Travellers
or backpackers are predictable enough to be categorised. You have your
Guidebook Whores who do everything by the letter as according to their chosen
bible (Lonely Planet, Rough Guide…etc). On the flipside you get the Hardcore Nutters who stubbornly do everything independently without any help,
not even Google Maps! They also look down on the Guidebook Whores and class
their travelling as not travelling at all. This falls closely into the
Originals who will strive to “Go off the beaten track” with everything and anything. Mixing with the locals is their favourite pastime. There
are also the Trust Fund Gappers who throw money at everything without care or
consideration and have no shame in showing it. Again, on the flipside of that
you have the Shoestring Savvies who know every which way to save cash. Noodles
and tuna are their only dietary requirements and can reel off a list of free
things to do in a heartbeat.
This
is only the beginning. I could name so many more. There are thousands travelling around the world right now so categories are
created all the time. I’m not quite sure which one I fit into yet. I hover
between an Original (minus the smugness) and Shoestring Savvy. I don’t have the
sense of direction to be a HN or the dosh to be a TFG.
As
I started to get ready for my dinner out with Laura, I met two girls who had a
very specific agenda in San Diego. They’d never been before and were only here
for two days. Day one would be spent in Sea World and day two would be spent at
the zoo.
Suddenly
I transformed into a Hardcore Nutter as I felt like that was such a waste.
There is a lot more to San Diego than the tourist attractions. I shouldn’t
scoff but I couldn’t help myself. I didn’t let out my true feelings and smiled
and nodded. It’s something I do frequently when travelling as I meet many
people I don’t understand. If they laugh then it must be something good so I
just smile and nod. It works! A couple of times I’ve been caught out as the
person is asking me a question and all they see is a grinning nodding idiot in
front of them. It’s a working theory.
Although
it may seem that some people’s journeys are wasted (especially those who sleep
by day and party by night – you can do that at home for a fraction of the
cost!), it is not my place to judge. As long as the person is happy then who
gives a shit? Everything that I am doing
on my trip might not be everyone’s cup of tea but I’m having a fantastic time
and am unbelievably happy. I don’t care what anyone thinks. People shouldn’t
feel like there is a right or wrong way to experience a country.
*****
Laura
offered to take me in her car, a gesture which I gratefully accepted. I didn’t
want to have to stress about directions and transport. Naturally, every car
that passed by fitted the description Laura gave me. I kept thinking that maybe
she’d left without me and I’d be stood there forever.
My
imagination didn’t have time to fully unwind that paranoid notion as Laura
peered out from her car and greeted me. We introduced ourselves and spoke for a
little while about our travels and what brings us to San Diego. Our
conversation was briefly interrupted as a woman in the vehicle in front wound
down her window and started throwing plain tortilla wraps into the street. It
was a surreal moment. I wasn’t sure if Laura saw what had just happened. It
could be a San Diego pastime for all I knew.
Time
passed and it happened again. Laura definitely saw it that time and I joked
about whether that is normal or not. Laura assured me that it wasn’t and we
both laughed at the randomness.
After
seeking out a free car parking space, we entered the sushi restaurant. The
waitress ushered us to a table where a guy was already sat. Laura explained in
the car that we’d be meeting another couchsurfer along with two of her friends.
Phillip
shook my hand (an introduction I’m still not used to as it feels so formal) and
introduced himself. Our personalities danced off of each other instantly as we
were all chatty and outgoing. Unfortunately Laura’s friends cancelled in the
end as they were stuck in traffic. We didn’t hesitate for a second and ordered
food and drinks straight away. We were all equally hungry as ever!
This
was the first time I’d had sushi outside of Japan. It sounds strange as I do love
sushi. The over-the-counter stuff just doesn’t look the same and I’ve never had
the opportunity to eat out at a sushi restaurant as I’ve not met anyone who
likes it all that much. We washed down our exceedingly tasty sushi with sake
and beer.
Phillip
astutely suggested we turn our drinks into sake-bombs. It’s the same concept as
jagerbombs. I was running on empty as I’d not eaten since my breakfast feast
and the freshly eaten sushi didn’t line my stomach quick enough. Phillip and
Laura were both driving so passed on their unfinished drinks to me. I was
merrier than Christmas.
My
giggly-drunk persona went down well with Laura and Phillip. I was having such a
wonderful time. We all swapped travel stories and I got some great tips from
them both about couchsurfing. Phillip had some of the best stories and was
incredibly funny.
Overloaded
with sushi, we decided to move on to the venue where the couchsurfing meet was
taking place. Phillip was hoping to find a host there so had his huge backpack
with him. The thought of him wearing his backpack whilst riding his scooter,
made me chuckle.
Although
I found this funny, I didn’t like the fact that a guy outside the restaurant called
my new couchsurfing friend a weirdo. Phillip brushed it off politely but I didn’t
do the same. As Laura and I walked to our car I joked that the guy had no room
to talk as he had white sports socks pulled high whilst wearing brightly
coloured plimsolls. He was hardly a person worthy enough to be doling
out fashion advice. Unfortunately the volume of my voice was louder than I
thought and he heard me. Laura warned me that I can’t go around talking like
that as I could get myself into trouble. The same goes for nights out in my
hometown but the only thing I’d encounter back home is a few gobby girls, here
I could get stabbed!
Our
next venue was packed full of people and it was difficult to distinguish who
was part of the couchsurf meet. It turned out that a whole side of the bar was
full of couchsurfers of varying ages.
Phillip,
who had no intention of buying a drink, and I went to the bar to try some beer.
I didn’t realise that you could taste the beer before you bought it. I should
try that in England. Although I doubt the bartender would really believe that I
didn’t know what Carling tasted like. These beers were a bit more exotic and I
opted for a zesty orange beer. It was delicious. It kept my merriment bubbling.
Despite
the hordes of people, I only ended up talking to one girl who had a flurry of
round-the-world themed questions. We swapped details but I didn’t think she’d
be in touch*.
Satisfied
with our night, Laura gestured to leave and kindly dropped me off back at the
hostel. I had a lovely evening spent with complete strangers. It is what
happens when travelling of course but it was all organised online. It goes
against everything that was ingrained in me at a young age regarding online chatrooms and social networking. Laura
wasn’t a 65-year-old pervert but a lovely fellow traveller. My introduction to
couchsurfing was a success. I only hoped that this would carry on and I’d
actually find hosts.
No comments:
Post a Comment