Review: Arcade Fire at Hyde Park

Time to start getting through my recent business on my blog in chronological order. That starts with a look at the show I went to on June 30th - Arcade Fire at London's legendary Hyde Park! You know, the place that LiveAid was at and massive stars play at every single summer. One of those all-time places that state "you have REALLY made it" if you play a show there. So how as it? Let's look at the show as a whole bit-by-bit.

The Crowd

First off, I have to say the crowd was two things: energetic and massive. No confirmed reports ever came out, but somewhere between 50,000 and 60,000 people came to this show (and I was at the front of all of them!). That is the biggest single show I've ever been to, and a far cry from the first show I went to in college (Andrew WK at Club Soda in Spokane with probably 200 or 300 people there).

They brought a ton of energy, and at some points it was really infectious. I for one am not a fan of Mumford & Sons for example, but holy crap, I was hopping up and down and smiling like an idiot the whole time probably because everyone was so into it.

But at the same time, they were a little up and down. Seemingly no one in the audience knew who the first opener was - Owen Pallett - even though he was an occasional member of the band they came for that night as well as the maker of a rather critically acclaimed record himself in 2010 with "Heartland." They were a little disrespectful of him, chatting the whole time and not being particularly groovy towards Beirut either (they were very Brit band centric outside of Arcade Fire).

The Venue

I have to say, for a legendary venue, Hyde Park's sound completely sucks. It was completely off during Owen Pallett's set. It only got slightly better with each progressive band, peaking during Mumford & Sons and kind of getting a little muted during Arcade Fire again. It was a real shame. I've been to tiny clubs that had significantly better sound than it did, but I suppose that's understandable given the size. That said, compared to a similar venue I was at in May (Parc del Forum in Barcelona), its sound was even more putrid.

Which is a shame, because it is a pretty well set up place besides that. Easy to navigate, tons of bathrooms, lots of food options and a generally welcoming place. Plus, it's cool to just be in this massive park sharing a musical experience with everyone. I wanted more from it though.

Owen Pallett

Poor Owen Pallett. I've seen him before (at Coachella 2010) and he is phenomenal live, but with a crowd that did not know who he was and a sound system that was not his friend, he was in a bad position from the start.

That said, he is so talented I was still enraptured by his set. It was just a 30 minute set rife with problems (they had to move all of his gear back because it was raining, so everything was a little off for him), but he still got to play personal favorites like Tryst with Mephistopheles, a song that I find incredibly infectious and impossible not to bop up and down to. Even if I was the only one who enjoyed it, I still really liked his set.

The Vaccines

The less said about these guys, the better. This was the exact opposite of the audience reaction to Owen Pallett. Everyone was going NUTS for these guys and singing along and bopping everywhere, while I was stoic and unimpressed. This is the prototypical "let's get into music so we can score chicks" band if I've ever seen it. Playing robotic 2 minute pop punk anthems designed to get people to move and sing along as if they were some sort of homeless man's version of The Ramones, this band was the first band I've ever not clapped for. They were draining in their boredom inducing. If I did not want to be at the front for Beirut and Arcade Fire, I would have went and sat down and stared at the sky instead.

Maybe the most boring set I have ever seen.

Beirut

Well, it's safe to say that I made an indelible impression on the music fans during this set. As you may or may not know about me, I am a little bit of a fan of Beirut. Part of the triumvirate that make up my favorite bands (along with Sigur Ros and Spoon), every single song Beirut did blew me away that day.

Ranging from tracks from his albums "The Gulag Orkestar" and "The Flying Club Cup" to ones off his EP's and even a slew of tracks from his upcoming release "The Rip Tide," Zach Condon and his merry men played an hour long set covering so many of the high points that make him (them) such a remarkable artist.

And the thing that left the indelible impression on everyone? I sang along to every song from front-to-back, even doing so in a weird impersonation of Condon's voice. I had a lot of people looking at me and smiling when I did it, but I didn't care. Being from Alaska, I don't get to see favorite artists very often, and when I do, you better believe I am going to bring my A game.

One note about Beirut: from what I've heard about "The Rip Tide" (which comes out on August 30th), Condon's influences are still readily apparent, but its like the band has come into their own and created a sound that is an amalgamation of everything they love but distilled into their own thing. When he played Santa Fe off that record, I couldn't help but think "this is the song that is going to make Beirut big." I think this is the year they break out, and man, I can't think of a more deserving group. Especially because they are probably the dorkiest looking band in the world (it's cool though - I can say that because I am dorky!).

Bonus points to Zach for saying that he was actually really scared and nervous for the first few songs. I doubt he's ever played for that many people before. Who could blame him?

Mumford & Sons

Fact: I think Mumford & Sons are painfully boring recorded, and I was dreading this part of the show a little bit because their set was over an hour long.

That said, I had heard a lot of really good buzz about how they are live beforehand, so I was hopeful.

Then they came out and I was like "these guys are ridiculous looking." Hope crushed a little bit.

But then they started playing...

Oh my god, they have absolutely no right being as fun as they are live. Where did that come from? As soon as they started, they had the entire audience singing along and dancing and hopping and just eating out of their hands. And I was one of them. It was that good.

Sometimes live bands can just completely control an audience. It's a gift that far too few artists have (The Flaming Lips are a great example), but Mumford & Sons definitely have that. While I didn't know the majority of what they played and while I still don't like their record (I tried), I can say this: this is a fantastic live band that seems to be filled with incredibly genuine and cool people. And talented.

Arcade Fire

First, the setlist!

Ready to Start
Wake Up
No Cars Go
Haïti
Intervention
Rococo
Speaking in Tongues
Crown of Love
The Suburbs
The Suburbs (Continued)
Month of May
Rebellion (Lies)
Neighborhood #2 (Laika)
We Used to Wait
Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)

Encore:
Keep the Car Running
Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)
Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)

I think it is hard to dispute that Arcade Fire is the biggest rock band to come around in the past decade or so. Their progression from critically acclaimed art rock band to rock gods has been a really interesting thing to watch, but it's deserved. The band seems to be both ridiculously talented (watching them on stage as everyone switches instruments on every song is a sight to behold) and good people (regardless of their desire to take photos with fans), and it is good to see someone like that achieve commercial success in an era where commercial success is rarely tied to actual talent.

From the time they went on stage to the time they left, Arcade Fire carried themselves like they were the biggest rock stars in the world. And for that night, they absolutely were, tearing through tracks on all three of their albums and nailing each and every one of them. They even exhibited spontaneity, moving showstopper track Wake Up from the end of their set to the beginning on the fly simply because they wanted to see everyone in the crowd as they exploded with energy. And by god, we did. That was an all-time song for me, as I belted out all of the lyrics and pushed and hopped with the rest of the audience. Just incredible.

One thing I really love about the band though is just how wholly they carry themselves as true rock stars. They don't trash hotel rooms. They don't have drinking problems. But what they do is use their music to call out those who are wronging society, as Win Butler readily used his voice to bring attention to the businessmen who have been buying up property around Hyde Park and then pushing the government to create noise controls in the park (thus causing Arcade Fire to have to tone down their sound). A lot of rock stars simply become that just so they can fill their addiction of the month, but Arcade Fire actually stands up for the people and does good things (see their work in Haiti) instead of just resting on their laurels. It's refreshing to see that.

I have to give some props just to their energy on stage though. And by that I mean Will Butler. Will was maybe the most entertaining member of any band I've ever seen, running around like a wild man the whole set, zigging when everyone else in the band zags just because he feels the music so much. It was incredible to see him going completely wild up their, being as impassioned by the music as he was the first time I saw him on Conan O'Brien performing Laika with the band, using his mate's helmet as a percussion instrument.

That's the thing about these guys: they aren't just big names. They are incredible performers, talented, energetic and putting on a real show for everyone. Not everyone gives you that, but I can say wholeheartedly that Arcade Fire is someone that you won't need to fear being ripped off by.

And there is something simply wonderful about that.

Wake Up

"Why are you coming to the United Kingdom," the woman at passport control in Paris' Gare du Nord train station asked. I'm headed to London for the last stretch of my Europe trip on a Eurostar train.

In typical David fashion, I gave an overly explained answer that shared that I was visiting my friend's parents, I was on holiday, and that I was coming for a concert (amongst other things).

"Oh really? What concert?"

This part I had covered. "Arcade Fire!" I say with a boom and an upwards rising left fist, for no reason in particular.

"Hmm. Well, don't freak out but they came in right before you." she said, clearly expecting that I would in fact freak out.

"Oh my god, what really where?! Through here? Were they Canadian? Did they say they were Arcade Fire?!" I love living up to expectations.

She laughs. "I knew I shouldn't have mentioned this. Yes they were Canadian. Yes they said they were Arcade...whatever." She was clearly less impressed.

"Wow. Sorry, I have a weird idol worship thing with people I respect. And I REALLY like Arcade Fire." I say, hoping to come across as charming, not as a creepy weirdo.

"Clearly." she says with a laugh. "Well enjoy the concert, and hey, you'll see them there!" She stamps my passport and sends me off.

"It's not the same." Cue Charlie Brown sad walk, George Michael style.

Sigh...oh well. No meeting Arcade Fire and taking a picture with them for my world trip scrapbook. No big deal. I don't ca...OH MY GOD IT'S ARCADE FIRE!

There they are. Crafters of one of my all-time favorite albums (Funeral), creators of 2010's Grammy winner for Best Album (The Suburbs), and world renowned budding rock gods. And there they are!

Cue myself frantically digging my camera out and rapidly going through an internal debate as to whether or not I should go talk to them. I think "Wayne Coyne!" and go for it, even though I am crazy nervous (meeting someone mildly famous for me is like a crazy religious person meeting Jesus. And Arcade Fire is more than mildly famous).

"Hey, are you guys Arcade Fire?" I say to the group of 15 or so people who, amongst their number, are clearly Arcade Fire.

"Yeah man. I'm Will!" says the guy closest to me. Will Butler, multi-instrumentalist and lead singer Win Butler's brother.

I chat with Will for a bit. I mention my world trip, that I'm from Alaska and that the only part of my Europe trip I had planned was seeing their show in Hyde Park. I survive this, but I am probably acting like a person who is asking a girl on a first date.

"That's great. We're really excited for the show too."

"Hey, could I get a picture with you guys? I totally understand if you're not down, but I figured I would ask." I look around and see Regine, the other singer and multi-instrumentalist as well as Win Butler's wife. She looks extremely unenthusiastic, potentially attempting to use Superman-esque heat vision to decapitate me.

Their manager, or who I assume is their manager, informs me that they are on their morning routine so no pictures. While I am unsure as to what that is, I just say "Oh. Alright. I totally understand."

Will says "Yeah, we are just kind of relaxing. But hey, enjoy the show!"

Sigh...no picture for my world trip scrapbook. I say thanks and scatter nervously, standing in a line to buy a sandwich at a nearby shop while refocusing my chi. That's a bit of a bummer.

Then I think "hey! I had a conversation with a member of Arcade Fire! That's personal growth!" I smile to myself and hold myself high. 

This trip just keeps on getting better.

And that is how I met the band I am seeing with 80,000 other people tomorrow in Hyde Park.

Music of the day: Arcade Fire's "Funeral" (of course)

Le Cinema

It seems to me that the entirety of Europe is raining simultaneously.

Okay, that may be a little far fetched, but at the very least the whole of Holland is. Having spent the past four nights in Holland (split evenly between Amsterdam and Den Haag - aka The Hague), it has been raining for nearly the entirety of it.

That of course does not mean that I have been having a bad time at all. Amsterdam is a beautiful and remarkably interesting place. And I don't just mean that in a "holy crap, marijuana is legalized here AND you can window shop prostitutes?!" sort of way. I mean it is a place that is the home of Van Gogh, of canals that out-distance Venice's acclaimed offerings, of delicious South American fusion food, and of unique and surprising artistic offerings (from street art to architecture to music). It is an amazing place. Plus, it has awesome shops! I got a cool new t-shirt! Yeah!

Den Haag is maybe not as interesting on the surface, but it is a great place to lie low during the rain. Mostly because they have absurdly great movie theaters put on by Pathe! Pathe! is a diverse company, but I knew them as a film production outfit who put out a slew of movies that include Slumdog Millionaire and The Illusionist. They also apparently have made movie theaters in Holland, and they are phenomenal. Comfy seating, top class food, fantastic sound and screen, and a great blend of commercial and critical hits.

With the rain, I decided to do back-to-back nights and movies and to quote Eminem, it feels so good to be back. I missed movies.

Here is a good analogy for you about my return to movies that of course involves food. You know how if you do not eat for a long time and then have anything at all, even if it is Jack in the Box tacos, it tastes like gourmet cuisine? Well, going to the movie theater didn't feel like that, it felt like CINEMA!!! (note: cinema must be said loudly while wildly gesturing with one - and only one - arm)

The first night watching X-Men: First Class (a movie I am going to obviously enjoy given my hardcore X love) felt like I was watching The Goonies again for the first time. If someone came in and told me that Natalie Portman was outside waiting for me with a billion dollars and a ring to propose to me, I would calmly turn and shush them, as if to simply say "I am trying to get my cinema on here!" To say I enjoyed it is understating it entirely.

I watch a lot of movies at home, and I had only seen one first-run movie in theaters in the past 3.5 months of my trip (Thor in London when I was half asleep). At first I didn't want to, and then I pretty much couldn't. Very few places offer OV (original voice) showings, but The Netherlands are (is?) all about it (thank you Dutch folk for speaking a language minor enough that Hollywood doesn't offer dubs for you!!!). And I intended to take advantage of it with the rain.

Mission accomplished.

Note: the other movie I saw was Bad Teacher. Not a great movie by any means. Not even a good movie. But a passable one that still felt nice to sit in, and I will support anything with Jason Segel.

Music of the day: Royskopp's "Junior"

Hide Ya Kids, Hide Ya Wife

One month from today I begin my journey back to Anchorage from the similarly chilly land of Reykjavik, Iceland. If you know what is good for you, I highly suggest stockpiling on foods from Middle Way Cafe, Snow City Cafe and Fire Island Rustic Bakeshop. Why?

Because I am going to eat EVERYTHING they have.

Note: comments seem to be working again.

Music of the day: Gregory Alan Isakov

My Kung Fu is Strong

One thing I have started to notice lately (and you may strongly disagree with) is that my mind has been firing on all cylinders and that it is coming out strongly in my writing.

Granted, I am not doing a ton of writing for my travel blog, but I have been throwing down some quality work for the comic blog I love to write for - Multiversity Comics.

I find that ideas are coming faster, coming together better, and that I am approaching things from a different and more fresh angle typically. There are a lot of different considerations that could factor into this occurring (or at least into causing me to believe it is), but I think the glaringly obvious one is that this trip has been really, really good for my state of mind.

I find that my mind has been sharper, that any stress or hindrances that have impacted me have melted away, and that overall I am in a really good place mentally.

I think another one of the interesting things that this trip has done for me along those lines has been positively impacting my speech patterns.

Before I left, I would have a tendency to want to get everything I wanted to say out in as quick of a fashion as possible, which would lead me to trip up on my words and sound like I have a speech impediment of sorts. One time, I even remember a rep from Bloomberg I happened to be driving around Anchorage for work had told me that I was like him and that I needed to learn how to "choke my motor" when I speak.

These days though, I believe my motor has been choked. Because I have spent so long working with people who do not speak English as their primary language, their ongoing requests for me to "speak slower" and "speak more clearly" have led me to a point where I have good rhythm and better enunciation in my speech.

I look back at Ryi in Tokyo as a very positive influence. She is the woman who guided me around Tokyo for an afternoon after we accidentally shared a lunch of sashimi, and having not spoken English in 20 years, she required training wheels of sort that could be provided by me altering how I speak.

Since then, I've continued that on throughout other countries to the benefit of myself.

This really came to mind when I was in Munich for a night. I was in my 6 bed dorm in my hostel for the night (the excellent Wombats City Hostel there), and I was surfing the web on my iPad and having a conversation with a woman from Manchester by way of Portugal (which is a lovely accent if you ever get the chance to hear it).

She informed me that I spoke in a very "posh" manner. Only knowing Posh Spice and not the definition of this very British colloquialism, I was a little taken aback. Some time later, I asked her what she meant by that.

"You speak in a very good measure and you enunciate every word as if they all matter to you. I say posh because typically only important people and royalty speak like that."

So that is a pretty cool class of people to be associated with. In that regard, I guess I don't mind being called posh.

Music of the day: The Radio Dept. - Clinging to a Scheme (excellent record)

Ich Bin Ein Berlin

Even though I spent only three nights there, I think I am safe to say that Berlin is one of my favorite cities in the world.

Really.

It is a vibrant city that never really seems to take plays out, always getting up early, staying up late, and going all in for every minute in between. In a lot of ways, it reminds me of Portland, my favorite American city, except you can replace all examples of irony with sincerity.

What I am speaking of there is both are similarly hip places with the hipsters that go with that, but, unlike Portland, you never get the feeling that this Berlin is doing it for the Pantomime Theater. People ride bikes, they have facial hair, they wear disgustingly hip clothes, they are squatters, they are artists, they use mass transit, they embrace music, but none of those things because they feel like it is a role they need to play. Rather, it is simply because it is what they do and who they are, and effortlessly so.

Note: I love Portland. Don't get me wrong. But a lot of people in Portland try WAY too hard.

I love the way you can look at rooftops and see things like the "1UP" tag, indicating that it is part of the street art enclave "One Unified Power" and that what they are doing is CRAZY dangerous and that a 1UP from Super Mario Bros. would be really nice right about then.

I love that when you walk around, you can see half finished pieces of art on walls, satellite dishes adorned with family photos, and cafes with interiors and exteriors brightened with beautiful art. In Berlin, an artist's canvas is wherever they are and wherever they want.

I love that the people are incredibly friendly, that they perform (juggling, magic, etc.) for people in traffic, that they are seemingly welcoming of every culture, and that they each have their own dreams that they work tirelessly to accomplish.

Some people may walk the streets and see graffiti and illustrations all over the walls and think "man, this place makes Compton look clean" but to me, I see this as a place that people can go and be themselves and feel as if they are part of a society that is accepting of who and what you are.

It is a remarkable place. It is a huge place. It is a inexpensive yet poor place. It is a place of great history.

It is pretty freaking awesome, all in all, and a fantastic addition to my ever growing list of "European cities I would love to call home."

I'm only sad that I had just three days to call it that.

Music of the day: Dubstep, whatever you've got

The Old Clippership Captain

I have to say, while traveling you meet people of all walks of life in hostels. Sometimes the incredibly interesting (the Iraqi gentleman who helped teach me cricket in a bar in Sydney), the immediately awesome (Ben + Alyssa in Siena, Sergio in Interlaken), the oddly anti-social (I am looking at you French guy in Christchurch), the freakishly smart (18 year old British girl in Paihia, New Zealand), the well traveled (Lance from Toronto), or even the people who just live in the hostel (the always missing Chinese man in Sydney).

There is a huge list of types I've met, but lately I've been running into more and more of one type.

Americans.

And not cool Americans like Ben, Alyssa and Sergio. Especially in Prague, it was filled with the worst of the worst in American stereotypes abroad. Running into Americans is typically a blast because you immediately have a connection and a sense of comfort even if they seem crazy and violent ("whoa...what's with the knife?! Oh, you're American? Cool...what part?"). Not that the sort of thing has happened to me, I'm just saying they are easier for me to connect to immediately.

But every once in a while you run into those cliches and stuffy jerk faces that you run into anywhere in the US, and it makes you just want to die. Mostly because what they say. Thankfully, I have been cataloguing quotes from them in my head, so I can share my misery with you!

- "That was a good story man. You're a good storyteller. Typically I walk into a room and I take over a room with my storytelling - because I'm a writer - but you aren't bad." ~ Ridiculous guy in his 30's from Seattle who constantly dropped F-bombs and clearly thought he was the bees knees - I can only assume that wasn't Facebook he was on but his manuscript for the next great American novel.

- "I'm an alcoholic, and proud to be. I went to AA once, but that place is gay and not for me." ~ 20 year old guy from San Francisco (he will return)

- "Traveling isn't hard for me, mostly because I've been homeless for the last four years." ~ Another WTF gem from San Fran

- "I make $125,000 a year selling medicinal marijuana. I got the license for it when I was 12 because my grandma had cancer. That was good for my growing business." ~ Perhaps the crown jewel of San Fran's list (and there could be many, many more)

- "I don't own a TV. Don't get me wrong, I love Arrested Development and things like that, but why should I own a TV? It's just wrong to own a TV." ~ From my Prague nemesis who was from Colorado (I am assuming by way of Portland). He also had a tattoo of lips on his neck, as if he is a white hipster Kenyon Martin.

- "If I didn't have to book hostels, I would never be on the internet." ~ Prague nemesis who happened to be wearing a Threadless shirt (no TV and no internet? Who are you kidding at this point?)

- "Breathing is bad for the environment because of my own CO2 emissions. I don't do it because it isn't green." ~ From the Prague nemesis (okay, that one was made up, but it made sense)

- "I travel for a living. It's just good for the soul." - Pranemesis, and I wish that one was made up. Note: he also had been traveling for three weeks and he only had a week left. So evidently he likes unemployment.

- "Traveling has been so awesome. So many good pub crawls, so many good nights out. I don't remember a lot of them, but man, I will never forget them." ~ Maybe Pranemesis' top one, but a sentiment echoed by a lot of travelers. I can only assume he was drunk when he said that...at breakfast.

- "I have no idea why so many people go to Paris or Berlin. You know what is great? Krakow. Great pub crawls." ~ Pranemesis, trying to kill me with his indie sentiments of traveling. Accusations of cities being too mainstream are mind benders to me.

Those are some of my favorites. People watching has become people listening, because even if I am not in a conversation I try to listen in because you never know who is going to drop the next ridiculous truth bomb (because the only person more nuts and frustrating than Pranemesis is probably Charlie Sheen).

Lately, some of these people have made me openly wonder about myself...is it possible that I am the weird one? Should I be, in the immortal words of Max Fischer, trying harder to get drunk and score chicks?

I like to think not. As his dad - Bert - says in response, he's just married to the sea.

I guess I've been out to sea for a long time now, and I don't understand how people on land work anymore.

Music of the day: The Faces - "Oo La La"

Chumbawumba

I think during my last five days in Prague I hit a bit of a tipping point: I think I am finally really starting to feel the burn of travel. I realized that the five days I spent in Sir Toby's Hostel (a superb one if you are ever in Prague) was the most time I had spent in one place since London more than a month before, with a lot of train travel, packed days, late nights and early mornings mixed in. More so than anywhere else, Europe is burning me out.

That's not to say that I didn't have a great time in Prague. I did. While it isn't as spectacular as I had hoped it would be (it is so touristy), it did have a lot of greatness (and fun hidden spots as well). Some of my highlights included one day getting up at 6 am so I could see and experience the main sights without roughly 462,000 people around me (definitely the way to see Prague), the Letna and Vitkov Hill areas that were more local and gave a lot of great views, winning a pub quiz on my last night (trivia champion of two continents!), and the "no umbrella" walking tour I took on the last day there, which primarily featured lots of Prague history and lesser known sections of the city that were pretty much amazing (it helped that the Czech man named Richard who ran the tour told me I was the funniest person he has ever had on the tour in 12 years - ego boost!).

In a lot of ways, it was like existing in a fairy tale land. Untouched by World War II and still capturing the gothic and baroque based architectural majesty it always has had, this is a pristine and exciting city.

But I think part of my drag comes from the fact that at this point I want my evenings to be me, my iPad and some good natured web surfing, and all of the people on the traveling trails are the party folk doing the Europe track looking for the best place to drink until 5 am until they can do the same the next day - and Prague is the hot place to do that due to cheap beer and ample amounts of smoke filled clubs (SO MUCH SMOKING IN PRAGUE!).

As a person who has a genuine interest in experiencing local culture and what a city is all about, it is very disconcerting to have conversations with people about the places I go and them respond to me with crooked faces and inquisitive looks until they ask "where is that at?"

In Prague. The place we have been for the past few days.

People act like I am some sort of wunderkind because I know how to find the train station or eat where the locals eat or I know the spot in the city that lets you see all of the bridges in succession. I can tell you that I am not anything of the sort. All I do is ask questions and retain knowledge. I'm not just pissing the night away like I am some sort of tub thumper.

That just happened.

So maybe I am not tired of traveling so much as I am tired of the people I am forced to travel with. Every once in a while you find like minded individuals and you get a lot of joy out of that, but at this point - with Berlin, Munich, Amsterdam and Brugge ahead of me - I am most excited to go to Heidelberg, Germany again (to see my friend Kerstin) and to go back to London (to spend time with the Sobolik's and feel like I am at a home again).

I have been trying fairly hard to always book hostels that emphasize words like "not a party hostel" or "chill" or "place for travelers," but you never really know what you are actually going to get. Here's hoping I find places that are actually like that, because I need a break from party people who think that drinking with strangers and acting completely different from the way you do at home (because you can!) constitutes traveling.

Music of the day: Sufjan Stevens - "Too Much" (Fun fact: I have picked up the habit of walking around and mouthing the words to this song while listening to it and dancing - Czech Republic likely thinks I am weird)

Hardcore Days & Softcore Nights

This trip has been filled with highlight after highlight. Even some of the things that have been small and seemingly innocuous have been instantly memorable - quick segue, recently in Florence's main train station, I saw a guy who had a Lupin shirt on. Lupin is a Japanese anime TV show, and it reminded me of a night spent in Kyoto, Japan with a guy from England, one from Sweden, and one from Poland, where we watched insane cartoons while the guy from Sweden translated and we all had beers. It was hysterical.

Anyways, back to the main story...there have been a lot of things that I will look back forever on with joy and happiness. Some of the best and most memorable times of my life.

Not that long ago I enjoyed what will quite likely be the best 24 hour period of my entire trip.

I was in Siena, Italy, a smaller city in Tuscany with a population of around 60,000 people that was touristy but not without a whole lot of charm thanks to the fact that most tourists only take day trips to it from Florence. That leaves the evenings and mornings as times with far quieter streets and more enjoyable times for those staying the night.

On my first evening there, I went to a Rick Steves recommended restaurant called Osteria Nonna Gina. Named after the former proprietor of the business, this little restaurant was rustic, authentic and very, very good. With that said, I was enjoying a romantic dining destination by myself. Highly problematic for some...no big deal for me at all.

I enjoyed my meal greatly, which started with bruschetta, followed with a gnocchi primi that was to die for, and closed with a secondi that was, well, I believe was, a roasted big leg. All delicious, especially the last item, a massive pork extravaganza that was packed with flavor and then some.

After I wrapped up, the waitress asked if I wanted an espresso or dessert, and I said no...but thanks. You know, being polite and all.

A little bit later, she showed back up and said she had a present for me...a bottle of homemade Amaretto and Grappa with a shot glass. The Grappa was not exactly welcome, as I am not entirely unconvinced that Grappa is paint thinner. However, the Amaretto was heavenly and reason enough for people to go to this restaurant on its own.

While Amaretto is not one of my favorite liquors in any way, shape or form, this was a marvelous drink that transcended its origins into some sort of super food. I was so enamored with it I had to interrupt the couple next to me who were enjoying their dinner without me interrupting them.

Next thing you know they were enjoying it, I was enjoying it, I was saddened to find out it was not mine to keep, but before I had left I had consumed half of a bottle and befriended the couple (who were from Texas) over booze, travel and music.

And so it begins.

Eventually, after departing the restaurant simultaneously (we closed the place down, both the Texans and I got there around opening at 7:30 and ended up leaving around 11:30), we agreed that we should keep the night going into infinity. So we headed to the grand piazza in the center of this wondrous city - Il Campo.

Once there, we consumed wine, the world's greatest mojitos (no kidding), and quickly befriended a slew of Italian university students who were near us in the piazza. They were fire twirlers, musicians and generally entertaining people (our IBFF - Italian Best Friend Forever - was a charming guy who wanted to be a comedian and thinks Bill Hicks is a god), and they welcomed us in with open arms. The three of us, Alyssa, Ben (the artists previously known as the Texans) and myself, got to enjoy something many travelers do not get - complete and utter assimilation into a local group.

It was wonderful, and by the time the night was closing with all three of our faces adorned with Italian flags at 4 in the morning, we were giddy and satisfied with our experience.

The next morning was supposed to start early so I could be on a Vespa by 9:30 am, but free Amaretto had different ideas. Instead, I was an hour late and only had 8 hours on the Vespa from Perozzi, the delightful rental company in Siena. The woman who rented me the bike was highly entertaining and very sweet, taking photos of me as she insisted I looked like "cheeps" with my aviator sunglasses (aka CHIPs, the 80's TV show starring an aviator wearing Erik Estrada), and was the perfect way to start my trip.

This was my lifelong Italian dream, and by the time I was 200 feet from the rental joint my mind was throwing down touchdown dances internally.

I spent the day checking out castles, roaming the Chianti region of Tuscany, accidentally going to awesome markets (and enjoying delectable pork products in the process), witnessing (but not enjoying) almost comically cheap wine tastings (don't drink and drive Vespas people!), dodging lightning (the crazy storm I went through briefly was honestly wildly entertaining in its panic inducing ways), and all in all having one of the best days ever.

I did ridiculous things while on the Vespa. I had occasional reprises of my Thai moped experience by belting out songs as I traveled (The Smiths' "Please, Please, Please" was a favorite). I added a new wrinkle, as I would yell in an Italian accent every sign I went past (which ranged from town names like "Castlellini" to signs that just showed pandas on it). It was a blast. I entertained myself thoroughly.

By the time I returned, I was a walking smile, grinning like a complete fool for the rest of my lazy and cheap pizza al taglio filled evening. Because why not? In the last 24 hours I had a legendary night out on the town in one of the most beautiful piazzas in Italy AND accomplished a life dream.

That's not exactly chopped liver.

Music of the day: New Beirut! "East Harlem" single is out! So good!

Living the Dream

One of the major reasons why I went to Italy in 2009 for me personally wasn't to see the Grand Canal, nor the Coliseum, nor the Statue of David, or anything else that people really go to Italy for. Really, it wasn't even to eat, which is a rarity for me (I like not love Italian food).

It was to drive a Vespa in Italy.

I have no idea why but I have always wanted to do that. It's an odd and small thing to desire, but there is something just so attractive about the concept.

Yet I never did it. I claimed that the reason why was it was just too dangerous, but I think it was more that I was a little scared of negotiating the awful and crazy streets of Rome using a device I had never used previously.

In my trip so far though, I have had a couple chances to drive a moped and I've built up confidence in my skills, which is great even if it is completely irrational confidence. This is good because it is a quality skill to have (you never know when you'll need to know how to drive a moped!) but also because I am headed back to Italy specifically for the purpose of driving a Vespa through wine country in Tuscany.

Just let that sink in for a second...I am accomplishing a life goal AND doing something ridiculously awesome even without personal opinions worked in at the same time. Doubly fantastic, if I do say so myself.

I'll be staying in Siena, a lovely little town in the heart of Tuscany about an hour and forty five minutes by train from Florence, for two nights and three days explicitly so I can adventure around with my trusty motored steed. Sure, I'll likely eat some incredible country Italian food and have some superb wine at the same time, but when you get down to it I am there for the experience of coasting through the rolling hills of wine country, belting out the three songs I know that seem Italian in my mind as I drive around.

I can't think of a better way to spend a few days.

Music of the day: Dean Martin - That's Amore (is there anything more cliche Italian in music from an American perspective?)

No Matter Where You Go...There You Are

These days it feels like I am in perpetual motion. Always moving forward to the next place, the next sight, the next city, the next train. In the past 24 hours I have been on five trains in four countries, attempting to get to somewhere to call home for a day or two. That next place is Interlaken, Switzerland, until it isn't.

It's an interesting thing to always be somewhere new or to be traveling from place to place. It's like I am constantly on the first day of school, meeting people on their vacation in the best possible mood at all times. Who isn't happy during vacation? It leads to a lot of quickly developed friendships and/or conversations, and, at "best," an add on Facebook.

That leads me to the one thing that I've started to miss while traveling: roots. When you're always moving, it is pretty difficult to cultivate lasting connections. Granted, I could easily change this for myself by sticking around somewhere for a little more than a day or two at a time, but there is so much to do and so little time! It's a choice I've made, and there is no reason I cannot go to some of my favorite places later and develop those roots.

But it is kind of interesting...when I look back to the places I liked the most (Wanaka, Melbourne, Hiroshima, Chiang Mai, London, Paris, Heidelberg, Barcelona) they were all (besides Hiroshima) marked by extended stints in one place. The only reason why I don't change my itinerary and simply stick it out at one or two locations for my remaining time is for one simple reason: I know if I did that the opposite would be true.

I would be ten days into my stay in Prague, enjoying a coffee and the mighty fine architecture they have but thinking "man, it sure would have been cool if I made it to Budapest." You always want what you don't have...isn't that true?

That said, in my current final version of my remaining itinerary, I think I get the  best of both worlds. A ton of places in there, but with multi-day stints in Interlaken, Siena (Italy), Zagreb (Croatia), Budapest (Hungary), Prague, Berlin, Amsterdam, and Bruges/Brugge (Belgium). Sure, it would be cool to go to Greece or Turkey or Poland (or rather non former concentration camp parts of Poland), but this allows me the best of both worlds: elongated stays while also visiting a bunch of places that are awesome.

Because really, the fact that I stayed in those favorite places for multiple days isn't the reason why they are favorites. I stayed there multiple days because they were awesome and I didn't want to leave them. If these places coming up are crap, I'll leave, simple as that.

Roots be damned.

Music of the day: Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground - Self Titled Debut

Barcelona Free For All

The past week has been a complete blur (or maybe more than a week depending on when I post this), and that is thanks to trying to take in all of Barcelona AND attending Primavera Sound music festival over a five day period (plus negotiating Madrid on zero rest as well as figuring out the rest of my trip...but that is another story for another time).

But it was completely worth it - Barcelona was easily one  of the best places I have ever been, and Primavera Sound was an insanely good time.

First off, Barcelona was a beautiful and vibrant city, especially thanks to one man - Gaudi. This architect started the Modernism movement and his works are omnipresent in Barcelona. I loved them all, but in particular I enjoyed Parc Guell (where my Gaudi and Primavera experiences intertwined as I met Wayne Coyne - lead singer of The Flaming Lips - here), a majestic and dreamlike landscape in the Eixample section of  the city. 

Existing in opposition to the heavenly layout of Parc Guell was the massive and oddly scary Sagrada Familia. This incredibly detailed church was the crown jewel of Gaudi's work, yet in the 43 years before his death (he started it in 1883) he worked on it he never completed it. Since then, work has continued to finish it. I spoke to a woman from England who had been there 30 years previous and she said it barely even looked the same as when she had come in the past. Whatever was happening with it, it seemed as if it rose from some circle of hell to take form on Earth...but in a way that is insanely awesome. I thought it was one of the best and certainly the most unique church I have ever seen.

The rest of his work was great, as was the remainder of my experience. It was highlighted by an unfathomably cool restaurant named La Cerverceria Catalan that excelled in making food that made me say "WOW!" I went there three times thanks to the recommendation of my one-time camping mate Lucy Raskin (of the Megatron Bieber family), and enjoyed it more with each successive venture. I tried nothing more than once, but everything was incredible, from the liver served on artichoke with some fancy sauce (LIVER!) to the Oeufs "Cabreaos" (fried potato strings with two fried eggs on top and a spicy tomato sauce) to the just absurdly good calamari - this place redefined tapas in my mind. All in all, in three days I had 9 dishes, two cappucinos, two beers (one was bought for me!) and a lot of good conversations with the diners next to me (who were from Spain, the UK and San Francisco respectively). This place was a blast with great service, amazing food and very reasonable prices. If you are ever in Barcelona, I highly recommend it.

Now, as for Primavera Sound, this bad boy was a bit of a mess at times (I am uncertain as to how well this thing is run), but the experience was an awesome one that found me making my way back to my bed past sun up multiple times, making a bunch of friends in a hurry (from Ireland, Dubai, Canada and England in particular), and enjoying some varied performances.

I say varied because the music itself was pretty up and down. There was the predictably amazing performance (The Flaming Lips). There was the surprisingly incredible one (James Blake - so much soul!). There was the big disappointment (Animal Collective - three songs anyone knew and no encore in an hour and ten minutes). There was a lot of good (Of Montreal, Big Boi, Explosions in the Sky, DJ Shadow, The Walkmen, tUnE-yArDs, Matthew Dear, Caribou, Interpol, Belle & Sebastian) and some just eh performances (The National - third time I have seen them, essentially the same set every time). It was a ton of fun and a bit hard to get used to thanks to the crazy schedule - Girl Talk went on at 5 am! - but I recommend it as a festival overall. Besides Animal Collective, it seems as if this festival pushes bands to give it their all, and that is an awesome, awesome thing if you are a regular festival goer.

Perhaps the biggest surprise of my whole time in Barcelona was the experience of watching the Champions League final between Manchester United and Barcelona live at the festival. The Llevant stage was converted into a place for the slew of Barcelona fans (and the small contingent of Man U fans who would identify themselves) to watch, and myself and my Saturday festival mates Josh and John (from Bristol - THE HOME OF DUBSTEP!) watched the whole thing, soaking in the celebration as Barca won 3 to 1. It was a joyous thing, and it was best experienced there (rather than in the main place for it - Placa de Catalunya - which ended up having visitors forced to stay until 5:30 am by Barcelona police).

Five days of pure awesome in Barcelona, filled with surprise and just amazing experiences right and left. While I wanted to continue on my Spanish adventure and the start of it in Madrid was nice enough, it felt right to head out and head east now. Barcelona was going to top everything anyways, so might as well get my Switzerland on sooner rather than later (did I mention I changed my itinerary again?).

Music of the day: The Flaming Lips - Do You Realize?

Where We're Going, We Don't Need Roads...Just Train Tracks

Some of you may be wondering where I am headed while in the European portion of my trip. To you I have this - I have been wondering the same thing! Oddly enough, I had no plans save a concert in late May in Barcelona and a concert in London at the end of June. Past that, I've got nothin'. Just a wing and a prayer...and a Eurail pass (that part is more important).

Well, I thought it out a bit now (given the amount of time I have had to think thanks to many, many train rides), so may I present the prospective itinerary of the Europeean portion of my trip. This is subject to much change and it is only what I have brewed up quickly in my head over the past few days.

- Barcelona for the next five days
- Granada
- Cadiz
- Madrid
- Lisbon
- Bilbao (hopefully just for the day to see the Guggenheim Museum and then a night train towards Italy)
- A few days in Tuscany with a moped
- Croatia (Dalmatian Coast!)
- Istanbul
- Train from Istanbul to Vienna to recreate the Before Sunset ride
- Prague
- Poland specifically for Auschwitz (what can I say, I like WWII and I am weird and morbid)
- Bavaria in Germany specifically for the Eagle's Nest (more WWII), Black Forest, and seeing my friend Katharina again
- Berlin
- Hamburg (guided tour of a area known for tons of prostitutes? yes please!)
- Back to Heidelberg (Kerstin!)
- Amsterdam
- Brugge/Bruges/Whatever the place Colin Farrell couldn't stand in Belgium
- Back to Paris for a day trip to Nantes
- Back to London for a concert
- Scotland/Ireland to close the trip

That may be way too much, to be perfectly honest. I am a freakishly efficient traveler, but with train travel mixed in it might be too much to work in. With that said, I think I can swing it but may end up cutting out part of my Spain section. I do not know a ton in Spain, and what I do know is that I really think the Guggenheim in Bilbao is spectacular and I know I cannot miss anything in Barcelona. The rest is passable in my mind. 

If I am going to add anywhere, it will likely be Capri down in Southern Italy, but that may be problematic - it is pretty far south so it will take me a couple days off my path and it will take me back to Rome which, to be honest, I have no interest in doing. So that is likely out, no matter how pretty it looks.

So there you have it! Feel free to give me any feedback or suggestions on places I should go, even if you haven't been there yourself and just think they look really pretty. I am open to anything and would love to hear from you all.

Music of the day: Back to the Future Theme

Little Thoughts

I am on a train going from Montpellier, France to Figueras, Spain, and since I have gotten to Europe it has been a bit of a whirlwind tour. Seven days in London, 2 in Paris, 3 in Heidelberg, Germany, 2 in Nice (with jaunts to Monaco and Cannes in there as well), and 1 in Marseille later and I have covered four countries and am on my way to a fifth. Europe is kind of the anti-Australia - no matter where you go...there you are (to quote Confucius and, perhaps more importantly, Buckaroo Banzai).

I don't have any epic posts for you right now (sorry!), but I do have a bunch of little thoughts associated with my journey so far. Take what you get blog readers!

- Writing a blog while traveling, even with tons of time on trains, is pretty difficult. When you can't think of something to write, you can go a while without posting and that leads to a boring blog, and when you do think of something it is quite often when you have the least opportunity. Sorry everyone!

- The things you take for granted are quite often the most amazing thing to others. Three examples:

1) I posted this on Facebook, but people in Japan reacted to me saying I was from Alaska like I would if I found out what one of my best friends was actually from the moon.

2) In London near Buckingham Palace, I saw a huge amount of people in a circle with their cameras out. Given the crowd, I expected a live unicorn or at the very least a small dinosaur. I pushed to the front and it was...a squirrel.

3) In Marseille, I was walking up by a huge chateau with a view overlooking the Mediterranean. There was a ferry leaving the port and all of the people near me were shocked and awed by the size of it. One person was actually covering their mouth. I was entertained.

- Europe during the summer, even if it isn't the real summer, is more expensive to stay at than even one month previous was when I came in 2009.

- The Cannes Film Festival is way less glamorous and exciting when you don't have a press pass and are actually there. It is like a less interesting comic convention with more fashionable and famous people. That may be the understatement of the century - comic fans are not fashionable.

- Monaco is great, but in particular, the Monte Carlo Casino is so freakishly amazing it will likely line up as being one of the best times of my trip. The building itself is gorgeous, and I personally contributed 30 Euro to it via gambling but it was so incredibly worth it. I have to say - I was up 10 Euro at one point. Which is when I should have quit.

- Europeans love bakeries. In France and Germany, you can't go past three buildings without going past somewhere that has absurdly delicious looking baked goods.

- Booking ahead on hostels REALLY pays off, and not booking ahead does not. The hostel I stayed in one night in Paris as I transitioned between Heidelberg and Nice was easily the worst hostel I have ever stayed at. Peace and Love Hostel should die!

- With that said, the place I stayed in Marseille (Vertigo Vieux Port) I booked the day before I went and it was remarkably great. Top staff, free breakfast, beautiful art everywhere, interesting architecture, great location, free and fast wifi and internet...major fan of this place.

- Paris is just as wonderful as I remembered. Best city ever, man.

- Even when you get to major cities like London, small town things can happen. I was in a comic shop doing some reading (what can I say, I'm an addict) when I ran into comic writer Nick Spencer and his girlfriend. I interviewed him at the beginning of my trip at Emerald City ComiCon...in Seattle. Fun!

- For two days, I was lonely. It was my friends Kerstin and Katharina's fault, as I hung out with them in Heidelberg and had an amazing time, and then left them and was sad to be by myself again. But I got over it because Marseille was super nice AND my hostel was filled with cool people.

- Having ample time to read random things and meeting random people allows me to become well versed in random subjects. For example, last night I had an extensive conversation with a guy from Montreal about the state of Canadian politics and I was able to hold my own. It was riveting (probably the only person to use that word about Canadian politics).

- Most Americans I meet act like I am a wild and impressive person because I have been so many places and have been traveling as long as I have been. I enjoy this.

- Missing the NBA Playoffs really sucks, but it has led me to discover my new favorite sports website - The Basketball Jones. I have actually had crazy laughing fits at 1 am in hostels because of this damn site, leading most everyone in the room I am in to think I am nuts. SCIENCE!

- Japanese food is crazy healthy. European food...not so much. I think I am gaining weight again even with walking at least 15 miles a day, and I blame the fact that I am eating roughly 13 loaves of bread a day.

- I was genuinely saddened by losing my towel today. I bought it for 5 New Zealand dollars in a K-Mart in Christchurch, and now I am lost without it. Awkward towel with sea creatures on it, you may have been mediocre at your central task of drying me, but you did it with such cheapness that you were impossible not to love. I miss you!

- Sometimes I start missing home, and then I realize something like "I am on a train between France and Spain right now instead of at work. This is awesome!" Yeah, that makes it easier to handle.

- Facebook is a great way to keep up with people while I am gone, but I have noticed people using Facebook as a forum to share grand plans that they have that they will likely not follow through on. As a person currently following through on a grand plan, I highly suggest doing so. Why not? After all, we only live once.

- Europe may not be as interesting as Asia or as naturally beautiful as Oceania, but man, this place is just filled to the brim with awesome and historical things, is incredibly easy to get around, and is straight up fantastic.

That's it. It turned into an epic post anyways because of the sheer volume of thoughts, but that is probably pretty unsurprising to all of you.

One other thing I'd like to add is that if you want a postcard, let me know in the comments (along with your mailing address). Also, if you want it from a specific place, let me know that too.

Music of the day: Girl Talk - Feed the Animals

Around the World at the Half: The Best and the Worst

I've decided to just skip my Japan wrap up altogether. Not because I don't want to do it, but because I am really freaking lazy! Or something like that.

Truth be told, in this post that looks back at the best and the worst of my trip pre Europe, Japan will he heavily featured, so it will be easy to cover any ground I may have missed. So let's get to it...the best and the worst of my trip so far.

Best Country: Japan

Why?: I've always wanted to do something like this trip, and it is because, I think at least, a certain level of need for adventure that exists within me. I always want to get out and do something great, something grand, something new.

And while every country I have gone to feels like that to a degree, going to Japan feels like something completely unlike anywhere else in the world. It feels like another planet! It reminded me of a JLA arc Tower of Babel written by Mark Waid, in which the minds of everyone on the Earth were altered so they did not understand language - it just looked like shapes to them. That's what a lot of Japan was - signs with shapes and the innate hope that I was going the right way and doing the right thing.

While that may not sound attractive to others, isn't that the basic component of adventure? Sailing off into parts unknown at its most all encompassing level can be found in Japan. Other countries cater to Western culture with signs in English and their home language, while Japan rarely does. It gets down to DIY traveling and communicating using whatever methods you have at hand. I found this to be an awesome experience.

Throw in the best food and lodging as well as the fact that it is so convenient to get around the country at a surprisingly inexpensive cost and you have an amazing place through and through.

Worst Country: Australia

Why?: I wrote a break up letter to this country. Do you need further explanation, really?

Best Major City: Melbourne, Australia

Why?: The first major shocker of the list! Ahh!!! How can my least favorite country house the favorite major city?! Well, it is quite simple - New Zealand had nondescript cities, Sydney kind of sucked, Brisbane was like New Zealand, Chiang Mai felt too small, and all of the Japanese cities were amazing but didn't stand out as much.

Oh yeah, and Melbourne itself is pretty amazing. Culturally robust streets, filled with artists and great food, top notch mass transit, fairly inexpensive (lots of free exhibits to take in), nice hostels, and great timing (Melbourne Comedy Festival and Supanova Pop Culture Expo were going when I was there) combine into an amazing time. It is beautiful, happening and one of the places I could see myself living.

Worst Major City: Bangkok, Thailand

Why?: Before I went there I watched a No Reservations with Anthony Bourdain in which he described it as a place that your clothes can't help but stick to your body. Good god he was so right - even though I was there just for a day, Bangkok is a place that is sickeningly hot. Humid, scorching and packed with 10+ million people crowding around you to sell you their knock off brand sunglasses and Manchester United jerseys, it was so intense that I felt the need to retreat to a local mall to survive. And that is not an understatement.

Best Non Major City/Town: Hiroshima, Japan

Why?: With regards to Chiang Mai, Thailand and Wanaka, New Zealand, Hiroshima was one of the best experiences I've ever had. Walking the streets, you find it impossible not to think of the fact that this city was once flattened by a nuclear bomb - and not that long ago. Hiroshima being a beautiful, lively place with the most peaceful disposition of anywhere I've been is a testament to the perseverance, honor and efficiency of Japan as a whole.

Throw in a great hostel, the best Okonomiyaki in the country, and the otherworldly greatness of nearby island Miyajima, and you have a plCe I will not forget any time soon.

Worst Non Major City/Town: Paihia, New Zealand

Why?: Just a completely nondescript beach town that doubles as a (near as I can tell) Frat boy resort on weekends. It was one of the few places I felt desperate to get out of. It's a shame this experience is attached to the flat out incredible Bay of Islands.

Best Food: Japan

Why?: At its worst (Takoyaki) it is remarkably interesting and occasionally good. At its best, it is consistently the best food in the world. The sushi tastes like a different version than what I get elsewhere, the ramen makes the name Top Ramen feel like a case of completely indecent copyright infringement, the katsu is crisp and delicious even at rainy baseball games, the tempura tries to bring tasty tears to my eyed, and everything else is somewhere between very good and delicious.

One of my favorite things to say about it is this: a very high percentage of the time I had little to no idea as to what I was eating, but I ate it anyways. Why? Because I was filled with faith to the core of me that not only would this not hurt me, but it would be absolutely delectable.

And it never let me down.

Worst Food: New Zealand

Why?: British food without the aid of the influence of millions of Asian implants. That is not a compliment. However, they did make wicked Eggs Benedict and their beer and coffee are universally good.

Best Living Situation: Japan

Why?: Every hostel was awesome. Decently priced, wifi EVERYWHERE, super comfy beds, good privacy considering the fact I sometimes shared a room with 7 people, fantastic staff, and the awesome touch of all of them sending me personalized emails after I left (including one that told me my warm greetings brightened the day of every staff member). I loved them, each and every one of them.

Best Hostel: Noosa Flashpackers in Noosa, Australia.

Why?: This is the best hostel I have ever stayed in. A warm environment that immediately turns disparate groups of people into a community, superb shuttle service, nice kitchen, a DVD library and huge TV on days that it rains (of which there are many in Noosa), WiFi, and free computers to write emails and upload pictures on. Plus,  the staff was very personable and the cost was very reasonable.

Worst Living Situation: New Zealand

Why?: Besides Hogwartz in Dunedin (which was predictably amazing) and the YHA Purple Cow in Wanaka, I was fairly unimpressed with hostels in New Zealand. Could have been bad luck, but the places I stayed on the North Island in particular were pretty weak.

Best Experience (tie): Swimming with Dolphins in the Bay of Islands (New Zealand), Bungie Jumping in Queenstown (New Zealand), First Day of Songkran Festival in Chiang Mai (Thailand), Motorbiking Around Koh Samui (Thailand), Day One of Emerald City ComiCon (Seattle)

Why?: Each were amazing for different reasons, but all of them will stick with me for the rest of my life. I will never forget:

- swimming in the Bay of Islands, then going under to see two dolphins  joining me, one on each side

- leaping off the Kawarau Bridge and reaching the bottom and immediately releasing the hardest laugh of my life

- running into a busy street of Chiang Mai and splashing two motorcyclists with a bucket of water, turning around to the bar I was hanging out at in the late afternoon to see a slew of people laughing hysterically and clapping for me - it was my stage of water based hijinks, and you better believe I took a bow

- roaming the circular path around Koh Samui by motorbike, gleefully being my own radio as I belted out Bobby Darin's "Beyond the Sea" at the top of my lungs, realizing a lifelong dream in the most ridiculpous way possible

- speaking to numerous well known comic creators I admire with my 4 Color News and Brews co-anchor Brandon at Emerald City ComiCon and not only being recognized but thanked, and following that up with an unforgettable evening featuring Brandon and I participating in a live art show with two big artists in the industry. Not bad.

Worst Experience: Animal conditions in Chiang Mai Zoo (Thailand)

Why?: Animal love (not in a weird way) has been a consistent theme of my trip to date, and to see the conditions a lot of animals live in and the lack of respect they are given by visitors and staff alike was really hard to take. Two things in particular stood out: seeing a woman throw a partially eaten corn dog at an ostrich - stick and all - which easily could result in the animal dying by choking on the stick, and then seeing a baby elephant chained around the ankles (or whatever you would say for an elephant) and left out for anyone to come up and do whatever they wanted to it. 

It was disgusting, and the latter was particularly distasteful given the image Thailand pushes on their audience of them being so caring for their beloved elephants. Then why don't you show it?

Biggest Cultural Transition: Lack of Constant Data Feed

Why?: Slot this one in as sad but true. In Alaska, on my phone I always have data and there is wifi everywhere for my laptop and iPad. Elsewhere? Not so much. Not having the ability to always be connected took some adjusting, even though I would easily admit how sad that is. I'm a creature of modern culture, so to not have email access and Facebooks and things of that sort was jarring at first. It has gotten to be less of a deal, but it such a weird thing to happen at all. Hook it to my veins?

Best Transportation: Japan

Why?: This isn't even a contest. The Shinkansen bullet trains in Japan are the best in the world - incredibly fast, quiet and comfortable, every city has a mass transit system that rivals the best in the world, and it all is an easy answer to the question "how do I get from here to there?" Throw in the JR pass I had that I just had to flash to a rail employee to get on almost any train no questions asked and you have the perfect system.

I love mass transit and it is a shame everywhere doesn't have the idea as well conceived as Japan does. If they did, everyone would use it.

Worst Transportation: Australia

Why?: Would you like to take a slow and shoddy bus or a cramped and unfriendly plane? Take your pick because there is no cost advantage on either side. I suppose at least the plane is fast, but still, the Australian experience was hampered by the transportation issues.

Best Accessories: Day Bag, iPad

Why?: I would be so screwed without my day bag. Granted, it has turned out to really just be a second bag, but I rarely go anywhere without it and it provides peace of mind and comfort (simply by not being my other huge bag). Plus, it was inexpensive. Great buy.

My iPad hasn't been a perfect option (I wish it had a webcam so I could Skype with people and that it had a USB so I could upload pics), but it has been convenient and extremely useful whenever I need a connection or a brief respite of entertainment. Bonus points for keeping me connected to my beloved comic world (I could easily see myself buying comics digitally now), giving me access to sweet, sweet B.S. Report podcasts from Bill Simmomns, and for keeping me active in my Fantasy Baseball league - second place baby!!!

Best Idea to Date: Getting a JR Pass Before Japan

Why?: The JR pass is ridiculously cost effective (I can't imagine how much I saved, but I can only assume it is roughly infinity dollars), it makes the act of train travel SUPER easy, and, unlike with its European counterpart the Eurail Pass, reservations are free. Super awesome! This was the gift that kept on giving.

Biggest Mistake To Date: Packing errors aplenty

Why?: If I had the chance to do anything over again, it would be how I packed. Too many pairs of underwear, weird choices like a Leatherman and flashlight I've never used, only one button up shirt, no coat, terrible shoes, and forgetting a towel. The thing that I really wish I had, of all of those, is more button ups. They are an easy way to make yourself look presentable without having to try too hard. Instead I have a ton of t-shirts and 3 sweaters I rarely use. Sigh...

Favorite Anything: The Constant First Time Experiences

Why?: I have done so many things for the first time on this trip I can barely even remember them all. Bungie jumping, hitch hiking, riding a motorbike, growing a beard, you name it, I have done it. I love them, as I firmly believe everything should be tried because you never know what will be your next new favorite thing.

Best Collectibles: Photos and Stamps

Why?: When I was in New Zealand with former coworkers Paulette and Sharee, Paulette wondered what I would do to remember my trip if I wasn't buying souvenirs and what not. The most straightforward answer I had was "I will just remember it." Which is true. But I suppose if I had to have something to really remember my trip with, I will fall back on the thousands of pictures I have taken. I mean, if a picture is worth a thousand words, then I am well into the millions. That is quite a few books worth of books, so I am quite good on the memory front.

One thing I love though is the collection of stamps I have gotten so far. Obviously I have gotten New Zealand, Japan, Thailand, Australia, England and the EU, but my favorite surprise had to be China. For some it would be annoying to go through passport control just for a transfer, but it got me a stamp! Not only that, but a sweet, evil looking one that seemed like it actually came from the Dharma Initiative. Yes!

Things I Miss the Most: Comics

Why?: Just a note - this does not include people or places! So please no one get worked up over this category.

While it is true that I have not really completely lost touch with comics (thanks to comic company review copies my site gets and occasional visits to international comic shops), I still miss going to get comics every Wednesday and devouring them step by step. I even miss writing reviews of the comics (although I still do this from time to time). And I really miss Friday nights at Brandon's, talking comics and drinking beer on camera for our tens of viewers to witness. I miss your musk Brandon! When this is all said and done I think we should get an apartment together.

Things I Don't Really Miss Surprisingly: New Movies, Music, etc.

Why?: I saw someone tweeting about the awesome of the new Beastie Boys album and I had a quick thought pop in my head. Who cares if I listen to this new music or see new movies now or when I get back? They won't be any different in July as they are now...so what is the big deal? I can just catch them then. Sure, the same goes for comics, but for some reason it genuinely feels like I am missing out on something when I am out of touch with them. Maybe because I am actually part of a community that talks about them all of the time.

Weirdest Phenomenon: Losing Where I Am

Sometimes I will be reading a book or the internet and I will completely forget where I am. I will be completely zoned out. Then I will look up and realize I am entirely surrounded by Japanese people and get really confused. It's a very jarring experience.1`1111 1`

First Thing I Am Going To Do Upon My Return: Middle Way Breakfast Burrito...and You Are All Invited

London Calling

A delay again! Sorry everyone! I've arrived in London and ended up not blogging at all, even though I have access to an awesome computer all of the time for the first time in months. But I owe you a Japan wrap-up as well as a few more "At the Half" posts. So look for those soon...probably.

Okay, definitely. I will be writing those over the next couple of days.

But I wanted to talk a little bit about London before I get into those because, simply put, London is awesome. Or somehow more awesome than it was before - which was already pretty great.

As you may or may not know, I visited London and surrounding areas in 2009. When I did that, I stayed with my friend Ryan's dad and step-mom Mike and Debra and had a fantastic time doing so. I got to know London, I caught a play, I visited Bath, Dover, Stonehenge, Canterbury and other things. I did a lot. It was a great time.

Now I am back, and this time for a completely undetermined period of time. I know that my next step is heading to Europe proper, but I have had a very difficult time deciding when to do so. I personally blame Mike and Debra as they have made it so nice to stay here that I haven't wanted to leave! I am on my sixth day here, and every day has been getting up, hanging out with Debra and her parents, eating breakfast, heading into London, enjoying the city and the sights, and often catching absolutely fantastic experiences that I couldn't get anywhere else. Granted, it isn't all perfect (the walk home at night terrifies me - seriously), but it has been a marvelous time so far.

I think a lot of that stems from the fact that this is the first time I've really felt home on my whole trip. Previously, the most time I spent consecutively in one place was 4 days, but here I can just enjoy and relax and feel like I am completely comfortable. It's really nice to have that. Incredibly enough, yesterday I spent reading, doing laundry, helping clean the house, reading newspapers in a nearby cafe, and genuinely being a good for nothing lazy guy. And it was marvelous. Then dinner guests came over and we enjoyed a delicious dinner and it was pretty much perfect. Nothing to complain about at all (unless you think spending my day doing nothing but lazing is a bad thing).

As I said though, there have been some extraordinary experiences as well, and I want to highlight those.

- THEATER!

Interestingly enough, I have never been to a play anywhere besides London. Last time I was here I saw a play starring James McAvoy called Three Days of Rain that was very enjoyable. This time I've upped the ante considerably.

First off, I caught a matinee of In the Forest, Dark and Deep, a 2 person play starring Matthew Fox (Dr. Jack Shepherd people!) and Olivia Williams (Miss Cross from Rushmore) and written/directed my Neil LaBute. It came recommended by Debra, and it was a dark and entertaining play highlighted by a fantastic performance from Fox. Granted, he was inherently hilarious because he was a redneck with a disgusting beard (something I know a lot about), but his performance was searing and dangerously funny (it makes sense). I very much enjoyed it, and it was my second experience with the more intimate plays the West End has to offer people.

The second play I saw was absolutely wonderful. It is a bit of a phenomenon in the West End, and it is a World War I play called War Horse. It's about a boy and his best friend - a horse named Joey - who is recruited for the cavalry for the Brits (the horse, not the boy), and their eventual quest to reunite with one another. The horses in the play are handled by what can only be called puppeteers but that word truly does it no justice - these horses are alive thanks to the actions of these handlers It's stunning to watch, and the story itself is beautiful and haunting (I was welling up tears like none other at the end). Throw in a golden voiced man who helps transition scene to scene and you have a play that will likely stick with me forever. I also love the fact that I lucked out and got the second-to-last ticket that just happened to be right on stage essentially. It was incredible (also, War Horse US was just nominated for the Best Play Tony - it better win!).

- SUFJAN STEVENS!

Sufjan Stevens, the multi-instrumentalist musician extraordinaire and one of my favorites, was visiting ol' London Town for 2 nights of shows in the prestigious Royal Festival Hall (the glorious hall that the London Symphony Orchestra performs). I...was not going, sadly. It was sold out both nights and I was already seeing him in Barcelona for Primavera Sound, so no Sufjan for me. That evening, I was wandering the South Bank of London, checking out the Tate Modern museum, the Globe Theater (you know, Shakespeare's theater), and various other things on a beautiful May day in London. As I walked by the hipster heavy area that was the Royal Festival Hall (this was like a beard and cardigan convention - I think these folk need some sort of support group), I decided, why the hell not - why don't I go find out if there is magically an extra ticket or two?

I walk in, and it looks like there is no hope. Bespectacled literati and happy faced hipsters roamed these halls, gleefully talking about how they were excited for the opener but how they preferred Sufjan pre BQE (or so I can only assume they were talking about this, aren't these the things that hipsters speak of?). Sheepishly, I walk up to the line and wait my turn. I'm zoned out looking at the reflection of my Benny's Taco Wagon shirt wearing self ahead of me as a staff member frantically tries to get my attention. I scurry over and bow my head.

Me: Are there any tickets left for Sufjan tonight? (Then a blur of "I know it is sold out" based lines escape from my mouth as the vendor looks taken aback by my verbosity)

Ticket Vendor: Umm...yeah. Actually, the guy right before you just returned two tickets. They are up near the front and on the aisle. Do you want the one on the aisle?

Me (completely bewildered but also thinking "holy crap, this means I have to walk back in the dark!"): Yes I would like that please give me the ticket now please please please.

Ticket Vendor: Ooookay. That would be 24 pounds 50.

Of course, knowing me, I spaz out and lose the ticket as I stalk the halls looking like a kid on Christmas morning assuredly (NINTENDO 64!!!!), and then feel my heart sink into my feet when the realization hits about 10 or so minutes later.

Believe it or not, I found it on the ground, face up near a staircase stating "Sufjan Stevens - Admit One."

Thank god.

The show itself was okay. Only the best show I have ever seen.

Here's the set-list:

Seven Swans
Too Much
Age of Adz
Heirloom
All For Myself
I Walked
Now That I'm Older
Get Real
Vesuvius
Enchanting Ghost
I Want To Be Well
Futile Devices
Impossible Soul

Encore:
Concerning the UFO Sighting Near Highland, Illinois
John Wayne Gacy, Jr.
Chicago

The opener DM Stith was very good - I have to note that - but afterwards, when Sufjan came out playing his folk neo-classic Seven Swans wearing angels wings and the entire band glowing in the dark with their day glo suits on, you knew it was going to be a special evening. Every song was superbly performed, Sufjan's banter was pantheon quality (he spoke for 15 minutes about his craft and every person in the audience was hanging on his very words as he dryly made fun of himself and enlightened us at the same time), the spectacle was unforgettable (best light show I have ever seen, and that is with The Flaming Lips' UFO show and Ghostland Observatory under my belt), and the feeling in the air was...inspirational.

That's really all I can say about it. It made me feel better than any concert I have ever seen. I had chills running up and down my spine, I was euphoric, I was emotionally destroyed by some of his soulful performances...it was incredible. I honestly didn't know live music could surprise me any more, but this was more than that. It was an experience, and one that was completely saturated with positivity and hope for 2 and a half hours.

It was all captured in the main set closer Impossible Soul. If you know the song, you know it is a 25 minute stunner that finishes his newest album The Age of Adz. You also know it switches styles effortlessly, beginning with soulful electro, turning into a dance number later, and finishing out with a sweet folk close. About 10 minutes in, the most organically wonderful thing happened I have ever seen in a show, and it was because of the power of Sufjan.

Throughout the whole show, Sufjan encouraged fans to get up and dance. He said dance is the most pure language in the world and he wants us to share...but no one budged (although dancing in our seats was very common). Then, during Impossible Soul, one well-dressed man gets up and starts dancing in his seat. Then the floodgates opened. Then three more people were dancing. Then five more. Then people (including myself) ran down to the stage and started dancing. What went on from there was us helping sing the next 10 minutes, Sufjan and his two back-up singers dancing at the front of the stage, confetti flying, and literally everyone in the room gleefully singing "Boy, we can do much more together it's not so impossible/It's not so impossible" and any number of other lines from the song.

It was pure bliss. It was cathartic. It was monumental.

When the song closed, for the first time in my life I didn't want an artist to perform an encore. It was too perfect. But when Sufjan came out and performed two beautiful songs from his most popular album Illinois solo and closed with a life-affirming full band performance of Chicago (as massive balloons fell from the ceiling and the band and audience danced), I forgot that desire and gave into the good times that were being had.

As I wrote all of that, I thought of the performance and I just grinned and felt a buzz on my skin. This was the best performance I've ever seen. As he left the stage, Sufjan shook everyone's hands in the front row (sadly not mine) and departed, leaving the lot of us stunned and repeating to each other lines like "that was the best gig I have ever been to." It was universal - only the soulless could not appreciate this wonder.

I beg of you, if you ever get the chance, go see Sufjan Stevens live. The guy is a master of his craft, and one hell of a performer too. I can't imagine you'll regret it.

I know I don't.

Oh yeah, and London is totally great, right?

Music of the Day: Sufjan Stevens. Obviously.

Around the World Trip At The Half: The Airlines

My trip has been one that has required a lot of flights. In total I have taken 19 flights to date, both of the international and the domestic variety. I've flown budget airlines, boutique airlines, major airlines, good airlines, bad airlines, and the just plain weird airlines, but I would say on average my flights have been excellent. To the aspiring travelers, I figured I would share my take on these airlines so you get the same enjoyment I have out of them...or in some cases so you can avoid the torture.

Best of the Best (International): Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Air New Zealand, Malaysia Airlines

I will tackle each individually because they all deserve that.

Emirates: With a gun to my head, I would absolutely say this was the best as well as the best value. I flew them going from Christchurch to Sydney for about $100 American, which at 3.5 hours is a fairly comparable flight to the Alaska Airlines flight from Anchorage to Seattle which is a good bit more expensive ($200 or so more). But they cut no corners - spacious seats with leg room galore, beautiful screens on the seats to view their expansive movie library, delicious and free food service (yes I would like poached salmon served with an incredible rice side!), and excellent assistance from the flight staff. Amazing deal.

Singapore Airlines: Huge screens on the TV's with massive film options, incredibly comfy seats, maybe the friendliest service yet, tasty food, HUGE drink lists with only classy options (free cocktails - and legit ones too!), guest bags with eye covers, sleep socks and ear plugs, and extremely timely boarding and flights? Singapore Airlines were the surprise of all, as they were across the board great with no expectations preceding them. Well done.

Air New Zealand: Major bonus points go their way due to the fact they have the most personality of any airline (their passenger safety videos have to be seen to be believed), they also provide quality seating, food, drink and service. Already known as a great, they earned that reputation.

Malaysia Airlines: This was the airline I felt sketchiest about, yet they provided similar quality everything to the other three during the section that easily could have been the most dodgy. They went above and beyond, and I enjoyed the heck out of my experience.

Best of the Best (Domestic): Bangkok Airways

Now this is how you do domestic flights! Wonderful multilingual staff, great food, tons of leg room and low rates, traveling within Thailand was a dream thanks to them. Not only that, but both Chiang Mai and Koh Samui had lounges for all passengers (not just MVP's or gold members or something of that sort) with free Internet, newspapers, beverages and food. Pretty much amazing, and all for boutique airline rates.

Worst of the Worst (all airlines): Thomas Cook Airlines

It is easy to say how bad this airline is as I am writing this on one of their planes. My flight to London with them is painful in many ways. First off, the tiny seat with no leg room I am in is actually slanted, so I am constantly sitting in a painful position, even with the workaround of putting magazines under my butt to balance me out. The pad is missing from one half of the back of the chair, making it so it kills my back. The staff is outrageously rude (they bomb through the aisle and routinely ram into people, pull blankets off with their carts, and altogether have the demeanor of people who are about as interested in being there as I do in being at a Nickelback concert), the food is basically slung at passengers 30 minutes before they hand out drinks, and their entertainment options are minimal and inflexible.

Sure, they are a budget airline, but that doesn't mean you have to hire crap staff on an airplane that likely belongs on a scrap heap. This is easily the worst airline I have ever been on. Epic fail. I would sooner fly Oceanic Airlines from Sydney to LA than this.

Update: THEY SELL SCRATCH CARDS ON FLIGHTS. WHERE AM I?!?!

Worst of the Worst (Budget): Tiger Airways

Insanely pushy air staff treats you like a child as you fearfully finish a text 30 minutes pre flight while on board, shoving you into a baby chair that makes your flight from Brisbane to Sydney feel interminably long. Oh yeah, and their flights are always delayed or canceled. But they are REALLY cheap, so that is neat.

Weirdest of the Weird: China Eastern Airlines

This was going to be the worst but then I was introduced to Thomas Cook Airlines. This airline was very odd though, as the airplane smelled of cigarettes, the staff (who were great) seemed genuinely fearful of either every passenger lighting up or breaking out into armed insurrection, served food that was odd and often unrecognizable, and allowed passengers to wander the cabin during take off and landing. A genuine anything goes feeling permeated this airline, as a walking talking Panda Bear or kung Fu master as flight staff would have felt par for the course.

American vs. International

Having flown on both American airlines (like Alaska or United) as well as International airlines so far this trip, the comparison comes up easily...do American airlines compare well?

The short answer is no.

While both airlines I've flown in the US to date have had great staff who rolled with the punches well, American airlines are simply so focused on being businesses that customer experience doesn't even seem to matter to them. No leg room, no amenities, charging for EVERYTHING and no entertainment options...these are all things that are opposites of the majority of those international airlines I've enjoyed, but are the reality of American airlines. Alaska Airlines in particular is putrid, charging for everything they can get you on, shoving people into shabby metal carriages that are built for speed, not comfort, and all in all being far too expensive for what you get, international airlines outclass US ones easily.

The State We're In

My trip has been one that has been rife with shocking world events changing the scope of my existence in each country I have been. Whether it's been the Christchurch earthquake, the floods and cyclones in Australia, sparring between Thailand and Cambodia, the massive earthquake in Japan, or, most recently, the assassination of Osama bin Laden and its effect on European Muslim population, a lot of things entirely out of my control have changed the situation in my time within each stop.

Or at least, so says the media.

Let's use Japan as the test case here. Based strictly off the media and US travel advisories, my expectations would have been a country in tatters, with people moping about and everyone paranoid that the next moment could be the one when the next major earthquake hits. Based off the empty hostels I stayed in and the fact that I was interviewed by a Tokyo television station about the massive drop in foreigners visiting, it appears that these beliefs are widespread amongst the travelers of the world.

Yet, reality is completely unlike the one that is portrayed by news channels more interested in sensationalizing the news for the purpose of ratings and/or hits, as well as the one depicted by the understandably cautious US government.

Before I made my decision to come to Japan, I did a ton of research. I didn't just trust news outlets - I went to the ground. These days, with your everyday bloggers struggling to make a niche, sometimes you can't even trust the smaller news outlets, so I went with the very small niche. I went to smaller forums, I asked people I knew in Tokyo, and perhaps most importantly, I asked CouchSurfing.org and their Tokyo and Japan communities.

In that process, I found out that the "rolling blackouts" and "food shortages" were rare to non-existent in Tokyo and further south, that trains were in fact running in a timely fashion, and that the status was most definitely quo. Not only that, but I read articles from various sources (which I sadly cannot find) that were underreported and stated things like:

- A British nuclear expert shared that Chernobyl's historically large radius of effect was 30 km. Tokyo is 240 km away.
- Even at the heightened state of radiation, it would take 2 years of continuous dosage at Tokyo levels to affect you negatively.
- Radiation levels on average are higher in China even after the nuclear problems.

As for the earthquakes themselves, I came to realize that they were going to be something I would have to deal with. Even the ground level sources I came across readily admitted that they were coming regularly. Given that I'm from Alaska, a few earthquakes were not enough to deter me.

Throw in the fact that the US government only suggested not to go to Tokyo, and that neighboring cities like Hiroshima, Kyoto, Osaka and others were good to go, and I said screw it, let's do this.

And do this I did, and I found that...not a whole lot had changed. People were happy. Trains were on time. Shelves were stocked with food. There were no blackouts. Basically, the only thing that had changed is that the amount of foreign visitors had plummeted - I spoke to one front desk employee at a hostel and they told me that they were hit by a 90% cancellation rate.

But the things that people would be concerned about just weren't there. People were fearful for no reason. Even the things that were most likely real - the earthquakes and irradiated food/water - ended up being non-factors for simple reasons.

Earthquakes: They happened. Sometimes often - I felt probably ten in one night - and sometimes prolific - I was in a 6.0 that lasted for about a minute - but they are earthquakes. I've grown quite accustomed to them over the years, and they weren't anything to stress about.

The Food: The area with the nuclear troubles also happens to be the source of 25% of the produce and a good amount of the seafood for the country. They came up with a simple but elegant solution to the problem. DO NOT SELL IT! Shocking, right? Going to a restaurant and finding out that a certain type of sushi or bit of food was nixed because of potential risks was an uncommon but occasional occurrence. If you happened to be the type of person more fearful than me, here is an easy solution: don't eat seafood. There are plenty of other options.

The Water: They invented something. It's called bottled water. Buy it. Drink it. Go forth and prosper.

To me, those people who passed on traveling here are, like the US government, understandably cautious. If you're fearful of these problems enough that it would negatively affect your trip, don't come. However, I went for it and ever so glad I did. Not only did I find out that this is a spectacular country, but I found out just how warm and welcoming and understanding the Japanese people are. Especially now with the way tourism has plummeted, I've actually had people come up and thank me - thank me - for visiting their country.

According to the news, I should likely be on my death bed with some sort of radiation based disease, surrounded by wildly depressed doctors and being served food that should only worsen my condition.

Instead, I am greeted with open arms, eating better than I have ever eaten in my entire life, sleeping in the world's best hostels, and generally having the time of my life.

With that in mind, I approach my upcoming in time in Europe without trepidation or reservations, but with excitement and happiness. Some have suggested I mask my identity as an American for fear of retribution from the Muslim community. As a traveler, I quickly realized that the old adage "treat people how you'd like to be treated" is one of great import.

While Americans may get mistreated on occasion in foreign countries, I can attest to this fact personally that it is quite often because American travelers frequently act like boorish jerks who are ethnocentric and overly expectant of these places to cater to their very specific needs. The answer to me is to assimilate quickly, act with understanding and openness to new things, and to just be friendly and make an effort to bridge the gap between my preferred customs and theirs.

When I did that in 2009 in Europe, I found myself blending in instead of standing out. That's not to say I will travel with no care in the world and not protect myself from potential harm. But it is to say that I will likely find myself less likely to need to, no matter what the media or travel advisories state.