^^On these backpacking trips I have a strong suspicion most are into illicit drugs. While of course nothing new, the problem is nowadays that the stuff on the market is so intense that it can take an otherwise healthy person and turn them into a suicidal basketcase, and I think that's evidenced by the steady flow of young naive backpackers jumping ship so to speak.

Just a suspicion.

Was it suicide or murder? Either way, it's probably attributable to drugs.

Doesn't have to be drugs. When I first went travelling at 20 I found myself in Western Australia jet lagged to all hell, perpetually hungover while living some nocturnal, 1 meal and 40 Winfield Reds a day existence with a Victoria Bitter IV drip which I was constantly sweating out because I'd never experienced heat like this in my entire life. Then the "love of my life" first girlfriend, whom I'd left at home, dumped me because, get this, 21 year olds don't really mean it when they say they'll wait for you to bumble around the globe while they sit patiently at home watching the clock, counting down your return.

Anyway one night I was at some cheap burger bar/internet cafe at 3 in the morning, sober, but so utterly sideways I had no clue who I was or what was going on but just wanted everything to stop. If someone's young and feeling like this, without their normal support networks, I can see how the wrong decisions can be made.

hatchelt wrote: ↑Thu Jun 15, 2017 6:16 pmWestern Australia ... Victoria Bitter

Wasn't perchance a beverage from the Swan Brewery, given that it was 20 years ago?

No, I didn't know any better so it was VB until I ran out of money. Then it was 6 dollar boxes of Goon...Coolabah I think?

hatchelt wrote: ↑Thu Jun 15, 2017 7:33 pm No, I didn't know any better so it was VB until I ran out of money. Then it was 6 dollar boxes of Goon...Coolabah I think?

As it should be, as long as it's hung from the Hills Hoist.

StroppyChops wrote: ↑Thu Jun 15, 2017 7:39 pm

hatchelt wrote: ↑Thu Jun 15, 2017 7:33 pm No, I didn't know any better so it was VB until I ran out of money. Then it was 6 dollar boxes of Goon...Coolabah I think?

As it should be, as long as it's hung from the Hills Hoist.

Before being used as a pillow?

hatchelt wrote: ↑Thu Jun 15, 2017 7:43 pm

StroppyChops wrote: ↑Thu Jun 15, 2017 7:39 pm

hatchelt wrote: ↑Thu Jun 15, 2017 7:33 pm No, I didn't know any better so it was VB until I ran out of money. Then it was 6 dollar boxes of Goon...Coolabah I think?

As it should be, as long as it's hung from the Hills Hoist.

Before being used as a pillow?

Verily.

Edit: Incidentally, you can buy goonies at Super Duper if you're interested.

StroppyChops wrote: ↑Thu Jun 15, 2017 7:51 pm

hatchelt wrote: ↑Thu Jun 15, 2017 7:43 pm

StroppyChops wrote: ↑Thu Jun 15, 2017 7:39 pm

hatchelt wrote: ↑Thu Jun 15, 2017 7:33 pm No, I didn't know any better so it was VB until I ran out of money. Then it was 6 dollar boxes of Goon...Coolabah I think?

As it should be, as long as it's hung from the Hills Hoist.

Before being used as a pillow?

Verily.

Edit: Incidentally, you can buy goonies at Super Duper if you're interested.

*looks away from his keyboard and off into the distance, his face tightening* That's a life I left behind a long time ago...

...but I'm totally getting a selfie outside a shop called Super Duper!