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Today’s PrideNomad™ Quiz:

In Today’s Email:

Destinations: Jardin, Colombia…The Garden City

Upcoming Events: The AI Freedom Formula

Community News: “Just Nike It”

Nomad Hack: Don’t Feel Insecure

DESTINATIONS:

Where Joy Hides (Hint: It’s Not Where You Think)

Why Jardin, Colombia changed my pace—and maybe my heart.

We all know the big names. Barcelona. Medellín. Bangkok. Lisbon. The cities that headline every “Best Places for Digital Nomads” list.

But here’s the truth: Some of the greatest surprises—the kind that quietly rearrange your insides—don’t happen on those lists.

They happen off the grid.

Let me tell you about Jardín (pronounced Har-deen), a small mountain town in Colombia that I hadn’t even heard of until recently. The name means “garden,” and that’s exactly what it felt like. Lush. Alive. Vibrant in the way only something deeply rooted can be.

It took a five-hour bus ride from Medellín to get there—but when the bus itself has luxury seats, Wi-Fi, and power outlets, you start to suspect you’re headed toward something special. (And somehow, my return bus was even better.)

By the time we curved our way into Jardín’s valley, I could already feel it: This town had a different frequency.

Not because it was flashy. Not because it was “undiscovered.” But because it was deeply, unapologetically itself.

What I Found There

A cathedral far too grand for a town that size—but somehow perfect. Locals gathering in the square like it was the soul of the town (because it is). Street vendors serving joy alongside their food. And that air… the kind that smells like green things growing.

I stayed at Hotel La Casona, a modest little hotel just steps from the plaza (and a few short blocks from the bus stop)—utilitarian rooms, warm-hearted staff, and that rare gift of true hospitality that makes you feel like you belong, even if you just arrived. It’s PrideNomad and budget-friendly.

And then—the burger.

I didn’t come for the food. But at Raices, a teeny five-table restaurant run by a uber-talented young Colombian chef who’d spent a decade in Canada, I had the best burger of my life. Hands down.

(Sidebar—I would never order a burger when I could experience new and unique tastes—but the chef insisted, and OMG, I’m glad I listened—who’d have thought to put apples on a burger?!)

The fries? An art form—thin, layered slices somehow crisped into golden perfection. The sauce? I can’t even describe it. I went back the next night for another winning dinner. He didn’t disappoint!

Other highlights included a surprising and amazing pork belly ceviche at La Parrilla de Mi Pueblo, and yes it was so good, I returned for more a couple of days later.

What It Taught Me

As digital nomads, we don’t always need luxury. We need belonging. We need ease. We need to feel good in our bodies and welcomed by the people around us.

Jardín gave me all of that.

The Wi-Fi was strong. The cafés were perfect for working. And the tours—especially the one I took with Jardín Eco-Tours whose English-speaking guide took me down hidden trails—were unforgettable.

(Heads up: most locals don’t speak English, so choose your guides accordingly. Some companies charge extra for English-speaking guides, but it’s worth it to avoid playing translator with your phone all day. Jardín Eco-Tours had the most reasonable surcharge.)

And then there was the pace. Slower. Softer. As if the town itself was saying: You don’t have to keep pushing.

I spent three nights there. I could’ve stayed three weeks.

Here’s the invitation: Step off the well-worn path. Try the towns no one brags about yet. Let yourself be surprised by how good it feels to be welcomed into something smaller, slower, and more sincere.

Because joy doesn’t always shout.

Sometimes, it whispers from a garden you didn’t know you were looking for.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

How 10 Real Entrepreneurs Are
Using AI to Work 4-Hour Days...
While Their Competitors Burn Out Trying to "Do It All" 

It’s the AI Freedom Formula—LIVE • August 12 & 14, 2025…

Over 2 nights, you’ll get 10 bite-sized, power-packed sessions taught by experienced creators and entrepreneurs who are using AI to make their lives easier and more profitable.

We’re curating this especially for YOU, PrideNomad!

NOTE: If you’re a World Playground Summit VIP, you’re receiving this as a bonus!

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COMMUNITY NEWS:

🧭 Start Here: A No-BS Guide for Aspiring PrideNomads

You don’t need a master plan—just a one-way ticket and curiosity.

If you’ve ever caught yourself thinking:

“I want to travel. But I don’t know where to start…” “What if I pick the wrong place?” “Do I need a digital nomad visa before I go?”

This one’s for you.

Because here’s the truth:

Most people don’t become digital nomads by waiting until everything is “figured out.”

They just… start.

That was the heart of our AMA (Ask Me Anything) session last night (a surprise bonus for our World Playground Summit VIPs). Andy (a thoughtful, creative soul thinking about his next chapter) asked a powerful question:

“How do I begin?”

My answer?

You don’t need a perfect plan. You need one decision:
✈️ Go.

As Nike famously says, “Just DO IT”.

💡 Start Simple

• Grab a tourist visa—most countries offer 30 to 90 days.
• Book a one-way flight to a place you’re curious about (you may need to show a return ticket, so double check this).
• Use Agoda or Booking.com to find a guesthouse or apartment for a few weeks.
• Land. Walk. Listen. Feel.

That’s it.

🌱 The 3-Week Test

If you’re new to long-term travel, try this:

Stay in a single city for at least three weeks.

Why?

Because that’s when the real stuff starts.

Week 1: Tourist goggles.
Week 2: Frustration and adjustment. Week
3: Glimpses of “Could I live here?” clarity.

Example: My first few days in Medellin did not go well (expensive tourist ripoffs, altitude exhaustion, feeling off my game). But once things settled down, I discovered that I wasn’t ready to leave!

🏳️‍🌈 Queer-Friendly Starter Destinations (Low Cost, High Vibe)

If you’re looking for warm welcomes and low budgets, consider:
• Colombia (Medellín or Salento – beauty, warmth, and growing queer presence)
• Thailand (Chiang Mai or Bangkok – culturally rich, super affordable)
• Portugal (Lisbon or Porto – visa pathways + vibrant queer communities)
• Uruguay (Montevideo – politically stable, safe, deeply LGBTQ+ inclusive)

🧘‍♂️ Release the Pressure

You don’t have to pick your forever country right now. You just have to find your next landing spot.

Let it be a test. An experiment. A little dare to yourself.

You’re not locked in. You’re just opening the door.

Final Thought

If you’ve been waiting for a sign… If you’ve been waiting until it all makes sense…

Here’s your permission slip.

“Spend a few weeks somewhere. Feel it. Then decide.”

We’ll be here when you land.

✈️ Got a question?
Reply to this email or write to [email protected].
You might just be featured next.

✈️ NOMAD HACK:

A Bit About Security.

We don’t talk about this enough. Not until it’s too late.

It’s not sexy. But it’s as important as oxygen. Because it relates to your business (and life) oxygen.

Consider this: When you live a nomad life, your entire world lives online. Your business. Your content. Your calendar. Your memories. And sometimes… your entire identity.

So when someone hacks your Google account — and you lose access to Gmail, Drive, Authenticator, YouTube, Voice, Calendar, Gemini, everything — it’s not just inconvenient.

It’s catastrophic.

That recently happened to us. And for a full week… we were dead in the water. No channel. No access. No lifeline.

Unfortunately the people at Google Plus were effectively worthless (sorry, team—but you were—you basically protected the rapist, not the victim. Shame on you!).

However…the YouTube team was AMAZING—they jumped in and solve the problem in just a few days. I’ll be forever grateful!!

So here’s your Nomad Travel Hack to make sure you don’t go through it too:

✅ 3 Quick Moves to Lock Down Your Digital Life

1. Backup Your 2FA Codes — Offline. Google Authenticator doesn’t back itself up. If your phone’s stolen or account hijacked, you’re locked out forever. Use an authenticator that syncs across devices (like Authy) or print + store backup codes securely. Retain your backup codes!

2. Secure a Backup Email & Phone Number on Every Account. Make sure they aren’t from the same platform. Don’t use your Gmail to back up your Gmail. Use a separate, secure email (like ProtonMail or iCloud) and a real SIM-based phone number, not just Google Voice. My hackers changed EVERYTHING—passwords, backup codes, phone numbers—so I had very little ability to undo the mess on my own).

3. Store Emergency Recovery Info in a Fireproof Location (Digital or Physical). That means account recovery keys, passwords, and access instructions. Use a trusted password manager (like 1Password) with emergency access for someone you trust.

✈️ You can’t control every border. But you can protect your digital one.

This life we live — the creative, nomadic, boundaryless one — is worth defending.

Consider this as insurance—not a burglar alarm. People buy insurance BEFORE there’s a problem. They buy burglar alarms AFTER they get ripped off.

Don’t wait for the hack to happen. Build your firewall before the fire.

P.S. Hey — quick personal note, just between us nomads…

This book might just remind you you’re not alone.

📖 Download your pay-what-you-want copy here before the final version drops.

With pride & wanderlust,

Ken

Answer to Today’s Quiz

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