This new reality is wonderful, save for the fact that this lifestyle means the internet leaves A LOT to be desired. In fact, this is the first time I've gotten my blog to work since getting here. Facebook on my computer is still totally out of commission. Not to mention netflix and any movie or TV streaming or downloading is completely out of the question.
At the moment I am also still recovering from a cold I caught from Cena, who caught it from all our altitude and climactic changes on our trip, and I have a slightly sprained knee playing in the ocean yesterday. So today is a sit down and do nothing day (which it's just noon and it's already driving me up the wall), so I'm going to take this all as a sign from the universe to sit here and write a quick update and make this damn website work.
I've been thinking a lot about lives lately. As in, what determines a 'successful' life? Western convention dictates career, family, house, etc. More liberal 'open-minded' westerners will tell you that happiness is the key to a successful life. I'm beginning to question however, if it has to be 'successful' at all. Is there really a need for this indicator and its socio-cultural implications?
People here for example, most of which have been here there entire lives, are all fisherman and small business owners. At 11am you will see them laying in hammocks, sitting at tables with friends, drinking beer, playing cards, etc. They have already finished the 'longest' part of their day and are now just enjoying life and working as need be. They're not worried about financing their car, they have an old moto. They're not worried about how to pay for this year's 4 star family vacation, or if they're going to get that next promotion. Life is very simple. People riding their bikes and motos around, drinking 1,25$ 600ml beers on beach bars with friends, playing cards, chatting, playing with their kids. They have no such concept of success or failure. Life is life, and that's all there is to it.
People here for example, most of which have been here there entire lives, are all fisherman and small business owners. At 11am you will see them laying in hammocks, sitting at tables with friends, drinking beer, playing cards, etc. They have already finished the 'longest' part of their day and are now just enjoying life and working as need be. They're not worried about financing their car, they have an old moto. They're not worried about how to pay for this year's 4 star family vacation, or if they're going to get that next promotion. Life is very simple. People riding their bikes and motos around, drinking 1,25$ 600ml beers on beach bars with friends, playing cards, chatting, playing with their kids. They have no such concept of success or failure. Life is life, and that's all there is to it.
Us North Americans however, were born in areas of gas guzzling over-consumption where everyone bitches about how broke they are, how much they need to win the lottery, and how much they need a bigger TV. I was unhappy with all of that and left. Got my Masters and started travelling the world. But why? Why travel? Is it to see things? To learn about new cultures? Is it running away? Or is it a search for a replacement culture? A way of life that could perhaps be better than the one we were born in...
For example, when we were in Puno seeing lake Titicaca we took an afternoon trip to see the Uros floating islands on the lake. It was remarkable. These people constructed these completely sustainable floating islands and now live their lives in little monetary free communities complete with solar panels on every hut roof. Seeing something like this thriving really does make one think of the possibilities.
For example, when we were in Puno seeing lake Titicaca we took an afternoon trip to see the Uros floating islands on the lake. It was remarkable. These people constructed these completely sustainable floating islands and now live their lives in little monetary free communities complete with solar panels on every hut roof. Seeing something like this thriving really does make one think of the possibilities.
Here in Puerto Lopez, Ecuador marks the 7th country I've lived in. I love it here very much. The simplicity, the beauty of life, nature. But at the same time, I'm frustrated by the lack of simple things that would make life easier. Such as an outlet in the bathroom. A citronella candle or fly strip. Internet that works. Not to mention the wealth of social, economic, and political problems a poor place like this has.
Peru was a fantastic first step in latin america, and I would never trade my time there for anything, but it was time to leave. Overly touristic, ie, very overpriced and full of ridiculous tourists companies, extremely polluted, greedy, etc. Ecuador so far wins hands down. People are so much friendlier, life is more simple, yet easier than it is in Peru. Far less polluted. More emphasis on safeguarding natural beauty rather than trying to make money from it.
Yesterday for example, we made friends with the hospedaje owner (place where we're staying), and he took us around town on his moto (the 3 of us yes, gotta love developing countries) then to this fabulous beach on a national reserve outside of town where we just played in the waves and laughed like little kids. Turns out this reserve and beach also has some fabulous hiking, black sand beaches and lookout points to be explored. After we changed and dried off back in town, took a walk to the centre (down the dirt road adjacent to the beach to the more populous area of dirt road by the beach) and got two hot dogs and amazing fresh fruit smoothies (all for 3$), and then just sat on wooden chairs under a bamboo and palm tree bar in the sand enjoying it all. And this is legit palm trees and bamboo, not tourist resort style. All with the continuous sound of the waves crashing in the background.
Absolutely wonderful. But after this? Who knows. Maybe stay here for a few months, re-find that precious mind-body-spirit balance. Figure things out. Maybe be vagabonding workaway adventurers for a few months at random places around Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela and Costa Rica? Maybe take a contract in Costa Rica? The more I've been thinking about it, the more I'm considering Costa Rica and Upeace University for potential PhD locations. But we'll see how things go.
Yesterday for example, we made friends with the hospedaje owner (place where we're staying), and he took us around town on his moto (the 3 of us yes, gotta love developing countries) then to this fabulous beach on a national reserve outside of town where we just played in the waves and laughed like little kids. Turns out this reserve and beach also has some fabulous hiking, black sand beaches and lookout points to be explored. After we changed and dried off back in town, took a walk to the centre (down the dirt road adjacent to the beach to the more populous area of dirt road by the beach) and got two hot dogs and amazing fresh fruit smoothies (all for 3$), and then just sat on wooden chairs under a bamboo and palm tree bar in the sand enjoying it all. And this is legit palm trees and bamboo, not tourist resort style. All with the continuous sound of the waves crashing in the background.
Absolutely wonderful. But after this? Who knows. Maybe stay here for a few months, re-find that precious mind-body-spirit balance. Figure things out. Maybe be vagabonding workaway adventurers for a few months at random places around Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela and Costa Rica? Maybe take a contract in Costa Rica? The more I've been thinking about it, the more I'm considering Costa Rica and Upeace University for potential PhD locations. But we'll see how things go.
But the more I think about it, the more I think here in Puerto Lopez is a much needed stop. Peru feels like it just flew by with that horrible split shift schedule and all the stresses of life there. Time to regroup, slow down, and take a breath.
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