I'm not usually big on the death of famous celebrities but there are very few people out there that touched my life. Right before I started traveling, I was already watching Anthony Bourdain's programs through the travel channel. He brought the world into my home. Food, cultures, and countries that I might never even come to know in this life.
The program is too real for me, some white person who gets out of his comfort zone to go on food adventures, sit down with a local to have that soup with some mystery meat. I was thinking back in the day, this is my kind of guy. Someone who is letting go of his entitlement and privileges to take radical experiences in life.
I was inspired by one of his shows featuring his travel to Rio de Janeiro that I traveled to Brazil myself to try that Acai or party with some newfound Brazillian friends on the rooftop while getting drunk with Cachaça and Churrasco. And that moment I sat down almost close to the ground in Vietnam while having Phở. And that really yummy Peruvian Rocoto Relleno I bought from some Mamita on the street. And eating that famous $2 Pad Thai in Bangkok. Or that famous Argentinian empanada in the middle of a highway.
Cheap, Delicious and Dirty.
Eat it.
This is my own quote I have formulated during my travels. Traveling has always been about food for me because that's one way to get out of the comfort zone and try something new in life. Friends used to say that I'm a 'cowboy', it means here that I can eat and do whatever just like everyone else. Not the middle-class style.
What I like about him is that he is not such a fan of those traveling vegan and holier than thou people. He said that they are the enemies of everything good and decent in the human spirit.
If you’re twenty-two, physically fit, hungry to learn and be better, I urge you to travel – as far and as widely as possible. Sleep on floors if you have to. Find out how other people live and eat and cook. Learn from them – wherever you go.
― Anthony Bourdain
I slept inside the church, metro stations, restaurants, parks, strangers' homes, anywhere. It was liberating to let go of entitlement and feeling special and all that ego shit people are so obsessed with these days. I was fed when I was a homeless traveler, and it was humbling. Bread never tasted that good. Different food from people from the different levels of the society. I have experienced true humanity.
To me, life without veal stock, pork fat, sausage, organ meat, demi-glace, or even stinky cheese is a life not worth living. ― Anthony Bourdain
Tonight, as I opened my Feedly app, I was stunned. Reading about someone else's suicide, especially someone that inspired me to travel, makes me really sad.
Why is that unhappiness has become such a stigma these days that nobody cares about that deadly internal struggle of someone anymore? It sucks that people only welcome you into their lives when you're happy. When you're unhappy, people just abandon you like you have some kind of disease. It seems that they don't want to be infected with other people's misery.
I know that life is tough. It takes guts to face the world every day.
Here's the truth people, all the money, achievement, privileges, material things and fame in the world cannot protect you from the depths of your mind.
People don't want to hear your problem, they have enough problem in life. When you are down and unhappy, that time you will realize who really care about you. If you find them being with in your tough time, they will never let you down, @diabolika.
Oh wow, I'm hearing it from you first...I, too, am not one for celebrity news but Bourdain was different.
I also enjoyed his humility and acceptance of so many experiences and cultures. It's great to read how you have taken up his flag, so to speak, I hope he knew how many people he inspired.
Take care of yourself, everyone, you beat so many odds to experience life, you are stronger than you may think! And lean on your friends, or even a sympathetic stranger when you feel weak, so many are willing to help.
Thanks for the kind words.
When you are really hungry you get the actual taste of the food. When you just eat for the taste or you're in the mood for something and you're not that hungry you aren't really "tasting".
That though left me speechless...
So true...
Oh man, he died? I used to watch his show all the time years ago.
Me too, sad.
well said life is tough and even tougher to face the music of life every day. All the best to you for your happy, healthy and prosperous life @diabolika
That's a great traveling....i appreciate your life.
Thanks for sharing this post. upvote and resteemit done.
Its great to know that there are people who respect those who traveled, above all inspired them to do stuff and that you follow them. Happy travelling, i try my best to travel a lot too :)
I feel almost exactly the same way. I don't know if I am who I am today and travel the way I travel because of him, but he was definitely a strong influence. I was just looking back at the first travel writing I did when I came to Asia for the first time... it's just blatantly ripping off his style. I think I've developed my own style since, but I still see his effect on my writing. This one hurts :(
I just wrote up some of my own thoughts, would love it if you'd take a look. Hope you've been well