Zee and Harris. Tea Bazaar.
11:30am
Mudhouse Cafe.
Charlottesville.
This morning at 1am, I was tromping around on the Rivanna Trail on the outskirts of Charlottesville. The weeds dangling over the trail were damp. In the distance I could hear semi trucks blasting on the highway. I was using my pocket video camera’s viewfinder as my flashlight, but the night was surprisingly light.
STOP!!! This note is for someone whom has little money, yet much desire to explore the world.
Those of you whom dutifully saved your dough or were fortunate enough to have ample finances can skip this article; UNLESS, you have the dough, yet CHOOSE the Problem of Sleep for the other benefits it provides.
***
Violinist on the Downtown Mall.
Hitchhiking would be so much more comfortable, if I had a guaranteed place to sleep every night that is dry and safe.
The Problem of Sleep.
When traveling the biggest expense is accomodation. Cheap hotels run over 50$ a night. Hostels in America are few and far between and even the beds can be around 30$ a night. Camping can be as cheap as 10$ a night or as expensive as 30$ a night.
I have been trying to conquer this the past few years as I was daydreaming about traveling long term. Well, I think I have the answers! (If you have anymore please add a note or tag)
Answers to the Problem of Sleep:
1. Friends!
2. ZAMBASTIC Folk!
3. Techie Stuff!
4. Gratefulness!
I. FRIENDS!
This is the best option, hands down. Love! Conversation! Rekindling long, lost memories!
Plus, probably a dry, safe, and comfortable spot. And rag on Facebook all you want, I definitely did my share of it, but because of this social network, I am in contact with amazing folks whom I love all across the country. Folks whom, (in my not-so-good-keeping-in-contact-ways) I have easily been able to keep up with.
Also, it is mutually beneficial. While I was working full-time, having a friend come crash on the couch was like a mini-vacation myself. Live vicariously through them for a bit. Cultivate good friends!
II. ZAMBASTIC FOLKS!
I made up the word ZAMBASTIC because I couldn’t think of a word to describe this sort of person. Good people whom would not only let you crash, but would dig it. “ZAMBASTIC FOLKS” enjoy giving, meeting new people, and would leave the interaction feeling like they gained something as well. BUT it is an art to meet ZAMBASTIC Folks. Here is what I know:
A. PLACE.
Music shows, coffee houses, art festivals, or some venue that allows for easy interaction between people. Especially very new bands or bands that are not “huge,” because they are trying to build a fan base and are very interested in meeting new people. Some place that fits your particular set of interests and hobbies is good, because it gives you things to talk about. I am pretty shy at heart, but having a situation that makes it easier to talk to strangers, helps.
B. YOUR LOOK.
Be clean! Look interesting! Most people are shy about approaching new folks too! HOWEVER, if you give them something to talk about, it is easier for others to approach YOU. For example, my most recent encounter with Zambastic Folks (check yesterday’s note), I utilized my CAMERA and my LARGE HIKING BACKPACK. I was watching a music show at a very small tea bazaar and I took a lot of photographs of the show and offered the photographs to the bands. Then, I had my huge backpack which was an easy conversation piece. So after the show it was pretty easy to converse with the bands and eventually be invited back.
C. BE GENUINE! Don’t be a mooch! The key is not to trick them into letting you stay or be pushy or play an act. Here is the key and the key to more than crashing on a couch.
GENUINELY BE INTERESTED IN OTHER PEOPLE!!!!!!!!
This is huge! This is philosophy of my life. At a soul level or my foundation, I try to look at every interaction with people, as a GIFT to that Person. That they will leave our interaction feeling great! And NOT because I can get something from it now or in the future. BUT BECAUSE IT IS FUN AND FEELS GREAT! That is it! Forget the rest of this article, just be genuinely interested in other people and you will not have to worry.
III. TECHIE STUFF!
Couchsurfing or GlobalFreeloaders
Couchsurfing is a social networking site that makes it very easy to pair travelers who need a FREE place to crash with folks whom have a home and want to share a couch. I have used it two times and each time met Zambasters. I have not used GlobalFreeloaders, the concept is the same, I think GlobalFreeloaders.com is less pretty looking and less popular.
The only catch to using these sites is to let the host know about a month ahead for a high chance of getting a couch. In spontaneous trips, I have had a hard time getting a couch. (Although, last new years I got a floor in manhattan the night before new years eve in about a week’s notice; couldn’t score a place for new years eve unfortunately)
IV. GRATEFULNESS!
Three days ago, I was sleeping near the highway, in a damp patch of woods with a lot of undergrowth, sticks on the ground, and it was pouring. My tarp kept me dry but I did not get much sleep. Be grateful for what you get! A lot of people around the world sleep in conditions that we would think are implorable. Yet, to them it is HOME.
SLEEP WHEN YOU GET DONE TRAVELING.
This is my main philosophy. I am in Charlottesville right now and if I had a hotel room, I definitely would have slept a lot more, YET, not had as many good experiences.
***
There is a beauty to THE PROBLEM OF SLEEP, that those whom have never tried it will not understand. Here it is:
“If you HAVE to, you will be surprised what you can do.”
A good friend of mine, Dan, said that he could never hitchhike the country because he is too shy. Well, I think of myself as pretty shy; shoot an email to any of my high school friends and they will tell you. But I have practiced being not shy for so long, that it is changing how I view myself and changing the little voice in my head that used to say, “Don’t talk to that person! They will think you are a weirdo!” to “Here is another opportunity to have a LIFE CHANGING conversation or encounter.”
And I practiced not being shy because I had too.
***
A side note, I was tromping around at 1am last night and not 9am because I watched Zee Avi at the Tea Bazaar last night. I try to always be very positive about everyone I meet, so I have said to “check out” every musician that I have written about, BUT you need to get on myspace right NOW and listen to her music online (myspace is great for that). She is from Malaysia and was discovered on YouTube by Jack Johnson about 2 years ago. She signed with Brushfire Fairytales records and has gotten big since. She, Harris, and Gabe, her support band have just started a tour and I am predicting she is going to create our world in music.
She radiates!
Funny, charismatic, and great voice. I would say, a petite, asian version of Regina Specktor.
***
Today, my goal is wash my clothes. It was 4 dollars to wash my clothes at the Laundromat. I think I can do it for just the cost of the soap. I am on the search for a sink and a sun baked lawn or tree.
Create our world,
ben.
“To him in whom love dwells, the whole world is but one family,” – Buddha
