i thought this was kinda helpful. the trickiest one about giving money to beggers is always a tough one... i pretty much thought this stuff already... but im glad someone´s put this together!
http://www.i-to-i.com/campfire/travel-guides/116-A-guide-to-giving-on-your-travels
Where I am spending the first 1/2 of 2009 in...
Saturday, May 23, 2009
jungle fever
hey... its been a while since ive updated my blog...
im in a little mountain town called Boquete in the far west of Panama... i went white water rafting for the first time the other day. Grade 4. Awesome!
Other adventures have included crossing the border into Costa Rica and going to the Corcovado National Park. I saw the most amazing animals and my favourite MASSIVE blue butterflies. Went on a 12km hike and saw beautiful Jurassic Park styled wilderness... took a horseback tour to a waterfall in the jungle...
I went to the Panama - one of the locks... called Miraflores...week as well. It was FASCINATING! Alot of political influence from the U.S. Plus its right near Panama City. Believe it or not, it actually reminded me of Hong Kong. It has highrises and had small freeways much like Hong Kong, except without the massive amounts of people.
Other adventures including renting a scooter and driving around Boquete. A visit to an animal shelter called "Paradise Gardens" with the COOLEST birds including rehabilitating Toucans... one which had a fetish for biting your feet... although we met some VERY strange people there... an older lady wearing leopard skin outfit (go figure) basically trying to make love 'cuchee coo' styled fetish with an anteater. hmmm.
also... there was an 'enforced' donation of $5USD to the refuge... WHA?! Thanks for that...
Anyhoo... where to next? You will find out...
im in a little mountain town called Boquete in the far west of Panama... i went white water rafting for the first time the other day. Grade 4. Awesome!
Other adventures have included crossing the border into Costa Rica and going to the Corcovado National Park. I saw the most amazing animals and my favourite MASSIVE blue butterflies. Went on a 12km hike and saw beautiful Jurassic Park styled wilderness... took a horseback tour to a waterfall in the jungle...
I went to the Panama - one of the locks... called Miraflores...week as well. It was FASCINATING! Alot of political influence from the U.S. Plus its right near Panama City. Believe it or not, it actually reminded me of Hong Kong. It has highrises and had small freeways much like Hong Kong, except without the massive amounts of people.
Other adventures including renting a scooter and driving around Boquete. A visit to an animal shelter called "Paradise Gardens" with the COOLEST birds including rehabilitating Toucans... one which had a fetish for biting your feet... although we met some VERY strange people there... an older lady wearing leopard skin outfit (go figure) basically trying to make love 'cuchee coo' styled fetish with an anteater. hmmm.
also... there was an 'enforced' donation of $5USD to the refuge... WHA?! Thanks for that...
Anyhoo... where to next? You will find out...
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
missional living¿
a little bit preachy, but it puts into words about just being a good person methinks. here
Saturday, May 02, 2009
i quit.
yes thats right.
i was paid 140Quetzales short... mi el hefe (boss) said money was stolen and well... all the staff got paycuts this week.
I DONT THINK SO!
BAck to the drawing board...
ps. i think i might need to leave antigua and come back for jo and victors wedding. im getting antigua fever... need to get out of here!
i was paid 140Quetzales short... mi el hefe (boss) said money was stolen and well... all the staff got paycuts this week.
I DONT THINK SO!
BAck to the drawing board...
ps. i think i might need to leave antigua and come back for jo and victors wedding. im getting antigua fever... need to get out of here!
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
a man with a gun standing on a sidewalk.
its amazing how many guns ive seen.
not to alarm you at all...
but the funniest thing i saw this morning on my way back from the gym (yes, i now go to a gym in antigua... it was my first pilates class in a while and it nearly killed me)...
anyways,..
i wish i had my camera... but it was a guy with a big rifle and a few cases of OJ. Yes thats right. Orange juice.
not sure why it was so precious... but there wasnt anything else around and he was just standing there in his uniform, with his gun... with the OJ.
oh... and the latest heckle i have recently gotten aside from the typical latin american men staring as i walk down the street is "chinita Chinita!" (= chinese girl)... oh dear...
at least thats slightly better than 'sayonara'. i get that quite a bit too.
ah... the racial jokes are coming back!
not to alarm you at all...
but the funniest thing i saw this morning on my way back from the gym (yes, i now go to a gym in antigua... it was my first pilates class in a while and it nearly killed me)...
anyways,..
i wish i had my camera... but it was a guy with a big rifle and a few cases of OJ. Yes thats right. Orange juice.
not sure why it was so precious... but there wasnt anything else around and he was just standing there in his uniform, with his gun... with the OJ.
oh... and the latest heckle i have recently gotten aside from the typical latin american men staring as i walk down the street is "chinita Chinita!" (= chinese girl)... oh dear...
at least thats slightly better than 'sayonara'. i get that quite a bit too.
ah... the racial jokes are coming back!
Sunday, April 26, 2009
whats new pussycat??
i have a job.
as a bartender. at kafka. antigua. guatemala.
i am earning hot quetzales. 8Q per hour.
thankful that i seem to earn more in tips than i do per hour.
in case you couldnt be bothered doing the currency conversion. im earnining $1 USD per hour.
HOT QUETZALES!
as a bartender. at kafka. antigua. guatemala.
i am earning hot quetzales. 8Q per hour.
thankful that i seem to earn more in tips than i do per hour.
in case you couldnt be bothered doing the currency conversion. im earnining $1 USD per hour.
HOT QUETZALES!
Friday, April 17, 2009
april 17.
its officially one week since good friday...
i have been in antigua and have participated in the 'fombre' making... they have these massive processions through the streets with literally hundreds if not thousands of people... reinacting the story of Christ's death.
its really interesting.
I... helped out with these flower patterns that you make with coloured saw dust and stencilling.
they're pretty amazing... the patterns that are created... taking hours and only just walked all over by the procession just hours if not minutes later.
anyways.
i am a little non descript about all my adventures. too much to take in. i wish i was more specific.
oh, my spanish lessons are good. my teacher's name is Betty.
Me Gusta mi Maestra Betty. ( I like my Teacher, Betty).
Bueno!
i have been in antigua and have participated in the 'fombre' making... they have these massive processions through the streets with literally hundreds if not thousands of people... reinacting the story of Christ's death.
its really interesting.
I... helped out with these flower patterns that you make with coloured saw dust and stencilling.
they're pretty amazing... the patterns that are created... taking hours and only just walked all over by the procession just hours if not minutes later.
anyways.
i am a little non descript about all my adventures. too much to take in. i wish i was more specific.
oh, my spanish lessons are good. my teacher's name is Betty.
Me Gusta mi Maestra Betty. ( I like my Teacher, Betty).
Bueno!
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Semana Santa- ing :)
HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE! (or all of 3 followers of my blog. THANK YOU FOR READING!) i think i will move that box from the top, cos it looks a little sad....
Anyhoo, just realised im getting internet schizophrenia because i realised that i have 1) a facebook profile and status updaterer 2) a secret facebook group (hence probably why you are here) 3) a blog account which i havent used...
and well... i dont know which platform to use half the time, because all is everywhere...
anyhooo... enough whining.
SO much happens when youre on the road for an inexplicable amount of time.
In typical van style in the past month and who knows since my last blog entry i have
Anyhoo, just realised im getting internet schizophrenia because i realised that i have 1) a facebook profile and status updaterer 2) a secret facebook group (hence probably why you are here) 3) a blog account which i havent used...
and well... i dont know which platform to use half the time, because all is everywhere...
anyhooo... enough whining.
SO much happens when youre on the road for an inexplicable amount of time.
In typical van style in the past month and who knows since my last blog entry i have
- gone snorkelling in belize and seen lots of amazing sea life.
- have travelled through another 3 or 4 different countries
- been stopped by cops 6 or 7 times throughout honduras when we were crossing borders to get from guatemala to nicaragua
- eating frijoles (beans) which a BUG in it... great.
- been meeting some AMAZING ppl and seeing Mayan ruins in the north of guatemala (the mayan calendar is only 24secs off the space/ anatomic clock- {pls correct me!}... they are the people that basically created our modern calendar/ clock)
- been eaten alive by bed bugs
- seen amazing waterfalls and natural pools.
- swum in the most pristine lakes
- taken spanish lessons! HOLA! Como Estas? haah
- realised that nicaraguan postal service is better and more reliable than guatemalan post!
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
la cucaracha
just survived a nite of cochroach infested rooms.
we had found a place here in placencia, belize with 3 beds for simon, shani and i... although we kinda lost shani y.day cos she has an israeli passport and no visa. hopefully she will be reunited with us tonite!
all in the fun and spirit of cheap independent travel.
we are now staying in a room with cable tv, clean rooms, air conditioning and a fridge.
life is good again! ♥ ♥ ♥
we had found a place here in placencia, belize with 3 beds for simon, shani and i... although we kinda lost shani y.day cos she has an israeli passport and no visa. hopefully she will be reunited with us tonite!
all in the fun and spirit of cheap independent travel.
we are now staying in a room with cable tv, clean rooms, air conditioning and a fridge.
life is good again! ♥ ♥ ♥
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Scuba Diving, 7 bus trips + 2 boat rides in 24 hours.
Ola Chicos,I am here in Placencia, Belize... a very sleepy seaside town... Have just had the most intense couple of weeks, but fun weeks of my life in Utila, Honduras, where I am now an Advanced Scuba Diver... and I had 11 dives in 5 days... yes. I am crazy.Have met some very special ppl along the way and Simon aka "See-Mon" as the locals call him... and i have had fun hanging out wiith an Israeli girl, Shani, who we have grown very fond of... and Julia from Adelaide.I could go on and on about what has happened, but essentially... its so fun here!!In the past 24 hours we have caught 7 buses, from Honduras via Guatemala through here to Belize and taken 2 boats... a little shonky as the lifejackets were attached to a trolley at the front of the "tug" boat and well... i think we would be screwed if we really did capsize. All is good however... all limbs, brains and personal belongings are intact.Love to all and hope you are well, wherever in the world you are!!
Saturday, February 28, 2009
meeting locals....
so im in Granada, Nicaragua. I love it.
I also love eating local food and am enjoying trying all sorts of things that are special to the area that i am visiting.
from the Ceviche in Costa Rica (CR) which is basically lemon juice salsa thing with raw fish in it... its DELICIOUS.
anyhooo... just had a local homeless kid come and eat the dregs of my pollo (chicken) meal, plus i paid him for his reed woven cricket thing he made me. i paid the equivalent of about a $1 to this kid.. to eat the rest of my fried banana (the best fried banana chips ive had!) and gave him half of my water.
the meal was delicious too... fritas de pollo mixto.... it was on a bed of fried banana chips, banana chunks fried as well as fried chicken (they like things fried here, and frankly, so do i)... then on top a kind of salad.. more like coleslaw... and a poco (little) bag of a spicey vinegar thing with more cabbagey thing in it too-- i think its like dressing or something. I liked it. It was spicey.
Ok.... my spanish is getting better because i could manage to just order food and i went and caught the local chicken bus-- not kidding, its basically an old canadian school bus, the yellow ones... from the Masaya market today.... the locals are funny, they do make a bit of a fuss about selling to you, but generally theyre not as aggressive as the chinese, so i could handle it... i guess money talks, but i did bargan down with "precio finale" final price-- pretty much between dollar here and a dollar there, but i got excited with this crocodile leather hairclips, and i almost bought a bag... which was about $40 which wasnt that much, but being cheap, didnt buy it.
it was fun though. i love local mercados!!
i am really enjoying learning spanish... loaded with my little lonely planet phrase book (thanks mum!) its helped alot. believe it or not, i know how to say "where is" = ¿dande esta? to start pretty much every sentence.
i just have to make sure i dont say that when im asking for someones name... but i did ask the little boys name who i gave my food to at the street stall... como te llamos? "Rodrigue" he would have only been about 7 or 8. cheeky bugger.
am back at the hostel now after an eventful day and meeting other locals in nice shops.
ive found a mosaic class that will only cost me about $5. or 100 Cordobas. AM VERY excited about cheap craft class!!!!!!
i think i might jig that $25 kayak over the Islets.
Pah! Craft comes first! Priorities!!
xoxo
I also love eating local food and am enjoying trying all sorts of things that are special to the area that i am visiting.
from the Ceviche in Costa Rica (CR) which is basically lemon juice salsa thing with raw fish in it... its DELICIOUS.
anyhooo... just had a local homeless kid come and eat the dregs of my pollo (chicken) meal, plus i paid him for his reed woven cricket thing he made me. i paid the equivalent of about a $1 to this kid.. to eat the rest of my fried banana (the best fried banana chips ive had!) and gave him half of my water.
the meal was delicious too... fritas de pollo mixto.... it was on a bed of fried banana chips, banana chunks fried as well as fried chicken (they like things fried here, and frankly, so do i)... then on top a kind of salad.. more like coleslaw... and a poco (little) bag of a spicey vinegar thing with more cabbagey thing in it too-- i think its like dressing or something. I liked it. It was spicey.
Ok.... my spanish is getting better because i could manage to just order food and i went and caught the local chicken bus-- not kidding, its basically an old canadian school bus, the yellow ones... from the Masaya market today.... the locals are funny, they do make a bit of a fuss about selling to you, but generally theyre not as aggressive as the chinese, so i could handle it... i guess money talks, but i did bargan down with "precio finale" final price-- pretty much between dollar here and a dollar there, but i got excited with this crocodile leather hairclips, and i almost bought a bag... which was about $40 which wasnt that much, but being cheap, didnt buy it.
it was fun though. i love local mercados!!
i am really enjoying learning spanish... loaded with my little lonely planet phrase book (thanks mum!) its helped alot. believe it or not, i know how to say "where is" = ¿dande esta? to start pretty much every sentence.
i just have to make sure i dont say that when im asking for someones name... but i did ask the little boys name who i gave my food to at the street stall... como te llamos? "Rodrigue" he would have only been about 7 or 8. cheeky bugger.
am back at the hostel now after an eventful day and meeting other locals in nice shops.
ive found a mosaic class that will only cost me about $5. or 100 Cordobas. AM VERY excited about cheap craft class!!!!!!
i think i might jig that $25 kayak over the Islets.
Pah! Craft comes first! Priorities!!
xoxo
Thursday, February 26, 2009
reflections on random encounters
Highlight of yesterday. A local lady in her shop turning up a spanish version and singing her heart out to ´Total Eclipse of the Heart´aka *eclipse total del corazón*... amongst the surf, sun and beautiful beach in Santa Teresa (im still in Costa Rica... but not for long!)...
Long journey on a bus tomo to Nicaragua.... Hope i arrive alive!! Pls pray for me!!!
Long journey on a bus tomo to Nicaragua.... Hope i arrive alive!! Pls pray for me!!!
Bad Country== Malpais
Im living in tent folks! for $8bucks a nite = aprox 4500Colones.
I have a hammock and the best view in the world of the beach. Santa Teresa. CR.
Loving it.
it is absolutely amazing and the surf is beautiful.
I wanted to stay, but now that i am here at the internet cafe and I have already booked my bus ticket to Nicaragua tomorrow, I will go...
BUT! I want to come back. I have met many canadians and others that have lived here for about 5 years.
Life is simple. Live, Eat, Surf.
Ha. I should write slogans.
I have a hammock and the best view in the world of the beach. Santa Teresa. CR.
Loving it.
it is absolutely amazing and the surf is beautiful.
I wanted to stay, but now that i am here at the internet cafe and I have already booked my bus ticket to Nicaragua tomorrow, I will go...
BUT! I want to come back. I have met many canadians and others that have lived here for about 5 years.
Life is simple. Live, Eat, Surf.
Ha. I should write slogans.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Aye Carumba!
Ola Amigos :)
I am loving Costa Rica. Surfing has been great, although the surf has been way too massive...
Anyhoo...
Thought I would update my Blog as i have a pokito tiempo (little time) to kill as I am waiting for my boat from Jaco to Montezuma... then Mal Pais / Santa Teresa...
I have met some really great people while surfing and travelling, in particular the past few days have been hanging out with 2 really lovely ladies from LA and Seattle- both flight attendents-- (the job of my dreams when i was 5 years old). While heading on the local 'Tico' (Costa Rican) bus to Manuel Antonio ( a beautiful town about an hour south of Jaco) met some Argentinian guys who have been fun to hang out with. We all got lost in the National Park together and Im figuring quite quickly that although everyone in Central and South American speak Espanol, that all their accents are quite different.
Heading to a lovely other part of Costa Rica by boat where there will be good surf and waterfalls and probably more monkeys and sloths to see :)
It is so beautiful... and HOT here, and im now back on my own again so... will hopefully meet some lovely people this week...
Also-- just in case i go missing (dont worry mum)... im catching a bus to Nicaragua on Thursday in case you guys are wondering where I am... its cheapt to travel by bus, but it will be a long bus ride... Am I Loco?
Si (yes)!
xoxo
I am loving Costa Rica. Surfing has been great, although the surf has been way too massive...
Anyhoo...
Thought I would update my Blog as i have a pokito tiempo (little time) to kill as I am waiting for my boat from Jaco to Montezuma... then Mal Pais / Santa Teresa...
I have met some really great people while surfing and travelling, in particular the past few days have been hanging out with 2 really lovely ladies from LA and Seattle- both flight attendents-- (the job of my dreams when i was 5 years old). While heading on the local 'Tico' (Costa Rican) bus to Manuel Antonio ( a beautiful town about an hour south of Jaco) met some Argentinian guys who have been fun to hang out with. We all got lost in the National Park together and Im figuring quite quickly that although everyone in Central and South American speak Espanol, that all their accents are quite different.
Heading to a lovely other part of Costa Rica by boat where there will be good surf and waterfalls and probably more monkeys and sloths to see :)
It is so beautiful... and HOT here, and im now back on my own again so... will hopefully meet some lovely people this week...
Also-- just in case i go missing (dont worry mum)... im catching a bus to Nicaragua on Thursday in case you guys are wondering where I am... its cheapt to travel by bus, but it will be a long bus ride... Am I Loco?
Si (yes)!
xoxo
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
one eleven
Remember ive been noticing 1:11?
ITS A SIGN! ha!
The room number my friends were staying in Hermosa was 111. My room number here at Poseidon is 1.
Ive been checking the time and yes, its at 1:11.
I like seeing consistency in this.
Is God trying to tell me something? Or is it just one of those "Qwinky dinks?!" (coincidences)
ITS A SIGN! ha!
The room number my friends were staying in Hermosa was 111. My room number here at Poseidon is 1.
Ive been checking the time and yes, its at 1:11.
I like seeing consistency in this.
Is God trying to tell me something? Or is it just one of those "Qwinky dinks?!" (coincidences)
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
costa rica. tica
first day of surfing today. FUN. im on a 9foot board! its a little massive, but hey, its good fun. jaco beach and hermosa is amazing.
i can stand up!! apparently im a natural.
not complaining- yet. (im waiting for the stiff/sore muscles....)
also had a yoga class this afternoon. aside from getting bitten by mozzies-- it was a reaaaaaly good stretch.
will see how the rest of the week goes, but its started great and looking up! YAY!
oh, and got a free papaya. good times :D
the only thing about the hotel im staying in that i dont like is that there is no hammocks.
the place i stayed with jo on the weekend had one out the front and we had a view of the beach from our room/ balcony. bliss.
i can stand up!! apparently im a natural.
not complaining- yet. (im waiting for the stiff/sore muscles....)
also had a yoga class this afternoon. aside from getting bitten by mozzies-- it was a reaaaaaly good stretch.
will see how the rest of the week goes, but its started great and looking up! YAY!
oh, and got a free papaya. good times :D
the only thing about the hotel im staying in that i dont like is that there is no hammocks.
the place i stayed with jo on the weekend had one out the front and we had a view of the beach from our room/ balcony. bliss.
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