Taste-test
After thinking about it for quite some time, I am finally "stepping into the void". Starting in April, I will be departing my everyday life and going into explore mode for a year. For now, I am planning to be in Eastern Europe for the summer '07, and southeast Asia for the winter of '08. But, of course, things could change. Please bookmark this site and join me in my adventure.
Architecture by Wal-Mart
UNITED KINGDOM | Friday, 20 April 2007 | Views [1329] | Comments [14]
So I got my ears pierced. I contemplated blaming it on my cousin Jill saying she got me super drunk and dragged me in to the tattoo/peircings place, but the reality is I had been secretly planning to do it once I was on my trip. It’s interesting…. I think I really like it. It fits my personality and I like how it looks. My tattoo of the tree of life is my next experiment with self-mutilation. Don’t worry – its going on my back and will be about fist size.
As to my latest travels, I’m currently writing from Jill’s living room in Harrogate UK, looking out at the heavy looming rainclouds. It’s been unseasonably nice actually since I got to Dublin, but this may be the first inclement weather to set in. Jill lives in one of the most charming cities I’ve ever seen. It feels about the size of Roseburg, but it seems to have a sort of wealthy cosmopolitan influence. I can walk downtown from her place in about 20 minutes where there are all sorts of trendy restaraunts, cafes, clubs, stores, all within a wonderland of ancient cut stone architecture and narrow cobblestone streets. There isn’t a single home here (or I’m guessing all of the UK) made of anything but rock and brick. It almost seems that this country, and these homes and buildings, are what REAL homes and towns should look like; whereas much of where we live in the US (ie suburbia) seems phony and mass-produced by comparison. Of course, I have yet to see London and the surrounding area, but in terms of architecture I think it will be similar.
Much of what I’ve been doing here is spending afternoons with Jill for a few hours, as she has had to work 6pm-6am shifts, catching up in the computer in the evening, then walking downtown at night to a dance club called Flares. Harrogate is not known for having a gay scene but there is an element of “flare” to this place as indicated by the name. I’ve actually had a blast at this place. They play disco that you can sing and dance to, and there’s tons of mostly middle-aged guys and gals just having fun on the dance floor. I have yet to get Jill out there with me but to be sure this weekend I will drag her out.
Perhaps most striking about my trip so far is the disparity between the value of the US dollar compared to the Euro and British Pound. Honestly, it makes me feel like I am from a 2nd world country. It’s really quite disturbing actually. The dollar is now worth half that of 1 pound, and less than 2/3 of a Euro. For example if I were to buy a value meal at MacDonalds, which to someone living here is around 5 Euros, it costs me 8-10 US dollars for the same exact meal. Ridiculous. What’s happening to our country????? Not a good sign in my opinion. Anyhow, my frugality has been magnified to battle this incongruence. I have avoided eating out whenever possible, and in most cases limit myself to one beer. It will be this way until I settle somewhere and can minize costs all the more.
Since I haven’t wrapped up my experience in Dublin, here’s a few tidbits. I really only had 2 full days in Dublin if you subtract travel days and jet lag recuperation. The first day I went to some free museums and checked out the nightlife. I started at a really large place called the George which had some really fun karioki, somewhat like American Idol style. I then retired at a smaller pub where I met this nice guy named Timothy O. Sullivan (can you get more Irish than this) who generously offered to drive me around the countryside the next day. I think I enjoyed just talking the most, as the accent and choice of words are so much fun. I love the use of the words, mates, chaps, cheers, boy-o, …. There’s many others. The next day I had a major transportation challenge in getting myself across on ocean and then inland to Harrogate about 250 miles by train. The ferry ride was fantastic (as always) and the train ride too was absolutely georgous. How I made all those connections I’ll never know.
Until next time. I hope you all understand that it is difficult to respond to all your comments specifically, but I read them all and savor the tidbits from home and friends. Please keep them coming.
Tags: Misadventures
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