Another Day in Ohio

Welcome to Ohio

[Note: In the spirit and style of Brian Hughes, one of our generation's finest bloggers, you may find quite a few Editorial Comments added to this blog as a humorous effect. Cheers, ye Editor]


Since my last trip to Columbus was cut short, I decided to return again. This time, I thought it would be great to drive the ten hours there, and really see this vast nation of mine. (@#$%! airline fares...)

Time seems to slow down the further you drive. Sure, the first two hours seem okay, but the clock slows, and the miles stretch, until the pain in your backside can no longer be described. But let's go back to the beginning, shall we?


Indian Country, Pa.

First thing, I woke up late (of course), and then, while packing, heard what I thought was thunder. Looking out the window I saw... snow. In April. And though it stopped for a while, it managed to follow through the first half of Pennsylvania. (of course). While looking at the snow which shouldn't have been there, I noticed that there was quite a bit of traffic in my neighborhood. Turns out that they decided to tear up half the road around the corner... the way I was going, of course.

The construction didn't end there. There was construction nearly every twenty minutes of the ten hour trip, meaning that I probably could have gotten here in 9 hours, considering how long I sat or crawled past orange traffic cones.



So 2 McDonalds and three rest stops and twenty construction sites later, I arrived in Ohio, where it was bright until 8:30, which was a plus for the drive, considering it gets dark about 7:30 in NJ. Of course, it was well after dark by the time I arrived.


Falling Rock Zone in the Mountains of PA.

Driving did give me a better perspective of the land, and a bigger appreciation for air travel! Ohio still looks pretty flat to me... definitely big sky country... especially after driving through PA, which was all beautiful mountains, including one spot which had a sign which I think claimed the spot was the highest elevation east of the Mississippi, but it was hard to read a long sign while zooming past it. Driving, though, did give me a better appreciation for Ohio. I finally got to see stretches of farmland, vast panoramas, and signs for places like Grandpa's Cheese Barn.


Big Sky Country


And speaking of difficulty reading signs, here's a travel tip. Try to avoid driving East, as you'll have the sun in your eyes most of the way, and when you finally get to the unfamiliar places, all of the road signs will be black silhouttes. It's a round planet, so I suggest you make life easier and only travel westward from now on.

Cheers, JOHN :0)

Columbus, Ohio, Day 2

Short post today, since I don't have a good wireless connection. No photos, but I promise more tomorrow.

First impressions... people tell you a lot of things, but don't listen to them! The taxes in Ohio are not 25% of what you find in NJ, contrary to popular opinion. Property taxes are as high as any place in Jersey, at least in the areas I visited. I spent most of the day north and west of the city, and the entire place seems to be under development, which is why the taxes are so high. From this point of view, the place reminded me of New Jersey, where the greed of the developers eliminates the natural beauty and history of the State.



Again, I was close to the city, and also, I suppose a booming locale is better than a dying one. There were many beautiful areas to live, and to shop, and some cute downtowns. Like the rest of the world, there are quite a few Irish pubs that look promising, and Columbus has a terrific zoo and aquarium to offer. I was surprised to see Amish shops, and to hear that there were Amish communities not far away. There is also an ancient Native American cavern that I look forward to exploring, and some nice farmland that hasn't turned condo yet. There are two large lakes that are state parkland, and free for everyone to enjoy, and one huge momma of a shopping area that could be a small town in itself.

All in all, an exhausting day, and so of course take everything I say with a grain of salt. You can't judge a place on one day's visit... it isn't fair.



I was surprised to see how close it resembled jersey, although truth to tell New Jersey has a lot of trees and wooded areas, and justly wears it's title of Garden State. From Ohio, I expected a lot of farmland and a slower paced life and hopefully a better cost of living. The people did seem very friendly, and the cost of living will probably be founf to be more reasonable if I get away from the tourist areas.

More later, after I get some sleep. If you're reading this without photos, please come back in a day to see those. (update: photos added.)

Cheers, JOHN :0)



Photos:

1) Downtown Dublin, a cute little town that apparently had one heck of a St. Patrick's day parade.
2) One of two beautiful and large lakes that residents can enjoy.
3) The Public Library in upscale New Albany.
4) A farm with a horse.

Notice that the land is fairly flat out there, a least where I've seen. New Jersey is very hilly, and has it's share of mountains, and lots of wooded areas. Again, though, I never strayed far from the city, so I'll have to report again later when I've seen more.

Columbus, Ohio, Day 1

So I'm in Columbus, Ohio, doing some research for a future project, amongst other things. Only a brief visit, but I will share what I can.

Tonight I am in a swanky part of town called Easton Town Center, a collection of shops and restaurants not far from the airport. The taxi ride cost $20 bucks for a 3 mile trip, and at least as far as Easton Town Center goes, prices are not any cheaper here than in New Jersey. From the crowd, though, and the number of hotels here, I am guessing this is a touristy area.

Many of the restaurants are familiar to me, which just goes to show how the world is getting smaller in some ways. The above photo is of a miniature railway displayed outdoors here, and the horse statue can be found outside of a Chinese bistro.



So far, Columbus reminds me of Philadelphia, or Boston, perhaps, in the sense that things are spread out as opposed to crowded into a massive downtown area. I did little research before coming here, though, and I'm more familiar with other areas of Ohio, so this will be a learning experience. Sometimes it's good to get away to somewhere you haven't been before and just experience.

Tomorrow I will see the rest of Columbus. I've already done some research on the area in a local bookstore, but have a lot to learn yet.

Hopefully this last picture is NOT an indication of things to come. :0)



I'll try to post tomorrow!
Cheers, JOHN :0)

Where I've Been

FaceBook has an endless number of applications to 'enhance' the user experience. Some are silly, some are plain dumb, and some are quite useful, and some are fun. One of the applications I like is called Where I've Been, and it acts as a virtual map with virtual pins that mark 'where I've been'.

To be honest, the app is not always perfect, and for me at least, it isn't always easy to get into, but at least it saves your progress automatically, and it does seem to improving over time. One of the excitements of travel, of course, is seeing where you've been, and just as important, where you haven't been. An application like this is fairly easy to use, although it is limited to facebook. There are similar apps with facebook, if you want to experiment, but I like this one best.

I have yet to research a similar program for desktop use, that you can share with everyone. I'm sure one is out there, and I will let you know. Meanwhile, if you can recommend something, let ME know.

It would be great to have a world map on your wall, and place pins in it to mark your places of visitation, but honestly, that would take a big chunk of wall space, and what if the pins fell out? Of course, if I leave facebook, or the power goes out, I can't access Where I've Been, but since it is a program, there are some neat aspects like giving you a percentage of the planet that you have visited.

For me, WIB says I've visited 10% of the planet. Now, I don't know if this is 10% of land mass, or the whole thing. If the whole planet, then 10% isn't bad, considering how much is water. My problem with the app is that it has been saying 10% for some time now. In fact, I've gone to considerable effort to add places, just to try to get it to 11%, but no... it hasn't changed. What irks me is that I've seen similar maps from other people, and one guy has 15%, but has visited less of the world thatn I have!

I think the problem is that it gives you credit for an entire country, so the guy who hops over the border into Mexico for a quick margarita gets credit for the whole country. That's quite an edge, so I hope the application works these kinks out.

The above photo is an actual screenshot of my travels. It shows I have quite a few places to visit yet! When in the program, you can actually zoom in and out like on google maps, and see individual towns and other places you can truly add most places you've been. One thing lacking though is places of interest, like Mount Rushmore or the Taj Majal. Hopefully they will add that to the cities feature some time.


Meanwhile, it is a fun tool for a traveller, but only if you are on facebook. Maybe they'll expand beyond social networks one day?

So how do YOU keep track of Where You've Been?

Cheers, JOHN :0)

The Loud American

Xenophobia, loosely described as fear or loathing of people or beings that are different from yourself. I've spoken here of why it's good to travel, such as it improves your brain, and your outlook on life. Like other travels, I should probably just focus on the good stuff, like great food, or excellent shopping when teh exchange rate is in your favor.

No, I have to intellectualise things, and what I should say here is that I think travel should become mandatory. People aren't going to travel because it's good for them unless you drop kick them on the plane and wait to make sure they don't get off again until the next stop. Okay, that sounds a bit harsh, but the world, great big place that it really is, is also getting smaller in terms of cultural boundaries. More and more each day we're forced suddenly with people who wear different clothes, eat differet foods, and more importantly have different views, opinions, and ideas. Eventually, tensions arise, and problems begin.

The cure, or at least delay to the problem, is of course, travel. More than reading a book or website, true travel immerses you in a new place, and you're forced to see things from other viewpoints. Being of English decent, I can blend in pretty well in the UK, if I keep my mouth shut. So I was sitting in a cafe in Bath one time, alone, and so quiet, when these Americans walked in... young kids, mostly girls, and fine examples of the American Teenager. Very loud and raucus, laughing out loud, making snorting noises, and pushing each other around as teenageers do here every day in every eatery in America. For some reason, though, this behaviour seemed unexpected in this little cafe in Bath, and people started staring, and glaring, the moment these kids walked in the door. Eventually, rolled eyes accompanied whispers of "Americans", and I smiled to myself since I was American myself.

The point here, of course, that even in a country where you speak the language, there are cultural differences. And even though teenagers everywhere could use a little lesson in manners, these kids were just having fun, and yet drew stares and whispers. Take this idea further, and you can begin to understand xenophobia. how many Americans reading this see nothing wrong with the teenager's behavior? I wouldn't, except for the fact that I was there, and everyone else in the cafe was quiet and reserved.

What I am trying to say is this: It is very easy to assume that you are always right and someone else is wrong, especially when all you know is your neighborhood, and you hav eyour neighbors to reinforce your world view for you. Travel to foreign countries can be eye opening when you see that not everyone loves America, or Americans, or our politics, or world stance. Did I tell the story about the guy in India who spit at me because he disagreed with Clinton's policies in Pakistan? I was told through a translator that since Clinton was my president, I must agree with the things he says or does! Well, talk about a misunderstanding, and a very scary situation!

It is also very eye opening, and rewarding, to see that people in other countries are also very much like us. Most people just want simpler, better lives, with a good roof over their heads, and a warm television to sit in front of. They want better lives for themselves and their kids, and are not always enmeshed in politics, religion, or anything else that makes us all different.

Wherever you go, you'll realise that people with very different lives can be very familiar to you if you actually see them with your eyes, and not through the filtered lens of the media. It's important to also see, though, that your viewpoint is not the only one, and no matter how sure you are of your beliefs, there are those out there who will strongly disagree with you. Both points are important to realise in today's global village.

I sincerely think travel should be mandatory for American students.... all students, not just those who can afford the Senior class trip that some High Schools offer. It would definitely help us to raise better kids who are more prepared to face the world.

Cheers, JOHN :0)


One of my cartoons about Bath, England. :0)

Bangers and Mash, Anyone?

An American standing in front of a decent pub

I always recommend a trip to the UK for an American's first visit overseas. The language is recognizable, the people friendly, and yet there is so much to see and do that excitement will fill your every moment travelling there.

For a small island, England has a lot to offer. In fact, I'm sure most people would find something to their liking, especially if they just forget all that silly small talk, misconceptions, and 'facts' that everyone assumes to be true. No, it doesn't rain all the time in the UK, and yes, there are many restaurants and pubs that serve some excellent food, and no, beer is not necessarily served warm.

One problem Americans in particular face when confronting England is the food. One joy of travelling is discovering new things, and the best place to start is food. However, the moment we Americans arrive, we right away look for something familiar and comfortable, and this is a mistake. I, as a new traveller my first time to the UK, learned these things the hard way, and would like to steer you right.

England is more culturally diverse than America, by far, and so there is a wide variety of foods to choose from. However, this is England we're talking about, not some remote forest village. The water is safe to drink, and I doubt anyone is serving crunchy catepillars, so why the fuss?

First off, true British food, what I would call Pub Grub, is fabulous. Shephard's pie, fish and chips, and surprisingly many vegetarian options are offered by pubs, along with some terrific beer. All fairly safe foods, so don't be intimidated.

It is true that some British folk overcook their veggies by our standards, but I think you'll see this less and less in restaurants. Also, what may be familiar in America may not be familiar in the UK. My first meal ever in the UK was served in an 'Italian' restaurant. Suffering a wee bit of jet lag and culture shock, I looked for something familiar, and regretted it. The veggies were overcooked, and the pasta was soaking in way too much oil, and the cheese was overcooked until it too became unrecognizable and the spices were different than I was used to. Blech. Another meal, found along the vein of seeking comfort, was nachos in a trendy sports pub. How can you go wrong with nachos, right? Cheese and salsa on chips, toasted until the cheese melts. Well, fortunately my brain has forgotten the details of that frightful meal.

Every country has specialties, and their own versions of things. In England, stick with a real pub, not one of the trendy chain pubs that are taking over the old pubs too rapidly. Or find a restaurant that looks crowded... a good tip for any trip. What is familiar here is not familiar there, where ever you go. Unfortunately for me, I went to places that just wanted tourist money, and tried to cater to tourists. Thankfully I learned to go with the flow, and do as the locals do.

When you are feeling more adventurous, try some other places. It's best to have recommendations from friends or up to date guidebooks. I would recommend some places, but things are changing too fast for that. Some of my favorite places have disappeared or changed too much. Indian food in England is usually very good, especially in established restaurants, or some of the new fusion places. There are some bad places, but again, those were aimed at tourists, and gave you little for your money.

Most places in the theatre district are pretty good from my experience, and there is a Chinatown not far away. Chinatown, though, is like Chinatown in other big cities, and should be approached cautiously by the unadventurous. You're not going to find the Americanized Chinese food we have here. My experience in New York and London is that this food is very authentic, and not for the faint hearted. A dim sum experience in London revealed foods that I could not identify by sight, and some, like fried chicken's feet, were too identifiable. If you're seeking adventure, that's the place. :0)

European food can also be found, in restaurants that specialize in Swiss style eating, or Belgian, French, etc. One place I can recommend is My Old Dutch Pancake, which is not too far from the British Museum, but I always get lost trying to find it. The first time I went there it was a family friendly place, but the last time I went it was an upscale cafe with much higher prices. The food, service, and atmosphere is always nice, though, and something unique.


A different American standing before My Old Dutch Pancake

In any country, it's best to go where the locals go, or to a slightly more upscale place. Noone is going to deliberately serve bad food, but there are some places it's best to avoid. A place looking to accumulate tourist money is not going to be aiming for repeat business... they'll take your money, and then the next guy's, and the next, for as long as they can get away with it.

If a place is known for something, then it's safe to aim for that. In England, go for the Fish and Chips or other pub food. We've all heard about the Brits eating Fish and Chips, right? Then again, I've had the best Chinese food... in India!

Which just goes to show what an adventure travel can be. Just be sure the surprises you find are good ones!

Cheers, JOHN :0)

Staying Home

Since the Googlebots haven't found this blog yet, my visitors have been few so far. I really thought that last post about my Disney trips would have got some of you talking, but then again, it's summer, so hopefully a lot of you are travelling. :0)

Anyways, I still have lots of travel tips, stories, and illustrations to share with you, but right now I'm finding adventure at home... with my comic strip The Inquiring Minds.



Today I am proud to announce my 100th comic strip of The Inquiring Minds! This is a big deal to me. I'm doubly pleased that this 100th strip falls smack dab in the middle of the 2008 Big Summer Adventure currently going on. I honestly believe that when this is over, the Big Summer event will be my best work to date. I'm very pleased with the art and the writing both, and for me, this is something that's been a long time coming.

It's fun, and getting funner, and big things are yet to come!

If you aren't up to date with the story, please read through it before reading the new 100th strip below, as it is a culmination of what's been going on so far this summer. But this is by no means the end! Plot twists are a coming! :0)

See the whole story at www.HappyGlyphs.com/summer.html

Cheers, JOHN :0)

Greetings From Bangalore, Part I

Snacks in the park.


I'm not actually in Bangalore right now, but I liked the title. I actually had a page with this title at my website while I was working on my graphic novel 3 Knights in India, and at the time I had indeed visited the garden city.

So, I've had a few complaints about that post I made a few weeks back concerning a rough experience in India. I'm not dwelling on bad experiences, and I certainly do not mean to imply that this is all that India is about. I love India, or I wouldn't have spent 3 years of my life on that graphic novel, nor would I have travelled there so many times. My visits to India have had some spectacular moments, and I've had some wonderful times there... some of the best in my life.

So let me now take you to Bangalore, a city with a great climate, decent food, and a whole lot of culture.

Bangalore is in the southern part of India, and features simple but healthier food than its northern counterpart (but wait... there's more on that later). Being of a very temperate climate, the city's parks and residential areas are beautiful to look at, with the abundance of various flowers doing a decent job of competing with the colorful saris and churidars that the ladies wear. However, since becoming the Silicon Valley of India, and boasting some of the highest paid college grads, and basically becoming a booming city, the place is developing into THE place to be. Where once upon a time the American dollar could go very far, there are now places that have become very upscale, and money talks. Shopping malls, luxury condos, and a car in every yard is now the norm.

Of course, the downside is incredible traffic that has to be seen to be believed. I've mentioned elsewhere that I've seen two or three laned roads with 12 lanes of traffic trying to get through. Of course, in India traffic can mean three wheeled motor rickshaws, motor scooters, ox drawn carts, bicycles, motorcycles, and others all squeezing between the cars and trucks that one would normally expect. Pollution has also increased, as well as litter, as the citizens of Bangalore are adopting a more western lifestyle of fast food on the go.


Some of that traffic I mentioned.


I can't predict where Bangalore is going, but I believe that for a while yet it will still maintain its cultural distinction, and its natural beauty. Bangalore offers some outstanding hotels with luxurious service that you wouldn't believe, and the restaurants are becoming world class, with distinctive offerings found nowhere else.

On my last visit, a blend of North Indian dishes and Chinese dishes seemed to be the specials at every top restaurant in Bangalore and nearby Mysore. I've had 'Chinese' food in Indian restaurants in America with very mixed results, and so far have found little of interest. In Bangalore, however, chefs familiar with a wide variety of spices and cooking techniques can turn Chinese food into something absolutely spectacular... definitely worth blogging about, and I highly recommend that you try 'Chinese' food while in India, as well as trying a wide variety of styles of food. Although not all experiments work, you'll find much of the food in Bangalore to be worthwhile.


My version of the oxen above, available as a high quality print here.


I mentioned earlier that south Indian food is "simple and healthier", and I am of course referring to traditional south Indian foods, such as idly, sambar, and dosa. Idly is a steamed rice dumpling, sambar a spicy tomota soup, and dosa? Dosas are a crispy crepe-like treat made from rice and dal flour, and the original recipe probably came from Heaven itself. Plain, spicy, or stuffed with a potato mixture, dosas go great with coffee for breakfast, or with chutney and sambar for lunch or dinner. A real treat which I recommend highly. Nowadays, South Indian restaurants are cropping up in America and elsewhere, so you may be able to try a Dosa locally.

Part II coming soon!

Meanwhile, here's another look at the above topic from the afore-mentioned 3 Knights in India.



Thanks for visiting, JOHN :0)

A Fool and His Money...

When confronted by someone in trouble, many of us would probably want to help. If we saw a child who was hungry, hurt, or in any dire strait, we would want to do something. But should we?

There are predators everywhere, and when travelling, you are a target. Especially when visiting a foreign city, one where poverty is in abundance, or plain site, there will be those poised to take advantage of the situation. Sick? Yes. Profitable enough for some people to forgo ethics, and all else? Definitely.

A word of advice: When travelling in a foreign place, any foreign place, a place where you did not grow up or spend years of your life, do not, and I repeat, do NOT assume that you understand the place. That borders on arrogance, and can be dangerous.

On my first trip to India, quite some time ago, I took a tour bus from Delhi to Agra, home of the Taj Majal. Trust me, I've written quite a bit about that trip, and you'll hear of it again. Anyway, our bus was full of tourists from all over, and some of them were older people who obviously had some money. All nice, smiling happy people until we made this one stop, and got off of the bus.

There to greet us was a small group of children... all handicapped, all dirty and dressed in rags, and all crying with their hands out. Some of them had missing limbs, and one had a bad case of elephantitis, his leg swollen to 3 or 4 times it's normal size. One leaned on a handmade crutch, and all looked hungry. A matronly German woman ran over to them before they could surround us with outstretched, tear-stained hands, and several others from the tour reached into their pockets to help these children. I was warned by an Indian traveller to keep moving, so I did.

As we walked into the Red Fort, my fellow tourists felt so good about themselves. They were happy to know that they could share their good fortunes, and help those poor children in need. We all had a nice time in the Fort.. it is a beautiful place full of magnificent gardens, architectural wonders, and the best view of the Taj Majal. A pleasant afternoon was spent, and we made our way back to our bus. As we left the gates, our lives changed forever.

There, before us, laughing and smiling, were the children. They were standing around like a bunch of old men, smoking cigarretes, eating bags of potato chips, and just having a great old time.

My fellow tourists suddenly felt like fools. I know I did. It seemed we were suckered.

Now, hold off until I'm finished. I learned later quite a bit about this. The money given to those children was probably given to gangsters, who took care of these kids. The kids were probably taught how to act for maximum impact and profit.

Yes, we were helping poor, handicapped kids, but we were also giving gangsters a living, and a reason to continue using these children. Yes, the children were handicapped, but was it all accidental, or did someone damage these children to make them more effective at getting money from tourists? Also, where did these children come from? They may have been kidnapped by the gangsters, or equally as bad, purchased from families who had too many children to feed?

Yes, this is horrible to think about, but I've heard from many sources that these things happen all the time, in many places. You can go back and forth in your mind about it, but the truth is we may never know the truth, and we may never know if it was right or wrong to give those children money.

And this is a good lesson to keep in mind... if you do give someone money in an impoverished area, there will more than likely be many others who will want their share, and a crowd will quickly form around you. And wherever you are, if you are in a crowd, you should always watch yourself, and watch your pockets. That little kid hugging your leg and crying is probably looking for yor wallet.

Am I being cynical? I only wish. This is only one incident that I am telling you about. There have been several others.



Travel helps one grow, but it isn't always easy. Remember; open eyes, open ears, and open mind.

Thanks for visiting, JOHN :0)

North vs South

Something's been bugging me for some time now, so I'll put it out here, and see if someone out there can offer some intelligent feedback. And yes, this is travel related. :0)

Until recently, there has been East vs West, which is quite an understandable division. Asians and Europeans went their separate ways millenia ago, and with time and distance creating a barrier, they grew independantly from one another, with very different cultures, languages, etc. Understandable. However, I hear more and more of differences between North and South... within the same country!

Travelling allows you to see how others live, but only a glimpse. You cannot know what it is like to actually grow up 'somewhere else', so some things, like prejudice, may be difficult to understand. For me, it is a question of why is it that one country can have its north and south be so independent that they could easily be separated into two? (And at the same time be entirely dependent on one another.)

Extreme examples are the American Civil War, of course, or the troubles in Ireland. Gentler examples would be the difference between food in northern Italy and the south, or the cultural differences between north and south India. In the middle are the prejudices seen between the north and south of England. I'm not talking about the differences between Scotland and England, which there are many, but the division within England itself.

Maybe there is no one answer. In some cases, distance can be a big factor, especially on a planet like ours where the climate can vary drastically between the north and south ends of a country. But Ireland and England don't have that much of a distance barrier, or even cultural difference. Switzerland has three regions that each speak a different language, and yet as far as I know, one section doesn't see itself as far superior to another.

Differences can be good: they give us choices, such as al dente pasta vs a seafood sauce. Differences that cause prejudice are another thing altogether. Your average traveller won't usually be affected by this, but such problems may be important to know about before travelling. Research into a foreign country can make any trip more enjoyable, and safer, even a country where you speak the language. Cultural differences are something an outsider cannot totally understand, and usually your opinions are not wanted.



When travelling, don't be the loud American, or the missionary who walks into someone else's life and tells them how to live, or worse, acts superior. Arrogance is not pretty. And by missionary I'm not just talking about religion. Try to learn about another country before travelling there, and try to learn some of the language... at least enough to get by. In Switzerland I had so much help from friendly people wanting to practice their English. In France I couldn't get an ounce of help without knowing the language perfectly.

If you haven't travelled much, remember this: the world is a big place, and there are taboos, laws, and rules of life that you may not understand. And though something may seem silly to you, it may be very serious to someone else.

So be careful. Travel is a way to broaden the mind. Go with open eyes, and open ears, and leave the ego behind. You'll get through culture shock a lot faster that way.

And if any of you have thoughts about why we divide countries North and South, I'd love to hear from you.

Cheers, JOHN :0)

The Travel Bug

Why is it that some of us, once we have travelled, simply cannot get enough of it? Well, believe it or not, but I may have an answer for you!

A recent report in The Wall Street Journal (March 12, 2008; Page B1)
discussed internet addiction and the brain. Apparently, our brain rewards us whenever we experience something new, on the condition that the newness requires interpretation. We 'feel good' with new experiences, and therefore seek out more new experiences, as in an addiction. Now, you know where I'm going with this, but here me out.

Internet addiction can be a bad thing, like food or drug addiction. In this day and age, we avoid boredom, and seek constant thrills. What better, and safer, way to do this than to travel? Think about it: visit someplace you've never been before, and everything you see, and many things you smell and hear, will be new. The more foreign to you, the better. A natural thrill occurs, as your brain is stimulated by all of your senses, which explains why travel can be such an adventure.

Of course, too much of a good thing isn't good either. There is such a thing as culture shock, and expanding on our theory here, too much exposure to new things can simply overwhelm the mind. On my third trip to India, in a familiar place, surrounded by familiar people, culture shock hit me bad. My mind literally realed, and I was quite shook up. Going further, now, perhaps we can seek a cure for culture shock?



I discussed this in the afterword of my book, 3 Knights in India, and advised anyone travelling to a new place to start out slow, and seek the familiar. Even if you can't afford to stay in a fancy hotel, you can walk into any hotel in the world, and have a seat, a drink, or a meal, and relax. These places look pretty much the same anywhere, and can be a great 'home base'. However, all you really need to do is sit in a quiet place, close your eyes, or read a book.... something to trick your brain into thinking it's experiencing the familiar. Then you can set out for adventure, and let those new experiences be the fun that they should be.



So, if you have the travel bug, now you know why. But don't let the science of it spoil anything for you. Just look at it as improving your mind, and having fun while doing it!

Thanks for visiting, JOHN :0)

A Dichotomy of Travel

I'm going to mention this a lot at this blog, but travel is good for you. Your mind expands from the onset of new sights and sounds, and from adapting to new situations. If you've never left your home state, then it's time to cross that line. If you haven't left your country, then take the first step out, and get yourself a passport. Few things can help you grow, and give you such an education, as seeing the world beyond your doorstep.

Saying all that, there's a certain dichotomy to travel. You'' see this on your first international voyage, especially if you go by air, and travel far. It's an 18 hour flight from New Jersey to India, and 24 hours to Australia. That's a long time to be sitting in a tiny seat, trying to sleep as the air gets staler and your internal clock starts to lose confidence in what time it is. Get a window seat, and make sure you look outside once in a while. The world is a big place.

Passing over the top of the planet, you see miles, and miles, and more miles, of nothing but black dirt and occasional ice. Pass over the middle east, and it can take hours to cross nothing but desert, with the occasional oasis or oil field to break the monotony. Fly to Japan or Hawaii, and there is so much ocean spread before you, that it takes hours to cross. The earth is a truly big place when you see it in this manner.

However, and here's teh dichotomy, you land. At the airport, you see a few familiar thigns, such as currency exchange, and long lines of people. Some airports can appear quite foreign, but if you get out into a big city, you may find yourself staring at a McDonald's, or a Citibank, and several other familiar landmarks. You stop at a market, and there are familiar fruits, candy bars, and of course, Coca Cola. Suddenly, it seems like it's a small world after all.

That will change, of course, if visiting a truly foreign country, but the thing is, we're all people. Go into a restaurant anywhere, and there will be kids eating treats, young couples laughing, older folk in the corner with their coffees... and people in general trying, just like you, to get by in life.

Remember that flight, and looking out that window. Keep that humbling experience of seeing just how big the planet is. But don't forget that its getting smaller every day, perception-wise. And get out there, and see it now, because its changing, and changing fast.

Thanks for visiting, JOHN :0)

PS For a travel illustration, we turn to my first book, Take Me Away From All This!! for today's 'small world' moment. Please click on the image to enlarge.

Howdy

Hello,

My name is John, and I'm a Cartoonist / Illustrator who loves History and Travel, and cooking, and.... well, let's just stick to travel for now, with a side-dish of history. I have another blog devoted to creativity, cartooning, and illustration, and since my work overlaps with my life, a lot of my blogs end up about travel. I also write occasionally for The Fylde & Wyre Antiquarian , and those blogs discuss my travels in England, as relates to history, especially prehistory.

So... in an attempt to separate things a bit, and try to focus my other blog on my art, I am beginning this blog to focus on my other interest; travel.

Of course, you'll have to expect to see my art showing up here: it's only natural. But I'll stick to travel themes.

Here's a travel toon, to get us started.



All right, I might as well add right now that England is one of my favorite places. I've been there many times, and cannot wait until I return. So... you'll see quite a bit about England. However, I've been all over, and I tell it like it is, so we'll eventually get to other places as well.

Thanks for visiting, JOHN :0)