S3E6: Tom Butler - 'Without a Paddle'

Countless things can go wrong in travel, and even in life. There is no way to stop mistakes from being made and terrible situations from arising; there is, however, a way to control your own response to these mistakes and situations. Tom Butler, a great friend of Hayden’s, has spent many years of travel solving problems, and has a lot of advice to give. Tom is not only a friend of Hayden’s, but also a friend, bus driver, and groupie to Hayden’s band. The two of them discuss living a life of travel, what it means to settle down, and how to incorporate travel into your everyday life. Hayden was inspired by Tom’s travels, and the two of them talk about their inspirations and origins as travelers. Tom offers advice to those who do not have confidence in their own ability to travel.

Tom’s story takes place in Nepal, and is titled “Without a Paddle.” In it, Tom backpacks through Nepal to Kathmandu, goes on a rafting tour, and befriends his fellow travels and a puppy named Bob. However, Tom also had a terrible time with his borrowed wetsuit when he had to wait six hours and climb a hill before he could use a bathroom. The trip to Nepal taught Tom what he believes is the epitome of travel. For him, travel is not what you think is going to happen, or how you act with who you meet - sometimes, you are just a subject of the environment around you, and you just have to roll with it and have the right attitude, and you will have a positive experience. Dealing with bad things that happen, in travel as well as in life, is not always easy. Rolling with the punches and keeping a positive attitude, however, can get you anywhere. 

0:42 - Hayden wonders how different people handle situations that have gone wrong, that you have no control over, that take everything out of you. 

2:17 - Hayden introduces Tom Butler, a great friend of his, and the two begin to discuss living a life of travel and how to cope with settling down after that life. 

5:23 - Tom reminisces on the time he viewed England from an airplane and realized this was his home; it could never give him everything he needed, but it was still beautiful, lush and green. 

8:38 - Hayden was inspired to travel by Tom’s documented travels. He and Tom then begin discussing Tom’s own inspirations and origins, and Tom offers advice to those who do not have confidence in their own ability to travel. 

14:10 - Hayden starts introducing Tom’s story, which takes place in Nepal, and is titled “Without a Paddle”. Tom went to Nepal and sought out adventure sports - specifically, a rafting tour. In their tour, spending a good six hours on a raft, they befriended their fellow travelers and learned a great deal about the rivers and the cultures. They also met a puppy, name of Bob. Tom also almost had a terrible time with his borrowed wetsuit, where he was in a bad place - but had to wait six hours in the raft and climb a hill before he could use a bathroom, and he started to laugh when the relief actually came. 

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