After just a few short hours flying over the caribean i made it to florida. A few days later, my brother picked me up and i was doing barbeque with his family.
After struggling for so long to get home, it seemed unreal, too easy. But if that was easy, getting accustomed to the high life was even easier, at least after getting over some culture shock.
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Michael J
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Colombia
During the last few years the term ¨Bailout Plan¨ has become a familiar term. I don´t know much about politics, but i do know these bailout plans involve aiding various organizations get out of a sticky situation for better or worse. (see following illustrations). I`m excited to tell you my family has offered me a bailout plan. With the help of my friends Jon and Kathy, i found a flight to the states for $80 US. Of course they tack on a rediculous amount of taxes and fees, but it was still the best deal around.
And so thats it. The experiment is over, and i couldn´t be happier about it. In my time of frustration and hopelessness with the boats i find it hard to believe that i´m actually going home.
I´m less than 10 weeks short of a year. It doesn´t sound that long, but it hasn´t been a year of Piña Coladas on the beach. By and large its been great, but i´ve faced challenges that leave me exhausted and ready to see this journeys end.
And so this week they load me on a plane and i am now really, directly homeward bound. I´ll be hanging out with family in a week!
Its been nearly two weeks and i´ve had mud for luck on the boats. Three seperate captains told me that if I had boobs, they´d bring me along. I can´t believe its that cut and dry, so conditional.
One captain asks me if i have a girlfriend, I tell him i´m travelling solo. ¨Just find a Colombian honey with a passport, she´s your ticket¨ He says.
I´m disgusted by these shallow ass skippers. Not willing to help, but if there´s something for their pleasure…
I find that somone has ripped down my sign on the message board.
Last night i got rained on while sleeping at the beach. All my stuff is wet. including a bunch of dyed seeds that are now bleading colors.
Today I went to my backpack to get some of my jewelry. (i left It at a restaurant for safe keeping so i don´t have to haul it all day) I was unnerved when it wasn´t in the office, but pulled out of the janitors closet, unlocked and available to anyone.
When opening the bag I was surprised to see my spare underwear on top. I have been missing these for weeks and assumed them lost.
My nerves ring out, I know that my stuff has been seriously ransacked. After going trhough my things i´m first irritated, and then furious to discover the things stolen.
- My most intricate stone-set bracelets and necklaces
- A grocery sack of various bracelets
- A handful of necklaces
These items represent weeks and weeks of work, my heart sinks, and my stomach comes into my throat. The hours and hours i´d spent weaving these strings.
I also find that my sack of gemstones is ruffled. I´m actually surprised that they left me a handfull. Jade, turquoise, opal, agate, quartz and a slew of others i´d seen only here in S. America. Kilos of stones i´d bought with my last US Dollars. I´d been cursing the weight, but now? The list of pretty things stolen goes on.
I´m furious
I find the owner and ask him where my things are, he says he has no idea, and I want to believe him, I do. I curse him out, i curse columbia and i stomp out, my bag lighter than i remember. I Walk. I can´t think, but I can walk.
I need a drink, I need a dozen. I need to get trashed, stoned, and blow my mind. I need…
I walk. And I walk some more. I settle for a 10 pack of cigarettes and a grape soda, and call my dad. God bless family.
I chain smoke, and drink my soda. I go eat some greasy fried food, and i´ve got my chemical fix. I still want to get trashed, but this will do for today. One day at a time.
I´m excited to announce that i´ve completed my objectives for the trip and am now en route home without any more detours.
Of course its not just a hop, skip and plane ride over the ocean. Working as a jewelry gypsy, i intend to thumb my way through Ecuador to the coast of Colombia.
From Colombia the plan is to hitch a boat to Panama, where I hope to catch another boat to florida where my brother is working.
Ver mapa más grande I´ve mentioned this plan to a few people and they´re not sure weather you can acutally thumb a boat. I originally heard about the idea from some french friends of mine and they have crossed one ocean to another. I guess its time to find out.
I can´t wait to get back and spend time with my loved ones. Wish me luck!
Walking to the temple its quiet. Each of us focused internally. After a few minutes waling through the jungle we come to a clearing. On the left is the temple. I´m surprised to see it alight in the night. Someone has arrived early and lit candles, giving it a magical glow.
I enter the temple and shortly after the candles are extinguished and the ceremony begins.
As suggsested by Don Javier, i spent the day focussing my energy on my dad and his health. Christians call this praying.
I´m embarking on my first ayahuasca journey and my mind buzzes with activity. Excitement, doubt, nerves, sickness, health...
Theres so much to the ceremony I can´t begin to explain it in a few paragraphs. But in short, it was a magical experience where the concious and subconcious mind meld into one state. Its a time of learning, soul searching and of course, healing.
During that ceremony, I had a strange impression. I ignored it, as i was contrary to my dreams. During my second ceremony i felt it even stronger- RAther than continue my work here, studying medicine, the best thing i could do was go home and be with my dad and family. And that i would have another opportunity to study medicine and do my own personal healing, both spiritual and physical later in life.
I told Javier of my experience, expecting him to discount it. Instead he told me about the healing power of love, and presence, or being. And that he would help me encounter the plants i needed and how to best use them in helping my dads situation.
And so after a week or so of hunting around i´ve collected a slew of plants. And have completed my objectives for this trip.
Though i still have much to learn about plants, and i´m still a spriritual wreck with a lot to overcome, this trip has been great. I´ve learned a lot about sustainability. My spanish has improved to a conversational level. I´ve learned a skill of jewelry making that can take me around the world. And most of all. i´m pointed in the direction to living the life my heart desires rather the one society suggests.
I love to experience life to its fullest. I like sustainability, climbing, music, reading, movies and i love the satisfaction of making art that people wear.
I've been studying sustainability and jewelry in S. America, check it out below- Stranded in S. America Bike Across America
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After just a few short hours flying over the caribean i made it to florida. A few days later, my brother picked me up and i was doing barbeque with his family. 
