Why Do Backpackers Drink So Much? October 24, 2008

So as I was reading what leads people to my blog, I noticed this one give me a few views. So I thought to myself ‘If the people want to know, I shall tell them’. So here’s my list of why backpackers drink so much:

1) It’s cheap. Depending on where you are and what your poison is, the local beverages are usually the cheapest. When you are used to paying $5 for a bottle of beer and now it’s only $1.50? Why not drink up?

2) Socializing. When you’re traveling by yourself and you go from town to town and country to country, it’s always nice to meet people. Drinking is a social activity that is most enjoyable when with large groups of people. You can make a new best friend over just one beer and hey, it can lead to hook ups. Talking about your travels with others always requires a drink. You can “cheers” to things you’ve done or want to do. I’ve forged many new friendships while in the bar. I ended up traveling with a few of those people for a month. I had an amazing time.

3) Culture. Different places have different concoctions. If you want to experience a place, why not sample some of the local offerings? Be it their beer, their rum their fire water, you can’t experience a place just by visiting the sites and eating the food alone. So grab the local fare and beverage and sit amongst the locals. Bonus points if you speak the language.

4) Fun. Sometimes people drink to let loose and have a good time. Plain and simple.

They Shot A Movie Once In My Home Town September 5, 2008

Where to begin?  The beauty of the lake? The awesomeness of being with George? The fact that my body hates what used to be normal food?

On the way up to the cottage, George’s car broke down. Luckily enough we were just passing through Barrie, the last sign of civilization before cottage country. Even more lucky was that his sister’s boyfriend happened to be passing through and was able to pick us up and deliver us to the beauty that is Northern Ontario.

I’ve spent the past week lounging-on the dock, on the boat, on the couch, in the bed. It’s been fantastic. Just what I needed to be able to readjust to Canadian, first world country life. But seriously, I miss my island where as long as you kill someone in your house you can claim they broke in and nothing happens. Where if you are over the age of 60, you can’t be charged with murder. Where you need three witnesses or a crime didn’t happen. Where you can swim with whale sharks, dolphins and play on the reef. Where you can dive all day, everyday. Where drinks are $1.25 and you can eat a full meal for $3. But I digress…

It really is nice to be back. Things with George feel like they did before last Christmas. The cuddles, the sweet and tender moments, the play fighting, the sex. Oh the sex. Man did I miss that with him. It’s almost as if everything from January until now never happened and we both woke up happy to be with eachother. He himself has said several times he’s dating me. Did I mention that I’ve spent since last Friday with him, his parents and his siblings? Yep. A week so far of nothing but him and is family. Provided the car gets fixed, I should be taking off Sunday. Or Monday.

As for that last part about “normal” food hating me? Yea. it’s been pleasant. I’m not sure if it’s the fact I haven’t eatten beef, drank milk or had much dairy for that matter, or the seafood…either way, my body, specifically my stomach, is not too pleased about this change it diet.

It’s good to be back.

(S)UnJam August 8, 2008

Today is SunJam, a 24 hour rave on one of the cayes. With over 2,500 people expected to show up, it should be quite the party. DJ’s from around the world will be playing their tunes to a couple thousand drunk, coked out, sketched out individuals who want what may be nothing more than an excuse to hook up with as many random people as possible.

Hence the creation of UnJam. A party for those of us not into drugs, random hook ups and being stuck on a tiny caye with 2,500 other people, no bathrooms, no shade, no room to move around. So we are partying at my place with a BBQ, some drinks and some tunes before heading off to the unpopulated bar and having blast!

I Just Can’t Wait… August 5, 2008

So I realize I’ve been a bad blogger as of late, having not updated for over a week. But really, I’ve had nothing happen that’s really worth any mention.  Other than some 19 year old  Open Water student that tried to mack on me on the weekend. My heart just wasn’t in it.

Sean is back to being his weird self and making me all bleh as usual. His birthday was last week. It was a pretty good drunken time with the birthday boy leaning over the railing to puke his guts out, beer in hand. When he finished, he slammed back the beer, said “gimme another” and continued playing the drinking game “Ride The Bus”.

Yesterday, for the first time ever, I saw a whale shark. Actually, I saw three different whale sharks through out the day! It was absolutely amazing. I’d put a picture up if it weren’t for the fact I need to charge the camera battery to upload the them.

I’ve also decided to go home for a vacation from my vacation. So at the end of the month, I’m heading home. To George. And George’s cottage. And George’s house. And George’s bed. I’m so horrible. But I love it. After that, who knows where I’m heading. I’m thinking South East Asia for the winter…

…And He Was Armed With A Shoe… June 2, 2008

I apologize for the lack of updates recently but there have been a few factors that have prevented me from doing so. A tropical storm that left us with out interwebbing powers and the fact that the place I was staying in gotten broken into.

As I have decided to stick around where I am for awhile, I gave up my lovely cabana (too expensive) and moved in with a buddy of mine (Brad) until I could find a place. We had a pretty early and tame Friday night, heading to bed around 11:30. For some reason, I was staying in his room with him which was probably the best thing that happened. Around 1:45am, Brad poked me and asked if I was awake. I was sleeping lightly and said yes and he told me to be quite and pointed towards his room mates door. His room mate is out of town until the 9th. I turned in time to see the door close and the light go on.  Brad told me to stay in his room while he checked it out.

He slowly started walking down the hall, opened the door and yelled “What the fuck are you doing?”. Instead of jumping out the window where he had broken in, he decided he was going to fight with Brad. After about a minute in the bedroom, Brad was thrown down the hall and the fight resumed in the living room. After five minutes of yelling and screaming while I lay on the floor part way under the bed near the wall, Brad finally told the guy he’d let him out. The guy refused to go out the way he came because the neighbours were outside throwing rocks at the windows and yelling. He made Brad give him all his money and take the screen off and the window slats out so he could go out that way. The moron turned on the light so Brad got a good look at him. As I was lying on the floor trying to hide myself, he reached over twice to take things and I got a good look at his face. I was hoping he hadn’t seen me.

After Brad had finished with the window, he kicked Brad out of the room and I thought he locked the door. The first thought in my head was that he had seen me. After about 15 seconds he left the room and Brad came in to look for me as he had no idea where I was.

After 45 minutes of sitting in the dark and being unable to get out of the apartment because the guy had puled off the door handle, we finally heard other people and yelled at them to come help us.

I’m sorry, I’d continue this entry but I just found out that after we ID’d the guy, he is now walking around outside, free as a bird.  I’ll update later.