IT’S HARD TO BELIEVE THEY GAVE US JUSTIN BIEBER

            We began this year’s Global Scavenger Hunt in Canada. Which, frankly, is no different than saying one began a trip in the United States. What does that mean? Canada is far too vast, diverse and multicultural to lump together as so many Americans are wont to do. Even saying we began the trip in Vancouver isn’t particularly specific because, as we discovered the last two days, there are a lifetime of activities and places to visit in British Columbia’s major hub. The French, Asian and, yes, even American influences make for an eclectic smorgasbord of people and experiences. It is hard to believe the city is inhabited by only half a million people. Vancouver is a cut above an ordinary city. It is surrounded by beautiful mountains and waterways, littered with magnificent skyscrapers and replete with some of nature’s best parks. On top of all that, it is incredibly clean. So, while it may not be world renown for a particular landmark or some scandalous happening, Vancouver is nonetheless superior in most of the categories in which one would judge a Western city. And the Shangri-La, where we stayed, is as first rate as its reputation suggests. The city and hotel were thus the perfect launching pad for this year’s event.

            If you haven’t read Casey’s and my blog from last year, the Global Scavenger Hunt is a once-in-a-life time adventure (except for the fact that we’re doing it for the second consecutive year and another team is on their seventh) through a dozen or so countries over a period of three weeks. Other than the first and last stops (this year, Vancouver and Chicago), we are not privy to our destinations until the day before we depart for them. Visa requirements only compelled the sponsors to inform us of one stop this year (India—though where in India we know not) because even the countries strictest on entry now have visas on arrival. In each locale, we are given a laundry list of scavenges to perform, earning points based largely on the difficulty or time-consuming nature of the activity. The team that amasses the most points in the end “wins” the “competition” and is permitted to make the trek the succeeding year for free.

            You may have sensed a bit of disdain in my description of the competition part of this wonderful trip. I confess in advance that we will not be competitive. But is that because we’re above it all or just not good enough? I wish I could say the former but that would be a bit disingenuous. The teams vying to win are serious competitors. They amass ungodly points racing through venues until their feet are literally blistered. In the process, they ingest major cities at microwave pace. We tend to slow cook our experiences, even though that inevitably means we eat less. I compete enough in my job without my vacations involving more of the same. So, we are concerned more about enjoyment and less about victory. Now, before you rightfully characterize this as arrogant hogwash, in all candor, we gave the competition a shot last year. Well, in the early going. Well, on the first leg. Well, on the first day. When we weren’t among the top five teams after the first jaunt, we realized winning is not for us (whether by desire or limitation). So, we took it easy the rest of the way. And had a great time. But, of course, it’s very easy to be holier-than-thou when you have already failed at that which you are criticizing. The teams who placed among the top most certainly had incredible experiences in the process.

            Whether you compete in this event or not, the scavenges involve some of the most extraordinary and unique experiences you could have on any trip. They range from visiting historical landmarks, museums or natural wonders of the world to riding indigenous animals to eating local cuisine to dropping off food at an orphanage. So, just performing a few of the long lists of scavenges made the trip last year hands down one of greatest experiences either Casey or I have ever had. And the hotels in which we stayed were so wonderful that, frankly, we could have luxuriated in them the entire trip and had a wonderful time.

            Well, we had a meeting between the typing of the last paragraph and this one. We now know our first overseas destination. We leave for Osaka, Japan at 2 a.m. Pacific Time (early Sunday morning) (with a layover in Hong Kong). So, we’ll check back with you after a couple of rising suns.