The Journey of our Lives
This journey is the result of Bon's passion for travel. Without her enthusiasm, mind for detail, cheerleading, and all around travel competence I can safely say this journey would not have materialized.
It is also a tribute to Bill & Ruth Nelson...YouTube Tribute
I say 'journey' singular, but now after more than 10 years we have extended our travels to include many parts of the world in separate trips each one could be considered a 'journey' unto itself. We actually began our travels a week before 9/ll when our family plus friend, Jake, left to meet Bonnie's sister in the Philippines at the end of her Peace Corps service. Unfortunately, I knew nothing of MyTripJournal at that time and kept no log of our travels. We travelled for 2 weeks in the Philippines (getting Scuba certified on Apo Island), then on to Hong Kong, overland throughout China for a month (visiting Bejing, the Yangsi before the dam was completed, N. to Urumqi, and W. China near the Tibetian border), Thailand, Laos, Viet Nam, Singapore, Papau New Guinea, Australia, and New Zealand...an 8 months odyssey which whetted appetites for more. What we envisioned as a journey became journeys and so it goes....
We travel light...small backpack and daypack, to expidite our moving about and not be too conspicuous. We travel on a budget: +/- $600/mo. (due to the devalued dollar, our most recent trip (Pickup Trip) averaged $900/mo,.+) excluding air fares, malaria pills, vaccines, and the occasional extraordinary tour/side trip. Our intent is to go as the locals travel and see/experience as much as we can via osmosis. This is not easy being very obviously still "tourists" to the locals but we try! We do not have any special language abilities(no French or local lingo, although Tim does speak/understand a good deal of Spanish) but always we attempt to learn the basics of the local tongue...please, thank you, bathroom, excuse me, how much, where is, etc.
We hope our adventures bring some sense of where we are and what is happening there. Trying to connect ourselves with the whole of life, we find some peace. In the midst of a seemingly chaotic day we hope to find moments of joy, beauty, poetry...the music of our short heartbeat on this our Earthship!
Above all else, we do make a difference no matter who we are, where we are, what lives we live - animal, plant, stone, water - it is all becoming!
I get carried away sometimes, please excuse the excesses but let us know when you like something-or don't-or have questions.
As part of my interest in being involved in our Earth adventure, I also attempt to bring to this journal information which concerns our Earth in ways which might threaten it's ongoing diversity or perhaps inform us as to what others are doing. Below is just such information which I hope you, the interested traveler, will find enlightening and perhaps even motivate you to pursue further.
Site of Vanishing Cultures Project
A Plenitude Economy
Consumerism-less
Check: First Around the World by Bicycle 1887
Hiroshima to Fukushima
Helen Caldicott
Check Out Helen Caldicott's Whole Speech
Photos of Some of Trips
Travel Habits & Tips we have picked up along the way:
-Wash hands freq even if only w/ water
-Put belongings in same place in packs, try not to chg their location much
-Unpack as little as poss when in ONs
-Use public transport, taxis only last resort...see more, learn more, connect more
-Chacos for all purpose footwear
-To get latest where, what, when, how - stay in hostels or similar ONs
-Use the locals' bus transport (chicken type/school bus) not tourist ones
-If only tourist buses avail, buy tickets day or more in advance so you can go by daylight, in panoramic seats up front or even up top/up front
-Dental floss for sewing repairs as well as teeth
-Liquid Bandaide
-Put on a smile esp. when asking for help (or the cost of an ON)
-Take lite, nylon stuff grocery bag to avoid TONS of plastic bags!
-Wear as little jewelry as poss walking about, or only cheap stuff
-Don't listen to people who always recom tours, sometimes it's the only way but usually it's poss to see lots more via public buses. Sometimes getting lost is the best way to get found!
-Water filter to save on plastic...Nalgene bottle to refill
-Wear clothes appropriate to local customs/sensibilities
-Never hesitate to ask in busy public places, avoid asking at nite &/or where there are few people
-Carry small LED on key chain, in coin purse
-Copy 1st page of passport and laminate, use for ID purposes instead of real passport
-Super glue in one use size for easy repairs
-Carry toilet paper w/ you everywhere
-Go light at the start and purchase as you need, this does not apply to medications or vitamins - not easily found many places
-WiFi is now more available than internet cafes, if you wish to stay connected, take a tablet with wifi connect capabilities.
-Store all important documents in "cloud" location.
-Photos etc. should be backed up frequently (daily?!).
-Debit cards are more and more accessible via ATMs, carry US or Euro cash only for emergency $$ - in a waist money belt (covered) or ?? on your person at all times with your passport.
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Traveling in Baja California Sur, Mexico
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