Tripwolf Blog

Roots, racket, and redemption is just what Colin Mulligan, a tripwolf blogger and author (see some of his texts here: Laos, Malawi) went in search of this summer as he headed towards the Caribbean.  He left inspired, and with hours and hours of video footage of local music from Puerto Rico to Antigua.  He has been sharing his travel stories on the tripwolf blog, and now here is the trailer for his documentary, “Destination: Music.”

Tell me about the most interesting instrument you encountered.

“The most interesting instruments I came across were the ones that the slaves on Caribbean plantations constructed for themselves.  Because their European masters lived in constant fear of rebellion, slaves were forbidden from any activity that might allow them to communicate, or even recall the heritage that was taken from them.  Dancing and drumming were at the top of this list, so the Africans learned to fashion instruments out of things that their captors discarded, such as cheese crates, goat carcasses and old barrels of molasses.  Learning about this really moved me, because it demonstrated how the human drive to create, remember and celebrate something fine is so strong that it can survive even the worst of circumstances.”

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The fourth Thursday in November is coming up, and if you’re in the U.S., you’re probably starting to salivate from anticipation.  Thanksgiving began as a lesson in sharing – Native Americans taught the clueless Pilgrims how to grow corn that would help them survive the harsh winters, and after the harvest, they celebrated together with a huge feast.  But we all know how Pilgrim-Native American relations eventually turned out, so these days, Thanksgiving is all about gorging on food and spending time with your family (who else would be okay with your elastic-waistband pants?), and in the U.S., it actually rivals Christmas as far as scale and anticipation are concerned.  When I was living in London, I made sure to end my stint there in time to celebrate Thanksgiving with my family in Chicago, and as I was traveling through Asia last year, whenever backpackers asked me when I was going back home, my reply would be, “In November, in time for Thanksgiving.”  But this year, I’m cooking my first Thanksgiving dinner in NYC with my husband, Michael, and we’re having a bunch of our fellow stranded friends over for dinner.  Sure it’s sad to not be my family, but the prospect of cooking and eating a fourteen-part meal is pretty awesome in its own right.

Would the Pilgrims laugh or cry if they could see how we’ve immortalized them?

I always figured that most of the world would have a good grasp on what Thanksgiving’s all about, considering how much it’s referenced in TV and movies.  But many of my friends from traveling are shocked when they hear what actually happens at a Thanksgiving meal. 

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I’ve lived in 4 countries. Due to the large amounts of time I’ve spent in each, I’ve explored their regions, learned 2 new languages, experienced their holidays, and eaten my weight in their traditional foods. Through this, I gained a heightened understanding of their culture.

If only it were practical to spend years in every place on our “must visit” lists. Short visits can be fabulous, but getting ushered into Disney-like tourist traps can be frustrating – leaving you wondering if you even saw the “real” Italy at all. My best tip for getting an authentic hit of local culture on your trip? Head to a grocery store.

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NYC has a pretty impressive array of food events going on every week, most of which draw an equally impressive crowd of foodie nerds willing to wait in long lines for artisanal, homemade or sustainable this-and-that. A couple of weeks ago there was the Dumpling Festival, but this week was the long-anticipated Brooklyn Underground Chili Extravaganza. With rules like “chili comes in a pot, pot does not come in the chili,” and “vegetarian chili competes on an even field with carnivore chili,” it was understandably popular. Unfortunately, it was so popular that I didn’t even come close to trying any of the ten chili entries. Since I’m not so much into defeat, I ended up making my own damn chili the next day.

even the judges don't have any chili

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The honeymoon days in any new place are often an exciting blur. Sometimes, that sense of wonder gets marred by the shame of making a cultural faux pas. As Vincent Vega said in “Pulp Fiction,” “It’s the little differences.”  Just as with Irish-English, there are a few cultural twists here in Ireland that have embarrassed me in the company of my new peers. Fool me once, Ireland.

Paper or Plastic … or Nothing? 

In America, supermarkets give shoppers their choice of free paper or plastic grocery bags. Irish supermarkets are a bit more eco-conscious so to minimize waste, they give away … nothing. Until you catch on you’ll stand there, dumb as a stone, faced with the prospect of juggling loose cartons of orange juice and cereal boxes all the way home. Chains like TESCO sell reusable bags, which are grand. Unless you forget yours. 

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