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This is a very simple tribute to the people I met during my trip. A lot of them went out of their way to help me out or make me feel at home and a lot of them I like to think of as friends now. Even though they may only be named briefly in this post, I took a lot of time to write this and thought about every single one of the people I mentioned here by name and how interacting with them in different times, places and circumstances influenced my trip. The more you travel, the more you realize the vast amount of good-natured people out there.
And 22 months of traveling finally came to an end. Out of the things I had planned, I managed to do a lot of them, I did other things that I hadn't initially considered and left other things undone which I will hopefully do one day in the future.
This post is a recompilation of my trip, but mainly through the people I interacted with: new people I met, friends I saw again, people who hosted and helped out, etc. I searched in my photos, blog posts and e-mails trying to get as many of the people mentioned in this post. One of the greatest things about the travels I've done in my life is the people I've met; learning from them and expanding an ever-growing network of people that in a lot of cases I've seen again in different parts of the world or have kept in touch through common acquaintances.
First and foremost thank my parents for having fully supported me since I began to harvest this idea. Also my brother, sister, grandparents and family (especially Andrés Schwarzenberg) and friends who followed up on my activities during these almost two
years.
Australia
I started in Sydney for about 3 months. Special thanks to Felipe kovacic and Isabelle (and Bruno) who hosted me for several weeks and Mark Ashley and Chris Bush (who were my first Couchsurfing hosts). During the first weeks, through Couchsurfing I met an excellent group of people and had an awesome start of my trip with numerous activities in the city. To name a few of them: Eric Adelberger, Rune Poortvliet, Tomás, Christiane Dietz, Martina, Suzanne Burns, etc.
Marcelo Salas and César Silva, Chilean friends of friends who were a great help throughout the whole of my stay in the country. Angeles Miranda (a friend from school) with whom I met a few times to have a beer and catch up. Also from Chile, a friend of mine from the Naval School I hadn't seen in years: José María Pinto and his wife Andrea Viviani. And an uncle in law", Andrés Costa, who was also a big help.
I spent most of my time in Sydney doing my Diving Instructor Course "Abyss" Scuba Diving School. It was an awesome 10 week program in which I learned heaps and
met several new people. Thanks to the Abyss Staff and especially my IDC instructor Carl Fallon, Rachel Fallon, Petter Lets and Blake Crossingham, Jackie Barnes (and all the other instructors there). Also, my fellow "instructor candidates": Daniel Anderson, Ryan Gowans, Adrian Argeseanu, Martin Fallon, Joao Mendes & Camila (thanks for the invitation to dive in Newcastle!). Can't miss the opportunity to mention my house-mates and fellow interns at the "Abyss House": Jonny Summerel, Lydia Wilcox, Juan Celedón, Andriana Botes and Ben Taplin. And few others that I met diving and that I've kept in touch with: Craig Richards and Peter McClatchey.
Part of the dive course included a 2 week volunteer job with "Mile Ball Dive Expeditions" in Cairns (best diving I had in Australia). The other volunteer on the boat was James Nikitine, who's a great friend to this day. He was the one who helped me get my first dive job and also a permanent place to stay for the following 8 months (I'll also mention Sylvie, his girlfriend, whom I met briefly in Port Douglas before they left). And from MBDE thanks to Lisa Russel who I had also met previously in
Abyss Scuba Diving. And one more person I stayed in touch with afterwards: César Martin Pérez.
I spent 8 months working in Port Douglas, a small touristic town 45 minutes from Cairns. It was a great time of my life and there's a lot of people I met there. First, Melina and Anthony, who rented me a place to stay and for being such great house-mates and friends. And of course our other house-mate/coworker/friend: Jessie Farbstein. To my very good friends and coworkers from Calypso: Bruce Gerber & Giselle Johnson, Florence Hideaux, Renne Wong, Peggy, Alex Leibowitz, Kane Subritzky & Robbie Marino. Also Lachie & Peta, Julie Remp, Lizzie, James & Jorden, Bianca Weyers, Ben Noonan, Richard, Lisa Colmore, Alicia, Andy, etc. Thanks to Rosemary Gibbons and Mike at the Yacht Club. And to the Calypso owners and to the Poseidon owners and crew as well. From Poseidon: Tahn, Maya, Zane, Charles & Adriana and the rest of the crew.
Through work I met some really cool/nice people that I stayed in touch with afterwards (mainly customers I had): Laurent Humbert, the Hackings (Robert, Peggy, Frances and Alexandra), Dave Hodges & Steph
Stephan, Josh Charles, Ben & Naomi, etc. also the Chileans that I met there: Juan Ignacio Paez & his wife Mildred. And another group of Chileans that were living in Sydney I had a friend in common with. Also, by chance, 2 cousins of mine went on the boat as well: Nicolás and Camila Caram (they didn't know I was working there). Friends of my parents that went to Port Douglas and that I got to see: Gerardo & Susana Kovacevic.
In July I took a trip to Brisbane to meet with friends of mine from the Chilean Navy that were traveling in the Navy training ship "Esmeralda": Eduardo Moreno, Andrés Silva, Francisca Fuentes and Felipe Rodríguez (plus a few others). And also Marcel Le-Feuvre & his wife Yessica.
In January 2013, I was back in Sydney, and had the good fortune of staying with great people and meeting their friends: Naomi, Ben, Gabrielle, Hartley & Tiffany (thanks for the good times and diving). Again thanks to Adrian Argeseanu for taking me and some friends to do the Magic Point Dive. And I got to see Felipe Kovacic, Isabelle Piairo, Bruno and
Marcelo Salas one final time before leaving Sydney.
In Melbourne, I stayed with Dave & Steph (I had met them in Port Douglas) and they took me camping with friends to celebrate Australia Day. I Also re-met and old friend, Nicolás Varas and his fiancee Megan.
In Tasmania, thanks a lot to Paulina Illanes and Stefan Kowalik for being such great hosts. People I met at a "Wine and Melon" event hosted by Paulina & Stefan: Bruce Harwood (congratulations on taking a well deserved year off), Kurt Williams, Johanna Kohvakka (and Paavo), "La Corsaire", Emese Orosvári, etc. And also my road-trip companions for a few days: Elodie and Julliet.
New Zealand A big thank you to Robert Hacking, Penny, Frances, Alexandra and Mike for hosting me and for taking the time to include me in their activities. John & Aideen Lawson and family (and John's friends Tom and Phil for the fly-fishing and clay-shooting), Jim & Philippa Worthington & Anna, Maggie and Tom (thanks for helping me out during my “emergency” stay in Christchurch), Ryan Everton, Suzanne Burns (great coincidence to see yo in Dunedin!) and a big thanks to
More drinking in Gili T
With Eduardo Díaz, Stefano, Coni, Gino, Paulina, MarcelaIgnacio Arellano and Frankie Favero for having had me for a whole week. Finally, to Melisa Merullo and Kim “Kim” for taking the time to hang out.
Almost forgot to mention the people at the HQ Dive shop: had amazing dives and great times with them. Especially, thanks a lot to Sam Jupe and Meltem Kriechhammer.
Indonesia It was a blast. Who would've thought that I would run into so many Chileans: Stefano Lagomarsino and his wife Coni, Gino and Paulina (great times with plenty of pisco). The people at DSM Lombok Dive Center and Eduardo Díaz.
Everyone from the 4 day boat trip across Nusa Tengara: Jonno Ratcliff, Jennifer Hunter, Louise, Manuela & Manuela, Tom, Bianca, Merijn van der Peijl, Manuel, Camilo and Elien.
The people at the "Divine Diving" dive shop in Lombok (especially the guides) and my "diving buddies": Bruno & Josette and Nick & Sofie.
I've got to mention Hendrik, the guide I had in Tana Toraja, Sulawesi, who really did a good job the days I traveled in that region.
Philippines I'd go back there in a heartbeat. First of all my school
4 Day Boat trip across Nusa Tengara
Jonno Ratcliff, Jennifer Hunter, Louise, Manuela & Manuela, Tom, Bianca, Merijn van der Peijl, Manuel, Camilo and Elein, boat crew classmate May Gallardo and her family for hosting me and showing me around and my other school classmate Adam Lifschitz with whom I met in Manila for some beers with May.
In Malapascua (my favorite place in that country), the people from the Purple Snapper dive shop: Ángel, James and Lydia. Also, Vanessa and Xavier (who I later saw again in France). Also, Jasper Smink and Linde Rijkenberg. From Malapascua I traveled to Bohol with a French traveler and dive instructor, Stéphanie Le Floch, with whom I still stay in touch.
Nepal Had an awesome time trekking along the Annapurna range and seeing a few other places. Thanks a lot to Filip Van Steenkiste (trekking partner-"guide" for a week), Sylvie Nelson, Dean Mills (travel partners for a few days), Lina & Yong from Singapore (thanks for the help!), Thomas and Jordi & Cristina from Spain (good times in Pokhara).
Also, Ghan Prasad (from the "Happily Ever After" Hostel in Kathmandu) and Rajendra Lama, a Nepalese guide who met with me and answered all the questions before doing the trek. And Quintin and Denise from Ireland with whom I met in Kathmandu at the end
of the trip.
Thailand First thank you goes to the brother of a friend: Jaime Rivera, who was a great help during my first days in Bangkok. My brother José and sister Valentina for joining me there for a few weeks. And my cousin Camila Cartwright and her husband Jaime Pérez.
South Africa Spent almost 3 months in this wonderful country. I started in Pretoria and I must really thank the Viljoens: Johan, Erna, Nicolete and Stefan and their friends Jane and Gary for hosting, helping and keeping an eye on me the whole time. Tess van der Merwe, a school classmate from Israel (great times and great catching up), the Cortina Whiplash girls: Auriel and Loandi and their friends. In Neilspruit Zach & Neta and Avi Maier (traveling and diving), the people from Aquaplanet Dive Center in Shelly Beach: Kym Pollard and everyone that works with her. In Cape Town, Lisa Labinjoh for a great time hanging out and Enrique Fragnul.
I've got to mention also the guys from Blu Juice in Sodwana, Eduardo López, Aitana, Nestor and Luken in Umkomaas and Adrian, the guide from Amphitheatre Backpackers
for two great tours.
Ireland In Dublin, Cleber Maia and Jerry Raley for taking the time to hang out. And in Galway, Thomas Gorman, same thing.
Edinburgh, Scotland A big thanks to my relatives, Charlie and Anne Laing for hosting me again after 7 years. Great conversations. And Andrés Labbe & Coni and their daughters. Also great to catch up after several years (and good luck on your ongoing adventure).
London, UK I've got a lot of people to mention here, as I went to London mainly to visit friends. First Alec & Omaima Laing and their kids, Paul Engeham (thanks for the tea and tour of the workplace), Andrew & Francesca Smith and kids (they had hosted me in London about 7 years before), Anne-Lise Weinberger, a great friend I get to see every 5 years or so, Anastasia Sharikova, Anne-Lise's cousins and friends I met and Denis Nayshul, a Russian friend I had met years ago backpacking in Amsterdam.
France I had a great start in Paris staying with Marie Arkrour, friend of Laurent Humbert who I mentioned before (thanks
for everything!) and Vanessa and Xavier (who I had met earlier in the Philippines).
In Laval, Maxence (and her friends) and her brother Antoine who were excellent hosts and showing me around.
In Rochefort, I had a great first "HelpX" experience with Anik Herault and everyone at 177 Pierre Loti. Also Allain for including me in his "Carlet Project". It was a great 5 week stay.
Had a great long w-e in Bordeaux with great host Anne-Ruth Reisiger and her friends Eleonora Lugará, Lisa and a few other people we hanged out with. And Tiffen from Couchsurfing who joined us.
In Brest, Jean-Yves Cypres and Veronique and their family, for hosting me and driving me around in Bretagne.
And Dominique Catalifaud and her family for taking me in for 3 days so I could visit a few places in Normandy.
I finally arrived, safe and sound. Only two weeks after my arrival I was reinstated in the Chilean Navy...
THANK YOU!
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Craig Richards
non-member comment
Boomerang
Thank you Daniel for writing such great blogs. They are so entertaining and interesting. Looking forward to crossing paths again in Thailand one day :-)