 Jason - aspiringnomad | All Comments |
Comments | |
| 25th June 2008 d | nobody's talking about carbon anymore? - From: Take Only Photos, Leave Only Carbon Foot Prints perhaps you've become deaf in the past year or so, but it's more of a concern now than it ever has been. I love travelling as well, but do so with an awareness of it's VERY REAL cost to the environment. Ryanair's 20p flights are just a marketing gimmick, and in no way whatsoever are an indication of falling oil prices (how much have petrol prices gone up in the past 6 months?) |
| 23rd June 2008 Tim Johnson | - From: The Ripening Pertinent points. I read a quote recently 'In the Western world we have freedom of choice, just nothing to choose from'. Intellectual freedom may be partially achieved, but glimpses of 'freedom to' are scary and lead us to grasp onto something concrete, which is lack of economic freedom. Just realised you say this in your post and this contradicts my first comment! But perhaps this awareness of economic constraints and the choices it presents is in itself a freedom, even if we choose security? |
| 22nd June 2008 aspiringnomad | A different kind of freedom? - From: The Ripening Freedom from political and economic ties is negative freedom - a ‘freedom from’ the restrictions placed on humanity by other people or institutions. Whereas Intellectual freedom, leads to a positive freedom, and the real challenge is knowing what to do with this ‘freedom to’… “People hardly ever make use of the freedom they have. For example, the freedom of thought. Instead they demand freedom of speech as compensation”. Søren Kierkegaard…Which I think is borne out in this quote by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn "It is easier to have freedom of thought in a concentration camp than in America today." |
| 20th June 2008 Tim Johnson | - From: The Ripening You don't know me, but just happenned across your Blog. Some really beautiful camerawork and words. I can really associate with your feelings about freedom at the start. My only contribution to this would be, if we can achieve intellectual freedom inside, then would the other two forms of freedom mentioned (political and economic) necessarily follow? |
| 12th June 2008 Ali | - From: Mindanao; Abu Sayyaf the MILF and a bloke called Joe. Well Done Mr |
| 12th June 2008 Cumberland Sausage | Ouch - From: The Making of a Cruise Addict I've just fallen off my chair. |
| 9th June 2008 Stephen Paul | Congratulations - From: The Making of a Cruise Addict I could see how cruises could become attractive- maybe! Looks as if the Aspiring Nomad is now unmasked! Formal Wear? yeah right, you know that you showed up at the Yurt in Kyrgyzstan in your Tuxedo! ok maybe not. Great Post! |
| 18th April 2008 theRedRiver | - From: Escape to another world Just a little correction of the name of a place in your Vietnam blog. It should be "MUI NE", not "Me Nui" like you wrote. |
| 8th April 2008 Karen | From the Belly of the Beast. - From: Beauty in The Belly of The Beast All nations of the world have the media. Ours are just more free than most to say what they think. Its the "hooked" people that keep them in business. Personally, they don't speak for me and there is a lot like me here. Certainly, there are a lot of people in this world eager to judge people they really know nothing about. Do you have to have travel visa's to enter into yours or any other country. Its only right and our country is no different than any other in that respect. I love my country and I admit (like the world over) theres a lot wrong with it but theres also a whole lotta right. Great pictures, by-the-way. |
| 13th March 2008 tanaz | racism - From: The Andamans: paradise post-tsunami hi, am a local here. i just wanted to thank you for this wonderful piece and am a journalist here so we get lots of complaints too about ship schedules and announcements etc, but one point i really wanted to point out was that not everyone here indulges in racism. We comprise of people of everywhere in India. To give a very brief idea, the prisoners brought here as punishment were largely an Urdu speaking lot, and others brought in during that time learned to speak urdu and a derived hindi. For many years, in fact just up untill a few years ago, urdu remained our main language spoken here. While Urdu is largely a north Indian language, my boss, who is a south indian settler here since birth, is an Urdu scholar. so you see, here we come from everywhere but mingle in and adapt happily. The tribes, though, have not been handled or dealt with very well by the government. They have suffered a great deal at the hands of people who did not know how to go about 'breaking the ice' with them. Anyway, all in all, the beaches are worth it...but please don't judge the entire lot of us as racial just because of one charlie ;) keep coming and keep writing |
| 11th March 2008 prem | great - From: Rajasthan; on the road again wonderful rajasthan photos! |
| 29th February 2008 Adnan | Well Done! - From: A short sojourn in untainted Bangladesh It is a very refreshing story to read. actually this was the first blog entry on my country I've ever read, and booom!!! it is a master piece. I guess I'll have to search for more blog entries. Only thing I can say is: whenever u come to our little princess, be my guest. |
| 25th February 2008 tamam | - From: Rajasthan; on the road again Great stories. Great pictures. |
| 25th February 2008 Ask My Days | Listen to my advice, man - From: Streets of Hate Dear Aspiringnomad, I am very pleased to hear that there is a brave man like you in the world who feel the grievances of the Palestinian people who suffer so much since Belfor Promise Palestinian have been suffering so much since 1948 of bloodshed, pushing them out of their homes and siege of all kinds till today where settlements are increasing upon bulldozing Palestinian's homes and homeless people and the barrier wall which suffocate the Palestinians people and make him isolated out of the world, and after all this, we hear from a lot of media in the world that the reluctance of the Palestinians against the racist occupation is a crime (which is so mistakenly so called terrorism). Undoubtedly, this conflict in Palestine is a part of the many other conflicts in the world which a solution should be found for and a peace and justice should be widespread among people whether they are Muslims, Christians or Jewish or other religions in the world so that the whole world live as one family born from Adam and Hawaa (Eve). But please advise me, friend, is there ever in the world a power, dogma or a humanitarian organization that can solve this problem in the world fairly and unbiased to any party? Undoubtedly, the only way to solve this problem is first to know who we are. We all believe that we are the creatures of God, who created us, whether be Muslims, Christians or Jewish, and that the sky above us is a creature of God and that the land is created by God in order we all live on it through the system that the Creator wanted, and this system the Creator wanted exists in the Books of Heavens that He sent down to his Messengers, and which the latest and the seal if them was the Holy Quran, which is a complete and comprehensive course and comprise all what relates to the cosmos, mankind and life and show the relations between them, and it is also a great gate to pass to all kinds of right knowledge that relate to this cosmos. I am going to give an example of our real life to simplify the idea: if one buy a device from a famous industrial company, no doubt that he will get a Usage Documents together with the device, this documents includes general information about the device and the most right ways of using this device and the trouble shootings, and where you are recommended to make reference to the manufacturer company in case of incurable errors, and where you are also warned of maintaining the device by other than the manufacturing company or its agents. In this concern, God says in the Verse no.10 in AL-Anbiaa (The Prophets) soura of the Holy Quran, and as I convey the translation of its explanation: ((Indeed, We have sent down for you (O mankind) a Book, (the Qur'ân) in which there is Dhikrukum, (your Reminder or an honor for you i.e. honor for the one who follows the teaching of the Qur'ân and acts on its orders). Will you not then understand?) At last, let us friend, to look in this Quran and brows it, and you will find it from the first to the end to be the miracle of God's speech where no one, whatever of eloquence he is at, to bring out any one similar "verse" of it. Then, if we found one verse of this Holy Quran are a human's, or found that one verse has been distorted, then, we refuse the whole Book. And this Quran, as we mentioned, is a general definition of each of cosmos, mankind and life, and an exposure to the relations within them, and it also comprise all what mankind needs of systems that make him on the topmost level. So, after we brows and accurately understand it, if we found otherwise than what have been mentioned, then we refuse it. Also this Quran was sent down concerning the people in general whether they are Muslims or non-Muslims to live fairly and peacefully within them on this earth. So, if we also find it bound to or one-sided to Muslims, then we refuse it too completely. Moreover, the wonderful thing in the Holy Quran is that It is quite corresponding to science, and there is no contradiction, in it, with the science that come out of a right base, because sciences that come out of right base, it would certainly reach to a right result. Information that come out of wrong or astray base would certainly reach to a wrong or astray result. Wish you all the welfare. |
| 20th February 2008 aspiringnomad | To Ziggy - From: Streets of Hate I'm glad you've taken the time to leave this comment Ziggy, because despite your air of self righteous wisdom your pathetically ignorant and frankly racist diatribe is actually that of the average tabloid reading FOX News viewing masses. Thank you for judging "Everybody's" opinion here as 'not interesting' enough for you to argue about, or taking time to judge the "irrelevance" of the reasons the inhabitants of Israel or Palestine are fighting. If you did however do just a little reading for yourself you would discover there is no congenital historical enmity between Arabs and Jews, despite your belief that the issues "go so far back in time that they become irrelevant". And instead of seeing peoples behavior and thinking maybe this is a result of their treatment, you see it as a "barbarianism and blood lust which governs this part of the world" again you have almost verbatim toed the racist neocon line that violence is something inherent in their culture. Then with almost embarrassing predictably you claim that nothing can stop the killing so you "seize[sic] to care" and that's "the way it goes"..."leave them to it". Again, the tabloid party line; that this is an ancient problem with little hope of a solution...Do yourself a favor today Ziggy: Start thinking for yourself. "The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance it is the illusion of knowledge" Stephen Hawking |
| 20th February 2008 IREN | THANKS LOT FOR THIS STORY - From: Streets of Hate THANKS LOT FOR THIS STORY ..ITS REAL I CAN FEEL IT . |
| 19th February 2008 wineman | The grounds of morality - From: Interview with the Sex Tourist Interesting, in this blog you push the moral superiority of single Western males who are not involved in the sex trade. There are a couple of points though. 1. Tourism, including your jaunts to exotic locations helps make commodities out of local people and places (where they live). 2. The exchange of sex, or romance, or marraige as a socioeconomic transaction is a part of Western culture just as much as the places you visited. I will not argue the point but will point out that expensive flashy cars are supposssed to get the gal in western countries ahahahhaha..sure |
| 18th February 2008 Tim S. | Interesting - From: California Dreaming without The Hippies Another well-written, thought-provoking entry. Look forward to the next entry and hope that the time-gap between the entries won't be as long. |
| 12th February 2008 pac1n | Great deal - From: California Dreaming without The Hippies Click Here! |
| 12th February 2008 aspiringnomad | Is Hampshire a place near Havant? - From: California Dreaming without The Hippies For the record, Chomsky's take on the American Dream is this "It's nothing but propaganda. Even in North-Korea you could talk about a North-Korean Dream. It too would consist of freedom and justice and equality and so on. But that is not North-Korean reality." (The policeman in my head thinks he deserves the taser treatment for such a subversive comment; you think I should Just Do it!?) |
| 12th February 2008 Martin | - From: California Dreaming without The Hippies You have been reading to much Chomsky mate. Good informative piece and I particularly liked the photos. I reckon your a closet copper though. All this 'policemen in my head' malarkey. I can't wait for your next blog, ever fancied going to Hampshire? Remember impossible is nothing, so bring it on. |
| 12th February 2008 Jo | Mohandas Gandhi - From: California Dreaming without The Hippies As what Gandhi preached, "Be the Change that you want to see in the world". If we could make that simple change within ourself, the way we think and act, then hopefully that change will radiate to the people around us and create the domino effect towards peace, love and harmony throughout the world.....cheers ! JC....P.S. Great Blog by the way ;> |
| 12th February 2008 mae | - From: California Dreaming without The Hippies Come visit me in LA! |
| 11th February 2008 Kim Cheese Ramran | Kamsamneedarma - From: California Dreaming without The Hippies i enjoyed that matey. Very tidy and interesting piece. I can't wait for the next blog to find out what you needed that tux for, ohh the excitement! All the best.. |
| 11th February 2008 Angie | quite interesting - From: California Dreaming without The Hippies this was interesting... it amazes me how there are people who enjoy travelling this much...and have the will to share it afterwards... bon voyage! greetings from croatia :) angie |
| 11th February 2008 Ziggy | To Everybody: The way it goes - From: Streets of Hate I've read more or less everything here, blogs and comments, and here is what I think. I don't really find it interesting to argue whose side is right and wrong, and who has done this that and the other. These rights and wrongs go so far back in time that they become irrelevant and people commit terrible acts every day: palestinians bomb cafe's and Israelis bulldoze a few schools. The guilt is evenly distributed on each side and there are no winners and losers. What we have here are people hating and killing and this has made Israel and Palestine pretty rotten places. If people really wanted this violence to stop it would, but barbarianism and bloodlust continues to govern this part of the world. Nothing can fix this and that is, I regret to say, the way it goes. Should I save a palestinian boy today he'll blow up a cafe tomorrow, protect an israeli and she'll be getting a bulldozer drivers licence. So this is where I seize to care. These people will never work this out and I think we better leave them to it and care about things we can actually do something about. |
| 15th January 2008 Peter Neu | Ah, the Mergui - From: Myanmar Musings in The Mergui Archipelago I enjoyed your writing about Mergui. I also went but didn't post it under Mergui as it wasn't offered at the time. Feel free to read it over. (Peter Neu/ Father Neu) I saw lots of Moken folks and traded for fresh fish once. But I have to say, after diving many spots I was surprised how unpristine places were due to rampant uncontrolled overfishing (80s or 90s?) Continue to explore the unexplored! |
| 24th December 2007 dan eire | some good reading - From: Beauty in The Belly of The Beast Hi Jason, Your blog reminded me of my summer trip to the States this August. I went to Burning Man but besides that serene interlude I also felt (again) the problems you discussed. I study Russian in Dublin and I just finished an essay comparing aspects of the totalitarian reality portrayed in the Russian classic Dystopian novel 'WE' to modern America. I recommend reading the German Psycologist Erich Fromm's 1942 novel "Fear of Freedom". It was a real eye opener for me and I can even claim to have gotten a bit high from reading it...if this is even possible. He goes beyond the norm also by offering solutions to society's problems. Essential reading for anyone interested in sociology in the context of modern issues of genuine personal freedom. |
| 2nd December 2007 JT | I often wonder - From: Beauty in The Belly of The Beast Though I was born and raised in the U.S., I've the fortune of having become a citizen of the world, so we share the same perspective... but I know this landscape far more intimately. Often these past several years, I've wondered what else and better might have become of this nation, with its incomprehensibly vast natural resources, under a different people and governance. Would it have been stripped of those resources, mountains torn down all the faster, or might it have given birth to a people able to be harmonious with the rest of the globe around them? Today it's impossible to separate the two; The people and the land share a seemingly inseparable bond, and so I can't say what it might have become... only that I mourn the loss of more positive and promising potentials. Thank you for sharing your perspective. As I gather myself for a one-way trip across the Pond at the end of this month, the reminder helps steady my resolve.:) Peace & Creation, JT |
| 27th November 2007 Cesar | Eddie, - From: Beauty in The Belly of The Beast I am this old fart from Southern California who writes poorly. However, I am one who knows what good writing looks like, and your essay is the best I've read so far. I love reading and re-reading your essay and also have read it to my wife. Thanks Brit for sharing your experiences. |
| 27th November 2007 Jim Morrison | Great read... - From: Interview with the Sex Tourist You aren't a moral hair splitter, others make reductionist arguments about this issue. I've never understood why these unions are any different from a western woman improve her station through marriage. Filipinas aren't as desperate as we often believe. |
| 21st November 2007 Jungle_Gal | Life After Love At First Sight - From: Interview with the Sex Tourist To the author..I wish you know whats going on with the life of Derek and his "wife" now so does what happened to properties he invested millions of pesos with...poor derek...sighh |
| 20th November 2007 ConMel | from Mika - From: Beauty in The Belly of The Beast Hello Jason, thanks for your response to my post, clarifying your position on Tibet. It was interesting to read your views on media in America. I would agree with you on many of the problems you've pointed out, but I'm wondering, do you have any solutions or better alternatives to try and prevent these problems? Is this as good as it gets? Mika in Finland. |
| 20th November 2007 Stephen Paul | Disneyland and Sandstone - From: Beauty in The Belly of The Beast The belly of beast isnt so bad huh? Everything west of the Rockies allows us to conveniently forget about political bullshit and focus on whats most important- seeing the gemstones that the natural world has to offer! The Goering quote is haunting, if only George W. had the balls to eat a cyanide containing glass ampule we would all save ourselves the trouble of an impeachment! |
| 20th November 2007 aspiringnomad | Don't believe the truth? - From: Beauty in The Belly of The Beast I agree with your philosophical stance Marco. "We Know the truth not only by reason, but also by the heart" Blaise Pascal, who also said "There are truths on this side of the Pyrenees, which are falsehoods on the other"...Still "Chase after the truth like all hell and you'll free yourself, even though you never touch its coattails" Clarence Darrow. |
| 20th November 2007 Kate's mom | Heartbreaking, but true. - From: Beauty in The Belly of The Beast Well said, aspiring nomad...great name, btw. America the paradox. Your photos capture the beauty, your words, the pain. When you have time, check out the Redwoods and the Oregon coast.... Happy adventuring! |
| 20th November 2007 Marcoelitaliano | Welcome back! - From: Beauty in The Belly of The Beast So, you were in the US. Nice to read something yours again. As for your point of view on the media (strictly in philosophical terms) you might just apply the same principle infinitely and never know where the truth lies. i.g. one could claim that those who claim that those who are favourable to a war have been manipulated are actually those who have been manipulated. And so on infinetely. Best bet: pay attention to Jennifer and keep the damn political show turned off :-) |
| 19th November 2007 Ali | Fantastic... - From: Beauty in The Belly of The Beast So true, so well written and so beautifully illustrated. |
| 19th November 2007 Kate Hildebrand | Dodge City what a pity - From: Beauty in The Belly of The Beast Best blog ever, I love those National Parks! Y'all come to Oklahoma next time, our politicians are the craziest :3 |
| 7th November 2007 henry | sad but true - From: Interview with the Sex Tourist Long time ago before tourism, the ideal habitation was when filipino girls were only for filipino boys. In that way the pinoys retain their stock and all. In the advent of world interaction, of which tourism is one, the eyes of most of filipino women have been diverted to these white visitors..big stature, tall, handsome, different and most especially with bulging pockets. No longer do pinoy fathers willingly give their daughters' hands to locals but prefer to yield them to some white foreigner who promises them freedom from poverty. The old pinoy culture is somewhat chipped away slowly and lost forever. If the culture of poverty persists in this island republic, more and more pinoy moral and cultural values would be lost. |
| 27th October 2007 lidia markovski | bravo - From: MAKEDONIJA you hit the nail on the head, i am australian born to macedonian parents, and i could not agree with you more.yes its a wonderful place, beautiful in fact but the people...... where do i start lazy and dumb so and so who like to free load off more fortune people (relative in particular that have come from overseas that have saved there pennies for years to make the pligrimage back to the home land only to have everyone of the relatives use them)yes very lazy.had the opportunity to spend 5 weeks there not so long ago did not see one relative go to work during that time(apparently it was not worth it, the monthly wage was very low) but was happy to free load off a relative that they had never met before. and the women yes slut material. im amazed that there isnt many known reports of rape (but most of them are so masculine the men would not be game to attack) thank you for your blog had a wonderful giggle |
| 1st October 2007 aspiringnomad | - mika - From: Karma police, arrest this man It is a little bizarre to receive a comment on this particular blog after so long Mika, as when I’d initially posted it, I expected a flood of protest which never actually materialized. I was apprehensive about including some of the negative experiences, since I believed their inclusion may somehow have undermined people’s solidarity toward the plight of the Tibetan people, and anger the many proponents of their cause. However I felt if I were to dismiss the ‘one off’ behavior of a group of Tibetans, and refuse to comment on it in my blog because the perpetrators are victims of Chinese imperialism, then I would be a hypocrite. Firstly let me address your concern and any misunderstanding over the Tibetan truck driver who transported us from Darchen to Saga. He was in no way whatsoever in danger of getting in hot water as what he is doing is not illegal. If tourists are discovered without permits it is them that have to answer questions/pay fines, not the driver. My experiences in Tibet were often an antithesis of what I had expected to find, as is often the case when travelling to lesser known corners of the world. I would love to write as an apologist for the behavior I witnessed firsthand in Tibet, and list the mitigating social factors that I personally believe created it, but that is beside the point. I make no excuse for Chinese imperialism. The principle of self determination should be granted to all peoples of the world whether we agree with the actions or customs of a particular nation, or ethnic group, or not. A universal right which should be upheld regardless, in the same vain as political freedom, freedom of religion and freedom of speech. |
| 21st September 2007 Johnny | - From: Interview with the Sex Tourist He's been too busy preparing for his wedding! But I'm sure that we'll soon get a long blog from that, with lot's of pictures and details. And maybe even some shots of the new baby? You can only hope!:) |
| 19th September 2007 Tina | What are you waiting for? - From: Interview with the Sex Tourist HI! What are you waiting for to add blogs? I miss them terribly! You were born to write... |
| 18th September 2007 mika | - From: Karma police, arrest this man Much as I enjoyed your blogs Eddie, I have to say you come across as a bit of a hypocrite, mainly through this one. You're obviously a supporter of the Palestinian cause, and rightly so IMO, yet you're quite ready to dismiss the sufferings of the Tibetans, and make excuses for Chinese imperialism, simply due to one bad experience on a bus with the natives. Later in Myanmar, you decide not to travel unauthorised by truck, for the very good reason that your presence could get the driver in hot water. Yet this is exactly what you did in Tibet, with no thought whatsoever for the drivers well-being. |
| 12th September 2007 james | other side!!!!!!!!? - From: Streets of Hate for who say u dont show the other side, i think this artile is spoken about something happened, the guy said only what happend, no other side in that, so i want tell to who disliked show this truth, israel is the only democracy in the mid east (as all the world say) , this means that the leader in this state are elected , that means they present the majority of people there, that means that the majority of israelis are agree with this barbarian way which their govt use it against an unarmed pp, so if there is a scullar israelis reallly who like and orefer peace, how much they are one ,two, one thousand? they have no influence this is the other fact and truth which those people who claim " the other side view" ingnore, try to be real, israel own tanks , planes, missiles , nukes, , and palsitinians own what, kassam misslies? some RPGs, so who present really a threat to the other, if really the good israelis are who govt we would never had this shameful situation there, but like u see your pp reflect the image of your govt cause it allow them to behave like that,? hope so one from who claim the "other side" idea can comment what i said or answer me |
| 31st August 2007 rob | land unvailed - From: Mindanao; Abu Sayyaf the MILF and a bloke called Joe. just happened on this blog as im going to visit mindanao at christmas time. since reading this you have given me the best insight i could have to life in this beautifull and (to me) mysterious country i must have that sense of adventure like yourself as from reading this i just cant wait to get over there now |
| 31st August 2007 chel | Thank you :-) - From: Mindanao; Abu Sayyaf the MILF and a bloke called Joe. Thank you joe.. i can use your blogs pic on our presentation exam... |
| 28th August 2007 lisa | - From: Interview with the Sex Tourist I miss you blogs!!!! |
| 19th July 2007 Derik | irony - From: Interview with the Sex Tourist Isn't it Ironic how guys from Eastern Europe go elsewhere to find love, and Americans go on romance tours to Eastern Europe to do the same thing? Everybody has their hand in someone else's pot. I spent 3 years in west africa, where I had a few relationships. I didn't marry because none of the women had enough education, and I am not financially stable enough to support two. In the US in takes two incomes to make it today. I think a woman is attractive not only physically but in the way she needs you. You really would be saving her life by marrying her. That is an attractive prospect to any male. Even other animals operate in that way. American women give you the impression they don't need anyone. Their independence has cut them off emotionally from their men. |
