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?

'Loz in Transit' Europe 2011 expanded map

'Loz in Transit' Europe 2011 map

An expanded version of the 'Loz in Transit' map featured on the 300th day trigger post.

Maps from the 'Memento Year' exhibition in Hamburg, Germany

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Germany map expanded

Germany Day 1-17 (17) 300-337 (36)
Stays: Frankfurt, München, Berlin, Düsseldorf, Köln, Hamburg, Bremen
Daytrips: Neuschwanstein Castle, Oberhausen

Italy Day 18-46 (28)
Stays: Milano, Firenze, Venezia, Roma

Spain map expanded

Spain Day 47-94 (47)
Stays: Barcelona, Callela, Valencia, Madrid, Sevilla, Córdoba, Malaga, Granada
Daytrips: Lloret Del Mar

Portugal map expanded

Portugal Day 95-158 (63)
Stays: Lisboa, Sintra, Ericeira, Obidos, Coimbra, Porto
Daytrips: Leiria, Peniche, Mafra

Netherlands map expanded

Netherlands Day 159-197 (38)
Stays: Amsterdam, Utrecht, Denbosch, Tilburg, Rotterdam, Scheveningen
Daytrips: Harlem, Amersfoort, Delft

England Day 198-200 (3), 206-212 (7), 270-299 (30), 371-377 (7)
Stays: London - Arsenal, Fulham Broadway, Russell Square, Pimlico, Swiss Cottage, Queensway.
Bournemouth, Brighton, Birmingham, Nottingham,

Scotland Day 201-205 (4)
Edinburgh

Lithuania map expanded

Lithuania Day 213-242 (29)
Stays: Vilnius, Panevėžys, Siauliai, Klaipeda, Kaunas
Daytrips: Nida, Trakai

Latvia Day 243-257 (14)
Stays: Riga, Liepaja + Karosta Prison, Ventspils
Daytrips: Jurmala, Sigulda

Estonia Day 258-270 (14)
Stays: Tartu, Otepää, Tallinn, Karesaare, Muhu
Daytrips: Kaleste

Turkey map expanded

Turkey Day 338-370 (33)
Stays: Selçuk, Fethiye, Pamukkale, Antalya, Göreme, Istanbul
Daytrips: Kuşadası, Denizli, Sirence

Singapore Day 378 (1)
Stays: Airport
Daytrips: 2hr day tour

Backpacking Round the World Trip - A modern day "Hero's Journey" (Joseph Campbell)

<< crossposted on the 'Let's Get Real podcast' blog

Are you about to embark on a Round-the-World trip? Have you recently returned from an epic adventure and wondering what to do next? Do you have a yearning to travel, voyaging to foreign lands, exploring exotic cultures and meeting interesting people?

It's the classic template for 'The Hero's Journey' as elucidated by Joseph Campbell, found in myths around the world and mirrored in popular works such as 'Star Wars' and 'The Lord of the Rings'. Whilst our modern day travels might not have the magic of these mythical quests, what with our GPS, crowdsourced tips and online booking there remains the sense of wonder and discovery even if the roads are paved and well-trodden. Myself, I prefer traveling with as little foreknowledge of a place as possible, guided by my instincts rather than technology. Its my way of preserving some sense of adventure.

If you've read even a few travel blogs, you might be familiar with certain tropes. Posts addressing whether long-term Travelers are running away or towards something. Advice on how to free oneself from the shackles of debt or comfort. These themes recur because they are part of the human condition, torn between needing to branch out and being rooted with our comforts. A cycle that began at birth.

Comparing long-term travel and Joseph Campbell's "The Hero's journey"

Whilst our trips may not be as outlandish as those found in legend, to us they are still the stuff of fantasy. People often remark that the treasure at the end of the journey was finding themselves, for a lucky few they may have even snagged the Princess.

VIDEO: The Hero's Journey: The World of Joseph Campbell (1987)

The Hero's Journey: The World of Joseph Campbell (1987)
NARRATOR: (43m 30s) The 'Hero with a Thousand faces' was the synthesis of years of work. In his book, Campbell outlined the Hero's Journey he had seen repeated in cultures around the world. He saw the hero as a personification of a Culture's mythology. Traditionally the hero might be a warrior, the ideal of strength and courage. An explorer, a founder of civilisations. A philosopher, an adventurer of the mind. And in the modern world, Campbell would add the artist and the scientist to the pantheon of heroes but the journey is essentially the same - One shape shifting story of the vision quest that transforms the world.

Whether it is Odysseus, King Arthur or Luke Skywalker. The hero is the one who responds to the call to Adventure. The stories often open with the hero appearing restless, something is missing in life, there is a feeling of destiny. It is a time for separation, sometimes it takes a shock to make the final break from the past and gain the final courage to accept the call. But noone can go it alone, everyone needs a mentor to provide wisdom and magical power...

The descent to the underworld of adventure is often blocked by dangerous threshold guardians. They mark the point of no return. Beyond them is the region of the unknown, a dreamlike labyrinth of tests and trials. To pass his initiation, the hero must become a Dragonslayer - seize the treasure or rescue the Princess. But the decisive ordeal of the quest is when the hero confronts death, he is challenged to follow the wisdom of his heart....

Find some of my favorite Adventure posts below:
- Read more about the "Hero's Journey" (aka The Monomyth)
- Coming Home from a year abroad. Reverse Culture shock and beating the travel Blues: The Hurt Locker (2008)
- Find all my 'Movie' posts here

- Traveling life as a movie
- Other people's stories - Tales of: Adventure

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

'Loz in Transit' on the radio: Talking 'Waking Life' and existentialism

<< crossposted on the 'Let's Get Real podcast' blog

I had the pleasure of being on community radio to discuss the Richard Linklater film 'Waking Life'. I was given the opportunity to curate the song playlist and touch on themes covered on this blog (travel, reality).

Find the radio chat here:
- Bernie Burke radio interviews (WOW FM 100.7)
- Download the file directly here, Music & Movie Madness: Dec 11, 2012 (51m 13s, no music)

PODCAST: 'Music & Movie Madness' WOW FM 100.7

VIDEO: 'Waking Life' (2001) trailer

Posts referenced in the radio interview
- Home Reading: 'Myth of Sisyphus' by Albert Camus - On the Writer, Actor and Traveler
- 'A Memento Year' exhibition
- Let's Get Real - Episode 5 preview: Black Holes
- Road Music: Friends, Laura and Monica

Home Reading: 'Myth of Sisyphus' by Albert Camus - On the Writer, Actor and Traveler

<< crossposted on the 'Let's Get Real podcast' blog

'The Myth of Sisyphus' by Albert Camus

For as long as I can remember I've always been curious about other people's lives and being a fly on the wall. Its where my passion for documentaries, DVD commentaries and podcasts stem from. Its also what I've found most fascinating about travel, the dynamic experience and exchange of stories which I've explored through Couchsurfing and 'Ego-Tripping'.

Though I have a good friend who is a big proponent of French philosopher Albert Camus, I've only recently become familiar with his work. A passage on Drama in his book 'Myth of Sisyphus' sheds some light on the root of my fascination.

Myth of Sisyphus
Hence the actor has chosen multiple fame, the fame that is hallowed and tested. From the fact the everything is to die some day he draws the best conclusion, An actor succeeds or does not succeed. A writer has some hope even if he is not appreciated. He assumes that his works will bear witness to what he was...

What more revelatory epitome can be imagined than those marvellous lives, those exceptional and total destinies unfolding for a few hours within a stage set? Off the stage, Sigismundo ceases to count. Two hours later he is seen dining out. Then it is, perhaps, that life is a dream... By thus sweeping over centuries and minds, by miming man as he can be and as he is, the actor has much in common with that other absurd individual, the traveller...

To what the degree the actor benefits from the characters is hard to say. But that is not the important thing. It is merely a matter of knowing how far he identifies himself with those irreplaceable lives. It often happens that he carries them with him, that they somewhat overflow the time and place in which they were born. They accompany the actor, who cannot very readily separate himself from what he has been... He abundantly illustrates every month or everyday that so suggestive truth that there is no frontier between what a man wants to be and what he is. Always concerned with better representing, he demonstrates to what a degree appearing creates being. For that is his art- to simulate absolutely, to project himself as deeply as possible into lives that are not his own. At the end of his effort his vocation becomes clear: to apply himself wholeheartedly to being nothing or to being several. The narrower the limits allotted him for creating his character the more necessary his talent. He will die in three hours under the mask he has assumed to-day. That is called losing oneself to find oneself.

'The Hero with a Thousand Faces' - Joseph Campbell

- Ego Tripping: (A vacation from yourself)
- Louis Theroux, Couchsurfing and Holland
- Other people's stories - Tales of: Adventure
- Trigger: Ego Tripping in Portugal - Sintra, Obidos, Ericeria, Coimbra
- Trigger: Egotripping II - England, on the road again

Update: I appeared on Community Radio discussing 'Myth of Sisyphus'

Loz in Transit update: Lets get Real podcast

Let's get Real podcast: Listen to the episodes

Its been a while since I've updated this site, its largely because my focus has shifted to the podcast. I've had conversations about life, loves and reality with travelers and other people embarking on journeys. The guests range from friends, acquaintances and fellow CouchSurfers. The project is directly inspired by introspective comedy podcasts like 'WTF' with Marc Maron and 'You Made it Weird' with Pete Holmes.

- AV Club's Nathan Rabin talks about Podcast Culture on Marc Maron's 300th episode of WTF
- A question answered with a quote: Comedy Podcasts
- Comedian Pete Holmes on adjacent experiences: Conversations relating to Travel, dreams and life