My First Article on AskMen.com

Posted by Dave on 18 May 2009. Tags: writing

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Dear readers,

I am excited to share my first published article for AskMen.com, a popular online men’s lifestyle magazine. The topic is Flashpack Gear and it is running under their Guy Gear column, thus making me a “Digital Correspondent.”

How did this happen? A few months ago when I began the new blog, Medellin Living, the editors approached me about writing a profile on the city for their new annual editorial, Top 29 Best: Cities To Live In (2009). While Medellin didn’t make the cut, I used the opportunity to highlight my recent travels and pitch a few ideas, including an article on flashpacker gear. I already accepted my next assignment with them, so hopefully I’m on the way to becoming a regular contributor.

There is no doubt in my mind that my efforts with this blog have helped me develop a unique voice as a writer. 726 posts in 29 months can do that for a guy. And I can assure you the 2,628 comments left by readers has helped to build my confidence along the way (thank you!).

It has been a long, challenging, and immensely rewarding road from that March day in 2002 when I was jobless, steeped in debt, and deciding to travel the world. In two months, when I return home from Colombia, I will be once again jobless, with some credit card debt I’m afraid to admit, and yet I already feel far more empowered about the direction I will be heading than ever before.

And of course, I want to share the lessons I’ve learned about how to create a successful travel blog with you.

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This post was written by:

Dave - who has written 992 posts on Go Backpacking.

Dave Lee (Editor-in-Chief) blogged his way around the world from 2007-2009, and then started Travel Blog Success to teach others how to do the same. When not writing, he can be found salsa dancing, and lamenting his untimely departure from Medellin. Follow him on Twitter @rtwdave

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Dave

Ah, that's unfortunate. A few years ago, my <a href="www.gobackpacking.com" rel="nofollow">GoBackpacking.com site use to be blocked in China, according to my friend living in Chengdu. Luckily, that's no longer the case. :)

Lilliy

Congrats! for some reason the link to your article at AskMen.com is blocked in Jeddah. I just checked and AskMen.com site is definatly blocked here in Jeddah too bad.

Dave

I have been extremely happy with my watch, which is a precursor to the one in the article (I don't have the tide and moon functions).

I've found the altimeter to be very accurate, and it is super easy to calibrate based on a known altitude.
The thermometer I've used less, as to get a fair reading, you need to remove it from your write for 30 minutes (so your body temp doesn't affect it).
The 24-hour barometric history is cool too - it's fun to watch the pressure drop as a storm approaches (or you increase in elevation).
The 5 alarms have never failed to wake me up at all hours of the morning for flights, trains, and other assorted early morning activities.
It is living up to the motto - takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin! - It has survived dusty Cairo, mud wrestling in Laos, and everything else I've done on my trip.

You can search online for the watches to get them at a lesser rate than the retail price listed in the article.