Senior Citizen’s Only!: My First Trip Abroad.

I love to travel!!!

Weeks don’t pass where I am not fantasizing about traveling somewhere in the world.

Recently, I have been trying to trace back where my addictive attitude towards travel came from and all roads seem to point towards my Nana.  Margaret Weber.

I had been sleeping on her couch for a few weeks in Somerset, New Jersey and sharing traveling stories earlier in the month.  Fittingly, my first overseas traveling experience was with my Nana, when I was in the 7th Grade.  She loved traveling and set a goal to take all of her grandkids somewhere outside America.  Yeah, I was a lucky dog!!!  I was the oldest grandson, so right after Christmas as all my friends were headed back to school, I was backing my bags for Portugal.

Portugal is in Europe, east of Spain, right on the Atlantic Ocean.  Less traveled than Spain, England, France, or Italy, so it is a bit cheaper and less touristy.  It is for this reason that my Nana fell in love with the place.  

“It was like going to another world.”  She tells me over dinner recently.

“The people acted almost…child-like.  In a good way!”  She recanted a story of driving up a mountain, when it began to snow.  It never snows in Portugal and the people just stopped their cars on this narrow mountain pass and were dancing in the snow, opening their mouths and catching the flakes as they hovered.

She took me with a guided ten day tour through the capital city of Portugal, Lisbon, and then south to the Algarve.  The Algarve has beautiful beaches and is like the Florida of Portugal.  BUT, what I did not realize was that this tour was only for senior citizens.  

I wish I had a photograph to share, but you will have to visualize the scene.  Picture me less than 5 feet tall.  My hair is thick brown and parted to the left.  I have a fanny pack around my waist where I keep my supplies; notebook, money, etc. Around my neck drapes a Polaroid camera.  Don’t forget my glasses.  

Now, picture my Nana and I  boarding a mini-bus to start the tour and all the eyes look towards me.  They don’t seem happy.  I can see them visualizing me ruining their peaceful, enlightening trip.  On the other hand, I am thinking of how boring this trip is going to be.

Well, the trip turned out great!  

Looking back on the trip, it wasn’t the beaches, castles, or great food that I remember.  It is the people.  

Cy, was the jokester.  My Nana despised him.  He would tell off-color jokes and hit on young waitresses.  Andy was a history teacher who shared a birthday with me.  We would fake battles in some of the historic castles. 

My favorite time was the evenings.  We would see the sites during the day, then at night we would meet up to play games.  Bingo, bocce ball, or trivia were some of the activities.  My Nana would nap most of the time, so I would fraternize with the folks.  Sometimes alcoholic drinks were the prize, so I would pass them out if I was the winner.  

It is all about the People.  This is a theme in my life.  I am much more interested in the people around me, than anything else.

Create Our World,

Ben.

“You can make more friends in two months by becoming more interested in other people, than you can in two years by trying to get people interested in you.” – Dale Carnegie

Create Our World Launches…

This website is no longer!!!

Create Our World is now located at www.Createourworld.net

Thanks for visiting!!!

Create Our World.

Ben.

Tommorrow and the Future…

“If you don’t like the way the world is, you change it.  You have an obligation to change it.  You just do it, one step at a time.” – Marian Wright Edelman

Howdy!

Tommorrow, Create Our World Launches… (Ahh…I am ready to start hitchhiking and talking to people more and not spending most of my time tinkering with code and researching the top WordPress Widgets)

Today’s post is a wrap-up of the Past and a look to the Future of Create Our World.

***

From having No Idea, to having a vague Idea…somewhat…

I started this project without much of an idea of what I was doing.  I wasn’t an experienced writer, I wasn’t an expert hitchhiker, I knew little about setting up a website, and had really never read a blog.  But, what I did have was a burning desire to learn about our world, a decent ability to photograph, a love of people, a faith that I am important and can contribute to make our world better, and a desire to share my journey with as many people as possible.

I toyed with the idea of waiting and starting to write before I published my blog, but I was to antsy.  So I began!

Phase 1:  LEARN. DO & Make Mistakes.  

At first my goals were to:

1.  Write a lot!  

I hadn’t really written since college, so I wanted to jump right in.  I wanted to post everyday to practice writing and share my motives with the few family and friends whom were reading at first (Thanks, I love you guys!).  

2.  Start taking photographs everyday!

3.  Learn to set up a website.  

 I was really a Neo-Luddite (against technological advancements) before this.  I abstained from a cell phone and Facebook as long as I could.  I considered a personality fault to be too into technology.  

4.  Start hitchhiking around!

  I had hitchhiked a few times, but never long term.  

*Well, after about 3 months, I have done all of the above.  I now want to make the content of my site more informative and stylish and also widen my circle of followers.  With the website done and ready, I am ready to refocus:

Phase 2: Better & More.

1.  I want to write better.  

 Writing for the Internet is different.  Short and sweet, but potent seems to be the key for success.  

2.  I want to produce more videos.  

I love making these!  These are my favorite to make and the most interesting for me to watch and I would like them to be an integral part of my message.  I have toyed with the idea of a weekly show, but have been reluctant to make the commitment.

3.  Use my resources to widen my circle of Friends.

Reach out to other travelers, hitchhikers, and bloggers. I really want to use the internet to connect with like-minded people in an attempt to exchange more ideas and to create more in-person relationships in places that I visit.

4.  Meet more people whom are doing great things for the World.  

When I enter new places, I really want to seek out people that are advancing our society for the better, in small or big ways.

5.  Push the creative envelope.

 I am always keeping my eyes and mind peeled for Innovative and Fresh ideas.  This project continually changes based on people I meet or information I come about and I want to continue to evolve Create Our World to be a Refreshing, Harmonious, and Fun place that shares stories of the Goodness of People.

The next adventure begins!  

How you can help?

1.  Add your wisdom to the site by:

A.  Adding your thoughts in the comment section of a particular post or commenting on others comments.

B.  Link!  Linking is the money, dough, or cheese of the Internet.  Where the links go, the people go, and where the people go…  Promote the spread of Good Ideas by linking them with folks whom would be interested in them.  Linking is not spamming, it is sharing.

2.  Volunteer to be on the Board of Create Our World.  

I always am kicking around new ideas, designs, and projects and need others to bounce ideas off of.  If you would be interested, I always need help with something.  

3.  Support and Encourage People that are Rocking Our World!

It is lonely business sometimes so give people love!  I love this quote by Zig Ziglar:

“You will get all you want in Life, if you get enough other people what they want.”

4.  Let me know how you are!

More than any advice or help, I like most just connecting with people and hearing about their lives.  Sharing stories, ideas, and encouragement.  So please feel free to say Hi!

Thank you all and I am excited to learn more from you and get to know you better!!!

Tommorrow’s posts will be at www.Createourworld.net.

Create Our World.

Ben.

“Being good is commendable, but only when it is combined with doing good is it useful.” – Unknown

Juan and his Americycle.

I travel not to go anywhere, but to go.  I travel for travel’s sake.  The great affair is to move.  ~Robert Louis Stevenson

Bike enthusiasts, Hitchhikers, and Adventure Travelers will be interested in this post.

***

Hitchhiking Around the World

Today, I will point you in the direction of a man whom started a journey similar to mine about 4 years ago.

Juan Vallarino, first caught a ride on a sailboat on May 1st, 2005 from Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Since that time, he has hitchhiked around the world, even in countries like Iran, Iraq, and Afghanistan and has blogged, photographed, and written a book about his journey.  

He is leaving again on another journey, hitchhiking but also traveling by a homemade bike named the Americycle.  I dig his philosophies and recommend his article.  Here is a link:  The Americycle and the Oniricycle…getting ready for the American roads.

If you like his work, please let him know by sharing your feelings in his comment section.

Create Our World.

Ben.

“A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.”  ~Lao Tzu

“We can’t always rely on someone else to change the world.”

“Sometimes Breathtaking. Sometimes Horrific.  Each photo has the power to Inspire.”

***

Today’s post draws from an article in the very green website, TreeHugger, the Greenpeace Design Awards, and a website about Photographs that Changed the World.

Images are so powerful!!!

 

Flag raising on Iwo Jima.

Images take people places and make people FEEL.  Therefore, they have inspired movements, won wars, and in turn changed the course of the world.

TreeHugger just posted an article about the Greenpeace Design Awards.  An attempt to motivate designers to create an image to inspire people to help our world.

Here is the winner (Click to see the whole thing):

 

“We can’t always rely on someone else to change the world.”

Greenpeace is also, promoting a new movie, The Age of Stupid, which just opened in New Zealand, here is the trailer:

“

The Age of Stupid Trailer Feb 2009 – SD from Age of Stupid on Vimeo.

***

I have tossed around the idea of becoming a war photographer.  Not seriously, but I really respect the work.

Kenneth Jarecke, a photojournalist, has a great quote:

“If I don’t photograph this, people like my Mom will think war is what they see on TV.”

Create Our World.

Ben.

“We must look at it. We’re required to look at it. We’re required to do what we can about it. If we don’t, who will?” – James Nachtwey

Water is NOT Everywhere!

Today’s post is a story from my college days, shared to show you the very beginnings of Create Our World.

Near Tahquamenon Falls State Park, in the Upper Penninsula of Michigan, is a hiking trail that runs from Lake Superior to Lake Michigan.  

My senior year at Michigan State University, I came up here to hike 20 miles to a small campground and then hike back after a few days.  

I was alone.  I had a little over a week off.  I was looking for adventure!

But I knew nothing of preparing for a hike, how to get water, or what types of foods to pack.

I learned quickly that Water is NOT Everywhere!

Paradise, Michigan is a few miles from the State Park and I geared up there.  I bought granola bars, Slim Fast, peanut butter, and a bunch of canned foods.  Enchilada’s in a can and Ravioli were my choices.  I bought a half gallon of whisky (never know when a party could come up).  My pack was loaded!!!  

However, when it came to water, I was sure that there must be spickets by the trail.  I had never been anyplace without them.  So, I only brought two quarts of Gatorade.

The next morning I took off.  I had figured that it would take me three days to hike the 20 miles.  I would camp for a day, and then hike 3 days back to my car.  

On the first day, I was making good time and I realized I probably would be at the campsite tommorrow.  The first night I camped near the only road I saw all day.  I was pooped and by my calculations had hiked over 10 miles.  I would easily arrive the next day.  The only problem was that I only had half a quart of Gatorade left and I had not seen any spickets today.  

The next morning I packed up quickly and saw a large trail to my left that was wide enough for a car.  This must be it!  I hit the trail, before it was too hot.

After a half hour of hiking, something seemed odd.  I couldn’t place it at first, but then I noticed that there were no blue markers on the trees.  These had led me yesterday.  Hmmm… I didn’t want to go back.  I had drank most of the Gatorade.  I walked further and hoped.  No luck.  I turned around.  

It was getting hot by the time I returned to my original campsite, draining the last of the Gatorade as I rested.  Opposite from the large trail was a much narrower trail with blue markings.

Off I went.  I had oranges so as the day heated up, I ate three oranges when I stopped to rest.  When I ran out, I was very thirsty.  I would walk along the trail and count 50 blue markings before I would sit down to rest.  Then 50 more and so on.  It was a long day.  Of course I survived, but I learned a lesson that day.

Water is NOT Everywhere!  

There is a different world than the world I grew up in.  A world without water spickets by the side of a trail, whenever I need it.  

Be Adventurous, but be Smart and Prepared.

Please share your lesson-learning story by email, the comments section, or at Create Our World. on Facebook.

Create Our World,

Ben.

“If you are prepared, you will be confident, and you will do the job.” – Tom Landry

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“You know, walk the earth, meet people… get into adventures.”

“Happy are those who dream dreams and are ready to pay the price to make them come true.” – Leon Josephs Cardinal Suenens

***

 

 

My Mother's Dream Home.

 

 

Jules: “I’ll just walk the earth.”

Vincent: “Watcha’ mean walk the earth.”

Jules: “You know, walk the earth, meet people… get into adventures.  Like Caine from ‘Kung Fu.’”

Some people are movie-quote-remembering people, some are not.  I am not.

But I remember this one.  

If you are movie-quote-remembering sort, you will know that this is from the Quentin Taratino film, Pulp Fiction.

I remember watching the movie in East Lansing, Michigan, while I was attending Michigan State University.  I was sitting on my couch at my home in Louis Street.

I want to walk the earth.  Do good deeds.  Talk to people.  Sleep where I ended up.  Eat what comes my way.  

It took me 8 years but here I go.  I am living my dream.

What is your dream?

Create Our World,

Ben.

“Nothing happens unless first we dream.” - Carl Sandburg

Lake Plieness Photographs.

Perhaps the truth depends on a walk around the lake. – Wallace Stephens

It is a different world when you live on a lake.

***

Here are some photographs from a recent walk around Lake Plieness.  I spent some time with family here and celebrated my Mother’s B-Day.

I am currently in Ann Arbor, Michigan and I plan to put down some temporary roots for a couple weeks, work on my website, spend time with my aunts and uncles in town, and make new friends.

Thanks to all who have submitted videos so far, for the Launch of Create Our World; they are hilarious!!!

Create Our World.

Ben.

 

“There are only two ways to live your life.  One as though nothing is a miracle.  The other as though everything is a miracle.” – Albert Einstein

Got M.I.L.K: Moments of Intimacy, Laughter, and Kinship

“The Love of a Family is Life’s Greatest Blessing.” – Unknown

This post is for photo enthusiasts.

***

 

A Card made by M.I.L.K.

 

 

Moments of Intimacy, Laughter, and Kinship

My Mom bought me a card as we perused Pentwater, Michigan for gifts.  

The M.I.L.K. Collection

The back of my card says, “The M.I.L.K. Collection is the result of an epic search for 300 extraordinary and geographically diverse photographs that capture the essence of humanity.”

She thought I would like the project.

Check out the Photos here.

Create Our World.

Ben

“Families are the compass that guide us. They are the inspiration to reach great heights, and our comfort when we occasionally falter.” – Brad Henry

15 Books that I Love.

Show me the books he loves and I shall know the man
far better than through mortal friends.
~ Dawn Adams ~

***

A good friend of mine sent me a note of Facebook about their favorite 15 books and it got me thinking.

Here are my 15 favorite books that I could think of in 10 minutes or less.  What are yours?

1.  Franny & Zoey – J.D. Salinger

I like Franny best.  Two short stories about a sister and brother with Buddhist elements.

2.  Creative Visualization – Shakti Gawain

A Feel Good Book that states whatever you visualize will happen.  Anything.

3.  Siddhartha – Herman Hesse

Big in the 60′s, a young boy strives for enlightenment in India.

4.  World Walk – Steven Newman

Steven walked around the world; well, he skipped Iran.  Wimp.  I wrote a blog post about this book.

5.  Celestine Prophecy – James Redfield

This book introduced me to the concept of our universe being a huge field of Energy.  Great Ideas, Little hokie, though.

6.  Still Life with Woodpecker – Tom Robbins

A love story that takes place in a package of Camel Lights.  Tom Robbins is Wild!  His story explores what makes Love last.

7.  On the Road – Jack Kerouac

A wandering beatnik that gets a kick out of “mad” people.  This book has inspired movements.

8.  Care of the Soul – Thomas Moore

Embrace the Soul of your Life.  Don’t Live Perfectly.  Live Fully!

9.  Way of Zen – Alan Watts

Alan was one of the first “Westerns” that brought Buddist knowledge back.  He had a huge part in the Buddhist craze in the US.

10.  Power of Now – Eckhart Tolle

I use strategies from this book, everyday to be happier in the moment.  I used to read parts every night before bed to relax and center myself.

11.  Breakfast of Champions – Kurt Vonnegut Jr.

I would read Vonnegut books after hard days of work.  Short chapters, hilarious, and insightful.  This book has funny drawings within.

12.  Travels with Charley – Jon Steinbeck

Jon’s trip with his French Standard Poodle.  I can’t remember this book, besides that I liked it.

13.  Farenheit 451 – Ray Bradbury

I am reading this now.  Loving it.  Sci-fi.  I love Clarisse.  I want to marry her.

14.  The Road Less Traveled – M. Scott Peck

Part of the reason, I chose Psychology as a major in College.  Why people become who they are.

15.  Living, Loving, and Learning – Leo Buscaglia

This man must be the happiest man alive.  When I read these books I was filled with twinkles.  

***

I read books because friends of mine recommend them.  What are you reading?

Create Our World.

Ben.

“You are the best You.  You are the only You.  You have something to Give.  Give it!” – Leo Buscaglia