I have recieved some amazing photos from home #2:

Greetings to all you lovely ladies and gentlemen out here on this world wide web. Wow, its Friday again already and its both scary and amazing how fast time seems to fly these days. I am actually starting to lose track of time at the moment. Anyway, the weekend is just around the corner and for most of you, that means a two-day break from everyday stress and obligations. So, do you have any plans for the weekend or are you going to wing it like a champ? When it comes to me, it will be more of the usual. All work and very little play. Closing up to the end of the month and that means more work that needs to be handled as usual, at the same time I have a few posts that need to be worked on as well.

So I guess its time for me to move on and get started on today's topic. As you can see from the headline, this is post number two who are focusing on the series of photos that I managed to get my hands on, back home from Norway. In total it was about 70 photos, but I have only plans for one more post after this one. Just to have it said, this friend of mine has some amazing photographer skills and this is one of the reasons why I want to showcase them here on my blog and I do hope that you take some time to check her out on Instagram and Twitter. I will include links to her profiles at the end of this post. To be honest, I do feel she deserve the attention and my gratitude for letting me use them on my blog.

On to something else and some rambling from my part. Because lately, I have been thinking a lot about the progress that my blog is having or in many ways lack of it. Okay, I am not creating my content purely for the views or the clicks, but because I find it interesting and love sharing my experience as an expat and adventurer. At the same time, I do enjoy the fact that people visit my blog and check out my content, but it happens in a much slower rate than what I would like it to happen. Then again I shouldn't really complain either, but one thing is for sure. I have kinda managed to stray out from where I had imagined the direction would be and this might be the reason for the slow progress, or maybe it purely hangs on the content itself?

I did start this blog over the fact that I love to create and wants to tell my own story as an expat. I am doing that in many ways, but at the same time, I do feel that there is a lot of running in circles as well. So what I am thinking about right now is to go back to start and work my way in a much better direction. Focus on the topics that were intended from the beginning. Yes, I will continue to write personal posts, but at the same time produce on larger rate posts that are relevant to the main topic. As I see it maybe publish two personal posts a week and one either related to travel or expat facts once a week, while I am doing this maybe work harder on reaching daily updates at some point.

At the same time, there are a few other topics I want to focus on, but with a different blog. I am a person who is very interested in history, horror movies, politics and for that matter religion. Yes, I am a semi-religious person. Politics and religion are in many ways excluded since these are some really hot potatoes and that's not me. On the other hand, horror movies are more up my alley or movies in general and the idea I am kinda working on is starting a movie blog where I focus on upcoming releases and reviews on new and old movies. I feel that this might be something that I can work on without it crashing with my main blog or am I now about to walk into a minefield?

At least this is a project that I really do want to embark on and if not for anything else but to check out the potential. Just to have it mentioned, horror movies are my favourite genre and has been so for as long as I can remember. I remember when I and my cousin were watching Friday the 13th in secret and how it both scared me and fascinated me. To such a degree that I even tried to write my own version of the storyline. No, I do not have the script anymore, got trashed many years ago, but I still do enjoy the art of writing as you can see. Anyway, when it comes to this new idea that I am having, I do need to think it through and not just jump into it and end up totally losing focus on what's important.

At the same time, there are a few other topics I want to focus on, but with a different blog. I am a person who is very interested in history, horror movies, politics and for that matter religion. Yes, I am a semi-religious person. Politics and religion are in many ways excluded since these are some really hot potatoes and that's not me. On the other hand, horror movies are more up my alley or movies in general and the idea I am kinda working on is starting a movie blog where I focus on upcoming releases and reviews on new and old movies. I feel that this might be something that I can work on without it crashing with my main blog or am I now about to walk into a minefield?

Well, these are some of the things that have kept me busy and occupied my line of thoughts in the past few days. I am a guy that can have a lot of ideas up in the air at the same time, but very few of them really lands in the end. When it comes to the movie blog, this is something I will play more within the weeks ahead. Because it seems like a project that fits me perfectly if you know what I mean? What do you think, would a blog like this be of any interest or should I just drop it in the planning stages? More or less as I am finishing off this post, I do have a brand new one in post-production. This one is more of the travel story type. I want to call it, my first date with a tropical destination.

Now I wish to thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule and checking out my blog, I hope you enjoyed your stay. If you enjoyed the photos I have included, please do check out the photographer on Instagram (Lena Andreassen) and Twitter (Lena Andreassen). Just remember to stay safe and enjoy your weekend guys!

5 things that I really love about living here in Huaral:

Greetings all you amazing ladies and gentlemen out here on this world wide web. So its Monday again guys and that means a brand new week filled with all kind of promises and opportunities. I have to ask you a question, how has your weekend been like? Did it meet your hopes and expectations? Did you get to do all the plans you had made during the week? I hope you had one amazing weekend filled with many adventures and happy moments with your loved ones. When it comes to me and my weekend, all I can say is that it met all my expectation and I more or less got all the things done that had to be finished by Sunday evening. So I have no real reasons to complain at all.

Anyway, today I wish to focus on a topic that I have been wanting to do for some time now, actually ever since I opened my blog back in January 2017, but by then I had already moved back into Lima. The topic of the day is 5 reasons why I love living here in the city of Huaral. To be honest with you, I could include many more reasons than the 5 that has found its place in the post, but I feel that it would get way too long if I so did. Yes, I do love living here and the truth is that when all comes to all its the only place that I really want to live, here in Peru anyway. Then again, I do have plans to do 5 things I don't like about living in Huaral with time as well, just to balance things out a bit. Guess its time to get started.

Cost of living: I have to be honest and say that the cost of living might be the biggest reason for us moving back to Huaral earlier this year. One cant ignores it, what things did cost in Lima were killing our finances. Just the part of renting an apartment was a drain on the economy, but then again Lima is a multi-million metropolis. We have cut our costs by half just on the renting part. When it comes to food and such things, its at least 25 to 50 per cent cheaper. So you can easily say that we are saving a fortune by relocating back to Huaral, at least we are able to live a lot better. Yes, its much cheaper to live here, compared to the capital of Peru, but there are a few things that I miss by not living there.

The local people: If the cost of living is the main reason for us to move back to Huaral, the local people living here has to be the reason that we continue to live here and enjoy living here. Because they are what I would call amazing. They are open, welcoming and very friendly. Not to forget the fact that I feel very safe walking around as the only white guy in town. Never have anything negative happened to me or never have I at any point felt unsafe. Not that I usually felt unsafe walking around in Lima either, remember I spent most part of Christmas Eve and the first day of Christmas walking around without a place to crash. Anyway, the people here are just amazing and easy to get close to, talk with and such.

The local food: This is another part of living here in Huaral that I really do appreciate and that's the food. The quality, freshness and the cost of it. For the most part, I prefer to eat chicken and its almost impossible to get it any fresher than we get it here. The trucks filled with chicken comes in at night (they actually pass my house) and get delivered alive at the market and slaughtered right before the stores open in the early hours of the morning. I know it more or less the same with beef, pig and fish as well. The only negative side about food here is that there is a very limited collection of the type of restaurants. Its usually either local food, Chinese or a type of burger joints. No Italian or Indian food as I know of.

The distance to Lima: This is another positive side about living here in Huaral. If you wake up one morning and feel like doing a day trip into Lima, its no problem as long as you avoid the usual rush hour. If you take one of the many taxis that drive between Lima and Huaral you will be there within an hour, more or less. Maybe two and a half if you get to end up in the middle of rush traffic. Yes, the traffic can be that bad and at times much worse. I have actually spent something like four hours in the rush traffic just trying to get into the city. I would say the distance is a positive thing. You live just far enough away to not have to deal with the pollution, noise and the millions of people living there, at the same time able to enjoy all it has to offer.

The shopping opportunities: Okay, Huaral isn't a huge city by any means (have about 100.000 inhabitants in total), but if there is something that there is a lot of it has to be shops, shopping malls and markets. As I know, there are at least 2 larger shopping malls, a shop on every corner and the entire centre is one long row of markets with a huge variety of what they sell. In these indoors markets you can easily do a bargain of purchase, just be careful of what you buy, because a lot of it can be the more typical fake brands. You know Abibas instead of Adidas. This would be extra important if you come here as a tourist and are planning on going home to the US or Europe at some point in time. Just keep that in mind.

Well this is my list of five things that I love about living here in Huaral, but as mentioned, I could have easily made it into a 10 or 15 type of list, but better not over-stretch I guess. It's simple, I do love living here and I find the city just perfect in so many ways. Okay, the architecture could have been better, but with everything else in mind, you can't always get what you want right? I would say that, if you are thinking about making Peru your home and want to live close by Lima, I would by far recommend Huaral as your base of operation. It's safe, convenient and you don't have to deal with the stress of living in a big city like Lima. This is how I feel the best solution is and my best tip for a successful expat experience.

Anyway, I hope you guys and girls enjoyed my post about five things that I enjoy about living here in Huaral and are ready for the five things that I don't enjoy about it, that will be coming very soon. A the same time, I do hope that you will check me out on social media as well. You will find me on Facebook through (Beyond the Horizon) and (Jack Bowler Sr), on Twitter (Beyondthe Horizon) and Instagram (Beyond our Horizon). I do my very best to update at least Facebook and Twitter on a daily basis. Even Twitter is all over the place when it comes to content. You can also support the blog through Ko-fi by donating a coffee (Jack Bowler Sr). I hope to see you guys and girls around in the future.

I have recieved some amazing photos from home #1:

Greetings to all you lovely ladies and gentlemen out there on this world wide web. My friends, its Friday again and the big moment we all have been waiting for is just around the corner. What I am talking about is the long-awaited weekend and two-day break from everyday life. I have to say, where did this week go? Because to me completely, I have to say that this time around it has just flown past me at super speed. The truth is that I actually thought it was Wednesday today, but no that day had passed a while ago. Anyway, so how has the week been treating you and maybe you have made some exciting plans for the upcoming weekend? I just hope you will have one amazing break from work.

Today I actually feel that there is a very special post in store for you guys and girls because I have gotten my greedy hands on some really amazing photos that I wish to share with you. Okay, here is the thing. A few days ago I came over a series of photos that a dear friend of mine had posted on social media and I asked for permission to showcase some of them here on my blog. As a good person, she is she gave me the go ahead that I needed. To be completely honest, she is that type of a photographer that I dream and aspire to become. You have to check her out on social media (Lena Andreassen) on Instagram and (Lena Andreassen) on Twitter, give her the love that she deserves.

Despite the fact that I thought it was Wednesday today I do feel that it has been a productive week on so many levels and not only when it comes to work-related topics. My week so far has been giving some really good results, even when it comes to my online projects despite the lack of updates. The truth is that I have been really feeling good and have had very few fallbacks when it comes to the health issues that I have had to deal with lately that I have been flowing over of ideas, not just for my blog. Yes, I have been doing some serious brainstorming when it comes to ideas for future posts and it has resulted in many different ones. Way too many just for the month of June.

I have also made some huge changes to my online life or my online social life as well. I have had several Facebook pages that have been lying dormant for some month, I have deleted them and instead opened just one to replace them all. So at the moment, I have one that is being used only for my blog (Beyond the Horizon) and now one that is more of a personal character (Jack Bowler Sr). The last one is meant more like a personal page, where I focus on everyday life kinda things. The idea that I have behind this move is that it will result in me being more productive and visible on social media with both my blog and my persona. Because social media is an important tool when it comes to showcasing my blog.

All that I can say on the matter is that you should check out both my blogs page and my more personal one. They will have a different type of content. Pretty much like my blog and Twitter profile do, since I treat my profile on Twitter as a more personal platform and this is something that is really shining through. On my blog, I only focus on travel and expat type of content, but on Twitter, the focus is broader. You should also check me out on this platform (Beyond the Horizon) since you might find content to engage with as well. Yes, I do know that I am pushing my social media life pretty hard now, but who doesn't really want more of the follows that comes with it? I know that I do, for sure.

Anyway, my friends, I guess its about time for me to start wrap this post up and get it ready for my blog. There is still some work to be done on it before its ready to be published. At least I hope you guys enjoyed the photos that I have included in today's blog post. I know for sure that I have and will continue to do. At the same time, I do hope that you will check out the true owner of them, both on Twitter and Instagram. You won't regret doing it, she is one amazing photographer and she captures such amazing photos. At the same time, I do hope you enjoyed today's update. One thing I can promise is that there will be a new one ready for Monday and for the entire week schedule. So, all I can say now is to wish you guys one amazing weekend. Stay safe!

I have now had the worst possible start on this month:

Greetings to all you lovely ladies and gentlemen out there on this great world wide web. Well, its that time of the week again, its Friday and a brand new weekend are just around the corner. For most of you guys out there it means a two-day long break from everything that has to do with work and other stressful situations. So how has the week been for you and what kind of plans do you have for the weekend? Maybe some exciting adventures or something? When it comes to myself, well the truth is that the week has far from been optimal and when it comes to the upcoming weekend? For me its business as usual, all work and no play. No complaints, but it would be nice with some time off now and then.

Well, my friends right from the start I want to apologize for my somewhat absence from my blog or the lack of any updates so far this week. It has not been over lack of inspiration or ideas, because I have really tried my very best to focus on it. Because I have had loads of ideas, but the truth is that I haven't felt up to it. The headline isn't of the clickbait type, but I have had the worst possible start on this month and that's the reason why I have been unable to follow through with my plans so far. Anyway, what I have been dealing with has been with what I want to say is some self-inflicted health issues. Hasn't been anything major or serious, but enough so I have been unable to focus on my blog and such.

So what has it been with the health that has created such issues for me in the past few days? To be honest it actually started back at the end of last month when I was so dumb and made my self a batch of my famous Norwegian milk soup. The main problem with this is that I am lactose intolerant and can get a massive reaction if I consume any form of milk, at least of the regular type. I am not going to go too deep into this part of the story, but if you are interested you can always check out the post (I am looking back on aweekend from hell). That way you can catch up on what has been the cause of my bad start. I can say this much, it hasn't been a fun couple of weeks.

The main problem that I have been dealing with this past week is what I call an overactive stomach, what I mean with that is massive heartburn or acid attack. Okay, it might not sound as much, but when you have it day and night, that it actually gets to a point that you throw up and you are unable to get some decent sleep. I guess you see the problem here right? It got to a point were my girlfriend actually started to get worried and were running around looking for solutions. Usually, I am the one that gets easily worried, but this time around she has really gone the extra mile and then some. She was nagging on me to go to the hospital, but no that has been out of the question.

Yes, I am that guy that always tries is very best to avoid doctors and such, this time around wasn't any different. I just can't help it, I have a serious dislike of hospitals and I have been like this since my childhood. You know the story, had a few bad experiences as a kid and that has followed me up till this day. The good thing with my girlfriend is that she knows a lot of people and a few of them work as medical staff and she asked them for advice. The best they could come up with was to get on a diet that was easy on the tummy, that meant to get off the fast-food and reduce the amount that I was eating. In real life that meant chicken soup for me. I am not complaining at all, because it seems to have had at least some effect on the system.

I want to say it like this, because of the heartburn or acid attack there has been very little of the type of productive sleep for me, but last night that kinda changed and I got my first decent night sleep in days. So after that night of sleep, the very first thing I thought about was my beloved blog. The first idea was to update you guys on what has been going on the past few days and here it is, might not be the most interesting type of content but I am going to get started on some more relevant posts this weekend. The most important thing here is that I am in a process of recovery and at the same time learned an important lesson, don't drink or eat anything with regular milk in it when you are lactose intolerant.

There is one thing that I can promise you, these last week or two have been far from an enjoyable experience for me, neither has it been for the people around me. For those who have experience with this lactose intolerance knows what I am talking about. The good part is that I am now getting over it and that means a renewed focus on my online life as well. I have actually managed to be pretty active on Twitter the whole time, but not anywhere else. So I would recommend you to follow me on Twitter if you want to see a more complete image of me as a person. From now on I will be focusing more on my regular content and I have some good ideas for future posts, so stay tuned guys.