Riding a New Years Adventure

January 14, 2018

New Year’s Day, I wake up to the usual obnoxious bass blares from atop the large hill where the main stage sits. It’s 8:15, I’ve fully rested and whoops, I’m late for work. I walk past the vans and tent to the kitchen and I see – Crap, nobody woke up. I’ve been here five days already and I’m the only one here now to make breakfast. How did I go from staying in a house in Whanganui to camping and cooking in a valley on New Zealand’s South Island at a music festival? I didn’t know this event existed…

Culture & Immersion, Narrative

The Māori Mindset

January 5, 2018

Travel brings many insights, by hitchhiking, many more. I decided, I’m not going to plan anything in New Zealand. Why should I need to? I’ve come with the belief that, to experience New Zealand, you don’t need to plan anything. All you need is basic preparation: a tent, a bag, a thumb, and a smile. In my first two weeks, I’ve seen countless mountain ranges, sand dunes and stunning beaches, but the most interesting experiences were with the locals, both indigenous and colonist. My first driver was a friendly racist named Peter. He worked his ass off employing a team…

Narrative, Travel

Journey to Cape Reinga

December 20, 2017

There were no roosters to cock-a-doodle doo this morning, instead, at around six, a symphony of birds, mosquitoes and other unseen forest animals squealed out a resounding wake up call. I feel groggy; I got six hours of sleep separated by five hours of jet lag insomnia. Sleeping in a bushy forest is always mixed bag of goodies, you never know how hungry the mosquitoes are, or if you’ll find a flat spot to pitch your tent where nobody will see. I’ve had worse than this. I start the morning with my pack up and slap dance: fold my tent…

Narrative, Travel

Jet Lagged in a Forest Somewhere in New Zealand

December 18, 2017

From the sleepless flight from Kuala Lumpur to the two hour interrogation at airport customs, New Zealand’s throwing hurdles at me. I woke up today at 2:30 pm on the floor of my hosts disheveled loft somewhere in the boonies outside of Auckland. I don’t know where I am, and the lack of WiFi and GPS is keeping that secret from me, however, in my sleep deprived state, I managed to ask my host, Andrew, which way the nearest grocery store is, before he left for work in the morning. “That way,” he pointed away from the direction we came…

Miscellaneoes, Travel

Stuck in New Zealand Customs

December 15, 2017 1 Comment

I’ve been in New Zealand less than a day and I admit, the friendly stereotype is true, even when they threaten people at customs. That fellow got the silent treatment for hours because he was hiding something, whereas the customs officials questioned me for hours, because I have a tent, or maybe because I look borderline homeless; I don’t know. This wasn’t the welcome brigade I anticipated yet here’s what to expect and how to prepare for it, if it happens to you when you land in New Zealand. I’ve never understood what it means, or what needs to be…

Culture & Immersion, Travel

I Tried Hating Barcelona

December 10, 2017

I tried hating Barcelona, it even tried to help me when I arrived. From the six euro fare on the A2 bus into the city, from where I had to walk another half hour, to the 2.72 euro hidden tax at the Sant Jordy Hostel, I thought this city was trying to rip me off. I spent a week and a half year and by the end I made up my mind Barcelona is one of the most authentic big cities I’ve been to. The more I travel, the more I realize, I hate big cities, cities that are renowned,…

Narrative

Life Lessons from Drug Deals

December 4, 2017

“Hey Amigo!” Shouted a scruffy voice from behind me as I walked down a dusty street of Cartagena. A scruffy man cruises towards me on a shaggy bike, as I keep walking. His bike has seen better days. Both handles supported large Costco sized plastic bags full of junk and his hunched posture tells me that he didn’t buy that bike. Furthermore, he’s not looking too good either, with a few teeth missing. He calls out, “Cocaine, Hierba! Do you want?” I’ve should’ve kept walking… It’s my first month in Colombia and second day in Cartagena, where I’ve escaped from…

Culture & Immersion, Narrative

Avoid the Area Around the Station

November 15, 2017

Since the first time I moved here I was told to avoid the area around the station at night. The Vilnius City Train Station is a commanding building with large blue sign shining in blue “GELEŽINKELIO STOTIS”. It stares you dead in the eyes from the bottom of the hill, deep in no-go territory. This place is harmless in the daytime; floods of people flow through here considering most buses end at the Station, and it being so close to the center. What is it about this place that has tantalized my curiosity? What went on here to make my family friends and…

Draft

Chapter 7

August 31, 2017

I awoke at a comfortable time the next morning to the familiar noise of people coming and going, packing and unpacking. The bus to Proaza left after 9. By now, most of the pilgrims had left. I packed my sleeping bag and munched down on a fresh pack of cold oats milk and strawberry jam before leaving the Albergue to the bus station. A twenty-minute walk later through the shady morning streets of Oviedo, I arrived at the bus station and I asked around until I found the correct bus. Today I was taking a detour in the opposite direction…

Draft

Chapter 6: Jetset to Oviedo

August 27, 2017

Previous: Chapter 5 I slept better that night, falling downwards instead of to my side. The slant my tent was on was still too big, secondly, my tent was soaked with the morning dew. The sun was already up and I had to get moving if I was going to catch my 9:37 train some twenty minutes from this beach. I had roughly an hour to dry my tent so that I could pack it, along with my air mattress and sleeping bag. I basically had to repack my entire bag. I lightly jogged with all of my gear,…