Expatriate or Bust

Travel Blog

2010-02-06T20:08:00.000-08:00

So, the thing about travel blogs...

When you are traveling, you don't feel like blogging. Or, at least I don't feel like blogging. I'm too busy enjoying myself...screw everyone else.

Pretty sure my blogging lasted about 3 days into Thailand...then I was like "meh."

But now I'm home...and I want you to listen to me bitch about how much I want to travel again.

So, if you are ready, here I go:

I've been back in the states for about 2 months, and I'm already missing little things about travel. Its not like I'm going to run out and buy the first ticket to Cambodia, but there are a few things that I miss...and here they are:

Traveling light. Since moving home and taking our crap out of storage, I've realized that I miss living from a backpack. While I was living out of a backpack, I even felt like I was lugging too much crap. Maybe its a problem with me, but I always want to simplify my life...live like Gandhi. I'm sure I'll get used to it, but it's stressing me out right now.

Cheap food. I miss walking out my front door, and finding a $1 meal...and I'm not talking about the McDonald's Dollar Menu.

Asians. It feels weird to say this, but white people stress me out. I got so used to my AZN brothers that I started thinking I was Asian...until I looked in the mirror, or they reminded me. I guess I need to start taking weekend trips to San Jose and Thai Town in Los Angeles.

Meeting new people daily. I promised myself that I wouldn't stop talking to people I didn't know...but its hard to stay friendly when you aren't traveling. I'm working on this one.

Feeling challenged. Every day while traveling is a challenge. From finding a room for let to getting extra pages in your passport...everyday has its challenges. It might sound weird, but this keeps you on your toes. It makes you feel alive. It gives you a sense of accomplishment. When most people are at home, they know where to get everything they need...it gets easy...too easy. It's good to know that my hunting and gathering skills are still intact after all those years of dormancy.

While there are plenty more reasons I miss traveling, these are the ones that stick out the most in my mind right now...I'm sure I'll add more later.

2009-06-17T03:35:00.001-07:00

My first post with ping.fm ... check it out, it's made my day!!!

Courses...Who Knew?

2009-03-15T22:07:00.000-07:00

If you think like a tourist, all you are going to find are more tourists. You can go to Ex-pat bars, but all you're going to find is a group of 40 something British men talking about how awesome they are for living abroad...while simultaneously groping an 18-year-old bar girl. You can visit the coffee shops in the backpacker neighborhoods, but you'll just find a bunch of unwashed white dreadlocks talking about how cheaply they've traveled around southeast Asia. You can even visit the street markets, but you'll soon tire of the endless hoards of fat German tourists stepping on your toes.

After a week in Chiang Mai, you feel like there are no neighborhoods free from tourism...and the constant stream of idiots with their heads permanently glued to their fucking Lonely Planet seem to own the town.

Lonely Planet Rant:

I HATE Lonely Planet!!!! I used to think is was this great book that helped people find their way around a new town...helped them find good restaurants...and even helped find reasonably priced lodging. However, the way people use that fucking book is ridiculous. You book a trip to go halfway around the world, and then bury your fucking head in that fucking book....never to see the actual sites. You might not see Chiang Mai University, but I bet you can tell me how many students are enrolled there. You've never seen the 3 kings monument, but I'm sure you can tell me the complete history behind it. I've got an idea, if you are going to sit in a bar all day reading Lonely Planet....do it at home. Don't waste your money, don't waste your time. Just sit at home and read the complete Lonely Planet guidebook. Sit in your living room...I'll even send you a case of Chang Beer...and read that damned book. Then, when you know the entire history of CHiang Mai, you know the map by heart, you know which cafes to get the best coffee, you know which hotel has the cheapest rooms...when you memorize the entire book, come to Chiang Mai. THEN, you will realize that everything in Lonely Planet is SHIT!!!! It stears you to places that other tourists frequent. It takes you to bars that are packed with perverted old expats. It takes you to hotels that don't exist anymore. It gives you horrible translations. It is filled with information that leads you to places filled with tourists. And, if you are anything like me, you hate travelling just to be surrounded by fellow travelers. You can always tell what if you are near a place that is in the Lonely Planet, because you are surrounded by goobers in performance gear. Goobers in performance gear carrying (sometimes with a finger marking a page) their Lonely Planet...or even worse, with their eyes glued to the pages while trying to walk down the street...bumping everyone on the street as they haphazardly attempt to find the bar that was featured in some horrible b-movie from the 50's...a movie that they have probably never seen, or will even see.

Sorry, sometimes I just get so wound up...I'll continue from before the rant.

There is, however, a better way to meet like minded people while on the road. Take a course.

If you are in Thailand, take a beginners course in Thai. In a week, you will have taken the first steps in learning a new language, met some very interesting Thai teachers, and had plenty of time to get to know some cool fellow students. Don't limit this to Thailand, language courses can be found all around the world. You're in Portugal, take a Portuguese course. You're in Japan, start learning conversational Japanese...you're in England...go for a pint! You already know English...silly bugger.

A few weeks ago, I took the TEFL course at Chiang Mai University. TEFL is a certification to teach EFL (English as a Foreign Language). Once you have the certificate, you can find work teaching English all over the world...Thailand, Africa, South America...even France.

While the course was quite intensive, I met some REALLY cool people...students and teachers alike. Americans, Thais, Brits, Australians, Swiss, Germans, Dutch, Russians, Canadians, and even an Indonesian...a large portion of the world was represented at Chiang Mai University. We had lots of time to get to know each other, watch football matches, drink beer, and even study a little. I can easily say that I have met friends for life through the Chiang Mai University TEFL course...even if one of them is a Tottenham Hotspur Fan...not naming any names.

In addition to meeting cool people, we lived over on Suthep Road...which is the student area of town. We got to see a part of town that wasn't crawling with tourists, had amazing food carts, was well connected with WiFi, and provided many oppurtunities to interact with Thais...most of which were very eager to practice their English, and correct your Thai.

While I was attending the TEFL course, my wife attended a cooking class in Chiang Mai. She met some really cool people in her class...and you can read her experiences here. (I love cross promotions)

While buying a Lonely Planet seems like the best way to travel, it really isn't. Find a reason to travel. Find a course. Find a festival. Find a sporting event. Find a convention. Find a genuine reason to be abroad, and you will meet others that are doing the same thing. And if you find yourself at an international gaming convention...at least you know you are surrounded by your kind of people...nerds like me. If you buy tickets for the 2010 World Cup...at least you'll be surrounded by fellow football fans. And if you book a TEFL course in Chaing Mai, at least you know you are surrounded by people who want to make a life out of teaching abroad.

There is one exception though...If you are a seedy 40-year-old man who enjoys skeezing on 17-year-old bar girls...by all means, buy a Lonely Planet.

Hualamphong Station

2009-01-19T03:27:00.000-08:00

After a few days in Bangkok, I found myself standing on platform 3 at the Hualamphong Station waiting for the night train to Chiang Mai. The last 4 days were a bit of a blur…Portland to Seattle to Seoul to Bangkok…buying cell phones…job searching…realizing that job searching was a waste of time unless I had a TEFL…enrolling in a TEFL course at Chiang Mai University…Rushing to Little India, Chinatown, and Siam Square before leaving Bangkok…repacking our backpacks…realizing we have entirely too much shit...returning a pirated copy of Spore that would not work on Catherine’s Mac…being surprised when they gave us our money back…spending all of the refunded spore money on Bollywood movies for train…and finally, taking a taxi to Hualamphong for the 19:35 (7:35pm) train to Chiang Mai.

As I stood reminiscing about the last few days, a tear came to my eye…not because I’m a sissy…It was the heavy diesel exhaust coming from the trains as they idled in the station.

Once the train was at the platform, I loaded my stuff (Catherine) onto the train and went looking for snacks. After only a few moments, I returned with just the necessities…shrimp crackers, seaweed flavored Lay’s, strawberry Pocky, and a $2.00 bottle of Thai whiskey (To make some friends)…Cate decided she didn’t want to be my friend.

After we finished off the bag of shrimp crackers, we were out of the station and on the way to our new home.

Unfortunately, we were seated next to some old bible-thumpers who were dead set on sleep…thus requiring all of our seats to be turned into beds. Though I wanted to sleep, I did want a few moments to watch the city slip into darkness. C’est La Vie. At least I fell asleep quickly.

The reason I call the old farts “bible-thumpers” is because of this morning. I woke up to the wonderful sounds of their discussion on doing “God’s” work in Thailand. These were the type of people who get-off on helping the poor…not because they are nice people…rather; they just want to load up on Jesus points for the apocalypse. I’ve never heard people discuss helping the poor like it was a game of Jesus Monopoly. It made me sick!!!! Yeah, four exclamation points sick.

Bible thumpers aside, we are now in Chiang Mai. We’re now staying in a hostel till we find a permanent home near the University…my job tomorrow, while Cate searches for a job.

After 4 days of running around Bangkok, it’s good to know that we are a few days from settling into a home of our own. Until then, it’s just good to be out of the polluted Bangkok air, and in the fresh air of beautiful Chiang Mai.

Lah Gorn (goodbye)

My New Life

2009-01-13T22:30:00.001-08:00

As the plane made its final descent into Bangkok, I started to wonder if I had been fooling myself. I mean, a lot of people move to other countries...a lot of people put their lives into a backpack and fly halfway around the world...but, am I one of those people? Can I make it work? Or am I the type of person who thinks he can live abroad...then ends up coming home in two weeks?

These questions plagued me till I hit the bottom bunk at the Lub-D hostel...then, my body put a quick end to my worrying...in favor of sleep.

Mysteriously, this morning, the questions were gone. I no longer seemed to care. Instead, I busied myself collecting a new cell phone, acquiring a 1 Gb flash drive, and most importantly, eating an amazing lunch of spring rolls and noodles.

As all my doubts shrivelled away, I realized that living in Thailand isn't much different than living in San Luis Obispo. All the necessities are the same. I must eat, I must drink, I must have shelter, and I have to work to supply those needs. The rest is just a change of venue. Life in Thailand is a bit like an away game...you might be in a different gym, but you're still playing basketball.

Now that I have accepted these simple truths, the doubt is gone, and I'm ready to enjoy my life. I'm not quite sure where it will take me. I have no idea what I will be doing in 6 months. Shit, I don't even have a place to sleep past the 20th...but I'll take these challenges as they come. Just as I would back home.

And if I start stressing, I'll just take a nap and eat some spring rolls.

Thailand is Active

2009-01-09T14:57:00.000-08:00

I haven't posted an entry since November 11th of last year; so, I'll keep this one brief. We are headed to Thailand on January 12th...jobs and housing will be found once we are on the ground.

There are many details of how we reached this point...but I will spare you those boring details.

Instead, I bring you a picture from our last 25 hour flight!

Belt Buckles

2008-11-11T12:56:00.000-08:00

Like many people, I had a vice in college that just never carried over to my real life. For some the vice is cocaine (Dubya), for others the vice is women, but for me, the vice was belt buckles.

I had a collection of buckles that was unrivaled by any in my village. As I walked down the street, many men hid their pathetic stock buckle upon viewing my Nintendo Controller buckle. Women swooned over my Led Zeppelin buckle. And I struck fear into the hearts of the elderly with my naked lady trucker mudflap buckle.

However, after graduation, my buckle collection was forced into the closet by the corporate world. The suits of this land feared my buckle collection, and threatened to send me into exile if I did not repent for my corporate fashion sins. So, needing a paycheck, I packed my buckles in a chest and buried it beneath the Rowan tree.

two weeks ago, after enduring three years of boring stock buckles, I woke in the middle of the night with a desire. A desire to dig up that old chest. As I approached that Rowan tree, a bolt of lightning struck the earth, and exposed the box of buckles. A sign. A sign from the Belt Buckle Gods that my life had greater purpose....I was to be a Buckle Master!!!

Sorry, I read too much Sci-Fi.

Now, I am on a quest to find the coolest belt buckles in the world. The only person who has stepped in my way was that damn guy on eBay this morning...putting in a bid at the last second. But that Hamms Beer belt buckle will be mine...oh yes, it will be mine.

Even though the covetted Hamms Beer buckle is out of my grasp, here are a few other buckles I have been contemplating:

Let me know which of these buckles you like...because I need some help narrowing them down.

New Mike Skinner Video

2008-11-04T11:02:00.000-08:00

I know that I already posted a video from The Streets new album, Everything is Borrowed...but, I just can't get enough of Mike Skinner. Not only are his songs catchy, but his outlook on life is amazing. I know the video jokes about him releasing a book...but I would love to read a Mike Skinner book. Lets start a petition!

Kid Cudi's Day 'n' Night

2008-11-03T14:18:00.000-08:00

This Cleavland rapper has had a lot of critical acclaim lately. Day 'n' Night, his first release, has been massively popular all over the world. I first heard this song on a late night BBC Radio 1 show...ever since, I've been on the look out for more.

His first mainstream appearance was on the 2008 VMA's, alongside Travis Barker and DJ AM.

Now there is talk that his first album will feature the likes of Kanye West and Wale.

Keep your eyes peeled for Kid Cudi...he will be the next Pharrell.

I'M PUBLISHED...#17 Complete!!!

2008-11-02T11:22:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago I was trying to find a list of good travel songs. I searched high and low, only to find the same old lists with the same old cliche songs. A little sad, I realized that I might never find a good list of travel songs.

Just as I was ready to give up on my dream of a non-cliche list, I had a revelation....why not create my own?

So, I did.

When I was finished writing the entry...I thought, why not send it to Brave New Traveler. If they liked it, I could check off #17 on my 102 Things list. And if they didn't like it, I could post it on my blog for my millions of readers to enjoy...a.k.a. my wife and family.

To my surprise, Ian over at Brave New Traveler liked the article, and decided to publish it!!!

So, you can check out the article at Brave New Traveler...It's even a featured article!

The Oxford Murders by Guillermo Martinez

2008-10-29T11:05:00.000-07:00

I finished reading The Oxford Murders last night...and let me just say, I wasn't impressed.

After reading the praise given to this book by the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times, I assumed it would be a good read. So, I requested it from Paperbackswap.com, and waited for its arrival.

As I started to read, it seemed a little slow...but I just assumed the author was setting me up for the twist. I continued to tear through the pages, and the twist was nowhere in sight...I even had my main suspect picked out, knowing I would be wrong.

I waited for that twist, but it never came. Martinez never threw me that curve ball I so desired. He didn't fully explored the central themes. He didn't even end the book with an interesting cliffhanger. Rather, it seemed like he ran out of time, and wrote the first thing that came to mind...and my suspect ended up being the killer.

If you are looking for an intricate puzzle of a mystery novel, The Oxford Murders is not that novel. While it has all the trapping of a great murder mystery, the book never realizes its potential.

Lost Camera?

2008-10-24T12:02:00.001-07:00

Losing a camera can ruin your day...maybe, even your week. You feel powerless. You've retraced your steps, you've asked around your hostel, and you've even wept a little...don't worry, no one saw.

What now? Are there any other steps you can take to find your Precious? (L.O.T.R. analogy). How about shouting from the rooftops? Or, making a flyer which offers a reward?

While some of those options might work, there is a better way. You can dash to your nearest internet connection, and visit http://ifoundyourcamera.blogspot.com/.

I Found Your Camera is a blog that operates through the goodwill of strangers. If someone finds a camera, all they need to do is send the blog (4) pictures from the memory card. Then, I Found Your Camera posts those pictures along with a description of where the camera was found.

Side Note: If you've lost your camera, you better hope they don't post that picture of you passed out on the beach in Koh Phi Phi Don...damn bucket drinks.

So, if you're browsing the site, and see your pictures...drop them an email. They will put you in contact with the person who found your camera. You will verify said camera is yours. They will send said camera to you. You will then have said camera in hand. And, they will then be assessed 5,000 karma points.

In addition to returning cameras, they also dabble in memory cards...using the same routine as previously mentioned.

I particularly enjoy the concept of memory cards being returned. I mean, if you are going to be a dick and steal a camera, at least you could get the memory card back to its rightful owner. After all, unless you are Jacques Cousteau, it's not really the camera that matters...it's the memories. (I use the example of Jacques Cousteau because I'd imagine he has very expensive and irreplaceable cameras...not just a Cannon he bought at Costco).

I apologize for that J.C. rant.

So you're thinking, "Why do I care about this site, I haven't lost a camera?" But, you have friends. Those friends might be in one of the pictures. Thus, you might accommodate a camera reunion. You might also be assessed 500 karma points for doing nothing more than looking at a picture.

With all these karma points being assessed, I've somehow gone off track...

Check out http://ifoundyourcamera.blogspot.com/, you might just find that camera you lost...or help a friend find their lost camera.

Plus, the extra karma points wouldn't hurt.

NOTE: A great way to assure the safe return of your lost camera is to write all your contact information on a sheet of paper. Then, take a picture of that piece of paper. Once that image is on the camera, never erase it....NEVER!!!

You Go Wiley!

2008-10-23T12:23:00.000-07:00

After hearing this song, and seeing the video, I had to put it on the blog.

I think its time for some new leadership...not just in the U.S., but in the world. We get screwed every day, and continue to take it. However, after seeing this video, I have hope that we might start standing up for ourselves.

John Twelve Hawk's The Traveler

2008-10-22T11:23:00.000-07:00

If you Google "John Twelve Hawks" looking for biographical information, you'll only find one sentence..."John Twelve Hawks lives off the grid."

Even his publishers are in the dark when it comes to his identity. He communicates with them through an untraceable satellite internet connection...or over the phone using a voice scrambler.

The only time we have been given any access to Twelve Hawks, was in two interviews. One in SFF World, and the other in Der Spiegel...a German language publication.

In these interviews, the only personal information revealed is the fact that his given name is not John Twelve Hawks, and he is not Native American.

When the SFF World asked if he will ever let people know his true identity, he responded that he has "no plans to go public."

As I explained this amazing story to my wife, she said that he sounded a bit like Banksy. Banksy is a Bristol based graffiti artist who prefers to remain unknown. He has even sold pieces for millions of dollars, while maintaining his covert status. Though there have been many attempts to uncover his identity, they have all failed. There is even a new theory that he is actually named Robin Gunningham...but it is still unproven.

Just like Banksy, there are many theories floating around about Twelve Hawks identity. The list includes Stephen Hawking, Dan Brown, and Thomas Pynchon...but Twelve Hawks maintains that none of these theories are correct.

Another similarity between Banksy and Twelve Hawks is their distrust of the government...particularly, the over-use of surveillance and policing.

In The Traveler, Twelve Hawks introduces us to a world that has so much surveillance, you can never escape the watchful eye of the government. He shows us a world where the government can easily monitor email, phone conversations, and monetary transactions. He shows us a world where our decisions are made for us...not by us. He shows us the world in which we live. As we near the end of the book, we begin to realize that the story is fiction...but the setting is not.

But, what can we do? There is a CCTV on almost every street in our country. We need email. We need our bank accounts. We need our credit cards. We need the "Vast Machine" as much as it needs us.

When asked, in his SFF World interview, what we can do about our loss of privacy, Twelve Hawks responded:

"This first step is to be aware of what is going on. Most of us have given up our privacy without even knowing it. At some point, we need to express our opinions to our elected officials. The growing power of the Vast Machine is actually not an issue that is tied to a particular political party. A traditional conservative like former Georgia Congressman Robert Barr is on the same side of the privacy issue as the ACLU. The most important thing is that we not succumb to the baseless fear that is used to justify our loss of personal liberty. People objected when the government proposed something called the Total Information Awareness system: a computerized program that would track virtually all of our electronic transactions. When the name of the program was changed to the Terrorist Information Awareness system — just one new word — all the criticism vanished."

In the era of The Patriot Act, we need to draw as much attention as we can to our loss of privacy. We need to start speaking up. And I believe that artists like Banksy and John Twelve Hawks are leading the way.

Great Bands That Don't Get Enough Attention

2008-10-17T10:58:00.000-07:00

Ever since I was a kid, I have spent all my extra money on albums. When I was a teenager, they were always tapes...so i could listen to them in my Walkman. Then, once I hit Junior High, the focus was on Compact Disks. Now, while the rest of the world is going over to digital music, I'm heading back to vinyl.

When we focus in on digital music too much, we miss a lot of great bands that can be found at the record shop. We miss all those recommendations we get from the shop clerks. We also miss the beautiful smell of those yellowed record jackets.

My point is that a lot of kids are missing out on some great bands, because they only buy what iTunes is pimping.

Now, I'm not ignoring the awesome youths out there that do their best to find great music. I always love seeing a young kid digging through the crates down at the local record shop.

While writing this post, I'm thinking about the kids that buy directly from the top ten list on iTunes. And if you have not been checking the charts, Britney Spears's Womanizer is atop that list. I'm not debating Britney's ability to sell records and cause controversy...but a lot of these "Top" artists are stealing quite a bit of their material from older, and quite frankly, better artists.

My wife and I have been experiencing an awesome phenomenon lately. We'll decide to listen to bands that we missed out on as kids, and really like them. Whether it is a movie that sparks an interest in the band, or good old fashioned crate digging, It's awesome.

After watching Darjeeling Limited, we decided to check out The Kinks...best decision of our lives. After getting sick of This Time Tomorrow and Strangers, we began to fall in love with Victoria and Village Green. Now, The Kinks are a part of our regular listening line-up.

After hearing Michael Cera's ring tone in Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, I was inspired to check out The Cure. After listening to about a half dozen songs, I began thinking, "Why haven't I been listening to The Cure more often."

The other night I put in David Bowie, and my wife was amazed at how many great songs he is responsible for. He is definitely one of those artists that are SWEET, but have never gotten the credit they deserve in the mainstream.

Most recently, I decided to listen to Blur again. As a kid, I never really liked them...but for some reason, I absolutely love them now. Then, I Googled them, and found out that the lead singer is now in The Gorillaz, and is worked to create a London play called Monkey...which is amazing.

It amazes me that I could go so far into life, and not know that I enjoy The Cure. I'm not sure if it's just my musical taste maturing, or my lack of interest as a youth. I guess it is a little of both.

I'm sure if I were growing up right now, I'd be downloading Britney Spears and Katy Perry. I'd wonder why people dig through crates for music, when everything is available online...without having to smell those gross yellowed record jackets.

Thankfully, I finally got my mind right. I love the role Boo Boo Records plays in my life. They are constantly expanding my musical horizons, and providing a space for like minded individuals to mingle.

If you have ever wondered, "Which other band sounds like The Clash?"...just go into your local record store and ask. There is always someone willing to answer any question you have.

And if you're afraid they'll just make fun of your lack of musical knowledge, don't worry! They make fun of everyone, but they respect the people who have the balls to ask questions.

So, head on down to your local record store...ask questions, dig through the crates, buy some records, buy a t-shirt, listen to play copies, and enjoy yourself. These shops are here to expand our listening horizons...not to sell us the same old crap day after day.

Who are some bands that you have discovered late in life?
How did you come to like them?

Halloween Costumes are Stressfull

2008-10-15T12:46:00.000-07:00

As we count the days till Halloween, 16, we get more and more stressed about what our costume should be. Since Halloween is a great time to make a statement about who we are, we spend a lot of time narrowing down a huge list of possible costumes.

Ghost? No, I don't have any white sheets.

Pirate? No, I don't really want to say "Argh!" all night.

Floyd Landis on Steroids? No, then I'd have to explain to people that cycling is a real sport...contrary to popular belief.

Even when we have a great idea, we tend to forget that we might run into a few problems while out on the town. Here are a few examples of problems I've run into...

Halloween 2006 - Zinedine Zidane

This was a great costume that got more attention than I expected. Particularly from drunk guys who thought it was cool to headbutt me, call my sister a whore, or both.

Halloween 2007 - Pint of Guinness

I loved making this costume, I felt like a sorority girl armed with stencils, string, and two cans of spray paint....sorry, no glitter. While making this costume was fun, wearing it was not. The cardboard on both sides of my body made it extremely hard to walk. And, as in 2006, drunk guys were a pain in the ass. Every time I walked through the bar or party, I was pounded with a beer, while the fore mentioned drunk person yelled "sch-eers!"

That being said, I'm not going to let a few drunk guys get in the way of a good time...Bring it on!

However, I'm left with one minor problem...no costume. And if the above pictures are any indication, neither has my wife. Zidane and a ref. A pint of Guinness and a nun (Clergy and Guinness go together like a house on fire). We tend to enjoy costumes that compliment the other.

I've been thinking Arthur Dent...but I'm pretty sure I'd have a hard time getting Cate to dress as Trillion. Since she's never read The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, I'm pretty sure she'd have a hard time explaining what she was...and Marvin would definitely be out of the question.

After minutes of hard thinking, I haven't been able to come up with anything. And its driving me crazy!

Any Ideas?

Hitchhikers Guide to Conservation

2008-10-10T12:56:00.000-07:00

Though Douglas Adams is very well known for Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, he is also very well known in smaller circles for his "Radical Atheism." He says "radical" to keep people from questioning the fact that he really is atheist...and not just agnostic. If you'd like to hear his feeling on being atheist, check out this video. Funny Stuff.

However, my larger point here is that he gave a great speech at UCSB in 2001. His speech covers the evolutionary process, and human beings ability to screw it up. If you have about an hour to spare, it is definitely worth a watch. He is incredibly witty, and drives home some very important points.

Ishmael by Daniel Quinn

2008-10-10T12:41:00.000-07:00

I finished reading this book a few months ago, and I am still thinking about it to this day.

Though the premise is a little weird to get into, the points made by the writer are very important to the future of our species.

The weird premise is that a man meets a telepathic gorilla, and that gorilla becomes his teacher...I told you it was a bit weird. Although the concept is weird, it does a good job of illustrating mans need to listen to nature.

I don't want to go off on the book too much...don't want to ruin it for anyone...I just wanted to recommend Ishmael to anyone looking for a good read.

Has anyone read this book? What did you think?

Dreaming of Ireland

2008-10-09T15:23:00.000-07:00

I often ask people the question...If you could snap your fingers and be any place in the world, where would it be?

The answer for me is always the same, Ireland. Whether it be a Kinsale pub, or a Dublin shop, I always feel at home in Ireland. The people are friendly, the music amazing, the food is tasty, and the beer is always served at the right temperature...a little below room temperature.

Hopefully, one day I might be able to call Ireland home...but until then, I'll continue longing for aimless walks through the streets of Dingle, full Irish breakfasts in Kilkenny, ballad sessions at Tatler Jack's in Killarney, shopping on O'Connell Street, and even a mince pie.

If you could snap your fingers and be any place in the world, where would it be?

My Wife The Triathlete

2008-10-08T11:49:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, Catherine competed in the Scott Tinley's Adventures triathlon. Being the bad ass that she is, she chose the Onroad International race...which consists of a 1 mile swim, 25 mile bike, and a 6 mile run.

Now, if I had tried to complete that course, it might have taken me about 4-5 hours. However, my awesome wife finished it in an amazing 2:51:12.60. Her time amazes me, because she did the whole race in the rain...and still shaved a few minutes off her Wildflower time.

I just wanted to give her a Sarah Palin style shout-out, don't ya know.

Good job Cate!

P.S. She's doing a half marathon this weekend...and I'm sure she'll make some cookies after the race. She very dedicated to her blog.

My New "All-Terrain" Hard Drive

2008-10-07T11:55:00.001-07:00

With no way to back-up my music and picture files, apart from burning 5,000 disks, i finally decided to go out and buy an external hard drive.

After some online research, I narrowed my choice down to LaCie's Rugged (320 GB), and Western Digital's Passport (320 GB).

From there, I hit the online forums to ask for opinions. Withing minutes, i was receiving horror stories of lost data...and most of those stories involved Western Digital products. LaCie 1 - Western Digital 0.

Next, I asked our neighbor the Apple Genius. He tended to lean towards LaCie products over Western Digital as well. LaCie 2 - Western Digital 0.

Finally, I checked out some online tech reports. Many of these reports held LaCie products in high esteem, while the Western Digital Passport hadn't received many reviews...partly because it is relatively new. LaCie 3 - Western Digital 0.

In the end, I ordered my LaCie Rugged from Buy.com, for about $150.00. I have since loaded all my music and pictures to the drive, and still have over 200 GB left.

So far, I am very happy with this drive. It's easy to use, compact, and very convenient. I haven't road tested it yet...nor have i dropped it...but its good so far.

Mission: Be Smoking Hot

2008-10-01T15:33:00.000-07:00

In an effort to get my lazy ass off the couch, I've decided to publicly challenge myself.

The challenge is to complete #2 on my 102 Things list by Thanksgiving. For those who have not committed my 102 Things list to memory, this is to lose 25 pounds...and you better get to memorizing, because I'm not helping you out anymore.

If I can't finish this task by the specified date, I'll need a good punishment for myself. Something like only getting to eat spam till I lose the weight...however, I'm not sure that would help out my cause.

Drop me a comment with your idea, and I'll pick the best one...or put it out for vote.

Experiences vs. Possessions

2008-09-29T12:40:00.000-07:00

Every human story has the same beginning, and the same end...we are born, and in the end we die.

So, with the beginning and end taken care of, what is left?

The Middle.

But, how should we spend that middle section of our lives?

The most common view is that we should pursue possessions. We should aim to acquire and protect as much as we can get our hands on. We should wake up in the morning, go to work, and dream of how we'll spend that hard earned money.

My problem with this answer has always been the inability to take anything from the physical realm into death. Anything that we acquire in the physical world is only borrowed. Borrowed for a short time, then passed on to someone else.

A less common view, is that we should spend our lives focused on gaining experiences, knowledge, and memories. We should forgo the obsession with possessions, and focus on experiencing everything life has to offer. We should travel, meet new people, try new foods, learn a new language, and strive experience something new every day...even if its trying a new route to work, or putting curry on your cereal.

And if it turns out that in addition to possessions, you cannot even take experiences with you...at least you lived a life full of experiences...a life to be proud of.

#21 Complete

2008-09-29T12:34:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I completed #21 on my 102 Things in 1,002 Days list. Cate and I climbed Madonna Mountain (Cerro San Luis) and Bishop's Peak in the same day.

I'm going to go ahead and estimate that we walked about 12 miles yesterday...I felt a bit like Frodo; however, I had no "precious" to protect. Not to mention, I don't recall seeing a single Ork...I guess I'll have to wait for task #92.

We're Not That Original

2008-09-25T14:48:00.000-07:00

Cate and I came up with the concept to teach English in Asia a few months ago. We dreamed up a scenario where we would travel wherever we want, and find work once we got there. The concept was so simple, but no one else had ever thought of it. We felt like rock stars in the world of travel. We were breaking society's rules, disregarding authority, and doing whatever we damn well pleased.

After a quick Google search, we realized that we had our idea a little too late. There are actually sites dedicated to this kind of travel...who knew?

Since we couldn't be the first people on the internet to have this idea, we could surely be the first among out friends and family to contemplate something like this. Wrong!

After a few emails, we had at least 4 Thailand connections through our friends, sisters of friends, co-workers of friends, and even neighbors.

Its truly amazing how many connections you already have...all you have to do is send out a few emails, regardless of how fruitless it may seem.

Even if you make no connections through your mass emails, you still look pretty bad ass to your friends...and you can always Google your way into plenty of connections.

Films That Inspire us to Travel

2008-09-22T14:57:00.000-07:00

Occasionally we find ourselves in ruts that are hard to shake. We wake up, go to work, then come home and go to sleep. After we have strung together a few months of that exact same routine, its hard to think of anything else.

In an effort to help break that cycle, I have put together a list of movies that will surely shake you from that trance. If these movies don't have you walking out your front door to experience life, I'm not sure what will.

10. Baraka

Describing this film is very hard, so I will use the default description from Netflix... "The relationship between humans and their environment is the subject of this mesmerizing visual study from Ron Fricke, the cinematographer and editor of Koyaanisqatsi. The images -- which Fricke gathered from 24 countries -- range from the daily devotions of Tibetan monks and whirling dervishes to a cigarette factory and time-lapse views of the Hong Kong skyline. Diverse world music accompanies the visuals."

9. Elizabethtown

Despite some terrible acting from Kirsten Dunst, I really like this movie. It shows that sometimes we don't decide to travel...sometimes it just happens.

8. Paris Je T'aime

A great collection of film shorts from the likes of Gus Van Sant, Wes Craven, and Ethan Coen. I really loved the fact that they didn't push Paris as merely a beautiful city...rather, as a place where beauty tends to manifest itself in rather odd places.

7. Reign Over Me

Though not directly about travel, I feel this film inspires the adventuous spirit. After one screening, you'll want to get out there and see the world that you have been missing.

6. The Beach

Though this film has become a little cliche among the backpackers of the world, it is still the best look into the life of a backpacker that has come along...not to mention the stunning views of Thailand.

5. L'auberge Espagnole

If you ever need inspiration to travel to Europe, look no further than L'auberge Espagnole. This french film will have you booking a one-way flight to Madrid moments after the credits roll.

4. Outsourced

This film may have snuck up the list due to my current obsession with all things India. My obsession aside, this film is great for any working stiff that might want to get away. After all, its not the job thats holding you hostage...its yourself.

3. Darjeeling Limited

Its not always the good experiences that define a journey. Sometimes, we remember the worst experiences with the fondest memories...after all, its generally the worst times that change us for the better.

2. Almost Famous

This film drives home the concept that sometimes we need a great journey to awaken our spirits, and send us down the right path.

1. Into The Wild

The only film that has ever captured the wanderlust spirit that grows within the hearts of man. Sometimes we just need to get away. Others may think we are crazy, but we just need to get out there and experience life.

Paperbackswap.com

2008-09-19T14:37:00.000-07:00

Recently, I tried to return an unused book to Barnes and Noble with a receipt. However, because the book was purchased over two weeks before, three weeks to be exact, they would do nothing for me. I wasn't expecting cash, all I wanted was a different book...but the girl behind the counter didn't seem to give a damn. As a matter of fact, she seemed to be annoyed by my question. At that moment, I vowed to never shop at Barnes and Noble again.

So, what is a guy to do when the largest book seller in the world is off his radar? The answer is simple...buy used!

Every town has at least one used book store...if not two. The used book store is full of gems just waiting to be discovered. Just last week, I found a brand new 1970's printing of The Restaurant at the end of the Universe. When I say new, I mean that the pages had not even been viewed by human eyes...and there are a lot of books like this lining the shelves. There is some poor sap out there somewhere that buys books, holds on to them for 30 years, and then sells them for signifigantly less than he purchased them for.

If digging around the shelves of your local used book shop does not seem like fun to you, there is a great website called Paper Back Swap.

Paper Back Swap is a website that allows users to trade books online. All you have to do is post ten books on their site. In return, they let you request one book. Then, every time someone requests a book that you posted, you receive another credit. The more books you get rid of, the more you can request.

The shipping is taken care of by the sender. So, if someone requests your book, you print the label and pay for the shipping. Therefore, if you request a book, the delivery is free.

There is a catch. If you only post crap books, you will never acquire any credits...and if you never acquire any credits, you will never get to request books. So, post some good reads.

After my run in with Barnes and Noble, I became obsessed with this site. Not only is it a great way to save some money, but its a great way to get rid of all the books cluttering up your life. And as someone getting ready to journey the world, saving money and ridding myself of clutter are great incentives.

Give paperbackswap.com a try, you won't be sorry.

And, if you don't know how to read...or just don't like to, the same company runs sites for CD swapping and DVD swapping.

Now you can swap to your hearts content.

Packing...A Little Early

2008-09-17T14:35:00.000-07:00

Vacation, travel, journey...whatever you call it, the anxiety of packing is universal. As humans, we want to be prepared for all situations that are thrown our way. Snow storm in Hawaii...good thing I brought my parka. Heat wave on the slopes...wow, I just happen to have this lovely collection of sleeveless tees. Though logic is absent, our hearts are in the right place. We're prepared.

Though being prepared is very important, sometimes it can get in the way of great experiences. Sometimes the simple act of forgetting a toothbrush can lead to an amazing adventure through the aisles of a Thai grocery store. Or, a broken shoulder bag can lead to a scavenger hunt through the streets of London for the perfect military surplus messenger bag. One thing is for sure, being prepared can rob you of some great experiences. Not to mention, most items can be found in even the most remote villages.

My current question is, what do you pack if you have no idea where you are going?

I ask this question three months before departing, because I want to get my head in the right place. Since packing is more a philosophical exercise than a practical one, I need some time to think.

Philosophically, I'd love to pack nothing more than a bindle stick. The concept of being out on the road with little to weigh me down sounds ideal; however, once I start packing, that concept will quickly fade away. A few pairs of pants, a few shirts, a light fleece, boxers, socks and a couple pairs of shoes will take up almost an entire backpack. There won't be much room for anything else.

Apart from clothes, the following is a list of things i'd like to take:

Laptop
Digital Camera
iPod
(3) Books
Small Toiletries Bag
Water Filter
Treated Mosquito Net
Mosquito Repellent
Journal w/ Pen
Extra Duffle
Nalgene...or Klean Kanteen if I decide plastic is bad
My Sherlock Pipe
Baseball Cap
Sunglasses
Watch
Small Photo Album

As the list of possible items grows and grows, I find myself thinking, Why? I haven't used my pipe in over a year...why bring it? If I want to smoke something abroad, the availability of Cuban cigars is relatively high...and if I can't find a Cuban, there are always hookah bars. For every reason I have to bring an item, there are ten reasons why I should not.

When packing day rolls around, I'll just have to make a pile of junk I want to take. Then I'll have a quick pros vs. cons session to decide what I'll need.

If I end up packing too much, I can always head down to the nearest market, and engage in an age old ritual called trade. Who knows, I might even get one of those chirping frogs out of the deal.

I'm curious to know, what would you pack if you had no idea where you were going?

Traveler vs. Journeyman

2008-09-15T13:21:00.000-07:00

I have been reading quite a few travel blogs lately, and a theme that I find very interesting is the comparison of Travel vs. Vacation.

Quite a few people like to look at their 2-week trip to Greece/Italy/France/Spain as travel. They think that the 1 day they spent in Madrid can tell them all they ever need to know about the Spanish people. They will go home and speak in broad, misinformed, generalizations about the country, the people, and the culture. In turn, their friends that spent upwards of three days in Madrid will back up their assertions. This is the type of "travel" that a majority of Americans embark on every year. They jump on a cruise liner, or in a bus tour...and "see" the world.

My question is, How much of the world can one truly see from the deck of the Princes Cruise Lines? How much of the world can one see from the window of a Kontiki tour bus?

To answer these questions, one must further explore the question of what is travel?

To see what the dictionary says, I headed over to the Miriam Webster site and typed in "Travel." The definition I found was rather uninspiring, it read as follows: "to go on or as if on a trip or tour." The given definition disappointed me greatly. I began thinking that maybe all the people on cruise ship actually were traveling.

However, I saw another word associated to travel...it was journey. So, I typed that one into the search bar, and it turned up the following: "something suggesting travel or passage from one place to another, journey from youth to maturity, journey through time." This is something I can work with.

Though travel does seem to involve moving around from place to place, it does not seem to include a purpose. Traveling seems to be blindly moving around the world with no real goal in mind. Ending, presumably, two weeks later with a return to life as usual. The concept of travel can also apply to the backpackers that do the same thing. They accept the backpacker lifestyle, but don't truly get it. They don't quite understand why what they are doing is so important. They travel Europe for 3 months, drink in Ireland, smoke in Amsterdam, and then head back to the states to take a job...forever referring to their glory days as a backpacker.

What I'm trying to say is that there is no difference between a traveler and a vacationer...rather, the difference lies between a traveler and a journeyman...or journeywoman.

The journeyman travels with purpose, searching for passage into the realm of greater understanding. Searching for a meaning. In a way, searching for themselves.

In this way, a journeyman can never find themselves on the decks of Princess, or aisles of Kontiki. They need genuine world experience, they need to meet real people, and they need to learn a lot of humility. They need the world to chew them up and spit them out.

The journeyman dares to travel with purpose. The journeyman is not only exploring the world, he is also exploring himself.

Mike Skinner Did It Again

2008-09-11T13:50:00.000-07:00

Once again, Mike Skinner of The Streets has outdone himself with his latest song Everything is Borrowed.

His newest album is titled Everything is Borrowed, and is due to drop in the states on October 7, 2008. Do yourself a favor, and pick up a copy from your nearest mom and pop.

102 Things in 1,002 Days

2008-09-09T11:58:00.000-07:00

For the past week, I have been racking my brain to create a list of 101 things I want to do in the next 1001 days. This list was quite hard to get off the ground, I wanted my list do be perfect on the first go. However, when I let loose and put pen to paper, things went a lot easier. I've refined my list several times, and in the end, I even ended up with 102 things. So, in the spirit of the hitchhiker in Something About Mary, I've decided to one-up those guys over at Day Zero with my idea of "102 things in 1,002 Days." I personally think its better. I mean, we all know that 102 Dalmatians was better than 101 Dalmatians...You know why? More Dalmatians...that's why.

So, without further ado, here is the maiden voyage of the 102 things to do in 1,002 Days list...

Write a Book
Lose 25 Pounds (0/25)
Learn to Play an Instrument
Learn to Scuba Dive
Ride a Camel
Ride a Mule
Swim With Bioluminescence
Go Orbing
Get Lost Somewhere
Shower in a Waterfall
Have a New Friend on Every Continent (0/7)
Set Foot on Every Continent Starting Now…Not Including CA (0/7)
Do WWOOF Somewhere
Buy a One-Way Ticket to Asia
Go to my First Cricket Match
Work in a Pub
Write an Article for Brave New Traveler
Condense my Whole Life into One Backpack
Teach English
Get a Drink at Gas Light Lounge
Climb Madonna Mountain and Bishop’s Peak in the Same Day
Do Volunteer Work in Africa
Egypt: Visit the Pyramids at Giza
Ethiopia: Trek the Simien Mountains
Ethiopia: Visit While Dawit is there
Morocco: Trek the High Atlas Mountains
Morocco: Sample a Moroccan Date
South Africa: Go to the 2010 World Cup
Tanzania: Visit While Samson is there
Uganda: Visit the Source of the Nile
Uganda: Drink Ajono
Cambodia: Visit Angkor Wat
China: Eat Cha Siu Bao
India: Take an Indian Cooking Class
India: Take the “Palace on Wheels” from Jaipur to Jodhpur
India: Travel India by Train
India: Go to the 2011 Cricket World Cup in India/Bangladesh/Pakistan/Sri Lanka
India: Bath in the Ganges
India: Holi Festival
India: The Ganesh Festival
India: Kumbh Mela Festival
India: Puram Festival
India: Go to the Pushkar Camel Fair
India: Visit the Taj Mahal
India: Watch a Bollywood movie in Mumbai
India: Stay in a Tree house at Green Magic Resort in Vythiri
Indonesia: Visit the Temples in Java
Japan: Partake in a Japanese Tea Ceremony
Japan: Eat Breakfast at the Tsukiji Central Fish Market in Tokyo
Japan: Visit Rex in Tokyo
Japan: Sakura Festival
Japan: Watch Sumo
Maldives: Kayak the Maldives Before They Are Gone
Mongolia: Ride a Tiny Horse
Nepal: Trek to Everest Base Camp
Singapore: Eat Singapore Street Noodles
Singapore: Thaipusam Festival
Sri Lanka: Esala Perahera Festival
Thailand: Take a Thai Cooking Class
Thailand: Take the Orient Express from Chiang Mai to Singapore
Thailand: Songkran Festival
Thailand: Eat Insects from a Cart
Thailand: Visit the Tiger Temple near Bangkok to Play with Tigers
Take the Trans-Siberian Railway from Mongolia to Moscow
Listen to Gypsy Music in a Gypsy Camp
Russia: Visit the Kremlin
Russia: Visit the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg in the Snow
England: See a Premier League Game Live
France: Eat a Croissant in Paris
Germany: Go to the Love Parade
Germany: Go to Oktoberfest
Iceland: Relax in the Blue Lagoon
Ireland: Harvest Peat
Ireland: Kiss the Blarney Stone
Ireland: Take 10 Hikes (0/10)
Scotland: Take 10 Hikes (0/10)
Scotland: Eat a Haggis
Scotland: Tour a Scotch Distillery
Spain: Run with the Bulls in Pamplona
Spain: Participate in La Tomatina in Valencia
Spain: Walk the Camino de Santiago
Jordan: Float in the Dead Sea
Palestine: Visit Jerusalem
Syria: Smoke a Hookah
Turkey: Visit the Sunken City in Kekova
United Arab Emirates: Holiday in Dubai
Drive Route 66
Alaska: See the Aurora Borealis
Nevada: Participate in Burning Man
New York: Go Bobsledding at Lake Placid
New Zealand: Trek Milford Sound
New Zealand: Visit the Lord of the Rings Set in Auckland…and Stay in the Hobbit Motel
Argentina: Learn to Tango
Brazil: Go to Carnival (Brazil or Trinidad and Tobago)
Columbia: Drink Coca Tea
Costa Rica: Stay in a Beach Hut
Cuba: Enjoy a Freshly Rolled Cigar
Guyana: Visit Kaieteur Falls
Mexico: Celebrate Dia De Los Muertos
Paraguay: Drink Yerba Mate (or Argentina/ Uruguay/Brazil)
Peru: Kayak the Amazon
Peru: Trek Inca Trail to Machu Pichu

Chlorophyll Reserves

2008-09-08T14:11:00.000-07:00

When becoming a Wanderlust King, one must take a few things into consideration. The first being, Where is my towel? If you aren't a fan of Douglas Adams, the only other concern will be, Where will I get the money?

In my opinion, money is very over-rated. A lot of people spend the best years of their lives trying to acquire and save little pieces of chlorophyll paper. While plants desperately need the stuff, chlorophyll that is, humans can survive with a minimal amount. Because of my attitude towards money, saving seems a bit hard and weird. Why hoard my money when I can treat my friends to a few rounds of drinks down at the pub.

However, when planning to stay away from home for an extended period of time, saving can have some advantages. I cannot think of any of these advantages off hand...I'm relatively new at this type of thought...but I'm sure money will come in handy.

The question is, How do I make enough money to support my entire trip?

My simple answer is inspired by the migrant laborers of Mexico. They come to the U.S. with nothing more than the clothes on their backs, and the desire to work. They work extremely hard, and live with minimal expense. At the end of the year, they return home with pockets full of money, and a sweet exchange rate.

Now, I'll make this clear...I'm no field worker. I have a bad back, and 10% of the work ethic the migrant workers have. However, I'll do pretty much anything for money. If payment is involved, I am your guy. Need you windows cleaned, your car washed, a pedicure...Call Me!

In addition to whoring myself out to the highest bidder, I check the conversion rates every few minutes. Currently, the Thai exchange rate is 34.5974 Baht to 1 USD. Every time I think about buying a boba milk tea, I just realize that I'm drinking 86.4935 Thai Baht...and water is free.

Apart from working whenever you get a chance, and hoping the exchange rates work in your favor, all you can do is conserve your money. If it gets hard to save, all you have to remember is that its a short term sacrifice for a long term gain. That boba tea is great now, but travel experiences pay off for the rest of your life.

Who Needs More Cliche? I've Already Been To The Trevi Fountain.

2008-09-04T16:16:00.000-07:00

I started this blog with every intention of updating every two days, it has currently been 10 days since my last updated. I just don't know what to write. So, I decided to start writing, and let the material come to me...there it is.

I've been checking out this online craze called "101 things in 1001 days." Basically, people create lists of 101 tasks they want to complete over the next 1001 days. The lists range from self improvement and organization to travel and leisure. After reading several REALLY boring lists, I've decided I can do better than all those amateurs bloggers out there.

The most important part of the process is to not pick outlandish goals, like walking on the moon. I don't have millions of dollars to pay the Russians, so cosmonauting is not in my future (I'll create a Wikipedia page for "Cosmonauting" later). The goals also need to be measurable...so, no being vague.

The most important part, is to actually come up with 101 things that aren't a bunch of kitsch. I've seen so many lists that include items like ride in a gondola in Venice with my soul-mate, or make love on a beach beneath a blanket of stars...sorry, excuse me while I vomit.

My aim is to avoid sap and cliche. The last thing the internet need is another "Bucket List" with the exact same 100 items. I'm pretty sure 5,000,000 people have already posted the exact same list, the last thing Al Gore needs is another copy of that list clogging up his internet.

I've currently reached lucky number 88. Just 13 items shy of completing my list. Its actually more like 20 items shy...after I take out all that crap about skydiving and bungee jumping. I really hate that I even put those in there...but i guys gotta fill up his list...Sorry Mr. Gore.

Hopefully, tomorrow I'll have the completed list to post...if not, I promise not to go another 10 days before my next post. How do all my fans wait that long to hear my wonderful musings?

Disclaimer:

I love Al Gore, and I only kid him because I respect him.

Dhoom Taana Ringtone

2008-08-25T13:11:00.000-07:00

After watching the Bollywood film Om Shanti Om, I decided it would be a great idea to download the ring tone from the song Dhoom Taana for when my wife calls. This has got to be my favorite song of the moment, and I'm pretty sure I over play it.

This song, however, has created a problem in my life. Every time my wife phones me, I miss her call. I love the song so much, that I end up listening to the ring tone, and forget to pick up the call.

There are only two ways to remedy the situation:

1.) I will end up getting sick of the song, and start answering the phone, or

2.) Cate will get used to leaving voicemails.

The only problem with the first remedy is that there are tons of great Bollywood songs that I can become obsessed with...thus, leaving me with the same problem. I guess the problem will eventually work itself out, I just hope Cate it patient enough to weather the storm.

My BOBA Obsession

2008-08-20T11:30:00.001-07:00

This past weekend, my wife and I were on our way home from San Mateo and feeling a little hungry. So, we stopped into a San Jose Vietnamese restaurant called My Tho. They had a very good menu, with a diverse selection of noodle dishes. I ordered the Bun, and Cate got the Pho...they were both amazing.

My point to this story comes around in my drink order. They had an avocado boba shake on the menu. Seeing as I couldn't pass on the opportunity to try an avocado shake, I did the only proper thing...I ordered one. And let me tell you, it was the best/worst decision of my life. It was the best decision, because it tasted amazing. It was the worst decision, because we don't live close enough to My Tho to get another boba soon.

Now I am officially obsessed with all things boba. We have since purchased a large packet of tapioca pearls for home boba experimentation. Last night I attempted an avocado boba shake, but it just wasn't as good as the My Tho version. Just when I thought I would never get a good boba in town, I typed "San Luis Obispo Boba" into Google...And I found that not only did a Quickly open in the last month, but my gym, Club 24, has had boba since it opened, I guess I'm just clueless.

Now I am in Boba heaven.

A Wanderlust King?

2008-08-18T16:26:00.000-07:00

Applications, fees, time lines, job searches, and uncertainty...all things that were driving me up the wall. My road to England has been paved in frustration and is full of road blocks and security check-points. Every time I felt like I was close to getting my visa, I found a new hoop I needed to jump through. This got me thinking...once we get to England, will it be any different than our life in the U.S.?

Aside from the adorable accents, mince pies and the occasional episode of Doctor Who, we don't differ that much. Life in England would be relatively the same as my life in San Luis Obispo, CA. I would work, pay bills, pay taxes and get a pint of ale every Friday. The only difference would be the venue. This is not to say that England is not an interesting place, because I love England and I would love to live there in the future. However, its not what I need at this point of my life.

What I need right now is to be more like Eugene Hutz, A Wanderlust King!

Turning 180-degrees from the visa obsession that was my life, I decided to say screw visas. I don't want one. I don't need one. The great thing about being an American citizen is that you can go practically anywhere you want, and you get an automatic 90-day visa. 90 days is more than enough time to enjoy a culture, get a teaching job, and move on to the next country. We'll be able to choose a country on the fly, and figure out the details as we go. And if we find a place that we love, we'll work towards extending our visa.

I have always heard stories about people dropping everything and hitting the road in pursuit of adventure; however, I never dreamt that one day it would be me. I never thought I had the courage to live without a plan. Most of my life I have been planning the future to exact details. Even my wife is a HUGE planner. We sit around in our perfectly planned apartment, planning our future that will inevitably change during our next planning session. So, the idea of two planners living in a world that cannot be perfectly planned sounds very anarchic to me...and I like it. I like the idea of throwing myself into a situation where I'll have to develop a new comfort level. I'll have to adapt.

Our plan, see how ridiculous the planning is, is to get two one-way tickets to Bangkok. The rest will be up to fate.

Torchwood...Not As Good As Doctor Who

2008-08-14T11:01:00.000-07:00

So, I've been a long time fan of Doctor Who, so I decided I should check out this Torchwood craze. If you have absolutely no clue what I'm talking about, Torchwood is a spin-off of a BBC show called Doctor Who, which has been around since the mid-sixties.

After adding Torchwood, season one, to my Netflix queue, it finally arrived while my wife was out of town. I was thinking "Great, I can watch some amazing science fiction television while shes away...and not have anyone make fun of my nerdy obsession." However, after the first episode was over, I was sadly disapointed. Torchwood did not even come close to the caliber of Doctor Who. I guess it is merely an issue of spin-offs never being as good as the original show, but i was disapointed none the less. I'm pretty sure I'll end up watching every episode of every season, but I just wanted to vent my frustration. Who knows, maybe the episodes will start picking up some steam as the series progresses.

Here's Hoping.

Fueling My Research

2008-08-14T10:41:00.000-07:00

Since most of my day is spent obsessing about the move to England, I need some fuel to keep that obsession going. That's why I stop at 7-11 every morning for a 16 oz. Monster Energy Drink and a 1 gallon bottle of Arrowhead water. I've found that this combination keeps me going all day strong. I'm pretty sure the water is responsible for 90% of the energy, but i just need that extra 10% that the Monster provides.

If you notice the Netflix envelope in the back of the picture, that is the first disc of Torchwood season one...how English can I be?

VISAS!!!!!

2008-08-07T10:49:00.000-07:00

So, I was just floating along on my cloud of expat happiness the other day, until I started to look into visas. For an American, it is very weird to think that we need a visa to go anywhere. I mean, I'm an American...right. However, that line of reasoning will not get you a visa...contrary to popular belief.

I started my visa info search by going directly to the source, www.ukvisas.gov.uk/. There you will find a definition of various types of visas, everything from visits to settlement. I headed directly for the section that pertained to employment visas. Now, there are two ways I found to go about getting an employment visa...

The first is to have a job lined up ahead of your trip. This will require your employer to vouch for you, and do quite a bit of work on your behalf. This type of visa is extremely hard to set up unless you know someone in the UK, or have a job offer already. Imagine if someone sent you an email saying "Hi, my name is Mike. Do you want to do tons of work so i can come to your country and work for you." I've found that most employers won't even respond to you unless you have your visa already lined up. Also, you hit some weird territory if you quit your job. You'll need to do quite a bit more work to stay in the country.

The second type of visa, the one I want, is called the Points Based System (Tier 1) Visa. This visa is based on you scoring at least a 75 on their points calculator. The questions are mostly based on level of education, age and income. If you earn the 75 points, you have pre qualified for this visa.

There are (2) forms to fill out for the Tier 1 visa. The first is called VAF9, this is the form that contains all your personal information. The second is called Appendix 1, this form will serve as the paper copy of your points calculator...to prove you are eligible. Though they supply PDF versions of these documents, it is also possible to apply through their system online...depending on your location.

Now that you have VAF9 and Appendix 1 finished, it is now time to apply. For this you will need you passport, a passport sized photo, and your biometric details. Biometric details are scans of all you fingers and a facial scan...James Bond type stuff.

Wow, that seemed really easy. However, I haven't gotten to the fees yet. To apply for this visa, it costs 600 GBP, or roughly $1,200.00. This price is for the applicant plus each dependant. So, for my wife and I to apply will cost us $2,400.00. And here's the catch, if they don't accept our application we'll lose all of that money. If we are denied, we will have an oppurtunity to appeal, but i'm sure that would also cost money.

Spending $2,400.00 is perfectly fine by me if I know that i'm getting a visa out of it. But, if I am paying it with no gaurentees, it makes me a little nervous. I'll probably end up spending the money, but its really hard to let go of that much money, knowing how much we'll need to spend to relocate.

Once you make your application, the only thing left to do is a simple verification of funds. The UK wants to make sure that you have enough money in savings to start a life in the UK. They, much like the US, do not want you coming to Great Britain to mooch off the hard working tax payers of their country. So, you will need to prove that you have about $4,500.00 for each person coming with you. To prove this, you will need to provide them with copies of three months of bank statements.

Now that all those things are complete, all there is to do is wait. Sit around for a few months and hope that those $2,400.00 weren't spent in vain.

Now that I know what i'm up against, I have been doing a lot of information finding. I'm trying to figure out how often people are turned down for their visa applications that have qualified under Tier 1. Since the Tier 1 system is relatively new, the information is hard to come by. The system before Tier 1 was called HSMP, or Highly Skilled Migrant Program. The HSMP seemed a little easier to qualify under...which is probably why they got rid of it.

The best way to get your questions answered about acquiring a UK visa is to check https://www.visainfoservices.com/Pages/Welcome.aspx. The website is called WorldBridge. The have a huge frequently asked questions section that should take care of most questions someone has about their visa application. However, if you have any questions that are not covered by the FAQs, you can email it to their inquiries department. Also, if you care to spend a lot more money, they have a 900 number that charges you per minute. And no, they don't answer you in a seductive voice...much to my dismay.

I've realized that a lot of getting a visa is waiting. You do all your work, spend tons of money and then you just wait. You can't get a job lined up without a visa, you can't get housing without a visa, you can't even buy tickets unless you know you'll have a visa. So, I'm trying to learn how to be patient. I've started breathing exercises, a workout program and put a moratorium on all things British. There is to be no Craig David, Doctor Who, Fuller's beer, Gin, Cricket, Football, Tea, and absolutely no BBC News. If I hear a British accent, I start to freak out about the lack of a visa. If I hear somebody say football...even though they mean the crappy sport with helmets...i freak out. I'm just relaxing, eating BBQ and listening to country music...whats more American than that?

What is this blog all about?

2008-07-28T15:21:00.000-07:00

Since our UK move is out of desire, and not necessity, a majority of the resources online do not apply to Catherine and me. We don't need to ship furniture, acquiring a car isn't a must, and we will not have company money to help us pay for the process. Therefore, we have quite a few unanswered questions. Some of these question may not be answered till we land in England.

My aim is to create a record of all the concerns and questions I have regarding the UK move. I tend to have quite a few logistical questions on issues ranging from acquiring credit to finding employment. I hope that through my successes and failures I will be able to help people make a cleaner transition from life in the US to life in the UK.

And, if you have any questions of your own or can help me, feel free to message me.

Moving to England.

2008-07-28T14:23:00.000-07:00

About five years ago I took my first trip to England. I traveled around the country hitting up London, Cambridge, Oxford, Liverpool, Newcastle, York, Leeds, and Manchester. As the trip was coming to an end, I felt an overwhelming sadness come over me. I did not want to leave. I had become accustom to my lunch time sandwiches at Mark's and Spencer, the evening pints at various pubs, and most of all PL Football. However, I had a life back in the states, and they would kick me out soon if my visa expired.

Once at home, I did what every other person who travels abroad does...buys British beer and watched lots of football to make up for not being there. However, that doesn't last for long. Soon, I started drinking coffee instead of tea, and stopped being able to wake up at 5:00 am to watch the football matches. The only way to attain the level of authenticity I was looking for was to return to the land of my dreams.

I arranged another trip abroad, this time focusing on the areas I loved; namely, London and York (Not to mention some time in Ireland). I very quickly got back into the groove of life in the UK. I ate almost every meal at Mark's and Spencer, had my tea at one of the nine million Starbucks, and had my mandatory Pint(s) every night. I watched football at normal hours. I went on long runs along the Thames. I spent hours digging through vinyl at record shops. I even visited the odd gallery or museum. After a month of enjoying myself, I came to the conclusion that I needed to live in the UK.

But once again, upon returning home, i quickly fell into old habits and the thought of moving abroad seemed too far fetched. I decided that a career was far more important than moving to a country that would make me happy. So, I started working for my father doing property development in San Luis Obispo, CA. My dream of living abroad just seemed to far fetched to give any more thought.

After being home for about three months, I met the girl who was to be my wife, Catherine. We met at a seedy local bar called Bull's. We eventually found that we had a lot of mutual friends, which softened the blow of meeting a seedy bar...and it makes it easier to explain how we met.

After a few weeks of dating, we realized how much we both loved to travel. So, we started planning trips together. It started with ski trips, Disneyland, San Francisco, and even upstate New York. Once we realized that we were compatible travel partners, we raised the travel stakes with a trip to Thailand for a month.

One month and a few fights later, we returned from our Thailand trip. After further analysis, we realized that one month of non-stop face time without killing each other was a pretty amazing feat. However, being the ever world traveler, Catherine took off immediately for Africa. She'd taken an internship with a health care provider in Uganda, which would keep her away for a few months.

Two months and a huge phone card bill later, we were engaged. then in September, we were married. Crappy honeymoon in Italy...good honeymoon in Ireland (to make up for Italy).

We then found ourselves back in San Luis Obispo with rings on our fingers and Catherine back in school to get her teaching credential. I began having visions of the American dream...Mortgage payments, over extended bank accounts, and maxed out credit cards. When things look like they are going to get bad, I'm the type of person who will start dreaming of better lives that I don't think are impossible. Naturally, I thought of life in England. I dreamed of sitting in a pub with Catherine, drinking a pint, and watching the football.

After a few months of dreaming on my own watch, I eventually brought Catherine in on my far-fetched dreams of a better life. To which she answered, "okay."

Now this was crazy for me. I had always thought I was doomed to pay a mortgage and be unhappy in my job for the rest of my life...like all of my friends and almost every other American. I never thought that I could just pick up and leave...wow!

Catherine started looking around at teaching programs in the UK, and finally came across Teach London. After a phone interview and a fairly extensive application process later, we seem to be on our way to England.

Currently, we are waiting to see where we will be placed.