Jan 31, 2014

Sydney Underground, Bunker parties and secret spots

When on the road we have a tendency to go more extreme with our exploration. Arriving with fresh eyes and buoyed by fellow travelers, we delve deeper and are more open to opportunities

I had a 'Yes Man' year prior to my yearlong EuroTrip in 2011. Aided by the irregular hours of my new job I was able to experience my hometown of Sydney through a new perspective. During this time I navigated through several scenes, from spoken word, punk rock, comedy, art and hip hop.

I've been to my fair share of shows at interesting spaces and squats from my time in punk rock. This bunker party by Chowder Bay was my first in the electronic scene. This night affirmed what I'd always believed about Sydney. It might not stay out as late or have the reputed party scene as the other global capitals but there's more than meets the eye.

Coolspotting in Sydney: Comedy, art, festivals and galleries
- Find all "Home" related posts here

This night was interesting because of what I didn't do.
A yacht was docked close to the shore and several partygoers had swum onboard and reported the occupants were quite accommodating. It sounded like a crazy enough adventure to go on but I hesitated. My running mate and I had discussed the foolishness of risk-taking behaviour on the drive in, this certainly qualified. I'm also not that great a swimmer.

This missed opportunity and the topic of FOMO [Fear of Missing Out] plagued me for weeks. I transcribed some great insight from writer Mike White who talked about it on Marc Maron's WTF podcast. It came up again in a podcast conversation I had with a yoga instructor.
Actor, Writer and Traveler Mike White speaks to Marc Maron about Adventure
MIKE WHITE: (36m 20s mark) I've gone through this period where when I'm invited to do something random I just do it because I feel "I should do that". And after a while -- I recently read a book about fetishising, this thing we feel where we need to have experiences. Its a Buddhist-- at some point you can let go of "missing out on things"
- Let's Get Real | Episode 6 preview: Be like water
- Actor, Writer and Traveler Mike White speaks to Marc Maron about adventure

Being a kid again at the 'Henry Head' bunkers
Photo credit: 미쉘sam's Flickr

CouchSurfing has always been a hit or miss affair for me. That said, many of my more memorable and obscure experiences have been through the hospitality exchange network. After returning from my EuroTrip I connected with a ragtag group of CSers to do some urbex [Urban Exploration] around the coastline of Sydney.

One of the CSers had recently returned from several years teaching English in Japan. Through further conversation we discovered that she was a running mate of my cousin who had been teaching English himself in rural Japan. That night I attended a joint birthday party celebrated by a CSer I had interviewed for my podcast.
Being a kid again: Cave clanning in La Perouse, Sydney
The best part of the outing was the imagination we injected into the experience. It was like a quest, we each got to display our specific attributes of height, balance and flexibility to progress. We pretended people in the distance were our future selves and that the island was inhabited by dinosaurs.
- Let's Get Real | Episode 3 preview: Love and discontent
- Zach Cregger: Being a kid again and the power of "play"
- Matt Besser: Travel coincidences and Counting the serendipities
Louis Theroux, Couchsurfing and Holland

Jan 8, 2014

South America Post Compilation

Activity on the 'Loz in Translation' blog has been minimal which is unfortunate as I value my output when I travel. I consider it the mark of a good journey when my travels lead to memorable moments that also pave the way for great art and stories. The 'Memento Year exhibition' and my 'Quotes Collection' come to mind in this regard.

That said, whilst in South America I was generating content for my other Interest blogs: '30 Home Games' (Basketball) and 'Let's Get Real podcast' (Reality) . Find a selection of posts below:

30 Home Games

My time in Caracas, Venezuela for FIBA Americas 2013
Photo credit: Brian I
Streetball with locals around South America: Christmas Day in Bogota, Colombia
Let's Get Real podcast
Technology VS Human instinct: From Inuits in Northern Canada to Jungle Guides in the Amazon
'The Secret Life of Walter Mitty': Ben Stiller on hyperreality and losing yourself in the moment
Being truly free [with the help of Robots?]: 'Whatever You Wish' by Isaac Asimov

Jan 2, 2014

'Loz in Transit' South America 2013 expanded map

'Loz in Transit' South America 2013 map
180 days in South America: Chile, Argentina, Venezuela, Brazil, Ecuador and Colombia

South America (North)
Venezuela Day 57 - 72 (September):
Stays: Caracas
Ecuador Day 120 - 150 (November):
Stays: Cuenca, Vilcabamba, Guayaquil, Montañita, Baños, Cuyabeno (Amazonas), Quito
Colombia Day 150 -180 (December):
Stays: Popayán, Cali, Salento, Medellín, Cartagena, Santa Marta, Tayrona Park, Bogota

South America (South)
Chile Day 1 -29 (July):
Stays: Santiago, Valparaíso, Viña del Mar, La Serena, San Pedro de Atacama
Argentina Day 30 - Day 57, 73 - 81 (August):
Stays: Mendoza, Córdoba, Rosario, Buenos Aires
Brazil Day 82 - 119 (October):
Stays: Porto Alegre, Santa Maria, Santa Cruz, Erechim, Florianópolis, São Paulo, Curitiba, Rio de Janeiro

Other 'Loz in Transit' maps:
- 30 Home Games: NBA Destinations
- 'Loz in Transit' Europe 2011 expanded map