Going on the Road - Days 1 - 2

Florida, Georgia and South Carolina in one day. My mom thought traveling with two kids would be a great test run for me. In October she wants me to drive my grandparents from Brownsville, TX to Muskegon, MI. You know stops every 1.5 to 2 hrs.

With Tommy asking how many more hours do we have and Aiden asking are we there yet, it was a hoot. It wasn't that bad. We wore Tommy down by asking him to count the hours from "now" until 2pm (which was our anticipated arrival time in South Carolina). After about 5 times he was over asking. He did get sneaky once and ask how many miles did we have left. Cute!

Aiden, however, was having a rough go of it. We knew that he was susceptible to motion sickness, but he had done the trip before without major issues, so we didn't anticipate what happened. Janice waited to put on a movie until after 8:30. About half an hour into the movie, Aiden says, "mom, I feel sick." We start and stop the movie 2 more times before he knows that he can't take any more, which ends up being in Forsyth, GA.

We exit the highway and search for a pharmacy. The high squeal of panic has us stopping right in front of the historic Court House building of downtown Forsyth. Immediately, Aiden lets it rip. Tommy can't get out of the van fast enough and is almost chanting, "I gotta get out. Open the door. I gotta get out." Tommy makes it out before he blows too. Aiden finishes emptying his stomach. Jan takes Aiden outside into fresh air and some shade. Tommy has already found a war memorial to investigate.

The plazas (or town squares) in South America almost always have a farmacia, so I was hoping that it would be the same in central Georgia. I did find the pharmacy, but they didn't have anything to help Aiden. Luckily, they directed me to a CVS a mile down the street.

After our impromptu picnic we stopped by the CVS to pick up a couple of different remedies. The Dramamine knocked him out for the next 3 hrs of the trip. The Finney Family welcomed us with open arms, dinner and their lovely outdoor pool.

Going on the Road - Day before

Packing Pro is my new friend. This app by QuinnScape has made packing for my road trip to Michigan with my best friend, Janice, a breeze.

I started with a template and then began adding what I needed or deleting what I didn't. Then packing day came and I've been checking off everything that I've put in my luggage so I don't forget anything.

I'm so excited. I can't wait.

Stuck in a rut

So I have a plan.  I've had a plan for the last month.  I just have done nothing to further the plan and my saving is running out.  I've decided that if I want the plan to work.  I need to have some personal accountability.  In the next 2 weeks.  I need to do the following so that I can fulfill my goals.

Goal: Go to Vietnam and get my CELTA certification.

ToDos (2 weeks)

Complete the application and submit  

Get background check

Order grammar books (2)

Next steps once accepted into the program:

Sell car

Buy ticket to Vietnam

Pay for school

Find a place to Live

Email Danny

Bonus Points: 

Get a new computer

Get a new camera

Ok.

Sounds easy!  Let's go!

Almost Spicy Thai Soup

In the time honored adage that 'restriction breeds creativity', I had a fun time tonight trying to make this Spicy Thai Soup. Since living in Colombia, I've discovered many opportunities to 'find another way'. So here is my version.

Ingredients
1 cup uncooked white rice
2 cups water
3 tablespoons olive oil
3/4 large white onion, chopped
1/4 small red onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup shredded/chopped fresh ginger root
1 cup chopped carrots
4 cups chopped broccoli
1 cup chopped squash
1 red bell pepper, diced
2 (7 ounce) leche de coco
5 cups water
1 packet of Knorrs Crema de Mariscos
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tbsp exito jalapeno ahi
1 cup of milk
zest of 1 lime, for garnish
3/4 cup suero costeno


Directions
Bring the rice and water to a boil in a pot. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer 45 minutes.
Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat, and cook the onion, garlic, ginger, and carrots 5 minutes, until tender. Mix in broccoli, red bell pepper, squash, leche de coco, water, Knorr's crema de marisco seasonings, soy sauce, exito jalapeno ahi. Half-way through pour in a cup of milk. Simmer 25 minutes.
Pour soup in batches into a blender or food processor, and blend until smooth and creamy. Return to the pot, and mix in suero costeno. Mix the rice individually to taste. Top with lemon zest to serve.

It turned out pretty good.  Exceptionally filling! Unfortunately, it's too much for just one person and no one wanted to eat with me last night.  So yummy leftovers for tomorrow after Tae-bo at UPB.  More from my Colombia vacation later.

Click here to see the crappy video.

Abstract Art in Lima

Was in Lima in September in the Barranco district when I found this perfectly enthralling piece of art.  Made me wish I had a multi-million dollar home and a wall big enough to hang it.  It was gorgeous.

Eating in Medellin

Had lunch with my friends Bref and Sarah. Lovely couple who have been traveling around South America on a career break for the past year, learning Spanish and just pretty much enjoying the natural beauty of this wonderful continent. Medellin is one of their last stops before heading back to the US to start the next stage in their lives. We got together yesterday for a late lunch at Nuqui Restaurant for a fantastic, albeit expensive, seafood lunch.

I had lovely cheesy "Love Waterfall" dish with robablo (snook), shrimp and calamari. On the side was a small salad and coconut/panela rice. Bref had fried Pargo Rojo (red snapper). Again, lovely. Sarah had fish in a shrimp sauce. My dish, cost 35.000 pesos, but there wasn't a single drop of sauce left on anyone's plate. So it was well worth it.

Today, I'm meeting Kristina for more seafood.

Bref & Sarah

We are heading out to La Mayorista (a wholesale food market) to have the best ceviche that I've had since Peru. Of course, it would make sense since the owner is Peruvian. His small little kiosk sized stall is called Inca and it just makes my mouth water to think about the lunch I'll be having soon.

I'm nearing the end of my Colombia vacation. My departure date is set for November 12. I need to get as much in as possible before I leave. But I already have plans for my next stage in my life.

Great Adventures to you all!

Starting in the Middle

I'm 36 (soon to be 37), unmarried, no kids and searching... for something. Ennui has set in and I need a kick in the ass.  I've been living in Medellin, Colombia for he past 4 months and it's been great.  I am working as an intern for a company called viventura.  They sell Colombia tours as well as trips to Patagonia and Peru, Bolivia and Chile.  I helped design the tours. So that has been fun.  BUT I'm tired of the travel industry, but I'm definitely not tired of traveling.  About 2 months ago, my friend Danny suggested going to Vietnam to teach English.  I could earn $1500 a month and only spend $500 on my monthly needs.  The idea of saving $1000 a month has been calling me.  Like a Siren's song.  I think the job would be easy. Or at least different enough to hold my interest for 1.5 years.  See... it's all about the money and what I can do with it.  I know it's shallow, but there are still things that I want to do such as:

Holding my godson, Aiden

• Travel through Europe - I already made a facebook page for it 2013 Europe Trip. 
• Travel through the US - no facebook page yet
• Be pregnant by the time I'm 40.

These are my life goals. Not big, not sexy but they are mine and I need to write them down if I'm going to hold myself accountable to them.

Right now, I'm still in Colombia. And I want to take a 2 night sailing trip through the San Blas Islands.  But the flight costs $500.  Gotta keep looking.

Keep in touch