I’m not a pot smoker, but when in Rome…or in the case of Amsterdam, you know what the tourists do. They go to a local, er, coffee store, buy a pre-rolled J and light that puppy up. Yours truly did that back in 1999 and spent the rest of the afternoon at the Bulldog cafe watching Michael Bay’s classic Armageddon with some really *mellow* dutch folks…let’s just say that the end of the world never felt so relaxed.

No more. In accordance with a right-wing movement in Holland – for better or worse – in 2013 in will be illegal for non-Dutch peoples to light up in Holland. And that includes Europe’s favorite vice sink. Ever wanted to smoke weed in Amsterdam? You’ve got less than nine months…

But before you run off to the hills and promptly light anything resembling a marijuana plant with your Bic lighter, a suggestion from those crazy off track folks at OffTrack Planet that Amsterdam’s heir apparent is already groomed and ready to toke off as the new it place to spark up in a cloud of pot smoke. Grab your nachos and leave your inhibitions at the front door folks. The new Amsterdam is none other than…Vancouver Canada!

Being a BC native, that doesn’t surprise me at all. There have been rumours of decriminalizing marijuana in Canada for years. Check out Off Track Planet’s reasoning why Vancouver is the definitive place to light up and check out.

We’re near that time folks, where old man 2011 gets old and gray and eventually croaks. And in his place, 2012, and the promise of another exciting year to cross stuff off your bucket list and venture forth across the globe. Yup, you know where I’m goin’ with this…Wondering where to travel? Cue the crazy cats at Off Track Planet, it’s their list of the Top Backpacking Destinations for 2012!

Partying, adventure, sweet foods, name your pleasure, there’s a little something for everyone on this list. True to form, Off Track Planet gets off that beaten path, mostly, with a list of places that most of us have only heard in passing…Cricova, Moldova, anyone? Just the same, some great ideas here for backpackers and like-minded adventurers to trek across this crazy old planet and do it up in style next year. My money’s on Croatia. Hurry up, it won’t be a secret much longer. And you know what the Mayans say…everything shuts down on December 12, 2012! Yikes, I better hurry up and drive a Ferrari while I still can…

We’re still in November, but look at the shopping malls and it’s pretty evident we’re already in ‘Christmas mode’, and beyond that, the promise of a new year. And with that, thoughts of things to cross off your bucket list before checking out of this life. We’re talking skydiving here folks, as in Off Track Planet’s list of the top ten places on Planet Earth to jump out of a perfectly good airplane. Interested? Better hurry up and get’er done – the Mayans claim the world is gonna end on December 12 of next year.

For the diver in all of us, just waiting to get out, Off Track Planet, those crazy keisters have compiled another list.  While us North Americans drearily trudge through yet another onslaught of April showers, there’s a gorgeous underwater world beckoning in locales further south.  Yup, it’s the top ten diving spots on Earth, courtesy of Off Track Planet, to keep us dreaming until the the dog days of summer.  May they come soon!!

The promise of another year and the opportunities to do awesome things.  Like backpacking, the best way to see the world and meet the people that call it home.  Forget hotels with concierge service and heated pools.  Grab your backpack, your money belt and an open mind.  Then check out Off Track Planet’s Top 10 Backpacking Travel Destinations For 2011, and get your ass out there and enjoy life!

Happy New Year!  Hope you had a great one.  I tied one on pretty good here in town (Happy Birthday Cheryl!).  Admittedly I didn’t go anywhere exotic.  Maybe next year.  I’ve heard that New Zealand is a great place to spend New Year’s Eve, as it’s the first place on Earth to see the sun rise in the New Year.  Here’s some ideas for next year, if, like me, you’re planning to do something a little nuts, but something awesome, courtesy of those deranged and highly likeable folks at Off Track Planet.  Anyway, Happy 2011!

As promised, five cool things to do in dangerous places, part two, courtesy of those crazy, highly disturbed, certifiable, and the best part, like-minded, people at Off Track Planet. Old man 2010 is on his death bed, and with this comes the promise of a new, exciting year to attain scars, infections, probably Malaria and a host of other pleasantries in our ongoing efforts to do stupid and highly enjoyable things in places where we definitely shouldn’t go. In other words, the kind of thing that I would do.

Let’s go fly a kite in Pakistan!!!

God bless you, Off Track Planet.

Old man 2010 is nearing the end of his lifespan, and with that comes the promise of a new year.  Granted we still have a month called December to get through first.  I don’t know about you, but I need a vacation already.  Here are some ideas: Five Fun Things to Do in Dangerous Places (Part 1), courtesy of our off-track friends at Off Track Planet.  Skydiving in Iraq anyone?  Sign me up!