5 things with movember co founder- travis garone
1. What’s your favourite holiday destination?
The one place I unconditionally love, and the last place I had a true holiday is a little secret spot down south
called Tasmania. I try to get down there a few times a year.
Solitude is what I chase, time in nature is good for your head. Every corner of Tasmania is special, its ancient,
a place of such remoteness, the brutal force of nature creating such an awe-inspiring landscape is just mesmerising.
There is an almost polarising stillness in Tasmania. Nicest people on the planet.
The landscape, the food, the people. Please Tasmania, never change. Even though we have done our best to fuck the place.
And I cant not write this without also mentioning my other favourite place in the world and a second home at times, Barcelona.
Like most places in the world, Barcelona has a very popular chocolate milk drink called Cacaolat. Now as a proud Melbournian its BIG M or fucking nothing.
As some things do tend to surprise, Cacaolat was just one of those surprises. Yes I know they (Catalans) have a few artists you may of heard of, and some architects. However I honestly judge a city on its chocolate milk drink and yep its up there with other local talent, Dali, Miro and the dude that built the wonky buildings.
2. Any travel tips you’d like to share ?
1. Live like a local.
2. When on tour. Charge your phone when you can, eat when you can, sleep when you can.
3. Pack light, do not over do it, the world is small. Dress normal, please do not wear waterproof, quick dry clothes where you can zip the pants in half just because you are in another country. Don’t. No maps out whilst your turning in circles in the heart of a big city, I even want to mug you just to prove a point.
You have all the maps you need in you pocket, be cool and no-one gets hurt. Most countries have everything you need, and its much more fun buying your things
in another country and not really knowing if its shampoo your buying or not.. Your new foreign toothpaste also acts as a souvenir. Be light, be nimble and take
every moment in. Nothing is for granted on the road when we are lucky enough to live an age of such travel.
4. When in Barcelona, you can contact the Cacaolat factory and do a tour. My wife (Catalan) and I have done the tour and yes I was the only
old dude in a primary-school-tour of a chocolate milk factory. If you have ever seen the line up of strange tourists with cameras on a pole to see a picasso funny lady painting in Barcelona, you will take my tip and go straight to get a guided tour and little take home pack from Fabrica de Cacaolat. Trust me.
However if you love picasso (who doesn’t) walk straight past the line and into the foyer of his museum and wonder around as far as you can go, the building is a very special place to hang out, flip though a book (its all free) and then head straight to The Four Cats (google it because you have your special weapon in your pocket). Picasso designed the menu and along with every other 'great' they all went here to dink absinthe and be the geniuses that they are. Dali, Picasso, Miro, Guadi, Hemingway and you! Do not waste your time lining up to visit the museum with all the tourists, your time is too precious in Barcelona. Remember live like a local.
If you do get the chance to explore Barcelona and Catalunya go a little further north to the Costa Brava and visit a little fishing village, Cadaques.
On a side note: one of the most influential, iconic, artistic moustaches was born just outside of Cadaques..
5. Moving through airports. We have all done it, we have all been through security at least once so there are no excuses. Be ready. Prepare for that moment,
do not get to the front of the line and act surprised that metal will set the thing off. Put all your shit in you bag before you enter the airport. And lets face it, you
do not need half the stuff you’re about to take through an airport. That huge zip lock bag full of liquids…… um you don’t need 98% of them. Check your stuff in..
Simply taking off your belt whist you fly is a good thing. Moving through an airport efficiently will make your holiday.
6. Just get out there. Go on an adventure. A road trip, a day trip, whatever you can manage. Just go do it and disconnect for awhile. For me there is nothing better than a road trip.
3. Favourite gadget / app / technology ?
I am the least tech guy on the planet.. I shy away from it, I am not a fan of screens.. I don’t use social media (except for my 5 instagram accounts).
So I would have to say my phone. I am very impressed with my iphone and what it can do. It allows freedom to move, allows for us to travel, to learn, to be connected, to continue to live and work and even find the hotel when that unwanted late night tequila kicks in.
As far as an APP I think it would be BOM (Bureau of meteorology). Google maps has saved my life many times.
I have just discovered podcast, wow.. how good, as long as I am learning in life from everything then its a good thing. Podcasts are my new favourite way to learn and fly….
4. When your cooking at home - what’s your "go to" dish ?
I enjoy cooking. I really appreciate the art and science of it all. Some close mates are talented chefs so I just soak it all in and learn as much
as I can from them, still to this day. To the point where many many years ago I convinced a few of them to let me be the dish pig so I could learn the ways of a real kitchen and I loved it so much I worked my way up through the ranks in kitchens around the world. Mad fuckers - I had to leave before I died.
Its true they are all very cool, passionate, nice humans and fucking mental. Such wild times..
So at home I go through phases of trying to perfect something. If I am not trying to perfect the perfect pizza dough, rye bread, or paella, I am mastering the art of the perfect slow roast or BBQ. Recently I went through a slow roast phase and actually won a meat pie cooking competition.
Beef and Guinness with a twist. I was reluctant to enter as awards mean nothing… until you win! This isn’t about accolades, its about the perfect party pie.. I won.
5. Where are you sending people ?
Well refer back to question one and two.. Go to the chocolate milk factory in Barcelona! Actually think about that before you drag your loved one there… its a bit weird walking around with a bunch of little school kids that don’t understand English, all holding hands learning where cocoa comes from... Maybe go see some art first and try the milk drink.. warning: It’s not a BIG M.
At the moment I am sending everyone that is on their way to Hobart to my new favourite place in the world. Franklin in Hobart..
Do a search and trust me. Its the epitome of Tasmania, chilled, spacious, tastefully cool, the nicest staff - remember earlier, Tasmanians are the nicest humans
on the planet.. and the food is really special. Along with the wine, don’t forget the wine.. very impressed. I think they make their own wine.
And they don’t make a fuss about it.. We get a little lost in all the hype of food in Melbourne..
And lastly i am a little biased, but checkout our store “Doomsday” in Fitzroy and online.. www.doomsday-store.com.au
Travis would also love you to check out Movember.com.au
Big thanks to Movember ambassador and all round nice guy Luke at Benzina Garage for his hospitality and letting us shoot at his shop. you can check out Luke, Benzina Garage and Benzina Cantina here.