'The Secret Life of Walter Mitty': Ben Stiller on hyperreality and losing yourself in the moment

<< crossposted on the 'Lets Get Real podcast' blog

Australia's "movie guy", Marc Fennell dubbed 'The Secret Life of Walter Mitty' as "the best 2 hour travel agent ad you've ever seen". So its only fitting that I found this Ben Stiller feature on the Delta Airlines inflight magazine 'Sky'.

Delta Airlines' Magazine 'Sky' (December 2013): The Ben Stiller Magic

The profile written by a forgivably gushy Steve Marsh, injects some psychoanalysis of Ben Stiller

The Ben Stiller Magic
Stiller, at least in the movies he directs, has always seemed obsessed with reality --specifically with how reality is shaped (or warped) by the stuff we watch when we’re on the couch... 

"So why are you so interested in this notion of reality? It seems like your entire career has been obsessed with this idea."
"Wow," Stiller says. "I never really analyzed it. That’s interesting you say that, because I’ve never thought about it that way." He pauses.

As someone drawn to dreams and reality, this was right up my alley.

I ask him if he ever daydreams. "No, not really," he says. "When you're making a movie like this, or any movie really, you're so in the moment, you’re not really daydreaming. But I do try to take time to appreciate the experience of doing things you wouldn't normally get to do."

He remembers one moment on the set of Mitty: "This wasn't really a daydream, but it was just kind of a moment of realization. I was in the water and we had to do a shot where the Zodiac boat is approaching me to pull me out of the water, and the only way we could get the shot was to put the camera in the boat, because it's like a POV of the boat coming at me. We were a mile or half a mile out to sea in the ocean off Iceland, and the swells were pretty big, so they dropped me in the water and just drove away. It was just a funny, surreal moment. Cause I'm really in the ocean here by myself. I couldn't see anything; the boat went far enough away that it was gone, the swells were at four feet. And I was like, This is crazy, this is actually... this is happening. I'm really in the ocean. If that boat doesn't come back... I mean, I know they know I'm here but... It's like the funny crossover of reality and movies, where you do real things but somehow you think because you're doing it for a movie that everything is OK. And, actually, the weird thing that you're doing is as dangerous or weird as it would be if there was no camera there; you're still really doing it." 

Whether it's an astronaut going about his routine or a backpacker off to his next destination there is an element of being outside yourself that is necessary to accomplish extraordinary things.

'The Secret Life of Walter Mitty' (2013)

Whilst walking around Cartagena I spotted this perch by the water. Not being scared of heights and with my fondness for climbing things I decided to scale it. I could be like a Pirate of the Caribbean.
Only at the top did I realise how precarious and foolish the endeavour was. What was I thinking?

From Below: Crow's nest in Cartagena, Colombia

From above: Probably not the best idea 

We "get into the zone" or are under so much pressure we forget to appreciate the moment. When you're caught up in the moment or swept by momentum, things you never thought possible can be mundanely achieved.
We just have to remember not to appreciate them mundanely.

Breathtaking panorama of Rio de Janeiro, hike to top of Morro da Babilônia (Leme Beach)

'Morro da Babilônia' lookout. Map drawn from memory.

There's something fun about walking around and stumbling onto amazing sights. It gives me the feeling of being an explorer. Even when the paths are paved once you get to a lookout with  no one in sight you feel like a pioneer.

I found this lookout on top of Morro da Babilônia by Leme Beach which had breathtaking panoramic views of the city - Cristo Redentor, Botafogo Beach and Sugarloaf. The view of Copacabana from behind was partially obscured by trees however. You'll share the view with a gallery of Black Vultures, frankly I'm surprised the base wasn't littered with condoms and homeless/camping paraphernalia. You have to navigate through a Favela and negotiate around some barking dogs (bring a stick) but I felt safe walking alone. On the way back you can treat yourself to refreshing Açaí at the Chapeu Mangueira Favela, the cheapest I've come across.

I decided to google the name of the mountain and see how exotic the hike was. Its not as obvious as the time I "discovered" the 'City of Arts and Sciences' in Valencia but not exactly trailblazing either :)

Update: I returned the following day and was solo again save for the flock of Black Vultures. Here is the vista which I assure you does it little justice.

From L to R: Christ the Redeemer, Botafogo Beach, Sugarloaf Mountain

When words fail: Language and Connection in South America

I knew that the language was going to play a part in my South America experience but didn't predict it to be so pivotal. Most of the quotes I've collected in conversation have been on the topic of language. I've felt isolated with the language barrier before (Solo in Sevilla) and been the odd one out living with bilinguals (a month with Brasilians in Porto) but this feels different.

I'm sure most Westerners would have experienced some disconnect whilst traveling. When you're passing through, one can always manage with commonsense and body language. It only dawned on me upon arrival that South America is the only continent where English isn't the primary bridge language.

The hostels I've stayed at have mostly been occupied by regional and interstate travelers. Its great in some sense because it forces you to interact in Spanish but offers no reprieve if you just want to relate to someone after a day spent being mute in an alien place.

VIDEO: 'Waking Life' (2001) "Words are inert"  

Waking Life (2001)
KIM KRIZAN: Because words are inert. They’re just symbols. They’re dead. You know? And so much of our experience is intangible...

The litte Spanish I know has largely been through 6 weeks of immersion. I've found the best way for me to learn is through necessity, a sense of survival. For some reason the thought of studying turns it into a chore but converting it into a story or discovering things organically seems more interesting somehow. Its a quirk in my wiring.

I've only taken two formal lessons thus far. The first was in a Casa of Creatives in Valparaiso, Chile. I had dinner with the 'Lab 00' collective a few nights previous after a recommendation through a CouchSurfing connection. My second lesson was through Expanish in Buenos Aries, Argentina. I found a flyer in my hostel and was intrigued by the complimentary Crash Course for the first of 5 mini modules. The place offered several packages to cater for the different needs and time constraints of Students. From people who required Spanish for Business or wanted a more immersive Argentinian experience, learning the language whilst perhaps taking Tango lessons and staying with a host family. The school offered a space not only for studying, it aimed to foster a community to better integrate oneself in Buenos Aries.

In case you're wondering how my language is progressing. The night after my lesson, I explained this Simpsons gag to a guapa who spoke no English. Incentive goes a long way ;)

"Psiquiatra infantil: ¿Dónde amigos imaginarios vienen a morir"
In no way did I do a direct translation but I feel I got it across

Ultimately language is about relating to people. Sharing a common language isn't what unites us, its a shared philosophy on life, taste and references. I'd previously only thought about the language barrier through the prism of being understood - ordering meals, getting around or sharing a story. As I've been forced to become even more observant and a better listener, I now see language as a way to better understand.

Find my other related posts here:
 - "The most important things are the hardest to say". The trouble with language 
- A question answered with a quote: South America edition
- Pete Holmes on "getting into it" - People watching, connecting and conversations

First impressions of Chile and South America

Its my fifth day in Santiago, Chile. The start of my South American adventure. Truth be told theres's been a weird energy from the start as I negotiate through the language barrier and the existential danger that comes with this region of the world. Most of it is a creation of the mind and one I hope to overcome.

There is a considerable lack of English but I'm encouraged by running mates who have been on this journey months longer than me who have grasped the language just by immersion and some cursory training. With the right mindset and focus I hope to do the same. I have no choice really as it has a direct effect on my quality of life. The other issue is "Dread", there are constant tales of muggings and petty theft. Some of it from experience though the majority of it is hype. Its like incessant talk of weather, its a real concern and factors into your movements but you wish you could move on to more interesting topics. Makes you appreciate how comfortable it is at home and how good we have it in Australia.

One of my comforts has been to rediscover some of the mojo I had for the European trip. I enjoy finding subcultures when I visit places, I find it connects me to the place and its people. It allows me to imagine growing up there. It also solves the language and danger problem as being around your kin alleviates so much tension. I found a Jazz Bar in Santa Isabel that was standing room only. The fact the bouncer couldn't understand me seemed to work in my favor, he spent most of the night shoo-ing people away but he inexplicably let me in. The night featured Cristián Cuturrufo, Chile's most acclaimed jazzman.

I found a compromise for communicating with locals and one I'll be adopting till I master the language. Instead of reaching an impasse after asking "Habla Inglés" and inevitably getting a "no". My second gambit is to insist I speak in terrible Spanglish whilst they continue talking Spanish.

Today I'll be playing Baloncesto with locals via Couchsurfing and watching Lucha Libre Wrestling, both things I did in Europe. Being in a new place isn't easy but thats part of the fun. On my weaker days Íve got 'Reh Dogg' as the Soundtrack to my life but of course days are better when I'm focused on sunnier things. That's the plan.

Anticipation for 'Before Midnight' and why 'Before Sunrise' is my favorite movie (No Spoilers)

For me, the best part of traveling are the hints of possibility. You visit plenty of places and form so many bonds that you can't help but imagine new realities. "I could live here", "I've made lifelong friends", "I've found the one". While these thoughts seem certain for a time, they're often fleeting. Constantly replaced by new prospects.

I explained this epiphany to a literary running mate in Florence, "If every new experience is a dream. The one I never wake from must be my life". In the coming days I would score an extended stay in Italy through hostel mafia connects. My weeks during Carnevale were spent shepherding tourists and couriering furniture through the labyrinth of Venice. In reality most of my days were spent torturously waiting. It was in this period that I wrote poems, the end of my first month in my yearlong EuroTrip. The only time I was compelled to.

I feel this was because it was early in my trip and I was enamored by the potential that lay ahead of me. As the synchronicities piled up and the stories came and went, the wonder and investment diminished. The experiences remained great but as often in life it became about chasing that original high (or maybe just chasing the next one?)

Jesse (Ethan Hawke) with an offer Celine (Julie Delpy) can't refuse

Before Sunrise (1995)
Jesse: Alright, alright. Think of it like this: jump ahead, ten, twenty years, okay, and you're married. Only your marriage doesn't have that same energy that it used to have, y'know. You start to blame your husband. You start to think about all those guys you've met in your life and what might have happened if you'd picked up with one of them, right? Well, I'm one of those guys. That's me y'know, so think of this as time travel, from then, to now, to find out what you're missing out on...

Like most of my favorite things, I stumbled onto 'Before Sunrise'. It was the midday movie during a university off-day. I was compelled by this quote in the opening scene and I've been a big Linklater fan ever since. I told everyone about the movie and gave several VHS tapes as gifts. Several years later there were rumours of a sequel born from its cult following and affection for the characters. I watched the Premiere at the Dendy Quays with my then girlfriend and cousin.

The first movie will always be the most uplifting as it captures the promise of youth, each subsequent movie can only get darker as it mirrors the cynicism and weight that comes with age and experience. Whilst 'Before Sunrise' pondered a canvas of possibility, 'Before Sunset' contemplates a filled page. The oppression of history. I'm bracing myself for what 'Before Midnight' has in store. I'm lucky to have discovered the movie the way I did, the anticipation for the films mimics the distance Jesse and Celine have apart. In the intervening time (9yrs between each), viewers would have accumulated their own life experience which will inform their perspective of life and love as they revisit these characters.

To me the movies are about the magic of wonder and how it's important to appreciate the life that is rather than an ideal that's never been. You caution from extrapolating an existence based on "One Fine Day" whilst hoping life could be just that. This was the closing stanza of my first poem in Venezia.

A poem in two parts. ''Travel = Movement/Time'' by Loz in Transit
...
To live well one should enjoy the wonder of each moment.
For like a bubble, trying to contain it would be the surest way to lose it.
Over time, our moments become memories.
And longer still our memories turn into madness.

VIDEO: 'Before Midnight' (2013) Official Trailer

I've avoided the trailer and any spoilers which should be no surprise.
'Before Midnight', the beloved trilogy finale will be screening at the State Theatre, 9:30pm June 8 as part of the Sydney Film Festival Program.

Find other posts that reference 'Before Sunrise'
- 'Loz in Transit' on the radio: Talking 'Waking Life' and existentialism
- Trigger: A Memento year - The first 100 days
- Home Movies: 'Before Sunrise' - "I've never been anywhere" quote

Coolspotting in Melbourne: "Melbournelandia" vegan eats, punk rock and comedy

During my year abroad having the time of my life I often wondered "Is it possible to have too much of a good thing?" I tend to believe so. I'm the type of person who doesn't like to repeat myself. I prefer variety. Perhaps its why I'm drawn to ego-tripping, I even tire of my own passions and am curious to explore other personas.

I enjoy adapting into situations temporarily, curious to see how it fits. I recently returned from a 6 day roadtrip to Melbourne to indulge in the International Comedy Festival. The drawcard, seeing comedian Pete Holmes who I've referenced several times on this blog. I traveled with a good punk rock friend, him being a vegan I decided I'd also be vegan for the duration of the trip. It was an easily managed feat as Melbourne is well served with plant-based options.

For those who've never been to Australia, Sydney is largely known for its landmarks and beaches whilst Melbourne is known for its culture and arts. Sydney, the blonde beach babe. Melbourne, the indie kid. Both have their appeals but I tend to gravitate towards Melbourne in personality despite living in Sydney. Melbourne is dotted with interesting art, trendy stores and progressive businesses. It's essentially Australia's own 'Portlandia'. A place where the niche is mainstream, where subcultures are fostered - an alternative utopia.

VIDEO: Portlandia -  Is it local?

As for the comedy, it was great but also instructive. I watch a lot of comedy as it is back home in Sydney. Roughly 5 shows a month, its a cheap and enjoyable source of entertainment for a shiftworker like myself. Coupled with my diet of podcasts, I'm used to a lot of comedy. That said, in a festival environment you're really binge eating and as I found out on the last night you can hit a wall where you become numb to even your favourite thing. You start comparing the acts unfairly, frighteningly the novelty erodes . Its something I have to be mindful of for my 30HomeGames mission, lest I suck the love out of my other passions. Variety is key :)

Below is a catalogue of the food eaten and the comedy sampled:

Sea Shepherd in Port, Williamstown Melbourne

Sea Shepherd Free Ship Tours: SSS Steve Irwin, SSS Sam Simon, SSS Bob Barker

Vegan Eats
- Fekerte's Ethiopian Cuisine (Canberra)
- Sweet Bones Bakery Cafe (Canberra)
- Trippy Taco (Fitzroy)
- Mister Nice Guy's Bakeshop (Ascot Vale)
- Lord of the Fries (Melbourne city)
- Soulfood Café (Fitzroy)
- Las Vegan Cafe (Fitzroy)
- Gasometer (Collingwood)
- Al Albero (Fitzroy North)

Comedy (Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2013)
Dave Bloustein: Grand Guignol
Headliners - Pete Holmes, Michael Che, Eddie Pepitone and James Adomian, Brendon Walsh, Jessica Kirson
The Little Dum Dum Club live - Tom Gleeson, Luke McGregor, Nick Cody,
Set List: Stand-up without a net - Lindsay Webb, DeAnne Smith, Simon Munnery, Asher Treleaven, The Pajama Men
Luke McGregor: My Soulmate is out of my League
Blake Mitchell: Play Date

The Kids are Alright

- Coolspotting in Frankfurt and Barcelona
- Coolspotting: Subculture in the South of Spain
- Coolspotting in Netherlands
- Coolspotting in Netherlands Pt II
- Coolspotting: Nerding out in England - Comics, Cosplay, Video Games and Wrestling
- Coolspotting in Berlin
- Coolspotting in Istanbul
- Coolspotting in Sydney
- Coolspotting in Melbourne

What do you enjoy about Melbourne? Were you at any of these events?

Observations on Portugal

These were originally presented as a submission for the "Things that make you go hmmm" segment of the Nod 'n' Smile blog. As that section is now defunct, I present it to you here:

Occupation
1) Some might not be aware the Occupy movement originally had its roots in Spain. It extended to Portugal with many Spaniards crossing the border lending their solidarity, later inspiring action from Wall Street to London. The mix of culture, weather and youth unemployment makes Spain and its wallet-friendly neighbor Portugal popular destinations for the Bohemian and hippy set.

Dog People
2) Like people, Countries can be divided into "Cat people" or "Dog people". Turkey would be a cat person and Portugal would be a dog person. Some of these pictures even show how the dogs look much like their owner.

Qualidade de Vida
3) One of the locals at my Lisboa hotel described the Brazilian influence in Portugal as an "invasion". They usually come in the form of Erasmus students and expats looking for an agreeable gateway into Europe. The Portugese would accuse the Brazilians of being hedonistic and unserious whilst Brazilians complained the Portugese were cold and less attractive. As a traveler I was blissfully removed from the cultural politics and had the luxury of enjoying the awesomeness of both nationalities.

Steez
4) I've always viewed Street Art as a cultural touchstone, its acceptance and quality can sometimes speak volumes about the place and its people. Lisboa has commissioned several world-famous murals from artists like Blu and Os Gêmeos

War on Tourism
5) Hmmm. Never did get to the bottom of this. A cursory search on the interwebs shows that its been tagged since at least 2005. I found the Portugese to be a proud and open people, I've received generous hospitality but have been correctly humbled when I was being an obnoxious guest.

Animal Farm
6) Animal treatment that makes you go hmmm. As you go away from the big cities you might find markets stocking animals in a way that you might not agree with. I like the fisherman above cuz it looks like he just caught his new hairpiece.

Dazed and Confused
7) At the start of the school year, Freshman are publically hazed around Portugal. It culminates in a huge party, with the biggest events found in Porto and the student town of Coimbra. The hazing students are dressed in Harry Potter-like costumes with badges.

Portugal
- Tudo Bom: The first 3 days in Portugal (1 of 3)
- Tudo Bom: The first 3 days in Portugal (2 of 3)
- Tudo Bom: The first 3 days in Portugal (3 of 3)
- Portugal: Eat - Fine Food with Friends
- Portugal: Pray - Saints and Sinners
- Portugal: Love - Portugal sure is warm!
- Trigger: "Qualidade de Vida" in 'Casa dos Gauchos', Porto
- Trigger: Ego Tripping in Portugal - Sintra, Obidos, Ericeria, Coimbra

Sintra, Portugal: "O mundo gira" - The second chances we get in life and travel

I spent a weekend in Sintra at the start of my time in Lisboa, Portugal. Its a popular day trip destination featuring castles, palaces and greenery. My time was quite solitary, Sintra's lone hostel had only one other guest whom I met the morning she was leaving. She was a free spirit New Yorker, a mature lady passionate about contact improv. In our brief time spent she introduced me to some new concepts that I would unexpectedly later explore. She mentioned dating a freegan 20 years her junior and how she befriended someone on the streets of Lisboa who took her to an underground restaurant.

I was drawn to her zest for life, her curiosity and compulsiveness. As I was accompanying her to the train station she spotted an attractive silver-haired guy in a ponytail, she brought it to my attention several minutes later and convinced herself to approach him. I happily accompanied her as we detoured searching for him to no avail.

I admire people who act on their whims, trusting the feeling and going on instinct. Its like being a kid again, oblivious to risk and the notion of making a fool of yourself. The moment is the opportunity. Whilst I'm drawn to this idea, I also realise there are times when its best not to force the issue. Having faith that the universe will return your boomerang.

A Brazilian in Venezia gave me my first Portugese expression - "O mundo gira" (The world spins). He explained that life has its cycles, we unwittingly repeat journeys or mistakes our parents made before us. How sometimes things come back and second chances are possible. A German in Tartu offered an interesting take on that principle in regard to relationships - "I believe you meet everyone twice but you don't always know it". Its a hopeful way of looking at the world and its possibilities and speaks to a connectedness. I've talked previously about my moments of synchronicity so I've tasted the feeling but I'm keenly aware how easily its forgotten.

Walking around Sintra I spotted this facade for an abandoned building on the outskirts of the town centre. I fantasised about exploring it but wasn't as compelled to without a partner-in-climb.

"How the hell could you front on me"

I befriended an American Vagabond at my new hostel upon my return to Lisboa. We would later roadtrip North for a week with another running mate. The American had been urban camping and though I had found creative ways to save on accommodation I'd yet to spent a full night outside.

Our first stop outside of Lisboa was a return trip to Sintra. After our first outdoor dinner we began scouting for sleeping locations. Our first spot was in public parklands, we decided against it due to the likelihood of being disturbed by a ranger. Our second find involved scaling a wall and some thick bush. We cased the garden and found it sufficient though we were spooked by the discovery of belongings and the decaying passport of a German woman, the likely victim of a pickpocket. We set up camp and called it a night.

The following morning we began exploring our "backyard". Obscured by darkness, the sight was nothing like I had imagined. We were in the garden of a spectacular abandoned mansion, I felt assured we were alone. It was an intriguing space but I didn't venture too much as the ground looked shaky.

Scouting base camp from the wall

Scams in Istanbul: The reality of trusting (3 of 3)

<< crossposted on 'The 30 Home Games' blog

Are your Spidey Senses tingling?

My mood definitely shifted, I became suspicious of everybody. I even began questioning the authenticity of my hostel roommate, a down-on-his-luck Canadian traveler borrowing money from newly made running mates. I knew I had to find a way to get out of this mental funk. Attention is a double-edged sword. Being a traveler, a lot of possibilities were opened because people were curious and drawn to me as an outsider. I was welcomed into homes and friend circles, now this attention was being used against me. I was afraid to go out, the simplest chores would be interrupted by the constant initiation of conversation. I imagine this is the reality celebrities and hotties live in every day.

My running mate who escaped the scam unscathed was someone I befriended on the trip from Goreme to Istanbul. We bonded over our love of basketball, he was a diehard Laker fan and former intern for the team. We played a game with locals at the courts in the Nike Beyoğlu store the morning after his ordeal as he briefed me on what happened. I had my epiphany, I would convert scammer invitations into a game of hoops. It dovetailed with my 30 Home Games mission, my quest for a basketball experience in each country. He was skeptical, it was asking for trouble.

The genius of these scams are that they're only asking for your time. It's essentially rapport building through good conversation, a few shared drinks which sets the table for the manipulation to take place. Its only when the betrayal happens at the clip-joint that one begins to question everything. A fellow traveler equated it to a relationship break up, especially one dissolved through infidelity. We start tracing its history, which parts were real? Was any of it genuine? Then we start looking inward, was it my fault for believing? I figured I could entice them to a game of basketball during what they thought was the "real" part.

The following few days I was upbeat, returning to my old self. Instead of shooing people away grumpily, I was looking forward to interactions but surprisingly the attention had waned. I can't pinpoint whether it was my change in energy, my familiarity or random chance. Interestingly I had begun to mutually greet one of the scammers like Ralph Wolf and Sam Sheepdog would in the cartoons. He was a fellow in a blue/green puffer jacket I would regularly cross paths with, usually alongside a new Asian tourist. Our original encounter he tried to open me at Sultanahmet with the line "Hey you look like Michael Jackson".

In the closing days of my fortnight in Istanbul I did manage to find a genuine connection, befriending young artists at a Jazz bar. Over several days we hit the town, was welcomed into homes for dinner and tea and got to crash at a few places. The locals were understandably removed from this reality, they explained that some Current affair shows had shed some light on the scams in Istanbul. As it was a crime of opportunity, Turks from the east unfamiliar with the big city were also being scammed. Most attention was paid to non-Turks because they were ideal targets, distinct, lucrative and crucially - naive.

The charming person I spent most of the time with mindblowingly did her major thesis on 'Hyperreality' - a pet topic of mine. On my final day I was welcomed into her friend's apartment, we discussed scamming and reality as we smoked and drank in their attic. Their roommate, a Syrian revolutionary taking refuge in Turkey arrived late into the evening. He began in the front lines for the cause but decided his powers were best served in media relations. He weighed in on the conversation by showing videos he'd filmed that day presenting two versions of reality for the same event, one for dissemination now and the other truth to be released after the revolution was won. 

It was a memorable way to close my experience in Turkey and it gave me a sobering take on the scamming experience. I've always been fascinated by the power of charisma and the bending of reality but this underlined for me that its ultimately playing with fire. My running mate who escaped the scam had himself conceded, "As bad as it could have turned out, it'll likely go down as the most interesting thing that happens on this trip".

During this time creating genuine experiences with amazing new friends, the basketball mouse trap was the furthest thing from my mind. I never did get to hoop it up with a scammer, I didn't even come close to as invitations had dried up. I'm still intrigued by the prospect of holding court with a scammer but the idea served its purpose as it shifted my mood and I found the genuine experience I was searching for. I'll file it as 'incomplete' and still hope to achieve it if I ever return to Istanbul. If someone is able to execute it on my behalf I would love to hear your story.

After a great evening capping off my time and saying my goodbyes the morning after, I had one final rude awakening. As I checked in at Atatürk International Airport the teller informed me I wasn't in the system for any flights that day. I scanned my ticket, checked my phone everything seemed fine. It was then I realised that my calendar settings were set to 2011. My Turkish friend had borrowed my phone 5 days earlier to use her SIM, I must've mistakenly applied the wrong settings when I turned it back on so the dates corresponded to the wrong days. I had been operating a day in advance this whole time, my flight was actually for tomorrow.
Everything is real until the moment it isn't.

- Scams in Istanbul: Why I trust people (1 of 3)
- Scams in Istanbul: Why people trust others (2 of 3)
- Scams in Istanbul: The reality of trusting (3 of 3)

-----------------------------------------------------------
The folks at IndieTravelPodcast have a comprehensive discussion on several possible scams travelers might encounter - Indie Travel Podcast Ep 212: Travel Scams, cons and Travel safety

Have you ever been scammed whilst traveling? Has your sense of reality ever been shaken?

Me and my Girlfriend: Ride or die, Sevilla La, la la (2 of 3)

So me and my girlfriend are going steady.
Second date: Plaza de España

Comidas y bebidas

King's Cup final: Real Madrid VS Barcelona + Semana Santa

Since I've been with Ana-Lucia I don't really do stuff or meet people.
We kinda just hang out and spend all day together. She's my first bicycle.

I don't know if I'm happy.

- Me and my Girlfriend Pt1: Riding high in Andalucia
- Me and my Girlfriend Pt2: Ride or die, Sevilla La, la la
- Me and my Girlfriend Pt3: Bye Bicicleta Bye!

Observation: Traveling is "Super"

I've always had this theory that when you travel you become a "Super" version of yourself - Super [Insert Name Here].

You become more open, take more risks and are action-oriented. I also contend its a state of mind. Travel simply provides a blend of dynamics that bring about this spirit. Feeling awe in a foreign environment, distance from the routines of home life and being surrounded by like-minded people whilst having a sense of anonymity.

I found this T-shirt wandering around Roma jumping on random trams, naturally I was drawn to 'San Lorenzo'. I was flattered to find a hood with grafitti, New York style bridge tunnels and kids playing streetball. I hung out with them a bit. I walked into the Quattrodita Comic Shop and was floored to find this Tee.

The tee is [Super]modelled by Ilenia. Fellow superfriends, Michele and Luca not pictured - my Italian "Go Team" in Valencia, Spain.

Update:
A Polish running-mate met in Bogota, Colombia shared a similar theory using a more direct Superman reference. Superman is average amongst his peers in Krypton but on Earth he is an extraordinary being. That's what we're like when we're abroad.

Poetry in Motion: Waiting alone

Waiting Alone
Please wait a moment.
What are you waiting for?
Wait till you get a load of this. Just wait here.
Wait a sec. Wait a God-damn-minute!
You just wait. Wait Wait... Don't tell me!
Wait for it. Waaaaaaiit for it.

Waiter!

Can you wait for me?
Waiting...

I caaan't wait!

What is it about waiting that sucks? Part of the odd jobs I've been tasked with in Venezia is couriering guests from one part of town to another. A large part of it is waiting for people who've specified a vague and possibly arbitrary arrival time.

Today I waited for 5 hours. They never showed up. Not complaining, in fact on paper it reads well.
1) Scenic waiting area at the Scalzi Bridge near the main station
2) Sabato during Carnevale means New Years Eve level traffic. Lots of people to watch
3) The parade of outrageous costumes from Alice in Wonderland to Mario and Luigi. Its essentially 2 weeks of Halloween and EVERYONE is in the spirit
4) The sea of humanity meant it would have been a slow crawl to spend the day walking around the city
5) The waiting meant I got to avoid hard labour for the day
6) Its usually couriering packs of girls
7) Twas a beautiful day in a beautiful city

Despite all that, there is something about waiting that is unbearable. I can't quite put a finger on it. It has something to do with only moving in the one axis - time. Also when you're waiting, its usually for a relief of some sort. Most times in the form of company.

Funnily enough, the people I watched weren't do anything radically different to what I was doing. Albeit they were lost in conversation and lost in a foreign city. For most its simply walking around, people watching. In the case of those spectacularly dressed, being watched. Point A and point B are negligible, just being on a journey counts for a lot.

I make sure I get out of the house every night. In Venezia its usually been alone, its essentially "walkin around waitin for shit to pop". In basketball terms, its the equivalent of running around trying to get good position. Whether you receive an assist, get an open look or score that's another matter. Ultimately for best results you want to be able to create your own shot.

Maybe this why I don't like waiting...

The man who goes alone can start today; but he who travels with another must wait till that other is ready.
Henry David Thoreau

As you get older, you'd think there'd be an urgency as you have less time you can afford to spend waiting. But something tells me that with maturity comes peace. You just learn to cherish time and are more assured on what time is worth being spent on. With that said, I purposely omitted one common 'wait' phrase that I hope one day truly resonates with me - "some things in life are just worth waiting for".

Observation: The worst place possible - My own mind

The Postal Service - Recycled Air


chatting to friend in Frankfurt Apple Store:

I yearn for something to say. to share with my kids. I think the best things will only ever be said in conversation. I can't collect my thoughts well enough. and sadly they may just end up in the worst place possible. swirling around my own mind