I’m a great admirer of Anthony Bourdain. I love his irreverent style, his appreciation of authentic experiences and quality food, without masquerade and embellishment. His determined exploration of the exotic and openness to push all chips in. His straight-up commentary and eloquence, the way he colored ordinary pub grub rounds with keen perception of the greater context. His avoidance of pretense, mass appeal, and the expensive-for-the-sake-of-being-expensive.
Like him, I worked in a kitchen for a couple of summers - and those summers made me appreciate how gritty and demanding the kitchen job is, even when you have no idea what you’re doing so expectations are low. To this wannabe (on my end) parallel I add my 25-ish years of alcohol industry experience and the knowledge and appreciation that comes with knowing what’s inside the glass and having amazing bartenders across the world make great drinks for me. Which my company usually paid for - expanding my available range of experiences significantly.
I like being in motion. I believe that this is the natural state of man and that being in physical motion puts your mind in motion too. Travelling is the best way to do it – you visit new places, and you go through a whole lot of extra motions to adapt to them. Some might say: what about your family and close friends, isn’t it uncomfortable being away from them for long stretches? Well, for better or worse, I’ve always been independent. I grew up largely occupied with my own imagination, not too social, and having to deal with sharp changes in my situation (with the indispensable help of valued others). I feel comfortable alone, and can self-organize, self-motivate and self-energize – in fact, all those things are easier for me coming internally than from others. That’s not to say I don’t enjoy great, honest conversations with friends, amazing fun nights with mates and the baring intimacy of surrendering my heart to the girl I love. But for me, such moments are special because they are rare. So, in the everyday I grind alone, as I’m used to, comforted to know that I can always come back to my community and reconnect.
Let me tell you what I like (and don’t like), so you know what types of experiences I seek out when writing about travel, and with what mindset I take in the world around me. As I referred to already, I love great food – delicious, home-made grub is my favorite, and I go for a bigger selection of small portions rather than one-two major meals. I love set menus, and I love trusting the chefs (provided I know they play in my ballpark). I love steak and have a particular fondness for stone plates on tables which let me cook it myself to my liking. I love Italian it all its varieties, but you really must be choosy where you get your pasta and pizza. The whole world serves Italian, and you are in danger of forming an outrageously incorrect opinion about an Italian dish based on available providers. The difference between the average local pizza and Neapolitan pizza is astounding (unless you’re in New York). Same goes for Pasta Carbonara and Bolognese and the like.
I also like a drink. More of a wine man lately, but I can always go for a good cocktail, a good whiskey or a great anejo tequila. And cognac, the king of spirits and the Nightcap to Cap All Nights! I’ve lost my taste for beer, unless on a few specific occasions (after strenuous activity on a hot day) – it fills me up and makes me feel like I’m not taking care of myself. Wine is my favorite, red or white depending on the food. Red wine to me smells like death – but in the nicest possible way, if you can believe that. Like red wine is our connection to the (im)mortality of nature.
Like Tony, I’d self-describe as a sensualist. I love the tender touch of a masseuse – it relaxes me like not much else. I love spa experiences and am forever enamored with the Japanese onsen culture, where bathing is a ritualistic tradition.
I go for outrageous experiences and have embraced the “gotta try everything once” mantra. Ayahuasca changed my life, I feel – it made me aware of who I am and what I really want and need. I nearly shit my pants skydiving in Zanzibar but simultaneously remember it as the most awesome 3 minutes of that year.
I’m not much for shopping and museums where other people express their emotions through art. For me that’s a personal thing that you do for yourself, and I never learned to appreciate seeing others’ artistic expression (that’s really ironic, considering that I’m asking you to read my writing!). I don’t like big groups of tourists, and I organize all my trips myself, I don’t use an agency. Being a consummate planner, the anticipation of preparation for me is as pleasurable as the main act, if not more so.
I love sports and am a certified diver – but problems with my nose-ear canals always create issues when I dive, so I’ve learned to be very apprehensive about even trying it, unfortunately. I love hiking and the serene motion through amazing vistas and forests unknown. If I could describe the day of my dreams, it would involve a strenuous hike through amazing landscape, a spa with a view and an amazing massage, great set food menu for dinner, paired with amazing wine. And other things, but they are not the subject of this book, so let’s not go there….
I love kind and friendly people who know how to listen. I also like fun and interesting ones. I’m not too fond of all other kinds.
I hope that you’ll find in my scribbles both full of useful tips on the areas I’m navigating, and interesting observations on the world around them.