The Final Final Post (this time I'm serious)

Well there's really no reason for me to write - or you to read for that matter - this post, except for the fact that now my blog has finished at a crisp 50 posts. So woo! 50 Posts! (the legitimacy of all of which, is not open to discussion).

But to make it at least somewhat relevant, I have a stat.. I was gifted this book '1000 places to see before you die' in Easter and have calculated that after gracing 28 countries I'm 7% of the way there! Given that over 7% of my life has already passed it's clear that I have some catching up to do, but hey that's what ridiculously large lists are all about. So bring on the next 927.

June 20 - Brass Monkey Ultimate Tournament

Well one things for sure - the last post was a blatant lie, not the final one at all! But I have a pretty solid justification, because after landing in Auckland I headed straight to Rotorua for a weekend ultimate frisbee tournament, and so technically it's part of the world lap as it happened before I got home. And yes it was definitely worth it, as my sleep-to-wake ratio of about 1:4 together with a wee bit of food poisining and a few other bonus extras was meet by two 7-hour days of ultimate frisbee. And watching the All Blacks game from the comfort of a thermal spa, which was the really tough part obviously. But having to sit outside in the cold between games to stay awake and battling health all the way didn't only pay off with a top five placing, but also a prize at the end for my dedication! And so everytime I look at that black devil-horned ruber ducky sitting proudly on my shelf I will be reminded of the sweetest ultimate tourney of my career. Cheers Brass Monkey.

Me with my infamous hat-drawn team of sunday's outdoor competition - Mydoom.

Cheers to my wicked MUCOUS team mates for the ultimate welcome home (pun fully intended), and for the lift back to the Manawatu! See ya soon.

The Final Post

And so my trip has come to an end yet the irony of traveling will never settle - that I feel more like I haven't started than before I ventured out. Why? Because the more you see the less it feels like you've seen. Because seeing a place serves only to highlight how big the wolrd really is, and how much there is left to be seen. The beauty of travel of course lies in it's very definition, for a focus on the transition between destinations and not destinations themselves means that we are left with the possibility to continue it perpetually. And the weight of never having it completely 'done' is far outweighed by the inspiration and enticement of knowing theres always more out there. Of course this is not a pledge to a life of continually moving hippieness, for traveling also has the opposite effect in its teaching of an appreciation of home. This is perhaps the greatest lesson of all, for it also teaches us that home does not always pertain to a place, but can also be a single person, a lifestyle, or a certain place in time.

If I were to define traveling, to summarise its entire existence, it would be the act of chasing freedom. And over the last 6 months I have managed to cacth up to it, in fleeting eternal moments like seeing Araura Borealis dance across the sky; manouvering a snowboard between giant Canadian Fir trees at night in a whiteout; watching an elderly Malay woman weaving a basket with an aura of peace so bright it singed anyone in the vicinity; sharing a life with those closest to me; feeling a team of huskies dragging a sled through the snow; and having a coffee at the end of it all.

WHERE TO FROM HERE..
Europe has some amazing sights, places which as a member of the human race we are in a sense obliged to see, however I've come to recognise the need for a greater challenge. There is indeed challenge in attempting to decipher the Cyrillic alphabet of a timetable in Bulgaria 7 minutes before you're train departs, or devouring a plate of rotten shark meat at a backstreet market in Iceland, but for travel itself the frontier lies beyond the West. This is why a stop off to see Borneo was an indespensible, and consequently unforgettable addition. But then I always enjoy the challenge of traveling Europe's expensive countries with funds not even a nepalese sherper would be proud of, and so with that challenge in place I will always return. The true motive for any return to Europe however, will always be the people who occupy it; People who will forever be more interesting, more insightful, and more beautiful than any mountain, lake, or ocean could ever be. I feel honoured to have meet such people and owe them all so much for inspiring me to travel.

I think it's about time that I offered something useful on here, to give back a little something to those who have sacrificed a slice of their day to read this blog. So here's some practical advice in the form of travel tips. Tried and tested the world over, these few are guarantee to never let you down (most of the others I have aren't quite as "reliable" so I'll leave them out). Enjoy.


GARETH'S TOP TRAVEL TIPS

When going out for lunch order a wrap - their efficiency and down right genius will serve as a constant reminder to roll (and never to fold) your clothes.

Head to places where you're the only one from your country, that way when you do something wrong (like ruin the dinner or not brush your teeth) you simply say "this is how we do it where I'm from".

Fight sleep and it will fight you right back.

Make friends with air hostesses - they're the only people who can get you free food when you need it most.

If a guy by the name of 'Riccardo' offers you a cheap deal on a used car in the murky shadows of upper Kyrkogårdsgatan after 11pm, just say no.

Know that there is no such thing as a bad experience.

When heading through airports, freshen up by 'sampling' an array of cologne and perfume at duty free. much more convenient than finding a shower, and has a longerlasting effect.

Travel not to see the world, but the people of it.

THANKS DUDES..
And so finally I want to give a big ups to everone who made this trip what it was. So cheers to Janine for a start! To Malcolm and Silvia for the touch of home, Maris and all you Monroe guys from NY, Woody and the Woodmans (including extended 'family' - thats you brog), Michelle, Murt and Lorr, to Exchange/Erasmus 09 I love you dudes, Rackarbergsgatan Lilla Sunnersta and Galbo, Kim Tim & Flippin and the Vemdaleners, Lotta & The Berlings & Team Gotland, The Raj Family and especially Deb, my homies at home, all the faces I meet, to my cellphone which took almost every photo you see on here, and to of course Sarah. Go hard and God Bless.

G

June 19 - Home

I lifted my sleep deprived head to the nearest window of the near-empty 777 and observed the distant horizon. The next thing that went through my head was exactly this: "Hah, that cloud looks like a mountain. Wait a minute, that cloud is a mountain" as Taranaki poked proudly through the endless sea of white surrounding it. So you can imagine the excitement when a second cloud, which looked exactly like Mt Ruapehu, turned out to be a real mountain as well! At this point I knew, after 6 months, I was home.

New Zealand Mate!

After 20 flights, 9 countries, and over a dozen pizzas, the lap was complete and I was back where it all started. But not without gaining something..

The Annual Airline Awards

As the 09 World Lap enters into it's final leg and my trip is drawing to a close, it's time to honour the various airlines which have hosted me throughout the year. Unfortunately all those trains, buses, taxis, other trains, bikes (of which there's to many to count), and mates cars don't feature in this: The 09 Airline Awards:

MALAYSIAN AIRLINES Winner of the best in-flight elevator-music category

RYANAIR The airline most likely to introduce standing room on flights

SAS SCANDINAVIAN The letting-me-carry-a-knife-onboard award

AIR CANADA Record holder for delaying luggage (15 days - slashing the old personal best of 8 hours held by America's own Jetblue)

MAS WINGS Award for the longest cruising altitute length of 2 minutes and 20 seconds

Congratulations to all you winners. For the rest of you, better luck next year..