By the time I left Colombia I was really glad to go. I have had an amazing time travelling through Central and South America over the last 5 months but it really was time to go.
On my way from my good mate's house in Bogota Colombia to the airport, I was sitting in a cab having a series of massive flashbacks from my trip and it was like a silent movie flashing before my eyes. Its hard for me to describe now but all the amazing things I did and saw and felt and experienced and tasted just ran through my mind in about 5 minutes and gave me the most intense emotional rush. Just thinking about it now makes my stomach go funny.
I thought about the first time Jodie and I took the subway in Santiago, Chile. We knew how to ask "How much?" in Spanish but couldnt understand the response so would just hand our purse to the chick in the ticket booth while she shook her head and took out the correct (?) change
We met Chris from New Orleans in Valporaiso and he saved us from being scammed at the bus station. I still feel indebted to him and wont forget him.
Studying Spanish in Bariloche, Argentina and the penny dropping quicker than I though. Meeting Jim and Eion and doing my homework with Jim in the hostel.
Everything in Buenos Aires. People that would change my life. Santi, Maxy, Nikki, Leila... it became The Festival of the Like Minded Souls and would reduce me to a crying mess when it was time to leave.
Iguassu Falls made me realise how insignificant I really am.
Christ the Redeemer made me realise how immense the power of religion really is. The music of Brazil, my mates from Switzerland and Germany, Marco and Magnus. The 4 of us were an unlikely team that spent an amazing week together. Best quote came from Magnus during a 2am dip in the pool one 35 degree night. He was pissing me off in some form so I swam over to get him and he screamed in his thick Bavarian accent "Oh no! Big Skippy is coming to kill me!" The night we ate a seafood barbeque in Ilhe Grande Brazil with our feet in the sand.
Peru. The joke that was Cusco and the majesty of Machu Pichu. My last night with Jim and Eion when Eion sang "Scarborogh Fair" to me. Mountain biking through the Andes listening to Aussie hardcore on the I-Pod.
I thought Bolivia wanted to kill me and I wanted it to. In a feverish state of delerium I spent a week in a hostel bunk bed surrounded by half of England's Gap Year participants and a sweet Aussie bloke that checked on me daily. Who knew we would meet again in Colombia? Get me the fuck out of here POR FAVOR.
Mexico sees the formation of the Three Amigas: me, Jodie and Nikki. Back together again we tore it up all over Mexico, Belize and Guatemala. It was birthday season and we celebrated the best way we knew how a million miles from home.
In Belize I saw another side of life. One minute I am drinking rum punch on a yacht and the next I am at my friend's house where he has no running water, a bucket for a toilet and two rooms infested with mossies for a home. We ate delicious fish stew and watched Dreamgirls.
Hola Guatemala, what a dramatic country you are! The landscape changes around each corner so hang on to your bag and Trust in the Chicken Bus! New friends emerge as do I...the Crocodile comes into my life and I pray that he will never leave.
What follows in Central America is different to the rest of my travels. I have learnt things about myself that at 32 I thought were obselete. I navigated my way around a new language, a handful of countries and a new relationship. It was sometimes trying, always colourful, eternally memorable.
What happens next remains a question mark but I will continue the journey now and upon my return home.
Special thanks goes to all the amazing people I met while travelling. You know who you are. I wish I could tattoo my memories all over my body to give them an image for the outside to see.
I also want to thank Granny Tate who watched out for me the whole time, protected me and kept me safe while my backpacking colleagues were robbed, bitten by dogs, had scorpions in the hostel room, bed bugs in their bunk, encounters with Colombian Guerrillas and Brazilian ladyboys. Thanks Gran!
Alright kids, signing off for the last time but to my devoted 7 readers, you can check out the new blog that will give you an insight into my adventures in the United States here www.bageltalk.blogspot.com
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Monday, September 8, 2008
Fuck I am bored
I am waiting for a plane.
It leaves in 5 hours.
There is nothing to do in Panama City except go to giant malls, eat in the food court and buy shit you dont need.
The Crocodile and I have been sitting in the gutter outside the hostel, drinking a 60c beer, watching the clock until we can go to the airport. He is downloading songs off the internet and dancing for me in the street.
This is the downside of travelling. The waiting around, taking some crap bus somewhere known as ¨Fuckland¨, getting to another crap place and 12 hours later arriving at your destination tired, irritable, hungry and sweaty. Its taking cold showers for 3 months straight, getting an intestine infection from eating street food and being eaten by mosquitos. There are many things to complain about on the road.
But you know what?
Beats working!
Happy Birthday Sal. Today my beautiful sister is the ripe old age of 25. I wish I was there to celebrate with you Tatey. Actually, I wish you were here to celebrate with ME!!!
More to come when we hit Colombia.
Vamos!
It leaves in 5 hours.
There is nothing to do in Panama City except go to giant malls, eat in the food court and buy shit you dont need.
The Crocodile and I have been sitting in the gutter outside the hostel, drinking a 60c beer, watching the clock until we can go to the airport. He is downloading songs off the internet and dancing for me in the street.
This is the downside of travelling. The waiting around, taking some crap bus somewhere known as ¨Fuckland¨, getting to another crap place and 12 hours later arriving at your destination tired, irritable, hungry and sweaty. Its taking cold showers for 3 months straight, getting an intestine infection from eating street food and being eaten by mosquitos. There are many things to complain about on the road.
But you know what?
Beats working!
Happy Birthday Sal. Today my beautiful sister is the ripe old age of 25. I wish I was there to celebrate with you Tatey. Actually, I wish you were here to celebrate with ME!!!
More to come when we hit Colombia.
Vamos!
Monday, September 1, 2008
LATE TATE UPDATE
Wow, just realised its been a month since I wrote last! This is a good thing - means I am having way too much fun to reflect on my journey. It also means a slow and expensive internet connection.
So the summary of the last month is as follows:
I have been in 4 countries in the last 5 weeks including Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Tomorrow I am going to Panama and am heading south to Columbia and then back to Argentina. This is totally the wrong way ie. I should be going to Europe. But the head is not in control anymore people (was it ever?) ...
In the last 5 weeks I have learnt many things:
1. I am not a scuba diver. The end of the Breathing Underwater story is that I went diving, could do everything except enjoy being underwater. Think of being in a coffin and being burried alive. Thats how I felt diving. Nope, no mas, not for me...
2. How to ride a motorbike. Yay! Lots of fun, even if it was only in a paddock.
3. How to drive a 4WD off road in a foreign country. Another awesome experience!
4. That seeing whales in the wild is one of the most breathtaking experiences ever.
5. Costa Ricans are easily the friendliest of the Central American people
6. That I miss my mates and my family back home, but I dont miss home.
7. How much I admire my new friends that I have met while travelling. Shout outs to Chris in New Orleans who is waiting for Hurrican Gustav to hit. If you want to read something really interesting then check his blog www.ridingitout.blogspot.com Also, big love to El as to he continues his journey...
and a million tiny things that no one will find interesting!
Have lots more to write about but this place is fucking expensive and there is a crazy guy abusing his girlfriend in Spanish on Skype!!!!
So the summary of the last month is as follows:
I have been in 4 countries in the last 5 weeks including Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Tomorrow I am going to Panama and am heading south to Columbia and then back to Argentina. This is totally the wrong way ie. I should be going to Europe. But the head is not in control anymore people (was it ever?) ...
In the last 5 weeks I have learnt many things:
1. I am not a scuba diver. The end of the Breathing Underwater story is that I went diving, could do everything except enjoy being underwater. Think of being in a coffin and being burried alive. Thats how I felt diving. Nope, no mas, not for me...
2. How to ride a motorbike. Yay! Lots of fun, even if it was only in a paddock.
3. How to drive a 4WD off road in a foreign country. Another awesome experience!
4. That seeing whales in the wild is one of the most breathtaking experiences ever.
5. Costa Ricans are easily the friendliest of the Central American people
6. That I miss my mates and my family back home, but I dont miss home.
7. How much I admire my new friends that I have met while travelling. Shout outs to Chris in New Orleans who is waiting for Hurrican Gustav to hit. If you want to read something really interesting then check his blog www.ridingitout.blogspot.com Also, big love to El as to he continues his journey...
and a million tiny things that no one will find interesting!
Have lots more to write about but this place is fucking expensive and there is a crazy guy abusing his girlfriend in Spanish on Skype!!!!
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Breathing Underwater
is what I am about to do for the first time in one hour when I hit the water for my Open Water Dive Course! I am in Utila, Honduras at the moment, another idyllic island paradise with crystal clear water, white sand and a laid back pace...I have always wanted to dive but have always been too scared, so now the reality is upon me that I am doing it!
I hit Honduras with a bang a few days ago. We made the trip from Guatemala across the border, stopping for food at a street side buffet where I ate beans and rice, eggs and tortillas. I dont know if it was that or just a virus but 6 hours later I was driving the porcelain bus in my hotel room, violently throwing up with extreeeeme stomach cramps. I love the human body. It really has a beautiful way of telling you the truth about whats going on inside...I am recovered but it took a couple of days. But now I am here and I am feeling good again, although its farking hot and humid and does nothing for my hair.
I should write more now but I have to go get ready to dive! Wish me luck...
I hit Honduras with a bang a few days ago. We made the trip from Guatemala across the border, stopping for food at a street side buffet where I ate beans and rice, eggs and tortillas. I dont know if it was that or just a virus but 6 hours later I was driving the porcelain bus in my hotel room, violently throwing up with extreeeeme stomach cramps. I love the human body. It really has a beautiful way of telling you the truth about whats going on inside...I am recovered but it took a couple of days. But now I am here and I am feeling good again, although its farking hot and humid and does nothing for my hair.
I should write more now but I have to go get ready to dive! Wish me luck...
Friday, August 1, 2008
I feel the Earth. Move. Under my Feet.
Actually, when there was a tremor in Antigua 2 nights ago I didnt feel a thing because it was 3 am and I was asleep.
But the next day, my teacher had a lengthy conversation with me in Spanish about the Earthquake that hit Guatemala in 1976. It registered at 7.5 on the richter scale and when it hit, 25 000 people died in their sleep as their houses fell down around their ears. The rest of the people ran out into the street to hear every dog in the area howling and going nuts, while in the sky, stars were falling through the sky one after the other after the other...everyone ran to the market to see if the other people were ok. The ones that were OK helped the ones that werent, bringing them blankets, making them food and generally providing aid to anyone that needed it. For 2 months, people were too scared to return to their houses as their were big aftershocks every couple of days, so they all set up camp in the streets, making make shift tents, bringing guitars and drums out to play to keep the spirits of the people up and making frijoles and rice for anyone that needed food. No one looted, no one took a thing from anyone´s house although the doors were left wide open and the walls had holes in them.
Here, I feel way more connected to nature and Pacha Mama than ever before (Mother Earth). I have climbed a live volcano, swum in hot waterfalls and with sharks and manterrays in crystal clear ocean, taken boat rides through the jungle, climbed ancient ruins and seen amazing sunsets and sunrises. While all this happening, I realise I am in the hands of nature and have no choice but to ask Pacha to protect me and watch out for me. Sounds a bit hessian I know, but she is alive and well and when humanity wants to fuck around, she always has the last say...
I only hope that in the case of something like the Quake of 76 happening in our own country we could stick together as a community and not rob and kill each other as it was in New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina hit...
In other more positive news, today I read my first fairy tale in Spanish. It was called ¨Recitos de Oro y los tres oros.¨ You probably know it as Goldilocks and the three bears. Yew!!!!
But the next day, my teacher had a lengthy conversation with me in Spanish about the Earthquake that hit Guatemala in 1976. It registered at 7.5 on the richter scale and when it hit, 25 000 people died in their sleep as their houses fell down around their ears. The rest of the people ran out into the street to hear every dog in the area howling and going nuts, while in the sky, stars were falling through the sky one after the other after the other...everyone ran to the market to see if the other people were ok. The ones that were OK helped the ones that werent, bringing them blankets, making them food and generally providing aid to anyone that needed it. For 2 months, people were too scared to return to their houses as their were big aftershocks every couple of days, so they all set up camp in the streets, making make shift tents, bringing guitars and drums out to play to keep the spirits of the people up and making frijoles and rice for anyone that needed food. No one looted, no one took a thing from anyone´s house although the doors were left wide open and the walls had holes in them.
Here, I feel way more connected to nature and Pacha Mama than ever before (Mother Earth). I have climbed a live volcano, swum in hot waterfalls and with sharks and manterrays in crystal clear ocean, taken boat rides through the jungle, climbed ancient ruins and seen amazing sunsets and sunrises. While all this happening, I realise I am in the hands of nature and have no choice but to ask Pacha to protect me and watch out for me. Sounds a bit hessian I know, but she is alive and well and when humanity wants to fuck around, she always has the last say...
I only hope that in the case of something like the Quake of 76 happening in our own country we could stick together as a community and not rob and kill each other as it was in New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina hit...
In other more positive news, today I read my first fairy tale in Spanish. It was called ¨Recitos de Oro y los tres oros.¨ You probably know it as Goldilocks and the three bears. Yew!!!!
Thursday, July 31, 2008
The Greenest Lights
Its a great day.
My friend Moran has come back to Antigua to take me to Semuc Champey this weekend.
I got my tax return from my accountant and it seems I wont be coming home right away.
My cold is improving rapidly.
I am having full conversations with people in Spanish.
Life is good!
I miss my little bro. If you´re reading this say "ho!"
My friend Moran has come back to Antigua to take me to Semuc Champey this weekend.
I got my tax return from my accountant and it seems I wont be coming home right away.
My cold is improving rapidly.
I am having full conversations with people in Spanish.
Life is good!
I miss my little bro. If you´re reading this say "ho!"
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Positve Mental Attitude
Nothing really to say right now, just a few things that made me smile in the last couple of days:
- Being able to hold full conversations in spanish despite still sounding like a child
- Waking up and looking out the window to see the volcano
- Sunsets over the volcano
- Falling asleep to the sound of reggae
- Reuniting with Luis
- Missing new friends after only meeting them once
- Charging my Ipod
- Having dreams about mums house in Newcastle. I can be there without having to be there!
- Joel El Bombero coming back from Semuc Champey
I have 5 more days of school left and then I am off again. To where, I have no idea. One part of me thinks I will go to Honduras to see the Copan Ruins and then to dive in the Bay Islands. The other part of me wants to see some more of Guatemala. I will stay open and be prepared to see the signs telling me which way to go.
BTW, in Antigua, its too hot for teeshirts but too cold for singlets. What then, I ask you, is the answer!!!!!!!!?!?!?!
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