Saturday, February 28, 2015

Home

Home.  What is home.  Home feels good, that's for sure.  It's a very pleasant thought.  Where is home?  Home isn't a specific location always.  I believe it's more of an emotion to a location.  Today leaving la Ruka and puerto viejo I feel like I'm leaving home.  And then I had a sad.  I am excited to see Panama.  I am pumped to buy a motorcycle, but I left a piece of my heart there.  It's one of new homes.  And that makes me have a glad.  
I am in love with my life right now.  You just never know, what exactly is going to happen next, but I am confident it will all be ok, and that's nice.  
Heading into Panama is exciting.  I wonder how different it will be.  Heck maybe we will change our plans again, and head to ciudad de panama.  You just never know.  :-)

Do what you love.  Find your art-form.  Love others, and capture joy.  Stay true. 





Friday, February 27, 2015

Isla Bastamentos in Bocas

Yesterday, we went to a marina, and checked out a restaruant called aqua lounge on Isla Caranero, where supposedly there were a bunch of fish and swimming pools. (but we didnt see much fish, and their version of a swimming pool is a deck with a hole cut out in the middle, and you jump in the ocean haha). We went to the marina, and checked out some sailboats for sale. It is always fun to see whats possible. We also went on a long hike on the beach and in the jungle! It was beautiful. The water is so beautiful, and clear in these islands. 

It is interesting, if you want to go somewhere, even if to another part of the same island, you can just hail a taxi...a water taxi, and it usually costs about 1-2USD$ per ride.  So, today we are checking out yet another island called Isla Bastamento, and we are staying in Hostel Bastamento : ) As usual there are tons of hammocks, cool people. This hostel also has a pretty sweeeet view as well, and we have a private room with a bathroom for 20USD$

First time sailing!

We went sailing in a Catamaran along with snorkeling! It was awesome!! We snorkled and saw fish, coral reef, and a wreck. We also went to starfish beach!!

February 22nd-Arriving to Panama

We made it to Panama!! We took a 1 hr bus ride from Puerto Viejo to the border town of Sixaloa. We crossed the border with ease. Much easier than Nicaragua to Costa Rica. That was a confusing border with long waits. This border, we just walked across a very old, very rickety bridge. A  few days prior there was a riot on the bridge and people had to pay 1$ to cross the river on a canoe. Luckily, there was no rioting. However, the bridge..Oh My Goodness. That thing might fall apart anytime, and you had to watch where you go, because you WILL fall through!!

We then took a 1 hr bus ride to Changinola and then a 1.5 hour bus ride through beautiful mountains to Almirante. It was enamoring how beautiful it was. Joshua and I just couldn't look away from the view. The last border crossing, we got so hungry because the time passes and you are waiting in line, and there is not really places to stop and eat, so this time I packed food!! PB & J sandwhiches. I love feeling prepared! So, we rode this bus to Almirante. It was about 3pm and we were eating and enjoying the view, while the guy next to Joshua fell into a deep sleep, nearly on his shoulder. 

After arriving to Almirante we took a 6$ water taxi to Bocas del Toro. Literal translation is mouth of the bull. There are a lot of islands (a archipelago), and Isla Colon (the island we have been on) is just one of them! It is the main island. It reminds me of what Venice, Italy looks like a bit. It is a beautiful quaint place! We are staying in a hostel for 10$ per person/night, and they have free coffee and pancakes in the morning! Panama uses US dollars, so no more converting into cordobas or colones! However we did get pretty used to it!

Bus ride in Panama
Crossing the border
Joshua and his stash
Me and my pack
Water Taxi to Bocas
Our Private room in Heike Hostal
Town of Bocas
Coffee in am at our hostal

La Ruka Hostel

First time to make peanut butter balls ever. I made them and gave them away to people at the hostel, and they were a hit! (also, it can be difficult to cook with foreign instructions)
Last night in Puerto Viejo, bikeride into town for some sushi!

Our private room @ La Ruka. The smell reminded me of my grandparents house. Note the electric shower. At La Ruka, it was mostly warm showers, mixed with some cold, and very occasionally it would get scolding hot. However, I cant complain, because luke warm is way better than cold! : )

Friday, February 20, 2015

Goodbyes hurt my heart in a way

I've been traveling for officially a month now.  January 20th was when we took off from Kentucky.  We were bright eyed and bushy tailed.  Today is February 20th, and one month in we are officially "seasoned".  With no planned end in sight we will continue to develop as travelers.  We've been a bit stationary this last week and intend on staying put for a little bit.  However, I want to buy a motorcycle in Panama.  Anyways the point I wanted to make was about goodbyes.

Even though I am now, what I am calling a seasoned traveler, I still hate goodbyes.  I just witnessed the owners of this hostel, La Ruka telling two good friends goodbye.  I hated it, but of course I couldn't not look.  It made me feel happy and sad and all of that at the same time.  It was nice thing for all of them, but in a very sad way.  I even took their "goodbye picture" of the four of them.  I know saying goodbye is a proper ritual, but I almost prefer it's absence.

Thursday, February 19, 2015

This moment

I said are y'all having a good time out there?

Don't stop the party.

Ask for money, get advice.  Ask for advice, get money twice.

I just want to feel this moment.

Time is money, so let's stop time and enjoy this moment.

- Mr. WorldWide AKA

Gotta live baby.  I gotta live.  You wanna work your life away, that's fine.  Not me.  For some reason people have incongruent life philosophies on money, work, and play.  I work to live.  Period.  I work to love my family.  I work so that my family and friends aren't burdened by my presence.  I work so I can give.  However, screw work for work sake.  That's the biggest load of American proganda I've ever encountered.  And I hate it.  There are plenty of people who claim to appreciate the quote, "The unexamined life is not a life worth living."  However, far too few people are truly examining their lives.  Heck even I forget to examine my own existence on the regular.  Distraction seems to be a far too common vice amongst mankind.

That is that, and this is this

The ocean breathes salty won’t you carry it in.  in your head, in your mouth, in your soul. ...  You wasted life, why wouldn’t you waste death.  - Modest Mouse.

I am here in the Caribbean.  Paradise.  And it’s awesome.  I hear of snow storms closing down airports and such in the States, and I find a smile forming in my mind and sometimes it will even make its way to my face.  I’m not happy for others misfortune.  It’s just such an interesting reminder of perspective, and how good I've got it.  I’m shirtless most of the times these days.  I did purchase a cap so my bald head doesn't get scorched.  No more bug spray, or sun screen.  I am adapting.  I haven’t been on the blog in a long time.  I’m tired of writing things like, “ oh I’m here at this *blank hostel*, and it’s *random good adjective*, and we are going to do this *random fun thing*.  I mean that’s great and all for a while, but I’ve been entering a new place in my travels.  I don’t know if it’s typical or what, and honestly I don’t care.  I am enjoying just chilling, no computer action, no internet.  My daily routine has been dramatically shifted.  And I love it.  I may be ruined for corporate America, at least for a while…. hopefully for a lot longer.  I mean honestly I never wanted to  return, and Ashley knows this.  My goal was simply to acquire about 120-150K in about 18-30 months, and then buy some land, and start a homestead.  If I can accomplish this while still living my dreams (which of course silicon valley is a small part of my dreams), then I will most likely take it.  

I am thinking of buying a motorcycle in Panama and riding it North.  Probably gonna buy it new.  Heck I get a warranty then.  Ashley is gonna fly back to Kentucky and go to Kaitys graduation, that will be nice for them both, and I know Ashley will really like it.  Of course that will also free me up to do some solo travel, which Ashley knows has always been a dream of mine.  Still gotta study some Spanish, who knows where, possibly Guatemala.  

I mentioned to Dave, the hostel owner here about how he handled his paperwork and business documents.  He is using excel.  Of course.  I then explained my expertise with line of business applications and the possibility of helping him out.  He was way happier than I expected.  I have already taken some notes, and I am working on a data model.  Next step will be to start drafting the user interface.  I think he is going to let me and Ashley stay for a while for free and also maybe a few beers, heck he even mentioned the possibility of payment.  If he wants to pay, I’ll have him pay my LLC back in the states for web development, I’ll just play traveling salesman.  That’s because I don’t have a work visa, or a foreign company just yet.  Oh well, we shall see.  I really really love it here in Puerto Viejo, it’s a great place.  I could see myself staying here for quite a while.  This is the longest Ashley and I have stayed in one spot.  This town has totally redeemed Costa Rica for me.  I still don’t know when I’ll leave, but I think I am going to bounce to Panama to buy a motorcycle and then bounce back here.  Probably gonna leave Ashley here at the hostel for a day, maybe a night.  Or she may come too.  I’m not sure.  Pura Vida, no plans just taking it easy.  Living that Manana lifestyle.  

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Puerto Viejo

First pic. A guy from Israel, decided to use his class b van to open up a place to get food. He cooks inside his van..he is selling falafels on the beach. 
Pics of woods and large tree. We saw these on one of the many bikerides we have taken. That large tree is called a ironwood tree because sailors who had damaged boats after arriving to this area would cut down that tree to make repairs to the boat. 

Some friends from Puerto Viejo. Bob Levit a psychologist from Los Gatos, and me and my bud Sandra from Denmark. We hung out at Mardi Gras together, and would go to the beach together. It was nice because we enjoyed doing the same thing, and we could talk together if we wanted, or just be silent together if we wanted. I really enjoy meeting friends like this. 
Also, Joshua and I were on a bike ride back from Cocles Beach in Puerto Viejo, when I heard a howler monkey just right above us. There was another couple on bikes in front of us looking at the monkeys also. When I looked up in the trees and let my eyes adjust there were monkeys everywhere in the trees. Next thing you know, something wet splatted on my lip and arm, and I started smelling poop. Out of instinct I wiped it off my lip. Then the guy in front of me said "Oh a monkey just shat on me!" And I realized...that dang monkey shat on me too....GROSS!!! On my lip....really?? LOL