#my son sees me come home after a 10hr shift and just

[valleynix]

i have been released from my prison (work) and i will now work on writing (playing sea of thieves or watching move recs until i pass out)

[shinkawasaki]

It is freezing AF.

I was right to tell myself not to bitch about the temp at LAX. As I stand right outside of KEF, however, the north wind is harsh.

Two highschool kids come pick me up with a van following some confusion; my rental car company never specified that they didn’t have the office at KEF so I get on a rental car shuttle thinking I’ll find them among Alamo and Hertz, only to waste an hour. I email them, fortunately they’re quick to respond, unfortunately they take about another hour to show up. they barely drive stick shift, and are confused as to how to get out of the parking lot. Got a bad feeling about this. We get to a honda dealership that they are renting for now with the caveat that they “are moving to a new location soon.” The vaguely Asian-looking main man seems to know what’s up, but the pale-faced understudy of his cannot for the love of Thor figure out how to work the mobile wifi unit that I paid extra for.

Then I remember that MY own fuckup; not only did I forget to acquire and bring an international driver’s license, I didn’t even pack the state-issued D1xxxxxxx. all the last minute scrounging got me all carried away and i have to confess; I hadn’t really prepped for this part of the trip. Frantically going through my cloud to see if I had a capture of my license, but no luck. Lucky for me, my roomate is still home and able to take a snap of it which is sitting on my kitchen counter. Curtis, I owe you a big one ;)

Phloe, the powerful creature who lended her talent to do my first album cover, has been on the world-traveling kick and gramming like a champ. I give her my itinerary, she hits me with the uber-list to make my 16hr layover the best it could be. all I need to do is to try and stick to it. So I start on Golden Circle in my little Peugeot, and hit Pingvellir, Geysir, Gullfoss…all of which just BEGS at least some skill level of photography which I do not possess. The things you see on this drive is beyond description. One shot that still killls me that I didn’t get to capture, on a hopeless attempt to describe, is of this massive green meadow with silver streams and small ponds with these tall mountains standing behind like goddamn Olympus, with massive cotton-like clouds just dancing around these dieties. #canteven It’s my double rainbow moment, and then the intense shower starts to fall upon us and, what do you know, a fucking rainbow. all the way. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN.

I get back in Reykjavik where I have their Bourdain-approved hot dog and love it so much, that I go back after a few beers. Partly because kitchens are closed by the time I arrive but also, the hype is true; this is some tasty hot dog #jules the crunch comes from the fried onion that’s hidden underneath the wiener, and the sauce packs in so much of the highly addictive sweet flavor. Thumbs WAY up. The girl that’s manning the stand says she’s been working there 10hrs and has quota to make before she goes home, which I don’t quite believe but sure wish I could help, by stuffing more of these hot dogs in my face.

This might put me to sleep I thought, so I get into my Peugeot which I need to put gas in. As I try to locate the best gas price (since everything in Iceland comes with a hefty price tag) I find myself in some waterfront village, a local church and its cemetery. In the quiet of everlasting dawn, I look down a number of tombstones with names I cannot pronounce, underneath the moon floating over Greenland sea, and reflect on the fact that I know so little of this land, these people, and of anything. I regret that it’s taken me this long to step outside of the comfort of my limitation, but also feel grateful that I’ve come this far and psyched that I’ve got much further to go. Many more things to eat.

So just to compensate, I hit the bar at the KEF terminal and find a shot of Brenivin with a side of shark meat, hákarl. Topher has informed me of its"particular fermentation process" and I have to say, I wouldn’t have tried it any earlier than when I’m just about to board on a plane. Wiki says it “contains a large amount of ammonia and has a strong smell, similar to many cleaning products.” Also says “Those new to it may gag involuntarily on the first attempt.” Honest to Thor, though, shit is refreshing. Especially with a shot of Brennivin which almost neutralize the stinging aroma of shark piss. Almost I say, since the second bite has a little more kick back from the stomach, but you don’t get the second unless if you ask for it, like I do. The barkeep is taken aback, and says I’m the first one he’s ever served that enjoys it. Well maybe he hadn’t met a boy from Toyama, guitar-playing shrimp-shell-eating unshaven son of a Manchurian refugee. now I’m officially wasted.

WOW, take me to Berlin.