LivingTheDream's Guestbook

Camping in japan
Hi! Great stories there. Just wondering (cause I'm thinking to among others climb the Mt.Fuji of season in june): do you know how much in trouble one can get in to? What are the fines there? Or what are the chances of being caught camping in the "outback" of japan? Many thanks Sergé

Thank You !
I really enjoyed your blog over such a long time and now look forward to the book! Really! It must be such a strange feeling after such a long time from home to settle iin? good luck in whatever you do Jon :D

According to your flickr pics it looks like you couldn't bear with germany very long? l very much look forward to some updates here! :-) All the best & happy new year, Felix

Beautiful!

Buy a damn drink!
Interesting blog entry. It does come across a little smug though. Coming from a small, New England, liberal artsy educational background, I am definitely familiar with your point of view. Women are to be respected, not bought, ect.... Fortunately I have overcome this to the point that I can enjoy Angeles City. Yeah, I wish these girls had a better way to make the same money but the fact is that they don't and there is no quick fix to their situation. Working in a bar is simply the most lucrative way to support their families and that is exactly what they are doing. While I was staying there, I made friends with a few of them and gave them money to buy some pigs to raise as an alternative. After a while, they asked if they could go back to work in the clubs because the pig thing simply was not bringing in the same kind of income. I could have done the moralistic thing and told them they need to make and honest living, AIDS, repspect, Jesus, etc.... but in the end, I have no place telling someone less fortunate how they are allowed to handle their situation unless I can provide them a complete fix (in this case something like a university education). You did even less. You didn't even want to buy them a drink so they could make their measly little commission. You just came and judged them and the customers that are in fact doing more to help these girls than you. Prostitution is not the real problem here, poverty is. You are just attacking the solution to poverty these girls came up with because you don't like their solution. They are not stupid. If there was a way for a 20 year old girl with a 4th grade education to make the same income somewhere else, they would do it. If you have a solution, let me know and I will pass it on to my friends. Finally, despite your assertion that you "did quite easily resist the temptation all around" I do not find this credible. Maybe you have low sex drive or are really that crippled with guilt and self-abnegation but would you really come to Angeles just to poke around in a city that you find morally repugnant? Protip: if you ever go to AC again, indulge. You will have a great time and you will be doing more for these sweet young girls than you will by blogging about how awful what they do is. Also, it is generally not nice to post face pictures of bargirls on the internet.

Awesome picture!

agree with jason
So, it's over? Can't help but agree with Jason there. For you to write a final, final blog. Seeing your own country after 2 1/2 years of exploring other areas, and seeing it now in an entirely new perspective. Some habits die hard. Tell us about it!

Still causing controversy on the final blog ;)
I love some of the comments :) - I agree with Jason - I'd love to read a little about the return home and seeing Germany with new eyes. I know that happened for me after a much shorter trip... Congratulations on the longest continuous journey blogged here so far. Hope settling back in is going well.

Auf weidersehen!
I too got a bit depressed at this being the last entry. It comes as a bit fo a shock: in my mind you would go all the way through South America. Well, it was fun. My first travel blog that I have followed regularly. I also enjoyed your take on American culture. Yes, the beach nazis are everpresent here in new york too. We Americans like being told what and what not to do, apparently. Something about how the terrorists win otherwise. Thank you for opening my eyes to other places in the world. I enjpyed reading about the Indonesian islands and the Darien Gap as well. Danche schein.

congratulations
Congrats on living life and hope the adventure continues. Reading you blog reminds me what's important in life and to follow our passion no matter how difficult we make it seem sometimes. Thanks Ben and welcome back

Hey Ben, welcome home... wenn man das nach fast drei Jahren noch so sagen kann (und dann auch noch im November, der schlimmsten Zeit für eine Rückkehr). Fühle mit dir. Einzige Lösung: Geld auftreiben und wieder los (gibt ja noch ein paar weiße Flecken auf deiner Landkarte... wenn auch nicht so viele ;-).

i shed a tear after following you for 2.5 yrs
I have loved following your blog so long and will miss it! Your life was so exciting to follow and it brightened others as well! I totally understand how it feels to come home after a long time on the road. I think I was depressed for at least 6 months after (and it's only been 8 since i got back from my year long travel). And going back to work is a real killer, as well. However, my advice...move to a new city and start exploring while working. It's fun b/c you have more money to do things and also can feel really connected to the city b/c you live there. However, i have no other advice b/c it really sucks coming back to day to day life. Good Luck! Your travel blog will be missed!