Loading ...Inspiration
Written by Brian David Crane on July 13th, 2006
I am starting to go “stir-crazy” here in TN as I think about all of the places I want to visit during 2007 when (hopefully) I will travel the world. After writing about the Australian named Matt who is sponsored to dance in front of random landmarks, my dad sent me a link to Lee Gimpel, a freelance journalist, whose blog Passing Through India is receiving a lot of media attention. He has become the poster-child for “flashpacking” - i.e. traveling with a cell phone, iPod, notebook computer, and digital camera. He is another fellow who apparently gets paid to travel, and based on the quality of his blog, he is doing a fine job of it. To say the least, his story and site serve as a nice inspirational tool. A few quick exerpts (I can definitely relate to the first one!):
…Another tricky adjustment (upon coming back to the US) is what I’ll call Bodysnatcher Syndrome. I’ll go out to get the mail or drive to the store (yes, driving in a more rule-bound system is different as well - as is crossing the street as I now keep checking right - left - left - right - right - left to compensate for the left-side drive and the possibility of reverse traffic on one-way streets) and it hits me: Where are all the people?!?! The amount of space is a bit eerie after the chockablock crowds of India; no one in India will say “sorry” or “excuse me” if he or she bumps into you - why bother when there are a billion people, it’s a fact that you’re going to rub shoulders once in a while so why waste time apologizing for it?…(1)…Well, all good things must come to an end. And I’m nearing mine at least vis-a-vis my time in India. Not to worry though; India will keep its American presence in balance as Bush arrives as I depart. I feel like it’s a bad trade for India though. In preparation for the state visit the boulevard in the diplomatic district is lined with the Stars and Bars. It’s very refreshing to be in a country on the other side of the world and see American flags … that aren’t on fire… (2)
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