A Leap of Faith

In honor of leap day, I decided to take a leap, quite literally.  I jumped off a bridge.

Mandy, Abby, and I were in the town of Baños, Ecuador where there is a bridge some 100 meters or so above a ravine that you can jump off (with a safety harness, of course). Although I had already bungee jumped from 134 meters, somehow, this time I was much more nervous. I think part of it was because my body knew what to expect now, so the adrenaline started pumping earlier. Also, when I bungee jumped, I didn't have time to get nervous: they basically push you off, whereas this time, the guide asked if I was ready, calmly counted to three, etc. This gave my nerves time to get worked up. Looking over the bridge for about an hour before taking the plunge probably didn't help either.

But finally, I just relaxed, and jumped. I don't know why people (er...I) do these crazy things. I think it makes you feel alive and courageous for taking a risk, overcoming a fear, and putting yourself out of your comfort zone. This whole trip is really one big leap of faith for me. Every day I'm taking risks, overcoming fears, and putting myself out of my comfort zone, but just not always in such a big and obvious way as jumping off a bridge. I think it's somewhat appropriate for this Lenten season: I'm giving up a home and comforts in order to discover new things, find adventure, and learn to live simply.

So while it may be terrifying to take the leap, the things you learn about yourself along the way are worth the momentary pang of fear.
This was my last big adventure in Ecuador. A few days later, Abby and I packed up, said our tearful goodbyes to Mandy, and headed off to Peru to take more leaps (this time only figuratively) and have more adventures.

Ecuador: Feliz Carnival!

My time in Ecuador has been a blast and a half so far. I came to visit my friend Mandy, who is currently living in Quito, and decided to meet my friends Abby and Colleen here as well, which was a surprise to some of them. (You can read the whole story of our sneaky surprises on my friend Abby's blog, because she tells it better than me: http://shiftinghabitat.blogspot.com/2012/02/surprise.html )

Reunited with 3 of my former housemates from college, we filled our time catching up while, of course, doing some sightseeing. Highlights include: climbing up the Basilica in Historic Quito for a beautiful view of the city nestled into the mountains; standing on the equator; riding the Teleférico cable car up into the Andes for another hopeful view the city (but instead all we could see was the inside of a cloud we were in); relaxing in hot springs; and ziplining over the jungle canopy. Between beautiful sights, bountiful laughs, and exciting adventures, the memories and our time spent together are the best recuerdos.

 

Another highlight of Ecuador has been celebrating Carnival! Similar to Mardi Gras, Carnival is usually celebrated in South America the few days leading up to Ash Wednesday and the Lenten season. In fact, it is celebrated all over the world in many different ways. Most people think of the most flashy Carnival celebrations, like those in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with elaborate masks, costumes, and parades.

But in Ecuador, it is celebrated a little differently. There are still parades with costumes and indigenous dancing, but the most fun, and most widely practiced form of "playing" Ecuadorian Carnival is by being diablitos: playfully mischievous little devils that throw water, flour, and eggs at unsuspecting victims. We played Carnival with some of Mandy's friends here, and it turned into a full out war with kids and adults alike. By the end, we were all soaked in water and caricoa (similar to silly string, it's a colored foam-like substance that dries like water). People mostly play with other people they know, but a few times, neighbors would throw water at us from their windows or roofs while we were playing on the streets.
In some busy areas or at the parades, you would get covered in every substance no matter what, just by innocently walking through the street. 





I'm not exactly sure why Carnival is celebrated (or Mardi Gras for that matter), but it is just a fun time for adults to act like kids and to be playfully mischievous. I think has something to do with letting loose and having fun before the Lenten season comes. I learned from some quick Wikipedia research that some say the name Carnival comes from the Latin expression "carne vale," which means "farewell to meat, signifying that those were the last days when one could eat meat before the fasting of Lent. The word carne may also be translated as flesh, so suggesting carne vale as "a farewell to the flesh", meaning that Carnival encourages you to let go of your former (or everyday) self and embracing the carefree nature of the festival.

Whatever it means, it was a a blast. Feliz Carnival!

Honduras. Untitled.

My trip down south couldn't have started out any better. I got to spend time with my best friend, and had the opportunity to see some of the underestimated beauty of Honduras. Here's an extended summary of my viaje:

I'm so happy I decided to go visit Alyssa in Honduras. She is a teacher in Tela, which is on the northern coast of Honduras on the Caribbean Sea.  I wanted to see her daily life, where she lived and worked, and also see the beautiful country and soak up some sun while I was at it.

After spending a few rainy days in Tela (it is the rainy season after all), Alyssa and I headed into central Honduras for the weekend. We stayed at a great hostel/brewery/restaurant (http://www.ddbrewery.com) near the picturesque Lake Yojoa.  The lake is known for having some rare birds, so we took a birdwatching boat tour out onto the lake. We also visited some caves and the impressive Pulhapanzak waterfall.
But the highlight of our weekend was probably eating fresh caught tilapia from the lake while watching the sunset over the same lake. Oh, and hitchhiking was a great thing to check of my list too (Mom, just pretend you didn't read that).

Next, I ventured off on my own for a few days to Copan Ruinas, near the Guatemalan border. Settled in the Copan Valley, it's a quaint and sleepy little Spanish looking town with cobblestone streets and open air markets. Nearby are the Copan Mayan ruins and some great hiking up into the mountains to overlook the valley. I also went horseback riding into the mountains to visit some smaller villages and other ruins. My favorite part of all was visiting the bird park, Macaw Mountain. It is a rescue park that saves rare and endangered birds to prepare them to be released back into the wild. 

Then I returned back to Tela and visited Punta Sal, a secluded beach and National Park. It can only be reached by boat, but then you get to enjoy hiking next to monkies, poisonous spiders and crabs. We also went snorkeling and saw lots of coral, tropical fish, and jellyfish. Thankfully, the weather had cleared up, so I had a perfect sunny day to lay on the beach.

 Alyssa, her roommate Becky, and I spent one last night out together in San Pedro Sula before I had to take off and say goodbye. I never would have thought to come to Honduras if Alyssa weren't there, but I'm so happy I did.  I experienced a lot of the natural and cultural beauty of Honduras, but best of all, I got to spend time with someone that I love. That was the most beautiful and most exciting part of all. Thank you for everything Alyssa!

Back, over, and inbetween.

Well, it's been a while. I know I promised a post-trip post after I got back, but I guess there wasn't much to write about. Adjusting back into work and a routine at home was easier than I thought it would be. Of course I missed my daily adventures and constant spontaneity, but I also found that I loved my routine, staying in one place, and having a home more than I thought I would. I made time to take some small trips and see places in the U.S. that I had never seen before (San Francisco, Ann Arbor, Colorado), but overall, my time inbetween travels has been more or less uninventful in a good way.
I've slipped back into my comfortable pattern.

So I guess I better break out of it.

A week from today, I'll be at it again! I'll be flying south for the winter...South America that is (with a quick stop in Central America). I'll be gone for about 3 months and visit 5 different countries: Honduras, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, and Argentina. I'm beyond excited to see this beautiful part of the world, to be in warm weather, and to get to use my Spanish again!

This time around, I'm giving myself more time and visiting far fewer countries. In Europe, I was also more focused on visiting big cities and wanted to see beautiful man-made structures and architecture. But now, I'm so excited to see God's beauty in nature and spend more time being a part of local small town culture.

I'll admit: when I bought my flights a week ago and started to think about traveling again, it didn't excite me. In fact, it exhausted me to think about it. I thought, "Hmm....travel again? Naw, I'd rather sit at home and watch TV. It's easier."  But I know that's not what I want.  I'm seeking adventure and beauty, not complacency and lethargy. I know it may be tiring to think about now, but once I get there, I'm sure I'll be exactly where I want to be and forget all about my comfortable routine.

This time inbetween my travels has made me realize something though: I love having a home. It doesn't matter where that is, but I need consistency and routine in my life. I also need a community of my family and friends. I used to think I could be a nomad forever, never settling down, always seeking the next adventure, meeting new faces, and discovering a new corner of the world every day. While travel will be something I will continue to enjoy, I know now that I do want to settle down and have a home, see the same people every day, and not take for granted all the wonderful people in my life. That is where true beauty is.

So after this trip (aaaand maybe one more big one...), I'll be finding a home and place to lay my roots for a while, wherever that may be. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. Live in the present. Right now I need to pack and prepare myself for another adventure. See you on the other side!

Switzerland: Vacation and Bucket lists

Well, I'll try to be brief.

Highlights of Switzerland:

Zurich: Relaxation
Rainy, Shopped, ate Swiss fondue and Swiss chocolate (not much to do in Zurich).

Interlaken: Adventure
Climbed (er, rode) to the top of a mountain
Hiked in the Alps
Stayed in a Swiss chalet on the lake with cows for neighbors
Paraglided
Bungee-jumped (from the second highest bungee jump in the world! Bucket list: check.)

Lausanne/Montreux/Gruyere: Indulgence
Walked through the vineyards of Lavaux (a UNESCO World Heritage Site!)
Took a wine-tasting tour
Visited the Chateau de Chillon (Chillon Castle)
Admired French architecture
Basked in the sun by Lake Geneva
Rode scenic trains through mountains and colored trees
Saw a cheese-making factory and the Nestle chocolate factory (yep, gained a few kilos here)

A great way to end my trip. Home was only 3 plane rides and 24 hours away! I'll try to give a post-trip update soon. Cheers!

Berlin: On History Lessons and Street Art

So this post is a little late, but I still have to tell you guys about Berlin. Such an awesome city with so much history. You can't beat seeing remnants of the Berlin Wall and standing on top of the spot where Hitler's bunker used to be (now just a parking lot for some apartment buildings).  The city publicly and openly displays its history from WWII and the Holocaust. They are not proud of this history, but they share it vulnerably and without shame. It's amazing to think that the city's history is so recent too. The Berlin Wall fell exactly 22 years ago. For most of your reading this, that's probably within your lifetime. Crazy. And the story of how the wall fell is pretty amazing (look it up for yourself and have a little history lesson if you don't know it) and it really shows how the people of Germany are passionate and tenacious.

Berlin is a really alternative city. Most Germans (including Berliners) would say that Berlin is unlike anywhere else in Germany (I would say it's unlike anywhere else in the world). It's not your typical Bavarian style Germany (besides the food: mmm Brautwurst and Currywurst). But the city is alive and constantly changing. The people are down to earth, orderly, and fun-loving.


My favorite part of Berlin, besides the history, is all of the art. There is, of course, the East Side Gallery. This is the longest remaining portion of the Berlin wall that has now been turned into an international memorial for freedom full of paintings from artists all over the world. It's so beautiful that these cement slabs which once stood for division and power are now a work of art. One of the most famous paintings is the "Brotherly Kiss" by Dmitri Vrubel:

Berlin also has the most amazing street art. It was especially cool when I started to notice work by the same artist in different areas of the city. Artists anonymously leave their mark all over the city, some making political statements, others just for the sake of public art.

One of my favorites: Little Lucy (upper right) was always finding clever ways to kill her cat

Street art is alive and always changing. Since artists are continually painting over other works, a wall may completely change over night.
I could have spent so much more time in Berlin, just looking at all the art, learning more about the history, and shopping in all the awesome second-hand shops. Berlin, I will definitely see you again one day.