Experimental Travel

I have just finished reading "The Lonely Planet Guide to Experimental Travel" , which is a book about traveling differently and encouraging yourself to see things familiar around you in new ways. There are cool experiments like being dropped off at your local airport, finding the cheapest way to get into town and then living like a backpacker in your home town, in hostels and interacting with travelers. Or use dice and an atlas to decide where to go next. Or walking out your door, turning the first left, then next right, then left, etc until something is in your way and you can't continue. It's cool to see your area in a different light--busts up that monotony bug!

There is one experiment that I think everyone should do and then we can see how eachothers town, neighborhood, whatever feels. All you need is a camera and some legs. Take a picture at each stage:

1. The first stage is your starting point.
2. Walk in any direction for 100 paces.
3. Continue walking in that direction until you see something blue.
4. Make a left turn and walk 70 paces.
5. Walk in any direction until you see something that either looks or is the number 7 or 11.
6. Take the first left, and continue walking until you find somewhere to sit.
7. Choose any direction and walk 50 paces.
8. Continue walking until you see an unusual color, shape, or texture.
9. Walk in any direction until you see an archway or unusual architectural feature.
10. Head for home, but keep your eyes open for something unusual.

OK I did this today--it took me to parts of Portland I had never been and I was focused on the journey, not the destination.

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