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Around the World 2008
Begining January 1st, 2008, Tyson fled the wintry bleakness of the Northern Hemisphere and followed the seasons for about 6 months. On this around-the-world jaunt he wintered in New Zealand and Australia (during their summer). In New Zealand he rented a car, sleeping in it for about a month, traveling to all corners of the country's two islands. Hopping over to Australia, he purchased a station wagon and lived in it for about 11 weeks, driving over 25,000 kilometers, circumnavigating the entire continent behind the wheel, visiting every state and barely surviving monsoon, desert breakdown, and super-gnarly surf. In April 2008 he flew to the very southeast corner of continental Asia and proceeded to travel overland (not once flying) to the very northwest corner of continental Europe (Paris). During this journey, which is the longest overland trip that is possible on planet Earth, Tyson braved Vietnam's jungles, China's authoritarian censorship, Mongolia's vast wastelands, frigid Siberian Russia (via the Trans-Siberian express, a 5 day train ride across Russia), Eastern Europe's bland sausages, and finally, Western Europe's FIFA Euro Soccer Tournament, finally flying west back to the good ol' USA. Join along below by viewing the maps, reading his blog, checking out his pictures on the photo pages, and reading his writing on the writing page
read blog from journey | view pictures and videos from journey | read writing from journey
click here or on map below for a map of the entire route
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click here or on the map below for the progress of phase 1. Phase 1 was a three month trip around the countries of New Zealand and Australia.
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click here or on the map below for the progress of phase 2. Phase 2 was the "Socialist Shuffle," a journey through the formerly communist republics of Vietnam, China, Mongolia and Russia, all by train, which will land me in Eastern Europe sometime in June.
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click here or on map below for the progress of phase 3. Phase 3 was the European Renaissance. A month to chill out in Europe before I have to face reality again.
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Sao Paulo to Seattle (2005-2006)
From May 2005-March 2006, after a three-month internship in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Tyson tripped thousands of miles overland, from the southern tip of Brazil to northern Mexico. He used any means of transportation available that didn't involve flying. From rebuilt dune buggy to Amazon cargo boat, he crossed borders and cultures the old fashioned way - one stomach-churning bus ride after another. Read on (entries are in reverse order):
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Click on map for detail of journey
Central America/Cuba/Mexico
July 24, 2006--Born In The USA?: Reemergence Insurgence
June 1, 2006--My… Uh… Pride?: Mel Gibson, The Maya, And La Playa
April 18, 2006--Travel On A Broken And Retied Shoestring: Socialist Cuba On A Communist Budget
February 20, 2006--InCUBAtion: The Plan Hatches
February 7, 2006--Talk Like An Egyptian
January 31, 2006--Vicarious Travel: I Will Belize It When I See It
January 26, 2006--Hippies with Cell Phones
January 19, 2006--Don’t Call Me ‘Nica, Pinche Gringo: All Things Gringo
January 7, 2006--Panama: It’s Pretty Frickin’ Sweet
December 18, 2005--¡Guerrillas And Paramilitaries And Drug Cartels, Oh My!
December 8, 2005--Locombia – The Crazy Country
December 1, 2005--When Visa’s Expire: Tyson Strips
Brazil
November 25, 2005--Amazon.com(promise): The Heart of Lameness
November 15, 2005--The Carnguejo Express
November 9, 2005--Night Of The Living Foot Beasts
November 5, 2005--A Brazilian Wax: Waxing Ethnomic
October 30, 2005--What is a Brazilian?
October 20, 2005--Bahia É Alegría
October 7, 2005--Sorria, Voce Está Na Bahia (Smile, You´re In Bahia)
October 4, 2005--Another Shitty Night in Brazil
September 23, 2005--Eat, Sleep, Surf...Repeat
September 16, 2005--Tyson Trembles
(with rage)
September 9, 2005--Don't Mine Me
September 1, 2005--Geology and Biology
August 21, 2005--Bussing My Ass
August 17, 2005--South in America
Sao Paulo, Brazil
August 8, 2005--Welcome Message from Tyson
August 1, 2005--Grow up, Tyson!
July 18, 2005--The Bacteria Monologues: Part II
July 13, 2005--The Bacteria Monologues: Part I
July 8, 2005--A Hazy Shade Of Clear
June 24, 2005--Dude, He Dropped The "Cougar" From His Name
June 18, 2005--Cowboy Up, Y'all
June 9, 2005--Ordem E Progresso
The Contradiction and Exploitation of South America (2003)
In the summer of 2003 Tyson had 11 weeks to rationalize the contradiction of his exploitation of South America during his study of the historical and contemporary contradiction and exploitation of South America. Sound confusing? Well, then, read on to discover what it's all about
Click on map for a detail of the journey
Volume 1: La Corrida
Episode 1: When Culture Attacks
Although Tyson's travels in the Andes have been brief so far, he can't imagine an area with a per-capita higher chicheria concentration than Urubamba. There is at least one local bar per block.
Episode 2: Living La Corrida Loca
While attending a local bullfight, Tyson becomes well versed in the ritual of drinking Cuzqueña, the official beer of the region.
Episode 3: When Humans Attack (Animals)
The local bull fight was an experience not to be understood. It was enough to just be present.
Volume 2: Tourism
Episode 1: When Societies Go Bad
On the island of Taquile, in Lake Titicaca, Tyson experiences first hand how the tourism dollar is effecting the local culture, all the way to the highest ranks of government.
Volume 3: The Minor Trilogy
Episode 1: When Bus Rides Go Bad
A miner's strike in the middle of nowhere leaves Tyson stranded and in danger of freezing. What could be the cause of such desparation?
Episode 2: Blowing My Mine
The tour of the silver mine in Potosí gave Tyson some insight into the impossible conditions the miners subject themselves to for a marginally better financial reward.
Episode 3: Who let the Miners out?
Attending a civil wedding enabled Tyson to experience another aspect of the silver miner's lifestyle. The dancing and mining tales increased in proportion to the amount of liquor consumed.
Volume 4: You're in America Now, Speak Spanish
A less than exciting Independence Day celebration sees Tyson fleeing Argentina for something much more shocking and odd: Paraguay.
Volume 5: Para Why?
Tyson may have been on somewhat of a whine tour recently, but allow him to expand on his theories for the presence and function of the Peace Corps.
Volume 6: Usa Tú Coco
Tyson left the Paraguayans with renditions of George Michael's Faith and rap dancing. Paraguay left him with a bug growing under his skin.
Volume 7: Stop Whining, Start Chilean
If Italy and Spain took a trip to South America together, and, after a night of passionate European love-making, Spain became pregnant with Italy's kid, and the kid was born much larger than the size of both their parents combined, then you would have Argentina.
Volume 8: Be Careful What You Ask For, You Just Might Get It
With only 5 days to cover over 2000 miles, Tyson struggled with KRABS and his HAREM before arriving in Lima, Peru to commit a final act of personal contradiction and exploitation.
2001-2002 Around the World Extravaganza
After graduating from college and failing to find work outside of data entry, Tyson retreated home to his family, saved money, and headed out on a 'walkabout'.With no plan in mind and no brain in mind, he subsequently lost his return ticket home from Europe. Being the age of dinosaurs, electronic tickets didn't exist, so he was stuck traveling. This loss of ticket (and passport, credit cards, and everything else of value) became the best thing that ever happened to him. He worked a summer on the islands of Greece, a winter in Southern Spain teaching English, and met a ton of travelers. These folks inspired him to push on his travels. He ended up visiting the Middle East, the Indian Subcontinent, and Southeast Asia, in an adventure that spanned 14 months. It was the beginning of a never-ending travel crave for Tyson. He did not write much on this trip, nor were his photos of mentionable quality. Other than a few pics on the photos page (down near the bottom of it) the only evidence of his trip are his memories and the map below. Feel free to click on it to see his journey.
Click on map for a detail of the journey
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