From Ice To Tropical

Ok, since Rabbit Day Weekend (aka Easter) has come and gone, back to the writing.  As I said in my last post, I've decided to focus on short term volunteer projects.  These past few weeks have been tumultuous at best, but have brought about a new view on things for me.  One key word I began to zone in on was focus.  I needed to bring myself back to center a few weeks ago, and am continuing to focus my direction and energy accordingly.

With the summarized backstory in place, the short term volunteer project has been teetering between a 3 week stint and a year long or more adventure.  I know myself too well and I long discovered that I can be very impulsive, so I'm trying my absolute hardest to just focus on a short term project that will quench the different facets of my thirst; not to say though that I haven't done research on a possible longer and more perpetual volunteering adventure.  But that post will come soon enough; some times I find myself having to reign in my spirit just alittle so an ounce of logic can take hold.

Coming back to the short term projects.... like I said in my last post, there are thousands of endeavors going on throughout the world.

So I had to ask myself four questions:
             1)  Where would I like to go?
             2)  What field would I best serve in?
             3)  How much would it cost?
             4)  Where would I get the money?


To answer the first question took some time.  If you had the chance to go anywhere in the world to help others, where would it be?  Peru?  Timbuktu? Bosnia?  I was stuck between Iceland and Costa Rica.  I know, they're two very different places with completely different cultures.  Unfortunately Iceland gave way to Costa Rica, more so because of plane ticket costs.  To fly to Central America is about half as much as it is to fly to Iceland; yet the land of fire and ice is definitely somewhere I'd like to volunteer in at some point down the line.

Narrowing down the location was almost as hard as figuring out what I wanted to help out with; granted some projects demand more time than others. After doing alot of introspection, I've decided on farming and agricultural sustainability.  In other words, send me to the fields to learn, work and build!!  There's a beauty in nature and a serenity that only She can bring us at times; we have so much to learn from her.

Now costs I've noticed have been a bit of a mix bag.  One thing that I've discovered (which correct me if I'm wrong) is that international non-profits tend to be cheaper in costs than American ones.  I don't know why that is or if it's completely accurate, but from all the scouring I've done, it's something that I've taken note of.  I'm still doing some last minute research on my top three non profits, but so far with plane ticket and all, most of these agencies are hovering around the $1,000 mark.

Of course I've struggled with the idea of actually paying to volunteer somewhere; why would you have to PAY to help others out?  That has been a question I've tangoed with for a minute, but after reading up on some non-profits, I discovered that yes, some very little money has to go to maintain the organization, but that most will go to the host families.  Most organizations lay out at the very beginning their handling of funds, but if ever any questions arise, most of the ones I've read on are willing to go into further detail.

The next logical step aside from finding dates that could fit in well with my job schedule is how would I raise the funds?  I was thinking about just saving up for it and tackling this on my own.  After talking to a few close friends however, I've decided that if I could raise around half of the costs, perhaps I could reach out for help from friends, family and just those good samaritans who wish to help out others in need.  As much as I have juggled with the idea of reaching out to others for help with funding, it's occured to me that it's the best step for one big reason: all the extra funds I raise can go directly to my host family, from my hand to theirs.  I know that on my own I don't have the financial means to scrounge up the extra money for my hosts apart of what's asked from me, but with the help of others who knows how much could be gathered.

So there you have it, my tentative blue print for my volunteer project this year.  It's still in its infancy phase because there are a few factors in play like approved days off at work and application confirmation from the non profit; both of these steps alone will take about a month, but I'm hoping that it'll be both quick and painless.  Yet when all that's said and done, the adventure will continue onward.  I'll keep you posted next week on the happenings of it all.

Helping Out One Day At A Time

So my apologies for the small little gap in my posts; I had one last surgical adjustment to do and now I'm back on track!  I remember how I said that I wanted to go to Portland, Vancouver and Seattle this year as my annual getaway misadventure.  Another idea though popped in my mind: international volunteering efforts. 

These last few silent weeks I've had some time to think about things like work, happiness, challenges, all that good stuff.  My biggest desire?  To find fulfillment.  I'm not talking about instant gratification or limelight or anything like that.  I want that kind of fulfillment that just explodes in my soul, the kind that brings you such inner peace and happiness that you can't help but spread it around like wildfire.  Volunteering abroad would bring me closer to that nirvana that I seek.  Not only would I be helping those less fortunate, but I temporaritly get immersed in their culture, language, way of life; I walk in as one man and walk out as another.

I started to sign up for the Peace Corps last year, only to have to back down for a few personal reasons.  Being part of the Peace Corps is still on my bucket list, but with the help of sites like idealist.org, I've been able to find volunteering opportunities that can fit into my current situation.  I never knew much about short term volunteering projects until this year, and at first I was very wary about these situations.  I tend to be a very long term kind of guy; I like to start things and see them to completion.  However with projects like rebuilding communities or teaching children english or whatever, they're lifelong commitments.  I know that right now I can't dedicate such long term efforts to causes like these, even though I'd love to, so I finally came to terms with the idea of helping out in smaller, short term endeavors.  In the end, anything that we do big or small that helps others, will bring positive energy to this world.

So why am I bringing this up on a bucket list of traveling adventures?  Well because it is a traveling adventure, but it's also a personal journey that I wish to take.  Since this has become a big focus for me, I hope to dedicate more posts about this process as the weeks go by.  I can't wait to share more of this with everyone!

PS - Sorry for the short post, but I will have more information as the end of the month approaches.

From the Earth and Stone

So I've always had a respect for religious institutions, no matter what denomination or faith; this beauty is literally "hovering in the sky", hence its name: Meteora.  What is this religious site?  It's actually a group of monasteries, around 20 to be exact, built at a staggering height of 1,800 feet above ground.  As the centuries have passed by only 6 of these buildings remain, four inhabiting men while the remaining two only consist of women.  Don't think there are many monks who live in those buildings now, only about 10 braves souls inhabit each monastery. 

Besides the sheer uniqueness and height that these monestaries offer, their history is just as interesting.  I won't bore you with the details seeing that all that can be found at your fingertips, but a few interesting facts follow.  First monks began the cliff side climbs in the 9th century up these giant rock towers and occupied various hollowed out points along the way.  The date of which the monasteries were erected is unknown, but by the 14th century, a small community of monks had developed in the earthen pinnacles.  Now this is the most interesting thing I found out: aside from those first few monks who were courageous enough to make it up the cliffs by hand in the beginning, the ones that followed in the upcoming centuries had to climb a rope ladder.  Can you imagine climbing up 1,800 feet on a ladder that God knows how old it is?  The rope ladder was quite the ingenious idea, especially with the fighting that broke out along the centuries; when the monks learned of any wars or aggression, they would pull up the ladders and isolate themselves from the world below.  Thankfully you don't have to worry about that now; since Meteora is now officially a UNESCO site, stairs have finally been carved into the rock to help you reach the top of this monastic community. 

Aside from the monasteries and the history found within their walls, there are other activities you can do while there, such as trekking, rock climbing, etc...  There are a few surrounding towns that offer modern accommodations you can enjoy before trekking up the rocks to the centuries old time warp.  When you get up there with cameras, iphones and tablets in hand, take note of the irony of it all; those monks created that community to get away from worldly distractions, and it's those same distractions that have memorialized its beauty.  Interesting no?  Just a thought that came to mind.  

Keep in mind however, that when you decide to visit, all the monasteries are not on the same pieces of rock; depending on which one you wish to visit will depend on the height that you'll have to climb.  I'd like to say that this site isn't often visited so as to help preserve its mystique, but it's now become a big tourist attraction in Greece.  In the end, its popularity isn't a bad thing especially with the Greek economy how it is, but if I could be selfish and keep one place stowed away, it would be Meteora. 

A Table for Three

So as of late I've been in this whole being surrounded by nature kick; to add to that wonderful momentum, I give you Mount Roraima.  This mountain is quite the interesting place indeed.  It borders three Latin American neighbors: Brasil, Guyana and Venezuela.  If you ever want to find said mount, all you have to do is visit Canaima National Park; it's not exactly the highest point in Latin America, at a modest height of 1,300 feet. 

Ok, before I go on I should confess something: Mount Roraima is actually a plateau and not a mountain.  What's a plateau?  It's just generally a flat piece of terrain found atop of some highland; imagine a solid rock formation in the shape of rectangular LEGO piece
emerging from the Earth.  Because of the natural design of a plateau, hiking and trekking such a piece of rock can be very difficult, but there is one route that takes about 4-5 days to complete from ascension and back to square one: the Paraitepui Route.  This is the only route that you can take that doesn't really require any climbing gear; if you're brave enough to go other ways up this plateau, be sure to go with a well prepared group and plenty of  gear.  Of course, for the ultimate in luxury yet offering least in the realm of adventure would be helicopter tours.  But why fly to a destination when you can enjoy every step of it?  Plus the fact, knowing how cheap I am, those metal birds are probably pricey as hell; since those tours don't appeal to me I haven't bothered even looking up prices.

I know this plateau isn't urban or filled with hostels, but it's one of nature's oldest masterpieces at a ripe age of two billion years old that has served as motivation for movies. shows, and personal discoveries.  Perhaps the minute I stand atop of Mount Roraima, Mother Nature will grant me even more motivation to seek out other beautiful places that have yet to be heavily trodden upon by human boots.  

Doing Things the Machu Picchu Way

Lately I've been going through what I'd like to call a resetting phase in my life.  This is when I just step back from what seems to be alot of chaos and get back to what makes me happy at the core, slowly letting things back into my life.  You can say it's a "getting back to the basics" kind of moment.  My choice destination for this week symbolizes that feeling as well: the Inca Trail. 

Why did this place come to mind?  Well essentially it's a roughly 55 mile path of simplicity, with unfortunate modern touches.  I say unfortunate because no longer can one trek alone; you either have to go with a sole guide or a group that would at times include porters and cookers.  In other words, one option would consist of having a professional companion who is licensed and vouched for by the government while carrying your own things and essentially fending for yourself; the other option being you have guides go with you while someone else carries your things, and another cooks for you all the while you're using already supplied equipment. 

I like to do things the old fashion way and just power thru places and take my time to enjoy the adventure that lays before me (or the mess I've gotten myself into).  However, after reading up about that part of Peru and talking to friends who have done the trail, I can understand as to why a guide is necessary and/or the other members of a team.  I haven't been able to find a solid "factual" reason, but I suspect that due to poverty, the government assigns those living there to these jobs as a way to make a living all the while protecting the natural beauty of the land and trail.  That's just all speculation on my part.

Touching on the topic of protecting the land, one thing you need to know about the trail is that you have to pay a permit fee to walk it.  Also, BOOK AHEAD!!!  This can't be more emphasized!  Only 500 people a day are permitted on the trail, 200 being trekkers and the remaining 300 being the staff that belong to the different tour groups; 2500 people a day are allowed to Machu Picchu.  So even though this trip would be fun and adventurous, there is a lot of planning involved.  Not only do you have to shell out $50 for the permit fee, but depending on if you just use a guide or a tour group, the costs go up.  Plus don't forget about having to fly Peru and arriving at Cuzco to start the trail.  The price for all of it, plane flight aside, usually hovers around $550-$650.  It honestly isn't too bad depending on what option you choose; again though, the prices do vary so please do your research on the finances of this trip.

Now I'm stubborn as a mule at times and I usually choose to push myself to do the most difficult journeys; this trip would be no different.  Even though this is a trail, there are various ways to get to Machu Picchu.  My preferred path would be to take the route that would involve going through Mollepata to Salkantay to Santa Teresa and then at the end being Machu Picchu.  All in all it's a 5 day trek that's classified as moderate-difficult.   I don't want to bore you with numbers and stats, so I'll just say this: if you want to get an idea of the trails and distances as pertaining to altitude and distance, www.incatrailperu.com offers great diagrams and tips on how to survive the trail.

Speaking about altitude, you need to watch out in avoiding altitude sickness.  Don't forget, this trail is absolutely gorgeous, but depending on what route you take, you can be as high as around 14,000 feet!!!  Personally, I don't know how to train for altitude sickness, but I do know how to train to be physically able to do something like this.  From what I've researched and been told by trekkers to Mac
hu Picchu, fitness is of the utmost importance, along with properly preparing a well set pack. 

The more I read and researched about this trail, the more it called to me.  I've known plenty of people who have done it and I've seen many a beautiful picture of the adventure; guide or tour group, this trail promises to be a great time all the while granting one the opportunity to meet others and share stories about other zany adventures.  It's a shame that the longest trek is 7 days because I'd love to stay longer to enjoy it all at my own pace, but I also understand the need to conserve the land and also help those who live on it.  If I can help it, I don't want to be another aimless trekker who unintentionally or not, would be harming such a beautiful landscape of Mother Nature. 


For the way this year has started, (not that it's been horrible) perhaps a much more basic, natural trip would be in order.  If I end up taking this voyage in 2014, I only hope to book everything in time.  Onward we go!

Searching for Something Holy

So due to my own little misunderstanding of how days and nights work, I was under the impression that today was friday, ahem! (It's saturday.).  So my apologies for not posting yesterday; now since I've got the days of the week in order, I just reviewed the alphabet and figured out how to write, so let's move on.

So the last week or so I've been talking to friends about wild adventures I want to go on (surprise surprise), all the while coming up with more locations for my growing bucket list.  Yet an interesting question came up which tends to pop its head out every so often: why do I travel?  My main go-to answer is for growth!  I want to grow and experience life.  I've never been a believer of living and dying in my hometown; the world is vastly bigger than Atlanta let alone the United States.  One point was brought up though that I found interesting; it was suggested to me that perhaps I travel so much just to hide the fact I'm running away from things.  I thought about that for a moment and for a second it did make sense; however I realized that there is a difference between fleeing from something and searching.  Traveling helps me seek out things I otherwise wouldn't see at home: different lifestyles, views on life, foods, languages, customs, etc...  I won't say that at some point in the past I wasn't running away from something, but thankfully life has a way of turning itself around when you put the effort into it.  I hope not, but maybe at some future point I'll gallivant yet again to bring order to some chaos in my life, I don't know; but I do know that for now, globe-trotting truly does bring me peace through growth and helps to give me direction in my soul searching. 

So with the idea of searching and seeking in mind, I decided that for this week my wandering eyes have fallen onto Petra, Jordan; more specifically Al Khazneh.  What makes this place so special on my list you may ask?  Well let's travel back in time to an era in which Ipods, Androids and Playstation weren't born yet.  (For some it would seem like something dating pre-Industrial Revolution you'd think.)  It was 1989 when the great film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade came to be.  For those of us raised on VHS, you can see the scene in which I'm referring to by fast forwarding a minute or so while your VHS heads scream for mercy; or with the birth of the DVD, you can just look up the chapter.  Ah, I just got a bit of a nostalgic moment.  IMDB is the modern day movie cliff notes, so if you want to know what the movie is about just look it up there; it's painless I promise.

The temple in which the Holy Grail is supposedly housed in is Al Khazneh; it's the exterior shot shown of the temple before Indiana enters it.  Now I've been scouring the net trying to find out if any indoor shots were also used of  Al Khazneh or if it was just a set, but so far I've had no luck.  Anyone who may know about it please chime in.

I joke about the movie and the temple, but in all seriousness, the facade alone of the Treasury (the Arabic translation of the temple), is over two thousand years old!!  The fact that it has survived for so long while being solely carved out of a giant (for lack of better words) rock face of sandstone is absolutely amazing.  The Treasury, just like the Taj Mahal. was originally meant to be a mausoleum and crypt; presently it's morphed into a tourist stop while in the city of Petra.  Now don't go in there trying to find the Grail, because I won't be able to help you pass all them trials now.

Much is beautiful at the site of Petra, not just the Treasury.  The area became a UNESCO site in 1985, and there are still many on-going projects in the area that are being done to help maintain the integrity of the land.  If you ever have a chance to visit Jordan, I highly recommend this site to be added to your list.  You may not find the Holy Grail, or even Indiana Jones there, but perhaps you'll find something else in the Red City that you never thought you'd see... a bit of worldly history still ingrained in the body of Mother Earth just waiting to be seen, felt and appreciated.

The Spike That United Them All

Once thing that always surprises me about the US when compared to say Europe is our lack of transit infrastructure.  Sure both continents have a rail system, but over here in the US it seems that we are still light years behind our European counterparts on rail transportation.  So that got me thinking about this week's post; it's more of a location than a city now, but Promontory, Utah is where both coasts of the US finally met for the first time under one rail line.

Promontory Summit is where the Transcontinental Rail Line finally became one on May 10, 1869; the area is now under the care of the National Park Services and the site is said to be in the middle of nowhere, a few dozen miles away from the nearest towns.  Unfortunately, as the years went on, the famed point of transit unity was left to fade away due to newer and more efficient ways to surpass the Great Lakes.  All that stands there now for the most part is a visitors center, an engine house and two replica locomotives that face each other just as they did the day the last spike was placed in the ground.


I know that this site for some may not be much, but it's an important part of American history.  I've always been a sap for climatic points in the evolution of countries and cities and this trip would be no different for me.  Only thing that I'd like to note though is unlike the rest of the spots I've chosen, Promontory Summit is really just a day trip; I'm breaking away with my week long minimum stay on this occasion.  Perhaps I could include this little excursion as a part of a greater trip to Utah.  Thoughts?

The one thing you won't see though is the infamous Golden Spike; this was the official spike that united the rails and made the transcontinental connection possible.  Hell you actually won't see anything from the original construction up there anymore.  The Golden Spike now resides at the Stanford Museum and all original rails were taken up for the war effort in 1942; so the two replicate trains actually lay on about 1.5 miles of recreated rails for tourists and posterity. 

I know that this post may not have sparked the interests of all adventure seekers, but this time around I decided to go with more historical significance.  How cool would it be to say that you once stood at the point where both halves of the United States were brought together by one golden token?