‘I GENERALLY FIND IT DIFFICULT TO WRITE ABOUT REALLY
NICE PLACES'
have total admiration for reporters and correspondents doing their thing there day in and day out.‘ he says. ‘There was always at least one day where I‘d wake up and think. "I can’t do this today". and go and buy some books and sit in a cafe and forget about it all.‘
It‘s the price you pay when you take it upon yourself to test the more tense areas of the world. But despite the odd excess of hazard. the
occasional overloading of emotion and bouts of
bruised optimism. there‘s little hankering for the carefree days of joining tour buses. ‘The thing about touring is that it‘s great fun when it’s not your tour and you're only there for a short time. but it‘s a limited variety of fun.‘ he says. ‘There‘s
a reason every hand can quote every line of
Spinal 721p and that‘s because it's true. It‘s only satire for people who don‘t know.‘ That hasn‘t put him off forming his own
country band. The Blazing Zoos. with ex-Jesus Jones singer. Mike Edwards. on lead guitar. They have an album due out soon but he's not counting on it as a career option. and why should he? He's just got started on this book-writing thing and has still to wangle a visa for the next country on his hit list. North Korea.
‘How often would you get to go somewhere like that‘.’.‘ he says. ‘lt‘s a country that‘s probably the least like any other in the world. But I don‘t favour my chances.‘
Mueller mentions in passing that when young wannabe journalists write to him asking him for advice on how to further their career. he sends them a list of books they should read. The list can change but includes titles such as O‘Rourke‘s Holidays in Hell. Robert Fisk's Pity the Nation. and Lester Bangs Psychotic Reactions. He should. unashamedly and rightly. now add his own.
l Wouldn’t Start From Here: The 21st Century and Where it all Went Wrong is published by Portobello Press, £8.99; Andrew Mueller will be launching his book at Word Power Books, Edinburgh, Fri 15 Aug, 2.30pm.
HOW TO DROP OUT
Life is cushy for us modern Western citizens. A nine-to-five job, a mortgage on a comfortable fiat, someone pulping our five-a- day into smoothies and cereal bars - it’s all too easy. No wonder increasing numbers of people are dropping their careers in exchange for a bit of adventure in the danger zone, or otherwise just escaping far away from the material tug of modern life. If you too are experiencing disillusionment and itchy feet, Jonny Ensall offers some tips on how to successfully drop out of society
Volunteer
Hands-on volunteer work in the crisis zones of the world (from The Gaza Strip to Darfur) is the number one drop out cause for teachers. bankers. doctors and other highly qualified professionals looking to put their expertise to good use. Retirees are increasingly signing up to organisations like Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) who have experienced a surge in 50-70- year-olds joining in recent years. Join one of the larger NGOs like VSO, ActionAid or the World Development Movement to teach abroad. work on development projects or simply help redress the balance of give and take between the UK and the developing world.
Become a hermit
Becoming a hermit or wild person is a popular direction for seriously eco-conscious and anti- material dropouts. A small hovel can be built or purchased at a bargain rate. Use your savings to stock up on the essentials — you'll need some chickens, a cow or goat and a decent spade - then wait for the influx of broadsheet journalists who want to interview you for their lifestyle features.
Travel the world (and make money doing it)
A quick internet search reveals hundreds of travel websites used by the webmasters to finance their round-the-world trips. www.wherethehellismatt. com is a famous example of a US dropout who posts videos of himself dancing in every country he reaches. The appeal is strange. but high web traffic means easy advertising revenue. if all else fails why not make your money from a profitable travel website that gives advice on how to make a profitable travel website www.workingnomad. com, a genius idea and a great excuse to elevate the status or your trip from ‘extended gap year' to ‘Iife philosophy“.
14—21 Aug 2008 ‘I’HI LIST 13