Traveler Profile: VagabonderZ

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This user hasn't written any guides yet.

Screen name:

VagabonderZ

Age:

Gender:

Male

If you must know:

I'm happily married

Travel status:

Putting down roots

Hometown:

Vancouver

Currently in:

Melbourne

Traveling Next:

Road trip all over Oz for several months. And New Zealand somewhere in there.

Favorite places I've been:

France...all of it! The Pyranees, Austrian Alps, Tuscany, Olkhon Island (Siberia), journey to White Lake (Mongolia), all around China (minus the spitting)

Places I want to go to:

New Zealand, Laos, India, Nepal, Tibet, Eastern Europe, South America...and travel across Canada!

About me:

I'm all over the map - literally and figuratively. I can't keep anything straight...I'm interested in too many things! If I were three apples tall and blue, I'd be Dabbler Smurf.

Born and raised in Vancouver, Canada...I got caught up in a cushy 9-5 job for a large corporation for 11 years. It took meeting my wife to escape the cubicle and I've never looked back.

After discovering the wonders of vagabonding (mostly due to the book Vagabonding) I've changed my entire outlook on life and what's important. I'm now living in Melbourne, taking a break from traveling and just settling in for a little while.I want to learn to play the drums. I want to write more. I'm interested in so many things I can't keep it straight and never end up doing anything for a sustained period...but I will change that!

Profile URL:

http://matadortravel.com/travel-community/vagabonderz

Read more about VagabonderZ

I'm fired up on:

writing, music, guitar, love, social science, figuring out how to work the least possible to sustain my lifestyle

Tunes I rock out to:

Led Zeppelin, Wilco, Ben Kweller, Josh Ritter, Rolling Stones, RHCP, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Josh Rouse, Jayhawks, Old 97s, My Morning Jacket, Weezer, etc

Travel style:

With my wife, independently, NO tours! budget, but NOT cheap...still have to enjoy the food and culture

Quote:

"Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect" - Mark Twain

Sports I do:

Tennis, volleyball, golf, frisbee...on a beach with a beer in hand. No ultimate! I'm strictly opposed to the use of a frisbee in any organized "sport"

Favorite artist(s):

Cant 't say I am too much into art per se. But I visited Dali's museum in Spain and loved it...so, Dali by default!

Favorite books:

Ishmael, Vagabonding, A New Earth, Catcher in the Rye, High Fidelity, Fat Forty and Fired, Lord of the Rings

Who I'd like to meet on my travels:

Good, honest, down-to-earth people who understand there is so much more to life than owning a house, buying a car, having 2.2 children, and working until 65

I want to make a difference by:

Being a part of the solution

Languages spoken, other than English:

pocito Espanol, highschool Francais

I felt the most immersed in a foreign culture when:

After some vodka shots, found myself naked in a Russian banya in Petrozavodsk, getting beaten with a besom.

Why I travel:

To learn; to challenge myself; to NOT work :)

Ideal place to watch the sunrise:

Don't you have to get up, like, really early for that?

Ideal place to watch the sunset:

In Oia, back pressed against a whitewashed building with a blue roof, with a bottle of vino, and of course with my wife's head on my shoulder

Before I die I'd like to:

Write a book

Let's collaborate:

Willing to work for peanuts...

I love to write and shoot (pictures that is)...I'm not established in either, but I think I have some decent talent in each, so hopefully one day I will be able to make some sort of use of them!

I'm just starting in the writing biz...I've had a few articles published (yay!). I am open to anything and everything. If you like my writing and photographs, I would love to work with you!

My links:

My articles:
http://matadortrips.com/why-you-should-travel-independently-on-the-trans-siberian-railway/
http://matadorlife.com/a-pedaler-amongst-lead-foots-biking-to-work/
http://matadorchange.com/a-travelers-secret-way-to-save-gas-money/
http://www.vagabondish.com/how-to-impress-your-host-10-steps-to-a-perfect-couchsurfing-profile/

My other websites:
http://www.thelonglayover.blogspot.com
http://iamsamthevan.blogspot.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/clovesy/sets/
http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog/vagabonderz/thebighoneymoon/tpod.html

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by brizzle | 2008/11/21

Good looks on the China suggestion. I always appreciate the info. I am enjoying the blog as I type this. Keep up the descriptions brotha man.
Brizzle Now Kane...I will help You

by beersandbeans | 2008/10/31

Hello!

Yes, I've had a great time in Mexico, mainly Baja but I've never made it to the Cabos :( The farthest south in Baja i've been is to San Ignacio to play w/ the grey whales.

I would love to know more about the Trans-Siberian railway, St. Petersburg & Mongolia. Also did you buy your tickets in advance?

by Teresita | 2008/10/22

Since The Virgin of Guadalupe has frequent cameos on Fuego en la Sangre, I think Jesus should have enough sense not to come before the grand finale ;)
I live in Pachuca, Hidalgo--about an hour northeast of Mexico City. It's probably the most boring major city in Mexico, no lie. Cabo must have been sweet, though!
I'm glad you left a comment--I'm plotting my escape from my 'real job'--your profile gave me some inspiration!

by Mojo | 2008/10/14

Thanks for your advice on van customizing.

Spent some time checking out your photographs... you've got talent my friend!

-MOJO
"Live simply, so that others may simply live."

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by Ross | 2008/10/02

Thanks for the add!

by geotraveler | 2008/09/18

Hi there

Thanks for your review. I've posted it up at http://matadorgoods.com/earplugs/
Cheers

Lola

by geotraveler | 2008/09/17

Hi there.

Welcome to Matador and thanks for your travel guide recommendation. I was wondering if you could please elaborate in about 100-150 words on why and which particular brand you recommend. Please see an example - http://matadorgoods.com/bag-protector-alert/

Thanks

Lola

by novoarte | 2008/09/11

Hi, Carlo-
Welcome to Matador! Love your story, and look forward to reading more about your travels with your wife.

Peace,
Julie

by Tim Patterson | 2008/09/11

Gorgeous photos - great to have you on Matador.

Here's to being part of the solution!

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Confessions of a Digital Pack Rat

By VagabonderZ | Location: Australia | 01/05/09 | Pics: 1

Just like dad down in the garage, unwilling to part with golf clubs that haven't seen a dimple on a golf ball in eons, so it goes with me and computer files. I've berated him over the years about getting rid of all the junk accumulating. My mom nags him too. I don't think he's nearly as bad as some stories...

2 comments | Send to Friend |

Why Do I Travel? (or, A Therapeutic Purge)

By VagabonderZ | Location: Australia | 12/30/08 | Pics: 0

I've been thinking about this a lot today. There have been some articles published recently that have especially prompted some head-scratching:

http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/12/29/seven-reasons-why-foreign-travel-is-unethical/

6 comments | Send to Friend |

So...this is Christmas?

By VagabonderZ | Location: Australia | 12/25/08 | Pics: 1

As if spending Christmas in the southern hemisphere isn't weird enough, we took it one step further. We were dining on roast duck, red cabbage, and homemade knoedels when we got "the call".

We were slated to spend Christmas Day with our friends, Mark and Natalie, and some of their family at their house....

1 comment | Send to Friend |

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Confessions of a Digital Pack Rat

Why Do I Travel? (or, A Therapeutic Purge)

So...this is Christmas?