Traveler Profile: Ben

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Stockholm, Sweden

Stockholm, Sweden has got it all... Some quick tips

Barcelona, Spain

Best Tapas in Barcelona, Spain

Good vibes, cheap beer and friendly locals in the Plaza del Sol, Barcelona

London, United Kingdom

An eclectic anthology of London’s top 5 night spots: 2007

Screen name:

Ben

Age:

Gender:

Male

If you must know:

I'm taken

Travel status:

Traveling soon

Hometown:

Fairfax, CA

Currently in:

San Francisco, CA

Expert Costa Rica

The term “off the beaten path Costa Rica” is considered by many to be an oxymoron. But there are still some things that haven’t been completely saturated by the American surf culture yet. I've lived, surfed, worked, explored and volunteered up and down both the Pacific Coast and Caribbean. Hidden waterfalls, uncrowded breaks, rootsy, local nightlife, homemade comida and authentic connection can still be experienced. But you'll have to put your board down for a minute, get dirty and get involved in the community before you really experience the "Pura Vida"... But once you do, you’ll fall in love. Here to answer any questions from surf spots, to volunteer opportunities.

Traveling Next:

Black Rock City

Favorite places I've been:

Cabo Matapalo, CR in a lightening storm, The Masai Mara around a bonfire, in the streets of a Quechua village playing soccer with local kids on my birthday. Oh, and at my boy Al's wedding doing the electric slide!

Places I want to go to:

Alaska, New Zealand, Nepal, Indo and Brazil. Anywhere that will force me to step out of my comfort zone and grow some soul. Oh and I would love to return to a place in Peru with wild horses and even wilder spirituality. Venga Vamos!

About me:

I'm a youth worker in San Francisco, part-time adventure travel guide and co-founder of Matador. Work hard, play hard, learn every day, and try to make a difference. I am what I eat and I eat everything except yogurt. What does that mean?

Profile URL:

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

Read more about Ben

I'm fired up on:

Family, friends, laughing, traveling, surfing in San Fran, swimming in the bay, drawing on the sidewalk with chalk, glow in the dark frisbee with no pants on, papaya and lime juice, beach blanket bonfires, life in the fast lane, love in the slow lane, creativity without judgement, people with unbridled passion, and stepping outside your comfort zone everyday.

Tunes I rock out to:

Anything that comes from the soul. Can't get enough live music even if it's just a harmonica played with flavor. I’ll definitely get down with some Otis Redding, Cee-Lo, Fela Kuti, Rebirth Jazz Band, Little MJ, Mr. Marley, Sizzla, Wolfmother, Bobby Bland, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Miles Davis, and Jimi. I can hear Jimi.

Travel style:

Travel, not to get away, but to join the world. Immersion is the only way to truly experience another person, place or culture. Take off your shoes and stay, only if you're invited. Always seeking wild adventure and new people to show me what I never knew was here.

Quote:

"Why do we walk so cautiously through life only to arrive safely at death's door?" Live with love and your heart will navigate the buuullshit.

Sports I do:

Amateur, amateur triathlete, surf, swim, snow, climb, futbol, radminton Italian horseshoes and dominos, and whatever else you wanna do.

Favorite artist(s):

Salvador Dali and Katsushika Hokusai

Favorite books:

Love em. Eat em for lunch. Last one I ate was Let My People Go Surfing by Yvon Chouinard. Check him out, role model material. Favorite ones I ate were Alchemist and Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius--classics.

Who I'd like to meet on my travels:

People who drink Mate and eat papayas with lime. Someone who will teach me a new dance move and people who are dedicated to making a difference.

I want to make a difference by:

Exposing young people to the skills, experiences and resources to become change-makers in their community. And… By creating a large community of creative, well traveled, ambitious, and passionate people who love to live and live to love.

Languages spoken, other than English:

Spanish and the Language of Love (but not fluently, yet)

I felt the most immersed in a foreign culture when:

Riding in the back of a Peruvian mining truck on a pile of dirt, as the sunset and we returned to Arequipa after being rescued in a rock quarry 30 miles out of town. A miner and I shared a smile, knowing we had both had a tough day.

Why I travel:

To expand my understanding of myself and the world. To scare myself. To seek out the beautiful and the ugly. To appreciate being HOME.

Ideal place to watch the sunrise:

While you're paddling out completely alone for dawn patrol anywhere you grew up surfing.

Ideal place to watch the sunset:

18,000 ft up the wrong side of Vulcan Misti after your tent had been beaten by a rogue storm. Or on Mt Tam with someone you love.

Before I die I'd like to:

Have a child, build a house, plant a tree, learn to moonwalk, and swim to Alcatraz....

Let's collaborate:

I'm a youth worker, travel guide, and co-founder of this website who likes to get down and move around. We can collaborate on just about anything. Talk to me.

My links:

www.surfrider.org, www.carfweb.net, www.onepercentfortheplanet.com, www.matadortravel.com

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by LizE | 2008/05/29

I hope it's amazing! I've never been to Europe in the summertime, only the winter. Should be a fun new experience.

by alicat | 2008/05/02

I would guess I climbed up to around 30 feet in the pine trees in my parents back yard. Yes, going down is much more difficult than going up!

by Dane | 2008/04/29

Thanks for the comment. I'm new to this site. It looks like it's a great forum for displaying photos and writing. I look forward to checking out your blogs and photos. Thanks again.

by Emily Hansen | 2008/03/16

Love the photos...and you made me miss East Asia, for just one minute. A total time flashback. Me, with a bubble tea, dodging scooters. Ahhh, fond memories. Anyways, thanks for the post. It took me awhile to respond as I have been working my brain cells dry in Istanbul, though I received baklava as a gift twice this week, so that more than makes up for it....take care and happy travels.

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by Ross | 2008/03/15

Can I get some photo credits in your gallery? haha

by vardoyger | 2008/03/15

"yunsil butiq" or thanks for the props on the pics. the answer to your question is living in a mayan town called cobá... i was working as a sea kayak and cultural guide in the yucatan and surrounded by the mayan language and started to pick up words here and there, but i had a few weeks off and at night when the tourists are gone the main language spoken is mayan, of the yucatecan sort...mayan as you may already know is like a lot of other native languages they are phonetically written, unless you can read &/or write the glyphs which i can do to some extent but by no means am i fluent.... nice job on this site by the way, a really nice concept...

by nanderson | 2008/03/14

Hey! I'm studying Italian there (in Siena) for the month of July, and after that am planning on backpacking around Italy/western Europe for a couple months.

Thanks for the recommendation!

by Joseph Kelly | 2008/03/14

Thanks for the welcome and the names, Ben. You guys are doing a wonderful job here. BNT is really shaping up, too, with consistent content.

by colvid daorado | 2008/02/18

thank ya, sir. i suppose that if you don't eat yogurt you must lack culture. but what does THAT mean?

by GregoryHubbs | 2008/02/08

Thank you. I cannot wait to finish the redesign and reorg of the site to make it easier to navigate and find the many articles, resources, and listings which are not as accessible as they should be to your community. Working 24/7 on this so I can get back to traveling.

The Matador community seems to have a slew of talented and passionate writers who have already made some excellent contributions.

Gregory Hubbs
Web Content Editor
http://www.transitionsabroad.com

by camilaluana | 2008/01/31

will be in bangkok on sunday. give me the info. should be home on sunday. that is IF i regain my sanity, or not.

by Fly8heart | 2008/01/20

Hiya Ben. I am thinking of travelling to Southeast Asia this fall. Maybe Sept-Oct time. Gotta save up lots now though, but I think I can make it. It will be my first time to that part of the world so I am pretty excited.....and a bit scared!Are you planning a trip that way?

by camilaluana | 2008/01/08

benny!
gng to be at bangkok in two qeeks, shoot up your request!

by Rebekka | 2007/12/29

thanks! i actually am interested in writing some green guides.. ill c what i can do...! way cool site! i'm hooked!

by jesengel | 2007/12/27

yes i am teaching in bangkok, while also working on travel writing..i love it...

by GregoryHubbs | 2007/11/30

Thank you Ben. I look forward to working with you when our site is redesigned to reflect all our travel content. We hope to be a useful resource for your motivated and enthusiastic community.

by Nina Bo Bina | 2007/11/25

You're welcome for dancing. Had a great time last night. Nice turnout. When I move to the city (which, yes, will happen....eventually) i think i want to learn more about 826 valencia. The guy at the info stand got me all hyped about it. Cheers!

by watsona | 2007/10/28

Ben, I have been getting these emails on my Backroads email address and I can't believe I never looked closer. I am SO impressed! Congratulations on an incredible site, and I will do what I can to spread the word through the Tetons. When the time comes for me to take another big trip, I will definitely come here.

Ashley

by REQ | 2007/10/27

Ben,

It looks like Matador faired well in the Google PR update. Google likes your site. Any thoughts about headin down south? Andrea and I enjoyed having Lyza and Meagan stay with us. We are headed back to California on December 26th. Will you be around?

REQ

by sanuk | 2007/10/04

Cheers - great photos on your site!

by PUNCHY | 2007/09/29

Sup Brah... HK just keeps getting better! Surf this weekend! Going camping on a mile long beach tom. Super pumped! Sup to Rassco and the States. Peace Punch

by Maya Mountai... | 2007/08/31

Ben,

Thank you for creating this site, and thank you for letting us know about it! What a fantastic resource for all.

Warmly,

Christopher Nesbitt
Co-director
Maya Mountain Research Farm
San Pedro Columbia, Toledo
BELIZE
Central America

www.mmrfbz.org

by candice | 2007/08/30

This is an awesome site! Thanks so much for putting it together :)

by Nicky J the ... | 2007/08/29

Site's lookin sweet bro. "You're cool."

by jdomont | 2007/08/21

So first of all, welcome home. Been reading the blogs and couldn't be more proud of ya PoPutz. So if you are feeling like doing a small trip, i am having a show of my work with an opening on the 7th, then that weekend is an insane music festival all over town. It would be a good excuse to come check out Portland, get at me.

by REQ | 2007/08/01

The new Matador look is FRESH! Rock on!

by Jenna | 2007/07/22

Ben, this is a great site. I admire your passion.

by Nicky J the ... | 2007/07/19

Yo Benny, what's up with the outdoor activities? I'm almost out of my cave....get me goin'!

by REQ | 2007/07/15

Great seeing you and Ross in London. Croatia was off the hook. I had Kim as our BR leader. The trip was awesome. I'll try and throw up a blog about it in the near future. Let me know when you are coming to Colombia. I am putting your room together.

by xz | 2007/04/13

La Playa Norte? Doncha mean Spiaggia del Nord?

Get a foccacia at Mario's for me sometime, please. I miss those things!

by PAID £N POUNDS | 2007/03/28

so are we gonna do the mashed potato at our favorite funk joint in Barcelona, come June?

by Claudia | 2007/03/11

great place you guys have started here. glad to have found it.

by HiLirie | 2007/02/25

i would love to send you some artwork for your clothing...the designs you have so far are awesome. let me know
peace and love hils

by Nina Bo Bina | 2007/02/14

So much talk finally came to action. It was funny, at one point (as massive hearty drops poured down on the uhaul) dave said, "woah, this is NOT san diego rain." No sir. Get your raincoats out. Despite the new nippy bite, I am stoked to finally be here!

by Tizod03 | 2007/02/06

costa rica session comming up, end of march for my B-day.. hows it going man?!

by lesley | 2007/02/02

ben...i'm so proud of you...so so great. see you out in the zoo!

by jenais | 2007/02/01

You serious about the backflips? If you actually know a thing or two, I might even buy you a lift ticket...:)

Good meeting you as well.

by exZACtly | 2007/01/31

Good work my friend - I'm passing the site on to the travelers @ REEF

by Kdeez | 2007/01/11

What up Ben, All our hard work and I don't see any Small World posts from you yet! Hehe. Let's see what you got up your sleeves! Any nice 6'10" Al Mericks laying around?
:-)

by Ross | 2006/11/29

WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT MADRONE -- fire up some folks por telefono...see my smallworld post for detal-es

by deli | 2006/11/25

Hit me up if you ever need my Samurai parking skills to get you out of a tight jam..........or a parking space. I wish someone recorded that.

by Abram | 2006/11/15

What up partner, just starting to get a hang of this Matador thing. The site looks good, the more I use it the more familiar I become. The pages take a while to load for some reason, maybe it's just my wack computer... Anyway, I'll be home for the holidays from December 14th, hope to see you then. Peace Peace.

by Stu | 2006/11/13

dude- I am a hazard to society right now. ridiculous night, woke up in my car, lost my house keys, had an olive in my pocket this AM, etc. probably won't make it to the boubab (?) tonight. Have fun though. catch up soon.

pps. good job on the friend recruiting. you're crushing ross.

by Kdeez | 2006/11/09

Hey Ben,
Love your map location, shame you missed the wave. ;)

Also you have some slick photos, love the guitar playing silhouettes! Keep on Rockin!
Kd

by Ross | 2006/11/09

yo -- I'm meeting with Chris at Alian at noon. Climbing despues...then to Pier 23 to meet huntington and a bunch of party peoples? holla.

by Lauren B. | 2006/11/09

Its been a while! When do I get to hang out with you again?!

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Hong Kong: Escalated it to another level

By Ben | Location: China | 07/05/07 | Pics: 17

Seriously, everywhere you go in Hong Kong you can take an escalator. Most of the city is built on a mountain so it makes sense, but the amount of escalators really symbolizes the efficiency of infrastructure and lifestyle in the city. You definitely pay for this lifestyle, as the cost of living is...

A quick update: Barcelona & London

By Ben | Location: Spain | 07/05/07 | Pics: 13

A second to catch up…

I’m a bit behind on the blogs due to the fact that my time on the Internet has been consumed by other work. And I was taken out for a couple days with a jungle infection in my foot from jumping off a waterfall in northern Thailand. But Ross has gotten some good blogs out...

Great Exhibit at the Tate Modern in London

By Ben | Location: United Kingdom | 06/23/07 | Pics: 1

Global Cities

There is a great exhibit that just opened at the Tate Modern in London today. It’s called Global Cities and is a must see for everybody who cares about the future of our planet.

Global Cities explores the impact that urban growth has on people and the environment and...

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Hong Kong: Escalated it to another level

A quick update: Barcelona & London

Great Exhibit at the Tate Modern in London