February 24th, 2010: The dirty man obviously does not work for the National Park Service as he stands in front of the trail for the waterfalls and hisses, "It is dangerous...", trying to get me to hire him for a guide and bodyguard. He was missing his two front teeth...either he is ineffective in helping people or just never got his two front teeth for christmas from santa clause because he has not been a good boy. Okay...I heard that dangerous line before, another man feasting off peoples fears. I told him, no thank you and stepped off the trail and walked around him thinking that he was not going to do anything to stop anyone nor did I need a tour in spanish. The others that he stopped moments before were walking away because they did not know how to get around the troll. Seeing me pass, they too made a run for it following me down the trail.
Seeing one of Venezuela´s largest caves I was not too impressed. They were missing the high tech lighting, head sets and a concession stand in the center for those who might get a bit thirsty from all the walking. So it wasn't spectacular visually but the noises of the main resident which is the Guacharo bird was quite amazing. It was different hearing their loud screams and seeing them flying around in a bat like fashion from far far far into the mouth of the cave while I am use to seeing bats and hearing their small squeaks. There were other creatures that roamed about the cave. There was a large amount of blind rats and huge hand sized crabs...yes, this seemed strange having to watch out for them on the trail in a cave and not to step on the crabs let alone step on a blind rat. The guide stated they were blind...I am not sure about that but, he did wave his hands in front of a rat face perched up on a rock and it did not doing anything - it could have be just...just...dumb.
It took me a very long time to get to the caves and waterfalls. Not because of the distance, but because of my cheapness. I tried to get a local bus for $0.25 but after a hour of no success, I ended up just paying the $2.50 for the 12km cab ride. I did get a local bus back which involved a 2km workout walking down hill - I am exhausted just writing about it.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Monday, February 22, 2010
Trinidad and drinking...
February 22, 2010: At the airport heading to Trinidad, I witnessed a 70 year old man who sort of looked like an old version of Benny Hill get sucker punched by a 30 year old drunk tattooed man with the ink running up his neck at the Venezuelan airport. The youngster obviously drank too many beers with the scantily dressed woman in a bikini printed on the can - I truthfully think the woman on the can told him to do it. And no these people were not from South America...they were from somewhere in the European Union - probably France - laughing.
The past 2.5 weeks have been mighty insane on the Anthony´s craziness scale. It seems to me that Trinidad and drinking fits quite nicely in the same sentence. Too much to write and to make sense at the same time when paying by the minute at this internet facility so I am going to just write it out and not look back at edits and entertainment value. If you noticed, I stopped with the short stories...it takes me too long preventing me from getting out and getting myself more stories, but most of all it doesn't pay me anything. I will build on those stories another day in another country where it is cheap to travel and to rest a while. Venezuela has not been the cheapest place to be so far.
At about 3 in the morning on the day of Carnival, I put on my clothing made for wife beaters and headed to the streets with a freshly shaved head covering my body in what seemed to be industrial grade paint as I staggered down the streets from the over consumption of alcohol. I then obnoxiously humped my friend, her sister, her mother and didnt want to leave her aunt out so I humped her too. The people in Trinidad call in wining but it is clearly humping...sort of dry humping doggy style. Now that I look back I laugh and am slightly embarrassed wanting to blame it on the alcohol or on how early this party started but I am not going to do it because it was neither...it was the spirit of the Carnival that made me do it and I am...sticking to it.
Went to several parties during the week that had a start time of about 9pm and an unknown end time since the old ones could not make it till past 3am. When we were leaving it seemed that the parties were somehow getting bigger. It could have been due to my double vision though. I do remember an unforgettable sight. It was of a 300 pound woman shaking her wet cheesy butt in spandex and she somehow, pulled off a spectacular gymnast / stripper move...the splits. The crowd went wild.
For two days during carnival I watched scantily dressed women ranging from pencil like bodies to jumbo sized markers participate in an enormous hump fest in the middle of the streets at impressive angles and heights. Here I was able to see my first butt implant. It was so amazing I had to take a photo. I can not believe doctors are allowed to do such a thing. It was seriously disgusting.
When night time came, I would go back to my friends place sleeping in a room of horror film stature as the 50 or so dolls that lined the walls and rested in the crib would stare at me. They did not move or even blink...when my eyes were open. I later found out that the women who lives here told a young girl that the dolls talk to her - gulp. Maybe it was the dolls that did something to my eyes at night as I peacefully slept. I would wake up in the morning and the were seriously sealed shut by some yellow glue-like substance. Thinking about it...maybe it was the residuals from an possible eye infection when I dipped my head in a wheel barrel of paint at that one party in the wee hours of the morning - carnival spirit.
Staying at a house on another island for a few days, it felt like some posh survival / summer camp. I learned a lot of new things here, starting with a few techniques from the cutest older woman who would tend to the family when on the islands. These techniques might take away profits from the pharmaceutical companies so they of coarse dont want you to know this. For example, if you are feeling sick...have a male pee in a cup, add some salt and drink it. Another one is that if you have a headache...no problem, have a male pee on a towel and gently place on your head. Unwilling to try it myself, I will be happy to provide anyone with some medicinal fluids for a small cost.
I was also taken out by one of the neighbors and taught how to spearfish. At first I was all gung-ho about the sport but when out there...I didnt want to kill anything. I realized I would rather order something already prepared if I want to eat fish and not kill it myself. This is why the McFish sandwich at McDonalds is sometime such a good option for those who are not barbarians and want to support the locals economy.
From my friends house I was able to do some snorkeling. Here I would tease the jelly fish by pushing on the mushroom top head until I was painfully kissed on the ankle by one of them. I dont typically drink too many fluids so I did not have enough medicinal fluids to douse the fire like burn nor did I want to ask for any assistance.
The past two weeks I did not do as much studying of spanish as I would have liked. I had hard enough of a time trying to understand the Bob Marley like accents coming from the locals. It was kind of strange seeing a white guy speaking like Mr. Bob Marley himself without the dreads or a splif resting between his lips.
Just arrived back to Venezuela yesterday evening, I must say that I really do miss Trinidad. Not so much the country, but the friends I made. Today is my first full day back on the road and I am excited to get out of the sand and into the mountains and deltas. No more beaches until Peru and that should will be a while - Yahoo!
The past 2.5 weeks have been mighty insane on the Anthony´s craziness scale. It seems to me that Trinidad and drinking fits quite nicely in the same sentence. Too much to write and to make sense at the same time when paying by the minute at this internet facility so I am going to just write it out and not look back at edits and entertainment value. If you noticed, I stopped with the short stories...it takes me too long preventing me from getting out and getting myself more stories, but most of all it doesn't pay me anything. I will build on those stories another day in another country where it is cheap to travel and to rest a while. Venezuela has not been the cheapest place to be so far.
At about 3 in the morning on the day of Carnival, I put on my clothing made for wife beaters and headed to the streets with a freshly shaved head covering my body in what seemed to be industrial grade paint as I staggered down the streets from the over consumption of alcohol. I then obnoxiously humped my friend, her sister, her mother and didnt want to leave her aunt out so I humped her too. The people in Trinidad call in wining but it is clearly humping...sort of dry humping doggy style. Now that I look back I laugh and am slightly embarrassed wanting to blame it on the alcohol or on how early this party started but I am not going to do it because it was neither...it was the spirit of the Carnival that made me do it and I am...sticking to it.
Went to several parties during the week that had a start time of about 9pm and an unknown end time since the old ones could not make it till past 3am. When we were leaving it seemed that the parties were somehow getting bigger. It could have been due to my double vision though. I do remember an unforgettable sight. It was of a 300 pound woman shaking her wet cheesy butt in spandex and she somehow, pulled off a spectacular gymnast / stripper move...the splits. The crowd went wild.
For two days during carnival I watched scantily dressed women ranging from pencil like bodies to jumbo sized markers participate in an enormous hump fest in the middle of the streets at impressive angles and heights. Here I was able to see my first butt implant. It was so amazing I had to take a photo. I can not believe doctors are allowed to do such a thing. It was seriously disgusting.
When night time came, I would go back to my friends place sleeping in a room of horror film stature as the 50 or so dolls that lined the walls and rested in the crib would stare at me. They did not move or even blink...when my eyes were open. I later found out that the women who lives here told a young girl that the dolls talk to her - gulp. Maybe it was the dolls that did something to my eyes at night as I peacefully slept. I would wake up in the morning and the were seriously sealed shut by some yellow glue-like substance. Thinking about it...maybe it was the residuals from an possible eye infection when I dipped my head in a wheel barrel of paint at that one party in the wee hours of the morning - carnival spirit.
Staying at a house on another island for a few days, it felt like some posh survival / summer camp. I learned a lot of new things here, starting with a few techniques from the cutest older woman who would tend to the family when on the islands. These techniques might take away profits from the pharmaceutical companies so they of coarse dont want you to know this. For example, if you are feeling sick...have a male pee in a cup, add some salt and drink it. Another one is that if you have a headache...no problem, have a male pee on a towel and gently place on your head. Unwilling to try it myself, I will be happy to provide anyone with some medicinal fluids for a small cost.
I was also taken out by one of the neighbors and taught how to spearfish. At first I was all gung-ho about the sport but when out there...I didnt want to kill anything. I realized I would rather order something already prepared if I want to eat fish and not kill it myself. This is why the McFish sandwich at McDonalds is sometime such a good option for those who are not barbarians and want to support the locals economy.
From my friends house I was able to do some snorkeling. Here I would tease the jelly fish by pushing on the mushroom top head until I was painfully kissed on the ankle by one of them. I dont typically drink too many fluids so I did not have enough medicinal fluids to douse the fire like burn nor did I want to ask for any assistance.
The past two weeks I did not do as much studying of spanish as I would have liked. I had hard enough of a time trying to understand the Bob Marley like accents coming from the locals. It was kind of strange seeing a white guy speaking like Mr. Bob Marley himself without the dreads or a splif resting between his lips.
Just arrived back to Venezuela yesterday evening, I must say that I really do miss Trinidad. Not so much the country, but the friends I made. Today is my first full day back on the road and I am excited to get out of the sand and into the mountains and deltas. No more beaches until Peru and that should will be a while - Yahoo!
Thursday, February 4, 2010
I am an Addict
I am an Addict. This is the first step to recovery so I am told, so today I am telling you that I have a problem and I need help for the sake of if I want to live till I am a ripe ole age of 40, I must get help. I am addicted to...McDonald´s and Ronald himself is my dealer. I find myself taking a 30 minute bus ride out to this town every night to get my fix. Due to the expense, I am skipping lunch to make up the cost for the dinner. My mouth salivates just writing about it. When I was at home, McDonald´s was not my first choice. In the US it would have been at Dinky´s - yep that damn chihuahua at Taco Bell was also giving me my fix. If it was him it was at that gingers place, Wendy´s.
Today will by my last meal at McDonald´s for I don't know how long. I am taking a flight to Trinidad going into detox and to meet up with the "Massy Girls" for Carnival. For some reason...I feel it is going to be a crazy next 2 1/2 weeks. I am not sure how easy it will be to get access to the internet at their house so until then...signing off.
Today will by my last meal at McDonald´s for I don't know how long. I am taking a flight to Trinidad going into detox and to meet up with the "Massy Girls" for Carnival. For some reason...I feel it is going to be a crazy next 2 1/2 weeks. I am not sure how easy it will be to get access to the internet at their house so until then...signing off.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Out and about in Margarita
February 2nd, 2010: no wonder why some kids have tantrums...they just don't have the vocabulary to say what the want. So they cry. I can verify the frustration as at times I feel as if I am never going to be able to speak spanish as a developed Cro-Magnon baby. It can make life exciting...but when it is not exciting, it is a little upsetting.
The Police here in Margarita seem to be not as friendly but still not bad. I feel like a kid, knowing the police suppose to be all big and tough as I attempt talking to them, smiling as they hold an expressionless face. Either they say nothing or just shake there heads up and down as the look forward with the dark tinted sunglasses on. They are probably thinking something is wrong with me because I suppose to be scared of them like everyone else.
Only in South America can you get on a full bus and have just enough space for one foot on the door platform as he pulls away to do his route. It is also nice to be able to get on and off whenever you want without having to wait for that designated bus spot.
The Police here in Margarita seem to be not as friendly but still not bad. I feel like a kid, knowing the police suppose to be all big and tough as I attempt talking to them, smiling as they hold an expressionless face. Either they say nothing or just shake there heads up and down as the look forward with the dark tinted sunglasses on. They are probably thinking something is wrong with me because I suppose to be scared of them like everyone else.
Only in South America can you get on a full bus and have just enough space for one foot on the door platform as he pulls away to do his route. It is also nice to be able to get on and off whenever you want without having to wait for that designated bus spot.
I wanted to kill...
February 1st, 2010: I wanted to kill...my first dog today - I didn't know how though. With my bare hands? A rope? A wooden stick? A lawn mower? A pen or perhaps a pencil? I could not make up my mind...so I didn't. I didn't help put him out of his misery even though he didn't look miserable. He had one ear and the skin from his head was missing so I could see a little less than half of his skull. It was...discussing and sad.
This country is full of mangy dogs spending most of their days chewing fleas too having uncensored sex in front of adults and even young children. I still laugh at when I was in Ecuador observing some hot unprotected sex in the middle of the street as traffic stopped not being able to get by - as an older boy was covering his younger brothers eyes.
This country is full of mangy dogs spending most of their days chewing fleas too having uncensored sex in front of adults and even young children. I still laugh at when I was in Ecuador observing some hot unprotected sex in the middle of the street as traffic stopped not being able to get by - as an older boy was covering his younger brothers eyes.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Problem...resolved
January 30th, 2009: My hotel room today is filled with not the scent of a garden of flowers, a woman or even the pleasant odor of mold, but strong smell of gasoline. After a while of sitting there and watching some documentary on how the United States is an evil country, the fumes were getting the best of me as I began to feel sick. I hesitantly went to the front desk manager twice to get rid of the odor or to change rooms. First, a man shut the window and said it was coming from outside. As time passed, I was feeling worse due to the thousands of innocent brain cells being slaughtered. After my second visit to the manager, this time a man brought incense and then poured half a gallon of some pleasant smelling blue chemical on the floor all over the room and left, not to return to mop it up - okay...but it worked. Putting on my flip flops, I carefully walked around my room the rest of the night...problem...resolved.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
