & being connected is now a essentially to daily life, but when your traveling for the first time solo you will most likely not have data (Unless you have T-Molbile, HINT! HINT!). Now this doesn't mean your phone becomes a useless paper weight in your bag, NO with these 5 apps your phone will become your best travel companion with out the unwanted bathroom stops.

1: Google Maps

Google maps is a god send to all travelers not just the solo kind, but a lot of people don't know how powerful it is even when you don't have roaming data. The greatness of google maps is in its ability to save a area of the map for offline use. Now this come in handy when your in Paris with no data & you need to navigate your way thought the city to your new hostel. 

2: Hostelworld

Hostelworld is the one stop app for all your booking needs on your solo trip, this app will make sure you get the best price, accommodations, & will let you know if your getting the best deals. When I was in Europe I book 90% of my hostels though the app & usually with in a day before I arrived. 

3: WhatsApp

Lets face it, you will totally have that night where you go out with all your hostel friends get really drunk & make plans for all of you to meet up in Barcelona for that one music festival you all wanted to go to. But wait theres a problem your from Seattle, ones form Sweden, another from South Africa, & the hot ones from Australia how are you going to all stay in touch. Well WhatsApp thats how, this is the solo travelers contact book for all the amazing people you meet along the way so download it now & start chatting! 

4: TripCase

TripCase, is the ultimate itinerary organizer for the unorganized like my self, nothing is worse then getting to the airport only to realize that you can find your confirmation email in the black hole you call your Gmail account. Fear no more, TripCase will do all the organizing for you making sure all your flight info, hostel details, & everything in between is all in one place. Also did I mention its free & super easy to set up?

5: Xe Currency

Last but not least is Xe Currency, now this might not be the first thing you think about when your traveling, but it should be. Know when the best time to trade in your Dollars for Euros can end up saving you a ton of $$$ in the long run. So make sure to check it a few days before you head from London to Paris & get the best price before you arrive.

[explorewithmax-blog]

Photo tour of Croatia coast

The Adriatic sea with its crystal clear water & ridiculously vibrant blue color helps create the incredible Croatian Coastline which needs to be shared. So with that in mind, I hope you enjoy this series of photos from Split & Dubrovnik. 

· Split ·

I totally understand why Split was the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire, because its beyond beutiful & the views from the cliffs are some of the best in the world. Not to overlook those same romans they provided some perfect platforms to enjoy the coast & to also jump from with some friends.

· Dubrovnik ·

Okay, so if you watch Game of Thrones then you know Dubrovnik as Kings Landing & oh my god this walled city is the jewel of the Adriatic.

Tell me, which was your favorite photo & why in the comments down below, also where is someplace that you really want to go explore? Make sure to also subscribe to keep up today on everything on Instagram @EXPLOREWITHMAX.

[explorewithmax-blog]

Photo tour of Croatia coast

The Adriatic sea with its crystal clear water & ridiculously vibrant blue color helps create the incredible Croatian Coastline which needs to be shared. So with that in mind, I hope you enjoy this series of photos from Split & Dubrovnik. 

· Split ·

I totally understand why Split was the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire, because its beyond beutiful & the views from the cliffs are some of the best in the world. Not to overlook those same romans they provided some perfect platforms to enjoy the coast & to also jump from with some friends.

· Dubrovnik ·

Okay, so if you watch Game of Thrones then you know Dubrovnik as Kings Landing & oh my god this walled city is the jewel of the Adriatic.

[explorewithmax-blog]

How to hook up while traveling

Sex is something that we all think about, especially when travelling because you never know if or when you will get lucky unless you're travelling with your partner. Now, in any case, it's beyond smart to have a game plan & know a few basic educate rules before you start knocking boots with your fellow explorers.

· Get consent ·

NO CONCENT, NO SEX! Before we talk about anything else we have to talk about consent because this is the MOST important part of haveing sex with someone else. So simply put you must ask for consent before anything happens, especially if you have been drinking & things get hot & heavy because there is no excuse for not asking & making sure you are both down. I do know it can be awkward to ask, but here is a little secret if they are into it then they will say yes & then you are free to have all the fun you want with one another & if they say no then stop whatever you are doing and talk with this person to see what they are comfortable with. 

· Find a partner ·

In my experience there are two ways of going about this, first is by being proactive and intentional seeking someone out with apps like Tinder, Grinder, bumble, or any of the other options out there. Which in all honesty, I can't even keep track of all the dating apps out nowadays, but if this is your choice method then be honest in what you're looking for & having a kick ass profile while not being a douche always helps. Now the second approach is more of my style which is the passive approach, where you simply just be yourself when travelling and see what happens along the way. Because you never know who you are going to meet on your adventure & most of the times you end up meeting a few people you connect well within bars, hostels, & even randomly when out exploring.

· Communication ·

So once you pick your method or use a combination of both this is where communicating comes into play. Once you find someone that you're interested in, don't be shy go and talk to them & see if there is any connection or spark, don't just sit back and stare, that's just creepy. Also, don't be afraid to make the first move if there is a spark waiting for the last possible moment because you are nervous is just silly, just ask if can kiss them because the sooner you two figure out you want to the more time you have with one another.  Now this might happen the first night you meet or it could be a few days of flirting and getting to know one another, but only by talking & asking what the other person is feeling will you truly know when the right moment is. 

· Your room? My room? Bathroom? ·

Okay, in all honesty, finding somewhere private to have sex is probably the biggest road block you are going to run into while on your quest to get laid. Especially if your young & broke, because that means you're probably staying in a hostel or on your friend's couch in the middle of London or where ever you are travelling. So what do you do, well first and foremost see if either of you have a good accommodation where you can hook up in, if not then let tell you what not to do first. Do not try and hook up in your shared hostel room while everyone is trying to awkwardly sleep & ignore the frankly terrible & awkward sex you're trying to have, plus it's just plain rude to your roommates & a garbage thing to do.  Here are a few options that are less terrible & can make sex actually sexy.  Split a private room: In most hostels they usually have at least one private room free at all times due to it being bit more expensive, so if you are really keen on hooking up with someone then pull your money togeather a split the cost. The privacy makes a world of difference & then you can have all the fun you want without worrying about a roommate walking in. If you are staying at a friends place, simply asking if its's alright to bring someone back & have them leave the house for an hour or two, but don't be greedy they are already putting up your ass. Lastly, if you are really desperate to hook up & your partner is into it then yeah jump into the bathroom or shower for a QUICKY, this one is definitely the riskiest, hottest, & most awkward of the acceptable places, but it can work in a pinch, but make it fast.

· Safe sex! ·

NO CONDOMS/PROTECTION, NO SEX! Just like above this one is beyond simple & crazy important as well because you might not like the feeling of a condom, but at the end of the day you DO NOT want an STI or a baby plane and simple. Look I know how easy you can get caught up in the passion or excitement of hooking up with someone while travelling, but it's always better to be safe than sorry & looks it's not that hard to carry a few condoms with you, but make sure you use them when the time comes so you both can cum safely. 

Let me know what you think of this post & if you want to see more like this in the future in the comments below. Also which approach do you use when you try and get lucky when travelling & what works for you, I would love to know! Don't forget to subscribe to my social channel for more content & to share with your friends, so I can keep on making amazing content for you.