Why

What is it that makes it so interesting to move out into the 'unknown'?

It took me about 26 years to find my own real self in Japan (don't go all freud about it, but a bit is okay) - anyhow, my identity, honesty, curiosity, passion, basically my inner child came forth and I embraced that like never before. The natural high. The rush from within which isn't initiated and staged through festivals, concerts and parties but from decision making, true aspiration and belongingness to nature. Now I'm 29 and desire to preserve this energy through outdoor experiences today and this website is meant to bring inspiritaion to you. You'll find the biggest classroom of your life if you give into it, go out there and learn a thing or two about yourself.

That being said, there is no comparison to an old fashioned weekend rave with nohting but flow and glow among a couple of hundred people floating through time and space to what seems like endless rythm and atmosphere. No prejudice. Tribute to hedonism. Tasty food, aromatic coffee and good friendships are unvaluable. Easy to agree on I think, but important to worship. This is what happens when I disappear out on adventures; I remember to worship the most essential things and persons. I remember all the golden moments and relive good memories from childhood to teenage years with closed eyes in exile and solitude fleeing from typhoons and thunder. Time to reflect. Just like our stone-age brains are meant to do versus the everyday stressed society where we constantly are expected to perform. On the way there are ups and downs, just like the hills I have to climb. Be aware!

A game changer for me was reading a Ph.D. written by Helga Synnevåg Løvoll, 2016, Norway, who elaborated the outdoor experience into details focusing on what happiness actually is and how outdoor experiences influences it. She taught me through her work two central concepts: Hedonia and eudaimonia. Hedonia we know as hedonism and eudaimonia we know from euforia (eu = good) and daimon = spirit. Both from ancient greek philosophy which underlines that we are not the first people to think about what happiness actually is (surprised?). Cutting it down to very few words eudaimonia is aquestion of you as a person lives up to your full potential; doing you absolute best and the satifaction from that (learning new skills, performing, contributing etc.). Hedonia is the pleasant life where one's senses are stimulated positively and you experience "the good life" (good wine and drugs, shopping, sex etc.). Take from this the philosofical complex: Is happiness an end in itself (hedonia) or a side effect from you striving for exellence (eudamonia)? When interacting with nature we experience the intrisic value of being part of something bigger than ourselves. On my expeditions I had to learn that I can't fight against mother nature but have to give in and become part of the bigger picture. That's why outdoor experiences can help us to grow as people in my opinion.

Too, Masashi san (to the left in this picture above and below), thanks. You gave me a chance and I did my best to learn your japanese ways. I hope many other 'dudes like me' out there get master classes in life like mine and find the courage to look for something different than doing an erasmus study, prepaid organized backpacking tour or paying tons of dollars to help teach english somewhere in the world. The real adventure awaits you out there and it is not organized.

Masashi san runs Surface kayak guide service and SORA guesthouse

Wether you're 19 years old and exploring yourself, 29 years old looking new challenges or 39 years old looking for adventures; nature is our playground. Hiking, kayaking, biking, skiing, camping, fishing, drinking, photographing, writing, relaxing, romanticizing, reading, sleeping, running, crying, laughing, redemption, rehabilitating, growing, exploring, playing, fucking, trusting, dying, cooking, eating, breaking boundaries, leaving, listening, DREAMING and living... I guess you get it if you made it so far to actually read this. That's the beauti of it. We all relate to nature in some magical way so let's celebrate by planning when to go out next.

Travelblogs, gearreviews, photography, smiles and tears etc. is all content that have and will motivate me to venture out on adventures. I'll share with you my own sweat, blood and photos. Hopefully one day you'll be out there as well. Feel free to reach out and then see ya over and outside!