Today’s contributors – for the launch – are Colin Wright of Exile Lifestyle and Ivan Campuzano of, you guessed it, IvanCampuzano.com.

Colin Wright

You’d probably think the most interesting place that I’ve visited would be some exotic locale, but really it’s just outside of Columbia, Missouri.

I couldn’t tell you what the town is called (or if it even has a name…or if there is, in fact, a town), but there is a house and a dock called Cooper’s Landing, and it’s just a few miles away from my parent’s house. This last part shocked me, as I lived in this house for about 10 years and had no idea Cooper’s Landing existed, much less what it’s all about.

Picture every stereotype you’ve ever heard of or seen on TV about the Midwest – the rednecks, the pick-up trucks, the cheap beer and fishing – and you’ve got Cooper’s Landing. This place is so laden with flannel, oversized t-shirts and camouflage jackets that I was pretty sure there were photographers around somewhere, doing a shoot for the most recent Bass Pro (or Wal-Mart) catalog.

The house is set up like a convenience store, and if you want to buy a beer you just walk into the kitchen, pay the lady who’s managing that room, and then grab a Budweiser out of the fridge. The garage has been converted into a sports bar, complete with a massive plasma screen TV, a dozen or so overstuffed recliners and Christmas lights dangling from the ceiling.

Folksy country music was being performed when I showed up to Cooper’s Landing – a woman was strumming her guitar and singing through a ghetto-rigged-but-very-effective sound system – and there were small children scampering about as far as the eye could see, throwing fireworks into the bonfires and in some cases sitting on logs, trying to figure out how to flirt with the cute boy/girl sitting next to them.

On top of all this, there’s a trailer parked next to the house through which an Asian family (presumably of Thai descent, but not necessarily) sell Thai food with a Midwestern flair. It’s a bit more meat-focused than you would expect elsewhere, but actually quite good.

As the sun set and I took a look around at the strangely beautiful environment I was visiting, more or less in my own back yard, I couldn’t help but think of all the other incredible things there must be within walking distance of EVERYONE, and how most of them will never be discovered, shared or appreciated.

Ivan Campuzano

Traveling and living abroad is by far my most favorite thing to do. In fact it’s my way of life so this is a very difficult question, because in reality every place I visit is interesting. Ultimately whatever experience we have is our interpretation of it, so many factors come into play when you try and recall what your experience was truly like.

I am not able to say what the most interesting place I have ever visited, but just off the top of my head I would just like to share a great experience of mine. I used to live in Prague, in the Czech Republic, which in my opinion is one of the most amazing cities in the world. On a random day I decided to take a train by myself to the Czech country side, and stumbled into a very small town.

Outside of Prague, English is hardly spoken, and my Czech is pretty horrible so it makes for an interesting adventure. Strolling around this picturesque town, I somehow make my way to an underground tavern where a wine and cheese tasting event is taking place.

No one speaks English but somehow I end up making friends with almost everyone there. The night was filled with laughter, exaggerated body language, and just good vibes all around. Verbal communication was very limited, but something I realized is that what’s truly meaningful is many
times never conveyed through words.

Just being there with a bunch of Czechs all I could do is smile and enjoy each others’ silent company. When you are not able to speak to someone you become aware of all the subtle and intangible forms of communication that take place. I mean I really didn’t learn anything about many of these people but some how we created a bond and the night ended with many hugs with complete strangers.

While living in other countries I come across many tourists and since I am always observing myself and others, here is what I have found. People love to get away from their normal day to day life, and while traveling they do catch glimpses of a truly different life, of different possibilities in themselves and in life.

The problem is that most people our slaves to their minds and their conditioning so before they know it they are once again lost in their past and imagining their future, totally neglecting the present moment. So even though they are in a completely different environment, nothing has really changed. So the type of experience you have traveling all depends on the quality of mind you have, on your attitude and ability to be open to life. To approach your experiences consciously, to respond and not react to life.

I would just like to suggest to people who would like to travel, to learn to become aware of their conditioning so that they can learn to put it away. You need to learn how to see things simply, as they are, without filtering it through your eyes of past knowledge and memories. If you can look at something simply and without any expectations, traveling and life in general will be an immensely beautiful experience.

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Looking back on these two answers, it’s absolutely stunning how similar they are. Colin and Ivan both didn’t focus on a place in the way most of us think of it – a geographic locale, or a city, like Paris or Rome or Barcelona – and instead focused on an extraordinary experience in a place tucked out of the way of our everyday life.

Thank you, Colin and Ivan, for contributing the first answers ever to be featured on AskExperience. I highly, highly, highly recommend reading – and subscribing to – their blogs, which can be found at ExileLifestyle.com and IvanCampuzano.com

–Brett

Have an experience to share? Have a comment on Colin and Ivan’s answers? Have questions of your own? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!

Photo credit: pocius