in order to get an ipod

just posting this up to try and get an ipod. Doubt it is for real which is why i went for this option rather than posting half a dozen friends the link

http://www.getitfree.net/xfyqadqxw

I dont like shouting

I think this may be the last blog I write, I am not sure that i like them all that much. Reading them is ok i guess but so impersonal that i feel little connection with the person. I feel that when writing them I can´t connet with anyone because I am writing in such a way as appreciable by all. In doing so it comes out a little sanitised and dull. In addition my camera was stolen (that is the official line, i actually think i left it on the beech) so i cannot put up imagery to support the words.

When i write emails or talk to people I am slightly different with each person (as is everyone) writing a blog doesnt allow this, it is a little like shouting, one voice to many with no real interest or importance in the reply. When i email you it is personal and I want to know what is happening with you rather than just harp on about what I am doing.

True this blog would probably be the only lasting memory of this trip in a few years time as both my camera and memory are lost. Thanks for reading if you did, email me if you can and i can talk with you rather than shout at you.

speak soon
x
x
x

The Darien

So from Panama City myself and a guy I met from Holland decided to take an internal flight as close to Colombia as possible and then go by boat from there. There are no roads from Panama to Colombia as the Darien Gap is one of the thickest and most dangerous jungle environments. Even going by boat in the area is not recommended as piracy is not uncommon. Nevertheless we went for it and it was amazing. We landed in a place Peurto Obladia which is a tiny tiny village in Panama sandwhiched between the jungle and the coastline. It had a military outpost with large sanbag defenses but otherwise so peaceful and ideallic. After boarder control here (conducted by an old women on her porch which looked out onto the Caribean) we got an hours boat ride in a dug-out boat to Capagana. Capagana was a very strange place, it is a small holiday resort for rich Colombians. Not well known at all by most Panamains, it has a handful of hotels and bars (many selling coco loco which is a coconut opened up with rum poured in). We stayed here the night, not doing much as the boat for the our next destination was at 7am. We were woken at 6am to get the 7am boat which left at 9am. Thiss journey is the fastest I have been on a boat and there were about 20 othrs in it which made it massivly over-subscribed but the twin 200 engines shot us to a place called Turbo in two hours.

Turbo is a dirty little town not worthy of anything more than a passing reference. From there we got a ride for 4hours in the back of a truck to Monteria which I thought was gonna be a dive but actually was great. We met a guy on the journey and showed us a cheap hotel ($4) and gave us a tour of the city. It was boring but nice of him, he then made us pray with him and asked if we wanted to come to his house to eat the next. We didnt. From there it was on to Cartagenia which is the best city i have ever been to...

hell of a journey

I am now alive again after one hell of a bus journey. Before I left though I got to go surfing in Jaco, a few hours away from where I was living in Costa Rica. It was stunning, not huge waves but pretty much as big as I have experienced and I was surfing a 6'6 so not what I am used to. I did get a nasty chest rash as the water was so warm i was just in board shorts but it was well worth it.

The town itself was pretty nasty, just like a spanish resort really but frequented by americans not english. The hostel owner was crazy, just like marlon brando's character in apocolypse now *except in stead of a totally bald head he had a bald head with a foot long platted pony tail at the back - one of yours derek...

Anyway from there i got the bus to the capital San Jose. I of course got lost going from one bus stop to the one i need to be at to go to Panama. So lost in fact that on the third time walking up the same round the prostitute dispensed with asking me if I wanted sucky sucky and just started flashing me. I found the bus stop soon after and got on, it left at 10pm, travelled through the night and got the border with Panama at 5am. The border however didnt open till 6am. Once open it took another 2hrs including a $30 bribe as i didnt have a return ticket and so couldnt fully prove i was leaving the country once entering. All very dodgy, he said i couldnt get in, I said no itsd fine and the guy next to me signalled that money may help so I slipped the money in the back of the passport and gave it to the official. After that I had a another 7 hours to Panama City.
The city is cool, saw the canal which is just a straight riverm the, entertainment there being similar to watching a big bath fill up. Went to a salsa club in flip-flops - never again. However panama is a great city and would return i reckon. An off to the border of Colombia tomorrow and should make it accross in the next few days guerillas permitting...

Have just got a job teaching in Trujillo, Peru, starting in Feb so pleased about that.

ummm....

Been here three weeks now and am getting a little bored of it. Far to many americans, pretty expensive to live and ALL the women are either american or prostitutes and i dont want either. So i am planning my next stages and have just received an email inviting me to teach in peru for a month so will get straight back to them (after the beech). A huge blessing has been the frisbee without which I would be just another skinny white gringo on the beech however being able to keep up with the locals at their own game is cool and have met some cool folk (although i barely undersatnd a word they say).

Anyway thought it was about time to put saome pictures up so will disperse them in this and the previous two posts. It is a stunning beech but nowhere to park. In fact the links between Quepos and Tideford are quiet heavy...

an official resident

After a week of doing a lot more school work than I had planned on things have come together in a quite amazing way. I have an appartment in the centre of the town with a view of the pacific ocean - just. It is with two american girls who seem to have adopted me since arrival plus a guy called jim They suggested I tried finding work selling tours so I went to some guy and he was keen until he understood the true meaning of 'i speak no spanish'. Nevertheless he said I could work on the beech instead of in the tourist office, selling surf lessons there and helping out as it is all tourists there. This wont start until the week after next as i have another week of teaching the locals. On the same day i went to the beech for the first time and nearly wept at its beauty so working there appealed.

Despite this though I have not been playing very hard as yet, in fact this is proving quite healthy. Well more accuratly I did not expect it to be weak cigarettes and very strong coffee that I got hooked on so am pleased. FRuit everyday and a clean shave - i look very silly and quiet young.

I have rented up until 16th january and think i'll get the bus to panama city after that and then a plane to columbia as the jungle between them has intentionally not been cleared to prevent access... The rest of the group are cool enough - all american apart from a swiss and despite myself I do get on with a couple of them, especially the ones that are like characters from films and tv. Speaking of which every male over 40 here looks like Pachanga from Carlito's Way, those under 40 look like peter andree after a trip to TK Max. The women are a bit of a dissapointment as I've only really met american girls as most days have to be teaching by 7am!

Will try and get some pictures up soon, hope all is well with you and yours.

ss
s

san jose

hoo haa am in costa rica. journey was fine, heard two great phrases on the plane.
"shopping while you fly, its the only way to buy"
"pre-digital, gonna make you fidgit y'all" - refering to earth wind and fire on the radio...

I got in at about 11 last night and decided i had to have a beer in the capital as would be off in the am. Left the hostel and got a taxi the driver was cool, spoke little or no English but we ammused ourselves by saying the name of whoever was playing on the radio and putting thumbs up or down. Until that is it came to Rod Stuart, we had a dissagreement over him. The bar was very busy and not exactly what I had in mind but quite enjoyed it. Imagine the cooperage but no one speaking english...

Anyway i'm just about to head off to Quentos a five hour bus trip from san jose. It is a little twn on the pacific coast where the school i am training at is located. From there i will post again.

If the computer I am on at the moment is anything to go by getting pictures onto this blog could be tricky is this beast is pre USB. I shall try and mug a nieve apple mac touting america to get the images up.

scotty