it was time to leave fairbanks. i spent almost two weeks in a city-sized town which doesn't offer much to do. i probably would have found a program to join up at the north slope if i would have stayed a little longer, but i was beginning to get frustrated from the dullness. so to keep myself happy, i rented a truck and went fishing.

i went with a british bloke name thomas. he had some experience so he taught me the works. you must purchase a government license in order to fish in alaska. $10 a day for non-residents like myself. you know what the funny thing is? you need a permit to fish or hunt, renting a car is absurdly difficult for non-us residents, you can't buy alcohol anywhere after midnight - but anyone can walk in a store and buy a shotgun. 100 bucks. it's right by the milk and cheese. i swear. if you're over 21, you can buy a gun on the spot at the local convenience store. they run a quick FBI check on you (30 minutes) and you're armed. i guess they didn't hear about terror around here.

i now understand why americans can become so fat. the reason? simple. the foods sold in supermarkets, gas stations, convenient stores, street stands, are loaded with cholesterol. it's all junk food. it's cheap, yummy and very accessable junk food. a cucumber costs $1.30; that's for only one cucumber. tomatos? prices sky high. you want to make a fresh salad? get a mortgage. so the healthy foods are expensive and inaccessable. you can't get anything healthy at a gas station's convenient store. anything! i looked.

in addition to this, stuff is far away. the stores and domestic neighborhood are spread out. so you must drive every where. people get no exercise.

take me for instance. i'm healthy, slim, and have a fast metabolism rate. i grew a beer belly over the last two weeks - despite the fact that i've been walking around and riding a bike! the food is horrible. i mean, it's delicious and cheap! but horribly unhealthy. and i must use the bus to get around because the distances are too far to walk or for a bike.

so as i said, it was time to leave fairbanks. i caught a flight this morning to barrow. the northmost village in alaska. it's damn freezing up here. but i'm fascanated by it. wait for the next post for pictures and stories from the top of the world!