I've moved!

If there are any of you who haven't heard, the blog has moved to thenomaddiary.com. See you there!

Thing #3

Today's Thing comes from one of my favorite new websites, mnmlist.com, dedicated, as the name implies, to the minimalist lifestyle. If you don't know much about this sort of lifestyle, the basic premise is universal simplification of life. Something about this concept has resonated with me, and learning more has been a fun and rewarding process. Regardless of whether or not minimalism appeals to you, take time to read this. At the very least, I think you will find it to be very thought provoking...

http://mnmlist.com/reimagined

The future is in YOUR hands

Americans today find themselves amidst the most volatile and unprecedented of circumstances. The development of technology has been blindingly rapid, and we have caught onto the idea that collective human potential is seemingly limitless. However, what is not limitless are the natural resources that we have come to rely so heavily upon. Powerful as our vehicle for progression may come to be, the simple fact is that it will soon run out of fuel if we do not make some major adjustments. In a response to one of my recent entries, my long time friend Josh Kruger made a crucial point on our current state of affairs- "All of our current and looming crises are astonishingly interrelated and could be said to stem from one root cause: the myth of limitless expansion".

I find this simple statement to convey an urgent truth about society. If there is one idea that is salient throughout our culture, it is that we should do everything in our power to foster growth, to advance. However, if there is one lesson to be learned that is essential to our survival, it is that the pursuit of this ideal can only lead to devastation. History has shown us that such attempts at limitless expansion almost always lead to collapse (think Roman Empire). I am reminded of the term "too big to fail", often used to describe the nature of our largest banking entities. I hate this term, because the harsh reality is that failure does not discriminate. All things can fail, and will, if they are poorly operated. The only difference is that when the big things go down, they tend to bring many of the smaller things with them. Continuing to quote Josh, "we need to address the fundamentally unsustainable nature of, well, everything we do". As I mentioned in my last post, a fundamental paradigm shift is needed. Without such a change, I believe whole heartedly that we are doomed.

So, you ask, what could bring about such a revolutionary change? How can we be saved from our evil ways? I would contend that, ultimately, it will require support from America's greatest addiction, the main stream media. Anyone who has watched television in the last decade is probably giggling at this seemingly laughable prospect. Media cooperation, I realize, is a tall order, so lets start with ground level thinking. What can we do RIGHT NOW to inspire responsibility and consciousness among the masses? Simply put, we must find a way to promote the spread of ideas. Luckily, the world today is loaded with opportunity to do just that. Lets take a look at one...

As a few of you know, I have been an avid blogger for a few months now. Despite the effort that I have put into my writing, I have intentionally limited my readership to family and close friends; only recently have I become comfortable with the idea of large audiences. Now that I have deemed my writing worthy of a slight increase in readership, I have begun dual postings on Facebook and, as usual, blogger.com. The result has been tremendous. My ideas are being met with incredibly thoughtful and well articulated responses from many of the most intelligent people I have had the pleasure of knowing. Both friends and mere acquaintances are showing their burning desire to communicate, to have their voice heard, to show that they want to make a difference. I think we are all united by the fact that we have a vested interest in the outcome of this whole thing, though many people seem to deny themselves this essential realization. For those of us who are ready to accept our social responsibilities, let us be free to utilize our potential through the interpersonal spread of knowledge and innovation. The time to be shy and unsure of oneself has surely passed. These difficult times require a strong voice from our generation. American 20 somethings are the link between the old way of doing things and the unforeseen future. What will this future hold? We must decide this for ourselves.

If you agree with this sentiment, allow me to ask a favor of you. Make yourself heard. Write a thoughtful response this or any other post. Or, if you are feeling brave, write a post of your own. If you find yourself questioning your intelligence or the value of your opinions, DON'T. I promise, you have something to say and people will find it refreshing that you are willing to share. Do this and you will soon see that Facebook has the potential to become something so much more, a remarkably powerful engine for social change.

Find inspiration, share your thoughts. Our future depends on it.

Have you built your life boat?

I am very concerned about our country. Very concerned, exceedingly worried in fact, that we may be headed for economic collapse. Now you are probably saying to yourself, what does a psychology major know about the economy? And you would be right, sort of, if it were not for the fact that my growing fear has led to many hours of investigative research. If there is one thing I have learned, it is that you do not have to be Paul Krugman to understand the very basic and very real indicators that would lead one to believe that our financial system and the cultural climate that fuels it are the ingredients for a time bomb.

Right now, I can't help but feel as though Americans, collectively, are a blonde silicone breasted airhead from a cheap horror movie. Everyone in the theater knows that there is a scar faced ax murderer waiting in the next room, it seems so obvious, but she goes in anyway. And she gets slaughtered. Similarly, it feels as though we all understand the basic concept that a country with a run away train for national debt and an endangered species as a middle class is probably not a prime candidate for long term sustainability. Yet we do precious little to avoid catastrophe. We are knowingly walking into the room to get slaughtered.

We have fully committed ourselves to the pursuit of the American dream- the big house, the cars, the TV's, whatever it takes to make the Johnson's next door green with envy- and we will stop at no amount of debt to get it. Rarely do we ask ourselves, can I afford this? Though we should, because more often than not, the answer is NO.

As the middle class becomes a thing of the past, the unemployment rate soars, and teachers are laid off by the thousands, we come to understand that the magnates of the banking industry are given government sponsored bonuses, paid for with tax dollars. In my opinion, wealth should be directly correlated to productivity and the positive impact our work has on society. "Sure, those Harvard-educated bank CEOs work hard, but do they work 300 times harder than you?"- Sally Kohn.

We allow the thieves of the financial sector to pillage to their hearts content, to the point of unfathomable riches, but we don't understand the nature of the crime enough to even make an attempt at stopping it. By the we finally start to get it, it is far too late.

We eat the foods that not only make us look and feel terrible, but almost inevitably lead to costly health issues somewhere down the road. We think our health care system is a mess now, imagine what it will look like when all of the 300lb. 30 somethings (and there are tons, literally) begin to have the heart attacks they have dutifully earned. Who will pay for this? Gaze into this mirror for the answer.

And who will fix all of these problems? Not the 30-60 year olds. They got us into the mess in the first place. Certainly not my generation. When the promise of the American dream proves to be a farce, a mere relic of better times, we will be too shell shocked to take any sort of action. How about the youth? Ah yes, the youth will save us. Doubt it, our education system sits at a dismal 18th in the UNICEF world rankings. We will be lucky if those kids can differentiate their asses from their elbows. Maybe the South Koreans, perched at the top spot, will lend helping a hand. I'll ask when I get there, but don't hold your breath. We are on our own, and given our recent track record, that by itself should be enough to scare you. It seems the only people alive in our country who ever really got it are now in their final lap. Please grandparents, save us before its too late.

I could go on and on criticizing whining, but you get the point. As a result of equal parts greed, ignorance, and corruption, we find ourselves in an awful mess. For those of you who are a bit older, can you remember a time where so many sectors- financial, housing, health care, education, to name a few- faced such dire circumstances? Am I being overly dramatic, or are we much closer to complete disaster than most people realize? I may not be an expert, but there are plenty out there who seem to share this sentiment. I worry that the recession, bad as it has been, may not have gotten bad enough. Did we learn our lesson? If we do not undergo a major cultural paradigm shift, I fear that things are going to get much, much worse. Arianna Huffington puts it bluntly-
America is like a patient in danger of suffering a massive heart attack. We may be able to postpone things with a bit of outpatient surgery, but we won't be able to avoid it without some serious lifestyle changes. The economic coronary isn't quite here yet, but it's on the way.

As for me, all I can do is try and learn a lesson from the failures of previous generations. Do I feel cheated to be starting my life of financial independence amidst such turmoil? Not in the least. In fact, as bad as things seem to be, my personal path to success seems pretty clear-
1. Buy a small 2 bedroom apartment, not a 4 bedroom house.
2. Continue to drive a Scion toaster car
3. Save 10% of my income, without fail.
4. Stay healthy
5. Pay off credit cards immediately
6. Wait until I am in my late 30s to have children
7. Adhere to the principles of minimalism whenever possible
8. Plan on never retiring, which is fine anyway, because the absence of productivity seems dreadful.
9. Possibly look into trading all of my American dollars for Danish krones.
and 10. Ironically, given the tone of this post, stay positive! The ship may be going down, but that doesn't mean I have to go down with it. In fact, I'm already building a life boat. Are you?

Thing #2

Just now I put up a post about the concern I have for the economic stability of our country. If there is a single issue that I think all people should take the time to understand, it is this one. However, ours being such an intricate system, attempting to make sense of it all can be incredibly frustrating. So, for todays Thing, I am posting a talk given by Harvard law and economics professor Elizabeth Warren on the disappearance of the middle class. I think this is a great place to start getting a sense of how dire our situation truly is. Despite her Ivy League background, Warren does a remarkable job of putting a complex issue into common language. Check it out here-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akVL7QY0S8A

Internet Treasures

I do virtually the exact same thing every morning- brew coffee, make a big breakfast, shower, and read blogs/articles on the internet. This is my morning ritual, and it suits me quite well. Something I have begun to notice is that spending as much time as I do on the internet almost always results in the discovery of something truly awesome. I'm not talking about "Charlie bit my finger" type stuff, but the sort of thing that can inspire and have a real impact on your life. So, my gift to those of you who may not have as much time to browse the www is this- EVERY DAY, for your benefit, I will post the most useful/magnificent/life changing thing that I find. So lets get started-

I actually found Thing #1 a few months ago, and it changed my life. It comes from Raptitude, the blog of an up and coming self-help leader by the name of David Cain. This article, titled "88 Important Truths I've Learned About Life" was my first exposure to the world of blogging, and I have been hooked ever since. Set aside about 20 mintutes to read through this list and I think you will find it to be an eye opening experience... And if you find this to be the case, I encourage you to dive deep into Raptitude, a site that continues to guide me every day in my journey of personal development

http://www.raptitude.com/2009/07/88-important-truths-ive-learned-about-life/

A formal apology

I am the ultimate consumer. Capitalist extraordinaire. I have many THINGS, most of which were purchased with the intention of making me look better, feel more confident, gain respect, or establish my social status among my peers. I have a watch with dead batteries, but I wear it anyway. Why? I haven't a clue. Does the shiny thing on my wrist make you hold me in higher esteem? For your sake, I certainly hope not. I have a walk in closet overflowing with expensive clothing that I never wear. The shirts, pants, jackets, and sweaters will continue to hang until I decide to get rid of them in order to make room for more ill-fated attire. If there is a burial ground where technology is laid to rest, my personal plot it rather sizeable. It is filled with items I deemed were too big, too slow, or simply not cool enough. What do I do with this antiquated garbage? I throw it away, buy some more, ad-nauseam. It's the American way. Do you like all of my awesome things? I certainly hope so, because my confidence and sense of self is dependent on your opinion. If you don't approve, just give me some time to earn money and I will go buy all new stuff until you finally accept me. STOP. How did it come to this? Where was my moral compass as I traded thousands of hard earned dollars for all of this senseless trash, meanwhile knowing full well that I live in a world plagued with needless suffering. At one point in my life did I buy into the disgraceful lie that my importance as an individual is so fickle as to be defined by the accumulation of possessions? It is all so very sad and pathetic, but there is hope. I am 23 years old and the time has come for a long overdue change. This is my official announcement to the world that I have woken up from the dangerous coma of force fed consumerism. I shudder to think what would have happened had I stayed asleep. In 16 days I will move to the other side of the world and I will put my entire life into a single suitcase. My new minimalistic lifestyle will require that I take with me only the things I need to reach full potential. Everything else, all of those THINGS that do nothing but clutter my life and fill my heart with guilt, they will stay behind. They are symbols of my social irresponsibility, reminders of my unforgivable vanity, and for these reasons I am expelling them from my life. This night I offer to the world an apology for my mindless greed, as well a pledge (and hope its not too late) to consume from this day forth with restraint and consciousness.

What will I become?

I am very concerned about our country. Very concerned, exceedingly worried in fact, that we may be headed for economic collapse. Now you are probably saying to yourself, what does a psychology major know about the economy? And you would be right, sort of, if it were not for the fact that my growing fear has led to many hours of investigative research. If there is one thing I have learned, it is that you do not have to be Paul Krugman to understand the very basic and very real indicators that would lead one to believe that our financial system and the cultural climate that fuels it are the ingredients for a time bomb.

Right now, I can't help but feel as though Americans, collectively, are a blonde silicone breasted airhead from a cheap horror movie. Everyone in the theater knows that there is a scar faced ax murderer waiting in the next room, it seems so obvious, but she goes in anyway. And she gets slaughtered. Similarly, it feels as though we all understand the basic concept that a country with a run away train for national debt and an endangered species as a middle class is probably not a prime candidate for long term sustainability. Yet we do precious little to avoid catastrophe. We are knowingly walking into the room to get slaughtered.

We have fully committed ourselves to the pursuit of the American dream- the big house, the cars, the TV's, whatever it takes to make the Johnson's next door green with envy- and we will stop at no amount of debt to get it. Rarely do we ask ourselves, can I afford this? Though we should, because more often than not, the answer is NO.

As the middle class becomes a thing of the past, the unemployment rate soars, and teachers are laid off by the thousands, we come to understand that the magnates of the banking industry are given government sponsored bonuses, paid for with tax dollars. In my opinion, wealth should be directly correlated to productivity and the positive impact our work has on society. "Sure, those Harvard-educated bank CEOs work hard, but do they work 300 times harder than you?"- Sally Kohn.

We allow the thieves of the financial sector to pillage to their hearts content, to the point of unfathomable riches, but we don't understand the nature of the crime enough to even make an attempt at stopping it. By the we finally start to get it, it is far too late.

We eat the foods that not only make us look and feel terrible, but almost inevitably lead to costly health issues somewhere down the road. We think our health care system is a mess now, imagine what it will look like when all of the 300lb. 30 somethings (and there are tons, literally) begin to have the heart attacks they have dutifully earned. Who will pay for this? Gaze into this mirror for the answer.

And who will fix all of these problems? Not the 30-60 year olds. They got us into the mess in the first place. Certainly not my generation. When the promise of the American dream proves to be empty, merely a relic of the past, we will be too shell shocked to take any sort of action. How about the youth? Ah yes, the youth will save us. Nope, our education system sits at a dismal 18th in the UNICEF ranking. We will be lucky if those kids can differentiate their asses from their elbows. Maybe the South Koreans, perched at the top spot, will lend helping a hand. I'll ask when I get there, but don't hold your breath. We are on our own, and given our recent track record, that should be enough to scare you. It seems the only people alive in our country who ever really got it are now in their final lap. Please grandparents, save us before its too late.

I could go on and on criticizing whining, but you get the point. As a result of equal parts greed, ignorance, and corruption, we find ourselves in an awful mess. For those of you who are a bit older, can you remember a time where so many sectors- financial, housing, health care, education, to name a few- faced such dire circumstances? Am I being overly dramatic, or are we much closer to complete disaster than most people realize? I may not be an expert, but there are plenty out there who seem to share this sentiment. I worry that the recession, bad as it has been, may not have gotten bad enough. Did we learn our lesson? If we do not undergo a major cultural paradigm shift, I fear that things are going to get much, much worse. Arianna Huffington puts it bluntly-

America is like a patient in danger of suffering a massive heart attack. We may be able to postpone things with a bit of outpatient surgery, but we won't be able to avoid it without some serious lifestyle changes. The economic coronary isn't quite here yet, but it's on the way.

As for me, all I can do is try and learn a lesson from the failures of previous generations. Do I feel cheated to be starting my life of financial independence amidst such turmoil? Not in the least. In fact, as bad as things seem to be, my personal path to success seems pretty clear-

1. Buy a small 2 bedroom apartment, not a 4 bedroom house.

2. Continue to drive a Scion toaster car

3. Save 10% of my income, without fail.

4. Stay healthy

5. Pay off credit cards immediately

6. Wait until I am in my late 30s to have children

7. Adhere to the principles of minimalism whenever possible

8. Plan on never retiring, which is fine anyway, because the absence of productivity seems dreadful.

9. Possibly look into trading all of my American dollars for Danish krones.

and 10. Ironically, given the tone of this post, stay positive! The ship may be going down, but that doesn't mean I have to go down with it. In fact, I'm already building a life boat. Are you?

What will I become?

I began my day this morning with an oversized cup of coffee and an article on the advantageous habit of goal setting. They both got me pretty excited. In a comprehensive step-by-step guide, the author laid out directions for quantifying and organizing ambition and desire. "Man," I thought, "this is gold!". And it really is... provided you can clearly define what you want to accomplish in your lifetime. Though I gave it an honest attempt, I just couldn't seem to reach an appropriate level of concreteness. I want to be happy, successful, and healthy. Well, DUH. Who doesn't? It did not take much time before I realized that what I thought were goals, were really just ambiguous ideals. Then I got scared. Why couldn't I set long term goals for myself? It's not that I lack ambition, I'm just not a hundred percent ready to commit to a single life path. Some would say I lack direction. I say I'm keeping my options open.

Anyway, I was saved later in the day when I came across a chapter in "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" that encouraged readers to "think with the end in mind". In other words, what do you want people to say about you at your funeral? That you earned 6 figures, benched 350, and had a 60" 3-D television? Doubt it. Most people fall back on their core values when answering this question, and what could be more important to honor? According to Covey, author of "7 Habits", establishing these values is paramount to setting clear cut goals. After all, setting and meeting a goal that is inconsistent with our principles is clearly a waste of precious time. You can climb the ladder as high as you want, but if will do no good if its leaning against the wrong building.

So, I set out to define my values in a personalized mission statement. I recommend this activity to anyone and everyone, young and old, especially those who are unsure of their direction in life. Write your statement, print it out, and read it every day. If you are not shy, share it with others to ensure accountability. While I am still goal-less, I now have a set of values that I can use to guide my decisions. If I follow the rules I have set for myself, I have no doubt that goals will eventually emerge from somewhere within.

If you do decide to try this, please tell me how it goes! I find each and every one of you who reads this to be extremely interesting and valuable, and feedback would be of considerable value.

My Personal Mission Statement

If I am to be any one thing, let it be kind. May the people I come across, whether it be for a minute, a month, or a lifetime, feel better about themselves having met me. I hope to never forget that even the briefest encounter can have a lifelong impact.

I will not just live, I will live with consciousness, always striving for a better understanding of myself and my surroundings.

I will give money the respect that it deserves, but it will never have power over me.

I will use my knowledge and understanding of past experiences to effectively plan for what is to come, all the while maintaining a continuous appreciation and awareness of the present moment.

I will work diligently every day to become something more than what I was the day prior. For me, the most difficult envy to cope with is that which we have for a former self.

I will address those who oppose me with tact and my most open mind, focusing primarily on the opportunity for cooperation and mutual growth.

I will know when to apologize.

I will be flexible and adaptable in my opinions, as well as my actions. From here forth, if I am ever described as stubborn, it is time to reevaluate.

I will read. A lot. I will teach what I have learned.

I will live on my own terms, proactive to the end, never letting another person impose upon me their own definitions of success, wealth, prosperity, or happiness.

I may never adopt religion or concretely acknowledge the existence of god(s), but I will always remember that such concepts are of the utmost gravity to many people. No matter how difficult I find them to understand, I will respect all types of spirituality.

I will not take for granted the fact that my body is a miraculously complex system that has remarkable potential for longevity, as well as decay. I will treat it in a way that favors the former.

I am an adventurer and I will never, ever, stop exploring.

I will be courageous.

I will be humble.

One day, I will have mastered the intricacies of my life enough to invite another person to be a part of it. I will be a devoted husband to a talented and passionate wife. Together, drawing from our collective knowledge, wisdom, and life experiences, we will raise a family.

I will be a father, and one day I will teach my children all that I have learned. This will be the most important work of my entire life.

I will die one day, and if I have my way, my friends and family will hike in my honor into the Kawuneeche Valley outside of Grand Lake, Colorado. My ashes will dance weightlessly in the summer breeze as I am reunited with my grandfather and all those who went before me. People will say in earnest that my time on earth was well spent, that I was kind, and that my thirst for adventure was never truly quenched.

Internal Control

Take a moment to recall the last time your mood or productivity was compromised by external events. Perhaps an eagerly anticipated day outdoors was ruined due to adverse weather conditions, or maybe the movie you had been dying to see was unavailable at Blockbuster. Regardless of the scenario, it is common that we allow our mood states and productivity to be directly influenced by environmental or situational factors.

In relation to my own life, I am reminded of a recent trip I took to Texas with a few friends. While I knew from the very beginning that the purpose of the trip was essentially to party, my reaction to this realization was somewhat surprising. At home in Arvada I have been making a conscious effort to show ultimate respect for my body by exercising, following a healthy diet, and limiting, if not abstaining from, excessive alcohol consumption. In a way, the goal is to adopt these sort of behaviors as lifestyle principles, not merely a temporary burst of self improvement techniques. Sadly, taken away from my familiar surroundings, I found that good intentions were not enough to combat the relentless influence of my social surroundings. I failed to live up to my personal standards time and time again, and worse yet, the trend snowballed. Neglecting one promise I had made to myself made it that much easier to break subsequent personal health contracts. The drinking, overeating, and lack of exercise not only took a toll on my physical health, but my psychological well-being suffered as well. I became frustrated with the perception that my environment seemed dead set on contradicting the goals I had set for myself. It was not long before my demeanor and attitude became uncharacteristically negative. While I was not explicitly rude to the people around me, I was also certainly not as cheerful and positive as I generally aim to be.

Looking back on this experience, I am somewhat disappointed that I allowed my negative interpretation of the situation get the best of me, turning what should have been a fun time with friends into a period of self-judgment and disappointment. However, I am confident that there is an important lesson to be learned from all of this. If I am to be realistic and honest with myself, I could have made much healthier choices throughout the trip. I did not have to drink more than I had planned. I chose to. I did not have to eat unhealthy and oversized meals. I chose to. I could have gone running during down time, but I chose not to. Instead of being proactive and making healthy decisions, I instead opted to be submissive and reactive, letting my environment determine my behavior.

I find this subject of proactivity vs reactivity to be an especially salient one in our culture. Too often we attribute the outcomes in our lives to external factors- a teacher, a parent, a boss, the economy, the weather, God, sickness, fate, even the stars. To me, if one is to reach their full potential, it is critical to realize that much of what happens in our lives is a direct result of our own decisions, and while certain uncontrollable situations will inevitably arise, we have the freedom to choose how we react to these circumstances. Victor Frankl, holocaust survivor, psychotherapist, and author of Mans Search For Meaning, contends that "the one thing you cannot take away from me is the way I choose to respond to what you do to me. The last of one's freedoms is to choose ones attitude in any given circumstance". Frankl was a man who overcame the unspeakable cruelties of life in a death camp by finding a deep meaning in his own existence, and inevitably led by example to help others do the same.

Whether we are endowed with liberties and freedoms, as most Americans are, or forced, like Frankl, to exercise the one and only guaranteed right that cannot be taken from us, the point is the same. The most content among us are those who understand that state of mind can be a choice that comes from within, not necessarily a product of circumstance or environment. Likewise, the most productive people are those who are proactive and take responsibility for their existence by focusing primarily on that which they can control. For me, it seems that the most direct path to personal empowerment is to cease blaming people and circumstances when problems arise, and instead adopt the philosophy that allows us to search internally for workable solutions. I find it comforting to know that, in the end, we have the power to propel our lives in the direction of our choosing and the freedom to work diligently towards the realization of our dreams.

New beginnings...

It brings me great joy to announce that my hiatus from blogging has officially come to an end. In truth, I never should have taken a break to begin with, but I have found that returning to normalcy can have a considerably detrimental effect on the motivation to create. However, this is not to say that familiarity does not have its perks, because there is certainly something to be said for the type of respite I have enjoyed in recent weeks. Spending time in Colorado has allowed me to climb to the crow's nest on my ship of life and take a nice long look at the places I have been and focus intently on the direction I am now headed. Immediately beyond the wake I fondly recall my backpacking trip through South America and cannot help but feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude for having experienced such an unforgettable journey. I do not know how, in this seemingly unfair world, I came to be one of the lucky few for whom dreams of grand adventure are realized, but I can say with certainty that I will not let the opportunity go to waste. On the subject of dreams and in the vein of corny analogies, I gaze over the bow to see a goal, one and a half years in the making, on the verge of fruition. Pending the acceptance of my visa application, I will be leaving the US once again in late May for a year of teaching English as a second language in Seoul, South Korea. At this juncture in my life, no path has greater appeal for me than working abroad in a wildly unfamiliar country. So, considering the many additional bonuses, including a substantial income, South Korea fits my current needs quite nicely. This experience will fuel the very real and evidently insatiable addiction I have to all that is strange and unknown, the undeniable urge I feel to escape from the monotony of the daily races. I am young, untethered, and blessed with the freedom to roam, but I know that it will not always be this way. Therefore, I have a personal obligation to explore the vast expanses of both the world as well as my inner self. I will spend the next few years in a state of constant discovery, always working towards the ultimate goal: to reach the point of self actualization, the complete fulfillment of one's true potential (http://psychology.about.com/od/theoriesofpersonality/a/hierarchyneeds_2.htm).

I will use this blog as a tool in this process, a way to express my thoughts, opinions, and experiences in an intellectually advantageous manner. Whereas "Explore Dream Discover" has previously been used merely as a mechanism to post travel updates, it will now have a much broader scope that may include, but not be limited to... opinion, social/political commentary, psychology, philosophy, fitness, nutrition, religion, poetry, fiction, journaling, Korean Culture, and more.

Finally, and most importantly, I want to express my gratitude to anyone who chooses to follow this blog. While I find writing to be a very personal activity, receiving audience feedback is remarkably beneficial. So, if you have something to say, please feel free to post it in the comments section and in return, I promise to keep current with my responses. As always, thank you for reading; I hope very much that you continue to do so.

The Grand Finale

I cannot believe it, but the time has finally come. Tonight at 11PM I will begin my journey home. Once back in CO I will be refamiliarized with many of the creature comforts that one begins to miss after a few weeks away from home. Sadly, however, comfort and regularity come at the devastating cost of hanging up my backpack for the time being. The backpackers lifestyle- waking up in a new place every other night, eating strange foods, long bus rides, random inconveniences, etc.- is not always easy, but I will miss it more than words can explain. Returning home, life will be familiar and routine once again, a change that I hope will be less difficult to adjust to than I am anticipating. What it boils down to is that I have never felt more alive than in the past two months. This type of travelling, as well as the friendships, learning, and introspective growth that accompany it, bring me an unprecedented and indescribable joy. That being said, returning home certainly has its perks. I hold the opinion that I have the finest family and friends that anyone could ever ask for. These people (you, the readers) are my anchor in life, the reason I am lucky enough to have a place to call my home. Thus, having missed all of you a great deal in my time away, I find it unsurprising that I am very much looking forward to stepping off of the plane, looking West towards the Rockies, and knowing once again that I am among that which is most important in life, the people who love me. There is so much in Colorado to look forward to, though I cannot help but feel the melancholy that effects every adventurer nearing the end of a journey. The past 2 months have been, undoubtedly, the best of my life, but all good things must come to an end. Or do they? Upon my return, I must answer the most important question of my life thus far- whatś next? For some, this question is met with a simple answer. There are people my age who, for better of for worse, are following a path that is clearly laid out in front of them. I, on the other hand, have found that I thrive on uncertainty, a trait that may very well predetermine a life lived in financial modesty. At this time I am pursuing a one year English teaching job in South Korea, beginning in May of 2010, and prospects are looking quite good. If I am successful in my efforts, I will accept the position and leave Colorado after only 2 short months at home. Thus, my dream to travel the world will be fulfilled once more, but I will again be separated from the incredible people in my life. Check the blog for updates- I plan to continue writing regularly, regardless of where life takes me.

Now, for an update on the trip...
Following our weekend in wine country, we bid farewell to Grace and Dimi and made our way south to the city of Cordoba, where we spent a tiring day exploring the city with backpacks in tow. We could have chosen to stay longer, but the excitement and anticipation for Buenos Aires was simply too much to handle. We reached the city via night bus on the morning of the 26th, and immediately began to understand what all of the fuss was about. Buenos Aires, the ending point of our journey, is a city with many faces. It blends a distinctly aged charm with a vibrant sense of progression, and the result is spectacular. Like so many cities in South America, BA never sleeps. The daylight hours are bustling with the type of commercial energy that can only exist in the world´s largest cities, an atmosphere that can accurately be compared to that of New York City. At night the local and tourist youth come out to party, and do so with relentless energy until the wee hours of the morning. Hundreds of unique bars, clubs, and live music venues cater to all tastes for late night entertainment. I am proud to report that, in our first three days, Gareth and I successfully dropped sleep from the priority list and managed to fully experience both the daytime tourism and the wild Argentinian nightlife that BA has to offer. However, as one would expect, this lifestyle began to take a serious toll on physical health, as well as mental and emotional wellbeing. One thing was clear, it was time for a break, so we headed South to Mar Del Plata for a couple of peaceful and relaxing days on the beach. Gareth, who possesses both disposable income and incredible genrosity, decided to put us up in 5 star hotels for our two nights in the resort town. Needless to say, we soaked up lots of Argentinian rays and got the rest that we so badly needed. Not a bad way to finish things up :)
Now, back in BA for one last day, I find myself waiting, anticipating, and reflecting. I am certain that it will be some time before I fully understand the impact this trip has had on me. However, be sure, I will write all about it when I get it all figured out.


Responses to reader comments:
Dad and Mom- Cant wait to see you! Get ready for a long slideshow :)

Jeremy- There are so many awesome trips to take that will be short and cheap. Lets start planning immediately. Also, lets meet up tomorrow night! Call me around 3pm if you can...

Ryan- Are you feeling better pal? I feel for you, I got very sick a few nights ago and it was awful! And no, it was not because I ate more cow hearts :) I am looking forward to spending some time with you and your sisters in the next couple months. I miss you guys! On a side note, thank you so much for being my most avid reader and commenter throughout this trip. Every time I started to miss home, I turned to your messages to put a smile on my face!

Hilda- Looking forward to seeing you sometime soon in Colorado. Lauren is picking me up from the airport tomorrow and I cant wait to see her. Its only been a couple weeks, but I already miss her!

J Krug- Can we hang out tomorrow night in Denver? Call me manana so we can plan something out...

Katie- I was far from the effected earth quake area, not to worry! See you soon!

Living a dream...

Falling asleep on the bus departing from the Arg/Bol border, I awoke in Salta, Argentina, which, having come from Bolivia, proved to be a remarkable contrast. The cleanliness and organization of the streets was reminiscent of many of the cities I visited in Europe. The faces of the older people told a story not of poverty, desperation and loss, as in Bolivia, but of a life full of vibrance and plentifulness. One does not need to know the history of these places to understand the readily apparent fact that life for Argentinians is relatively painless when considering the years of suffering endured by their northern neighbors.
I have come to realize that large cities, as comfortable as they may be, all start to resemble one another after a few weeks on the road. True adventure, for me, is most often found on the road less travelled. For this reason, we opted to stay in Salta only one night and rent a car early the following morning. This was undoubtedly one of the best decisions of the entire trip. Joined by Dimi(Greek) and Grace(Canadian), we hit the open road, bound for the vineyard rich region of Cafayate. The 3.5 hour drive was breathtaking, a mix of spectacular sandstone rock formations and lush green hills. More or less, Grand Canyon meets Jurassic Park meets Napa Valley. Upon arrival, we toured a vineyard, went out to dinner, and, naturally, spent the rest of the evening imbibing the local industry. That night we saved money on a hostal and instead chose to sleep in a vineyard underneath thousands of stars. Some experiences in life verge on perfection- this was one of them.
The second day began with a fairly intense hangover, though it wasn´t anything that could not be cured with a good breakfast. We spent the hottest hours of the day relaxing and gathering materials for a picnic, which was thouroughly enjoyed at the bank of a river a couple miles outside of town. We found the tranquility of our lunch locale to be irresistable, and thus opted to hike upstream in search of a good place to camp for the night. I slept about as well as one could expect to on the bare ground, but the calm sounds of the river and the spectacular night sky were pleasant companions to my restlessness.
I can say with certainty that my time in Cafayate will prove to be one of the highlights of the entire trip. Looking back on the experience, it felt more like a movie than reality. It is times such as these that make life such a spectacular gift...

Responses to comments...
Jeremy- Thank you for the kind words old friend. Im really looking forward to spending time with you when I get back. Lets plan some cool CO road trips to go on in the next couple months...

Ryan- Im glad to hear you did well on the CSAPs. Those tests are definitely stupid, I agree, but still a good chance to show off your intelligence! I think there are tons of places perfect for a Ryan/Andy adventure. Did you know that many archaelogists think there are undiscovered Inca Ruins in the Bolivian rainforest? Maybe we could find them; we would be rich and famous and we could save all of the miners in Potosi! What do you think?

Mom- We got some great cowboy pictures that will help you visualize your 6´4 son riding a horse. It was probably about as strange looking as you are imagining, but Ill leave that judgment up to you.

Hilda- Are you glad to have your daughter home safe and in one piece? Im sure she is missing it down here already, but you are probably sleeping much better at night now that she is home :)

Katie- Great to keep in touch with you via Skype. I can t wait to see you and the rest of the family! Looking forward to the move as well!

Cowboy for a day

Early this morning, boarding a 4AM bus destined for the Argentinian border, I bid a fond farewell to the unforgettable country of Bolivia. The experiences I have had in the past three weeks are some that I will forever consider to be among the most exhillarating and rewarding of my entire life. Despite crippling poverty and a history of unstable governmental rule, Bolivia is a country with much to offer. I can say with certainty that, having visited this place, I am now a more fulfilled person with a broadened global perspective.
I only have a few minutes before I must board another bus, but I wanted to take a moment to tell you about my final adventure in this remarkable country. From Potosi, Garreth and I made our way south to the tranquil town of Tupiza. Surrounded on all sides by the spectacular multi-colored hills of the Cordillera de Chicas, Tupiza is the type of dusty town that you would expect to find in an old cowboy film. So, in accordance with the everpresent Wild West theme, G and I opted to get horses and a bottle of whiskey and pretend to be cowboys for the day. We were joined by a young Bolivian guide, a definite necessity in the proper navigation of the complex landscape. For those of you who have been on horse tours in the states, you may have memories of riding a designated path at a snails pace, never quite escaping the scenery of the horse´s butt in front of you. In Bolivia, the land of startingly few rules, regulations, and safety precautions, things operate quite differently. Throughout our 7 hour, 15 mile excursion, we free at any time to belt out a ¨yeehaw!¨ and encourage our steeds to unleash their power in an all out sprint. As a result, the entire lower half of my body is tremendously sore, but I will never forget the thrill that I felt in those moments. One particularly action-packed stretch of the journey called for repeated river crossings, the second of which involved Garreth´s horse losing its footing, nearly drowning, and tossing G into the water. Luckily, I was carrying all of the electronics and both horse and human emerged from the incident unharmed. All in all, this was a truly unique adventure and a wonderful way to say goodbye to a country that has given us everything we could have hoped for and so much more.
I have to catch my bus, but I promise to respond to reader comments the next time I log on. Goodbye for now!

Entering the depths of hell

I am writing from Potosi, Bolivia, a city with a tragic past, a shocking present, and an uncertain future. Since the city founding in 1545, life in Potosi has been centered entirely around the Cerro Rico(Rich Mountain) and its seemingly limitless supply of silver and other precious metals. The mountain, visibly decaying from nearly 500 years of explosive mining, has a history that is unsettlingly riddled with cruelty, greed, and death. Having discovered the enormous potential for wealth that lay beneath the Cerro Rico, the Spanish conquistadors enslaved native men to forced them to work in the most hellish conditions imaginable. It is said that around 80% of these men perished in the mines, thus creating an unmet need for labor and a major problem for the greedy Spanish rulers. A solution came in the form of the importation of 30,000 African slaves who, like their indigenous predecessors, were treated more like animals than human beings, commonly working 4 months straight in the mines without seeing the light of day. As hundreds of thousands died, Potosi quickly became the largest and wealthiest city in the world. The streets were pathed in silver, the mountain bathed in blood. The Spanish Empire, thanks largely to the silver mines of the Cerro Rico, aqcuired unprecedented riches that went on to fund the continuation of their violent conquests. By the time the 18th century had come to an end, the silver supply had depleted significantly and the riches that once defined the city of Potosi would soon only exist in the history books. Extraordinary wealth was obtained, but at a tremendous cost. It is estimated that 8 million indegenous people and slaves have perished in the silver mines.
Though precious metal extraction eventually slowed and the Spanish wealth mongers had moved on, mining continued much in the same way and, to this day, continues to be the centerpoint of the local economy. I wish I could report that injustice has been defeated in the mines of the Cerro Rico, but that could not be farther from the truth. Forced labor, in its strictest sense, has come to an end, but the poor people of Potosi find themselves slaves to their dire circumstances. Men, unable to provide for their families, have no choice but to go to work in the mines. Conditions are so harsh that the vast majority die as a result of pulmonary complications before their 40th birthday. The stories of these men, devastating as they may may be, are not the true tragedy of the present day mines. Working along side the 20, 30, and 40 year olds, the walking dead, are hundreds of boys between the ages of 12 and 17. These kids, mostly fatherless, come from the poorest families in Potosi. For further insight into this horrific situation, watch the remarkable film ¨The Devils Miner¨. It will open your eyes to a situation so terrible, one would think it could only be the material of nightmares.

Today I chose to take a guided tour of one of the fully functional mines. Despite my awareness of the Cerro Rico´s bloody history, I did not expect this experience to be particualrly difficult. My idea of ¨tourism¨ has certainly changed since coming to South America, but, before today, I anticipated a certain level of comfort and safety from all travel experiences. Boy was I wrong. I spent the day crouching and crawling my way through the most inhospitable conditions I have ever found myself in. With every breath I inhaled air visibly filled with dust, the same dust that eventually kills the locals after years working in the mine. After two brutal hours underground, I finally emerged, feeling as though I had escaped the depths of hell. And actually, according to the local belief system, describing the mines as hell is not far from the truth. It is commonly believed that God´s influence ceases to exist at the opening of each mine, at which point one has entered the devil´s territory. For this reason, miners make sacrifices to the ¨Tio¨(devil), and ask that he keep them safe and give them luck in their search for metals. Having been in the mines, I can attest that there is no hope down there, only an eerie, empty feeling left behind by years of pain, death and suffering. I am very glad to have had such an eye opening experience, but my heart aches to see the desperate circumstances these people find themselves in.

Responses to comments-
Ryan- Tell your mom that I promise never to get any Spring Break Cancun tattoos. I definitely plan on hanging out with you a lot more, so dont worry, I wont travel my whole life away. Maybe you could join me on an adventure someday! Tell your new crayfish hello and that I hope he lives longer than you expect him to. Tell everyone else in the family hello as well!

Hilda- Thanks for your concern, Im feeling all better. I miss the girls already, did they make it home safely? Cant wait for dinner!

Permanence

Hello there! I am writing from an internet cafe in the town of Oruro, Bolivia. 362 days out of the year Oruro is nothing more than a dusty and povert stricken pit stop on the backpacker´s trail. This weekend, however, this place proudly hosts Carnaval, one of the wildest fiestas known to mankind. Carnaval is, at its core, a parade where people from all corners of the country adorn themselves in colorful costumes and relish in the opportunity to display their local and national pride. In a country where over half of the population lives below the poverty line, this weekend is a representation of hope, comradery, and a chance to prove the relentless nature of the Bolivian spirit. That being said, this is also a chance to drink a whole lot of beer and throw water balloons at whomever you please. I have been sick the last few days, leaving alcohol consumption out the question, but I have thoroughly enjoyed hurling ¨globos de agua¨ at fellow Carnavalers. I realized at one point that I felt just like a kid again, something that seems to happen less and less the further I get into adulthood.
As an American in a shoulder to shoulder sea of South Americans, I have learned a couple things.
1. Globally speaking, I am freakishly tall. At one point I found myself amongst 4000+ people and realized I was the tallest in the entire crowd, towering over the vast majority by at least a head.
2. Because of fact #1, I am a target for theft. Sure enough, I got pickpocketed during my first night here. Luckily, I only lost my drivers license and some money, among a few other wallet related items. It could have been much worse. I took every recommended precaution to avoid this happening, but the pick pockets here are remarkably crafty. LESSON LEARNED.
Overall, despite loss of possessions and a persistent fever, Carnaval has been a very unique and interesting experience. I am very pleased that we rerouted our trip a bit to accomodate being here.

Now, to switch gears completely, I want to tell you about the third souvenier I have acquired in South America. In accordance with a travel tradition I like to maintain with each new country I visit, the first two were futbol jerseys. The third will be with me far longer than any shirt or tangible trinket that I could pick up on the street. It will, in fact, be with me forever. It is not my first tattoo, nor is it likely to be my last, but it is the only one I have that is on a readily visible area of my body. Located on my right forearm I now proudly bear a compass surrounded by the words ¨Explore Dream Discover¨. Gasp! Arent forearm tattoos for thugs, prisoners, and motorcycle gang members? As you know, I am none of those things. For me, having a tattoo for everyone to see serves three purposes. First, I publicly display my deep and passionate love for travel, something that, for me, is the most direct path to happiness, understanding, and fulfillment. Second, I think body art is one of the coolest forms of personal expression available; there is a reason it has been medium for such purposes for thousands of years. Finally, I feel that my new tattoo is a personal endorsement for my generation and the progression towards an era of acceptance. Above all, I feel people have the right to do whatever they please with their bodies and their lives (within proper reason), and should not have to fear reprimand for their decisions. So, for me, this is a little way to announce to the world that I support the right to resist conformity. If I want a tattoo on my forearm, Im going to get it. If you don´t, more power to you my friend. If a gay person wants to marry, who are the rest of us not to allow them that basic human pleasure? Far too often are personal choices met with public objection and resentment. The sooner we all learn to respect each others desires, attitudes, and ideas, the further we will find ourselves from a world filled with war and injustice.
On a side note, I am pleased to say that I am not alone in this decision. Lauren opted to get a beautiful sunflower on her wrist and it looks fantastic. I think she would agree that we both now have permanent souveniers that will forever remind us of a truly remarkable time in our lives.

Tonight, sadly, will be my last with the girls, who have to start making their way back to Lima for their flight home. I have a few more stops in Bolivia, followed by Argentina, then home on March 4th. There are still many adventures that lay ahead... check the blog in a few days for an update! Thanks for reading!

Surving the Death Road and Volcano Country

It feels great to be sitting in front of keyboard right now. Aside from keeping all of you wonderful people updated on the progress of our trip, blogging has also allowed me to appreciate this experience in real time. Writing about the adventure has given me a perspective and understanding that I may have otherwise missed, and for that I am very thankful. Unfortunately, circumstances(lots of inter-city travel, electricity blackouts, etc) in the last few days have made it impossible to spend more than a few minutes on a computer. Naturally, there is much to catch up on, so kuddos to those of you who manage to read the whole thing :)

Ill start where I left off...

We ventured east from the Titicaca beach community of Copacabana destined for Bolivias largest and most modern city. La Paz was a bustling, dirty, yet somehow endearing mess that kept us on our toes at all times. We were warned by books and fellow travellers alike to expect an elevated level of danger compared to previous locations. Thankfully, we emerged unharmed with all possessions in tow. Inner-city La Paz has much to offer, but we found the most exhillarating experience in the region to be a plunge down The Worlds Most Dangerous Road about sn hour out of town. We were picked up early in the morning by two guides and a few fellow thrill seekers, each of us anxious to find out what lay ahead. We left town in the rickety old vans and climbed to about 15,300 feet, the top of La Cumbre Pass and the starting point for our downhill mountain biking journey. The World´s Most Dangerous Road, also known as the Death Road, has earned its nickname a few hundred times over. The road, if you can call it that, is a very rough dirt path about 8 feet across that boasts exposure to waterfalls, wildlife, and sudden death dropoffs from its guardrail free ledges. Before an alternate route was completed in 2006, WMDR was the only overland link between Bolivia´s northern jungle regions and its capital city. Throughout its 80+ years of use as a vehicular transport route, it is said that Death Road claimed an average of 300 lives annually. It is much safer now, as commercial traffic has been banned, but it remains a terrifying mountain bike endeavor nonetheless. We began the 35 mile, 10,000+ foot decent amidst thick cloud cover, which proved to be a bit of a mixed blessing. Sure, I could only see a few feet in front of me, but the thick clouds also kept me from peering to the bottom of the 1000 foot drop that lay menacingly over my left shoulder. Once visibility improved, reality set in and my heart began to race as I plummetted over boulders, under waterfalls, and through mud. Had I fallen to my death, my last views would have been of a remarkably beautiful rainforrest landscape; Im happy to have survived, but there are certainly worse ways to bite the dust. Having reached the bottom, we were greeted by the lead guide, enthusuastically proclaiming ¨you survived the worlds most dangerous road!¨. This was definitely an experience that tested my limits, and one that I will not soon forget.
From La Paz, we made our way via 11 hours of bus and train to to the dusty town of Uyuni. Uyuni is, in all honesty, a major dump, but it serves as the launching point for three day Land Cruiser tours of the strangest and most otherworldy landscape I have ever seen. Day one of our tour, guided by a local named Andres, was to Salar de Uyuni, the largest salt flat in the world. The Salar´s uniqueness and attraction does not come from its massive size, but rather the 4¨ of water that blankets it during the rainy season. The effect of the flood water is such that the ground creates a perfect mirror image of the sky, resulting in a truly hallucinogenic experience for visitors. A picture can explain this effect far better than any description, so definitely take the time to google ¨salar de uyuni in the wet season¨. I had been looking forward to seeing this for months, and it did not disappoint. It truly felt like being on another planet.
During the second day of the tour, we winded our way through Bolivia´s rugged and unforgiving southern desert regions. The surreality continued as we witnessed wild volcanic rock formations, a red lagoon, wild llamas, and endangered flamingos. That night, eager for excercise, myself and two friends went for a self guided hike of the area surrounding our lodging. We unexpectedly stumbled upon a small canyon and, making our way to the bottom, hiked along its bed for about an hour. At one point we found the strewn remains of an alpaca that had clearly been hunted and killed by a fellow canyon animal. I opted to hang on to the skull in order to give the girls a good scare later in the day. Walking the rest of the distance with an alpaca skull was not exactly pleasant, but the scare was tremendously hilarious and we managed to get it on video. Watch for it on Facebook when we get home :)
We woke up around 5am on the third day to watch the sunrise from the top of another active volcano, the surface of which was littered with steaming crevases filled with boiling sulfer water. I was surprised that we were permitted to walk around on such a volatile surface, and pleased when my clumsiness did not cause me to trip and fall into the depths of the earth. Shortly after the volcano, we descended in the Land Cruiser to a natural hot springs on the edge of a lagoon where we bathed and ate a hearty pancake breakfast. The rest of the day was spent in the car making our way back to Uyuni.
That night around 3am we departed on another 11 hour journey to the vibrant city of Cochabamba, my present location. Our three days in Cochabamba are sandwiched by the rough and dirty Uyuni tour and Carnaval in Oruro, which begins tomorrow. For those of you who are not familiar, Carnaval is a party of epic proportions celebrated in various cities throughout South America. I have not doubt that the next three days will be among the wildest of my entire life. I cant wait to tell you all about it! Anyway, we have been focused on only one thing in Cochabamba: relaxation. We are splurging a bit by staying in hotels instead of hostels and eating fancy dinners in a few of the cities finest restaurants. Thanks to Bolivia´s remarkably advantageous traveller economy, living luxuriously is still extremely cheap. This is the calm before the Carnaval storm, and a much needed opportunity to unwind and enjoy hot showers and fantastic food.
Watch for another entry on the 16th or 17th and, as always, thanks for reading!

Responses to comments-
Mom- You will be relieved to know that I just bought a large bottle of sun block. No more sunburns for me!

Lindsey- We are having the time of our lives. I will be sorry to part ways with the girls in a few days, but Im sure you are excited to have them home :)

Hilda- Thanks for keeping up with the blog! Im looking forward to getting together for dinner sometime when I get back

Katie- I miss you guys! Give all of the kids a big hug and kiss for me. I havent been able to get any of my pictures up on facebook, but Im looking forward to giving you a slide show when I get home!

Kyle- thanks for reading buddy. Cant wait til March when I can hang out with you in the Fort.

Barbara- Thanks so much for reading. You are a very special person and one that I am very pleased to share my experiences with. And thanks for the Rick Steves comparison, he is my hero :)

Ryan- Hey buddy, how is school going so far? I think you will be a great history professor, Indiana Jones, or anything else that you put your mind to. I cant wait to see how you decide to use that wonderful brain of yours!
The salt flats were so cool, it is a great spot for you to ride your bike. And yes, I saw HUNDREDS of flamingos .
Thanks again for your comments pal, they make my day.
PS- I DO NOT LOOK DORKY IN A COWBOY HAT :)

Hola todos!

Hello there! I was very much looking forward to updating my blog this morning, but it seems it is going to have to wait a couple more days :( We are leaving today, a day earlier than anticipated, for a 3 day tour of the Salar de Uyuni. I will not be able to get online during this time, but I will have much to report when I get back! We are having a wonderful time- full update soon!

Lake Titicaca

Well, sure enough, as many of you may have guessed from watching the news, Machu Picchu was a no go. The day we left Cusco there were still over 1,000 people stuck up there awaiting evacuation. You wont hear me complain one bit about the whole situation, as I am extremely thankful not to have been one of the stranded backpackers. Ill be back someday, no reason or time to dwell on adventures that almost happened when fresh experiences wait around every corner.
On our last day in Cusco we booked an all inclusive guided tour of the islands on the Peruvian side of Lake Titicaca. We paid $65, which seemed a much better deal at the time than it turned out to be. In an attempt not to give any negative aspects more time than they deserve, I will allow myself five sentences to tell you about the disappointments, then move on to tell the tale of how Lake Titicaca redeemed itself in fine fashion...
The bad- Our tour agency did not live up to their promises and left us feeling totally ripped off. The historically rich floating islands of Lake Titicaca have been reduced to tourist traps where unsuspecting visitors are fed a load of inauthentic nonsense and pressured into buying lame souveniers. It felt like a Disney Land ride. I fell asleep on the top of a boat for three hours and gave myself the worst facial sunburn in Peruvian history. It hurts and I look like a leper.

Now, for the good. The magnificent and tranquil Lake Titicaca feels like the top of the world at 12,500 feet above sea level. The immense body of water is dually owned by Peru and Boliva; according to our tour guide, the 'Titi' is property of Peru while Bolivia has proudly laid claim to the 'caca'. There are over 40 islands on the lake, though only a few are inhaited. On the Peruvian side we visited and slept on Amantani, then toured Taquile the following day. Physically, the two islands were very similar, each boasting the ruggedly astounding beauty we have come to expect from southern Peru. Though no body of water in Colorado can compare in size, the lake would not feel out of place deep in the Rocky Mountains. The snowcapped Andes that loom on the horizon make this place feel very much like home.
Early Saturday morning we bid a fond farewell to Peru and crossed the Bolivian border to the the lakeside town of Copacabana. The first things you notice when crossing into Bolivia are the friendly people and the drastic reduction in costs. Our first day I bought an alpaca sweater, cowboy hat (to protect my sunburned face), and a three course meal for around $15. We are staying in what Lonely Planet has praised as being the nicest hostel in Bolivia for a measley $8 dollars a night. Sitting high on a cliff above Copacabana, our current abode has tremendous views of the lake and more resembles a boutique hotel than a hostel. The American dollar has tremendous spending power here, which will lead to a much needed reduction in trip costs.
Todays adventure was a four hour hike on Isla del Sol(Island of the Sun), said to be the origination of the Inka bloodline. The trek was much more laid back than the Colca Canyon, a perfect opportunity to appreciate the pristine beauty of the lake that, til now, I had only seen in pictures during 6th grade geography class.
Staying true to the way of the South American backpacker, we must say goodbye to Copacabana tomorrow, after only two short days. The rest of Bolivia awaits, and we cannot wait to find out what is has to offer. Off to La Paz tomorrow, more updates soon. Thanks for reading!

Responses to posts-
Tasha- We are safe, thank you for your concern. Miss you!

Dad and Mom- Thanks for being my most dedicated blog followers :)

Tica- Thanks for your concern as well! Its great to know we have people looking out for us back in the states.

Josh- Cusco was not just the cats pajamas, it was also the dingos cufflinks and the turtles monacle as well.

Jen- Im so glad you are reading the blog! I think every five minutes about how lucky I am to be down here. This is a truly unforgettable and life changing experience. I wish you were here with me!

Jeremy- Thanks for reading my man, cant wait to see you when I get home.

Hilda- No condors unfortunately; evidently they are rarely spotted this time of year. Thanks for keeping track of us during our troubles in Cusco. Your concern is very much appreciated!

Ryan- You are my FAVORITE reader buddy, but sshhhh, dont tell any of the others :) Your writing skills are coming along very well, I am extremely impressed! Im glad to hear you dont like heights either. Now I dont feel so bad! Keep the posts coming my man and I will respond as quickly as I can!

The Machu Picchu Blues (sort of)

Hello family and friends!
Following a ten hour night bus from Arequipa, we made it to Cusco early Sunday morning in the middle of a heavy rain storm. Til that point, we hadn´t encountered any adverse weather of any kind, so this was our first chance to show off our cool new ponchos. However, it was also a drastic reminder that we were entering the Peruvian highlands in the middle of the rainy season, a time of year that often proves frustrating for backpackers, as 5+ hour bus delays are a common occurrence. We spent the majority of the day on Sunday shopping around for different treks to the sacred Incan ruins of Machu Picchu, only to learn that the heavy rains had rendered all available paths unpassable without serious risk. So, much to the dismay of Garreth and I, we decided to opt for the bus/train method instead, though we have promised ourselves to make up for it with a long trek somewhere in Bolivia (rainforrest probably). After a morning of haggling and bargain hunting, we finally found a young tour operator named Alfredo who booked our tour for $130 a person. Success, we would be leaving the next morning at 9am... or so we thought. Evidently the rains of the last few days had been unusually intense, the heaviest the region has seen in over 20 years. Mudslides wiped out train tracks, roads, farms, and homes, forcing the Peruvian president to declare this entire area in a state of emergency. As I write this, almost 2,000 people are stuck in the small town of Aguas Calientes(nearest Machu Picchu) with limited food, water, and lodging. Had our tour left a day earlier, we would be a part of this group, anxiously awaiting helicopter evacuation. Sadly, we may have to miss MP, though I am thankful to report that we are safe in Cusco and entirely out of harms way. Provided we experience some relatively dry weather today and tomorrow, there is hope that methods of transportation to MP will be fixed by Friday. All we can do is wait and see...
Now, for the good news. We LOVE Cusco. It is known as the archaeological capital of the Americas, and for good reason. The incredibly rich history, combined with the timeless feel of the winding cobblestone alleys, makes this city one of my all-time favorites, and definitely my favorite thusfar in South America. Needless to say, we are not bored. The adventure continues full steam ahead, with or without Machu Picchu. If we miss it, so be it, that´s the way the cookie crumbles. Our spirits are high, our souls fulfilled, and we are completely safe. Life could not be better, love you all.

Canyon Country

Today, the 23rd, I pass the two week mark in Peru. They say time flies when you are having fun, and, while I generally tend to agree, the opposite has been true for this trip. In many ways this has been the most memorable period of my life, filled to the brim with unique challenges. I have had so many new experiences in my short time here, it seems impossible that only 14 days has passed. There is much to be said about a lifestyle, such as this, that blatantly defies monotony. Everything is in a state of constant change- the people, the places, the food, the opportunities, the struggles- and no one day resembles the one that preceded it. There is certainly a very real and constant stress that accompanies the backpackers day to day life. Issues related to passport protection, finances, weather, bus strikes, health, and scheduling, among many others, are always on the back of my mind. Setbacks, both minor and serious, are sure to arise on occasion, but this is all part of the overall experience. All things considered, I can say with complete certainty that I have never felt more alive or fulfilled at any point in my life. Now, for the latest chapter in our adventure...

At 2:30 AM on Thursday morning, Lauren, Nina, Jess, Gareth and I awoke and sleepily made our way out to a small bus waiting outside of the hostel. Our guide to be, Pepe, greeted us with an unusual level of enthusiasm given the absurd hour. After picking up a few others from various hostels around town, we left Arequipa and drove into the night. After awhile, as the sun first began to make an appearance, we turned off of the paved highway onto a very rough dirt road that we would follow for the next three hours. We were approaching one of Peru´s wildest regions, home to both the first and second deepest canyons in the world. With the daylight came a clear view of the magnificent Colca Canyon and its surrounding landscape. As an American, hearing the word canyon, I picture the vertical cliffs of orange and red rock that characterize the Grand Canyon. The Colca Canyon is wildly different, though every bit as impressive. Referring to the land itself as well as the way in which the native people rely on it, Nina accurately compared the Colca to the movie Avatar. The inhabitants of the many small villages scattered throughout the canyon have developed a remarkable understanding of their surroundings. As Pepe informed us, nearly every type of plant found in the area has a specific use, whether it be medicinal, nutritional, or otherwise. Village people take advantage of this by gathering necessities from the wilderness, as well as developing their own terrace style farms. The way in which these people have learned to survive in such a rugged and unforgiving environment is truly remarkable. Thanks to Pepe, the group learned a thing or two about wilderness survival; I enjoyed picking wild prickly pears on my way into the canyon.
The 9-10 mile hike on the first day was, for me, as terrifying as it was indescribably beautiful. For as long as I can remember, I have had frustratingly adverse reactions to heights. I prefer not to use the term ¨afraid¨, as I am generally eager to put myself in situations where heights are involved. Regardless, when confronted by such a scenario, some sort of physiological response usually results in shaky legs and dizziness. Thus, the narrow trail and sudden death drop offs that characterized our hike into the canyon proved to be quite a challenge. I managed to make it down, slowly but surely, feeling extremely relieved to have reached the bottom in one piece. We ate lunch in a village at the canyon bed, then worked our way along the canyon walls towards our final destination. We finished the first day´s journey late in the afternoon, arriving at ¨Oasis¨, a breathtaking backpackers retreat, deep in the canyon, complete with thatch roofed huts, swimming pool, and a natural waterfall. I have never slept in a place even half as beautiful. After home cooked meals from the guides, members of various trekking groups retired early, for the next day´s challenge would require plenty of rest.
I awoke at 5 am the following morning with something to prove. I felt the hike into the canyon had, in a way, gotten the best of me. The hike out would be a chance to redeem myself. What lay ahead was a 3 mile vertical ascent, grueling by anyone´s standards, said to take anywhere from 2-3.5 hours, depending on ability. This is a notoriously serious climb, thus it is no surprise that many opt to ride mules up instead of tackling the challenge on foot. I began the hike at dawn with a promise to myself that I would give it every ounce of energy I possessed. I did just that, attacking the tight z patterned path with speed and efficiency. Once separated from the other climbers, I felt an incredible sense of solitude that motivated me to push harder and harder. I was alone in the endless silence of the Colca, the only sounds my heavy breathing and the furious beat of my heart. Andy vs. Colca. I reached the top in just over an hour and a half, a very respectable time by novice gringo standards. This experience, descending and ascending one of the deepest canyons in the world, was one of the most rewarding I have ever had, and certainly the highlight of my trip thusfar.

We leave tonight at 9pm for Cusco, Peru, which will serve as our launching point for the 4 day trek to Machu Picchu. Many travellers remember MP as the highlight of their trip. Needless to say, we all have very high expectations. Provided the weather holds up, I have no doubt that they will be met. Adios amigos, until next time...

Life after Lima

It has been a week since my last real entry- apologies! Here is a full update on the South American adventure...
Having dealt with almost 24 hours of travel delays, the girls finally arrived in Lima on the evening of the 14th with a surprising amount of energy. That night, Pedro welcomed them Peruvian style by making a batch of his famous Pisco Sours. Around eleven a large group of us hit the town and, as I have come to expect, had a fantastic time meeting and befriending the local people. Anyone who comes to Peru and puts forth the necessary effort will see that the people here are incredibly warm and inviting to foreigners. I hope very much that they would receive similar treatment if they ever were to venture state side.
Jess and Garreth, fellow Coloradoans and friends of Nina, arrived in Lima early the next morning. I did not know either of them prior to this trip, though it did not take long for the five of us to become a fully functional travel family. Garreth, like the rest of us, has inevitably fallen in love with South America and opted to travel with me for the duration of the journey. I am extremely pleased to have a buddy in Argentina and I have no doubt we will be great friends by the end of the trip.
On the morning of the 15th, following a hearty breakfast at a local cafe, I took the group to the cliffs of Miraflores to go paragliding. I had the pleasure of doing this two days earlier and knew the others would definitely not want to miss it. I photographed Garreth and the girls as they strapped in with instructors, launched off of the cliffs, and took advantage of coastal winds and a banana shaped parachute to float high above Miraflores. Needless to say, we all agreed that it was an unforgettable experience.
The next day we left Lima via bus for Huacachina, Peru, a tiny desert oasis town built around a lagoon (http://volker.umpfenbach.de/bilder/reisen/2006peru/high/Peru_2006_02_10_Huacachina.jpg).
The next morning we took a boat to the Islas Ballestas, known to locals as the poor man^s Gallapagos. In a brief one hour boat ride we were lucky enough to spot sea lions, dolphins, and penguins, among many others.
That afternoon we took the ride of a lifetime in a dune buggies driven by a local guide. I wish there were words to explain how exhillerating this experience was. Imagine the wildest roller coaster you have ever experienced, then give that roller coaster a heavy dose of steroids. The drivers make their living getting extreme and, as one would expect, they have gotten quite good at it.
We left Huacachina the next day (18th) at 1 PM for a 12 hour bus ride to Arequipa, our current location. Arequipas upscale design and colonial architecture give it a very European feel. This, combined with the looming presence of the enormous El Misti volcano, makes this city uniquely stunning. We spent the majority of the day yesterday exploring the 17th century Santa Catalina Monastery. SCM spans an entire city block and is guarded on all sides by a 15 foot stone wall. Wandering through its gardens and winding alleys, virtually unchanged over the past 400 years, you feel as though you have gone back in time.
The adventure team leaves tomorrow at 3AM for a trekking tour through the Colca Canyon (2nd deepest in the world), where we will see condors and relax in natural hot springs after a rigorous 7 hour descent. This is sure to be a wild experience, I will update you as soon as possible. As always, thanks for reading!

Responses to comments-
Tica- Thanks for your kind words, we are having a wonderful time indeed!

Ryan- Im officially in the mountains, and it is BEAUTIFUL. I have not seen any animals up here yet, but that is only because I am in a big city. Like I said in this entry, I will be seeing Condors on my hike into the canyon. Have you heard of them? They have a wingspan that can exceed 10 feet, which is pretty much you and I put together!
Also, there are definitely lots of rivers in the mountains here. I may be doing some white water rafting at some point, Ill keep you posted.

Hilda- Im glad you and my mom have been in contact with one another. You guys should definitely get together for dinner at some point!

Yen- Thanks for reading!!! Ill tell Nina to call you soon. Hope all is well in the Fort.

Dad and Mom- Love you, good to talk to you yesterday!

On the road

Hello everyone! There is lots to report, but no time to get it all down. There have been a couple minor setbacks, but everything is going great otherwise. I will write in the next couple of days with a full update!

Sharing with ninos y ninas

Having experienced most of what Lima has to offer during daylight hours, I have devoted the last couple of days to getting a taste of the city at night. In the process, I have learned a great deal about Peruvian nightlife and I have found that it is nothing like going out in the states. The primary difference is that the party generally starts around midnight, and often lasts into the wee hours of the morning. Last night, for example, finally came to an end around 5AM. Im not sure what it is, but young people here, including myself, just do not seem to get tired. That is, until the next day, when you are more or less non-functional. Determined not to waste even a single day, I fought the urge to sleep in this morning and instead opted to get out of the hostel for espresso and waffles at a local cafe ($3 total), as well as a thirty minute massage ($10). I also managed to hunt down a Lima Allianza futbol jersey for around $7. All in all, probably the best $20 morning I have ever had.
The rest of the day was spent relaxing and practicing my espanol, which I am pleased to report is progressing rapidly. This evening I ventured to the local gellatto shop to reward myself for not letting fatigue get the best of me. As I walked and ate my gellatto, I was approached by a very poor little girl asking for a bite. There are signs all over the city warning tourists not to give money to these children. I learned from a local friend that they are almost always being forced to beg by their parents who, regretably, often make significant amounts of money putting their children to work. Anyway, there are no signs that warn against bites of gellatto. Much to the nina's delight, I gave her a big one. Not two minutes later, a small boy came up and made a similar request. I began to realize I was fighting an uphill battle when a third child approached me, so I took one last bite and gave him the rest. I may not have had my fill, but the whole experience left a big smile on my face :)
Calling it an early night... looking forward to seeing the girls in the morning!
ALSO, responses to posted comments-
Aria- Glad you are enjoying the blog. I will DEFINITELY keep the girls safe :) It really isn't as dangerous down here as it is made out to be. Not to worry my friend!

Ryan- Hey pal. I hope you didn't end up puking when you heard about the cow heart. Don't ever try it, I am certain you would not like it :) I have not seen the mountains yet, but I will be there in about a week. I'll let you know then how they stack up to our Rocky Mtns. My friends are pretty cool down here, but nowhere near as cool as you. Nobody is! Also, thanks for the tip on the sunscreen- I think you are probably right. Thanks for the post buddy , it made my day. Keep them coming!

Dr. Rhodes- Like I said in the message, I picked up a sweet Alianza jersey today from a local vendor. Unfortunately I am told that no games will be played while I am here, but I think I will be able to catch one in Argentina in late Feb. I sure hope so- it would be a crime to come down here without seeing any futbol! Also, please keep me posted on what happens with your excellence in teaching award!

My family, Lauren's family, and Nina's family- thanks to all of you for being so supportive. We cannot wait to share many great stories with you upon our return!