Clarity

I feel like I've come through the chaos and now there is finally clarity. For the longest time I've been trying to figure out what to do with this trip. Peter has his motivations and I have my own. I've decided to do this on my own and if we meet up then that's great. A huge weight has been lifted and now I can finally come to the final leg of this tour that is planning the trip. It feels like I'm days, maybe even hours away from pulling the trigger. All I can say is that this trip will test me in ways I've never been tested. Being on my own in a foreign country will be great for me. It might be more than one country as well. Asia is looking like a very good start to the trip. It would be a huge culture shock. It's scary and that's why it attracts me. This blog will start picking up very fast once these tickets are purchased. I think the next update will have the title "Purchased."

Maybe people will start reading this blog soon, too. I haven't shown it to anyone, fearing that I could somehow back out and be embarrassed and more importantly waste peoples time. So if you are reading this...I'm probably already out there in the world. I think it was important to have this first act of the blog. Maybe you are going back and forth thinking if you should do something like this. If you think you are crazy for having conflicting thoughts all you have to do to feel better is read these last 20 blogs and see how off the wall I was.

In the end I think it was a quote that pushed me in the right direction. I hope it helps you like it did for me.

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do.” -Mark Twain

GAP YEAR - Alaska

So I actually forgot to post this on the website. It's been done for about a month. This blog isn't very professional... Anyways here is GAP YEAR: Alaska. Hope you like it. Also, if you click on the video link you can watch it in a bigger format and in HD.

Gap Year: Alaska from Brett Line on Vimeo.

Travel Music

So back in 2007 I randomly flew to Hawaii on a whim to try to get on the film "Tropic Thunder". I bought a plane ticket on July 5th and flew away the same day. I only had a few hours to grab what I needed. I grabbed some clothes, a friends gps and an ipod shuffle. It was one of the free giveaway shuffles that could only hold around 20 songs so I had to choose wisely. I decided to go with an album I hadn't heard yet - Paul McCartney's Memory Almost Full. I flew to Oahu for the interview. The day of the interview I realized I was on the wrong island, which might have granted me the award of most stress ever from a person visiting Hawaii. So, I made up some bs story and pushed the interview 3 days as I hopped on a plane to the right island - Kauai. Went to the interview and after some promising calls eventually didn't end up with the job. Meanwhile, during the 2 weeks that was my adventure in Hawaii, I was listening to Memory Almost Full. Now, even three years later, that album is and will forever be linked to that trip. When most people think of Hawaii they think of surfing and palm trees. I think of a British guy's album about the winter years of his life. Completely random but I love it.

Anyways, I thought that I'd post my suggestions for great songs to bring with you on your next journey. Here are my top 10:

#10 - "Red and Shine" by Blue States - This song must be played in that moment where it hits you that you are somewhere far away and you love it.

#9 - "Snow Spectrum" by Seekae - Play this song when you are lost in nature and you will be at peace.

#8 - Any Siqur Ros song - Seriously...any of them. They can make anything 10 times more epic. Chilling at the Great Wall of China? Cool. Chilling at the Great Wall of China with Sigur Ros playing? Amazing.

#7 - "Ever Present Past" by Paul McCartney - It's Hawaii for me, what is for you?

#6 - "Long Time Fish Pie" by Seekae - I imagine that this song would be a really great companion if you were lost in some Asian country. Try it out and let me know.

#5 - "Look to Your Laurels" by Blue States - If life were a film, this would be in a redemption montage scene. It wouldn't be over the top like Rocky but it would still be just as inspirational.

#4 - "Happy Up Here" by Royksopp - Such a poppy song that screams night out in Europe.

#3 - "We Are The People" by Empire of the Sun - This song has such a dreamy sound that I can't get enough of. I love the break in this (the part right after chorus). This song reminds me that I am young.

#2 - "World Citizen (I Won't Be Disappointed)" from the Babel Soundtrack - This song is the perfect song to listen to if you are far far away and alone. I'd prefer to hear it in a Japanese cigar/jazz bar at night.

#1 - "Allies" by Blue States - This song is in queue for my next inspirational films ending. It just hits you. It injects you with this amazing euphoria and makes you feel like anything is possible. Definitely check out this artist.

Awful Job...awful day

There's nothing worse than starting a new job when the first day is complete chaos. Right now I'm a production assistant on a reality show that is so unorganized. Just a week ago I was on the beach and drinking a corona yet now I feel like I just dove head first into hell. There is no order on this set. I'm being told 3 things to do at once all the time. One PA has already quit, leaving us down to 2 PA's. Is this what I have to do for money? Is this life in a nut shell? Must find a new life and a new career that isn't creating garbage like reality tv.

The Hardest Part

The hardest part of a journey is before the journey even takes place. Right now I am slowly saving up money that will ultimately go toward plane tickets, hostels and food. It's a constant struggle everyday trying to stay positive. With a little over 3 months to go before the trip would begin, I find myself constantly second guessing myself. Should I go back to Los Angeles? Will this trip to New Zealand help me find what I'm looking for? Is there anything to find out there?

At this point, I honestly don't need a vacation. I'm not stressed or burnt out. If anything I'm the most energized I've been in years. So why do this trip then? My main motivation for going is because I feel like I may never have an opportunity like this again. Believe me, if someone told me that I would have a 6 month break from work in a year or two then I probably wouldn't go. But that's not reality. In reality I'm going to get locked down again and could easily not have a chance to do something like this for years and years. You never know what's going to happen. So at the moment I can go...and for that reason I should. I'm at square one and nows the time.

This is what I keep telling myself when I get pressured by peers about getting my shit together. I've been in their world, it's time to see this new one before anything else.

Top 5 Travel Movies

So do you need a little extra motivation to travel? After you watch one of these movies I think you'll already have bought your ticket.




#5 - 180 South

This one was just released and is available on instant view with Netflix. It's a documentary about a guys journey from southern California to Patagonia, Chile. He takes a sail boat all the way down there to climb the legendary Mount Fitzroy. There are some seriously beautiful shots in this film and the soundtrack was written by The Shins which really adds. A serious must for any adventure lover.



#4 The Art Of Travel

This is a small little movie that probably not a lot of people have seen. It's about this guy who drops everything in his life and jumps on a plane to Central America. Along the way he meets some interesting people and has an incredible journey traveling all the way to South America. This is one of those coming of age films but with travel. Although it can be a little rough around the edges (it's low budget), it's still a must for anyone who is stuck in a 9 to 5 job that they hate. Live vicariously through this movie and you'll understand why films like these are so good.



#3 - Vicky Christina Barcelona

I loved this film. I am a huge Woody Allen fan and he blew me away with this one. Sure, this movie might not be "realistic" but isn't that why we travel? To escape realism and find that fantasy? That's why I travel at least. This movie will make you want to visit Spain.



#2 - The Beach

Danny Boyle may be my favorite director but that does not make me biased. This is the ultimate travel movie. Although the second half kills the fantasy aspect of it, I still must recommend this film. It may not be a popular choice, knowing how everyone bags on it, but the locations are beautiful. I love what the main character Richard is all about and how he describes most tourists - people who travel far far away to sit in their comfy hotels and watch reruns of American television. Watch it!



#1 - Lost In Translation

I wish I could have amnesia for this film so I could relive the first time I watched it over and over again. This film is a masterpiece. If you haven't seen this film...GO OUT AND BUY IT NOW! And buy it on Blu-Ray. Buy yourself some Asahi, get some sushi and turn this thing on. Bill Murray gives his best performance since Groundhog Day and Scarlett Johansson gives her 2nd best (Ghost World can't be topped in my book). This movie is so hard to explain in a few words. It's more of a feeling. I can't begin to describe it but it's number 1 so watch it now. You'll want to visit Japan and do karaoke after watching this.

Pros and Cons: Alaska

What a great time we had up in Alaska. If you are currently stressed and in need of some serious unwinding then Alaska might be the place for you. Below I've listed pros and cons of the state to help anyone out there decide if it's the place to travel next.

Pros:
1. Nature: Yes, you've seen loads of photos of the place but they don't do justice. You can't even understand a fraction of it until you've actually seen it. Alaska has everything a nature lover would want. I saw glaciers, moose, reindeer, gigantic ice capped mountains, turquoise lakes, black sand beaches and waterfalls. The moment you enter this place you will feel at ease and all those little worries you have will take a back seat.

2. Adventure: Whitewater rafting, skiing/snowboarding, hiking, atv's, horseback riding, dog sledding, kayaking...pretty much think of it and it's there.

3. Beer: Alaskans know their beer. Alaska is a beer drinking state. I was in heaven with the Alaskan Amber.

4. Food: You like seafood? Good, because this place is the home of salmon, halibut and snow crabs just to name a few. Try going to a restaurant in downtown Anchorage called Humpys. The blackened halibut was the BEST halibut I've ever had.

5. No tax: Not much else to explain with this one. No tax rules!

6. Coffee: Anchorage is saturated with all these little drive-thru coffee shacks. I love it. Everywhere you turn you will see a 6 by 6 shack with a sign that says "Expresso."

7. Summer: The sun sets at 11:45 pm and rises 4 hours later. It never gets completely dark either. Besides the coolness factor of that, it also gives you a lot more time to do outdoor activities. One day we decided to go on a 3 hour hike up a mountain. We started around 7 pm!

Cons:
1. Outdoor Activities: Maybe it was because I was there in tourist season but every activity was very expensive. There was a 4 hour boat ride where you get an opportunity to see whales. The price was $160. I'm sorry but I don't have that kind of money. There was a 4 hour kayak adventure that was easily over $100. Whitewater rafting ranges from $70-$200, which isn't that all bad. Forget about airplane tours being cheap.

2. Distance: DO NOT go to Alaska unless you have a car or some kind of reliable transportation. We were there for 9 days and we put 1200 miles on our rental car. Everything is far away. We went with Budget rental car and got a Nissan Sentra for $370 for a week. Make sure that you get unlimited miles on your car rental or you are screwed. Also note that gas is considerably more expensive there...like maybe a dollar more than what you are probably paying now. Odd since they seem to have a lot of the oil up there.

3. Food: Unless you are going to be eating McDonalds everyday, expect to spend more on food. The food is good but it became pretty common for a single meal to cost $25. There might not be tax but the expensiveness makes up for it.

4. Winter: The lack of daylight really can get depressing. The northern lights might be the only positive to going in the winter.


The pros outweigh the cons by far but at least now you might have a better understanding on what to expect. Thanks for reading and I hope you check Alaska out!