I need help with a personal problem I've been having

anyway this thread is not about me, you lot can crack on

drillkicker hope you sort yourself out mate

  On 8/23/2015 at 5:42 AM, drillkicker said:

I just read on Hitchwiki that Central America has very cheap bus transportation, making hitchhiking relatively unnecessary. Is this true? Does it apply to South America as well?

Travel was relatively cheap in Peru when I went, bus etc. However, regular goods/meals etc were not as cheap as you'd think though. Only marginally cheaper than Canada (maybe about 75% the cost of here).

I would agree that transportation is cheap. Peru is amazing man, make the trip to Machu Picchu and watch the sun come up over the mountains there.

Any sort of travel (international preferably) might give you a new perspective on things. I know it's done wonders for me the last few years as I try to cope with everything!

  On 8/23/2015 at 7:20 AM, usagi said:

 

  On 8/23/2015 at 6:39 AM, drillkicker said:

Was usagi was referring to a motorbike? I thought he meant bicycle. A motorbike wouldn't be optimal because not only would I have to pay for a lot of fuel, but I would also have to make sure it doesn't get stolen, and I would need to find a way to bring it with me when I cross from Panama to Colombia. It would be a lot easier to get a boat if I don't have a big motorcycle that needs to get on as well. And on top of that, the bike itself would be expensive and I would need to get used to driving it. I don't even have any interest in driving a motorcycle. I'll stick to buses and hitchhiking.

 

again, as with travel in general, you're overestimating the dangers. people bike through South America all the time, it's practically a tradition. there's a slim chance your ride will get stolen if you park it in the wrong place, so don't. and on a long-distance basis, I think it'd actually be cheaper than any other form of wheeled transportation that you'd have to pay for. the only thing I'd worry about in that part of the world would be getting a dodgy bike that broke down often and would need repairs, cos I don't have any mechanical skills (yet).

 

I'm speaking from experience here. I rented a bike in Italy for two weeks and slept by the side of the road periodically as I travelled up the country. I was told not to do so because of "risks" but I did it anyway. you just have to use your head/instincts. you'll find you have more resilience and ability to get yourself out of situations than you thought you had. and that's life-affirming.

 

just don't get a fucking scooter, please. (soz tec)

 

anyway, if you've not ridden a bike before, then this is all moot. would not advise riding overseas until you have at least 1.5 years' riding experience already. but that shouldn't stop you from learning to ride one...

I have no experience with them, though, so it's still going to be a problem. And again the Darién Gap looks difficult enough on foot, so it seems like it would be a problem to bring a bike across there, unless it's a super off-road bike that can drive through dense jungle.

  On 8/23/2015 at 8:29 AM, beerwolf said:

My advice would be to travel to countries where buddhism is the main religion. In my experience they are the most mellow and chilled, and English is widely understood, even in rural areas way off the beaten track it will be understood, especially by the younger generation. All the monks learn English, it's quite suprising. Language is key and I always think this is important as you can vibe with the locals and not wonder around in your own isolated bubble. People will just come up to you and want to practice their English with you lol. It's cool. As for worrying about landmines in Cambodia I think you are overthinking the situation, I was there about 15 years ago and didn't really worry that much, having said that I never went around doing random somersaults in farmers fields! I think travelling is more about common sense rather than high IQ, which is probably why I got on fine

 

This is just my opinion and I could be wrong but South America always seemed to me to be a place that you get to when you have more experience, I think its a bit more harder to travel. I always said to myself I would learn Spanish and go there, that was ten years ago lol. I think that always put a huge hurdle up for me and I never really acquired the effort to jump over it. People are different though, and for some that would be the reason to go (the language).

 

I reckon things have changed some what nowadays, so my some of my advice may be a bit off the mark. Last time I went away very few people even had a mobile phone, I bet that's not the case now

The biggest thing keeping me from doing so is the distance between here and Southeast Asia, when South America is connected to my country by land. This is much cheaper, and from what I've read, traveling through most of the way is very easy. And the fact that I have relatives in Peru gives me more reason to visit there before I go to Asia, and it'll be nice to meet plenty of Germans over there after traveling through miles of foreign land and unfamiliar culture.

  On 8/23/2015 at 8:46 AM, lala said:

Yeah man. Did I say do India? People are batshit insane, it's really fun, cheap and easy. It will change your outlook on life for the better. Does to everyone I know who's been

India is one of the places I promised myself I would never go to. I definitely want to go to Bhutan, but if I do, I'm going to make sure not to stick around very long in India. I just don't want to deal with the smell of that place. And I think the population density would drive me insane after a while, because I'm not much of an extrovert.

Mongolia is another place on my list of areas to visit, but that would be difficult for different reasons. Really, if I can visit South America, Southeast Asia, Bhutan, Mongolia, Japan, and Scandinavia in my lifetime then I'm going to die happy and completely content with my life.

I can see now why you're stuck in the shit you're in.

Oh man. Fuck that. Go to India, just avoid the busy cities.

Saying you don't like India is like saying you don't like the entire world, they have every micro - climate possible

  On 8/23/2015 at 5:37 PM, lala said:

Oh man. Fuck that. Go to India, just avoid the busy cities.

 

Saying you don't like India is like saying you don't like the entire world, they have every micro - climate possible

I've been travelling the world and actually have no desire to visit India either.. =/

Oh ok. Im glad I went =)

  On 8/23/2015 at 5:09 PM, usagi said:

I can see now why you're stuck in the shit you're in.

What's that supposed to mean?

  On 8/23/2015 at 5:54 PM, lala said:

Oh ok. Im glad I went =)

What parts did you like?

I think part of the reason I'm put off by it is the same things drill mentioned, crowded, smell, heat. etc. But those are all things I've dealt with in Asia too.

One part that bothered me is that a friend of mine, she was teaching english there for some time. She told me of one instance where she was withdrawing money at a bank, and an armed guard or officer was standing there. She told me the guard/officer whatever came over to her with his gun and started whispering things in her ear, that she was beautiful and that he was going to rape her etc.

Anyway I know that's just one experience and it could happen to anyone, but it kind of put me off a bit.

Maybe I should reconsider though!

I've heard of that stuff happening to girls.

My ex had massive tits and was pretty, the poor guys didn't know wtf to do,much propositions and photos taken. But she can handle herself so she told them to f off.

For guys though? No problem

I dunno, they are just bloody mad. Its funny, and for a first time traveller its easy peasy. And liberating.

Kerala, goa, hampi, karnataka

And loads of curry, which is good

I don't doubt that India is easy, maybe even entertaining, to hitchhike. But I'm just not interested in a place that chaotic. Things happen there that don't happen anywhere else, and it seems as though you can never know what to expect. That just isn't my kind of thing. And I also don't want to go somewhere with that much garbage all over the place.

Tanden soku meditation. Slow your breathing to 2-3 breaths a minute, when you exhale, use your pelvic floor muscles to keep your lower abdomen extended while you exhale. Pure gold. Good luck.

I have travelled to India.. Went to Delhi and dharmsala . It was incredible.. The Hindu mythology.. The ways of thinking in the east are so incredible.. I learned so much about myself.. And my connectedness to everything there... If you are into music you can go to Pushkar where they have great music traditions.. The rhythm structures and the scales ... It's magical. India is a mother country.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

but it smells. why would you want to explore one of the oldest cradles of civilisation with landscapes ranging from snowy mountains to deserts to lush rainforests and green tea fields... when parts of it smell. ugh!

  On 8/26/2015 at 6:03 PM, usagi said:

but it smells. why would you want to explore one of the oldest cradles of civilisation with landscapes ranging from snowy mountains to deserts to lush rainforests and green tea fields... when parts of it smell. ugh!

because its full of 1.5 billion people that I can make a sweeping generalization about based on statistics about how they treat women, other cultures/religions, etc?

lol consider the source

I'm not really so sure about India...

Go somewhere! Just not India.

I've been hearing a lot of talk about Dismaland lately, maybe a good alternative to India?

Yeah, definitely. Most spiritual place in the world, that's for sure!

Also, a friend of mine who hitchhiked across the US recently will be helping me prepare for the trip. He'll inspect the things I have and lend me somethings. He's giving me the machete he took with him to stay out of danger.

instead of that why don't you just join couchsurfing.org or something and take a megabus or greyhound to baltimore and watch some underground shows or something. if you're 18 as your profile says then why the hell not start simple. I had so much fun just meeting different people and checking out lots of different cities, big and small, enjoying the process of traveling, being exposed to different types, finding little gems in forgotten corners.

Maybe you should spend more time on the Autechre forum calling the musicians assholes and bragging about torrenting their music. That might make you feel better about life.

sent using magic space waves

lol

  On 8/22/2015 at 12:49 AM, drillkicker said:

It isn't anything serious, but it is very bothersome and invasive to me. I've been getting a certain feeling lately, like a powerful urge to do something very specific. The issue with it is that I can't figure out what it is that I have the urge to do. It feels like some sort of wonderful idea that needs to be expressed, but I'm unable to figure out how to express it. I try to make it go away by composing songs, writing poems, stories, or miscellaneous prose, and sometimes drawing, but nothing works. Eventually I get frustrated and lose hope and that feeling morphs into some mild sort of depression, which quickly just turns into boredom. I also sometimes try to read poems or literature that I enjoy, but that only makes it worse, and I'm completely unable to even continue reading. I've even tried learning unknown languages to get rid of it, but that always fails after a while. I've been getting into the habit of just distracting myself with television and forums like WATMM, but I don't believe that's a healthy way of solving this problem. This isn't a feeling that's unfamiliar to me; I've actually felt it periodically as long as I can remember, but it's been getting very annoying lately as I've just returned from vacation and have been more bored than I normally am.

 

Is anyone else familiar with this situation? If so, how do you deal with it? I feel like I've tried everything, but it never works.

yes, it's called being an artist.

you ain't always gonna get it right the first try, that's why it's called art 'work.'

got news for ya, "even the greatest stars dislike themselves in the looking glass" -kraftwerk, from the song 'hall of mirrors'

https://youtu.be/TAzq7FUrdXY?t=82

http://www.lyricsfreak.com/k/kraftwerk/hall+of+mirrors_20214346.html

I am in Peru and it hasn't solved any of my issues. Looking forward to getting home now.