I've never been to South America. I've never spoke at an International Gay & Lesbian Tourism Association conference. Basically, they both made for a very interesting and diverse week of travel for me on an island off the coast of Brazil. (Oh, and I don't speak a word of Portugese either.)

The IGLTA is a worldwide organization that promotes, educates and connects gay travelers with the businesses who support them. Gay travel is a booming market and has travel suppliers in over 80 countries on six continents. Gay couples travel, they're savvy, well educated, cultured and they spend money. No wonder more and more hotels, cruises, tour operators and destinations welcome the gay travel community each year. Oh, and let's just say they open their arms to a good party at any time, too.

Traveling to Brazil by myself, I was a little wary of safety but I ended up on the beautiful vacation island of Florianopolis (Floripa) just south of Sao Paulo and there was nothing to fear. I explored little seaside villages on foot, ate fresh-caught seafood right on the beach and drank caipirinhas with the locals until the wee hours of the morning. I didn't know the language, couldn't figure out the money conversion rate, didn't know what I was eating ... it was awesome.

Not being able to convey driving directions to cabs often had me walking through Brazil, but that's OK. Walking is discovery and on foot we take the time to appreciate diversity and see things whole – even if my gay friends kept making fun of my shoes.

Ted's Top Five Things He Learned About Travel On This Trip:

1. The high season for Floripa is December to February so if you go there in late April you could have the beach to yourself ... and the club, restaurant, sidewalk, grocery store, etc.

2. A 10 hour layover in the Sao Paulo airport isn't that bad if you're mentally prepared for it. Using Google Translate I tried speaking Portugese all day. I got more laughs than funny looks.

3. Fa'Fa is the Brazillian version of Madonna and the inspiration for the Volkswagon Bug's round headlights. I'm sure you all can figure that one out on your own.

4. Gays have the largest amount of disposable income of ANY niche market. 83% of gays have passports compared to 34% of all US citizens.

5. The Caipirinha is the national cocktail of Brazil. Made of sugarcane, rum and limes, they're tasty and if you're craving a massive sugar hangover, I recommend having 5 or 6 of them.

Well, traveling with a group outside your own niche market definately gives you a different perspective of a destination, and if that particular place is completely foreign to you as well, enjoy and appreciate the diversity. Diversity is not about how we differ. Diversity is about how we embrace anothers uniqueness. Cultures, people and destinations will always differ and learning to understand each is the first step to appreciation. The best way to appreciate your own journeys is to imagine yourself without them.

Trip Quote:

"This is like the 'Island that time forgot'. Look at the car, I have't seen a pinto in years."- Me at lunch

"baahhhhaaahhhhaaa!!!"- Uncontrolable laughter from the entire table.

"Um... what did I say?"- Me

"Pinto is 'very small genetalia' in Portuguese." - My billingual friend.

Additional photos from this journey can be found by clicking here FlickrTravelWithTed

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I've seen a lot of things and I've been to a lot of places, but I've never experienced anything like Berlin. Each adventure story I shared during the trip (and since I've been back home) has been replied to with: "That's so Berlin". Nothing shocking or taboo, just general acceptance that you're in one of the most ecclectic cities in the world. Berlin is daring, diverse, a bit manic and 100% awesome.

When 'The Wall' came down in Berlin, the city changed. The sense of new freedom in East Berlin allowed many young Europeans to illegally occupy buildings and turn them into outlandish clubs, hidden speakeasies and bizarre restaurants. It is now the premier nightlife district in Europe. A night can consist of a 16-course meal followed with a trip to a pitch-black speakeasy and a nightcap in a basement of a church with punk rock jazz. That's so Berlin.

I'm here for ITB, the world's largest tourism trade show, and I'm making my way through 180 countries, learning about each destination's travel product and marketing campaign. Who knew you could surf in Iran?

Every nationality has different boundaries of what they like to experience and what they'll risk with each journey they take, so when you're amongst every county in the world expect a wild ride. Americans are tame compared to other nations. But even if you can't understand everything the other guys are saying, sometimes it's good to let them be your guide. When we travel, we should embrace something new and go out on a limb – isn't that where the fruit is? I'm being so Berlin.

The Top 5 Things Ted Learned About Travel On This Trip:

1. ITB is the largest travel trade show in the world. There are 11,700 booths representing 180 countries and countless cities. Brush up on your geography.

2. The Holocaust Memorial is a five-acre site made up of 2,711 concrete slabs of various heights, designed to evoke a sense of confusion within an ordered system that lost touch with reality.

3. When eating a 16-course meal, it's best to stop asking, "what is this?" after the 3rd course, because the next morning you won't want to know or remember.

4. Don't ever take your camera out in an underground club or it will get confiscated until you leave. (And they'll take some weird photos with it before they return it.)

5. By area, Berlin is nine times larger than Paris, it has twice as many bridges as Venice and 13% of its residents have foreign passports.

Well...underneath Berlin's beautiful and intense exterior lies a a medley of culture and individuality that's been cultivated by its acceptance of all cultures, creeds and lifestyles. No wonder ITB is held here each year.  Ethnic and cultural diversity should be accepted for its differences when we journey. After all, it's the one true thing we all have in common. That's so Berlin!

Trip Quote:

"So I'm in this weird bar in East Berlin, it's pitch black and I'm with an Egyptian, an Irishman, a Swede and two guys from Brazil who barely speak English, and..." - Me at the ITB Tradeshow early one morning.

"Sully, I'm pretty sure I've heard this joke before." - My buddy from the Great Lakes region.

"Joke? ... This was just a few hours ago!" - Me... That's so Berlin!

Addtional photos from this journey can be found by clicking here FlickrTravelWithTed

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Be yourself, because everyone else is taken. Our travel landscape is full of limitations, rules and perceptions that can cause destinations not to grasp the best of what they really are. Too often destinations lose sight of what makes them unique because they're too busy trying to be like their competition. That goes against everything we're been taught from the time we're toddlers. We were brought in as originals, so don't go around being a copy.

Last month, I was in Austin for MMGY Global's MOJO conference, with 50 destination marketing professionals all looking to get some swagger and individuality back into their advertising campaigns. Obviously, they all voted to have it in Austin for a reason. A town that embraces individuality and weirdness is the ideal location to be yourself amongst your peers. After packed days of case studies, candid discussions and idea sharing we'd chill to a mariachi band, eat hot dogs and listen to live music on 6th Street. The city's mission is to "Keep Austin Weird," and we helped the cause.

Even though all of us can sometimes be considered competitors it doesn't matter at MOJO. When you're encouraged to be yourself, you develop a good reputation among your peers. Your destination's reputation among travelers should be built from the same level of authenticity and trueness of self. Give them a real, honest look at who you are, what you're offering and why they're  unique, and I'll bet you'll be surprised by the results.

Ted's Top 5 Things He Learned About Travel On This Trip:

1. There are over 200 live music venues operating in downtown Austin and you can find a variety of music every night. (Even some old guy in a punk band singing the Sex Pistols.)

2. Mojo is a magical charm bag used in Voo Doo to help with self confidence and self esteem. (Who doesn't have a joke about me with that one?)

3. Gourment hot dog restaurants are awesome. Weird food combinations make it fun. I had a hot dog covered in Mac and Cheese and brisket...OK fine, I had two.

4. Flaming Dr. Pepper shots are outlawed in Texas, except for in Austin. The open flame thrower bursts in a crowded bar was deemed too dangerous? Once my eyelashes grow back I plan on having another.

5. Pinterest is a social sharing website that allows users to browse other's interests. 90% of the users are women and destinations are embracing the site for weddings, bachelorette parties and showers.

Well, ... our second MOJO was a success and embraced our individuality with open arms, guitars and a few "Howdys." How can you not be yourself in such an unpretentious city? Whether you're in Austin or anywhere your travels take you, remember a half glass of the real you is better than an overflowing river of fake anyday.

Trip Quote:

"I think each destination should always be themselves and their advertising should reflect what makes that place special." - MOJO attendee to me late night on 6th Street.

"I totally agree." - Me

"Well...unless that place really sucks."- MOJO attendee

Additional photos from this journey can be found by clicking here FlickrTravelWithTed

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I don't know if I believe in aliens, but I do believe that there are very different people out there—some of whom seem completely, well, alien to us. But traveling with various personalities only adds diversity to your journey and makes the trip more interesting, and usually more entertaining.

I'm in New Mexico with MMGY's interactive team and while we're pitching new business, we're also discovering there are aliens among us. To be alien is to be different and the state of New Mexico embraces this cultural diversity and adventurous spirit. The enchanting spirit of New Mexico is the ideal landscape for all of the ghosts and aliens that reside within it's borders and invite you to come and find them. Oh we looked, and I'm certain we found a few. (Huggins got along way too well with the locals and is pretty sure he's one himself.)

No one wants to travel with someone who's not being themselves. We want the truest self to accompany the authentic destination because that's what makes explorations sincere. Searching for aliens is fun. They can be real ones or just different people you've yet to meet on your voyage, either way they're not like YOU and that's awesome.

Don't ever stop looking for aliens because somewhere, and it could be on your next journey, something incredible is waiting to be known.

Ted's Top 5 Things He Learned About Travel On This Trip:

1. A flying object crash landed in Roswell, New Mexico in 1947 and the original Army press release announcing the discovery of a "Flying Disc" was later changed to "Weather Balloon." The government would never lie, would they?

2. You can snow ski in the Santa Fe area from Thanksgiving through Easter. Bring your shades because it's sunny 300 days a year.

3. New Mexico's beautiful and unique landscape looks like it could be another planet, making it even more alluring to Aliens, but I met no one named "Ripley."

4. The balloon festival in Albuquerque is the largest on our planet and probably looks cool even to our alien visitors.

5. Thousands of people claim to be abducted by aliens each year and you can actually buy an insurance policy for it. I still have yet to settle my claim.

Well ... do I believe in aliens? It scares me more to not believe in them, because that means we're the best in the universe that creation has to offer and that's not very imaginative. Imagination can take us to worlds that never were, but without it we go nowhere.

Trip Quote:

"Hey bartender, have you ever seen an alien?" - Emily

"Everyday, I have one back there washing the dishes right now."- Bartender

Additional Photos from this journey can be found by clicking here FlickrTravelWithTed.com

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Often we find ourselves in solitude. Traveling solo can make a journey more personal by increasing your awareness of your surroundings and enhancing your communication with the people you encounter. There are many factors that can have us traveling on our own and the biggest benefit is independence. Sure, you're in Captain Kirk's chair piloting the ship but there's no one to judge you when you make a few wrong turns,... or can't find your appointment location. (How was I supposed to know they moved a few weeks ago?!)

Taking a small prop plane to the badlands of South Dakota in the winter may not sound appealing, but if you're in a holiday mood and are true to what ingredients in life you enjoy the most, anywhere can be fascinating. Traveling alone creates nimbleness, forces you to interact with the locals, makes you more observant and gives the traveler the opportunity to be their truest self. So I drank Moose Drool Beer with a couple of ranchers and watched women's basketball while eating bread pudding, big deal.

Having a few hours of downtime in Pierre afforded me some time to inhale a sirloin at the Cattlemen's Steakhouse, smell the pine of 90+ Christmas trees in the capitol dome, discuss the hazards of working the railroad at the local dive bar, and browse deer gutting knives for stocking stuffers. If this is my truest self, I'm sure I'm not surprising anyone.

Ted's Top Things He Learned About Travel On This Journey:

1. Evidently, women's college basketball is a big draw amongst ranchers in South Dakota. Never ask to change the channel! "You don't change the channel on Pat Summit son."

2. Pierre, SD ranks in the top 1% of U.S. cities of "Well-Paid Single Women". Who knew there was a statistic for that?

3. The final scene of Dances With Wolves was filmed just a few miles from my hotel. "Can't you see that you are my friend Dances With Wolves? I am Wind In His Hair!"

4. You should ALWAYS sign guestbooks. It's a nice way to let them know you're interested in their efforts and passion. (Stop at little kids lemonade stands too.)

5. The capitol building in Pierre is decorated with more than 90 Christmas trees each year. Donated and decorated by communities and groups throughout the state. (One was from a retiree bowling team. Awesome.)

Well,... traveling by yourself  can be intimidating but if you embrace it, it also can be quite liberating. Society can show us what we are, but being on our own in solitude can remind us what we should be.

Trip Quote:

"What kinda steak you want?" - Cattlemen's bartender

"Well I'm from Kansas City and..." - Me

"Give him the 24 ounce Sirloin Special" - Doug (Rancher sitting next to me that I'd yet to meet.)

"Thank you, I wasn't sure if..." - Me

"He should have the yams and not the fries." - Doug

Additional photos from this journey can be found by clicking here FlickrTravelWithTed

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