Should You Travel With A Friend ?

Picture this, you're traveling to some exotic land with a so-called friend who can't seem to stop whining and bitching about every little thing. Their negative vibes are like a black hole, sucking all the joy and excitement out of your adventure as the clock ticks down to your return to the mundane drudgery of everyday life. Now, let's not get it twisted, your buddy ain't trying to ruin your fun, but they got their own damn issues to deal with and ain't got time for your enjoyment. It's nothing personal, it's just the way it is. So, if you wanna avoid this kind of drama, ask your potential travel partner one simple question: are they gonna be a buzzkill or a kick-ass co-adventurer?

“Do you like to cook?”

I'm talking about actual meals here, not just heating up some chicken nuggets.

Forget about what that big-shot cookbook author told you - there's no damn joy in cooking. Slicing, grating, mixing, chopping, simmering, waiting, washing, and screwing up are just the basic hurdles you gotta overcome. But, for some godforsaken reason, I still do it. Maybe it's 'cause I dig the idea of taking my time and crafting something with my own two hands. Now, don't get me wrong, I ain't growing all the ingredients myself in some backyard patch, but cooking sure as hell takes more effort and patience than dialing up takeout on the phone.

It's all about the process. Sure, cooking might not seem like it's worth the effort when you're comparing the energy you put in to the benefits you get out of it. But that's not what it's all about. Cooking shows that you're willing to slow things down and put in the time and effort to create something delicious. And that's the kind of attitude you want when you're traveling in a foreign land. You need to be patient, adaptable, and able to roll with the punches. You can't be afraid to take risks and try new things, even if you don't know what the outcome will be. That's what cooking is all about, and it's what makes for a great travel companion.

Let me tell you something, amigo. Easy things you do at home take much longer abroad. Finding and ordering food, asking for help, and getting from point A to B can be a real pain in the ass. And let me tell you, much of your time ain't spent on "fun" things, but actually getting to the fun things in one piece without being taken advantage of. But the non-cook, the guy who just wants to sit back and have everything handed to him on a silver platter, he's the one who's missing out. He wants to go on one of those tourist package trips to some Mickey Mouse city where everyone speaks English and everything's picture-perfect. But the patient traveler, the cook, he knows that the real adventure is out there, waiting for him. And yeah, sure, there are going to be frustrations along the way. But that's just like doing a sink full of dirty dishes. It goes with the territory, you know? And when you finally do cook up something edible, well, eating it only takes ten minutes. It's the process, the journey, that's what makes it all worth it.

All that said, there ain't nothing quite like taking a trip on your own. No schedules, no rules, just you and the open road. You can do whatever the hell you want, whenever the hell you want. And when shit hits the fan, you don't have nobody to rely on but yourself. It takes a certain kind of person to handle that kind of independence though. You gotta be comfortable with your own damn company. But if you can do it, it's one of the most liberating things you'll ever experience