For years now, I have been suffering from a gnawing desire to explore the planet. In my 23 years so far, the only places I’ve been to are parts of Florida, New York, California, and Alabama. By anyone’s standards, that’s a pretty neglected travel diary.
Aside from my road trip here to Los Angeles, my map has no discernible edges. The world feels huge, but out of reach. I feel like my credit card debt is the rock my Prometheus is chained to, and I’m tired of that fucking Eagle.
How much can one really know about the world through books and video? The world is not two-dimensional, but most people lose sight of that through mass media. Although the dissemination of information is a wondrous thing indeed, it’s drawbacks are almost as powerful.
The mystery, the sense of discovery is almost lost with endless travel books and articles. For most people, travel is an economic adventure, not a spiritual one. Oh how exciting, Merv! We get to avoid bills for a few days in some spot outside our bubble! I’m so excited I brought traveler’s checks!
I long to live out of a backpack, changing currencies like underwear and stacking up memories like Legos. I want to meet people in countries around the world and swap stories over local brew in local style.
In short, I want to walk the Earth and see just what the hell I’ve been missing.
So I’m putting together a plan to wipe out my debt [which is rather small], save up some travel money and get my ass the hell out of Los Angeles. I’m hoping to see all the continents, with Australia saved for last. I figure by the time I get all the others covered, maybe the Aussies will have forgotten the Vegemite Wars that never happened.
I’ll need to buy a cheap laptop that can hold lots of photos and access the internet. Probably an old ThinkPad; from what I’ve seen those can survive a nuclear holocaust.
Hopefully within the next two years I’ll have enough to throw my stuff in storage (or pay rent while I’m gone) and spend a few weeks in each area.
With any luck, I’ll be able to couch-surf my way through a few countries (though I don’t really know anyone abroad, save a few here and there), see the world and have some nifty photographs and stories to tell.
So that being said… who else feels the wanderlust?
Your top choice to backpack through, please.
- Europe (We make fun of your accent!) (51%, 107 Votes)
- Australia (Surfing, lobster the size of small dogs, cute accents and vegemite... plus poisonous spiders that can pierce your big toenail with their 1cm fangs) (25%, 53 Votes)
- Asia (In Russia, backpack carries YOU! In China, backpack belongs to ALL, after properly censored.) (11%, 23 Votes)
- North America (Malls. And people who like malls.) (6%, 12 Votes)
- South America (Coca and the Drug Lords who love it!) (3%, 7 Votes)
- Africa (War, Famine, Death, Plague [shit!]) (4%, 7 Votes)
Total Voters: 209
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Got the same urges man, it always sadly seems to come down to finances tho. There’s a couch here in Dublin for you if you ever decide to visit us.
Hej there.
I know, who likes germans anyway, right?
But we do got the better beer…well, sorta.
So, west germany, close to maryjanecountryborderarea.
Im always willing to spare a couche.
Cant promise ya that im no fortysix year old fag
but youre invited IF you could use a shower, or a bed.
OR some place to wash your clothes while smashing your head.
nice day.
and vegemite sucks monkeys!
Haha thanks man. I hope I get a chance to consider your offer.
i feel the wanderlust and it drives me crazy :( there’s so much world to be seen and not enough time to see and appreciate it all. i live in Qatar (if you know where that is), so if you ever wanna come down to my side of the world, i’ll willingly give you free food and a place to sleep (: not much to do down here though. just alot of fake glamour and rich people. DEFINITELY not the real world.
i just got back from a tour of the east-ish coast, (Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, Princeton and New York) today. i realized that the shitty side of travel is going back to the real world. it kinda feels like you never went. And as a 15 year old, it means you have to study your ass off for finals.
it’s pretty anti-climactic.