nomadderwhere » America

The Art of Reinvention, Anonymity, and Self-Discovery in Travel

Lindsay Clark — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 13:00:41 +0000

My mind finally smells summer.

I’ve been away from Indiana for the past two summers and away from Wabash during the summertime since I moved away ten years ago. Having spent the majority of my childhood outside, I’ve been unknowingly pining for the familiar olfactory triggers, which I still can’t define well: aromatic greens of unknown classification, warming as though being slowly cooked, lawn mower engine fuel, chlorine and very cold water, heat radiating from the cement below my bicycle tires, sometimes fresh asphalt but most often cracked sidewalks and gravel-sprinkled roads.

Though some of these seem like multi-sensory experiences – not to mention fairly common around the world – I’m really only talking about my nose. I can smell all those things. The same summer climate can be found on about 60% of the Earth’s land mass at some point in the year, but it is only in this town that the sun seems to electrify the atoms and molecules in such a way – for me.

Bias steals my reason when I believe this town could actually be that much different than the rest of the world. Everyone most likely has a sweet spot for their birthplaces, maybe less sweet than bitter for some, and memories are fantastically linked to senses and, in my case, inspiration.

Nostalgia Triggers

I’m not a weird uber-fan of sweeping my grandmother’s back porch, but doing so the other day washed warming nostalgia overhead and allowed me to tap into the feelings I once had as a youngster, feelings I remember viscerally that I can now decode and translate with this older mind.

It was in the public library downtown that I grew to love plowing through books. Though my reading comprehension these days is borderline frightening, the visuals I concocted for the stories of Roald Dahl are still sharp in my mind. The movies were all sad efforts after my daily mental capades through Matilda’s home and Charlie’s new factory.

It was a means of wasting time while my parents worked at the office, but I used to pluck away at a typewriter and create five sentence short stories about personified animals with morals and cool names. Taylor Swan was my ideal girl name, now a nausea inducer. I still have these hilarious attempts at literature in a folder somewhere, along with the memory that I dreamt of being the youngest published author in the world. I had no burning story to tell, but the thought of purging my thoughts to achieve such a landmark was satisfying for my eight year-old self.

Cue to me, ten years later, finally figuring out I did have stories to tell.

The Reappearing Interest

And I have to admit that while living in Wabash I was, at best, ambivalent about being here, even though my daily outdoor activities were fascinating and my friends quirky and long-lasting.

We moved cities with the intent of snatching those opportunities from which I’d be out of reach in the rural north. In turn, I believe my senses were dulled, though they did become my flypaper for artistic inspiration later in life.

My grandma used to say, “All roads lead to Wabash” – her version of the Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon. I sometimes find my path back “home” completely mind-boggling, which looks something like Indianapolis – Italy – Misc. USA – RTW Cruise Journey – Europe – Africa – Asia – Indianapolis – South Pacific – Asia, again…and so on until all trips are accounted for, with the caboose being good ol’ Wabash County.

As far from “as the crow flies” as you can make a round-trip, I’d say…unless that crow is very drunk. And never a plausible concept when the bubble of the small town seemed to draw impermeable borders.

And now I’m peddling through town on sidewalks that haven’t been updated since my mom was with bun in oven. The people who see me cycling seem to know me, and I don’t remember names, only encounters at fairs, churchs, and community theater performances. There are no strangers. Cliche, schmeeche – I’m having serious déjà vu.

Reinvention

Fresh from a recent trip that reminded me how much I love the clean slates and stranger-filled surroundings of travel, I’m feeling stumped.

Where are the lingering conversations I can’t comprehend? Where are the strangers, and why do I want them around?

The ensemble of the town rarely seems to change, and so stays static my relationships with everyone. Feelings remain regardless of time, which seems to affect bodies rather than minds. There’s little flexibility available for reinvention, as history is chiseled in stone. Aging doesn’t guarantee anything.

My brother’s advice upon starting my new school in Indianapolis was simple, and it stuck.

No one knows you here. You can reinvent yourself, if you want.

That sounds like a movie line. Maybe I’m getting confused. Disregard the wording and assume the same sentiment was relayed to me ten years ago upon the first days of my new schooling experience.

With a move [I couldn't conceptualize] an hour and a half south of childhood, reinvention became possible. And even though I’ve never felt unlike myself in a true, lingering sense, I did seize the opportunity to portray myself in a different light. Mannerisms, humor, interests – they all stayed, but I altered my air to put up with less than I used to allow. No longer did I slink away from moments of embarrassment or shame from the likes of the neighbor boys or the burly girls of bully stock. I didn’t want to feel self-conscious about being the person I wanted to be, nor did I have the desire to exhibit any characteristic not indigenous to my being. Hence, no fake-itude.

And now I return, having flexed as a personality but not having evolved alongside Wabash. I wonder if I’m recognizable. Even though this renewed interest has brought me back in touch with the town of 11,000 of my upbringing, I’m unsure as to whether I see myself or a different person in the reflection of my memories.

Walking above Charley Creek, I wonder if it’s purely time that strips me of my visceral connection or the fact that the person is not the same (just plus ten years).

When Does a Person Become?

When have I been most happy in my life? Would memories of the most fulfilling or satisfying moments be those which define my life’s interests or purpose? Are we who we were coming from the womb and then slowly compromised as we evolved into civilization? Are we really who we are after a life-changing experience or a test that morphs us into a person we never thought we’d become? Was I more me in the 80s, playing in my backyard treehouse, or now – now that I ask these questions and still come out of the wringer being the way that I presently am?

These are the sort of questions that arise amidst the dormant and knowing air particles of my grandmother’s house. Surrounding by the grooviest domicile on the block, I question the point I’ve reached in my being and wonder if the same mushroom cap hairstyle who used to watch TV in the nook on the left is still present and solid.

Being alone (with cat) in a house that holds my history, in a town that crafted my humor and habits, in a state that isolated my focus on personalities, I am grappling with concepts to identify what place and time have to say about my being. What person would I have become had I not moved? And if that hour and a half move was all I attempted, what person would I then be had travel been stripped from my pastimes?

When home seems to nurture a specific development of the self, how does travel – with its anonymity, chance for reinvention, trying challenges to the first installation of values – affect the development of our purest form?

Post-world travels, I tend to side with the tried-and-tested theory of being; being put through the wringer, slapped around, and pushed to a near breaking point will result in a person, fibers and nothing else. But are these challenges distractions from the primary meditation that would facilitate that pure knowledge? The answer to that question would restructure the entirety of our social make-up.

What Do You Think?

This is a post I’ve been writing since the commencement of my summer seclusion project and seemingly one of the main products I hoped to reap from the experience. I write for an unknown public audience, and in doing so, I’m inviting the collective “you” to think what you want. While this post could seem like a journal entry or simply a moment of deep, personal musing, I want these concepts to be chewed on by all. I don’t write these ideas to be an exhibitionist but to stimulate a discussion on the art of travel.

Please leave your feedback on whatever was of interest to you. If you’d rather have your comment invisible to the public eye, leave a message on my contact form. Video comments are extremely encouraged.

Thanks for reading.

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Consume & Update: Balance, Success, and Last Week

Lindsay Clark — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 13:00:35 +0000

Today’s documentation of the travel and blogging world is a little slim but can plunge you into a lotta deep thought.

The Four Burners and Success

Balance your life...or else

Who really has a balanced life? I’d like to think that overall the way I conduct myself on a year-long basis levels out between travel and home, physicality and leisure, hermitville and social junction. As I’ve stated before, the concept of “live every day like it’s your last” is, in my opinion, a bunch of hullabaloo. How are we supposed to make today a most brilliant day while also strive for completeness in all aspects of our life? That’s a whole lotta pressure for one day. I’d have to spend all day today planning for an amazing tomorrow, which would defeat the point, right?

I chew on this thought today because Chris Guilleabeau brought up an interesting idea mused by David Sedaris:

One burner represents your family, one is your friends, the third is your health, and the fourth is your work. -David Sedaris

The gist is that in order to be successful you have to cut off one of your burners. And in order to be really successful you have to cut off two.

Especially in a country where we like to think we can “have it all” and also one where we define success as an outward appearance of money, power, and respect, this idea seems to be true for most Americans; not sure about the rest of the world, but I assume the same goes for most of them as well. We don’t want to read this quote and consider its validity, because that means accepting imbalance and relative failure at one facet of our lives, of which we’d normally be prideful.

What do you think about this concept? Do you think the idea of the four burners is irrelevant or spot on? What’s your stance on the balance of focus and pride in your life? Do you think one or two must slip to achieve some level of success? And what is success in your terms? I’d love to hear your feedback, so please comment below!

Other Discoveries

Problogger sets us straight on some typical blogger grammatical mistakes. Hate to lose my hold on proper English!

What do you think is necessary in redesigning your lifestyle to incorporate your passions and happiness? Did this guy get it right?

Do you think your travel experiences have had a direct impact on your political affiliations or sidings?

Update from Nomadderwhere

Delicious culinary concoctions, kooky Midwestern weather, biking through town and heat advisories, cinematic adventures and writing deep thoughts; this was my week. In some minute ways, the world seemed to stand on its head for me this week. I watched one Shakespearean themed movie…and finally understood them. My cat, whom is far from a lap pet, sought comfort in my bosom during an overhead thunderstorm. Wow, that was all that really stood on its head. My life this month isn’t all that exciting! I guess that’s what happens when you dumb your life down to a few elements and hope they function at their peak: cooking, writing, and summoning creative energy.

This week, I upped my game and pumped out a slew of content. Applaud me, why don’tcha?

Video of the Week: The Challenge Edition (Webcam): A webcam special asking you for your ideas on personal challenges and pursuing your passions while not traveling the world
Jobs for World Travelers: A Life at Sea: Presenting options to those who love to travel and need to work – life on a cruise ship
Q&A: Easing Parental Worries about Travel: Answering a question I get far too often, and addressing a topic I have to deal with on a constant basis

I only have one more week of exploring the town of 11,000 of my upbringing, and I plan on soaking up the solitude with every molecule of my being. I visit daily locations I haven’t experienced since my middle school days and am beginning to wonder if my quarter-life crisis is approaching early with an emphasis on the past rather than a fear for my future. Eh, I know I’m going to be alright. But am I the same person I was when I was four? These are the thoughts of this pickled mind…

And in case you like helping me out: I’m doing a little research on South Korea and Taiwan this week and would love some expert help on where to go and what to see, along with important facets of both cultures and histories!

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Video of the Week: The Challenge Edition (Webcam)

Lindsay Clark — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 17:34:04 +0000

Traveling creates a lifestyle of constant challenges, which then facilitate self-discovery and, in turn, happiness. This week, I report from my post alone in northern Indiana to ask you: how would you challenge yourself with a home experiment that would simulate the effects of travel?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qhcsaVaTVA

Notes from this week’s Video of the Week:

I continue to get back to the basics by concentrating on a few key things: cooking, physical activity, and expression.
Challenge for you: What would your month-long self-discovery experiment be?

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Consume & Update: Museum Roommate and Deep Thoughts

Lindsay Clark — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 13:00:58 +0000

This week’s outreach into the world of travel may pack a wallop for some of you eager to do something amazing.

$10,000 to be a Museum Live-in

Live in the Museum of Science and Industry for one month, learn something, write about it, and receive $10,000 for your efforts. This is not a shabby gig.

The Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago has launched a competition for tech-savvy, learn-happy extroverts that seems like the perfect position for a world traveler. We’re interested in the world around us, in need of money, and often well-versed in online media and marketing (a.k.a the travel blogging type).

This seems to be yet another marketing campaign that doubles as a fantastic pooling of like-minded, lifelong learners. To live in the museum of science and have your mind revolve around discovery for four whole weeks would be a treat for anyone curious about their surroundings on this planet. Of course, the lucky individual isn’t allowed to work elsewhere during that time period, nor are they given total freedom to their normal social lives, but this is an experiment in itself, an opportunity to be one with the universe and grow an ever deeper appreciation for how all things work.

There are a lot of wanderlusters out there looking for ways to do what they love and still sustain themselves. Not every opportunity out there is a “Best Job in the World” or a “World Traveler Internship,” but there are plenty of other ways to learn about the world and craft your voice of expression, this definitely being one of them. Therefore, I’m here to pass this great opportunity along to you, the Pavlovian salivators to all things exploration.

Make a video application (and you know how to do that), write a lil’ essay, complete an application form, throw on a photo, sign a waiver, bing, bang, boom, you’re in the running. Let me know if you go for this!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSFLTPzq3nI

Other Discoveries

Chris’ Guide to Travel Hacking

Take the Seven Link Challenge: I know I will soon!

Bourdain is awarding an unpublished writer $10,000 and a spot in his newest book’s paperback edition.

This Brave New Traveler piece touches on a topic I’ve been thinking about these past few weeks: home mind and travel mind.

The 2010 State of the Travel Blogosphere

Update on Nomadderwhere

This week has revolved around deep thoughts, cinematographic research, trying to NOT cut my fingers off with freshly sharpened knives, and, of course, work for ProjectExplorer.org. Here’s what I’ve created in the last two weeks (since the last Consume & Update).

Video of the Week: Summer Seclusion Project: Taking off to my hometown for a month of nothing but work, cooking good food, and thinking about the art of travel
Journeys of a Lifetime in July: The on-going series that gives you inspiration for 365 days from now, thanks to National Geographic Traveler.
A Not-So-Good Ambassador: ProjectExplorer.org’s encounter with a not-so-nice celebrity chef in Merida, Mexico.
Video of the Week: Seclusion Musings: Bringing up deep thoughts on travel that I’d love your feedback on!
Disgraceful Tourism: Letting you know that sex tourism is more widespread and active than you think. Be a responsible traveler and be informed.

Stunning news from the world of Nomadderwhere: I’m going full steam ahead on my redesign for Nomadderwhere, to be scheduled for September 23, 2010. I would love to hear your feedback in any way, shape, or form. Video feedback is always best, but you can also contact me with a simple message or leave a comment below!

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Disgraceful Tourism

Lindsay Clark — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 13:00:13 +0000

We travel because it’s a rare kind of high that can also enlighten, rejuvenate, and ensure the occurrence of adventure. Regardless of the road’s discomforts or challenges, travel seems to always evoke an inexplicable positivity – whether that’s from the possibility of new friendships or just the newness of a myriad of elements.

The scope of potential world travel is tantalizing, and thankfully tourism has the ability to elevate developing communities through employment opportunities and tax revenue. Win for the wanderer; win for the welcomers. Sadly, not every traveler sees his or her voyage to a new country in such a positive, symbiotic light. Those are the ones who perpetuate the very dark and very bleak side of travel. I’m talking about the perverted patrons of the sex tourism industry.

This post was written in conjunction with Angeline Diamond of ECPAT-USA.

The Darkest Form of Tourism

I’m not talking about backpackers who delight in a consensual tryst or the business traveler hoping to meet a cute gentleman in the hotel bar. I’m talking people whose sole purpose for travel is to engage in sex with minors, or they may take it one step further and transport someone for criminal sexual conduct. Ya know…real classy types.

Let’s lay this out logically. Sex tourism increases the demand for prostitution. However, this demand is not easily met by women willing to choose this profession. Therefore, to meet demands, the supply of prostitutes becomes contingent on extensive human trafficking networks. These networks appear to be incredibly underground, which is why we don’t hear about them like we do the drug trade. But sadly, the U. S. State Department says one million children worldwide are enslaved in the global commercial sex trade. Sex trafficking is considered one of the top three most profitable criminal networks in the world, generating about $4 billion dollars a year.

It’s enough to make you writhe.

I feel rather morally comfortable while traveling, since I know for a fact I’m not engaging in anything related to sex tourism. But unfortunately, the travel industry often unintentionally contributes to this debilitating form of abuse. This doesn’t mean anyone should point fingers and never leave their homes, but we as travelers, if we have any interest in our hosting communities, have a duty to act in ways that prevent the exploitation of the most vulnerable members of society: the children.

Kids are awesome, and to imagine a start to life wrapped up in such a seedy and life-threatening industry could induce nightmares and permanent travel guilt.

Know They’re Out There

I’ve written about the creeps who often navigate to my site from google searches, like: cambodian naked boy, sex tourism friendly hotels, little boy with no shirt. If my blog were my home, I’d sit with an acidic potato gun on the front porch and fire at any creep who wonders on my lawn. To much our surprise, perverts aren’t as easy to spot as Mormon evangelists (not that I’m encouraging the same activity to these solicitors…they’re just easy to spot).

Instead, if I’m hoping that the world becomes a better place within my lifetime, I’d be better off imploring the help of fellow travelers who have an ounce of morality or two – hence, my blog post to you today.

I was recently contacted by ECPAT-USA, a network of organizations and individuals committed to the fight for children’s rights of freedom. While I know it’s often fruitless to call for agency from an anonymous online audience, I figured it could only be beneficial to mention the tools they provide to assist the travel industry in preventing the sexual exploitation of children.

This acronym, which stands for Ending Child Prostitution, Pornography, and Trafficking, represents a group that focuses on research, advocacy, and public awareness. In conjunction with UNICEF and UNWTO, they created “The Code of Conduct,” which outlines policies that may be adopted by travel companies within their code of ethics to prevent the sexual exploitation of children. Over 900 companies worldwide are in support of the code thus far, yet there are many companies that still hesitate.

Seriously…these guys are hesitating to support actions that prevent sexual exploitation. I’d like to hear the rebuttal for that argument.

Here we are, at the end of my ramble, where you can choose to do a couple things. You can click away mentally and physically (I admit to doing it a lot). You can consider yourself more aware and decide to learn more on your own time (I like to do this, as well). You can also exercise your “take action” muscle and follow some ECPAT-USA recommended steps toward making the travel industry more responsible. Regardless of your next step, I appreciate your perusal of this content and hope you feel enriched for doing so.

Kick Those Creeps Where The Sun Don’t Shine

You may print out The Code Postcard and drop it off with your travel companies, which declares that you support responsible travel practices and travel companies that feel the same way. The Postcard provides information on how they may become a signatory.
- If you take this route, do let ECPAT-USA know where you sent the postcard. It helps them out.
Check out ECPAT-USA online and follow us on Twitter.
Research the internet for great blogs about current issues.
Talk with your friends, family, co-workers, and other travelers to promote awareness and create a greater force against these practices.
Purchase a TassaTag, a beautiful, fair trade plus luggage tag, which also increases public awareness and benefits ECPAT research and women in Thailand.

Do you have any questions concerning sex tourism around the world? If so, you may contact Angeline directly at angeline@ecpatusa.org. And if you have any other information, stories, or reflections on this issue, please add to our dialogue below.

Video of the Week: Seclusion Musings (Webcam)

Lindsay Clark — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 13:00:35 +0000

After one successful week of relative seclusion in northern Indiana, I’ve got some thoughts to share -- musings, if you will. Your feedback is strongly encouraged.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bYTbqXX5Vs

Notes from this week’s video:

Musing #1: Reinvention
- Have you ever become a person you don’t recognize?
- Do you take advantage of the easy opportunity for reinvention when traveling?
Musing #2: Anonymity.
- How does your anonymous presence on the road affect your attitude, behavior, mind, etc.?
- Have you experienced the overfamiliarity of the small town or close-knit region? How does this change your state of mind or activity?
Musing #3: Constant Travel
- Is re-experiencing your own town/city as valuable a teaching opportunity as perusing a new place in another country?
- If home travel is considered “travel,” where is the line drawn between travel and not? What differentiates the two?

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Journeys of a Lifetime in July

Lindsay Clark — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 13:00:30 +0000

Welcome back to my new monthly series on Nomadderwhere, one which highlights the incredible trips one could take in that current month – thanks to a vibrant book called Journeys of a Lifetime by National Geographic.

Each month I pick a couple adventures from each section in the book in order to provide you inspiration for 365 days from now. Read the brief description to whet your appetite, and click on the trip name for further information (links provided by National Geographic…of course you could be a gritty backpacker and make it on your own).

Across Water

The Sepik River: Let’s start off with a trip for the hairy-chested and callused travelers. Say hello to Papua New Guinea! Coast along one of the least spoiled and greatest river systems in the world, flanked by jungle and indigenous cultures with multiple languages and gruesome stories from village rivalries. Skip the capital city and board a cruise boat for four days. Sounds extreme…

Turkey’s Turquoise Coast: I read “anchor at night in isolated coves” and got a little giddy. How does sailing the southwest coast of Turkey, admiring relics of 4,000 year-old civilizations, and enjoying Turkish breakfasts while watching flying fish go by sound? Sounds like a trip to convert any land-lover.

By Road

Route 12 in the Outer Banks: Windsurfers, I’m talking to you now…and hang gliders…and people who like beaches. There’s a stretch of 80 miles on the coast of North Carolina called the Outer Banks that would entice all of you. Rocky seas slap the shores and create the perfect climate for wind sports. Route 12 runs the length of the barrier islands and can be driven in three hours.

Connemara’s Sky Road: Ireland already pulls you in with its lovely people and tendency to indulge in some tasty brews, and while you’re enjoying the emerald green of her landscapes and primordial beauty, take a drive through the Connemara peninsula for some added visual pleasures. White-sand beaches and high cliffs both make up its rugged perimeter, where the intense wild mingles with pub-filled towns and wild ponies.

By Rail

The Inland Railway: Board in Mora, head to Lapland. See one of Europe’s last great wildernesses along the way. If you’re into grand travel landmarks, you may enjoy getting the certificate upon crossing the Arctic Circle. Don’t rush your week in Sweden, awaiting brown bears outside your train car window. And remember that touring in summertime allows for some awesome vistas with the 24-hour daylight.

Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh: If you’ve never seen a hairy cow, now’s your chance. Honestly, if you don’t know what the Scottish Highlands look like, you’re in for an awakening. You’ve probably dreamt about them without even knowing such land truly exists. I was enchanted by the simple beauty of the lakes and mountains. The landscape is haunting and hopeful at the same time. This train takes three hours and can show you the magic.

On Foot

Climbing Mount Fuji: No snow. No massive festival lines to the top. July is a great time to love on Japan’s famous peak. From the looks of Japanese toilets, the rest stops on the way to the summit have got to be elaborate and…kush. Whether you start in the middle for the pre-dawn trek to the sunrise or do the whole darn thing all day long, allow yourself to think about the dormant volcano below you, not all the knick-knacks and novelty items you could get while up there.

Lake Issyk-Kul: I know you don’t often find yourself crossing the Kyrgyzstani/Kazakhstani borders often, but you may want to tack this trip onto your pre-existing Stan tour (or your bucket list journey). What do you imagine a lake “cradled in the Mountains of Heven” looks like? You better bet it’s not only picturesque but surrounded by incredible hikes through herb meadows and colorful vistas. I never knew the Stans were coated in natural splendor. Serves me right for watching Borat.

In Search of Culture

Amish Country: Do you hang with the Amish often? What gives? Maybe you should. Take off right now for Lancaster Country, Pennsylvania and find yourself some Old Order Amish folk to admire. Take the backroads, stop for some crafts and delicious food goods, and if you’re around for a Saturday, try attending an auction. Don’t ask me what they auction off; I want to be surprised when I hit that up.

The Painted Monasteries of Moldavia: Illuminated manuscripts are immaculate to begin with, but seeing a similar effect covering the walls of a quaint monastery in Romania’s countryside would be time travel-esque. There are as many as fifteen monasteries with similar artistry on display, one of which earned the title of “the Sistine Chapel of the East.” You won’t have to search very hard to find the culture here in Romania.

In Gourmet Heaven

New York Deli Tour: There’s an overwhelming amount of things to do and see in Manhattan, which is why fueling up is essential. Enter the New York deli scene. You’ve got your classic Katz’s Delicatessen, your staple Carnegie Deli, and a slew of others both well-known and lower key. Go with friends and split sandwiches to save room for some cheesecake and other delicious goods.

Wine Route Through Hungary: Allow me to write a wine route haiku:

Ancient golden wines
Aged in musty, moldy caves
What could be sweeter

Since when have you needed to be persuaded to visit a wine country? You just needed to know it was there. And now you do. So go.

Into the Action

Horse Treks in the Andes: The choice isn’t horse, foot, car, or plane. It’s obvious you’ll be traversing the Andes on horseback, but the question is where: through the grasslands and volcanoes of Ecuador or along old smugglers’ routes in Patagonia. Since the Andes are the longest mountain range in the world, it seems the choices are virtually limitless. Regardless, to be that connected with the glory of nature would be a thrill for the masses…and the sole individual that feels real isolation and fresh air in their nostrils. Can you tell I pine for Patagonia?

Stalking the “Big Five”: Who are the “Big Five?” They were classified as so for being the most difficult to hunt: lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo, and rhinos. Chobe National Park in Botswana will satiate your desires to see these bad boys and stalk them with your newly purchased sniper (a.k.a. telephoto) lens. Don’t expect to sleep in on this sort of safari, but you can expect an awesome mid-day nap when the rest of the animals snooze as well.

Up and Away

Over British Columbia: Vancouver is one of those cities that can be done by foot, bike, car, etc. but what shouldn’t be neglected is the aerial view from the windows of a float plane. Sunset flights could be majestic, but daytime jaunts can bring you into view of eagles, seals, and porpoises going nuts in nature.

Buzzing over Kruger National Park: Nothing feels more like a defiance of all natural instincts and laws that flying over man-eating animals in a kite strapped to a lawn mower engine. And at the same moment, nothing is cooler than taking a microlight on a mini-safari over reserves like Kruger. It’s certainly a new and interesting way to move about this earth and a surreal way to observe animals in their natural habitats.

In Their Footsteps

Across the Continental Divide with Lewis and Clark: I have no idea how Lewis and Clark could do it. But thank goodness they did; otherwise, who knows if I’d be alive (that’d be funny and make sense if I were actually related to William Clark, which I don’t believe I was). It is, however, possible to see for yourself what the wild continental divide was like 200 years ago when they made their famed trek. Montana looks monumental in size, and it’s always a trip worth taking to be amidst mass beauty.

Blues Pilgrimage in Clarksdale: It’s the birthplace of the blues and chillin’ in the Mississippi Delta, waiting to be explored by you. Morgan Freeman has certainly invested a lot in this region, which is decidedly understated but top notch in musical quality and food choices, among many other things, I would assume. You could also take Highway 61, also known as the Blues Highway, and make Clarksdale one stop among many on your musical pilgrimage.

How’s that brain? Spinning with innumerable desires to traverse continents and climates? Pull out a pen and prioritize your life by putting one or more of these trips at the top of the list. And by planning a year in advance, you’ll be quite able to save, prepare, and anticipate the rigors of your adventure in every way. Check back in August for the Journeys of a Lifetime you could partake in next year!

Where are you inspired to travel to next year? Leave a comment and be my new friend.

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Video of the Week: Summer Seclusion Project (Webcam)

Lindsay Clark — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 13:00:28 +0000

Haven’t seen one of these in a while, huh? A video of the week or a webcam special. I finally got my act together! Enjoy.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4b-c15vkZI

Notes from this week’s video:

ProjectExplorer.org is in post-production stateside after a fantastic filming session in Mexico.
I’m moving out of my parent’s house for a month for some seclusion in my hometown.
I have four goals for the month of July.
- Crank out stellar videos, images, and work for ProjectExplorer.org
- Write personal travel narratives in hopes of publishing or at least having them for myself.
- Learn how to cook basic vegetarian meals well. I don’t know how veggies are supposed to taste. Sad.
- Enjoy my hometown for the first summer in a decade and reap the benefits of relative seclusion from distraction.
It’s time to reformat/redesign Nomadderwhere, just like I did last September. A lot has changed in my life and path, and my website needs to reflect that.

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Consume & Update: The Go! Edition

Lindsay Clark — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 13:00:44 +0000

I just felt like churning the butter for a couple awesome things this week.

Go, China, Go, China, Go!

Don’t speak. Don’t think. Don’t even type. Direct your attention below.

Go Tourism, Go Tourism!

Brilliant!

Go, Remote Locations…and Disclaimers!

This article on the most extreme and isolated places to live in the world is mildly interesting, but what I found most humorous was the ending disclaimer. Gotta keep it PC!

Disclaimer: As a brand, Tripbase are accepting of all global cultures. This article is written from a Western perspective and is meant for humorous purposes only. No offense is intended.

Said about The Pitcairn Islands:

Notable also for the sexual assault trial of 2004, in which 7 men living on the island went on trial. With all but one of the defendants being found guilty of some charges, this incident had the unfortunate side effect of pretty much tying up most of the area’s workforce (which consists of roughly 15 people in total). Seriously, sexual assault on an island that small? Not to mention the fact that most of them will be related…

Said about Tristan da Cunha:

Another interesting fact is that in the entire community there are only 8 surnames and 80 families, most likely leading to a horrific dating scene.

Said about Oymyakon, Siberia:

Other interesting facts include that it’s so cold, that some birds can freeze solid mid-flight, plummeting to the ground like a rock. Spit will also freeze solid before it hits the ground at -50°C and a glass of water thrown into the air will freeze before it hits the ground.

Alright Undercover Reporting in North Korea! Go! Go! Go!

Even though this article was written in August of 2009, I still find it interesting. I’m enchanted by mysteries.

It took them two hours to inspect our luggage when the group entered the country and four hours to go through every picture on our cameras—and to delete the ones they deemed improper—when we left. They apparently didn’t know that it is easy to switch out memory cards.

…On one occasion, I drew a banana on a piece of paper and showed it to a waitress; she had never seen one. She knew about apples, but she had never eaten one. I brought 150 Kit-Kat bars into the country, and I always took several out of my bag when I was alone with a North Korean. They would hesitate for a few seconds, look around to make sure that no one else was watching, and then stuff the Kit-Kats into their pockets.

Other Discoveries

Someone recently asked me if I saw Kevorkian’s side, based on my newly appointed personal stance on pain and life. Interesting…

Can’t post a Consume & Update without tips from Problogger: The Secret to Long-Term Blogging Success and Creating Facebook Landing Pages

Update on Nomadderwhere

Happy Independence Day, ‘Mericans! I’m back to mental stability and a regular routine! Yesterday, I moved from my parent’s home in Indianapolis to my hometown of Wabash. I’ll be in a home sans TV, constant internet, and…well, furniture. It’ll be Hermit-ville. It’ll be lovely. Tomorrow’s Video of the Week will fill in the blanks.

This week’s thin herd of postings:

Reviewing David Lida’s First Stop in the New World: Comparing David’s perceptions of Mexico City with my own

Things will be changing soon. The content tsunami cometh…

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Consume & Update: Fear, Soccer, and Post-Production

Lindsay Clark — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 13:00:45 +0000

Back from Mexico and once again with enough time to consume the best travel gummies on the net this week. Sorry my schedule is all higgilty piggilty. Chew away.

Guillebeau Talking for TED

If you’re a fan of Chris and his charisma, check out renowned non-conformist’s TED talk from Carnegie Melon University. He discusses fear with some intriguing metaphors. What do you think about his message?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=unxL5RRhNb0

Most Celebrated Travel Books

Though I believe Frances Mayes should give it a rest with her lists of flower types and Italian herbs…and Ernesto Guevara could have cut his diaries a couple weeks short…and Elizabeth Gilbert got a wee too much publicity for her travel trifecta, I think this comprehensive list of travel books covers some great titles. Check out the entire list on World Hum and let me know which ones you would recommend to fellow narrative-hungry travel readers (cough, cough…me).

Why We Call It Soccer

Thank you, Nat Geo Traveler, for finally solving the mystery. Why do we call football soccer (or, inversely, why do others call soccer football)? Alas, we have an answer:

After some digging, I’m happy to report the following: Apparently American’s word for football is a shortened version of Assoccer, an abbreviation of “Association Football,” the term given the game as it was played at elite British boys’ schools in the 1860s. “Assoccer” became “soccer” and the name somewhat stuck as it served to distinguish it from rugby-rules football.

As players, coaches, sailors, and the enthusiastic exported the game around the world courtesy of the British Empire, local languages appropriated “football” as a loan word. For example, the Spanish fútbol doesn’t literally combine the Spanish words for “foot” and “ball” but is an approximation of the British word for the ever-popular game. The game came to U.S. shores in the late 19th century and was called “football” in the U.S. until after World War II when the increasing popularity of the National Football League (NFL) prompted a change in name. Where English is a country’s first language, “football” often refers to the most popular form of football in that country. Only three English-speaking FIFA countries refer to the game as “soccer”: the U.S., Samoa, and Canada.

Now we know.

Tony’s New Book and 100th Episode

I compulsively document Big T’s new blog posts, this one being no exception to the rule. I love the flow of his travel writing -- even his travel writing that isn’t about travel per se. After releasing his second book, entitled Medium Raw, he reflects on the tiresome, yet pivotal, regimen of self-promotion across the country, as well as the ambiance during production of his 100th episode (in Paris).

I’ve heard Tony didn’t necessarily meet the expectations of various travel bloggers with the new book, and I’m sort of glad. If he’s a cook, a traveler, and a writer, why can’t he write about cooking (and the unexpected celeb chef phenomenon) without focusing about travel? Why would people assume his book would be about his travel tales and woes when the blurb on the front reads:

A Bloody Valentine to the World of Food and the People Who Cook

Lay off, people. He’s still a better writer than the vast majority of us.

Other Discoveries

Lion Burgers? Really, Arizona? Strike two.

This guy’s just walkin.

The Michael Palin interview with World Hum

“Backpackers aren’t the bad guys. It really boils down to how we travel, and what the legacy is of that. We are guests in another culture, so the issue isn’t how do we stop tourism, the issue is how do we get it right.”

Problogger: 8 Habits of Highly Excellent Bloggers

Update on Nomadderwhere

Judging purely by my intense slumbers upon returning to Indiana, you’d think I slept not at all throughout production in Mexico. I was entirely pooped, and to compound it, my mom dragged me to the Indy Night Ride, which started at 11pm and took us for 20 miles around downtown Indianapolis by night. My butt bones hate life today.

Since I was too busy to read up on the gems of the internet over the past three weeks, I also wasn’t able to recap the work I churned out. Hence, here are the pieces I wrote (or photoblogs I compiled) over the course of production with ProjectExplorer.

Bear with me, people. I’m hoping to get back on schedule soon!

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