Perhaps some people would criticize me for saying this and tell me that if I was bored that it’s my own damn fault, but those people are morons and it doesn’t change the fact that I’m still bored. This type of thing generally happens after you start getting settled into a place and start getting used to the day to day. In a lot of ways it’s a great thing. It means that we’re transitioning from tourists to bonafide locals. But still, I’m pretty fucking bored. Personally, I’m over all the night clubs and lonely bars, come-and-go tourists and dismissive nationals. So where do I go from here? Well, the good thing is that contrary to popular belief invention is actually the love child of both necessity and boredom.
We’ve done so many crazy and exciting things during our travels so far that I’m finding it hard to top what’s already been done. In a lot of ways I feel like we’re chasing the dragon. Each new day begs the question, “how do we top yesterday’s adventure?” It’s a vicious cycle.
The good thing is that boredom is a blank canvas. It often pushes people to create experiences far outside themselves, outside their comfort zones, often on the edge of the unknown. So instead of lamenting the feeling, today I am embracing it. Today, boredom is going to become the catalyst for change. I’m staring at the unpainted walls of the Sistine Chapel with a brush in my left hand, a palette in my right, and sea of inspiration swelling between my ears.

My new pet

I was fortunate enough to make my way into a tigers cage and snuggle up with him… and come out with all my limbs attached. I have been wanting to do this ever since I can remember! What better place than Thailand?

As part of our new plan to make videos easier to find and watch on the site we switched over to a totally new navigation system about a month ago.  As part of that we’ve been (slowly) bringing back content online again and just recently managed to get up Season One. 

If you’re a fan of the show and haven’t ever watched Season One, then you owe it to yourself to head over to the season page and check out some of the episodes.  We’ll also be updating the site with old shorts and some never before seen videos as the weeks move on.

As always, let us know what you think.

So far finding work has been a struggle. The job that I had hoped for being long-term is not and my bank and discount airlines screwed me from the start. The need for food, shelter, and transportation remain. So I have an idea!

Photos for food.
Get a taste of Thailand and give me a taste of food. (And maybe out of this country when the time comes.)

More info soon. In the meantime you can check out my photography blog at tylerbatsonphotography.tumblr.com.

Leaving your life behind is such a liberating experience, but as my new friend Evita would say, “it is a double-edge sword”.  Being the youngest and most inexperienced of the group, it was definitely challenging to say goodbye to the ones I loved. I have never been away from home for longer than two weeks, so this has been a major growing experience. I am blessed to say though, this experience has a way of making you face your fears. I have come a long way in just a month and I look forward to seeing my transformation after everything is said and done.

Name: John Seo

Age: 26

Current Location: Chicago

Travel History: All through China, South Korea, Thailand, Japan, Hong Kong, Inner Mongolia, Belize, Mexico, The Caribbean, Canada, France, England

Travel dream/goal: To work in a profession that involves traveling the world, learning about the thousands of customs and cultures, and to divulge my palette in international culinary exploration!

Most valuable lesson learned on the road: Always keep your valuables with you (i.e. passport, wallet, cash, phone).  After traveling from Dalian to Beijing, the cab driver who was taking me home insisted I put my bags in the trunk.  After I paid and got out, he drove off with everything including my laptop, cash, and most importantly my Chinese work visa in my passport.

If you could recommend one place in the world: A small coastal town in Southern Thailand, Prachuap Khiri Khan, that is only 10K away from the Burmese Border.  It is not one of the most breathtaking towns, but I had spent two days there without seeing another tourist and enjoyed some awesome night markets.

Favorite Jet Set Zero episode: S01E07 – Where Rob talks about relationships abroad.  When I was working in China for a year, I completely could relate to his frustration and sadness having had a long distance relationship myself that quickly dissolved after being half way around the world.

Best cheap travel tip: All hostels are not created equal.  When traveling in Thailand, and reaching our destination town/city for the day or next few days, we would always visit a few hostels in the area and compare prices and amenities to get the best deal.

Follow his adventures at: http://www.johniseo.com

Find out more about our Spotlight series!

So, I’m headed to Cambodia. It’s official. The packing is done. I’m writing emails to everyone and catching up with the family back home before I begin this strenuous trip down and over to Cambodia.

The only female in the group is ditching the guys and headed to Angkor Wat by her lonesome.  This trip is long overdue in my life. I have been psyched about seeing, touching, and inhaling the air at Angkor Wat for a good year now. The time has come. The excuses are no more.

In a few hours, I’ll be starting the first leg of this trip, headed right back to where we came from, Bangkok. The field producers and other cast members are not coming, for financial and visa limitations. The show must go on, even if I tape this portion myself. I will officially be on my Lara Croft, Tomb Raider shit! I am PSYCHED! This is where I’ve really been wanting to go… here goes something.

Here in Thailand, for Jeremiah and Tyler, looking for work is not without its adventures. And heroes.*

*Thai MacGuyver = ThaiGuyver

In the streets of Thailand, the motorbike is king. The pavement rumbles with the roar of a million of tiny engines. Two lane roads yield to the whim of hurried drivers and makes room for four to six lines of traffic. Stoplights are a weakly stated suggestion and lane dividers, although clearly visible, barely seem to exist at all.

When we first got to Bangkok I was enthralled by the massive groups of motorbikes that queued on the shores of every major intersection. “I’m totally joining a bike gang,” I mused.

After arriving in Chiang Mai the prospects of riding motorbikes greatly increased. The streets of Bangkok had been too chaotic and riding in them would have been an almost certain death wish. Plus, there really aren’t any places to rent bikes in Bangkok. In Chiang Mai there’s a bike rental place on every other block. Once outside the city center the roads unfold into long winding stretches and deep banking turns. And thus, in this place, a bike gang is born.
We call ourselves, The Chicken Legs. And in Chiang Mai, if anybody knows anything about anything, it’s that you DON’T mess with The Chicken Legs. Cause, ya know, we’re packin’ Macs an’ stuff. Well, Macbook Pro’s to be more accurate, and the 15” version instead of the 17” version because everybody knows that the 17” version is just TOO big to carry around in a backpack. Anyway, you get the gist, we’re obviously hella tough! Ride on brother! Ride on…

So we may be broke, but the best things in life are free: nature, friends, and a fine challenge – like climbing a fucking waterfall in the Thai jungle!