Wayward Life

Ventura Beach Underpass

2010-06-28T20:04:00.001-04:00

I appreciate that they've done some nice art near the fairgrounds. I'm a little alarmed, though, at how, um, big this man is.

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Photos from LA Pride 6/13/2010

2010-06-16T20:08:00.001-04:00

Some really fun photos here. I don't know WHAT that is talking on his cell phone. Also, is there some kind of fetish that goes along with a horse and buggy that I don't know about?

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False Advertising

2010-04-20T00:45:00.001-04:00

The outside of the 7 Eleven Ice Cream tub. The inside. Not looking too similar to me.

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The Ramen Rangers

2010-04-19T15:43:00.001-04:00

I got my hands on the pilot script and am going to read it tonight. Really curious to hear if they pull this one off....a show about CIA Backpackers?

http://matadornights.com/the-ramen-rangers-cw-pilot-turns-backpackers-into-cia-operatives/

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Croque Madame @ Monsieur Marcel = HEAVEN

2010-04-12T23:37:00.001-04:00

Monsieur Marcel in Farmer's Market at The Grove, Los Angeles. All kinds of delicious.

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As Seen at The Grove

2010-04-11T19:31:00.001-04:00

The Magic Nut & Candy Company, The Grove Farmer's Market, Los Angeles

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Cascais, Portugal

2010-04-09T02:21:00.001-04:00

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Why I Love Irv's Burgers in West Hollywood

2010-04-04T01:51:00.001-04:00

This is where I read LA Weekly every week and fail to improve my cholesterol level.

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Large Flies in Taman Negara, Malaysia

2010-04-03T16:56:00.001-04:00

My hand. My foot. My word.

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Laos and I

2010-04-03T16:42:00.001-04:00

(from the archives)

I flew from Siem Reap to Pakse, Laos on a Lao Airlines prop plane with neon seats and a terrifying reputation. I then took a tuk-tuk to the southern bus station (a dirt parking lot that resembles a fairground in the off-season). I negotiated a lift towards Si Phan Dom on a local bus, a pickup truck with seats in the back (and a basket of pigs). They stopped about half way and added a freezer our load, right next to the swine and just shy of my right foot.

I found people from NYC on my bus. They were a couple in their early twenties who had been teaching in China. We agreed to stick together and found accommodation on Don Det island, which involved hiring a motorboat after the bus dropped us in a another dirt field (bus station). Travel days are a pain in the ass.

Don Det is surrounded by an alleged 4000 Mekong islands and the river itself. It has about 30 guest houses (huts with hammocks) and generated electricity from 6pm until 10pm. There is a crazy rumour going around that there will be electricity here by 2010 and this means that it's only a matter of years before float planes and a Sofitel appear. Until then, it's a backpacking stop where days are spent hammocking (new verb) and riding around the island. The sunsets are shocking and I could easily have spent a week here doing nothing.

One hilarious thing is that the walls of most huts are paper thin and conversations easily floats from bungalow to bungalow. So does the noise of sex. Take a stroll around the island just after the generators kick and you'll hear hut after hut of backpacking couples doing the nasty. The guy in the room next to me groaned out of nowhere last night, then his girlfriend opened their door and spit off the balcony. Total sorority girl move.

I blew the bank on a 15km kayaking trip, which was the highlight of my time on DD. We were dropped in just after the waterfall and had to traverse some nasty Class 5 rapids quickly. I flipped going into the biggest hole - anyone who has spent time in rapids will tell you that this the worst time to wreck. The realization that you have to go down the whole stretch this way is terrifying. I desperately clung to my kayak as I was thrown down the river, gulping for air and using ny knees as a shield oncoming rocks. The guide was shouting "STAY LIGHT" (right) but I was pulled by the much harsher current on the left. Scary, scary shit. I was pretty banged up by the time I was spat out. One puncture wound on my right shin is going to take months to heal and could probably have used some stitches (if there was a doctor within 200 miles).

Three nights passed quickly on Don Det. It's got just enough tourist charm and just enough rural feel. With all of the construction going on, it's obvious that won't last for long.

I made a fast decision to head north for Champasak, which was a relatively quick bus+boat trip away. It's a sleepy town with few tourists and I loved it immediately. I fell in with a couple from California, who were also staying at my guesthouse. Over the next two days we drove motorbikes up to the local temples (Wat Phu), ate a fuckload of delicious Lao food and drank cheap whiskey.

The whiskey here is $1 a bottle and is sweet, kind of like Soco. The brand is called Lion King. The best part about it is the typo on every bottle's sticker, which purports the contents to taste "smooth and mellon".

I have now landed on the island of Don Daet, which has increased the number of tourists here from zero to one (me). I am at the island's community guesthouse, which has two mattresses on the floor and a balcony overlooking the river. Everyone is quite curious why a tourist would come here and dozens of kids have ridden by, smiled and shouted "Sabadii!!" (Hello). I rode a clunky bike around the island today and became a local attraction. Tomorrow morning I have to find a fisherman who will take me back to the mainland, were I can head up to Pakse.

After Pakse I meet up with a friend. She is with me for one week and I am sure that this will be a shock to the system. It's been ten weeks since I've seen a single person that I know. I am not sure if I am nervous or excited. No wait. Nervous.

I'd suck off each of the Seven Dwarfs off for a slice of good pizza.

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Badeschiff Swimming Pool in Berlin, Germany

2010-03-29T21:32:00.001-04:00

A pool in a river. It's true.

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No Skateboarding or Rollerblading Sign Looks Like Angry Man Face With Stubble

2010-03-24T16:05:00.001-04:00

Austin, TX.

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#SXSW'S PATENTED TEXT AND WALK

2010-03-20T02:27:00.001-04:00

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Two Things That I Hate About Hotels

2010-03-19T03:05:00.001-04:00

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Have You Ever Seen Something So Perfect?

2010-03-16T20:38:00.001-04:00

Not all tapas is created equally. Taken and eaten in Girona, Spain.

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36 Hours In Bocas Del Toro, Panama

2010-03-13T02:55:00.001-05:00

I went to Panama about a year ago and played around with the Travel & Leisure format, writing a test piece about Bocas Tel Toro. It wasn't easy, not because of the research but more because I'm not used to writing this way. It felt a bit dispassionate but I just re-read it and realized that at the least, there's some good information in here:

Sleep

Owned by a Cincinnati native and worth the step up from hostel-land, Cocomo On The Sea (Avenida Norte; 757-9259; www.cocomoonthesea.com; doubles from $60) feels like the kind of classic B&B you’d find on Martha’s Vineyard. The four private rooms open onto the ocean that’s filled with comfy furniture to sink into for a quiet beer. Bocas Town is perfect if you’re eyeballing a cheap place to sleep – Mondo Taitu (myspace.com/mondotaitu) knows how to throw down a party and is the partypacker spot of choice. Those seeking an escapist experience will find it in Garden Of Eden Resort (459-3689; www.gardenofedenbocaspanama.co ; $160 Suites), which is located on a private island and allows no more than fifteen guests at a time.

Eat

The best way to start a day is at Lili’s Café (Calle 1; lunch for two $15), where you’ll rub elbows with expats in the know. The fiery house omelet is plated with a potent “Killin’ Me Man” sauce and the Curried Tuna sandwich is held together with homemade, brick-sized bread. Cosmic Crab Café (Isla Carenero, 757-9157, $20 for two) is a quick water taxi ride away and serves up the freshest seafood around, buying directly from fishermen who bring their haul to the local dock each day. The Carribean Coconut Chicken Soup will roll your eyes into the back of your head. Ditto the fresh lobster with a lime-garlic butter sauce. The best stop for a late-night snack is The Chicken Truck (intersection of Calle 3 and Av Central; $3.00, open late). Tourists and locals stand shoulder-to-shoulder to nab one of these grilled baguettes with marinated chicken nirvana.

Play

Grab two wheels at Bocas Rent-A-Bike (Main Street, 6446-0787, $2 per hour) to explore. A more chill way to see the islands is to plant your ass on a seven hour catamaran trip (Hotel Dos Palmas; 757-9710; $40 per person, includes snorkeling). Island hopping via water taxis is an easy way to fill the day – taxis are abundant on the waterfront and most rides will cost under $5. A visit to Green Frog Beach (water taxi; $20 roundtrip + $2 admission) is a must if you’re looking for beaches with absolutely nobody on them but you. Boca Del Drago Beach sits on the western side of Isla Colon and is recognized as the safest beach to swim, as well as a popular place to spot starfish. Lovers of winged things will enjoy a trip to the Butterfly Farm (Isla Ca Carenero; $5) and surfers will do best to check in at Tropix Surf Shop (Calle 3; 757-9727), in order to find out the inside scoop on breaks and barrels. Jet skis are quite popular in the area and are tops for getting a feel of the islands’ geography - grab one on the dock behind Tropical Suites (Calle 1, 757-9081, $30/hour).

Sundown

Sunsets are packed at Barco Hundido (Calle 1). Peak over the deck here and you’ll be able to see the sunken ship just past the end of the boardwalk. 6:30pm gongs two-for-one happy hour at La Iguana (Calle 1), where pink island drinks reign supreme. Party people head to Aqua Lounge Bar (Isla Canero; $1 Water Taxi) for $2 Balboa Lager and an ideal view of Bocas Town as the sun sets. There’s often a barbeque fired up here and if you’re still in your swimsuit, there’s a pool on the water which is perfect for that last swim of the day. The late night party ends at Mondo Taitu Bar (Av I), a hugely popular spot that is often packed with those who prefer a tequila shot as a nightcap.

Getting There

The path of least resistance is to fly. Twice-daily flights make the trip from Panama City (Air Panama; www.flyairpanama.com; $200 roundtrip). The ride has killer views of the Panama Canal. Upon arriving in the local airport/soccer field, share taxis will take you anywhere in town for a buck.

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The Champ Goes Down

2010-03-11T20:29:00.001-05:00

Queenstown, NZ.

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My Affinity for Condiments

2010-02-22T18:25:00.001-05:00

I wrote this piece about my Condiment Love and was surprised at just how many people read it (9,000 according to Google!?). I discovered a couple here that I didn't know and plan to get my hands on some recipes to try creations at home.

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Halfway Through My Pile of Receipts from a Year of Travel

2010-02-14T02:24:00.001-05:00

Taking all tax return advice!

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What's That Little Building in the Basin?

2010-02-09T17:54:00.001-05:00

That's the YHA at Mt. Cook, New Zealand.

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24 Hours of Eating In Buenos Aires

2010-02-07T18:25:00.001-05:00

The challenge: To eat as much as I could in Buenos Aires over 24 hours.

Read all about it here: http://matadornights.com/buenos-aires-binge-eating/

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The Loch Ness Monster Won't Die

2010-01-11T13:50:00.001-05:00

This "hoax" picture of Loch Ness Monster seems to be something that people love. It's a companion photo that I made with cardboard and basil, to coincide with a piece that I wrote here on my blog. It was re-used for an article on Gadling (and picked up by AOL). We've since re-run the blog on Matador. Read it if you'd like.

http://matadortrips.com/hunting-the-other-loch-monster-in-morar-scotland/

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Matador Makes Me Want To Go To Montana

2010-01-06T21:15:00.001-05:00

Matador is obsessed with a few places. 2009 seemed to be the year that we were most obsessed with Santiago, Buenos Aires, Berlin and...Montana. I have a friend with a cabin there and I'm looking to make America a permanant home. So I pretty much devoured all of these posts tonight. I have to say, I'm really blow away by all of these articles, even if i do work at Matador. I feel like I can just leaf through these and plan a trip, which is what I'm going to do. Now, just have to figure out how to get some time off after a year away.

http://matadortrips.com/winter-wolf-watching-in-yellowstones-lamar-valley/
http://matadortrips.com/montana-resorts-treating-yourself-right-in-big-sky-country/
http://matadortrips.com/amazing-winter-travel-itinerary-5-days-in-montana/
http://matadorsports.com/winter-fly-fishing-in-montana-bundle-up-dont-bring-beer/
http://matadortrips.com/winter-wolf-watching-in-yellowstones-lamar-valley/

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Dulles' Airport Chairs Are Electric

2010-01-04T11:51:00.001-05:00

Say what you will about Dulles but wow, look at this: POWER POINTS IN THE WAITING ROOM CHAIRS. Other people fantasize about hot broads. Me, I fantasize about a day when all airport chairs have places to charge my gadgets.

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My PIcks For 16 of the best USA Music Festivals of 2010

2009-12-28T12:03:00.001-05:00

Just up at Nights: http://matadornights.com/16-us-music-festivals-not-to-miss-in-2010/

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My Picks for 20 Craziest Party Hostels In The World

2009-12-21T20:49:00.001-05:00

I spent the weekend doing an update to one of our biggest articles on Nights. Here are 20 MORE of the craziest party hostels in the world, including many that I've stayed at.

http://matadornights.com/20-more-of-the-craziest-party-hostels-around-the-world/

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Hunting The (Other) Loch Monster In Morar, Scotland

2009-12-13T17:05:00.001-05:00

<img src="http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/qq42/shinealightnyc/morag3.jpg" /><p>Author's hoax photo. Not convincing. Yes, that's basil. </p> <h5> Morag </h5> Morag is a loch monster with a terrible publicist. Although slightly famous in Scotland, tales of Morag have not spilled into coloring books or Hollywood films. A bit of a sensation in the late sixties, the beast’s home of Loch Morar has shied away from publicisizing sightings and remains quite disinterested in a tourist trade that involves humped aquatic creatures. The case for a monster in Morar, though, is compelling and arguably stronger than discussion of what might be living in neighboring Loch Ness. For starters, Loch Morar is the deepest freshwater body of water in Europe, reaching depths of over 1,000 feet. It is largely uninhabited, flanked by a road that only covers one quarter of its perimeter – this allows for hardly any traffic around the lake, which would explain the lack of tourist sightings. More importantly, it is the setting for sightings as sensational as any that have come out of Nessietown. Tales of a monster have permeated the Morar area for centuries, first spun as tales during “silly season”, the terrible winters when Scottish highlanders hole up, tell tales and get a little juiced up. According to early tales, “Mhorag” was the spirit of the loch, only appearing in the form of a mermaid when a member of the Gilles clan was about to kick. Later, tales spun of a waterhorse (or “kelpie”) that would lure riders onto its back, then drown them and snack on their remains. If you’re laughing, you probably weren’t born in the 1700’s, when it was completely reasonable to treat most of these tales as fact, rather than fiction. <img src="http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/qq42/shinealightnyc/morar2.jpg" /><p></p> <h5> The Golden Age</h5> Monster hunting in the Harry Potter Age has got to be difficult. Nearly eighty years after the first reported sighting in Loch Ness, the creature has started to lose its sex appeal, out-imagined by Pixar and the like. The romance of a loch monster just might be dead and buried, even if the animal is still alive and swimming. Still, I wanted to find out if what I’d been hearing was true; if another loch was a more likely candidate for some kind of beastie than the infamous one near Inverness. I went straight to Scotland’s loch monster expert, Adrienne Shine, in hopes of learning a bit more before I set off to Morar myself. Nobody would know better than Shine, who began his own Morar investigation in 1974. He was sparked by the loch’s most famous account, which made papers around the world. Says Shine, “It was the encounter in 1969 that aroused my interest. I thought if Loch Ness wasn’t the only place where there were these traditions, perhaps there’s more chance of it being real.” He hired a rowboat and drifted at night with a powerful light fixed to a camera, in hopes of repeating the encounter. After this turned up nothing but a false sighting in the form of a rock (“It taught me not to believe the evidence of my own eyes.”), Shine decided to head below water. By 1975 he was manning missions into the depths of a loch in a homemade submersible, during what he calls “the underwater phase of my work.” Shine is difficult to pin when asked the ultimate question about what’s out there, mostly because he has no definitive evidence either way. He says,”I have no one theory because many animals and physical effects have contributed to sightings.” When asked about his favorite explanation, he offers “I am accused of the Shine Theory. The occasional migration of sturgeon into fresh water might have started the water horses tradition.” While many argue that such a fish couldn’t live in these lochs, it is quite arguable that no fish has ever looked like a horse more than a sturgeon. Shine is honest about why he first started hunting the now-famous beast, seeing it first as “a soft option for fame and glory.” Thirty-five years later, it has become much more than this to him. He’s manned countless expeditions in Loch Ness, most famously with 1987’s Operation Deepscan, during which dozens of sonar-armed boats scanned and mapped the whole of Loch Ness. It proved inconclusive. If a man like Shine couldn’t find a monster, how would I? There was one thing that Shine said that kept me going. “Wherever these traditions seem to come to the surface now, there’s always a perception that they’re copying Loch Ness.” It was his way of saying that Morar had been written off as a copycat. Could Morar just be a place that had been overlooked? Digging a little deeper into the history the area, it seemed entirely possible. <img src="http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/qq42/shinealightnyc/morar4.jpg" /><p>Rocks make a deceptive wake. </p> <h5> Morar and The Monster</h5> I’d been reading The Search For Morag, a history of all known accounts of the monster. Hardly a best seller, I’d had to order this discontinued title from a collector’s shop and paid dearly for it. Written by Elizabeth Montgomery Campbell in 1972, the hardback documents everything known about Morar, recalling over 100 years of sightings and probing that ultimate question. The book doesn’t disappoint, recounting sightings that were, in the words of one subject, “beyond explanation or definition”. Reports generally describe a humped, “eel-like or snake-like” creature, with “black and shiny” skin. It is generally seen on sunny and calm days, when the waters are less choppy and Scotland’s rain isn’t pissing down. The most famous sighting – the one that grabbed Shine’s attention in 1969 – involved two men, Duncan McDonell and William Simpson. In the account, they describe a creature that accidentally ran into their boat while breaching the surface. Their initial fear was that it might capsize the boat. After attempting to fend it off with an oar, Simpson fired his rifle in the animal’s direction. He claims, “I then watched it slowly sink away and that was the last I’ve seen of it.” The whole thing would have been easy to write off were there not scores of other sightings before and after. Morar is exactly the same as Campbell described it in 1972. The town is comprised of a hotel, a train platform and about ten houses. The Morar Hotel is one of those terrifying old white houses, the kind with squeaky floors, a mysterious staff and wall-to-wall carpet. I was given an umbrella at check-in and warned that rain came when it pleased, and often. I made my way down to the water under careful directions from the hotel (“Turn left at the house with the satellite that’s pointed towards God.”) and took a look. It was ominous, moody and unfathomably quiet. The skies had gone dark and threatened to spill buckets. Nothing living moved on or around the lake. The opposing shore was at least a mile away and not one boat could be seen on the water. The loch was desolate. The water had a wake that day, mostly because of the coming and going weather. I could see quite easily why there were so many false sightings in these parts – every rock or wave looked like something. One of the most common monster mistakes has been the misinterpretation of a boat wake. I could see how easy it would be to misinterpret a wave on these waters - a number of them caught my eye, tricking me too. The rain finally started to fall as I tried my best to walk the path around the loch. It would have been impossible to circle in one day, so my plan was to make it halfway around, about another hour out from where the road ended. In the course of six hours I saw three people, seven cars and about ten houses. There just wasn’t much life on the loch, other than the occasional lamb or sheep. My eyes remained on the water. It wasn’t so much that I was hoping to spot a giant serpent but more that the loch had some kind of draw, a quiet power that demanded attention. There was no doubt in my mind that if there is ever to be something discovered, it could be found here, rather than in a populated place like Loch Ness. Half a day later, I was back at the hotel, sans monster story and waterlogged. <h5> But Is There Something? </h5> Nobody would talk to me. I’d been warned about this from a few people but it was surprisingly true – the town has zero interest in kicking up a story and attracting tourists. It would seem that the fame of the 1969 sighting was enough of a taste for everyone. I did speak with one woman who wished to remain anonymous. She said that the area was largely run by one of the older families and that they wanted nothing more than for the world to leave them (and their sheep) alone. The mandate was that if you spoke, there’d be hell to pay. She herself has seen something in the water but brushed it off as quick as it was out of her mouth. “It was probably nothing.” The sightings in The Search For Morag are all that really remains of the hunt in this loch and may serve as the end of any formal investigation. But they’re still compelling to this day. There is the story of John MacVarish: “What I saw was a long neck five or six feet out of the water with a small head on it, coming quite slowly down the loch.” And Charles Fishburne: “It passed within thirty-fifty yards to port…three large, black hump-shaped objects moving quickly through the water.” Or Kate MacKinnon: “It was rather like a huge eel…the neck was about one foot in diameter and was black in color.” All of these tales have to make you wonder if there is something out there and, if so, what it might be. There’s plenty of exploring left to be done in these waters and plenty of stories to be fished out. If you’re interested in trying your hand then you couldn’t find a better place than Loch Morar. Just turn left at the satellite aimed towards God and keep walking. <div class="captionright"><img src="http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/qq42/shinealightnyc/morar1.jpg" /></div>

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Future Of Film Summit Was Cool. Maybe Next Time Backdrop Shouldn't Look Like A G-String, Though.

2009-12-11T11:12:00.001-05:00

I went to #fofilm in LA earlier this week. Maybe I had had too much coffee but this backdrop struck me as....panty-like.

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United Airlines Back To Basics Marketing @LAX

2009-12-10T15:47:00.001-05:00

I was walking through LAX today and saw this Wheel Of Fortune knockoff. I'm always impressed when a company remembers that viral marketing isn't the be-all, end-all. In fact, I wonder if things like this don't work better because there isn't much competition for space these days. UAL had a wheel that offered prizes. I handed over my boarding pass, had it checked off and then spun the wheel. Prizes included a 20% off booking coupon, Economy Plus upgrade, a free Premier Lane pass (whatever), playing cards....and what I won.

A bottle of water.

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United's Dirty Wings IAD-LAX

2009-12-03T13:47:00.001-05:00

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You'll Never Get The Story About Making Out With The Surfer...

2009-12-01T10:37:00.001-05:00

...but you will get six solid hostel reviews from Portugal. Click here for my hostel roundup from Porto, Lisbon & beyond.

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I Did Not Eat This But Susan Did (Octopus, Olives, Onion & Vinegar)

2009-11-30T22:53:00.001-05:00

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Asado Chicken at "The Garden Of Chicken" in Cascais, Portugal

2009-11-15T12:16:00.001-05:00

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I Can't Get Enough Of The Circus Signs In Spain and Portugal

2009-11-12T17:28:00.001-05:00

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Rear View Mirror. Douro Valley, Portugal.

2009-11-08T18:39:00.001-05:00

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1267 R. do Bonjardim, Porto, Portugal (SCARIEST ABANDONED HOUSE EVER)

2009-11-06T13:55:00.001-05:00

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One Year After The Election...I Look Back At How Buenos AIres' Expats Saw It All

2009-11-03T13:45:00.001-05:00

I really enjoyed writing this one. Checkit:

"Barbara left home after her husband cheated on her, leaving her a stockpile of cash awarded by an “asskicking judge”. In Argentina she found that her money went further, that healthcare was cheaper (often free) and that she could make money by fact-checking for a US based company."

http://thetravelersnotebook.com/notes-from-road/obama-and-the-expat/

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The Devil, The Witch and The Reaper Eating Currywurst In Berlin

2009-10-31T14:01:00.001-04:00

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Singapore and The Gum Thing

2009-10-31T09:13:00.001-04:00

Anyone who knows me will tell you one thing about me: I hate when people chew gum. Specifically, I despise when mouths chaw, gnarl and mangle objects. A combination of this with bubblesnapping is enough to push me to the boundaries of sanity. It's a problem.

I decided to pitstop in Singapore because it is still the only place that gum is unlawful. This was my Holy Land. This was my Jesus Christ.

Gum 101: The horrors of gumchewing began with the Greeks and Aztecs, who chewed on tree resin as a way to pass the time between playing Stratego with civilization. But things really didn't get cooking until a formula was patented in 1869, finding its way into the first gumball machines two years later. William Wrigley souped up the recipe with mint extracts in 1914, if only to drive me insane ninety years later. Frank Fleer was the real gum guru, creating Blibber-Blabber in 1906 (the first bubble gum).

Fortunately for me, there is Singapore. Gum was banned in 1992, after vandals began sticking it on the sensors of the prized Mass Rapid Transit. Here's the best part: Nobody missed it. No black market ever developed, even though offenders were only "named and shamed" if caught - which is not even a slap on the wrist by Singapore standards. Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yen commented at the time, "If you can't think because you can't chew, try a banana." Dude psyches me up when he talks all tough about gum law (but not much else).

The resurfacing of legal gum in Singapore is an excellent example of just how bizarre and corrupt America can be. In 1999, desperate to open bilateral trade with Bush's USA, the government agreed to two things. The first was public support for the war in Iraq. The second was repealing the gum ban. That's quite a dicksucking for trade negotiation.

How did they end up swallowing? Only Americans will fully understand, for we are a special people. The year before, Wrigley's had hired a lobbyist and leaned on an Illinois congressman to put gum on the Bush Agenda. Only the devil knows what was traded in making this a sticky issue for Singapore, who picked up a 150 million dollar tax break per year on their end of the deal.

The government in Singapore found a crafty way to save face. Some gum has medicinal purpose, even if is to help build enamel or fight cavities. Therefore, they made gum an item that must be handed out by pharmacists, only after taking down the names of customers for a national record. Any importing of gum is still illegal. There is something perversely exciting to me about this. I could buy a parrot at 4:30am in Manhattan but a person in Singapore must ask a pharmacist for a stick of Hubba Bubba.

For five days I have not seen a single person chew gum. No whorish women snapping their cud. No athletes mouthing the sticky substance like it was their junior prom date. I have had beautiful, thoughtful moments without the presence of my nemesis. And nobody - not even the spoiled tourists - seems to miss it.

I propose a gumfree world. If I had a billion dollars I would buy lobbyists and make it a priority. Until then, I will have Singapore.

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Taken In Bangkok At A Hotel. For Those Looking For A New Life....

2009-10-30T11:15:00.001-04:00

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5 Fast Foods That Should Never Have Been

2009-10-29T08:20:00.001-04:00

This is my favorite thing Kate's ever written, probably because I am fascinated by fast food. Her description of the McRib is quite tasty.

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Twenty 80's Rockers Twenty Years Later

2009-10-28T15:14:00.001-04:00

I was hunting around Flickr the other night for some of my favorites from the 80's, then realized it would make a pretty neat piece.

Behold.

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Some Wierd Sin: The Remains Of Where Iggy Pop and David Bowie Made "Lust For Life"

2009-10-27T08:47:00.001-04:00

Hansa Studios, Berlin, Germany. Studio 3. Oct 21, 2009. The studio is being demolished and rebuilt with all new equipment and a more modern feel. The copper in the walls was actually used to block out radio transmissions from the military folks just over yonder at The Berlin Wall.

See and download the full gallery on posterous

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KaDeWe Department Store (Berlin, Germany)

2009-10-26T21:35:00.001-04:00

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Oh, Japanese Signs. You Provide Endless Smiles.

2009-10-24T17:41:00.001-04:00

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Have A Coke and A Frown

2009-10-23T09:24:00.001-04:00

Did anyone else see Coke's new travel-the-world contest? Here's my take. The main point:

"We’ve got a planet currently held together by duct tape – is now the time to spend a year running around it like Smurfette, giving kisses to whoever will have them? Or is it the year to expose world poverty, build houses for the homeless, and get together with the world’s thinkers? How exactly are you going to make a person with no water smile? Oh right, you’ll hand them a Coke."

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My blog about the creepy Museo De La Policia Federal (Police Museum) in Buenos Aires

2009-10-21T17:08:00.001-04:00

Buenos Aires' Strangest Museum

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In Case You Thought Tapas Was Something Else

2009-10-21T13:02:00.001-04:00

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Strangest Picture From A Museum I've Ever Seen, Let Alone Taken

2009-10-20T12:59:00.001-04:00

Next week on Tripwolf I'll reveal where it's from. And that's the tip of the iceberg, picture wise.

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I'm Digging This Mix That Dahveed Posted

2009-10-19T11:46:00.001-04:00

Atlas Sound micromix...10 Tracks. Really varied.
http://matadornights.com/musicmonday-micromix-by-atlas-sound/

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My Tale Of Woe From London's Heathrow (It Rhymed)

2009-10-19T10:21:00.001-04:00

I just posted a piece today about my trip through immigration at Heathrow, which ended up with me in their jail and a flight back to the USA.

Locked Down At Heathrow

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With Ants Like These Who Needs Enemies (Laos)

2009-10-17T13:22:00.001-04:00

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Neat piece on how to travel to outer space...

2009-10-15T12:41:00.001-04:00

http://matadortrips.com/how-to-travel-to-outer-space/

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Do You Know Those Days When You Feel Like You've Written Yourself Out And Might Go Crazy?

2009-10-12T17:09:00.001-04:00

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Incredible Photos From Royal De Luxe's Giant Walk In Berlin

2009-10-08T08:55:00.001-04:00

I just posted a photo essay on Matador about the Giant's who walked around Berlin all weekend. If you haven't seen what Royal De Luxe is all about, you should definitely check it out: http://matadornights.com/royal-de-luxe-giants/

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"One day I come home to find you covered with ants 'cause you're so sweet"

2009-10-06T18:36:00.001-04:00

Life's A Dream by Built To Spill
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05 Life's A Dream.mp3 (8819 KB)

Built To Spill: I couldn't be in love with There Is No Enemy any more than I am. The Bill Hicks reference in "Planting Seeds" got me right away. Lyrics are back in tip-top shape. "Life's a Dream" is a great example of what a great job he's capable of in summing up the world. We all have the same problems.

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Nice Knocker! (Somewhere In Spain, Summer 2009)

2009-10-05T17:00:00.001-04:00

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Drooling Over Chilean Hot Dogs

2009-10-05T10:37:00.001-04:00

Sad, but true. I ate my share of Completos in Chile and this article reminded me of all the tasty stuff they have in that country. I'm not fat I'm a foodie (TM?).

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Sans Flux Capacitor? For Sale At Maerpark Flea Market, Berlin, 10/4/09

2009-10-04T10:22:00.001-04:00

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Photos of Royal De Luxe's Giantess (and Onlookers), Berlin 10/3/09

2009-10-03T12:21:00.001-04:00

Some pictures from today's meeting of the two Giants in berlin. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, check this out. This is the Little Giantess, who is still sleeping. Soon she'll wake, put on a raincoat and walk down the street to meet her friend. Downtown was an absolute madhouse today because it's German Unity Day. Hopefully tomorrow will be more chill!

See and download the full gallery on posterous

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Great Photo Essay From Buenos Aires

2009-10-02T16:48:00.001-04:00

My Matador Nights Co-Editor did a great job in Buenos Aires. This dog picture cracks me up. For more: http://matadortrips.com/photo-essay-buenos-aires-by-night/

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Reading Festival's Barricade, Before Doors Open & With High Security During The Show

2009-10-02T12:57:00.001-04:00

See and download the full gallery on posterous

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Rob Halford Of Judas Priest Immortalized In Statue Form

2009-10-01T07:54:00.001-04:00

You'll pass this as your walk through Friederichshain in Berlin. It's a gigantic, screaming tribute to Rob Halford. How metal!

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Hal Amen vs Bikes

2009-09-29T13:16:00.001-04:00

Hal knows his bikes. I always dig seeing one of his new routes or overviews. Here's a good one for anyone who'd like to bike in the USA:
http://matadortrips.com/10-long-distance-bicycle-routes-in-the-u-s/

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The Five Worst Pizzas In the World

2009-09-29T12:03:00.001-04:00

via matadornights.com

Here's my article today on Matador about the worst pizza I've had this year.

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Fifteen Steps Then A Shoe Drops

2009-09-29T08:40:00.001-04:00

15 Step by Radiohead
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01 15 Step.MP3 (4729 KB)

"Used to be all right. What happened? Etc, etc."

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The Day Job and The Night Job

2009-09-28T10:59:00.001-04:00

See and download the full gallery on posterous

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I Can’t Go Back To America Because I Can’t Afford Health Care

2009-09-27T15:10:00.001-04:00

I quit my job last December – yeah, I know, I am the only person that I know who’s quit a job in the past year, too.

But I had The Itch and so I went. Traveling.

My old employer offered me COBRA, even though I quit. I’m not sure if this is standard practice but it was a cool move in my book, a nice gesture for a decade of work. Two things kept me from staying with my old policy: 1) Reading the fine print - my insurance company did a pretty shitty job of covering me outside of the USA. 2) $800 a month? You have to be kidding. Where was I going to get $800 a month?

So, I spent a few nights in my underwear, searching online for a travel policy (I do my best work in my underwear – I don’t know why). Insuremytrip.com seemed to be the best place to cross-compare and ultimately I booked through them. I opted for a policy that was less about travel - most travel policies SOUND a lot better than they really are (especially if your electronics are only covered up to $500 and you’re carrying a $2,000 laptop). Instead, I found a generous medical policy that would save my ass from almost anything, including some of the adventure sports that aren’t covered by the travel policies. $80 a month.

I’m going back to the USA on November 23^rd. My current policy will cover me for 15 days in my home country, then…guess what? I have nothing. My COBRA’s expired and the concept of paying for USA policy is just…well, presidents have been elected on how ridiculous an idea that is.

The long and the short: I can afford $80 a month for travel insurance and in order to be a happy American…I have to leave America, dumping what money I have in another nation's pockets. Neat, huh?

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The Beer Bike In Berlin

2009-09-26T08:08:00.001-04:00

I saw this near Alexanderplatz and it freaked me out. There's no motor - each person at the bar pedals and somehow this is wired to propel the 'bar' forward. A driver at the front steers (non-drinker) while everyone back gets completely sauced. Fun? YES.

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I Didn't Even Know It Was In My iPod

2009-09-26T07:26:00.001-04:00

Bizarre Love Triangle by Frente!
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1-14 Bizarre Love Triangle.mp3 (2342 KB)

You know those songs that come up once a year on random play? This was one of them. Frente's cover of "Bizarre Love Triangle". I've always loved this take - maybe even more than the original?

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Yesterday I Went To The Super Cool RAMONES MUSEUM in Berlin

2009-09-24T11:01:00.001-04:00

Probably one of the coolest and most unique museums I've been to. Check it: http://matadornights.com/ramonesmuseum/

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My Favorite Wall In Kreuzberg, Berlin

2009-09-23T18:47:00.001-04:00

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A really handy site in case you have credit cards stolen - I had no idea.

2009-09-22T16:00:00.001-04:00

http://matadorgoods.com/quickest-way-to-report-stolen-cards/

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Here's A Piece I Wrote About Eating Craploads Of Food In Berlin

2009-09-21T15:40:00.001-04:00

Berlin has way too much good food! I spent a day eating as much as I could. There are some cool pictures here and a rundown of what's good. You'd be surprised at the diversity of food here. Sure, there's big sausage things. But good pizza and thai food too? Hell yes.

http://matadornights.com/berlin-binge-eating-101/

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Happiest Places On The Planet?

2009-09-21T14:39:00.001-04:00

I never know how to deal with these surveys/lists. I mean, Vietnam is the #5 happiest place on the planet? Would that be before you eat the chicken that's been laying in the sun for 4 days, after you've seen the dead motorbiker (everywhere) or after you've run out of breath in Saigon (which happens a lot, with that pollution thing).

The following does a good job of deconstructing the Happiest list:

http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/09/21/live-long-and-prosper-deconstructing-the-happy-planet-index/

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Zozoville Gallery. Friedrichshain, Berlin.

2009-09-20T15:40:00.001-04:00

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Kunsthaus Tacheles Berlin - WOW

2009-09-19T12:38:00.001-04:00

I saw some high-brow musicians perform last night at the most LOW BROW place I've ever been to. Kunsthaus Tacheles looks like a crazy squat - walls lined with graffiti, pee smell, a makeshift bar in the hall. Located in the old Jewish Quarter, this big building is five stories of concrete. It's now an art space but formerly housed a department store. It even had a pneumatic tube system for sending inter-building mail.

Anyway...members of the Deutsche Symphonie Orchestra Berlin got together to kick around some Stravinsky for about an hour. They performed in a concrete hall with an audience on folding chairs. You can hardly imagine two different things that go so well together.

I don't know crap about Stravinsky so I spent most of the time wondering what the building has been like during its lifetime. It was built in 1908.

See and download the full gallery on posterous

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Noah And The Whale

2009-09-19T12:37:00.001-04:00

Love Of An Orchestra by Noah And The Whale
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06 Love of an Orchestra.mp3 (4816 KB)

I caught Noah and the Whale this week in Berlin. It was about my eighth time seeing them. They looked tired and beaten...they played like it too. It's hard to watch a band play like this, like the road is catching up with them. The venue was too big for where they're at - they'd have done well to play a packed-out smaller room and fed off the energy. I saw them at Reading and Leeds this month - they killed it. Hopefully they'll pull it together.

I love the new album. Here's a track that gets stuck in my head all day long.

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I Said WIthout Onions!

2009-09-19T11:44:00.001-04:00

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Just wrote this one about a $0.62/night hostel in Bangkok - Yep, it's gross.

2009-09-18T12:40:00.001-04:00

Check it out....http://tiny.cc/bkDSo

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Busted in Nicaragua: A Drug Charge, Jail, and a Narrow Escape from Hell

2009-09-18T05:53:00.001-04:00

I was reading this piece (http://matadorabroad.com/busted-in-nicaragua-a-drug-charge-jail-and-a-narrow-escape-from-hell/) and wondering what I would have done, had I been in the same situation. It's a really solid piece of writing about what happens when Weed Goes Wrong.

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This is a hilarious post about pro soccer team's names.

2009-09-15T20:16:00.001-04:00

I mean....some of these are ridiculous. http://matadorsports.com/naughty-boys-vs-tobacco-monopoly-10-hilarious-pro-soccer-team-names/

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A $0.62/night Dorm Room

2009-09-15T09:00:00.001-04:00

I've been researching the most expensive hostels online today and found this place (http://www.theoverstay.com/) for $0.62 a NIGHT. Hostelworld reviews are wretched but man, that's one cheap dorm.

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Really provocative piece by Kate

2009-09-15T08:39:00.001-04:00

This one will have you thinking about things that you might not want to think about:

"While in the United States and many other countries with majority white populations, whites see whiteness as the default race or no race at all. Being in the majority around which the power structure is created extends privileges many take completely for granted and totally fail to recognize."

http://matadorchange.com/white-privilege-can-you-see-it/

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This never stops being funny.

2009-09-14T10:23:00.001-04:00

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Help A Great Travel Writer!

2009-09-14T09:14:00.001-04:00

My friend is close to winning a trip to Frankfurt Book Fair, to promote one of her guides. She's a great writer and deserves it. PLEASE take a minute to vote for Julie's Guide! Once you're logged in, just click on the stars to vote. http://tiny.cc/O7HNc

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Free Admission To Matador U

2009-09-12T15:12:00.001-04:00

Matador's recently started a writing school. Free tuition for one lucky winner: http://thetravelersnotebook.com/photography-q-a/announcing-twitter-contest-for-free-tuition-at-matadoru/

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I don't know much about this band but...

2009-09-11T08:46:00.001-04:00

...this dude seems to be really cool. I mean, going on tour on a BIKE? And the charity (World Bicycle Relief) seems like a great cause. http://matadornights.com/attica-attica-ditch-the-van-bike-tour-for-charity/

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8:46am, 9/11, Manhattan. My day.

2009-09-10T16:45:00.001-04:00

I didn't plan on talking about 9/11. To anyone, ever. I've traveled so much until then and it's all that anyone asks about. Africa, Southeast Asia, South America...if you say you're from NYC, they ask. Here's photos and my thoughts on the day: http://thetravelersnotebook.com/photo-essay/846-am-911-manhattan/

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