Final farewell

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The last 6 weeks have been amazing. I have seen so much and done so much and I have grown immeasurably because of it. I came here with not much of an idea of what I was going to do or how I was going to do it. I just wanted to get involved, at least once in my life, and experience something totally different from my own life.

Well, in that regard I have achieved all that and more.

I can split the trip into a two different areas and each area has its own highlights which have been amazing. The first area is weekend adventuring. Almost every weekend I have had the opportunity to get out and explore the surrounding area of La Paz.

I have mountain biked down the “Most Dangerous Road in the World” and survived, like most. I have scaled a 20,000 foot mountain, just barely making it. I have trekked and camped in numerous beautiful and isolated spots. Bolivia has some of the most diverse and astounding landscapes I have seen and I have loved every minute of it. At the same time though, with each new view, I have felt more appreciation for the awesome settings that we live in back home and can visit freely without any hassles.

The blockade from today is going into its second day tomorrow which is starting to cause me some issues. Half my gear is still out at the orphanage, which is 30kms away, and there is no transport going out there or coming back. So, I will have to sort out a way of getting to my gear or my gear getting to me. Also, if this blockade goes for another day, it could possibly make things impossible for me to get to the airport. These last days are proving to be interesting times to say the least.

Out of my adventures, I would have to say the one that means the most to me is climbing Mt Huyana Potosi. It wasn’t really to do with the amazing views, which there were many, or the fact that it was so high. It was memorable because I had to overcome some serious self resistance to make it to the top.

I think everyone has to confront some of their own little personal demons on a climb like that, and I think this is why a lot of people turn back so near the end. They have been defeated, not by the mountain or the altitude, but by their own mindless negative dialogue. The feeling of achievement when you conquer all of that is almost second to none. It’s very reassuring being able to recall a time now when things were horribly impossible and yet, just by putting one foot in front of the other and never giving in I succeeded. It builds a lot of confidence in yourself and what you REALLY can achieve.

The second area of the trip is much harder to define. It’s a combination of a hundred little moments and a hundred little thoughts that I would only have had by being here. By working with street kids and orphans and seeing and being a part of there lives, if only for a little while. You have seen glimpses of those moments in this blog, read about some of them and may be even have caught a few glimpses yourself of what I’m trying to talk about.

It is hard to define, but I know it’s made me a better person. I have grown more in the last 6 weeks then I would have in a year of doing the same old same old back in NZ. I really appreciate this opportunity and what it’s done for me. I guess you all can be your own judges of this next time you see or talk to me.

But for now I can’t wait to get back home. I feel like I have archived what I set out to do, Questions that I wanted answered have been answered. Some times with more questions in their place, but that’s good, I know the answers to those ones can be found back or where ever may find myself.

Adios

What I’m going to miss most about Bolivia

The hugeness of everything.

There is so much to do here and so much diversity in everything. Mountains, jungles, valleys, lakes, its all amazing.

The adventures

The people

James and Julie

Going out for dinner and eating very very well for only 10 NZD each.

My best Bolivian friend Danny (Dali Danny)


What I’m not going to miss

Honking horns (every second of everyday for no reasons, honking, honking, honking)

Bolivian drivers. I have had enough of people who don’t use their headlights and indicators and have disconnected their Speedos and have tyres which are completely bald and only held together by the collective fear of their passengers.

Taking 4 hours to travel 75 kilometres.

Dogs. La Paz and Bolivia is filled to over flowing with stray dogs (and I like dogs). Alalay has about 7 or 8, its hard to tell at anyone time and right now there is 6 puppies as well. Its nuts.

Struggling though conversations in Spanish, if you can call what I do a conversation...



Being away from Sarah


Adventures of a Lifetime
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Comments

[Barbara McDonald]

I am missing your blog heaps.Why not keep it up on what you are doing in N.Z. Cheers