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