I rolled into Bangkok last night tired but amped because our new adventure had finally begun. In the past 24 hours I had been in 3 countries, on 2 planes, 2 buses, and hauled 27 kilos of luggage along the way. Eventually I came to the realization that I hadn’t planned much farther beyond simply getting to Thailand. The rest of the crew doesn’t get here until tomorrow, so what the hell am I supposed to be doing? The moment passed and I quickly regained my sense of purpose. Let’s just relax for the night, have a quiet meal, and start searching for essential items tomorrow.
The area of town surrounding our hostel is like a post-apocalyptic tourist trap from a sci-fi flick. Aggressive street vendors line the sidewalks with covered carts, packs of motorcycle taxi driver’s beckon as you walk past, in the distance groups of hot girls linger at the near by bus stop. Oops…..I’m sorry….Quick! Avert your eyes…. Those are lady boys, and no, I DON’T know what you’re talking about..I wasn’t looking at you sweetheart, I was looking at that sweet old lady behind you. Smile at the old lady. She has something in her hand. GOD DAMNIT! It’s an advertisement for thai hookers. Good one granny! I’ll just keep walking…
Just like how I know that Times Square isn’t really the heart of New York, I know that this isn’t what Thailand’s about. I do appreciate it for what it is though, a jumping off point, some place to regroup and collect ourselves before the inevitable journey into Thailand’s true heart begins.
Send an email to JeanPierre, the author of this post, at jeanpierre@jetsetzero.tv or read more of their posts here.
1) If he thinks a girl is pretty, it will be one of the first things he says to her.
2) He’s a strong believer in faith – and has the word tattooed on his arm. Twice.
3) He’s totally easy going. (Major plus!)
4) He uses a southern drawl to call my Mom “Ma’am” in such a way that she doesn’t get offended.
5) He can be trusted to take great group photos.
Send an email to Tyler, the author of this post, at tyler@jetsetzero.tv or read more of their posts here.
Bouldering in Joshua Tree, California (Summer 2009)
I’m totally igniting the Buddha within.
I’ve always been interested in East Asian philosophy, art, history, and so on, but Buddhism in particular has held a consistent and comforting place in my heart – or chakra. Sutra? I don’t know, but my guess is I will soon uncover a milieu of mantras to share and to hold dear. (Thailand is mostly comprised of Buddhists, btw.) In his sense, this trip is not just an adventure in newness, but it is, perhaps more poignantly, an exploration of what is already within me.
There was a time when I was younger – teenage years and early 20′s, for sure – when I was the baby of my circle of friends. I was the naive one, the one with a lot to learn, maybe even considered a little dim. Now, most of my friends are younger than me and I notice myself taking the position of an educator, or as one friend called me, “a healer”. In this sense, JS0 is definitely an extension of a path that I was already on to share the broader points of view in the world with people, and to be fueled by the core of human existence: love, beauty, and freedom.
I have no expectations of this trip other than that if I continue to be open, honest, and motivated by love and my actions and thoughts are processed with the appropriate energies, than I will assure myself a transformative experience indeed.
And my heart swells….
Send an email to Tyler, the author of this post, at tyler@jetsetzero.tv or read more of their posts here.
It’s crazy to think that in less than a week I will be living the life I have always dreamed of. The good Lord has an awesome way of working. One day I’m absolutely clueless as to what I want to do with my life and then a day later I get an offer to be a part of the Jet Set Zero team. It finally hit me like a ton of bricks that this is what I was meant to do. Prior to Jet Set Zero, I was terrified that I was destined to stay in Calhoun for my entire life. I was terrified that I was doomed to lead an “Average life”, when I knew deep inside I was anything but average. The stubborn fighter in me won’t accept anything ”Average”. So here I stand with a world full of adventures in front of me and a restless spirit to light the fire under my ass. So let’s raise a glass to never giving up.
Send an email to Jeremiah, the author of this post, at jeremiah@jetsetzero.tv or read more of their posts here.
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