"Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible." - Tony Robbins _ Surrounded by hundreds of wind turbines as we drove yesterday through western Texas. _ Where are we today? Roswell, New Mexico! 🇺🇸 _ I'm on the search for little green (or grey) men. Fingers crossed! 👽✨🔎 _ #motherofallroadtrips

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Where To Eat In Tallahassee?

We love to uncover hidden gems as we travel, and Tallahassee’s food scene is one of those gems. Florida’s capital city pleasantly surprised us with its wide range of tasty cuisine – from cheap and cheerful, to fine dining. Free your tastebuds and find out where to get the best feed in Tallahassee.
Read more at our travel blog.

"Look at the sky. We are not alone. The whole universe is friendly to us and conspires only to give the best to those who dream and work." - A. P. J. Abdul Kalam _ Hiking through the mountains in Transylvania, Romania in December 2014. We spent a couple weeks here with friends to celebrate Christmas and it was a unforgettable experience. _ Being the first time driving in snow we managed to get our car stuck once when we were unable to scale a steep, icy road to our house. Thankfully our friends were snow experts and got us home. 😊 _ #transylvania #romania 🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲

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"You are remembered for the rules you break." - Douglas MacArthur _ The famous London Eye on a sunny summer day, June 2014. _ Opened in March 2000, this 135 metres (443 ft) tall Ferris wheel in central London was the world's largest at the time it was erected. This is now the most popular paid tourist attraction in the UK receiving 3.75 million visitors annually. _ I've always loved ground breaking architecture and engineering feats. It demonstrates the ingenuity and resourcefulness humans are capable of with a common goal and purpose. And it inspires me to incorporate the attitude of "anything is possible" in my daily life. _ #famousplaces #igerslondon

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22 Ways To Save Money On Travel Photography Gear

Photography is not a cheap hobby. And when you mix travel into the equation its easy to be tempted to throw a lot of money into cameras and lenses so that you can perfectly capture your highly anticipated vacation. I’ll help you keep more money in your pocket with my 22 favourite tips for getting more bang for your buck from your travel photography gear.
Read more at our travel blog.

10 Things To Do in Tallahassee With Kids

Tallahassee is much more than just the political capital of Florida… we discovered plenty of things to do with kids, from kayaking with alligators to seeing the world’s largest magnet. Hmmm… maybe that’s why we were so attracted to this city? ;-)
Read more at our travel blog.

Happy Easter! 🐣 _ Here's a special sloppy Easter kiss for you from Buddy the giraffe at Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch, Texas. _ Would you like to share it with someone special? Tag them in a comment below. _ Want to see more fun behind-the-scenes moments from our #motherofallroadtrips 🚘 around the US? Follow us on... snapchat: travelwitbender

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"Knowledge is realizing that the street is one-way, wisdom is looking both directions anyway." _ Every evening the world's largest urban bat colony emerges in a swarm from under the Congress Avenue Bridge in the middle of Austin, Texas. _ That's what all those folks on the bridge are waiting for. It's a remarkable spectacle unlike anything else. That pretty much sums up the quirky, off-beat, fun vibe of Austin. We've only been here a couple days, but loving it so far. _ Have you been to Austin?

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"To succeed, you need to find something to hold on to, something to motivate you, something to inspire you." - Tony Dorsett _ Hold tight onto that nut Mr Squirrel. _ One of the many gorgeous creatures we saw today at Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch in Texas. We got up close to zebras, ostriches, giraffes, rhinos, camels, emus and more. Highly recommended if you're in San Antonio or Austin. _ Shot taken with my Panasonic #Lumix DMC-ZS100 Camera in 4K mode: 91mm, ISO 1250, f/5.9, 1/1000 sec _ #ZS100 #LumixLounge #texastodo #trueaustin

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"Our task must be to free ourselves by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty." - Albert Einstein _ Work of art? Or dessert? _ Manjar velvet chocolate mousse, macaron and raspberry sorbet. Found this spectacular circular-inspired dessert at St Regis hotel in Istanbul, Turkey. _ I was in #Istanbul last month for the #worldtourismforum. This dessert #foodporn was a sight to remember. _ Drooling yet? 😉

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"To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe." - Anatole France _ The real Saturn V rocket in Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas. _ This thing is HUGE - 363.0 ft (110.6 m) in length/height and 33.0 ft (10.1 m) diameter. It was launched 13 times at a cost of $185 million per launch (in 1969-1971 dollars). _ This technological marvellous supported the Apollo missions and launched Skylab. Saturn V remains the tallest, heaviest, and most powerful rocket ever brought to operational status and still holds records for the heaviest payload launched and largest payload capacity to low Earth orbit of 140,000 kg (310,000 lb). And it's still the only launch vehicle able to transport human beings beyond low Earth orbit. Pretty impressive considering it's first flight was in 1967. _ Yes, the same NASA space center where Mission Control heard the famous words "Houston, we have a problem" from Apollo 13 in 1970. _ A fascinating place for space buffs and just buffs of any kind. _ #myhouston #visithouston @visithouston

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Living The Dream: Age Is No Barrier

It’s not everyday we hear about a few 60 year olds Living The Dream, but Duncan and Jane are doing just that. They take their pension to a whole new level and you’ll love reading about their senior gap year.
Read more at our travel blog.

"Reflect upon your present blessings -- of which every man has many -- not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some." - Charles Dickens _ No, it's not a UFO... _ ...It's James Turrell's Skyspace in Rice University, Houston, Texas. _ The aptly named Twilight Epiphany is Turrell’s 73rd such skyspace creation around the world and one of his largest. Every day, at both sunrise and sunset, lights come alive within the pavilion. Their gentle and deliberate interplay with the natural rising or setting of the sun slowly paints a stunning, surreal and captivating light show on the skyspace ceiling. _ A quiet place of reflection and meditation. _ We've been in Houston for the last 6 days and exploring this beautiful city. From a house made of beer cans to North America's largest dinosaur hall, @visithouston has it. #myhouston _ Erin's been in California for 3 nights for the #wits16 conference thanks to @travelocity #gnomads. But it's fab to have her back now. _ And thanks to @tepwireless I've got internet access wherever we go in Texas.

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"I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality... I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word." - Martin Luther King, Jr. _ Lanterns for sale in the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, Turkey. _ Initial construction started in 1455 and now this is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with over 3,000 shops visited by up to 400,000 people per day. _ Did you know: a current renovation underway is finally solving one of the outstanding issues with the market - a lack of proper toilets. _ #oneistanbul

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"In order to succeed, we must first believe that we can." - Nikos Kazantzakis _ Enter. _ Hagia Sophia Museum in Istanbul, Turkey. It was formerly a Byzantine church and then a mosque under the Ottomans. Now it's been changed into a museum which highlights the cultural significance of both. _ Turkey has been in the news headlines recently due to tragic events. But the coverage doesn't reflect the incredible beauty and history of this country where east meets west. I still love Istanbul. _ #oneistanbul

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@flagaline concert at the semifinals for @rodeohouston - a small gathering of just our family... and 72,000 other rodeo enthusiasts 😊 _ 5 firsts in one night, our first day in Texas, our first rodeo, first country music concert, first stadium concert with kids, and first time shooting with my new Panasonic LUMIX DMC-ZS100 Camera. _ Over the next couple months I'll share photos taken with this handy new compact camera and see how it compares with my DSLR (which costs more than twice as much). The ZS100 packs a lot of power into a small unit so I'm curious how it'll handle. _ #rodeohouston #Lumix

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"I'm just thankful for everything, all the blessings in my life, trying to stay that way. I think that's the best way to start your day and finish your day. It keeps everything in perspective." - Tim Tebow _ Kemah Boardwalk from above. Had a fantastic time today at this fun waterfront amusement park southeast of Houston, Texas. _ It's amazing how a different perspective can be so beautiful. _ #myhouston #themepark

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"The greatest way to live with honor in this world is to be what we pretend to be." - Socrates _ Pool reflections at sunset at InterContinental Bali Resort in Jimbaran, Indonesia. _ This was one of my favourite images from our visit to Bali in early 2015. 📷 _ A special thank you for following us on Instagram. Today our 25,000th follower got on board to follow our nomadic journey around the world. I consider it a joy and privilege to share our view of this beautiful world with you. 🙏 _ If you want to find out more about what we get up to on our travels, along with handy real-life travel tips for your next break, take a look at travelwithbender.com or follow the link in my bio @travelwithbender.

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Bravofly Review: Finding Discount Flights

Bravofly features a hidden tool I’ve discovered to find the cheapest possible flight routes and dates. The information has already saved us hundreds of dollars. Find out how to use it to save big bucks on your next vacation.
Read more at our travel blog.

"Colours are brighter when the mind is open." - Adriana Alarcon _ View of downtown New Orleans from the rooftop pool at Le Pavillon Hotel. _ The gorgeous city of New Orleans has a unique colorscape, a heartbeat of purple, green and gold. The colors of one of the biggest parties on earth - Mardi Gras. We visited Mardi Gras World (who create 80% of the floats each year) and got to see the floats up close and learned about the creation process and history of this fascinating cultural phenomenon. _ #findyournola @visitneworleans

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"Blessed are the hearts that can bend; they shall never be broken." - Albert Camus _ Life in the swamp. _ Dilapidated house on the edge of a tributary of Old Pearl River in eastern Louisiana, USA. _ I was captured by the character of this dated dwelling which survived the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. It felt like another world. _ Spotted this view along our swamp tour with @cajun_encounters_tours along with alligators, turtles and swimming wild pigs (yes, you read that correctly). _ #findyournola

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Living The Dream: When You Can Have Cake & Eat It Too

Josh met Jon and Kach recently in Istanbul. They admit they aren’t Living The Dream, but they are on their way, at least they hope. First step marriage in December 2016.
Read more at our travel blog.

"You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something - your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life." - Steve Jobs _ The iconic oaks trees at Oak Alley Plantation in Louisiana, USA. _ These trees were planted around 300 years ago. More than 100 years before the big house was built. I admire the forward-thinking nature of the unknown planter, to create something that wouldn't see fruition in his lifetime. It's a reminder to me how our life's legacy not only passes to our children but grandchildren too. _ This beautifully preserved property tells an amazing story about slavery and plantation life. _ #followyournola

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"Our greatness lies not so much in being able to remake the world… as in being able to remake ourselves." - Mahatma Gandhi _ Jackson Square and St Louis Cathedral in the centre of New Orleans, Louisiana. _ This city is known by its slogan "let the good times roll". And we had a great time eating (and rolling) our way through one of our favourite cities over the last few days. _ New Orleans has a fascinating history combining influences from Spanish, French and American into its own unique style. I love it! _ @visitneworleans #followyournola

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"Every mountain top is within reach if you just keep climbing." – Barry Finlay _ View from the top of Sigiriya Rock in Sri Lanka. _ Want to see what we get up to each day behind-the-scenes? Follow us on Snapchat (username: travelwitbender). _ #srilanka #quotestoliveby

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Where To Eat In Nashville – 9 Steps To Foodie Nirvana

Time and time again we found bliss on a plate in Nashville, from spicy fried chicken to classic southern ribs to fluffy pancakes. Before you visit Music City, get a rundown of our 9 favourite places to eat and you’ll be in a smile-inducing comfort food coma in no time.
Read more at our travel blog.

"Every day you spend drifting away from your goals is a waste not only of that day, but also of the additional day it takes to regain lost ground." - Ralph Marston _ Rather be drifting here on the Lazy River? This is one of our favourite waterparks in the world... Waterbom Bali. _ Today we're driving on our #motherofallroadtrips to one of our favourite cities in the whole wide world... New Orleans! Ready for a big po-boy! Have you been? _ #quotestoliveby

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Yes, that's a fire-breathing dragon on top of a bank. _ Looks familiar? You might remember this dragon and Gringotts Bank from the Harry Potter book and film series. _ At @universalorlando for 2 days and had a ball. Last night we went to a Blue Man Group show which was electric. I've never heard my 5-year-old laugh so much - he was in stitches. I highly recommend it... And now you can go for free! _ Check out our competition at travelwithbender.com for your chance to win 4 tickets to Blue Man Group anywhere in the US. _ Now after 3 days of non-stop walking at Disney World and Universal Studios, my feet need a break. #themepark

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"A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles." - Christopher Reeve _ Spent the day at Universal Studios Florida yesterday. What's your favourite ride? Mine would be Men In Black. _ We're going back for another visit today (1 day is not enough). My pal, Optimus Prime, suggested that I eat a giant Simpson's-inspired donut - what's your best tip? _ #universalmoments #universalorlando

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"Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better." - Albert Einstein _ Devil's Bridge Falls near Aberystwyth, Wales, United Kingdom. _ Walked through the beautiful trail around the falls. Here the River Mynach drops 90 metres in 5 segments and ends up where I captured this shot. _ When I sit and admire natural beauty like this it reminds me of Albert Einstein's quote. _ Have you been to Wales before? What's your favourite part?

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"Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek." - Barack Obama _ Cinderella Castle in Magic Kingdom, Disney World, Florida. _ As of September 2015 this iconic fixture in Disney World was renamed to Elsa"s Ice Palace. Which name do you like better? New or old? _ Spent a fabulous family day out today discovering Disney World, Florida for the first time. My kids loved it. Tired feet by the end of the day but lots of smiles. 😊

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"Certainly, travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living." - Mary Ritter Beard _ Walking the halls of Westminster Abbey in London, UK. _ When we visited in 2014 I was a bit disappointed at the restrictions on photography inside the building. But found these unattended hallways around a courtyard and couldn't resist a snap. _ This historic church as built in 960AD (and rebuilt in 1517). It's been the location of royal coronations and burials for over 1000 years. Although since 1560 this place is no longer technically an abbey or cathedral, but instead a "Royal Peculiar" - a church responsible directly to the sovereign. _ News: I've put together a new page on travelwithbender.com containing all the info about our epic 1-year #motherofallroadtrips around the US & Canada in 1 spot. From routes to attractions to road trip tips. Everything is covered. Look for the link on the right sidebar. _ A special thanks to @tepwireless for helping us stay connected on our road trip with their magical travel wifi hotspot. Love it! 👈

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