It’s a funny coincidence:

In todays Sydney Morning Herald, Sione Pinomi of the Association of Tongan Arts and Culture claims that Australias restrictions on use of Kava is an unfair restriction on Pacific Islanders culture. Kava is a mildly intoxicating drink that is at the core of South Pacific culture, but after reports of health problems related to it’s use, it has been banned or restricted in a range of countries. And one of those countries is Australia, which has a significant Pacific Islander population. Pinomi claims this takes away a traditional way of building their community from the islanders by removing an important avenue for inter-generational socializing.

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Heathrow just doesn’t establish that great first impression. We got in to London late, the girlfriend was stopped in immigration and given the full check-up, when we got on the train it went one stop and terminated, leaving us stranded for 30 minutes. When we finally got on the next train, we were squeezed against the wall by a transvestite until a, to me obvious terrorist suspect vomited in our carriage. This made us abruptly reject train as a proper mode of transport, and we got off at the next station - namely Acton Town. Acton Town is one of those places that makes the locals go “You went where??” when you tell them about it. And we understood this the moment we got out of the station and right into two guys threatening to kill each other. Then we got a taxi to where we were staying and literally went to sleep crying. (more…)

It’s like American culture is rising from the dead. And while some of us perhaps hoped Elvis would offer us eternal salvation when he returned, he is not. This return from the afterlife is of an whole other, zombified and monster-like, kind, and this works pretty good as well. Dead Elvis & His One Man Grave is currently staggering through the European continent on his 2008 tour, scaring people in dark and moldy bars.

There’s not much more to say about that. It’s Elvis, his dead, he’s back, and his got a new take on his music. And a little time in the underworld seems to have done him some good. However, someone (not me) had the sense to film it and put it on the tube, so I’m not going to write something you can see yourself: (more…)

So what is this about? 

I left my home country of Norway with the epic idea of travelling the world to find paradise. It is now four years since I first departed, and I have still not found the paradise in which I want to settle. However, the trip so far has had several lessons about paradise hunting, life and the world. If I found my paradise island, would I even notice? Would I be able to settle down on that beautiful beach, crack open a coconut and do nothing?

Well - certainly not! So now the epic idea is that paradise is as much inside as outside, although this is kept open for discussion. Ultimately, it seems necessary to learn to see the wonderfulness that is out there, and the travelling is now to gather as much information as possible. What is the most satistifying sensory stimuli? How do people live in war zones? Are the terrorists for real? (they are.) What is best - urban or rural living? What does a snake taste like? Or a dog?

And simply put, the purpose of this blog is to raise those questions and find the answers.