Home | Tibetan Uprising

Home | Tibetan Uprising

You know you're back in Summerland when...you stop at the 4way (en route to the Yates') and see 5 of your friends, all of whom are pretty stoked to see you.

so, how was your year?

May 10th.

Grand Finale

Not much going on. Since Little Corn I´ve been to 4 countries. Sorry I haven´t updated you all. From Nicaragua I headed to El Salvador where I tried surfing. For a day. It was really hard, one of those things you need to spend a month learning and I didn´t have the patience/time for it...next trip?! I chicken bused my way to Hondurus, through dry hot pine forests, it even smelled like home! I arrived in San Pedro Sula at 10pm, not a nice city to arrive in after dark, but found a hotel safely and got out real early to avoid the scary transients who were seeking shelter there. I went to Utila (a Bay Island) for some more diving. I met a couple girls from previous encounters and we spent about a week hanging out. I completed my Advanced Diver and decided to not go to Belize or the Yucatan because I´d run out of money too fast. So I went to Omoa (never ever ever stay at Roli´s Place. The Lonely Planet raves about him but damn he is the grumpiest man I´ve ever met...and angry too.) So I bolted for Guatemala and took a couple boat trips thru the Rio Dulce. It was Semana Santa so every single person was on holiday. And 90% were at the beach, so I headed up to Flores, the town near Tikal. During my 4 days in Flores I went to Tikal, Ya´xah and a couple other little ruins. At Tikal we hiked up every single temple (that you were allowed to actually ascend). It was stinking hot! From Flores I went to Coban to experience Semuc Champay. Semuc is a series of natural fresh water pools that glisten in the sunlight and are turquise coloured. When you sit in them the little fishies nibble on your toes. Then, I went to Antigua, to climb the volcano. Pocaya was probably one of the craziest things I´ve seen on my trip. It was a very very active volcano, we were walking on the hot lava (indeed they were melting shoes and even skin if you weren´t too careful) and razor sharp rocks. That was fun. Antigua to Lake Atitlan and the little town of San Pedro. I spent a few nights there and met a really fun couple, Jacobi and James. She´s from Sask. (somebody got out!! ) and James is from Oz. When I was getting packed up to head to Mexico, they decided to come with me. That was a week ago, we´re still chilling together (on the beach at Zipolite). We spent a horrible night at the border between Guat and Mex (to save money cause we´d not be going far and Mexico is more pricey) and then 2 at a beach (with 6am hammering wakeup calls). We then went to Boca del Cielo (mouth of heaven) and had a mozzie ridden night then a fun sleep in hammocks on the beach. So, now we´re in Zipolite and I´ll spend 2 more nights here. On Thursday night I plan to take an overnighter to Mexico City and spend a couple days exploring the giant city. I fly to Toronto on Monday morning. Can´t wait to see you all when I come home!!!!

Little Corn

Creole ...Coconuts... Crabs ...Cocaine -Welcome to Little Corn

What a wicked trip. Flying over Nicaragua you watch the flat, dry landscape transform into lush tropical forest and then fall into the Caribbean Sea. A short 15 minute plane ride off the coast (or a few fun hours on a boat) and Big Corn appears. Not many tourists stay on Big Corn, the reason...Little Corn is just so much better, and only half an hour away.
Upon arrival at Little Corn the passenger boat is greeted by the most enthusatic tour guide I´ve ever met. His name is Denis. More about Denis to follow.
I met up with a couple from Holland/Isreal and we decided to stay at the same ´resort´. My hut on the beach was $5/ night and relatively comfy, mozzie net included. I was also frequently visited by the millions of crabs that burrow in the sands outside.
On the second day there I went for a walk on the beach and was followed by a local guy who was very persistent. He claims to be ´studying singing´and so I was sung too, he was actully pretty good. After more interogation I found out that he, like all other habitants of Little Corn, is in the drug ´shuffling´business. And had enough money tucked away to take a trip for a year, or spend it on a dreadlocked Canadian girl...you get the point. So, I told him it was my bday the next day and he planned to get me something nice. Right.
On my birthday I started the openwater diver course, along with Annelies (my Danish friend). We went out in the afternoon on our first ever dive and got to see sharks. That´s right folks, I spent my 19th bday scubadiving with sharks! It was amazing.
The next day Raphel and Fred showed up on the island. They plan to stay there for a month, crazy Quebecois!
My least favourite day of the week was likely Friday when I was accompanied by both Denis and Daril (the singing drug dealer.) I was innocently reading my book when Denis showed up and 5 minutes later innocently talking to him when Daril showed up. Long story short then were not only fighting over me but the flames of jealousy were hot. I briefly excused myself, ran over to visit Raf and Fred for advice, returned to say goodnight and went to bed.
The next morning we went diving. Between dives we docked and low and behold who was at the beach by my hut? Both boys of course. I ignored them.
The rest of the week passed relatively lazily and problem free. The lifestyle on Little Corn is truly unique so when the Century 21 team showed up on Sunday you can imagine what a lot of the islanders were thinking. I hope they leave it alone.
I flew out on Monday, spent the night in Managua and am now in El Salvador. I am supposed to be surfing ..or attempting, but somehow I keep getting distracted. I will this afternoon.


One more thing about the Corn Islands, over half the population there has the last name Carlson, or is a decendent from. Otto Carlson, the Swedish sailor, jumped ship and decided to stay there. Sounds mighty familiar to Olli Carlson the Swedish sailor who jumped in Canada...so, I met a ton of long lost cousins, it was nice.

Corny Birthday

I´m off to the Corn Islands tomorrow afternoon. For those of you who don´t know where that is, it´s in the Caribbean Sea, off the coast of Nicaragua.
I will take lots of pictures so that when I return to Canada you can all see how spoiled I really am!

besos!