the drinking wanderer

my favorite way to kill time is to read travel blogs. there are some that i read once, a few that i regularly visit and even subscribed to in facebook so i get alerts. my favorite ones are usually of people who travel solo and have lovely pictures of both mainstream and not very popular spots in places i've not known before. i am yet to find ones that could crack me up.

while i read on and admire their experiences, i realize that i don't travel the way they do. sure, i'll try the public transport once in a while, to cut down on cost more than anything, but my main goal is to always get to my destination and would like to eliminate any risk of getting lost because i suck at directions. hence, i am most likely to take a cab or rent a driver or join a group tour. i also tried to stay in a guesthouse in kyoto but realized that not being able to have my own bathroom when i need it, and having to be considerate of others i share it with (and therefore can't really do much pondering while sitting in the can) is something not very exciting for me. i also don't usually travel with too much time in my hands, and so my itinerary is typically packed. there's little or no time to just chill (unless it's a beach destination, then a half-day of doing nothing is a must) - i'm always on the move. however, if there is anything that i really enjoy in travel which gets me to interact with locals and other tourists alike, it is at night. when i go drinking.

i love to drink. i realize i do this a bit too much sometimes, but having at least one drinking night when i travel is something i NEED to do. i always want to try local beer (nothing too strong, i know too well that local spirits will mess me up) and some local snacks. i also like to chit-chat with people when there's drinks involved coz that simply makes everyone more friendly than in their usual state. alcohol is undeniably a powerful social vehicle that a traveller should take advantage of.

i was in japan in march last year and my friends and i went to a bar that was recommended by someone else. when we arrived, it was dull and not happening at all. instinctively, we started buying drinks for a few people and soon enough we were owning the place. it was one awesome night in shinjuku.

turning things around in a lounge in shinjuku

i repeated this strategy when i went to kyoto a few months after that, and had the same results. the japs love to drink! :)

kyoto - equally crazy

some people may think that this is not a very safe way to meet people especially when you travel and don't know the place. in a way it is probably right, therefore drinking nights should be done in moderation and you should always look after yourself. be friendly, but watch out for your belongings and when people tend to get too close for comfort.

when i was in mui ne recently, i was under the impression that the whole group had decided to move to another bar and that everyone was going. i went with another girl, and the rest of the group were boys and in the process they have decided to make a detour to their hotel instead. immediately i asked rose if she'd like to just come back to the hotel with me and she agreed. i was thankful that i had a straight mind, and money, and another companion. nevertheless, we made it back to the hotel and continued on with a pool party with the other new friends we made.
 

european union in mui ne

aside from this one near-mishap, all the other experiences i had were awesome. people who like to be funny are even funnier when drinking, and those who tend to keep to themselves suddenly blurt one witty remarks here and there. there will always be people who go beyond of course, and interesting tales of "what they did last night" would be a topic of conversation the morning after, always intended to be a fun story more than an instigation of judgment.

had a 'bucket list' in memphis and was sniffing sugar in dallas

we were merry during christmas!

vegas!

and so rest assured that the next time i travel, i shall have a glass or two. or a bottle. i'll probably forget a thing or two about about the people i meet, but i'd be happily remembering that for a night people were not random, but fated to justify a jack's existence. :)