#NerdsUnite: All over with Oliver - Cost Efficient Travel, FTW!

<editorsnote> Nerds, meet my buddy Oliver. We met not too long ago after he dropped me a nerdy little love note via email asking if he could write for us. Dudes, the email was so well written, and interesting that I didn't even ask for a writing sample. Cool dude. Seems like he might be kinda nuts too - but in the best way possible. I only have one more thing left to say ... HIT IT OLIVER!! </editorsnote>

#TalkNerdyToMeLover's @oliverdomer

So I would like to clarify a couple things from last week. In it, Jen said I wrote a “nerdy little love note.” It was not a proclamation of love, but rather a “you’re doing cool shit, and that’s cool”-email. Her website had given me the courage of move past my penis drawing syndrome. If she hadn’t railed so passionately against penis pictures, she may have received an artful drawing of a phallic Tienanmen Square protestor. Alas…

Moving on…

Last time, I wrote about Japan. Here is a list of ten things I discovered on my very trip to Japan all by my lonesome.

1. The language barrier was exciting, unnerving and frustrating all at once. It was exciting because it was a challenge. A challenge to step outside yourself and figure out things by yourself. No one there to guide or tell you what to do. At the same time, you’re presented with simple tasks which turn out to be not so simple. Ordering at a restaurant turns into you pointing at pictures and nodding at your server. Asking for directions means uttering the your destination in one word and proceeding to point with your hands. 

2. Hostels are the shit. Sure, you give up privacy, convenience and some element of comfort. For the price, however, they can’t be beat. More importantly, they allow the lonely traveler (or small group) to meet and share the city with other fellow travelers. I hung out with a different group of people (usually consisting of Aussies, Kiwis and Brits) every night I was there. You can see museums together, go out to bars and trade travel stories. In short, you’re as alone as you want to be. (Caveat: You’ll hear horror stories regarding hostels. Do your research and you should be just fine).

3. It was lonely. Kinda contradicting point 2, huh? You’re alone so you have to rely on yourself. The people you meet are friendly and awesome to share a day trip or night out with. In the end, however, its transient. Single-serving friends, if you will (Fight Club, anyone?). I had a bunch of fun with some Americans teaching English in Yokohoma for New Years, though sadly they had to go back to their respective cities the very next day. Other meanwhile, are continuing their trips to other cities in Japan or even the world. I shared a wonderful conversation with an Aussie called Monique about minimalism and living outside of the 40 hour, desk monkey lifestyle that drives so many people crazy. She had just spent three weeks in Laos and was off to Turkey and Europe in 2012. You develop pretty cool connections with people that sadly don’t have a chance to develop. 

4. Yep, that’s Tommy Lee Jones hawking some sort of coffee drink. They have vending machines everywhere in Tokyo and they sell anything and everything you could possibly want, including beer! The point is you can’t paln the weird and random experiences you’ll have. Japanese people don’t talk in the subway. At all. A city the size of NYC and no one says a word on the subway, ever. Or buying food from a restaurant where you first order from a vending machine, which spits out a ticket with your order. You then give the waiter the check. Seek out the differences whether cultural, social, otherwise and see how other people lead their daily lives. Living outside of your norm is what makes travel worth it. One of my to-do’s was to sing karaoke in Japan. I very proudly, and drunkenly, crossed that off.

5. Plan out your trip. Winging it’s awesome, though a little planning goes a long way. Beyond my flight and accommodation, I woke up a man without a plan. I missed out on the Emperor speaking to the Japanese people at his mansion/castle/big house. He does this twice a year and I, unfortunately, found out way too late. There a couple side trips I could have made that would have made my trip a bit more enjoyable. My recommendation would be to make some sort of to-do list using either a guidebook or wikitravel (favorite travel site). Either way, no regrets here. Just something to think about…

I’ll post the remaining five items in my list next week. For now, I leave you with an awesome blog by Devon from Seattle. She’s doing a round the world trip starting in New Zealand in February and is one hell of a writer. You can follow her adventures here.

Party on Wayne.

P.S - For my next adventure, I’m thinking Israel-Jordan. Thoughts?

#nerdsunite

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