Dec 22 Insight in Cairns

As the eve of Christmas draws closer and closer I cant help think about what it means to be away from home for a second consecutive year. This time last year I was in Tulum Mexico for Christmas and Flores Guatemala to ring in the New Year this year I will be in Cairns for both. Last year was my first tine away from the family on xmas and although I miss them all the time while away the bond you create with other adventurers/trail blazers becomes surprisingly tight very quickly. Although I leave my country by myself your never alone on the trail, road warriors are always willing to extend the hand and show you the way. As it happened before and is again I'm starting to wear my self out, there is always something going on in these hostels i.e. people just arriving, peoples going away, birthday and the list goes on for a country mile. I'm not complaining, I love it just putting it out there for myself to read. Better discipline and patience would go a long way on the road.

Airlie Beach

Great Guys

Its now December 20 and time is flying by in this sun filled beautiful adventure. I sit here writing this in the town of Cairns. I should have also written more in 1770 and Airlie Beach. It happens so often that while on the road you can become distracted with all the new beautiful friends and experiences.

Sincerely yours

Airlie Beach - Quite a wake up call from the sleepy surfing town of 1770. Airlie is alive and vibrant, the port of call for the Whittsunday islands. The town is full of happy tourists waiting there turn to check out the islands! There is no shortage of bars, clubs or general tomfoolery to be had here. Once on the boats themselves it becomes clear immediately that the wait is no doubt worth every minute. Beautiful blue water full of life in a beautiful tropical setting. I recall swimming just above a big blue fish and I could hear him chomping away at the reef. My trip was a two day and a night aboard a sailboat. The first day we snorkeled in the " Fish Bowl" I quote that because just yesterday I dove in a another Fish Bowl here in Cairns haha. So yea after the Bowl we went to another location for another short snorkel, it was less impressive than the first, but a bad swim on The Great Barrier Reef is better than any day in the office. After a full day off snorkeling and kayaking we set sail to watch the sunset above some picturesque mountains, sipping only the finest wine you can get.......under 10$.

The next morning came too quickly! With Goon on my breath and a unbearable headache we set off to the beaches of Whittsunday. The Beaches and views on this little island is worth every penny. There is a secret little beach if you follow the water. check the picture below!

Secret Beach Whittsunday Island

1770 and beyond !

I have nothing but good things to say about this beautiful beach paradise, waking up here every day is a absolute treat. The people, surf, beach and weather make this easily my favorite stop thus far. Day 1, I went on a tour to a kangaroo rescue, the couple that own the property rescue injured roos and nurse them back to health. The small entrance fee is for the cost of taking care of these majestic creatures. Day 2, I got into a great hostel......Cool Bananas and signed up for surf lessons. it wasn't long until I was standing and surfing on my own! I would like to take all the credit for my early success but the instructors at Gnarly Tours are great in all honesty.



Feeling comfortable being uncomfortable. Is a strange feeling when you start feeling at home in the unknown. The anxiety you feel getting onto a bus with no accommodation reservation is something you should experience in your life, for some people this comes very easily and others, like myself, it does not. But I like it and I really am enjoying every minute of this.

Brisbane Dec. 1 2016

Dec 2 in Australia

9:53 A.M          It doesn't take long to realise that the 24 hr of grueling air line travel is 100% worth every minute, the moment I stepped out of Brisbane's airport I could tell I had landed in paradise. The first couple days have been very relaxed and enjoyable for me here, catching up with family I haven't seen in years and ones just born ! Todays the day I make the big move to the Hostel and start the journey as it were on my own. The feeling of uncertainty and fear of the unknown wash over me like a bad cologne. Although I have been in this situation before under very different and I would even dare to say more strenuous circumstances I cannot help the feeling, it is what it is. Will I find work? Did I bring enough money? Am I cut out for this sort of thing? and to many what IF's than I care to go threw.  I am very much a creature of habit and backpacking this way is anything but habitual, at least for now. "Every little thing is going to be alright" - Bob Marley



Dec. 2.  8:46 A.M

Brew ! hole in the wall but very good

Stayed my first night in Base x hostel, there's a good little pub  attached to with very nice food. Next door there is a travel agency called Happy Travels it helps back packers with getting work and what not. Last night some fellas and I went to a very cool little place

called Brew the food there was awesome and so was the atmosphere  I have to say the quality of food in Brisbane has been the best that I have had anywhere in my travels. The city its self is gorgeous very modern architecture combined with the beautiful weather makes Brisbane a easy stay. I will be the first to admit that its been a lazy stay on account that I cannot wait to get on the coast and enjoy some sun and games. 

Me, South Bank Brisbane !

Next stop Sunshine Coast and  Noosa

Round 2 and Sunday Funday

I think we stayed in Leon just long enough to hop the bus to Grenade. Even the statement "hop the bus", meant we scoured the streets to find the local bus. You will never forget the little things like jamming into a bus that was over crowded in heat that was over 30 degrees Celsius! By no stretch of the imagination is it the fondest memory of my travels but definitely one I will not forget.

Volcano Masaya

Grenade is a beautiful town with lots to see and do. We took the opportunity to visit a National Park - Volcano Masaya. This is the first active volcano that I had ever seen, and to be honest I found it very intimidating. After we all signed our waivers declaring that we had full knowledge that it was alive, (so if we died they were not responsible), we started our trek up the hill. The day was like every other day... hot and humid. Luckily for this softy ten minutes into the hike we were picked up and whipped up the hill in the back of a truck wooo! You could feel the heat from the volcano and the smoke coming out it was like staring deep into the depths of Mount Doom (Lord of the Rings).



Sunday Funday Ben and I

Playa Del Sur is a trip all on its own! The beautiful beaches, great sea food, exciting hostels and oh yea Sunday Funday! Bordering Costa Rica you don't have to imagine too hard what the picturesque weather is like there. By this time in my trip I was stinky, tired, dehydrated and ready for my bed. Ben would have none of it! For days we had talked about Sunday Funday and it was now the rally cry. The night before the extravaganza we dinned on lobster tails and a delightful bed of rice for the low low cost of $5..Still cant believe that. Sunday Funday is a Hostel crawl pool party. Imagine 6 or 7 hostels lined up all with pools and you go around and drink in all of them with over 100 other travelers. I've never been to a Hollywood pool party with rich people but I like to imagine that's what it would be like. The drinks are flowing, the music is pounding, everyone in bathing suites and enjoying themselves to the fullest! Yes it is a must do on your list of things to do. Absolutely!   I would like to take this time to Give Ben a shout out, His nonchalant and cavalier attitude toward world travel is remarkable no wonder he is President and CEO of 0- Foxtrot Given. Your a beauty!

 
  
Next up Costa Rica, baby





 

Nicaragua and Honduras

Hind sight is 20-20 or so they say. Looking back on all this rushed unplanned gallop through Central America the only regret that I have is that I didn't take my time and enjoy the country's as much as I should have. Although showing up without a plan and going with the flow did give me a most excellent adventure and one not soon forgotten. I can recall times that I had skipped certain places or events that I would have otherwise loved to see or experience on the road had I planned a bit more.....Even just a bit.


The first tour through Nicaragua was a quick stint in the town of Leon. It was a nice change of pace, it had a movie theater and fried chicken stands everywhere! This is also where I met Matty-ice, the young charismatic American girl who twisted my rubber arm to go to Honduras;
Ice: "Come to Honduras with me"
Me: "Ok." 

The view from the Hostel

Looking out from the hostel !

  Just like that we were on the bus the next day. Utila island would be the destination of choice, scuba diving was the reason for me. While there I completed my Advanced diving cert which included a deep water dive. While on the course they cracked a egg under water and a transparent fish ate the complete intact yoke! I watched the yoke move threw the fishes body ......Amazing! We also did a wreck dive. During a night dive we saw some gorgeous scenery and beautiful fish down there. The night dive for me was pretty intense. I thought to myself that diving in the Caribbean, El Carib..... at night was a daunting and reckless notion! As it turned out my fears were for naught. No sea creatures licked me or anything, not inappropriately anyways. Utila is renowned for its Caribbean diving. For me it held a different significance, it was where I would meet the Wolfman himself Big Ben. Ben and I enjoyed the island and all it had to offer for weeks. The events we enjoyed included but not limited to Skid Row bar, flame batons, and late night raves in the hostel. Ah yes good times indeed! Unfortunately like all good times it had a expiration date. And not unlike Mexico had it not been for a fellow traveler, (Ben), I would have no doubt missed the ferry out of that place! It would have been very easy to spend all my time and pesos on the little island paradise. Back to Leon for round 2!

Next on the docket Nicaragua Round 2 and Sunday Funday in the world renowned Playa Del Sur!

 

Antigua and El Salvador

I know that I'm rushing threw a lot of this, but like my travel and my life I'm really just flying by the seat of my pants. Remember this trip started out intended to be two weeks in Mexico than off to Australia. As I write this I am sitting in Niagra Falls Ontario a little over 4300 km away from my home in Victoria BC. But home is where the back pack is for the next few months at least.

Antigua!

   I left Lake Atalan at 0400 after having a long night of saying good bye to all my new friends I had met that night. The thing you will learn about traveling in this fashion is there is always someone coming, going or celebrating a birthday lol so if your up for it there is a good time to be had almost every night. I feel bad at this point of the story because this is where I got a little lazy and stopped taking pictures and as I said I'm not at home so I don't have my travel journal with me. I cannot recall the hostel I stayed in but I do recall a couple I met there. Jacko and Hazel from Ireland Just a Beauty couple and very great people they had just gotten married and hadn't told anyone I think I was the first to know! I hope to see you guys again one day!

Jacko, Hazle and yours truly

Antigua was a good time for me, met some great people  and was now poised to breech El Salvador. I am almost ashamed to admit that I knew almost nothing of El Salvador. The more I read up on it on google the more I frightened myself. I didn't have a choice though I had gone to far and wouldn't turn back now. Its pretty funny the border crossings down there you just hand your passport and some cash out the window and your good to go. On the bus threw I had met the first American I had seen since Mexico. Jas Son was from New York and we hit it off pretty quick, the trip he was on and continued to go on after he left me in El Salvador is worth a look for sure......I think he seen the rest of the world lol. This is his YouTube page worth a look ! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzbE3VBEiDx-VzP_U4AMt6Q/videos

In El Salvador J. and both stayed at El Tunco lodge, it was a great hostel and the town it self had people from around the world who stayed there for surfing. Because I don't have pictures my self Jah Son was kind enough to allow me to use some of his footage ....Enjoy a walking tour from  a Beauty,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kw5zhdut8Mw

Some Advice to head; Like every Country/Major city any where in the world that your not from it will have its beauties and its dangers. So long as you keep your head about you be courteous and treat people with respect you will be shocked at how easy and very enjoyable these treks can be. Never in my life did I expect to be in El Salvador but there I was in a little paradise, enjoying the company of people I most likely would not have met my entire life.

Up next Nicaragua and Honduras

Semuc Champey Jan/16

Flores was a big turning point for me for a couple of different reasons. It was kind of the invisible line in the sand for me, the no turning back point as it where. I had crossed two borders at this point and had met so many amazing people along the way. I spent New Years Eve here and you may trust me when I tell you that it was just a absolute goat rodeo with a lot of good memories and fun times!

The Amigos

 

Mal, Pat and I were now the three amigos, I somehow convinced them to come with me to Coban, an off the gringo trail town in Guatemala on the way to Semuc Champey. I'm glad they came because to be honest at this point I was definitely still pretty chicken, especially compared to these to road warriors. They traveled without fear cooked for themselves on the road even hand washed they're own clothes and mine! Truly far better and intelligent travelers than this gringo could ever aspire to be! Please keep in mind that Coban was my idea and mine alone! I have to own that before we continue here. After what seemed to an all day excursion on the chicken bus we finally roll up to Coban. Our bus parks at least a 20 min walk out of town and it is just dumping rain all over us, the girls cant be happy but their tough and I'm the only one complaining lol. We walk around the town for a couple hours or so because the hostel I wanted to go to no longer exists. I feel like this is turning into a nightmare......I'm hungry. Luckily we find a spot and have a good sleep. It was cool to see the town and eat locally before we took off the next day to Semuc.

Semuc!

I had never heard of Semuc but trusted my Amigos not to lead me astray. We hoped off the shuttle and onto the back of what I thought was a random truck. As we speed off into the jungle on this old dirt road the movie Hostel popped into my head. I thought OMG where are we going what truck are we in, are we in a trap? Of course nothing could more wrong! After a decent trek through the bush we come out to what can only be described as a beautiful nightmare. It is one of the most beautiful hostels I had ever been to buuuuut theres a catch! The Amigos did lead me astray its a vegetarian Hostel!!! Brutal… they got me good on that one! 1-0... I mean I eat meat 4 times a day at least. They knew it too! They told me it would be good for me lol. We spent three nights sleeping in hammocks their… it was very good. It was a sad day when I had to leave the Amigos, I had grown very fond of them, like a little traveling family. To Lake Atalan …alone for the first time in probably a month.

Sophie and I, see she's not paddling lol

Being alone did not last long though. I met, who would be later known as the worst woman and worst man ever! Lol… ahhh good times. The worst woman ever and I rented a double kayak, it was extremely hard getting around... I knew she wasn't paddling!.....The worst lol. Sophie though was of course not really the worst woman ever, she's far more cultured and a way better traveler than I will ever be. One day we will travel again ! If ever in Guatamala, Lake Atalan is a great spot to check out, I can recall a night playing cards with a bunch of other travelers. When out of the blue the bartender announced that if anyone got naked and jumped out of the two story bar a round of shots would be on the house. Say no more! I'm your man! Saving a dollar that would have cost to purchase was more than enough than I needed to hear. Into my birthday suit immediately! I hopped out of the bar and into the lake! However I did not have the foresight to think I should carry my shorts in hand for after I landed in the pool. The walk back up through the streets filled with locals would be interesting to say the least. Luckily for me a young lady waited for me on the shore shorts in hand thank you nameless stranger !

Next stop Antigua and the black sand beaches of El Salvador.

Belieze and Guatamala 2015

Taking the first step can be very tough, a lot of people can question your motives and wonder why you would take such a leap. Until you come home with beautiful stories, experiences and new friends made. I am very fortunate in this regard as my family not only encourages me but supports my wayward adventures. Ill take this time to thank my Poppa Ron for all he's done for me to make any of this possible. love you pops

It was boxing day when I tried to first make my departure from Tulum with my roommate from Texas, just a beauty of a man ! Unfortunately the night before (Christmas) I had allowed me self to indulge heavily in the local cuisine oooooh Tequila! So I had to stay a extra day or two to let that heavy heavy cloud of a hang over pass. who knew Polish vodka and Tequila didn't mix? After a unknown amount of days passed sipping water and Gatorade I finally made my leave heading south to the lake of 7 colors ( I only counted 5) lol  accompanied by my newly acquired friend from Germany we made the lake in a day. I will admit at this point I was amazed and honestly set back for a minute not by the lake but by the way this girl was going about her travel. She was so small and traveling alone without a fear in the world at all it was truly inspiring. Lago Bacalar was gorgeous and we played around a day, slept in a shed for a couple peso and made our way out the next day to the border town of Chetumal to cross into Belize



Marc and Maggie

In Chetumal I parted ways  with my new buddy and immediately made two new friends from Montreal Canada of all places, just a Beauty couple traveling together. I quickly convinced them to drop there plans and come with me threw Belize and into Flores Guatemala to see the ruins. Best decision I made because that night Maggie made us a great dinner and we popped a couple cold tops and had Marc not pulled me out of bed the next morning I would have surely missed the bus. 100% I would have missed my bus. and we were gone threw Belize we made one stop in believe, looking back I wish I had stayed longer going from Spanish in Mexico to Caribbean English in Believe was pretty cool. the bus was something ridiculous like 16 hr and we stopped only one time, having no money I didn't get water or food at all Rookie mistake. the border between Belize and Guatemala cost 20 American and we didn't no that, luckily they excepted visa and we made it threw. On the bus we met two girls from Poland Mal and Pat well call them, we all stayed in a room with four beds in Flores. Marc, Mag and I got up early the next morning only to find that Maggie had been devoured by bed bugs Marc staying in the same bed as her hadn't been touched and I was fine as well haha. Off to Tikal honestly the most beautiful piece of history I've ever had the pleasure to walk threw or see first hand.

Pyramids over the forest canopy

Next stop, Semuc Champay and a vegetarian Hostel

Mexico,Yucatán Peninsula

Before I begin on what is sure to be a long winded tail of my trying and troubled first days on the road, I feel it is vitally important to get this point and disclaimer across. I am doing this to get rich quick and to be internet famous lol . It is not my intention to share my amazing experiences or to help anyone on the fence take that big first step out the door at all.  OK lets go

 I hate to admit it and I hope he doesn't read this but I suppose in a round about way I owe my nudge out the door to the deck boss and my arch enemy (while at sea) to a man who we will call Jim. After the Navy I got a job aboard a tuna fishing boat where I met Jim a world traveler and a man with quite different world views than this military mind no doubt. Whilst at sea Jim and I would butt heads I would be with out a doubt the biggest pain he had probably ever encountered in his travels possibly his life. Days are long fishing really really really long and boring so you get to know a person very well. Jim would enlighten me on his views and travels I was amazed at the places hed been and the people he met. Most impressive was the way he went about his travels alone and with the wind!

So thank you Jim, your a Beauty


were almost there,                    Niagra Falls Canada 2015

I would be remiss and ignorant not to give a shout out to two of my closest friend Seabass and T-Mac for literally pushing me out the door lol " what are you still doing here, quit talking about it and Go!"





    Alright than, landing in Mexico without a place to stay or not sure where to go is a terrific and terrifying experience I promise you. As I have stated before I don't speak Spanish and at this point had never traveled alone before. To make matters worse I met two older ladies in the Customs line that looked as though they had seen a ghost when I told them my plan or lack there of, they gave me there number in case I needed help haha at this point I knew I had made a grave mistake....Grave. Once being harassed in Customs for not already having a hostel/hotel booked I made my to the bus stop and hopped a bus for Playa Del Carmen. For anyone who has already been there I had nothing to worry about they got Mac Donalds in that town lol. I can still recall the smell, feel and unwarranted fear I had walking around those first couple days. If I had only known where this adventure would take me I had absolutely nothing to fear at all. But alas It didn't have the back-packing feel to it as Jim had described so I made my way from there south to Tulum.

 

Ah Tulum where my journey gathered its steam.

Getting off the bus it was a red hot I'm talking two dollar pistol hot I had both my bags on no doubt sailor hung over and needed a bed bad. so I finally find a hostel pay for the night and relax a bit. There wasn't anyone in my room at the time so I decided people would probably show up later that night but no not one in fact come midnight the club right on top of me started pounding terrible tunes all night. it was brutal didn't sleep all night and was very much  second guessing this whole  "travel" thing. Called my Poppa told him I'm shutener down if she don't start going smother here quickly. Next morning I switch hostels and that was key a game changer if you will. I met these two girls from Israel and we went to the beech together that day honestly probably the first back packing contact I had made in a week since being there. while at the beech a guy runs up on us tanned and a scruffy asks me to watch his stuff ( single tattered-t ) I said sure offered him a dart and we talked a bit. Ben was his name changed my trip and quite possibly the way I look at a lot of things very inspiring young man. ill buy his book one day if he writes it.
I spent nearly two weeks and Christmas at the Weary Traveller in Tulum some of the best memory's made there also where I got my first cert in scuba diving in the Cenotes, if you get the chance do that !

    
  

The pure beauty, engineering and craftsmanship of these pyramids are unreal and far to gorgeous for my lac of vocabulary to try and explain.


Take a ways : 1. have a fake destination when lying to the Mexican Custom agents lol
                      2. Bring your own sunscreen they jack up the price down there




                    
Next Stop Belize and Guatemala !

Here we go, Again

    I would first like to begin by being honest because as you read any of these stories you may believe  that I like to embellish or stretch some truths for the sake of the story. you would be absolutely correct in assuming that but the meat of the story is true and if I miss details or there a little hazy it is because I like to have a couple cold pops from time to time.  I am not a poet, author or philosopher of any kind. In other words please bear with me threw this chicken scratch of a memoir as what you will be receiving is cold hard raw materiel as I see it!  I have never considered doing something like this before on the idea that I considered it to be conceded in the way that my story wouldn't be any different than yours or you sisters, if you had decided to travel and do the things that I intend to do. So what changed you may ask your self reading exactly just that. I'm glad you asked !

   Last year almost exactly one year to this day 23 Nov 16 I had found myself jobless, getting out of the Navy 6 months or there abouts anyway and looking for my next adventure. I decided to get a Work travel visa for Australia like many travelers before me had and will continue to do I have no doubt. After attaining the Visa with ease I booked a flight to Mexico naturally because I wanted to  see the Myan ruins my entire life. The plan was to see said ruins and make the skip down under, Great plan on paper I had the money motivation and the time. what happened next can only be described as a life changing eye opening experience that should have been recorded and documented closely. Unfortunately for us all I can only recall some of the best and worst parts of the saga and will do so for you later here. Long story short I had a 2 1/2 month long trek threw Central America I will never forget and never ended up in Australia at all !


 Why start a Blog now?

I am now going to take that trip threw Australia now almost a year late. With the lessons I learned and will pass on to you now, for any beginner or seasoned veteran read these words and enjoy the adventure. If you think traveling solo is difficult or scary to do alone. Make no mistake, it is but if I can do it so can you ! From Mexico threw Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras, all the way to Costa Rica I assure you that this gringo cannot speak Spanish I don't blend in with locals i.e Blonde hair bright white pasty skin lol I stay out to late and trot where you know no gringo should trot in these next couple stories for your reading pleasure.

Cheers and Enjoy !