As i write this blog, i am sitting outside wearing only my bikini with a sarong drapped around my waist.There isnt a cloud in the sky but it isnt at all hot since there is a constant breeze from the ocean. i have sand all over my feet and legs, a kitten snoring by my computer and im drinking a large ice cold beer. I am in Mancora Peru......AKA paradise
Getting here however was hell. I took a bus from Cuenca *Ecuador* but there was a mud slide on the main road so we had to take a 'special' route through the Andes. It was down right the scariest bus ride. We were so high up that we were driving IN the clouds. There were no guard rails and the cliffs went straight down (which is the definition of a cliff, duh). If the bus fell off there would be nooooooo chance of survival! The road was gravel and people were PASSING! Two things that should not be allowed on a cliff -gravel and passing. I took pictures the entire time so I wouldnt be anxious and throw up. I chose not to go white water rafting for the fear of having to cross that part of Ecuador again. Im not too scared or worried about getting raped, robbed, kidnapped or killed. Im worried about the bus falling off a cliff. Since we took the special route I missed my connecting bus at the border. Out of all the 26 countries that I have been to this has been the dodgyist border thus far. I exchanged my money and got fake money in return. I didnt realize it until I tried to buy a bottle of water and the lady looked at me and said 'i dont take paper'. Some man laughed at my failure and it created a very frustrated and tearful Cassi. But some very nice man bought my water and the world was ok again. So I had to catch a different bus to my destination. It was a van fillled to the brim with people-no ac and no open window. I actually had a child sitting on my lap. However, I wasnt going to say anything since I paid for my seat with fake money so technically i should have been sitting on her lap.
Eventually,36 hours later, I arrived at my hostel......and then the fun began! This place is unreal. It is not the atypical hostel. It is more like a resort-summer camp for adults. Actually, I am staying at a place that is completely occupied with people just like me! During the day the pool and bar is filled with travelers and at night the bar turns into a outside night club. There is no point in not going out since the music blares until about three. You get to charge stuff to your room like a real hotel but it isnt your room you charge it to but your bed number. `please put that on my tab - room 211 bed D, thank you`. I have spent the past week or so surfing, taking long walks on the beach (cliche I know), eating ceviche, laying by the pool andor ocean, reading, swimming and being part of the activities at the hostel. When I first arrived they had a playboy bunny party. My feminist too cool part of me said `no way am i dressing up`.....then the fun side kicked in and...well when in rome. Since then I have participated in everything possible -pool volleyball, speed dating, texas holdém, bar quizes, beer pong, Loki Olympics. I even volunteered to be hypnotized. One of the nights a guy from Israel approached me and said that he noticed that I attempted all the activities. I nodded my head and waited. Then he looked at me and siad `you are not very good at a lot of things`. Oh so true. However, my team won the Loki Olympics which consisted of tug of war, water volleyball, dutch around the table, splash competition, musical chairs, spin and run, air guitar and chug your beer!!!!! I won the musical chairs competition.
When I first arrived I knew not a single person. I had to push myself like a mother does their child on their first day of school. ´Be nice Cassi and you`ll make friends´. After a couple of days I knew most of the workers and heaps of other travelers. I must say that Dutch people and Israelis are amoung my favorites. It was great to put myself out there and be out of my comfort zone. The entire 10 day stay in wonderfulville costed about 250 dollars - this includes food, drinks and accomodation. Dont get me wrong, though. It was still a hostel. I shared a room and bathroom with 5 other super fantastic girls and my bed with a skiddish family of roaches.
There is not really much adventure to write about. I would have liked to go to Cusco and other parts of Peru and Bolivia but I did not have enough time. Also when I do Machu Pichu I want to do the Inca Trail which you have to sign up for months in advance. I have been stagnant but I have done A LOT of personal reflection and I see things in my life a little bit differently. I am not really ready to go home but the absence of money in my bank account says that it is time. I have sucessfully filled every square in every page in my passport so I will have to get another one when I get home. Ill be home Wednesday the 28 at 10 am....if all goes well and the traveling goes smoothly.
Love you all!
Cassi
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Colombia check!!!
Hello all! Well I am back in Ecuador! I can now say that Colombia is super fun and beautiful and exceptionally safe! Other than the mysterious disappearance of our animal crackers and some other traveler stealing ten dollars out of my bag I had not a single problem. We went out at night and stayed out until the sun came up! Let me catch you up!
First off, I have changed my plane ticket! I will be missing my ten year high school reunion and a super fun river float-concert in Austin. But hopefully i will live ten more years to make the next reunion and I can look at drunken pics of my friends at the concert on fb! Im kinda playing with idea to stay until the sunday before school starts. But we will see!
So after our incredible and challenging trek to The Lost City, Laura and I came back to Taganga then went straight to Cartegena. This is the city where all the pics are black and white. The city was super beautiful! And of course any city that has pirate ships gets tons of cool points automatically. (You must know that some guy just sat by me at the Internet Cafe and he smells terribly.) However, Laura and I didnt get to enjoy the city as much as we wanted because we both got super sick!!! TMI starts right now......... So for about three weeks I have had what I thought was traveler`s tummy, which is just when your tummy gets upset from the new water and foods and well you have to go to the bathroom lots. Well after our trek my stomach was in all sorts of cahoots. I would eat something and need to be at a toilet in about ten minutes. I would get this warning growl in my tummy and ruuuuuuuuuuuun to the bathroom in my hostel which I shared with two other dudes. Our introductions were a bit awkward when I had to immediately apologize for continuously spray painting the only toilet that we all had to share. Apparently I had a parasite which pepto could not cure. So I literally had to dispose of the little guy naturally. I`m just glad it wasn't Dengue or Malaria. I also caught a head cold but that was the least of my problems.
When Laura and I felt about 10% better we went to Cali!!!! Cali ladies and gentlemen is the Salsa captial of South America if not the world. And Ladies.....I DANCED!! When there wasnt any more room on the dance floor, I was on a chair dancing or on a huge speaker or in front of the smoke screen! One of the nights we wound up dancing until the sun came up and then some more in this open huge club. There were mountains surrounding the club in each direction! It was absolutely breathtaking and loads of fun. My calves are killing me! Cali has some of the most beautiful women I have ever seen. I will be the first to admit that I have super hot friends but these women in Cali were BEAUTIFUL!!! So if a trophy wife is what you want then you need to come here! However they were touched up with lots of plastic! I`ve had my fill of seeing fakes asses, boobs, lips and calves. I have LOVED being in a latin american country during the world cup. The games were on in every restaurant, little store, police speaker, small radio....you could go outside walking and know what was going on just by walking and listening. On our last day in Cali we watched the World Cup in a park filled with about 2000 other people. Each missed goal or groan was echoed 2000 times as loud. The atmosphere was loaded with cheap food, beer and Spain paraphernalia! There was no other place I would have wanted to be but there watching the game on the HUGE screen with a bunch of happy strangers.....The hostel that we stayed at has been by far my favorite hostel that Ive ever stayed at! The hostel owner had suppers for everyone to eat at. The entire hostel came together for BBQ Sunday and ate this huge meal of steak, chicken and sausage! One of the nights Laura was still sick so I went out with complete strangers and had a BALL!!! Actually, my best friend Jason and his buddy (also mine Pat) have a band called Hostel Strangers. If you`ve ever stayed at a hostel then you will understand the name of the group. A bunch of strangers stay in the same place and magically become friends in a matter of hours.
Currently, I am in Quito and will leave tomorrow to go to Northern Peru to a town called Mancorra to get my s`s. Sun, sand, surf, sea food, salir, scuba and sexy singles. I might stay on the beach the rest of the time or continue wherever this gypsy wants to explore. Laura and I split after tomorrow! She has been to say the least a BLAST to travel with! I`m off by myself but look forward to some more character building!
Ill send more notes and stories later! Lots of love and plenty of laughs!
Cass
Side notes: I forgot to mention that all throughout the Trek to the ciudad perdida there were tons of indigenous people and tribes. It was fascinating to step into their world and see how they lived!
Men: rule of thumb - when traveling in a mobile unit whether it be a plane, train, bus, boat or submarine and you have to share the bathroom with females you need to sit and tuck not stand and aim. Im just saying its gross when your liquid sloshes on my feet.
First off, I have changed my plane ticket! I will be missing my ten year high school reunion and a super fun river float-concert in Austin. But hopefully i will live ten more years to make the next reunion and I can look at drunken pics of my friends at the concert on fb! Im kinda playing with idea to stay until the sunday before school starts. But we will see!
So after our incredible and challenging trek to The Lost City, Laura and I came back to Taganga then went straight to Cartegena. This is the city where all the pics are black and white. The city was super beautiful! And of course any city that has pirate ships gets tons of cool points automatically. (You must know that some guy just sat by me at the Internet Cafe and he smells terribly.) However, Laura and I didnt get to enjoy the city as much as we wanted because we both got super sick!!! TMI starts right now......... So for about three weeks I have had what I thought was traveler`s tummy, which is just when your tummy gets upset from the new water and foods and well you have to go to the bathroom lots. Well after our trek my stomach was in all sorts of cahoots. I would eat something and need to be at a toilet in about ten minutes. I would get this warning growl in my tummy and ruuuuuuuuuuuun to the bathroom in my hostel which I shared with two other dudes. Our introductions were a bit awkward when I had to immediately apologize for continuously spray painting the only toilet that we all had to share. Apparently I had a parasite which pepto could not cure. So I literally had to dispose of the little guy naturally. I`m just glad it wasn't Dengue or Malaria. I also caught a head cold but that was the least of my problems.
When Laura and I felt about 10% better we went to Cali!!!! Cali ladies and gentlemen is the Salsa captial of South America if not the world. And Ladies.....I DANCED!! When there wasnt any more room on the dance floor, I was on a chair dancing or on a huge speaker or in front of the smoke screen! One of the nights we wound up dancing until the sun came up and then some more in this open huge club. There were mountains surrounding the club in each direction! It was absolutely breathtaking and loads of fun. My calves are killing me! Cali has some of the most beautiful women I have ever seen. I will be the first to admit that I have super hot friends but these women in Cali were BEAUTIFUL!!! So if a trophy wife is what you want then you need to come here! However they were touched up with lots of plastic! I`ve had my fill of seeing fakes asses, boobs, lips and calves. I have LOVED being in a latin american country during the world cup. The games were on in every restaurant, little store, police speaker, small radio....you could go outside walking and know what was going on just by walking and listening. On our last day in Cali we watched the World Cup in a park filled with about 2000 other people. Each missed goal or groan was echoed 2000 times as loud. The atmosphere was loaded with cheap food, beer and Spain paraphernalia! There was no other place I would have wanted to be but there watching the game on the HUGE screen with a bunch of happy strangers.....The hostel that we stayed at has been by far my favorite hostel that Ive ever stayed at! The hostel owner had suppers for everyone to eat at. The entire hostel came together for BBQ Sunday and ate this huge meal of steak, chicken and sausage! One of the nights Laura was still sick so I went out with complete strangers and had a BALL!!! Actually, my best friend Jason and his buddy (also mine Pat) have a band called Hostel Strangers. If you`ve ever stayed at a hostel then you will understand the name of the group. A bunch of strangers stay in the same place and magically become friends in a matter of hours.
Currently, I am in Quito and will leave tomorrow to go to Northern Peru to a town called Mancorra to get my s`s. Sun, sand, surf, sea food, salir, scuba and sexy singles. I might stay on the beach the rest of the time or continue wherever this gypsy wants to explore. Laura and I split after tomorrow! She has been to say the least a BLAST to travel with! I`m off by myself but look forward to some more character building!
Ill send more notes and stories later! Lots of love and plenty of laughs!
Cass
Side notes: I forgot to mention that all throughout the Trek to the ciudad perdida there were tons of indigenous people and tribes. It was fascinating to step into their world and see how they lived!
Men: rule of thumb - when traveling in a mobile unit whether it be a plane, train, bus, boat or submarine and you have to share the bathroom with females you need to sit and tuck not stand and aim. Im just saying its gross when your liquid sloshes on my feet.
Monday, July 5, 2010
La ciudad perdida
oh where to begin! What a wonderful time!
The bus trip to Colmbia only took 50 hours instead of 60. It wasnt that bad and we had no problems aside from the mysterious disappearence of our animal crackers and the man that decided that it was necessary to change his ring tone at 3:30 in the morning. I woke up to Nokia´s 30 different ring tones blaring in the back seat. I looked at the guy and said ´Seriously you´re changing your ring tone RIGHT now.´ However the sarcasticness of my tone in spanish did not translate over so he continued. Our trip consisted of 4 buses, 4 taxis, 2 bottles of codine cough syrup, five movies, and countless terrible MTV music videos and about 5 whole hours of sleep. Laura´s feet swelled up so much that she looked like an obese person. Finally, we arrived in Taganga which is located in northern Columbia. We were there for about two hours and booked the next trip to see ´La Ciudad Perdida´or in English ´The Lost City¨
La Ciudad Perdida
Brief history - this is the Machu Pichu of Columbia but way less traveled and just as fantastic. It was discovered in 1975 and has not been traveled to much due to the fighting bw FARC and the Columbian government.
If I had to describe the actual ruins of La Ciudad Perdida in one word it would be indescribable.
If I had two words to describe the trek there and back it would be fucking intense.
Warning - Parents of you cont to read you cant get mad :)
First, understand that this trip was in fact very dangerous due to the fact that FARC (gorrillas that kidnapped people) was still present and the actual trek that we had to endure was not safe. As a matter of fact before we began our guide told us that id we were bitten by a snake then it was pretty much game over.
The trek there started and ended with our transport breaking down in the middle of the jungle and having to wait for about an hour each time to get the mobile unit they called a car started. No cell phones. No triple A. No help, nothing! Just a shit ton of cliffs and jungle. On our way there the police stopped us and told us to have a good time and enjoy Columbia and it´s beauty. About ten minutes later we saw two indigenous people beating the shit out of each other right next to the highway.....Yep the beauty of Columbia..
The trek was about 40 kilomenters which is about 25 or so miles which doesnt seem too bad when it is split up into 4 and a half days. But it was some intense and insane trek! The inclines were long and at about a 45 degree angle. Literally we would walk straight up for about an hour then down and right back up again. Once you thought you were done with an incline you would turn the corner and see that you were not even close. I swear I passed heaven bc I climbed to hight! There is no treadmill that can create or train you for the kind of incline that we climbed! My calves can crack walnuts now. It would get so steep that you would have to kinda crawl up. Mind you, too, that I had a 20 pound pack on my back. And of course what comes up must come down! We had to crawl down the steep slopes as well. There were tons of loose rocks which caused ample amount of rolled ankles. You would here someone in front of you or behind you yell ´shit´and you would just say careful and continue. However my knees are killing me and my quads scream when I try to sit down to use the bathroom. It doesnt matter though because once you got to the top the view of the mountains were breath taking which made the pain and frustration worth it.
It was either burning hot or pouring torentail rain. When it rained our quazi trail would turn into a stream and the streams we had to cross would turn into swift rapids. We would have to grab onto each other´s hands to cross in waist deep water. At the beginning we would take our shoes off but after the first day we accepted that our shoes would not stay dry or clean. So, we would stomp through deep, I mean almost knee deep, mud and wade/swim through the snake infested rivers with our kicks on. And btw Nike shocks are not made for hiking. The rain was my favorite part. It was so cleaning. It was almost a sexy and freeing feeling. However, I was not so sexy! You{ll see soon from the pics. The question of falling wasnt What if I slip and fall? but When I slip how I fall? Each day we started with dry clothes and ended with clothes dripping with water, sweat, mud and cow manuer. My deoderant lasted for about 45 minutes as did my insect repellant. I took two showers while I was there and both were in the river. To add to the misery, on one of the days my stomach had a wretched pain. It lasted for a while and did not subside so I went to the bathroom (in the jungle)
And what to my wondering eyes should appear
but my period coming loud and clear!
On the second day we went to an OLD cocaine factory. When they said factory I expected a building with maybe AC and I dont know a sign that said cocaine here. When we got there it was a tarp with 4 sticks holding it up. Obviously I did not try or buy but it was more of a history lesson on what was really going on in Columbia and a chemistry lesson on how to make cocaine using acids and bases. The actual ´factory´is not longer in use as much and the guy, who wouldnt allow pictures for fear of getting caught, is now a coffee farmer and much happier.
Our tour group meshed with another tour group and we had such a grood time. It was about 12 people from 6 different coutries helping each other get through the climb. We all got along superbly and were sad to say bye at the end of the trip. Lots of rapport and TONS of laughs. It is amazing at how fast strangers can connect after hiking together for only a couple of hours. Our conversations went from shallow to deep quite quickly!
The nights were actually the best part of the trip. Nights were spent looking at the stars and playing cards for HOURS by candle light (there was no electricity), dodging hundreds of bugs and applying liters of ineffective bug spray. You should see my legs! Each night we slept by a spring that was so close you could hear it while falling asleep. When the sun finally set hundreds and hundreds of fire flies would come out and stay out. It was stunningly beautiful to see the millions of stars above and the fire flies lighting up the sky. We slept in hammocks with mosquito nets drapping over us. Each night I put on bug spray and burritoed myself inside a thick blanket. And, each night several mischievous cricket size mosquitos crept through my net, up in my hammock and tip toed in my thick blanket to eat my ankles and legs. Pretty persistant bugs.
The most difficult and def most dangerous part of the trip was the day before and day of the trek entering the city. The trail turned into huge rocks that you had to scale and jump through and over. If you fell you would fall about 30 feet. Each step and climb there was a constant reminder to look for snakes. It wasnt until we were half way done with the trip that we found out that lots of people get injured or dont make it to the top. The Lost City was amazing and very well guarded by the Columbian government. We had to walk up 1200 loose, rocky, mossy, wet and rediculously small steps to get into the city. The Incas were so smart and efficient. They actually had a rock that they carved in the map of the city. The view was amazing and the guides told us that there was still tons that was not discovered. The Interent cafe is about to close to I ave to hurry and I could go on for hours about the city. Ask the the next time you see me. Shoot I know there is so much more I could write!!!
I absolutely loved LOVED this adventure and would do it all over again. The challenge was enbracing and refreshing. It was so so so so so much fun!!! I enjoyed everything right down to each mosquito bite! I plan on finding places in Austin to hike and doing other hikes in other countries to come.
We leave tomorrow for Cartegena for a couple of days then to Cali!
I hope you all get to release your inhibitions and live with your arms open!
Cassi
The bus trip to Colmbia only took 50 hours instead of 60. It wasnt that bad and we had no problems aside from the mysterious disappearence of our animal crackers and the man that decided that it was necessary to change his ring tone at 3:30 in the morning. I woke up to Nokia´s 30 different ring tones blaring in the back seat. I looked at the guy and said ´Seriously you´re changing your ring tone RIGHT now.´ However the sarcasticness of my tone in spanish did not translate over so he continued. Our trip consisted of 4 buses, 4 taxis, 2 bottles of codine cough syrup, five movies, and countless terrible MTV music videos and about 5 whole hours of sleep. Laura´s feet swelled up so much that she looked like an obese person. Finally, we arrived in Taganga which is located in northern Columbia. We were there for about two hours and booked the next trip to see ´La Ciudad Perdida´or in English ´The Lost City¨
La Ciudad Perdida
Brief history - this is the Machu Pichu of Columbia but way less traveled and just as fantastic. It was discovered in 1975 and has not been traveled to much due to the fighting bw FARC and the Columbian government.
If I had to describe the actual ruins of La Ciudad Perdida in one word it would be indescribable.
If I had two words to describe the trek there and back it would be fucking intense.
Warning - Parents of you cont to read you cant get mad :)
First, understand that this trip was in fact very dangerous due to the fact that FARC (gorrillas that kidnapped people) was still present and the actual trek that we had to endure was not safe. As a matter of fact before we began our guide told us that id we were bitten by a snake then it was pretty much game over.
The trek there started and ended with our transport breaking down in the middle of the jungle and having to wait for about an hour each time to get the mobile unit they called a car started. No cell phones. No triple A. No help, nothing! Just a shit ton of cliffs and jungle. On our way there the police stopped us and told us to have a good time and enjoy Columbia and it´s beauty. About ten minutes later we saw two indigenous people beating the shit out of each other right next to the highway.....Yep the beauty of Columbia..
The trek was about 40 kilomenters which is about 25 or so miles which doesnt seem too bad when it is split up into 4 and a half days. But it was some intense and insane trek! The inclines were long and at about a 45 degree angle. Literally we would walk straight up for about an hour then down and right back up again. Once you thought you were done with an incline you would turn the corner and see that you were not even close. I swear I passed heaven bc I climbed to hight! There is no treadmill that can create or train you for the kind of incline that we climbed! My calves can crack walnuts now. It would get so steep that you would have to kinda crawl up. Mind you, too, that I had a 20 pound pack on my back. And of course what comes up must come down! We had to crawl down the steep slopes as well. There were tons of loose rocks which caused ample amount of rolled ankles. You would here someone in front of you or behind you yell ´shit´and you would just say careful and continue. However my knees are killing me and my quads scream when I try to sit down to use the bathroom. It doesnt matter though because once you got to the top the view of the mountains were breath taking which made the pain and frustration worth it.
It was either burning hot or pouring torentail rain. When it rained our quazi trail would turn into a stream and the streams we had to cross would turn into swift rapids. We would have to grab onto each other´s hands to cross in waist deep water. At the beginning we would take our shoes off but after the first day we accepted that our shoes would not stay dry or clean. So, we would stomp through deep, I mean almost knee deep, mud and wade/swim through the snake infested rivers with our kicks on. And btw Nike shocks are not made for hiking. The rain was my favorite part. It was so cleaning. It was almost a sexy and freeing feeling. However, I was not so sexy! You{ll see soon from the pics. The question of falling wasnt What if I slip and fall? but When I slip how I fall? Each day we started with dry clothes and ended with clothes dripping with water, sweat, mud and cow manuer. My deoderant lasted for about 45 minutes as did my insect repellant. I took two showers while I was there and both were in the river. To add to the misery, on one of the days my stomach had a wretched pain. It lasted for a while and did not subside so I went to the bathroom (in the jungle)
And what to my wondering eyes should appear
but my period coming loud and clear!
On the second day we went to an OLD cocaine factory. When they said factory I expected a building with maybe AC and I dont know a sign that said cocaine here. When we got there it was a tarp with 4 sticks holding it up. Obviously I did not try or buy but it was more of a history lesson on what was really going on in Columbia and a chemistry lesson on how to make cocaine using acids and bases. The actual ´factory´is not longer in use as much and the guy, who wouldnt allow pictures for fear of getting caught, is now a coffee farmer and much happier.
Our tour group meshed with another tour group and we had such a grood time. It was about 12 people from 6 different coutries helping each other get through the climb. We all got along superbly and were sad to say bye at the end of the trip. Lots of rapport and TONS of laughs. It is amazing at how fast strangers can connect after hiking together for only a couple of hours. Our conversations went from shallow to deep quite quickly!
The nights were actually the best part of the trip. Nights were spent looking at the stars and playing cards for HOURS by candle light (there was no electricity), dodging hundreds of bugs and applying liters of ineffective bug spray. You should see my legs! Each night we slept by a spring that was so close you could hear it while falling asleep. When the sun finally set hundreds and hundreds of fire flies would come out and stay out. It was stunningly beautiful to see the millions of stars above and the fire flies lighting up the sky. We slept in hammocks with mosquito nets drapping over us. Each night I put on bug spray and burritoed myself inside a thick blanket. And, each night several mischievous cricket size mosquitos crept through my net, up in my hammock and tip toed in my thick blanket to eat my ankles and legs. Pretty persistant bugs.
The most difficult and def most dangerous part of the trip was the day before and day of the trek entering the city. The trail turned into huge rocks that you had to scale and jump through and over. If you fell you would fall about 30 feet. Each step and climb there was a constant reminder to look for snakes. It wasnt until we were half way done with the trip that we found out that lots of people get injured or dont make it to the top. The Lost City was amazing and very well guarded by the Columbian government. We had to walk up 1200 loose, rocky, mossy, wet and rediculously small steps to get into the city. The Incas were so smart and efficient. They actually had a rock that they carved in the map of the city. The view was amazing and the guides told us that there was still tons that was not discovered. The Interent cafe is about to close to I ave to hurry and I could go on for hours about the city. Ask the the next time you see me. Shoot I know there is so much more I could write!!!
I absolutely loved LOVED this adventure and would do it all over again. The challenge was enbracing and refreshing. It was so so so so so much fun!!! I enjoyed everything right down to each mosquito bite! I plan on finding places in Austin to hike and doing other hikes in other countries to come.
We leave tomorrow for Cartegena for a couple of days then to Cali!
I hope you all get to release your inhibitions and live with your arms open!
Cassi
Sunday, June 27, 2010
swimming in clouds
A story which describes one of the reasons I love to travel:
On the last night at Galapagos Alica and I decided to go out dancing. After we bounced from one bar bc it had too many white people danicng to Cher we found one that was full of Ecuadorians and tons of Salsa. It was fun even though the guys were about 5´2 and 100 pounds wet. As the bar closed the guys that we were dancing with leaned over and asked ´quieren venir a mi casa para tomar una copa de vino´? Translated into English: Do you both want to come to my house for a glass of wine? Translated from male to female: Lets sleep together! I may even have some wine. WASN´T HAPPENING! As we were leaving it started to pour outside. So we kicked off our shoes and started to run back to our hostel. However, as we were running and completely drenched we noticed a restaurant open and celebrating something. They had drinks and food; both of which interested me at the time. It was odd though bc all bars and rests were suppose to be closed. Alicia and I opened the cracked door and I told them in Spanish that I like to celebrate things, too! Immediately we had two drinks and two seats with the group of about 20 Ecuadorians. We talked, laughed and danced until 4 in the morning. The group was such a blast and were so inviting. They were celebrating their 3 year anniversary of the rest being open. I looked over at Alicia at one point in the night and she said ´this is so much better than wine´and I couldn´t have agreed more!
Alicia left on Friday :( and I met up with Laura on that same day in Quito.
Mindo:
I LOVE this city! We arrived in Mindo on Saturday. It can be bestly describes as a forest inside the clouds. You know when you look at a mountain and the top is really cloudy? Well, I am in that couldy part. Everything is so earthy. green and clean. Our hostel is so enchanting. It is like staying in the Swiss Family Robinsons house. To get into our beds we climb stairs, open a trap door, and arrive in a wall less and open area. OUR ROOM! We have to sleep with mosquito nets bc bugs are everywhere. However falling asleep to insects chirping and a water fall bubbling in the background and waking up to the birds singing is so inexplainably peaceful. This morning Laura and I went on about a 9km (total) hike to see waterfalls. Then we walked and did a 13 line canopy tour. This is my 3rd country to do a zip line and I must say that it is tied with Costa Rica. I have footage and pics that I will upload later. The guides let us do all sorts of fun tricks since Laura and I knew what we were doing. After, we walked back into town, drank fresh fruit bebidas and went to a chocolate store where I bought cocoa beans. (Nicole you would have loved it) They are so YUM! They take the beans then toast and peel them. There is no sugar added so it is just wholesome good for you cocoa. Later I have a massage and more ceviche.
Columbia:
I told my parents that I was going to Columbia and my mom tells me that if I get kidnapped to tell them I am a teacher and they aren´t going to get very much money. If you know me even a tiny bit then you know I pull the teacher card as often as possible to get discounts or out of speeding tickets. So if I get kidnapped we´ll see if the teacher card still works! Laura and I will be traveling for the next 60 hours by bus. We leave tomorrow morning at 5 from Mindo to Quito (2.5 hours), Quito to the border (6 hours), the border of Columbia to Cali (12 hours), Cali to Tegenga (30 hours). We will arrive sometime around Wednesday afternoon. I´m really excited! We are going up north then working our way down. We both discovered that we dive so that is def on our to do list. We plan on hitting up Cartenga, Cali, Medina, Tegenga, Baranquilla (Shakira`s hometown) and maybe Bogota.
I dont like white people:
Yes I know `Cassi you´re white`. Mostly, tourists are great company and are facinating! However, I get annoyed with loud large groups of white people. Also I got into an argument today with a terribly misinformed American this morning. First off he was playing Soldier Boy as loud as possible in one of the most tranquel places on the planet. (I told him to turn it off but when I wanted to go to a rave, do a bunch of drugs and dance he and his ipod would be notified). He then interrupts our breakfast to tell us how he is starting a nonprofit here in Mindo and shows us his ´business plan´. Basically, he told us that he was going to get Google to pass out a bunch of lap tops to the very very poor children that live here. And, by do so it owuld eliminate the poverty completely. I told him that giving a poor child a laptop only changes him to a poor child with an asset. He didnt understand that education was the missing link to helping a town. He also said that we should put collars on rabid dogs in town. Yes, bc putting collars on them will.....? Did that work for Old Yeller? Shoot the damn dog! He made no sense. The debate lasted a while but there is no point in writing all about it. He was an idiot and sadly from my same country.
Getting hit on doesnt get on my nerves:
I often hear people say `ugh I hate how men are in Latin American countries´. Honestly, mi vida, reina, amor, and guapa are perfectly acceptable terms of endearment at any given time.
A whole new type of dirty:
In the states, I´ll wear something one day and deem it dirty. When you travel, cleaniness is a horse of a different color. The spectrum totally changes. Showers are few and far between and clothing is worn at least twice before it goes into the `dirty´compartment in my back pack. For instance, Ill shower tonight and then next time I´ll change and shower will be on Wednesday night. Yea it sounds gross but it is perfectly accpetable in backpacker land.
If all goes well then I will be extending my trip. I hope to come back to Ecuador mid July, flirt around Ecuador for another week and a half, then bus it down to Northern Peru. I won´t have time or the patience on another bus to make it Machu Pichu. (that would be another 60 hours or so) sO I will need to come back to Peru at some point in time to visit the rest of the country.
Remember, life should be fun. Yes, a certain level of deep work at the same time. And working towards loving yourself. Finding the tools that aid you in doing this and making the commitment once you have these tools in hand. But all the while, maintaining a lightness of being and the ability to laugh.
I hope all is well with everyone!
Cass
On the last night at Galapagos Alica and I decided to go out dancing. After we bounced from one bar bc it had too many white people danicng to Cher we found one that was full of Ecuadorians and tons of Salsa. It was fun even though the guys were about 5´2 and 100 pounds wet. As the bar closed the guys that we were dancing with leaned over and asked ´quieren venir a mi casa para tomar una copa de vino´? Translated into English: Do you both want to come to my house for a glass of wine? Translated from male to female: Lets sleep together! I may even have some wine. WASN´T HAPPENING! As we were leaving it started to pour outside. So we kicked off our shoes and started to run back to our hostel. However, as we were running and completely drenched we noticed a restaurant open and celebrating something. They had drinks and food; both of which interested me at the time. It was odd though bc all bars and rests were suppose to be closed. Alicia and I opened the cracked door and I told them in Spanish that I like to celebrate things, too! Immediately we had two drinks and two seats with the group of about 20 Ecuadorians. We talked, laughed and danced until 4 in the morning. The group was such a blast and were so inviting. They were celebrating their 3 year anniversary of the rest being open. I looked over at Alicia at one point in the night and she said ´this is so much better than wine´and I couldn´t have agreed more!
Alicia left on Friday :( and I met up with Laura on that same day in Quito.
Mindo:
I LOVE this city! We arrived in Mindo on Saturday. It can be bestly describes as a forest inside the clouds. You know when you look at a mountain and the top is really cloudy? Well, I am in that couldy part. Everything is so earthy. green and clean. Our hostel is so enchanting. It is like staying in the Swiss Family Robinsons house. To get into our beds we climb stairs, open a trap door, and arrive in a wall less and open area. OUR ROOM! We have to sleep with mosquito nets bc bugs are everywhere. However falling asleep to insects chirping and a water fall bubbling in the background and waking up to the birds singing is so inexplainably peaceful. This morning Laura and I went on about a 9km (total) hike to see waterfalls. Then we walked and did a 13 line canopy tour. This is my 3rd country to do a zip line and I must say that it is tied with Costa Rica. I have footage and pics that I will upload later. The guides let us do all sorts of fun tricks since Laura and I knew what we were doing. After, we walked back into town, drank fresh fruit bebidas and went to a chocolate store where I bought cocoa beans. (Nicole you would have loved it) They are so YUM! They take the beans then toast and peel them. There is no sugar added so it is just wholesome good for you cocoa. Later I have a massage and more ceviche.
Columbia:
I told my parents that I was going to Columbia and my mom tells me that if I get kidnapped to tell them I am a teacher and they aren´t going to get very much money. If you know me even a tiny bit then you know I pull the teacher card as often as possible to get discounts or out of speeding tickets. So if I get kidnapped we´ll see if the teacher card still works! Laura and I will be traveling for the next 60 hours by bus. We leave tomorrow morning at 5 from Mindo to Quito (2.5 hours), Quito to the border (6 hours), the border of Columbia to Cali (12 hours), Cali to Tegenga (30 hours). We will arrive sometime around Wednesday afternoon. I´m really excited! We are going up north then working our way down. We both discovered that we dive so that is def on our to do list. We plan on hitting up Cartenga, Cali, Medina, Tegenga, Baranquilla (Shakira`s hometown) and maybe Bogota.
I dont like white people:
Yes I know `Cassi you´re white`. Mostly, tourists are great company and are facinating! However, I get annoyed with loud large groups of white people. Also I got into an argument today with a terribly misinformed American this morning. First off he was playing Soldier Boy as loud as possible in one of the most tranquel places on the planet. (I told him to turn it off but when I wanted to go to a rave, do a bunch of drugs and dance he and his ipod would be notified). He then interrupts our breakfast to tell us how he is starting a nonprofit here in Mindo and shows us his ´business plan´. Basically, he told us that he was going to get Google to pass out a bunch of lap tops to the very very poor children that live here. And, by do so it owuld eliminate the poverty completely. I told him that giving a poor child a laptop only changes him to a poor child with an asset. He didnt understand that education was the missing link to helping a town. He also said that we should put collars on rabid dogs in town. Yes, bc putting collars on them will.....? Did that work for Old Yeller? Shoot the damn dog! He made no sense. The debate lasted a while but there is no point in writing all about it. He was an idiot and sadly from my same country.
Getting hit on doesnt get on my nerves:
I often hear people say `ugh I hate how men are in Latin American countries´. Honestly, mi vida, reina, amor, and guapa are perfectly acceptable terms of endearment at any given time.
A whole new type of dirty:
In the states, I´ll wear something one day and deem it dirty. When you travel, cleaniness is a horse of a different color. The spectrum totally changes. Showers are few and far between and clothing is worn at least twice before it goes into the `dirty´compartment in my back pack. For instance, Ill shower tonight and then next time I´ll change and shower will be on Wednesday night. Yea it sounds gross but it is perfectly accpetable in backpacker land.
If all goes well then I will be extending my trip. I hope to come back to Ecuador mid July, flirt around Ecuador for another week and a half, then bus it down to Northern Peru. I won´t have time or the patience on another bus to make it Machu Pichu. (that would be another 60 hours or so) sO I will need to come back to Peru at some point in time to visit the rest of the country.
Remember, life should be fun. Yes, a certain level of deep work at the same time. And working towards loving yourself. Finding the tools that aid you in doing this and making the commitment once you have these tools in hand. But all the while, maintaining a lightness of being and the ability to laugh.
I hope all is well with everyone!
Cass
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
This place is spectacular!
Oh where to start!
I LOVE this country! Ecuador is a glass full of culture mixed with beautiful people, terrain and outstanding ceviche.
I am here and safe! The first part of the trip I was in Puerto Lopez, a lazy fishing village, to see the whales. The immesity of the whales that we followed is indescribable. You know how bigger men aren´t really graceful, can´t dance and they walk funny? You would think that such a large animal would have trouble manuvering their large bodies (like men) out of the water. It is quite the contrary. Whales would gracefully spring from the water and dance in the waves. At first I thought ´great we just spent a ton of money to look at water.`But out of nowhere these huge, people huge, whales would pop up next to our boat. We spent hours following and finding about 30 whales. It was incredible! The town that day actually had a whale parade to celebrate the opening of the season. It is slightly comparable to Austin`s batfest but bigger. However, batfest is not as cool as whales. We got scammed out of some money and as I was arguing with the Captain we (meaning just Alicia, myself, and the skipper too) were out in the middle of the ocean and no one knew where we were. I thought ´what a perfect place to kill a gringa.` So I let the people take their money.
After Puerto Lopez we went to Guayquil to get ready for the Galapagos islands!!!!!
When I arrived I was a bit taken back at what I saw. I have to admit that the islands were not as I anticipated. My imagination of tropical paradise was replaced with moon like craters and eroding lava. My imagination of giant, shady trees was replaced with cacti and tangled, sporatic brush. But, there is no other place in the world like the Galapagos Islands. And even though it wasn´t exactly what I expected it was just as beautiful... There I swam with huge sea turtles, sea lions, penguins, sting rays, sharks and fish that looked like Skittles. I saw pink flamingos and hundreds of land iguanas. The animals were so tame. I walked up to a mother sea lion nursing her pup on two different ocasions and she didn´t budge. While snorkeling fish don´t scamper away. I floated literally on top of a sea turtle while a sea lion did barrel rolls in between our group. Birds do not fly away. I have tons of great pictures of birds and I´m not even a bird person. They have this ok white girl take your pics and move on attitude. I do love their attitude. As a matter of fact, when returning to our boat one afternoon, a sea lion had perched itself on the deck of our boat. The crew tried to hose it down but it enjoyed the fresh water instead of being bothered by it. So it stayed on our boat for hours basking in the sun. Yesterday though, a male sea lion charged our group bc we were too close to his ´women´ ;). There were about 12 sea lions lying in the sun and while we were taking pictures this huge (about my height and the size of five Japaneese Sumo wrestlers) bounced out of the water, made tons of noise and layed down in between our group and the females. As this was happening our guide told us to back up slowly. So I took a few steps closer and video taped it while laughing at his territorialness. However, we went snorkeling about 40 minutes after that occurence in the same spot and I nearly shit myself fear. Now that I am certified to dive I think that snorkeling is like a teenager with their license still driving with their parents in the car. Its still fun but the amount of freedom is limited.We went to about 5 different islands and each island had a different color sand - black, white, red, brown, and coral (rocks). The govenment protects the islands 100 percent. So much that you can´t carry sand from one island to the other. So we have to be brushed and sprayed before getting on the boat to insure our sand is off. The sand feels like powdered sugar.
At night we had lots of time to read and hang out while we traveled from one island to the next. Alicia and I really lucked out and got to be on a fun boat with lots of positive energy. One of my most favorite things to do is look at the stars. Most of the nights I spent aboard the ship were spent on top of the deck looking at the stars and the different constellations in the Southern Hemisphere. I like to spin under the stars. Spin like a little girl in her new Easter dress. All of a sudden the stars and the enorminty of the world becomes your own personal kaleidescope.
Traveling builds a lot of character. So I have a list of tihngs that I realize about myself. One of them (no you don`t get to know all of them) is that I have learned that I dont get sea sick. As a matter of fact I played `run around the boat and see who spills the least amount of coffee`with another guy on the trip while everyone was throwing up. I actually find the waves and the rocking exhilerating!
I took tons of pictures and hopefully I can post the ones from the islands later today. I must warn you that I have showered about three times since Thursday. I look like a gypsy but I love it. I feel the most free the wilder my hair is! I have tons more to write but that would take too long. Ill tell more stories later.
Tomorrow I go to Quito, say good bye to Alicia, then meet up with Laura to begin our adventure together. We aren´t sure of our plans but Columbia is in them as well as a cloud forest.
I hope all is well to each of you.
I´m safe and building character!
Cassi
I LOVE this country! Ecuador is a glass full of culture mixed with beautiful people, terrain and outstanding ceviche.
I am here and safe! The first part of the trip I was in Puerto Lopez, a lazy fishing village, to see the whales. The immesity of the whales that we followed is indescribable. You know how bigger men aren´t really graceful, can´t dance and they walk funny? You would think that such a large animal would have trouble manuvering their large bodies (like men) out of the water. It is quite the contrary. Whales would gracefully spring from the water and dance in the waves. At first I thought ´great we just spent a ton of money to look at water.`But out of nowhere these huge, people huge, whales would pop up next to our boat. We spent hours following and finding about 30 whales. It was incredible! The town that day actually had a whale parade to celebrate the opening of the season. It is slightly comparable to Austin`s batfest but bigger. However, batfest is not as cool as whales. We got scammed out of some money and as I was arguing with the Captain we (meaning just Alicia, myself, and the skipper too) were out in the middle of the ocean and no one knew where we were. I thought ´what a perfect place to kill a gringa.` So I let the people take their money.
After Puerto Lopez we went to Guayquil to get ready for the Galapagos islands!!!!!
When I arrived I was a bit taken back at what I saw. I have to admit that the islands were not as I anticipated. My imagination of tropical paradise was replaced with moon like craters and eroding lava. My imagination of giant, shady trees was replaced with cacti and tangled, sporatic brush. But, there is no other place in the world like the Galapagos Islands. And even though it wasn´t exactly what I expected it was just as beautiful... There I swam with huge sea turtles, sea lions, penguins, sting rays, sharks and fish that looked like Skittles. I saw pink flamingos and hundreds of land iguanas. The animals were so tame. I walked up to a mother sea lion nursing her pup on two different ocasions and she didn´t budge. While snorkeling fish don´t scamper away. I floated literally on top of a sea turtle while a sea lion did barrel rolls in between our group. Birds do not fly away. I have tons of great pictures of birds and I´m not even a bird person. They have this ok white girl take your pics and move on attitude. I do love their attitude. As a matter of fact, when returning to our boat one afternoon, a sea lion had perched itself on the deck of our boat. The crew tried to hose it down but it enjoyed the fresh water instead of being bothered by it. So it stayed on our boat for hours basking in the sun. Yesterday though, a male sea lion charged our group bc we were too close to his ´women´ ;). There were about 12 sea lions lying in the sun and while we were taking pictures this huge (about my height and the size of five Japaneese Sumo wrestlers) bounced out of the water, made tons of noise and layed down in between our group and the females. As this was happening our guide told us to back up slowly. So I took a few steps closer and video taped it while laughing at his territorialness. However, we went snorkeling about 40 minutes after that occurence in the same spot and I nearly shit myself fear. Now that I am certified to dive I think that snorkeling is like a teenager with their license still driving with their parents in the car. Its still fun but the amount of freedom is limited.We went to about 5 different islands and each island had a different color sand - black, white, red, brown, and coral (rocks). The govenment protects the islands 100 percent. So much that you can´t carry sand from one island to the other. So we have to be brushed and sprayed before getting on the boat to insure our sand is off. The sand feels like powdered sugar.
At night we had lots of time to read and hang out while we traveled from one island to the next. Alicia and I really lucked out and got to be on a fun boat with lots of positive energy. One of my most favorite things to do is look at the stars. Most of the nights I spent aboard the ship were spent on top of the deck looking at the stars and the different constellations in the Southern Hemisphere. I like to spin under the stars. Spin like a little girl in her new Easter dress. All of a sudden the stars and the enorminty of the world becomes your own personal kaleidescope.
Traveling builds a lot of character. So I have a list of tihngs that I realize about myself. One of them (no you don`t get to know all of them) is that I have learned that I dont get sea sick. As a matter of fact I played `run around the boat and see who spills the least amount of coffee`with another guy on the trip while everyone was throwing up. I actually find the waves and the rocking exhilerating!
I took tons of pictures and hopefully I can post the ones from the islands later today. I must warn you that I have showered about three times since Thursday. I look like a gypsy but I love it. I feel the most free the wilder my hair is! I have tons more to write but that would take too long. Ill tell more stories later.
Tomorrow I go to Quito, say good bye to Alicia, then meet up with Laura to begin our adventure together. We aren´t sure of our plans but Columbia is in them as well as a cloud forest.
I hope all is well to each of you.
I´m safe and building character!
Cassi
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Before trip jitters
Before each trip there is always the 'crap what is something bad happens' jitters. The 'what ifs' range from missing your flights to being robbed or even worse. I remember when I left to live in Costa Rica. I was terrified. I told myself not to talk because I would cry and my dad would turn the car around and not take me to the airport. So there I sat the entire ride to the airport grabbing on to the the side of the car, reminding myself to breathe. That experience was the best experience in my life. No other words can describe it or would be able to. Repeatedly, I have heard people say to me ' I wish that I could be like you or I wish I could just up and leave to another country'. It isn't that I am some super hero that fears nothing. Most of the things that I do in life that are considered out of the ordinary are terrifying to me. I just make myself do it. I refuse to give something up simply because I am scared. I just grab on to the side of life and remind myself to breathe. Of course it isn't all peaches and cream but by working through the unknown, I got to know myself. I titled my website 'traveling opens the mind' because I truly believe that in order to completely know yourself and where you came from you MUST first know others and where they come from. In addition to that, understanding your individuality comes from studying yourself when you are out of your comfort zone and in someone else's.
Welcome to my experience. This blog is to tell you about my experiences and stories abroad but mostly it's purpose is to remind me in the months to come of my memories and to reinforce travel. Let me warn you now; I don't want to spend my entire day typing on the computer. It's expensive and I want to be as withdrawn as possible. So spell check and grammar checks are prohibited! If it doesn't make sense then figure it out. Also and most importantly - I do not plan on censoring my blog. My blog - my experiences - my words.
Welcome to my experience. This blog is to tell you about my experiences and stories abroad but mostly it's purpose is to remind me in the months to come of my memories and to reinforce travel. Let me warn you now; I don't want to spend my entire day typing on the computer. It's expensive and I want to be as withdrawn as possible. So spell check and grammar checks are prohibited! If it doesn't make sense then figure it out. Also and most importantly - I do not plan on censoring my blog. My blog - my experiences - my words.
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