Five Good Signs

Here are five signs that lead me to believe that I am getting somewhat decent at this whole traveling thing.

I no longer need a ladder to get on the top bunk.

The majority of my sleeping quarters come in the form of a 6-10 bed dorm room. A common set up for these beds is bunk style. A bottom bed is preferred, but sometimes I can't help getting stuck with a top bunk. In my early travel days I would dread the top as it meant fumbling around with an awkward, unreliable, sketchy ladder to get up or down. But after some practice, I have gotten good enough to bypass that pesky ladder altogether. When I want up, I simply give myself a running start, use a proper J style approach, and high jump my way onto that bed. I've found that both the Fosbury Flop and the Western Roll are equally effective techniques. When I want down, I leap towards the ground below and upon contact, I tuck into a ninja roll for the perfect dismount every time.

My backpack hasn't burst with too much stuff.

Normally, when you go on a trip your bag is reasonably full when you leave, but when you pack to leave, somehow you've accumulated more stuff and your bag refuses to close and/or be under the 50 lb limit for flying. So far, I have done well to keep my bag from becoming too full. I left with it packed to the brim, have indeed added things along the way, but if anything, I've only made extra room. There is one key to my success in not overpacking. The secret lies in developing your skills at losing stuff. Falling victim to this phenomenon is a sock, 1 pair of pants, 1 shirt, 2 towels, and 4 flip flops. Watch out possessions of mine, for none of you are safe from my forgetfulness.

I've lost weight.

In four months I've lost 20 pounds. I suppose that's what eating less and mildly healthier does to you. But to be fair, the weight I lost was probably just the 20 pounds of muscle I brought with me, because I'm down to about zero of that commodity at the moment. Of course I could also attribute some of the weight loss to the fact that I haven't touched a McDonalds since I left and Taco Bell just doesn't exist. By the way, did you know Burger King delivers in Buenos Aires? Ridiculous.

I can drink the water.

Through a series of accidents and trickery, I've found that I have developed the ability to drink some of the tap water. I don't like to abuse this new talent, because I never know when the wrong sip will decommission me for a bit, but it's just nice to know I don't have to fully rely on bottled water wherever I go.

Transportation without cost.

Somehow I've managed to catch a ride with 3 taxis and 2 buses without paying a single peso. No, I wasn't being cheap I literally just didn't have any money. I've learned that it is always best to have some cash on you even if you don't think you'll need it. This holds especially true at boarder crossings. This holds truest at boarder crossings when you are trying to leave a country you weren't suppose to be in originally. Need a ride? Got no money? Here's how: be honest about the fact that you are broke, look pathetic, portray a lost person, and act confused. Of course it's always easier if you really are pathetic, lost, and confused.

So there it is, five ways I know that my skills as a traveler are indeed developing. Stay tuned for the next edition in which I'll keep myself grounded by discussing five ways I know that I haven't quite attained a professional level of traveler.......yet.

Much love.

The Waterfall Saga

The Waterfall Saga

So this one time, long ago, about a million waterfalls got together and said, "Hey, we should party here at Iguazu like every day." 

So this one time, not long ago, I was invited to come take place in this legendary festival. Now I don't know how familiar you are with waterfalls, but when they invite you to their gala, you don't disrespect them. You go to their party. Maybe even take a fruit platter or bottle of wine, because it's a privilege to attend such a fiesta. 

So I went. I went with a camera and a mission. No fruit platter.

As it turns out, the camera was completely useless. There is no model available that can capture the brilliance of this place. Even the human eye struggles to comprehend what it beholds. Seriously, Iguazu is like an epic novel and a picture of this place is like only reading the 3rd page of each chapter in the book. There isn't even one place you can stand and see everything. But nevertheless, my camera did it's best to capture but a hint of what I was witnessing. 

Also, no one had informed me prior to my visit that these waterfalls were armed and dangerous. Turns out they are all equipped with rainbow guns. And they spare no one as they unload clip after clip while shooting from the hip.

The next day I paid to go back again just to make sure I hadn't been dreaming. Plus I still had that mission to take care of. 

Mission: Cliff Jump At Iguazu

I had done my recon work the day before and knew exactly where to do it. It had to be done very covertly as swimming is strictly prohibited, plus I had to hop a fence and go where no one is allowed. What's the worst that could happen? Other than injury/death from the jump or prison for trespassing?

Let's just say it took a lot of work, but I am neither dead or in prison and I successfully cliff jumped at the greatest waterfall in the world. It wasn't the highest jump, (only about 30 feet) but swimming under the fall afterwards and bathing in the cascade and glory of the moment made it one of my favourite jumps ever.

After completion of the mission I spent the rest of the day in the park just looking. No camera. No distractions. Nothing but me and that amazing place. 

Once my brain's 8GB memory card was maxed out with mental pictures and the park was closing, I departed. But I left knowing I had seen one of the most mind blowing places this earth has to offer.

Thanks for reading and until next time, much love.

P.S. If you ever find yourself on the South side of the Arctic Circle, you absolutely must make it a point to come visit this place.

Confessions

Having a bit of trouble getting pictures from the greatest waterfall in the world uploaded. Ellen, I beg your patience. You will soon be rewarded.

So for now, you all are stuck with this rubish. Plus unrelated pictures.

I´ve been at this whole travel thing for over three months now. I feel it is time to come forward with a confession or two on how my daily life has changed a bit since my time in the states. Perhaps this information will be best reflected in a before and after comparison.

Before I came to South America I never sewed a single thread in my whole life. After coming to South America I have used needle and thread to repair clothing two times. Not well I might add.

Before: Used a phone multiple times daily
After: I have no phone

Before: The bed I slept in was the same every night
After: I´ve slept in 37 different beds since I left

Before: Wouldnt be caught dead on a bus
After: I have spent over 150 hours on a variety of buses

Before: Shaved once a week
After: Four times total

Before: Brushed my teeth twice a day
After: Just once a day

Before: Flossed once a day
After: Bahahahahaha

Before: Showered twice a day
After: Every other day

Before: Applied deodorant once per day
After: Once per week

Before: Used the toilet sit down style 3 out of every 4 days
After: 1 out of every 3 days

Before: never seen, let alone used a bidet (that french thing that shoots water up your bum bum)
After: Argenina is full of them and it is awesome every time

Now that you are mildly grossed out, please remember that many of these statistics are based on averages. There are times in which many modern conveniences, such as showers, are simply not available. Or I just don´t feel dirty enough to warrant an impossibly cold bathing experience due to the lack of hot water. So yes, most of this is purely based on the circumstances I find myself in. Either that, or the frame of mind.

But have no fear! I can assure you that once I return, all personal hygiene will return to a level that is above and beyond that which is considered socially acceptable in our part of the world.

Next up, Iguazu! Hopefully.