Great stuff, Jim. And "Because that’s when the action is, that’s when adventure happens" - all too true. In my experience this was being phased out a good few years before COVID, using Skype then... But there's nothing like being there and in someone's presence
Hey Jim! Ya know, it's a bit surreal that you published this today, as I spent the better part of a few hours last night intermittently thinking about how I travel.
By that, I mean, why do I have all these great stories of wild trips (where I don't really do anything all that wild, it just always finds me), while others seems to find the dullest "avenue" in everything they do?
I'm not any closer to the answer as I was before I gave up on the topic last night, but if I ever do find it, it'd be a goldmine. I've always felt that HST suspected the same thing, although he worked a tad harder at it. lol
Anyway, thanks for the write-up (as usual), and have a great day!
De nada and thank you! It’s fascinating, isn’t it? I think a lot of it comes down to how willing one is to deviate from the plan. But you can’t have an adventure if you don’t leave home.
Now that I have written it out, and have given it another 30 minutes or so, I think I understand it maybe a little better now. Maybe. And, yes, it is fascinating. I'll briefly explain.
Wherever I go, I ask questions. Not tourist questions per se, just honest questions about the person I am talking to, which happens to utilize the "tourist" part as the icebreaker. Not in a strange way (although most people don't do that, so I suppose it is a bit odd), but just in the vein of wanting to know how that specific person lives in "insert name here" place that I find myself in at the moment. In turn, they inevitably ask me questions that I answer in full honesty, because I doubt I'll ever see them again, so why not? It almost becomes a game.
I think it has a snowball down the mountain effect, in that after a while it becomes a thing that just happens. The locals really want to show me some "cool shit", and of course I almost always agree. Then the next trip, THOSE locals want to out do the last ones by showing something even better, or giving the better "hook" to do something on the sly, lol. This always happens because I share who I am, rather than being a sack of blood that translates to a 15% automatic gratuity or some shit.
I've come to the conclusion that I will never understand people that go to a place like Disney, stay at the Disney hotel, and only eat Disney Food. Like, they save for YEARS to do that. It doesn't even have to be Disney, but any equivalent applies as well. Inevitably, they leave disappointed in some way, although they may not say that as a way to save face, but they know they just wasted a dream on bullshit they were goaded into by some shitty shiny pamphlet they were dumb enough to read.
Finally, you are correct about deviating. I will typically only have one thing planned when I go somewhere as an "activity". I try to schedule it mid-trip, as it gives me time to get a feel of the vibe, and the time after to get the feedback from other locals about it.
In short, I suppose I am just willing to share my sliver of who I am with strangers, and they reply in kind. It baffles me that there are people that will not surrender their "life" when they travel for a few days, and go back home with the feeling that they never left in the first place.
This is really interesting. I think my wife is more like you in this regard in that she will talk to anyone and people like talking to her, even people with a reputation for being stiff, formal, or rude, like Paris waiters or Portuguese cab drivers. But asking questions is the key. I do find that Americans are pretty bad at everyday hospitality compared to other countries.
Yeah, it's pretty common knowledge that most Americans aren't as hot shit as they think they are. This tends to embarrass the rest of us. Although, this can work to your advantage if you emote that you aren't a totally self-absorbed asshole, lol. The whole "I'm not an asshole" without explicitly saying it is a soft art, but a delicate dance, nonetheless.
If that is accomplished, well, shit. Then the majority of the mission has been accomplished. It's usually "green light go" on having a great time once you get those formalities out of the way.
As a reporter then, later, doing research for my novel, I loved the license to ask questions. Traveling brought that out too. I thought about both of these things as I read your comment and Jim's post. The revelation that eventually found me was that I, we all, always carry a license to show interest in another person, place, culture, custom, subject, etc. I can walk down the street of my home city and find opportunities if I look for them. I've always loved that sense of discovery that comes from the conversations I have when I put myself out into the world. I realize I need to do it more no matter where I am.
I borrowed that bottom Steadman image and caption
Great stuff, Jim. And "Because that’s when the action is, that’s when adventure happens" - all too true. In my experience this was being phased out a good few years before COVID, using Skype then... But there's nothing like being there and in someone's presence
Ok this writing is great…BUT THERES A NON ALKIE STELLA NOW???
Yep and it's pretty great. I also found an NA Deschuttes Black Butte Porter at a country store in Honoka'a.
Stella and Guinness used to be my beers of choice. Glad I can have both now.
Hey Jim! Ya know, it's a bit surreal that you published this today, as I spent the better part of a few hours last night intermittently thinking about how I travel.
By that, I mean, why do I have all these great stories of wild trips (where I don't really do anything all that wild, it just always finds me), while others seems to find the dullest "avenue" in everything they do?
I'm not any closer to the answer as I was before I gave up on the topic last night, but if I ever do find it, it'd be a goldmine. I've always felt that HST suspected the same thing, although he worked a tad harder at it. lol
Anyway, thanks for the write-up (as usual), and have a great day!
De nada and thank you! It’s fascinating, isn’t it? I think a lot of it comes down to how willing one is to deviate from the plan. But you can’t have an adventure if you don’t leave home.
Now that I have written it out, and have given it another 30 minutes or so, I think I understand it maybe a little better now. Maybe. And, yes, it is fascinating. I'll briefly explain.
Wherever I go, I ask questions. Not tourist questions per se, just honest questions about the person I am talking to, which happens to utilize the "tourist" part as the icebreaker. Not in a strange way (although most people don't do that, so I suppose it is a bit odd), but just in the vein of wanting to know how that specific person lives in "insert name here" place that I find myself in at the moment. In turn, they inevitably ask me questions that I answer in full honesty, because I doubt I'll ever see them again, so why not? It almost becomes a game.
I think it has a snowball down the mountain effect, in that after a while it becomes a thing that just happens. The locals really want to show me some "cool shit", and of course I almost always agree. Then the next trip, THOSE locals want to out do the last ones by showing something even better, or giving the better "hook" to do something on the sly, lol. This always happens because I share who I am, rather than being a sack of blood that translates to a 15% automatic gratuity or some shit.
I've come to the conclusion that I will never understand people that go to a place like Disney, stay at the Disney hotel, and only eat Disney Food. Like, they save for YEARS to do that. It doesn't even have to be Disney, but any equivalent applies as well. Inevitably, they leave disappointed in some way, although they may not say that as a way to save face, but they know they just wasted a dream on bullshit they were goaded into by some shitty shiny pamphlet they were dumb enough to read.
Finally, you are correct about deviating. I will typically only have one thing planned when I go somewhere as an "activity". I try to schedule it mid-trip, as it gives me time to get a feel of the vibe, and the time after to get the feedback from other locals about it.
In short, I suppose I am just willing to share my sliver of who I am with strangers, and they reply in kind. It baffles me that there are people that will not surrender their "life" when they travel for a few days, and go back home with the feeling that they never left in the first place.
Well, this was fun! ha. :)
This is really interesting. I think my wife is more like you in this regard in that she will talk to anyone and people like talking to her, even people with a reputation for being stiff, formal, or rude, like Paris waiters or Portuguese cab drivers. But asking questions is the key. I do find that Americans are pretty bad at everyday hospitality compared to other countries.
Yeah, it's pretty common knowledge that most Americans aren't as hot shit as they think they are. This tends to embarrass the rest of us. Although, this can work to your advantage if you emote that you aren't a totally self-absorbed asshole, lol. The whole "I'm not an asshole" without explicitly saying it is a soft art, but a delicate dance, nonetheless.
If that is accomplished, well, shit. Then the majority of the mission has been accomplished. It's usually "green light go" on having a great time once you get those formalities out of the way.
Amen to that!
As a reporter then, later, doing research for my novel, I loved the license to ask questions. Traveling brought that out too. I thought about both of these things as I read your comment and Jim's post. The revelation that eventually found me was that I, we all, always carry a license to show interest in another person, place, culture, custom, subject, etc. I can walk down the street of my home city and find opportunities if I look for them. I've always loved that sense of discovery that comes from the conversations I have when I put myself out into the world. I realize I need to do it more no matter where I am.