A little bit about Sandal Tan Man
My story...
Hey there, I’m Dominic aka Sandal Tan Man!
Most of my friends just call me Dom. However, after a few years of chasing the sun (and avoiding winters) my feet have a permanent sandal tan, and so the Sandal Tan Man name was born.
That trip, which took me from Europe to Asia to Europe again, followed by Australia and New Zealand was my inspiration for this blog.
WHY DID I CREATE THE BLOG?
While growing up, I was lucky enough to have some spectacular adventures.
I spent my summers on the east coast of the United States (I’m from California), and got to enjoy my first cross country road trip as a young kid! My first time overseas was a study abroad in Australia, followed by a family scuba diving vacation in Fiji.
That trip happened while I was in university.
A few years later, while working a typical 40 hour-a-week job, I finally decided to give travel another go.
This time it was different.
In a moment of spontaneity, a friend and I bought a roundtrip ticket to Bangkok. We had no plan between our arrival and departure date, only a desire to see as much as possible. The trip to Southeast Asia opened my eyes up to the world – more than I ever expected it could.
It was the first time I had been in a country where English wasn’t the official language. I had to bargain for clothes and books, budget for 9 weeks on the road, and order food in different languages. I met people that treated travel as a lifestyle and not just a vacation. It was a crazy but mesmerizing experience.
SO WHAT NEXT?
After that trip, I realized travel was going to be a part of me for as long as I lived.
I was 22 years old when I boarded that flight to Thailand, and I’ve made travel a part of my daily life ever since. I’ve worked and volunteered on four different continents, made friends from all over the world, and learned about languages and cultures I never knew existed.
Throughout all of my travel escapades – whether it be a rewarding moment or a frustrating endeavor – I’ve learned that those experiences have made me become a knowledgeable person when it comes to many of the world’s hidden treasures and adventurous spots.
The point of this blog is to share these experiences and stories with you! I’m optimistic that there is something on here for everyone, even if it’s something as small as a well informed tip.
If you want to keep up to date with my whereabouts and most recent stuff, don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter.
My style of travel
The name of the blog strongly hints at my admiration for wearing sandals. The way I travel reflects that. I tend to head to warmer climates or during a country’s hotter months. In other words, I’m all about following the sun! My travel habits lean towards a slower moving pace and more relaxed lifestyle.
Although, I do love a good hike or a bit of underwater exploration!
If you’ve read my A Brief Summary of My Travels article, you’ll notice this to be mostly true.
For the most part, I try to keep some spontaneity and flexibility when it comes to choosing a new destination. Sometimes you have to jump at that new opportunity that presents itself!
I tend to use forms of travel (buses, trains, and cheap flights) and stay in accommodations (hostel and shared bungalows) that are in the budget to mid price range. It’s one of the reasons I’ve been able to travel as much as I have.
One thing is for sure, I’m always searching for the unique and wonderful spots each place in the world has to offer.
