Oct
21
2009

Viva la revolution!

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I tensed and picked the best escape route down the wet street behind me.

The student, intoxicated with the frenetic energy of the setting had decided to probe the policeman directly in front of me. The cop, standing in full riot gear with shield, mask, club, and enough tear gas grenades to start World War 3 never even flinched…..we both breathed a sigh of relief.

In front of me, 5000 students were shouting, raising fists and banners into the air, and marching to protest the fact that they cannot afford university.  Cops stood at the ready, and among a very small gathering of locals I stood with Alex, 2 lone gringoes in a sea of protest and high energy.

How do I always walk into these things on accident?

(Read more…)


Posted in Cambodia |
Oct
20
2009

Bogota, Colombia

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I wasn´t sure if I was in China or South America.

So many similarities here in Bogota….in neither place could I communicate at all when I first arrived.  The weather is similar, with a damp cold constantly gnawing at your bones in the open air hostel.  There seems to be no place to go to get warm or dry at the same time!  Even the buildings are similar – utilitarian Cold War structures jutting up to the sky with dirty gray concrete, broken windows, and rusted air-con units.

At first appearance, Bogota isn´t much to look at, but I have a feeling that a lot more waits underneath.

When I stumbled off the plane after 2 days and nights of living in airports, I was so numb that very little could phase me. It didn´t take long for me to realize that even simple tasks like checking into the hostel and finding something to eat basically require some proficiency in Spanish.

Even once people realize that my Spanish consists only of ¨Donde es el bano?¨ and I look at them in bewilderment and drool, they still keep talking to me, sometimes even faster than before.  As soon as I can get centered and caught up on sleep, this is going to be a very enjoyable challenge indeed.

My two new missions of this trip?  Learn Spanish and at least attempt to Salsa dance without breaking any bones.

(Read more…)


Posted in Colombia |
Oct
14
2009

Countdown to Colombia

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I felt the sharp prick of the needle pierce into my muscle.

With a quick push of her thumb, the nurse emptied a syringe full of bad guys, in this case an active dose of Yellow Fever, right into my bloodstream. Lucky for me, she was good and it was over before I knew it.

The scores of vaccinations I have received between vagabonding and being in the army have made me into a human pincushion.  You would think after all those needles I would be used to it by now, but I still approach every shot with all the courage of an 8 year old schoolgirl.

“Mr. Rodgers, You may feel achy, tired, and run a fever for the next 3 to 5 days”.

All that for $175 – bargain.

As I sat and rubbed my arm wondering when the fireworks would begin and why the hell I didn’t at least get a lollipop, I was read the standard blurb at travel clinics about how I should “never eat street food”, “never swim in wild untreated water”, and basically avoid all other activities that make budget travel fun.

My head nodded in agreement mechanically but we both know that I have full intentions of breaking most of the “rules” on her sheet.  :)

(Read more…)


Posted in Colombia, travel |
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