The 1000 Day Holiday

The 17th of February brings the 3 month anniversary of being in Vancouver. This is a big milestone for me. Prior to this, 2 weeks was the longest I had been in one location since 2005.

It highlighted for me what I had noticed with super long term travellers/vagabonds.
You start to get a little strange, as time goes on with no real home, short term friends etc. For me it was a way to keep things interesting. By adopting Baby, I created a new type of interaction mechanism.

A few travellers I met that had been gone 5+ years were rather strange, and they checked my desires to be gone much longer.

Having a home base allows continued interaction with a core group of friends that you can actually maintain. Otherwise friendships that you look on as being close, you realise are 3 years stagnant. You view the friendship as current, but the people on the other side have moved on and replaced whatever role you had in their lives. Sure you can pick up where you left off, but 3 years is a long time in peoples lives to have missed.

I recall a discussion with another long term traveller, way back in Africa. We agreed that 3 – 5 months is the ideal length of time for a trip. It is long enough to disconnect completely from your normal life. Become established in a new location, or explore an area in depth.You don’t run out of steam, or have any chance to feel like you’re in a rut.

Then you return to what you had before with new insights, feelings, goals and desires. You can step back into your ‘normal life’ and carry on with little disruption.

Theres a foot of snow outside

The back deck

The marina is completely frozen over, with islands of snow forming on top. (before we came through in the ship)

Frozen Marina

Fountains don’t go no more…

And everyone in Vancouver rants about how nobody in Vancouver knows how to drive in the snow.

When the money runs out, you sign up for medical experiments.

Such as psychosis studys where they give you MRI’s and ask you

“if drinking a glass of pure water will let someone else gain control of your thoughts?”

and
“Do the voices tell you what to do?”

Post 1000 Day Holiday MRI from Craig on Vimeo.

Canada doesn’t pay very well. $8 – $12 per hour being the going rate for most jobs.
So unless youre getting tips or perks, that pretty much blows. ( I wish I still wanted to be a geek!)

The strip club job didn’t eventuate. So it was time to come up with a new venture.

SCAM #1
I’m now a Mystery Shopper.
I eat and drink in nice restaurants, fill out a form (its actually rather long.. but such is life). And effectively get my meal/drinks free with maybe a few extra dollars left over.

Now if you work it out how long I would have to work for the Dinner in a normal job. ($9/h pre tax)
For the $33 Lunch I had yesterday I would have had to work 4 hours to pay for it.
4 hours! That’s half of a days work!

Just to extrapolate the living costs here on that kind of money.
Income: $330/Week or $1431/Month
Rent & Utilities: 550 – 650/Month. (and that’s a cheap place!)
That gives a rent to income range% of 38-45%. Any financial planner will say that’s waaay crazy!

Spare a thought for those living in Whistler: Where rent runs ~$1000/month
That makes the rent as a % of income: 84%@$8/hr to 59% @$12/hr OUCH

Which brings me onto the Scam 2

SCAM #2

Live in a large house w 10 people. Kind of like dossing in London, but with a lot more space. We have a basketball court in the back yard!

Ive got the room which was the Garage at a whopping $45/week or $180/month. (14% if income @ $9/hr).

SCAM #3

Work at the skifield to score a seasons pass. Not so much a scam. But when youre earning $9/hour.. the things we will do for snow time

I start at Mt Seymour on Sunday.

I start bar work on Saturday. Bring on the tips!

I’ve been in Canada for 5 days. Its been 5 days without much direction in what I’m doing.
I had decided to check out whistler, even though I didn’t think I would live here.

My mind has been racing along on a million different possibilities.

Live in Whistler?
Live in Vancouver?
Live in the rockies?
What sort of job should I get?…
Or should I just jump on a plane to Asia or Eastern europe for $500 being the most interesting ideas.

Then I found this TED video.  Dan Gilbert sums it up perfectly.

Too many options, and trying to pick which one is going to be the best really does fry your mind.
Who cares, its going to be awesome no matter what option you go with!

While I’m back in NZ I have been treating myself to some home grown goodness:

• 42 Below Manuka Honey Vodka.
• Green Shell Mussels w Chili & Horopito
• Hokey Pokey Icecream
• Copious amounts of Milo w milk
• Boysenberry Ice Cream
• Lamb… Chops, roast whatever!
• Fish n Chips. Paua Fritters, mussels yum.
• Grandmas afghan biscuits
• Kumera
• Ginger Beer
• Tim Tams
• plenty different Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc wines
• Rhubarb
• Minties
• Pineapple Lumps

1000 Day Holiday – Montage! from Craig on Vimeo.

This is the final Quarterly Performance report you will ever receive for Mobys 1000 Day Holiday. its done, finished, kaput, finito. Sigh.

This is whats happened this quarter:
I adopted a baby from Belize. Every one is doing it. its amazing the new level of interaction you get when you have a baby!
Had a most otherworldly experience diving in Cenoytes/Caves in Mexico.
Celebrated the finale of my trip by going to Burning Man.
Day 1001, Surprised the parental units by popping home. They thought I was in Canada…

To those I have hung out with, travelled with and explored this fine world with. It will be with me forever. Thank you! Drop by and visit sometime.

To those from my past life. AKA the “real world”. I’m back, lets have some new adventures.
Can you help me? I need new tunes!
Please email me with the top 3 or so albums you are listening to at the moment.

Where now? I’m in Australia & NZ visiting Friends and Family till Nov 10, Then I’m off to Canada. to find a high paying *COUGH* ($8/hr) job in the ski areas. Or maybe Vancouver.

So I guess the summation is that 1001+ will be a working holiday. Although plans are to be settled in one area for an extended time.
Feeling philanthropic? Sponsor a Kiwi!

Come visit!

Hugs
Craig

I am proud to announce the winners of the Worst Beers in the World, as sampled over the course of 1000 days.

354+ Beers were entered, some disqualified as if you can’t remember the name of them the next day its possible the beer is bad. (The Hangover Test).

3rd Place

Pineapple Beer. Not so good.

China produces a lot in this world. From crappy plastic toys covered in lead, to the very fine electronics you are likely sitting in front of right now.

Beer is no exception. These Pineapple beers are very low in alcohol, in fact the only reason they are included is because of the name.

Sweet yet disturbing, trying to describe the flavour development is difficult. Theres no hint of hops, maltyness or anything at all beer related.

2nd Place

Malawi’s Shake Shake was a strong contender for the worst beer awards. It had been holding 1st place since mid 2006.

Made from ground maize, milk products and yes you actually shake it to mix all the sediment up before drinking it. Its a bit of a mouthful.

Yet it also has some positive points.

Its nutritious and filling. Just think of alcoholic very runny porridge.

Yet still gets you drunk at lunchtime on a Monday with all the other locals that are loving the heavily distorted music pumping from the stereo. 1 Litre for $0.50 and think of all the nutritional benefits.

1st Place

If I told you to imagine a beer can that looks innocuous enough. The only hint trouble may be ahead is that its Lemon flavoured. You think how bad can it be?

Worst Beer in the World!

I can honestly say, I have never drunk less of a beer. Ever.

The first developing “Taste” is similar to what taking a few tablespoons of liquid salt into your mouth feels like.  There’s an instant gag reflex, and it really doesn’t provide that nice initial refreshing tingle that beer should.

The second stage of flavour comes in the form of “Lime” which tastes like lemon floor detergent smells.

I encouraged everyone in the hostel to sample it. Nobody wanted more than their first sip.

Beer + Salt + Lime in a can. Widely available in Mexico & Costa Rica. This whole genre of beer needs to be eradicated from the world.

Rock Ice with Lemon is announced as the winner of the Worst Beer In The World Contest. As judged by Moby on his 1000 Day Holiday.

Its a pretty weird feeling.

It seems like yesterday I was finishing work in Sydney. 30th December 2005. Me, about to embark on an odyssey. 2.5 years+. The longest trip I had done before this was 3 whole weeks.

1000 days later I’m back in Sydney. Now I’m on a bus to the Hunter Valley to surprise my parents. They think I’m in BC, Canada. Job/normal life hunting.

Trying to sum up the trip in a moment, eyes closed. Images of the last 1000 days flashing past  makes me realise it wasn’t yesterday. Its too big, I can’t actually do it.

Catching up with friends that I haven’t seen. Its like I’ve awoken from a coma. When I think of people as great mates, I realise I haven’t been a part of their lives for nearly 3 years. I hadn’t been to a wedding before starting this trip. Now I’ve been to a few, but missed far too many. Babies, houses and dogs are sprouting left and right. Its the small things though. The everyday, hanging out, knowing the score that I’ve missed.

There’s something that I have become increasingly aware of over the duration of the trip. As Christopher McCandless put it: “Happiness only real when shared”. Its a pretty strong statement. Yes you can be happy within yourself and regarding where and what you are doing. But being able to turn to someone standing next to you and share the experience. That’s it.

On the road, you are incredibly open. Other travellers become your instant family. Sharing experiences, love and life. To those I have hung out with, travelled with and explored this fine world with. It will be with me forever. Thankyou! Drop by and visit sometime.

To those from my past life. AKA the “real world”. I’m back, lets have some new adventures. From November 10 I’ll be in Canada and you’re invited.