Showing posts with label Santa Marta. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Santa Marta. Show all posts
Monday, January 11, 2010
Venezuela or Bust
January 11th, 2010: I leave in 4 hours to go to Venezuela. I think I am pretty much ready to go except for lagging on sleep and hiding my money in anyplace I can think of…almost anyplace. I am feeling much better now that I have consumed McDonalds and made a reservation for a place to stay on my arrival to Coro. Not traveling with my computer or a lot of my other weight bearing comforts, I am beginning to get excited for a new adventure that wont completely set in until I cross the Venezuelan border. Goodbye Colombia and helloooooooo Venezuela! - Gulp…
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Preparing for war
January 2nd: Preparing to go to Venezuela. It feels as if I am preparing to go to war, since war stories is almost I hear. Ranging from Hugo Chavez, corrupt police, expensive accommodations, violent thieves, to the brain washed locals with hatred toward those from the U.S. Now the question is…is this just a few traveler stories that spiraled out of control or is it propaganda fueled by the western countries to keep travelers out of the country that wants to be explored? On January 11th, I will find out as I cross the border into the wild, wild east. Could someone really be that rude if you give them a big smile? Can it melt away the anger? We will see…
2010…Anthony’s Odyssey
January 1st, 2009: I Enjoyed New Years Eve at my friends house as I sat drinking soda (aka pop) when the others consumed Budweiser, a foreign beer company that amusingly claims on the can that it is the King of Beers – perhaps for those who enjoy drinking an expensive glass of urine.
Four minutes before it was really New Year’s…the drunkard with the concert sized speakers lining the outside of his house mistakenly started the New Year’s music too early. As if someone shot the first round in a crowd of trigger happy Infantryman…there was no stopping the song or the carnage of male hugs and women cheek kisses that filled the narrow streets of the caged compounds. It was nice to see how neighbors know their neighbors and are not locked into their houses but enjoying it with a much larger family. I really miss having quality neighbors such as in my youth…the sort of neighbors that felt like family members, not just someone who has no name and habitats the house next door.
Last night, I learned how to score 12 wishes in one night – a lot compared to the just one wish you get when you turn a year older. All you need is 12 grapes that represents 12 months and consume the grapes at midnight making one wish for each grape. I also discovered a way not to look like a pyromaniac and found an acceptable way to light on fire a pile of stuffed clothes resembling a human. This ritual is to get rid of all the bad things that happened in the previous year and to start a new year – and of course to give you a reason to light something bigger on fire than some firecrackers or a few sticks in a measly little ole fire pit.
When I see “2010” I can’t help but think about outer space due to the film, 2010 A Space Odyssey. When I was a child, I thought that 2010 was so far away…and now, it is 2010. Time does go faster than we would all like at times - so did the creator of 2010 who I suppose probably thought we would be much farther along in the exploration of space than we really are. I can safely say that the word “Odyssey” is a good representation of my life. Not just now, but since I was born life has been a long series of travels and adventures. Whether it has been spent sitting on the porch where I grew up in Allen Park or sitting on the street in some chaotic city in Asia - it doesn’t matter where I physically am. So welcome 2010 and to the continuation of my odyssey.
Four minutes before it was really New Year’s…the drunkard with the concert sized speakers lining the outside of his house mistakenly started the New Year’s music too early. As if someone shot the first round in a crowd of trigger happy Infantryman…there was no stopping the song or the carnage of male hugs and women cheek kisses that filled the narrow streets of the caged compounds. It was nice to see how neighbors know their neighbors and are not locked into their houses but enjoying it with a much larger family. I really miss having quality neighbors such as in my youth…the sort of neighbors that felt like family members, not just someone who has no name and habitats the house next door.
Last night, I learned how to score 12 wishes in one night – a lot compared to the just one wish you get when you turn a year older. All you need is 12 grapes that represents 12 months and consume the grapes at midnight making one wish for each grape. I also discovered a way not to look like a pyromaniac and found an acceptable way to light on fire a pile of stuffed clothes resembling a human. This ritual is to get rid of all the bad things that happened in the previous year and to start a new year – and of course to give you a reason to light something bigger on fire than some firecrackers or a few sticks in a measly little ole fire pit.
When I see “2010” I can’t help but think about outer space due to the film, 2010 A Space Odyssey. When I was a child, I thought that 2010 was so far away…and now, it is 2010. Time does go faster than we would all like at times - so did the creator of 2010 who I suppose probably thought we would be much farther along in the exploration of space than we really are. I can safely say that the word “Odyssey” is a good representation of my life. Not just now, but since I was born life has been a long series of travels and adventures. Whether it has been spent sitting on the porch where I grew up in Allen Park or sitting on the street in some chaotic city in Asia - it doesn’t matter where I physically am. So welcome 2010 and to the continuation of my odyssey.
Why not pee from the sandy shore?
December 28th, 2009: Today was perhaps the 2nd best beach I have been to since traveling. The beaches name was…Concha Something. My friend and I had to take a motorcycle…totaling three adults, two large backpacks and one helmet that was of course for the driver. Originally, I intended to take the safe confines of the back of a jeep but everyone kept getting motorcycle taxis since they didn’t have the patience to wait for the jeep to fill up. Not having time to call shotgun on the motorcycle, I had to mount the back seat having no extra space for my already tiny behind as it was almost hanging off, awaiting “that” bump to so unkindly eject me off as we traveled down the pot holed dirt road.
Having access to a $10 tent I was able to sleep in the comforts of the shade without the bugs – minus the bee that stung me in the chest after I messaged him into my skin as I applied sun screen without looking…ouch – as it swelled up destroying my 8 pack of imaginary abs.
The views in the ocean was not as spectacular at the views from outside the water. Shortly after drying my white pasty skin and bathing suit as an iguana would in the sun, I realized that I needed to go to the toilet. Thankfully it was just frontal fluids that needed to be released – but question is…where? With no known toilet I had to make a decision…should I go back into the water and get wet as I released my toxins or lift a leg and go on the nearest tree. Sitting there on the most beautiful beach I have yet to see in Colombia, I had to think about what difference would it make if I just stood on the sandy shore of the ocean and went directly into the water rather than entering the water to do it. Not wanting to get wet, to just have to dry off again, I decided to…get into the water and do it along side of the 100 others.
Having access to a $10 tent I was able to sleep in the comforts of the shade without the bugs – minus the bee that stung me in the chest after I messaged him into my skin as I applied sun screen without looking…ouch – as it swelled up destroying my 8 pack of imaginary abs.
The views in the ocean was not as spectacular at the views from outside the water. Shortly after drying my white pasty skin and bathing suit as an iguana would in the sun, I realized that I needed to go to the toilet. Thankfully it was just frontal fluids that needed to be released – but question is…where? With no known toilet I had to make a decision…should I go back into the water and get wet as I released my toxins or lift a leg and go on the nearest tree. Sitting there on the most beautiful beach I have yet to see in Colombia, I had to think about what difference would it make if I just stood on the sandy shore of the ocean and went directly into the water rather than entering the water to do it. Not wanting to get wet, to just have to dry off again, I decided to…get into the water and do it along side of the 100 others.
Friday, January 8, 2010
I believe in miracles!
December 24th, 2009: I saw a miracle today with my very own eyes!!!!! It was performed by an everyday teenager on his motorcycle taxi. A 300+pounder man with a gigantic butt that could devour a baby mounted his motorcycle wanting to be taken to some unknown destination. The bike almost performed a wheelie without moving. The driver of the motorcycle looked at me, wanting to laugh as I smiled back internally dying inside as he slowly rolled away into the distance swerving left to right not knowing if he ever made it.
I enjoyed Christmas at my friend’s family’s house in Santa Marta. They celebrate Christmas here on the 24th. Starting the eating festivities at around 8:30pm, I could only make it till 1:30am going to bed much earlier than the group I was with who was averaging 60 years old. The only excuse I could come up with was that I only had 2.5 hours sleep the night before (went out to the bars with some backpackers…wanting to come back early but stayed out to do some needed research on what happens in Colombia at 3:30am).
I enjoyed Christmas at my friend’s family’s house in Santa Marta. They celebrate Christmas here on the 24th. Starting the eating festivities at around 8:30pm, I could only make it till 1:30am going to bed much earlier than the group I was with who was averaging 60 years old. The only excuse I could come up with was that I only had 2.5 hours sleep the night before (went out to the bars with some backpackers…wanting to come back early but stayed out to do some needed research on what happens in Colombia at 3:30am).
Saturday, January 2, 2010
The Lost City Trek
December 14th, 2009: Today I experienced why most of the travel guides inform backpackers on how demanding this six day trek can be, completing several kilometers and seven hours of hiking for the day…reaching a mere 660 meters higher than I started after a roller coaster of hills and a multitude of river crossings. Unfortunately for me, the final stretch to the Lost City had no escalator to whisk me to the top, meaning that I was forced to put my weak chicken like legs to work. Slowly, I made my way up, one step at a time climbing up the 1200 awkwardly shaped steps as my body threw a tantrum as I painfully directed it to continue moving forward, vowing that I am going to give up hiking in three short days…questioning why I agreed to write this tour up.Reaching the Lost City, I was clearly reminded on why hiking can be so rewarding as a smile of accomplishment came tearing across my face as I stood there with a temporary loss of words, trying to describe on paper what rested in front of me. Here I had magnificent views overlooking the dense jungle and rugged terrain, enjoying the sight that a miniscule amount of the white wheel chaired license plate holders get the opportunity to see back in the U.S., making the moment even more special.
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