Chapter Two Options: A BIG Decision

THE TOP TEN SUGGESTIONS FROM YOU LOT!

Baz has just spent the past year living in The United Kingdom (CHAPTER ONE) and it is time to start deciding where Chapter Two will see him living, learning, exploring, and leaving a positive impact!

These are the TOP TEN IDEAS you guys suggested for where Baz should live, and what he ought to set his sights on. It was an incredibly tough selection process, and this time it came down to a few criteria:

• Where is there the most to learn?
• What are objectives others might want to do, but not have the confidence to try?
• Where is the most interesting?
• And, of course, what challenges will leave the biggest impact?

COUNTRY: ITALY (Monique)
MAIN OBJECTIVES: Work as a winemaker. Learn all there is to know about wine-making.
CHALLENGE: Produce a special edition “What Should Baz Do” batch to be auctioned off for Oxfam International

BAZ SAYS: Like a fine wine, I am very slowly maturing – Something I’m sure the owner of this idea wanted me to do years ago. Learning all about wine-making: from the seedlings to the trestle, on to the barrels and the bottle, would be fascinating. What sort of hurdles would need to be cleared before an Italian winery would take me into “the family”?

COUNTRY: SPAIN (Eliza Beth)
MAIN OBJECTIVE: Learn Spanish & Flamenco guitar
CHALLENGE: Perform flamenco guitar to raise funding/awareness for World Vision

BAZ SAYS: Language and music, in my opinion, are two of the most intrinsically valuable things there is to learn. I’ve always been keen to learn both, but deciding WHICH instrument or language to learn first has slowed me down from mastering anything! This chapter two suggestion settles the debate on both decisions.

COUNTRY: MALDIVES (Thilo)
MAIN OBJECTIVE: Become a qualified dive instructor.
CHALLENGE: Take pictures with a different turtle each day to raise awareness for turtle conservation (WWF.org)

BAZ SAYS: I believe we should ALWAYS strive to improve ourselves: mind, body, and soul. Adding “Dive Instructor” to my CV would open up new doors of opportunity around the world. The Maldives are a small, but crazy-beautiful scattering of islands in the Indian Ocean, South of India – and would be an amazing place to learn & use this skill. But I have to wonder, how stiff would the competition be in such a beautiful place?

COUNTRY: THE OCEANS (Shane)
MAIN OBJECTIVE: Volunteer On Board Sea Shepherd – Helping to protect our oceans and their wildlife.
CHALLENGE: Create a documentary about the Sea Shepherd mission to raise awareness of the ocean’s plight.

BAZ SAYS: Sea Shepherd is an awesome marine conservation organisation who tiptoe the edge of legality to enforce marine conservation laws worldwide. They engage in conventional protests and direct action to preserve ecosystems and protect species at threat. Although they engage in direct action at sea, the most powerful weapon in Sea Shepherd’s arsenal is the camera!

COUNTRY: THAILAND, SWEDEN, & CHINA (Eliza Beth)
MAIN OBJECTIVE: Become a masseuse. Learn traditional massage techniques from these three nations.
CHALLENGE: In each country, spend 1 week giving FREE massages in a public place – “Loans” accepted via Kiva.org to help people help themselves.

BAZ SAYS: Massage is another of those intrinsically valuable skills that can be taken anywhere in the world… And appreciated by EVERY BODY – except for those strange folk who don’t like being touched! With an interest in the human body, and a degree in Exercise Science, I’ve contemplated learning massage on multiple occasions: going as far as owning a massage table back home in Australia. Being forced to learn this skill would be a very welcome chore!

COUNTRY: VANUATU (Terry G)
MAIN OBJECTIVE: Live in a Local village and help to rebuild following Cyclone Pam‘s destruction.
CHALLENGE: Run from Port Vila around the island of Efate to show first-hand the cyclone damage, and raise funds for Unicef‘s relief efforts

BAZ SAYS: In March 2015, The islands of Vanuatu were devastated by Cyclone Pam, resulting in deaths and widespread destruction. The nation will require rebuilding and assistance for years to come and, having a background in multiple work industries, I’m sure I could find plenty of places to be helpful. To be a part of these efforts would be a character building and personally rewarding experience.

COUNTRY: EASTERN EUROPE – Multi Country (BlaBlaCar Driver – Austria)
MAIN OBJECTIVE: Cycle across Eastern Europe, experiencing and learning about the political & cultural differences between East and West.
CHALLENGE: Learn a handcraft to use while traveling – then teach as many people as I can along the way (focus on those in need)

BAZ SAYS: I would love to learn more about the history and contemporary life of Eastern Europe. Recently, I stumbled upon ‘Liberland’, which seems like a fascinating and potentially inspiring project. Visiting the newest nation on Earth to find out more about the motivations and visions behind the project and the people involved would definitely be included.

COUNTRY: BRAZIL (Mum & Bryce)
MAIN OBJECTIVE: Live by, investigate, & help to preserve the Amazon rainforest AND Learn Capoiera
CHALLENGE: Produce a dozen articles/documentary to raise awareness about what is happening in the Amazon.

BAZ SAYS: The Amazon is touted as the “Lungs of the Earth”: Similarly to the way our lungs take in oxygen and release carbon dioxide, forests take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen. Without each other, animals & plants cannot survive. Peripherally, many of us are aware of the devastation we cause our planet. But I want to experience it first-hand, and hopefully help to bring this issue to the centre of people’s attention!

COUNTRY: SOUTH AMERICA (Multi Country) (Bec Robson)
MAIN OBJECTIVE: Become trail guide through the Inca trails
CHALLENGE: Dance in Carnival – Raise donations for Oxfam Brazil

BAZ SAYS: Walking the Inca trails: According to Bucketlist.org, people are queuing up to trek through these enchanted mountain ranges and experience the spectacle of the Incan civilizations. I wonder how many would be keen to walk them daily and become a guide – taking other travelers exploring. The challenge for this life would also include learning to dance.

COUNTRY: CANADA (Henry & Naomi & Jason)
MAIN OBJECTIVE: Work in the forestry industry in the Yukon & learn to build an igloo.
CHALLENGE: Live in an igloo for a month to raise funds for, and highlight the plight of, homeless. Through the Canadian Salvation Army

BAZ SAYS:[Canada has been on my travel wishlist for a long time now. Canadians are some of my favourite people, eh – so I have no idea why I haven’t made my way there yet. I was born in a dome-roofed mud-brick house my father built from river clay. So I guess I could ask him for some dome building pointers if this is to be my life!

TIME’S UP!!!

(for this decision)

YOU CAN NOW SUBMIT SUGGESTIONS For “Chapter Three”!

   PUT IN YOUR TWO CENTS!

Here Is How The Voting Panned Out – Pretty Close, Eh?

[polldaddy poll=8865313]

Comments welcome!