5 Reasons Why I'll Never Check-In Hold Luggage Again

Clearing customs on a recent trip to Canada I was given a sceptical look up and down by the quizzical passport controller; mystified by the fact I carried no additional luggage from the sports bag slung over my shoulder. When questioning the purpose of my visit and reason for lack of baggage, he thankfully seemed satisfied by the following retort:

1) It's Faster

With carry-on luggage you can check-in on-line, print off your boarding pass, and head straight to the gate. No more waiting in slow moving queues and being shepherded like livestock around winding barriers; sandwiched between that moronic overweight couple and frenzied family of four. Disembarking, you can then be first to clear security and first to take in the sights of your new location; knowing fine well that the other passengers will all be sweating impatiently for the wailing buzzer that indicates the carousel has started spinning into motion.

2) If the Airline Doesn't Have It, They Can't Lose It

Last winter my cousin found herself high in the French Alps for a week of snowboarding and drinking with nothing but the tiger onesie she adorned. Not the most ideal costume in which to face blizzards and sub-zero temperatures. Her jacket, boots and board? Sitting in the lost property room at Edinburgh Airport, having failed to even be put on the plane. Now clearly if you are going snowboarding, golfing, or mountain climbing you’ll need to check in some form of sports or safety equipment; but this is only one of countless examples I could give of luggage being lost in transit. Does that two week beach holiday really require ‘everything but the kitchen sink’? You’d think that going somewhere with guaranteed sunshine would limit the amount of clothes one needs to pack, but time after time I see people traipsing through the airport looking more like like removal men than holiday makers. Instead, remove this risk completely by keeping all your stuff on you. It's worth it just for the peace of mind.

 3) It's Cheaper

Depending on where you’re going it can be much more cost beneficial to simply buy stuff when, and if, you need it. I've come across some tourists who could initially be mistaken as travelling pharmacists, their wash bags an A-Z stocked medicine cabinet of tablets and drugs; remedies  for any eventuality that might hit whether it be the common cold, 'man-flu', or diseases thought to have been eradicated in the 1800's. Short of going to the remote Third World or Arctic Circle, leave these at home. Airlines already have severe restrictions in place for liquids and gels, so why go to the hassle of checking in luggage just to take these precautionary items? Suitable alternatives will more than likely be available in the local farmacia. And if you are still a paranoid android, why not simply invest in some better travel insurance?

Secondly, taking only carry-on luggage will eliminate your ability to bring home tacky souvenirs and impulse purchases. Take the above photo for example. We saw those rather fetching wooden canes in the small town of Ollantaytambo, Peru. How hilarious would it be if we bought them? 4 gringos swaggering around as personified voodoo children.

The answer: For a short while, yes!

Four countries later however I was close to snapping the branch clean over my left thigh; the ergonomic mobility devices ironically managing to restrict our movements more than aid them. They were always getting in the way; getting caught in things; not fitting in taxis; and generally being a completely unnecessary nuisance.  My new rule is this: If you want something that bad, Fed-Ex it home. If it’s that important, precious, and memorable it is worth the additional shipping charges. Otherwise, leave it and move on!

4) It's Healthier & Safer

Lugging around a massive rucksack will put out your back faster than a trip to an untrained back-alley chiropractor. Travelling light will prevent all sorts of fatigue and stretch injuries, whilst relieving the stress of using public transport completely. Squeezing suitcases onto crowded buses and trains is sure to rile even the most stoic of people. Also, on a less savoury note, with no souvenirs you are less likely to stick out as a tourist, which will severely reduce your chance of becoming the victim of a pick-pocketing or robbery.

5) It Adds to Your Sense of Freedom

There's something about no-strings-attached travel that creates excitement and wonder. You truly begin to realise the worthlessness of material goods, the quick-fix stimulation of a new purchase which is all too soon replaced by further desires. There are no status symbols between backpackers, no segregation, no pre-determined judgements. Which is perhaps what makes it so easy to create new bonds and friendships whilst on the road. True value is to be found in the experiences and memories you share with others and the freedom of carrying nothing but a small bag of belongings helps encompass this to the maximum.

18 Things I Would Tell My Eighteen Year Old Self

Glasgow, Scotland, UK • May 2014 • Length of Read: 7 Minutes

This week I turned 23. Not exactly a landmark birthday, but one that caught me very much by surprise. 23? Impossible. Why, I can remember those final days at school like they were only yesterday. However, it is also incredible to think how much I have experienced, been a part of, and developed in the 5 years since then. It’s safe to say that I am unrecognisable from that spotty, socially-awkward introvert; woefully unprepared for what the outside world had in store. This reflection led me to ponder what I have since learnt that would have been of much benefit back then; the things I wish I knew when I was younger. If I could transport back in time, here are the 18 pieces of advice and wisdom I would share with my eighteen year old self:

1)      Laugh Every Day

Life is far too important to be taken seriously. Listen to things that make you chuckle, watch things you find funny, constantly be cracking jokes with friends, and regularly make fun of yourself. There will be plenty of times where you’re somewhere you don’t want to be, or doing tasks you don’t want to do. Finding humour in these situations makes everything that little more bearable, increases your overall enjoyment, and draws others towards you.

2)      Read

Read at the bus stop. Read on the train. Read in the doctor’s surgery. Read in line at the bank. It’s a sin to our ancestors that we now live in a semi-illiterate, headline rolling, culture; 140 characters arbitrarily decided as our digestible word limit. People have sat down and taken the time to compile the pearls of wisdom from their deep research into a subject or mastery of a chosen craft; all so that, for less than £10, you are able to learn in a week the lion’s share of what it has taken them years of erudition and hardship. Books are a mental stimulant, books are stress reducers, books enhance your cognition, and books expand your knowledge. Just read!

3)      Make Lots Of Mistakes (but make each mistake only once)

Sir Ken Robinson’s ‘How Schools Kill Creativity’ speech is the most watched TED talk of all time. In it he says: “If you are not prepared to be wrong, you will never come up with anything original. By the time most children become adults, they have lost that capacity, they have become frightened of being wrong. We run our companies this way, we stigmatize mistakes, and we are now running national education systems where mistakes are the worst thing you can make. The result is we are educating people out of their creative capacities.”If you are not making mistakes then you are not pushing yourself hard enough. I want you to make mistakes. I encourage you to make mistakes. But, most importantly, once you have made a mistake, learn from it and don’t ever make it again.

4)       Stop Trying To ‘Fit In’

Don’t do things for external validation or because you think it will make others like you. Trying to be someone else’s definition of ‘cool’ will not make you ‘cool’; it will make you a sheep. And if you try to please everybody, then you’ll end up pleasing nobody; not even yourself. Instead, be the wolf. Do your own thing and people will be drawn to your passion and congruity.

5)      Clean Up Your Diet

Watching Morgan Spurlock’s Supersize Me was what you could call a ‘light bulb’ moment. I realised that the food I was consuming was killing me from the inside out. I now follow a strict, clean, diet and as a result wake up rejuvenated each morning with a seemingly bottomless well of energy. My skin has cleared up, my mind is sharper, and I rarely ever get sick. Next time you crave some junk food, remember this: It takes the equivalent of 140 ‘burpees’ to burn off a can of coke, 349 to burn off a large portion of fries, and a whopping 698 to burn off a slice of cheesecake. Suddenly the cravings start to magically vanish.

6)      Learn To Cook

Going to restaurants or ordering takeaways every night makes a massive dent in the wallet. Not only will learning to cook help save vast amounts of money, it is also the best way in which to gain a nutritional understanding of different ingredients and cuisines. Harmonizing flavours will stop your need to continuously drown dishes in harmful condiments and will broaden your culinary world-view... It’s also a great way to impress the ladies!

7)      Meditate

As the old saying goes, “wherever you go, there you are.” Shifting your awareness to the present moment will keep you grounded, focussed, and will alleviate stress. Meditation is also medically proven to reduce blood pressure and scientifically proven to increase happiness and social skills.

8)      Hack Your Sleep

Get your eight hours a night in a pitch black room. When under-slept you will most likely be under-productive and cranky. Little things will start to irritate you and people will start to be irritated by you. Sleep is not for the weak; sleep is for the week ahead. People who live by the ‘I’ll sleep when I’m dead’ philosophy are short-sighted and unorganised. Coffee-fuelled all-nighters may sometimes be required if you want to get ahead in life, but they should be a rarity. Don’t use this as an excuse to laze about vegetating in the mornings either. Set an alarm, remove the snooze function, and face each day refreshed and recharged.

9)      What You Think Is A Big Deal Usually Turns Out To Be Trivial At Best

The average teenager seems to have more ‘my life is ruined’ moments each day than they do pieces of fruit, especially when alcohol is involved. Accompanying the hangover is usually an emotion which we like to label ‘the fear’; a hazed recollection of the stupid and embarrassing things you have said and done the night before. When you do something undesirable, your brain starts to invent all manners of far-fetched outcomes, inflating things out of proportion into an enormous balloon of anxiety. In reality however, nothing ever comes of these concerns. The truth is most people are too self-absorbed to even register these events, never mind having any interest in them. Best put by Mark Twain: “I've had lots of worries in my life, most of which have never happened.” How should you cure this problem: Stop caring what others think of you!

10)  The Things You Put Off The Most Are The Things You Should Be Doing The Most.

Don’t let the devils of ‘Procrastination’ and ‘Resistance’ enter your life. Think about the one or two major decisions you keep putting off and the chances are that these will also be the decisions that could have the greatest beneficial impact on your life. But you’re simply waiting until the time is right? Let me tell you something – the time will never be right! Your brain will come up with a million excuses as to why you should not do what your heart suggests. Block out these thoughts and do it anyway.

11)  Travel

Travel rips you out of your comfort zone and breaks you from your shell like nothing else. The world is not the scary and dangerous place the media makes out. It is full of wonder, love and excitement; new friends to be met, and experiences to be had, in all corners of the globe. Book a flight, pack light, and prepare yourself for the most amazing and eye-opening adventures.

12) Cut All Negative People From Your Life

It is said that ‘you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.’ If you are spending time with people who are leeches, sucking value but giving nothing in return, then how do you expect to develop into a better human being? But cutting out people is easier said than done. We may be talking about friends you've known for a long time and care about, but deep down know they are holding you back. Start surrounding yourself with people that are motivated and people that are driven; people that discuss ideas rather than gossip. You will soon find that these negative influencers quickly slip by the wayside.

13)  Take Social Initiative

Don’t sit at home waiting for people to call or text you. They will soon get frustrated with your lack of effort and stop inviting you places. Actively create hangout opportunities, suggest different places to visit, or make plans to try something new. Don't feel that you have to keep your different circles of friendssegregated either.  Invite people that have never met and encourage them to bring friends along that you have never met. The more the merrier.

14)  The Older You Get, The More Conservative You’ll Become

Grab every new opportunity by the balls and squeeze it hard. If a door opens, take a peek inside. It could be nothing, but venturing down the rabbit hole could also lead you to Wonderland. Become a 'Yes Man' - always willing to venture into the unknown. Whatever you decide to do, ensure that you avoid falling into the comforts and monotony of everyday routines; happy with the security of the familiar and tranquillity of repetition. With that, your dreams will be lost.

15)  Find ‘Mentors’

Learning from someone who has ‘been there and done that’ is the most effective and efficient way to develop your skills and knowledge. It costs nothing to drop someone an e-mail asking for advice, and if they respond then who knows what sort of connections and opportunities could blossom. You’ll be surprised at how willing people are to lending a helping hand.

16)  Make Time For Your Family

Watching those close to you grow old is a very scary process. Make an effort to visit your grandparents on a weekly basis and offer to help with chores around the house. They have sacrificed more than you can ever imagine during your childhood and it’s time to start repaying them for this service, little by little.  Spend quality time with your parents, away from the technological distractions of the modern age. Sit round the dinner table and discuss life, what your plans are for the future and what you are passionate about doing - Grow together.

17)  Be Genuinely Interested In Others.

The next time you are out in public and there are strangers talking, shamelessly eavesdrop into their conversation. You will notice that, more often than not, the listener is only passively paying attention to what the speaker is actually saying.  This is because they will be (a) preoccupied thinking about how the topic of conversation affects themselves, and (b) busy thinking about what they are going to say when its their turn to contribute. Focus on giving your full undivided attention to others. Ask insightful questions about their passions and immerse yourself in their response. People will subconsciously recognise and respect this, whilst you will pick up interesting things that you otherwise might have missed.

And finally...

18)  Create Something

Paint, draw, compose, build,  design - leave your own personal mark on the earth. Personally, I write to get my creative juices flowing and my own full-length travel book is now available from the online bookshop. It follows my misadventures across five different continents as I got comatose drunk on the Thai islands; kicked out of a Hungarian lap dancing club; kidnapped by the mayor of a Peruvian city; crashed a mountain bike on the world’s most dangerous road. and much more.

Is there anything you would add to this list? Please e-mail me with what your eighteen year old self could have benefited from knowing. If we can inspire just one person to take action and change their life for then better then I would regard this post as a success. 

Shopaholic Syndrome: Glasgow Could Learn From the Dutch Way of Living

Glasgow, Scotland, UK • May 2014 • Length of Read: 3 Minutes

On a crisp Sunday morning’s stroll along the well-trodden cobbles of Maastricht, I couldn't help but be amazed as to the tranquillity and beauty of it all. If this city were a restaurant, critics would be quick to complement its ‘heartfelt ambience’. Pacing the streets of Glasgow two years later, following my stint living in the southernmost Dutch province, I reminisce back to these times, the accompanying emotions lost for reasons scarily apparent.

The tranquillity, I believe, primarily came from the welcome absence of the horn honking symphonies permeating from monstrous multi-story car parks. Instead, this had been replaced by the rather more pleasant spring-chirping of Dutch wildlife. The beauty not only pertained to the cultural landscape - brought to life by the basilica spires and Roman architecture fortressed within medieval walls - but from the vibes emanating from the locals. The vox populi laugher of Pickwickian residents, shooting the breeze in one of the main square’s numerous independent cafes, was music to the ears that could only have been rivalled by the orchestral talents of Andre Rieu, the city’s favourite son.

Transport forward to present day Buchanan Street however, Glasgow’s premier shopping real estate, and a scene from Shawn of the Dead presents itself; overweight shopaholics and Saturday night’s walk-of-shame residue creeping in their swarms from shop to shop. This is sound-tracked not only by the aggression of angry motorists, but by the endless slurping of 480 calorie grande-chi-cinnamon-mocachinnos - 55% of an adult's GDA saturated fat intake. "But it's OK", you envisage them protesting, "I've requested they use skimmed milk." Well congratulations. Good for you. I think that the council could put taxpayers’ money to great use by purchasing additional street-sweepers with which to vacuum up these degenerates. At 11am every weekend, the kerb crawler's flashing amber lights would be a warning beacon for culprits to either leg-it or be collected like refuse; dumped into landfill sites among all the crap they probably used to own before questioning, in a rare moment of sanity: “Why the fuck do I have this?”

Daily, thousands of people return from the shops with piles of shit they will never use and never really wanted in the first place; suckered in by discount stickers, multi-buy savings and in-store promotions. Linda from customer sales saying that your life would be drastically improved if only you owned a Remington NE3150 Nose and Ear Trimmer, or a Black & Decker X500 Surface Patio Cleaner, is not an excuse to stick one in the shopping basket. Consume. Consume. Consume. Same cheques we’re always cashing, to buy a little more distraction. Worst of all, everyone appears to be in a sense of urgency over the matter, panic buying as if the government has re-introduced rationing and their book coupons are about to expire. As they 'make it rain' on cash registers, I ask myself: How did society end up like this?

Nothing ever appears to be closed in the British Isles, like we are scared someone will chuck the keys into the Channel once we've locked the door. Should one be awoken from a sweaty nightmare at two in the morning with the urge to purchase a new chrome toaster and matching pedal bin, they would merely need to glance out the window for the closest neon sign polluting the starless sky. 24/7 shopping – maximizing the time available to purchase the shit you don’t need, to impress the people you don't like.

Next time you're walking through the town centre, stop for a moment and take in the people sharing your space. Armies of clones can be seen marching military style from window to window, uniformed in this season's latest trends. The mannequins behind the glass may as well be reflections in a mirror, those on the street already carbon copies of these dolls. But the shoppers are still not fulfilled, so they carry on, stooped not only by the weight of carrier bags but in a deliberate effort to avoid any eye-contact with strangers; seemingly repelled by one another like a defective leper colony. Never has the population appeared so aesthetically similar, but so individually alone. How did society end up like this?

Waiting for the train, I grab a juice and involuntarily slip back to that fresh morning in Maastricht. Here there is no such travesty and commotion, just the odd bus load of pensioners disembarking for a glimpse of the surroundings and some tea and scones. Content in the clothes they are wearing. After retailers’ shutters are rolled down on a Saturday evening here, doors remain firmly locked until Monday afternoon. The same goes for supermarkets, which also close at 5:30pm every week night. Cafes and restaurants take centre stage; time spent relaxing with friends and family prioritising all forms of consumerism. People truly happy in their own (well-worn) shoes. Why couldn't our  society have ended up like this?

Hostels > Hotels

Lying here on a nine-pillowed bed in Room 336 of the four-star Marriott Hotel in Liverpool you could guess 90% of the things filling my field of vision. Beside the typical trouser press is the typical full-length mirror, dimly lit to hide the bloated bellies of the guests who’ve enjoyed one too many £15 full-English breakfasts during their stay; or one too few if you’d ask them personally. The TV sit atop an empty chest of drawers, frozen on a welcome screen that offers more pay-per-view options than nights I’m spending here. To my left a couple of solid armchairs surround a tiny-circular table which has just enough space for the empty champagne bucket and room service pamphlet. Above the bed is some obscure watercolour painted by some obscure artist. And who can forget the kettle - the King of the room - almost as essential as the queen-sized bed itself. The brown and white sugar pawns nestle in a basket towards the front of the tray, a variety of flavoured teas and freeze dried coffee playing the remaining regal pieces in this caffeinated game of chess.

What about the bathroom you may ask? But already you know the answer. White tiled walls merge into the white tiled floor, the white plastic bath hidden like a chameleon in the corner. Mini-shampoos full of unrecognisable herbal ingredients guard the sink, whilst a wholesale number of bath towels drape from rails and stiles that simultaneously play lead in heating the place into an unbearable inferno of a sauna.

Take some of the hostels I’ve had the pleasure staying in on the other hand: A hut built entirely from salt in Bolivia; a child-sized wooden bunk on a cattle ranch in Queensland; a hammock in Cusco; a stained mattress on the floor of a Brussels ghetto; and a sleepless all-night party at Miami South Beach. Healthy eight-hour sleeps they did not provide, but each did provide a story or two that I will be telling for the rest of my life. Nothing eventful has happened in this red-brick building since my arrival; discounting a portly businessman making the stereotypical noise complaint to an over-dolled receptionist.

Having experienced both the glitz-and-glamour of four-star hotels whilst travelling with work, and the down-and-out half-star hostels whilst backpacking on the road, regardless of price I would genuinely always choose the later. Hostels create mini-communities; hotels mini-bouts of boredom. Hostels have that lure of the unknown, a myriad of characters from all over the globe eager to trade stories and meet new companions. Enter the swanky bar of the Marriott and everyone immediately covers their face with the latest edition of the Financial Times or hides their head in a large over-priced glass of red wine like you are Medusa with snakes flowing from those afresh baobab-cleansed locks.

Mountain Biking The World's Most Dangerous Road