What is a LandLoper?
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About Matt Long
06 July 2011 8:08 PM | No CommentsWho am I? I am a typical Gen-X professional who has a passion for all things travel. My site brings a unique perspective that is hard to find online. I am not a backpacker, nor am I living off of a trust fund. I am...
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Australia Travel Tips
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Travel Photos Archive
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Village Life Travel Photo Series
Posted on February 2, 2012 | 5 CommentsThis week the #FriFotos Twitter event theme is VILLAGE. There are a lot of different interpretations one could take, but I decided to go with the obvious and highlight some examples of village life from my travels. Enjoy! -
My 7 Super Shots
Posted on January 29, 2012 | 4 CommentsI was recently approached by the site Hostelbookers.com to participate in a round robin style blog post. Yes, another one, but this one is fun. They assembled seven bloggers, including myself, and asked us to contribute one photo and story for seven categories. You can... -
Feasting Around the World – Travel Food Photo Series
Posted on January 26, 2012 | 5 CommentsIf you’re a frequent (or even infrequent) reader, then you know that I love photography and have been working hard to improve my own. The power of a single image to transport us to a new and exotic land is intoxicating and I love finding... -
Reflections on a Petra Dog
Posted on January 22, 2012 | No CommentsI took this photo in Petra, Jordan, while on a 10-hour exploration of the ancient site. It was hot, scorching really, and every living thing was seeking shade of some sort, including this little guy. Dogs traditionally are not well cared for in certain... -
A Look at the Exotic – Photo Series
Posted on January 19, 2012 | 5 CommentsExotic is this week’s #FritFotos theme, the Twitter event when people from around the world share their favorite photos. Exotic strictly defined means anything foreign, but for most of us it has additional connotations. It’s not just enough to be foreign, but for many exotic... -
Thinking of My Happy Place – Travel Photo Series
Posted on January 12, 2012 | 6 CommentsEvery week on Twitter, people from around the world share their favorite photos by using the #FriFotos hashtag. I usually use the theme of the week as an excuse to put together a photo series, a way to contribute and to engage with more people.... -
UPDATED: Travel Dogs – My Favorite Dogs From Around the World
Posted on January 5, 2012 | 8 CommentsEven if you’re an infrequent reader of LandLopers, the fact that I am a huge dog lover will come as no surprise. I’ve always loved dogs, all animals really, and have three rescued pups living with me now, with the possibility of a fourth always... -
Old and New Architecture From Around the World – A Travel Photo Series
Posted on December 29, 2011 | No CommentsAlmost every Friday I publish a post of photography that follows the #FriFotos theme of the week. #FriFotos is a weekly event on Twitter when people from around the world share their favorite photos along a specific theme. This week I am one of the... -
My Favorite Photos of 2011
Posted on December 22, 2011 | 8 CommentsI’ll be doing a more robust series of my favorite travel photos from the year soon, but I want to offer a sneak peek to go along with the #FriFotos theme. Every week thousands of people from around the world share photos on Twitter along... -
Christmas in Paris – From Macaroons to a Sparkling Eiffel Tower
Posted on December 21, 2011 | 3 CommentsI’m pretty familiar with Paris. I’ve visited, admired and even lived there briefly. The one time of year still unknown to me though was Paris during the Christmas holiday season, an experience I finally fulfilled this week. We started the day with a culinary tour... -
Travel Photos – First Time in Amsterdam
Posted on December 20, 2011 | 4 CommentsOn Tuesday we boarded the Thalys train early in the morning with an eye on spending the day in Amsterdam. Luckily as holders of a Eurail Flexi Pass, it was extremely easy to take a quick day trip to the famous canal city of the... -
Photos of the Day – Brussels’ Giant Atom, Peeing Statues and more Christmas Market Madness
Posted on December 19, 2011 | 5 CommentsWe took a break from the Christmas Market madness and the sweet smell of baking waffles to visit one of the more unusual attractions in the city, the very mod Atomium. More on this in a future post, but the Atomium was built for the... -
Photos of the Day – Wintertime Fun, Waffles and Comic Book Heroes in Brussels
Posted on December 18, 2011 | 1 CommentOur first day in Brussels was necessarily a light one, mostly because of our overwhelming exhaustion. We did spend an incredible afternoon walking around the city center and the Grand Place, currently home to the annual Winter Festival. Stalls line the cobblestone streets selling everything... -
Festive Christmas in Mexico – A Photo Series
Posted on December 15, 2011 | 2 CommentsThe holidays are upon us, which led to the fitting #FriFotos theme this week: Festive. I was recently in Puerto Vallarta where the city was celebrating the Festival of Guadalupe and getting ready for the Christmas holiday. Here are some photos of a very festival... -
Puerto Vallarta Dreams – Photos From Paradise
Posted on December 11, 2011 | 6 CommentsA few weeks ago I was approached by the fine folks over at AMResorts to partner together on a pretty exciting initiative. AMResorts is the provider of sales, marketing and brand management services to five brands of exclusive resort properties in Mexico and the Dominican... -
Embracing Yellow – A Travel Photo Series
Posted on December 8, 2011 | No CommentsThis week the theme for the Twitter event #FriFotos is YELLOW. Rather than reinterpret the theme, I decided to take it literally and feature some of my favorite travel photos featuring this oft maligned color. -
Thankful for Adventure – Travel Photo Series
Posted on November 24, 2011 | No CommentsIt is once again time for the Twitter event #FriFotos when people around the world share their favorite photos. This week the theme is THANKFUL, in recognition of the fact that we in the United States just celebrated Thanksgiving and with it the start of... -
Tribute to Flags From Around the World – A Photo Series
Posted on November 17, 2011 | 4 CommentsIt is once again time for the Twitter event #FriFotos when people around the world share their favorite photos. This week the theme is FLAGS, something which I have well documented on my travels. Below are some of my favorite flags from around the world.... -
Five Random Travel Photos I Love
Posted on November 15, 2011 | 5 CommentsI may not be a world famous National Geographic travel photographer, but that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy photography as a hobby. Flipping through my photos recently I found a few that I love and thought I would share them with you. 1. I was... -
Finding Beauty in Heights – A Photo Series
Posted on November 10, 2011 | 2 CommentsIt is once again time for the Twitter event #FriFotos when people around the world share their favorite photos. This week the theme is FALL, obviously a nod to the season and the beauty of turning leaves and roaring fires. I decided to take a... -
Travel Spotlight – Lake Rotorua
Posted on November 7, 2011 | No CommentsLake Rotorua Located in the heart of New Zealand’s North Island, the Rotorua region is one of the country’s oldest tourist destinations, all because of some smelly water. The geothermal activity has made the lake area a spa destination for as long as there... -
Beauty in Contrasts – A Travel Photo Series
Posted on November 3, 2011 | 1 CommentWhen the FriFotos on Twitter theme for this week was announced, I was at a loss. The theme, Trick or Treat, usually conjures up images of kids in costume, pumpkins and other Fright Night antics. Yeah, I have none of that. So I thought about... -
Pretty in Pink – A Collection of My Favorite Sunsets
Posted on October 20, 2011 | 10 CommentsThe theme of #FriFotos on Twitter this week is Pink, in recognition of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I lost a very close family member to cancer and I know firsthand how terrible a disease it is. This effort to raise awareness to both cure... -
Power of One – Travel Photo Series
Posted on October 13, 2011 | 5 CommentsThe theme of #FriFotos on Twitter this week is ONE, in celebration of the first year of the photo sharing social media phenomenon. Here is my interpretation of the theme through some of my favorite photos. It’s amazing the symbolic power that one thing can... -
Capital Views – A Travel Photo Series
Posted on October 6, 2011 | No CommentsToday is #FriFotos on Twitter when people from around the world share their favorite photos relating to that week’s theme. This week the theme is ‘capitals’ and I decided to share some of my favorite photos from various capital cities I have visited around the... -
Travel Photo Series – The Road Less Traveled
Posted on September 29, 2011 | 4 Comments#FriFotos Today is Friday, which also means it’s FriFotos on Twitter. This is a weekly event when everyone is invited to share their photos with the world, using the #FriFotos hashtag of course. This week the theme is ROADS, a topic that I personally... -
Light, Shadow and Rock – The Changing Faces of Uluru
Posted on September 15, 2011 | 3 Comments -
Travel Photos – Rare Sighting of Blue Footed Booby Family, Galapagos
Posted on September 7, 2011 | 2 Comments -
Travel Photo – Petra Camel Caravan, Jordan
Posted on September 5, 2011 | No Comments -
Travel Photo – Hercules and the Amman Citadel
Posted on August 21, 2011 | No CommentsThe Amman Citadel rises high above the city providing an amazing 360 degree view of Jordan’s capital. The site is an ancient one and there’s evidence of a variety of civilizations still in full sight today. One of the post impressive is Hercules’ hand, one... -
Travel Spotlight – Capilano Suspension Bridge, Vancouver
Posted on August 15, 2011 | 2 CommentsThe Capilano Suspension Bridge is one of Vancouver’s oldest tourist attractions. The original bridge was completed in 1889 and was a modest effort made of hemp rope and wood planks set perilously high over the Capilano River. The bridge was replaced with a more sturdy... -
Exploring the Mosaic Map of Madaba
Posted on August 11, 2011 | 2 CommentsThe Madaba Map in Jordan It was hard leaving the Red Sea resort town of Aqaba, one of Jordan’s great cities, but I knew we had to keep moving. I was on a whirlwind trip of the country and eager to head back north... -
Travel Photo – Oldest Mosaic Map of Jerusalem, Madaba
Posted on August 3, 2011 | No CommentsJerusalem Map Located just 30 kilometers from Jordan’s capital, Amman, is Madaba, home of the famous Mosaic Map. Covering the floor of the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George, the map dates from the 6th century and is the oldest surviving mosaic map of the... -
Travel Photo – Colorful Sally Lightfoot Crab, Galapagos Islands
Posted on August 1, 2011 | 1 Comment -
Travel Photo – St. Andrew’s Cathedral, Amalfi Coast
Posted on July 31, 2011 | No CommentsItaly’s Amalfi Coast is one of the great treasures of the world, and no visit is complete with a stop in the town of Amalfi itself. In the center of this compact town is the Duomo, the Cathedral of St. Andrew. The colorful cathedral dates... -
Travel Photo – Sunset Over Wadi Rum Desert
Posted on July 28, 2011 | No CommentsDesert Sunset -
Travel Photo – Koele Ranch Sunrise, Lana’i
Posted on July 27, 2011 | No CommentsKoele Ranch, Lana i -
Travel Photo – A Lounge of Marine Iguanas Galapagos Islands
Posted on July 26, 2011 | 1 CommentThe marine iguana is endemic to the Galapagos Islands and exists no where else in the world. This prehistoric looking creature can be found throughout the archipelago and feeds exclusively underwater on seaweed and algae. It’s not uncommon for snorkelers and divers to meet a... -
Travel Spotlight – Visit to Saadian Tombs in Marrakech
Posted on July 12, 2011 | 1 CommentLocated next to the Kasbah Mosque in the Marrakech medina rests the hauntingly beautiful Saadian Tombs. Built in 16th century, the ornate tomb complex is the final resting place of Sultan Ahmed el-Mansour, who gained his wealth through the sugar and slave trades. The tombs... -
Travel Spotlight – Dana Biosphere Reserve, Jordan
Posted on July 10, 2011 | No CommentsOn the drive from the Crusader castle at Karak to the Nabatean city of Petra, we stopped by one of Jordan’s greatest natural wonders, the Dana Biosphere Reserve. My first introduction to Dana was at a scenic overlook along the highway, home to a Jordanian... -
Franz Josef Glacier Helicopter Flight Experience and Video
Posted on July 5, 2011 | 12 CommentsThe hamlet of Franz Josef seems to exist for one reason – to service the hulking, icy behemoth after which it is named. It’s one of the those towns with just a couple of streets, where everyone knows everyone else and a car is unnecessary.... -
Lakes, Wine and No Snow – Meandering Through Wanaka and Queenstown New Zealand
Posted on July 2, 2011 | 5 CommentsI like small towns, always have. I grew up in towns of middling size, each grasping on to the moniker “city” with all their might and not without a sarcastic glint. So when I rolled into Wanaka just after sunset on the next to last... -
Glaciers, Mt. Cook and the New Zealand West Coast
Posted on June 30, 2011 | 13 CommentsI woke early on my fifth day in New Zealand; it was still dark in the mountain outpost of Franz Josef. Franz Josef exists for the mountains and the glacier, and tourists flock here in droves. Little did I realize when I started the... -
Christchurch to Franz Josef New Zealand – Trains, Glaciers and Spas
Posted on June 29, 2011 | 5 CommentsIt was rainy, cold and a little dreary as I waited for my cab to the Addington railway station in Christchurch to start the fourth day of my introduction to New Zealand. I wasn’t going on just any train, I was about to embark on... -
Penguins, Earthquakes and Rebirth – Christchurch, New Zealand
Posted on June 29, 2011 | 4 CommentsOn the third day of my ambitious “See New Zealand in a Week” trip, I flew from beautiful but smelly Rotorua to Christchurch, the focal point of my trip. I’m here as part of the #Blog4NZ Project, and I was eager to see the city... -
Zorb, Sheep and Sulfur – Journey to Rotorua in New Zealand
Posted on June 28, 2011 | 7 CommentsOn my second day in New Zealand, I woke early and made the two hour drive from Waitomo to Rotorua along some of the prettiest roads on which I’ve ever driven. It seemed like every few meters I was stopping to take photos until I... -
New Zealand Adventure Travel – Waitomo
Posted on June 27, 2011 | 2 CommentsI arrived before dawn on Sunday and immediately made the two-hour drive to Waitomo, home of the famous glowworm caves. This area tucked away in the rolling hills of New Zealand’s North Island has been a tourist destination for more than a century, all because... -
Travel Spotlight – Palacio Real and Almudena Cathedral, Madrid, Spain
Posted on June 13, 2011 | 4 CommentsMadrid is one of those cities where I wish I had weeks to spend, instead of just days. It was my first time in Spain and I wasn’t sure what to expect. What I experienced was simply amazing, and I can’t wait to see more... -
Travel Spotlight: Desert Castles of Jordan – Qasr al-Amra
Posted on June 6, 2011 | 2 CommentsLocated in the desert east of Amman are a serious of curious structures, dotting the landscape almost randomly. These are the famous Desert Castles of Jordan, a remnant of the once dominant Umayyad empire. Built more than 1,200 years ago, these so-called castles didn’t have... -
Cute Overload – Baby Camels of Jordan
Posted on June 2, 2011 | 12 CommentsI love animals, a lot. Throw in baby animals and my heart melts and I lose all control. While in Jordan, I was lucky enough to spend some time in the desert where, to my great joy, there had been a camel baby boom. Here...
