After experiencing some of the greatest times of my life traveling and meeting interesting and inspiring people from all walks of life I have decided that I want to continue this lifestyle for some time to come.  In order to do that I am currently back in the planning stages to better prepare for the adventures that await me.  I have returned to school to finish my bachelor degree which will open up opportunities such as Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) and the Peace Corps enabling me to continue traveling and experiencing fascinating cultures.

Every moment opens a new door and for that reason I cannot say what is in store for me next, but I refuse to believe I am finished traveling.  There is just too much out there.  Though finances do become a problem from time to time, we cannot afford to sit idle while our lives pass by. 

“A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving.” Lao Tzu

Well, things didn´t work out with sailing to Colombia.  I find myself back in Panama City.  When we left the San Blas islands everything was great!  I was really stoked to be heading to Cartagena for my first South American visit;  however, we had little wind and needed to use the engine.  That was until the engine quit.  And of course there was no land in sight!  With little wind it took us two days to sail back to San Blas.  It wasn´t all bad though as we saw more dolphins and a feeding frenzy of sharks as they trapped the school of fish between them and the diving birds.  It was really awesome!

Now for the really bad part.  I flew in a small two prop cessna from the island back to Panama City with the captain of the boat.  And because he is Colombian I had to go through the most difficult customs processing I had ever been through.  It was odd that all the other tourists passed right by, but when they got to me I had to go to three different offices for different searches. . . my luggage and my person, no there was no glove involved, but the search stopped just short of that.  Then I had to go to a different office where they did all kinds of information swapping on the computer and filled out profile paperwork for me.  STRANGE!!!  and I suppose it will put a damper on things if I ever decide to become a drug smuggler.  Not understanding everything they were saying because it was all in spanish made it all the more intense and stressful!  However, it did kind of make me feel kind of cool like I was a bad guy like Johnny Depp in the movie Blow. . .CRAZY!!

I met Mark and Nicolle in Colon, Panama.  I had the wonderful opportunity to fill in as part of their crew as they transited their 39 ft Beneteau yacht through the canal.  Check out the wonderful life these Aussies are living at http://www.ourlifeatsea.com/

I had a fantastic time!  Thanks Mark and Nicolle!!

Having in the back of my mind the knowledge that my trip will soon be coming to an end only stirs my impatience to mentally prepare for returning to the states and especially of preparing of what is to come.  However, I am really glad that I decided to continue one last leg to Colombia by sailboat.  This is the third day in a five day voyage because of our stop in the San Blas Islands of Panama.  It is here though that has made my entire Central American trip all the more exciting.  The San Blas islands consist of about 340 of the most beautiful white sand beach, palm tree covered, crystal green watered islands of which we take time from our busy schedules to visit in a daydream.  In fact, one island is very tiny with only one palm tree and apparently with the tourists it is very popular to be dropped off in the morning and retrieved in the evening allowing said person to play out the ´stranded on an island´fantasy.  Not my fantasy, I did not try it! 

The most wonderful part of visiting these islands has been meeting the local natives known as the Kuna.     Kuna are a matrilineal society, the women control the money and  the husband moves into the woman´s family compound.  They marry as early as 13 years old and it is forbidden to marry someone other than Kuna.  Marrying other than Kuna will lead to expulsion from the Kuna Nation.  This intermarriage system has apparently led to an increasing number of albino births. 

Each village has two large huts for the council of the Sahilas, or indian chiefs.  The Sahilas do little during the day except  sing long monotonous songs of ancestors and past exploits including battles with spanish invaders.  This oral history is passed from generation to generation through song. 

The women are covered in molas (handsewn pictoral garments), wini (rings of colorful beads around their arms and legs and gold jewelry.  I asked if they made the jewelry by hand, but apparently they buy it in Colon even though the local rivers are supposedly full of the metal.  All Panamanians, including Kuna, have been directed against taking gold from the rivers.  As one Kuna Chief put it ¨history has shown us that whenever we take gold out of the mountains somebody comes and takes it away from us, this is why no Kuna is allowed to wash for gold in the rivers.¨

When we arrived to the first island, Wichub Huala, the women immediately come out to the anchored boats in their dugout canoes called ulus trying to sell their molas.  While on the island meeting Kuna people and taking photos, I noticed a group of boys, ranging in age from 8-11, all crouching down in a circle confounded by the puzzle that lie on the ground amongst them.  There lie a stick about five feet tall placed through an old miniature bicycle wheel.  After confirming with them that they intended to make a basketball hoop and seeing their confused looks as how to make this happen, I was really happy to help out by tying the stick to the tire with a piece of string I had found half buried in the dirt.  I couldn´t have felt better after seeing the joys of their faces and the repeated words of  ´muchas gracias´from each of them as though  I had just made their day.  This is my favorite memory of this trip and I have many wonderful memories already. 

The second island we visited was Chichime which consisted of four or five huts and about 15 people.  I went for a walk on the beach and came across seven  or so girls and their carefree bare-bottom children swimming in the crystal green waters.  As it is likely a rare occasion that they leave the island in their ulus I seemed to be something of an oddity to them (no comments please) and they invited me to come swim with them with reassuring giggles.  Even with limited conversation I had the time of my life. . . knowing that not many experience the wonderful dream I am living.  When I was about to leave they asked with excitement if I would allow a photo with them.  Yes, though they make their own clothes and don´t have electricity, technology has visited once or twice as they have cell phones and cameras.  Apparently they charge them on the sailboats when they arrive.  I felt like a rockstar as the women and their children crowded me for a photo and I was able to return later for a photo of my own to save a memory of which I can recall when old age has deceived me. 

Little is more rewarding than seeing in someone else the effects of you.

Note: One thing I forgot to mention is that I felt like a giant in the sense of stature as well, as none of the Kuna reached a height of more than f ive feet and many just barely cleared my chest.  An amazing experience!!  Tomorrow we sail for Colombia!!!

The cruise through the canal was really awesome!  Mark and Nicolle were fantastic hosts and this experience will not soon be forgotten.  Also on Mark and Nicolle´s boat, a 39 ft Beneteau 393 sailing yacht named Sea Life, I met J.B. and Michele from South Africa.  They are sailing their own boat, but helped transit Sea Life through the canal with the rest of the team.

At the start of the transit a worker for the canal, called a pilot, comes onboard around five in the morning and we motor to the first set of locks known as the Gatun Locks.  In total there are two sets of three locks.  First the Gatun and then the Miraflores.  There are red and green guide lights that direct you into the locks, but it becomes a bit nerve racking when a Panamax, the largest cargo ship able to transit the canal, comes directly behind the small 39 ft yacht.  It was really awesome to learn how the locks work.  Each lock functions with two massive double-doors, one in front and one in back.  The front is already closed as your boat approaches,  then after inside the lock the rear doors close and moments later these massive doors start to disappear as your boat rises from the millions of gallons of water being pumped into the lock.  When the doors have nearly vanished the front door opens while the rear door remains shut allowing the boat to transit into the next lock.  The Gatun Locks raise the boats a total of 28 ft above sea level for entry into Gatun Lake and a night of partying with the crews of the other boats!!  The following day we motor through Gatun Lake´s fingers sighting crocodiles until we reach the Miraflores Locks which operate the same way as the Gatun Locks in reverse lowering us 28 ft.   The last door opens and we motor for the first time into the Pacific Ocean  whilst celebrating with music and beer! 

 Some interesting facts I learned while transiting the canal:

-The canal is approximately 48 miles

-The locks raise boats 28 ft above sea level

-The French began building the canal in 1880 without locks at sea level which resulted in failure and the loss of over 20,000 lives due to disease and avalanches

-The U.S. took over the project in the early 1900s and it was completed 1914

-Total control of the Panama Canal was relinquished by the U.S. to Panama December 31, 1999

Yesterday I went to Colon, a port town on the Caribbean coast of Panama.  It is advised in Lonely Planet that if you are able to avoid this place then it is probably wise. . . and I now know why.  I want to refrain from posting anything on the internet that dissuades others from traveling to places that could lead to better tourism of a location badly in need of such. . . however, as Lonely Planet has already published it I will tell you that this place is like a bad dream.  It is recommended in the book to take a taxi even in the daytime and taking a small jaunt through the neighborhood has me convinced.  I didn´t pass one building with the windows still intact and if there were doors the doors were hanging from the frames.  It seems, from the living conditions, that Colon is just a city of squatters whom have become trapped. . . or stay for reasons of which I can’t comprehend.  It is; however, a photographer’s paradise as the city streets are littered with people playing street games, chaotic traffic with chicken buses blasting exhaust from their smokestacks. . . yes, smokestacks on an old U.S. schoolbus. . .and the buildings create a great story as well. 

While in Colon I managed to fall into something great!  I met a sailing crew that wants me to be a part of their crew to sail through the Panama Canal!!!!  Unbelievable!!  I still can’t get a grip on my excitement yet!!  Mark and Nicole are from Australia and have been sailing for years all around the world.  They just came to Panama from St. Martinique and apparently when sailing through the canal by law you must have a certain number of crew to help at the locks.  I am totally stoked!!!  We will be sailing through the canal this Thursday and Friday.  And guess what, if you want you can watch me on webcam as we sail through.  The website is www.pancanal.com

We go through the first lock on June 12th between 8-10pm and the second lock on June 13th between 1-2:30pm

¨The world is all gates, all opportunities, strings of tension waiting to be struck.¨                               

-Emerson

I thought my mind was made up to come back to the states this week, but that was before I ran into two pelirojos (redheads), one Australian, one Canadian, whom have enticed me to join them on a sailing trip to Cartagena, Colombia.  I’m still debating as we have a few days before the boat sails. . . but it is sounding really good right now.  I don’t imagine I will be able to do this again. . . and besides, what else have I got to do?? 

hmmm……….what to do……………

 A day of snorkeling with Roberto, Bethany, Stephanie and Miguel.

I finally made it to Costa Rica!!  I have been waiting a long time for this.  My first stop was San Jose, only because it was really late getting in and I just wanted to get a hotel.  The city is not where I want to be. . . so the following morning I took the bus to Puerto Viejo to enjoy some more fun in the sun. 

Welcome to the jungle!!  Cahuita, is a little coastal town about 25 minutes north of Puerto Viejo where the jungle and the beach meet.  I have been waiting to see some real jungle. . . and while I didn´t find any jaguar, I was fortunate enough to see the elusive blue morpho butterfly. . . twice!  I also came across Capuchin monkeys and Howler monkeys. 

If I had more time I would have liked to spend awhile in SJDS.  This little surf town has no more than three blocks of streets to wander, but has a layed back atmosphere and is situated on a nice little cove with towering cliffs on both sides.  And it comes complete with dive shops, spanish schools (which I need to continue at this point) and restaurant/bars with delicious food.  However, there is one catch…

When it rains, it pours!  The second day in SJDS it began to rain. . . and though I am not there now, I have half a mind to believe it is still raining.  I was told that all buses and taxis had ceased their operations the morning I was checking out of the hotel.  All other travelers that were planning to leave that day were standing at the reception desk making their reservations for another day.  Being stubborn, I decided to find out for myself if it was true that no taxis were operating.  I found this a little difficult to believe.  Well, I found all the taxi drivers hanging out in a group by one of the little shops and they all told me there was no way I would be leaving today. . . except one guy.  Apparently, he too wanted to see just how bad the flood water had gotten.  I wanted to go back by the hotel to see if any of the others wanted to join me, but there were no takers as the receptionist was warning them and me with a wag of the finger. 

The taxi, a Ford Escort, miraculously drudged through the flood water which was about half way up the car door leaving puddles at my feet.  I think the driver was as surprised as I was that we actually made it through to the port town from which I planned to leave in the direction of Costa Rica.