tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70966598825427889432024-02-07T16:30:57.260-08:00Forget Most Remember Some - Don't Turn None AwayI am writing this blog for the travel curious, and for the armchair heroes who I know are watching meAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10174155532602287042noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7096659882542788943.post-36062142514261434792012-05-13T19:50:00.002-07:002012-05-14T04:49:33.341-07:00Word Press Memory Size Errors: a (hopefully) simple fix<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I was very excited to have gotten my website
finalized last night at around 3 a.m. I
posted the link at all my social media sites and was about to go to bed when I
thought to add just one more thing. I
just wanted to add ONE MORE, but when I did I broke the back-end of my
blog. Now I can’t log onto it and, when
I try, I get the error message:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“<b>Fatal error</b><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">: Allowed memory size of 33554432 bytes exhausted (tried to
allocate 30720 bytes) in</span>”….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">My web host is Network Solutions. I did some research and I am putting out the
word for anyone else that comes across this problem. Here is the deal; If you get an error like
this then you tried to stick too much data on your Word Press site. You need to increase the memory capacity of
your hosting service in order to run the applications that are supporting your site. You could go in to your WP-admin folder and
change the PHP script there, so that you can have a capacity of 64 M. See the following discussion for a how-to (<a href="http://wordpress.org/support/topic/fatal-error-allowed-memory-size-of-33554432-bytes-exhausted-2">http://wordpress.org/support/topic/fatal-error-allowed-memory-size-of-33554432-bytes-exhausted-2</a>).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdJfcJ9FTcYy2F4HJbx24xU4g1MDun-fsuQSAG02c7SGCT4-xIabpaAM68AjGOgekME9Nb0zzFECCDx_-12SP_Q9dHJWo4U2XG0R-qNLBLGs_QsawuTj_1hELToAOoHtUiSd7pT2QYedI/s1600/IMG_20120512_174511.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Word Press Fatal Error" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdJfcJ9FTcYy2F4HJbx24xU4g1MDun-fsuQSAG02c7SGCT4-xIabpaAM68AjGOgekME9Nb0zzFECCDx_-12SP_Q9dHJWo4U2XG0R-qNLBLGs_QsawuTj_1hELToAOoHtUiSd7pT2QYedI/s320/IMG_20120512_174511.jpg" title="Word Press Fatal Error" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">If, however, you are running your site on Network
Solutions, then you cannot do that. You
will, instead, have to create a <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #333333;">php.ini</span>
file and upload that to the cgi-bin folder of your root directory. I don’t know how to write the php code to
execute an increase in memory. I will be
calling Network Solutions tomorrow. If I
can ge</span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">t them to send me the file, then I will post the code here tomorrow,
otherwise I will have to keep working on it.
Once I get it, then I will post it to my blog. </span>Seeing as I am posting a link straight
from Network Solutions, it would seem like this was a straight forward problem
to source, but it wasn’t. I am not a
programmer so I am learning as I go.
Here is a link to more info about the issue. <a href="http://www.networksolutions.com/support/php-ini-for-unix-shared-hosting-faq/">http://www.networksolutions.com/support/php-ini-for-unix-shared-hosting-faq/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">For the meantime, I must continue
using this Blogger blog for my updates.
I know, it is very sad and I am distraught enough as it is, so please
don’t remind me if I talk to you personally.
On the</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> other hand, if you know how to fix my Word Press, I will more
than welcome your input. Many Thanks!</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10174155532602287042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7096659882542788943.post-50211420781525588842012-05-12T22:30:00.002-07:002012-05-12T22:30:28.042-07:00New Website is Complete<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This blog has been migrated to <a href="http://www.lillianpierson.com/">http://www.lillianpierson.com</a> .<br />
<br />
Please come join me there. I look forward to hearing from you!!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10174155532602287042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7096659882542788943.post-52068040881440869302012-05-09T19:49:00.000-07:002012-05-09T20:14:25.121-07:00Free One-Way Ticket To A Life Beyond Your Wildest Dreams<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I have been thinking a lot about what things
have worked for me in my life and what things have not. Tonight, I am going to share with you one of
the most amazing and magical tools that I have in my arsenal. When you hear what it is you may think to
yourself “how cliché” or “how stodgy”, but to buffer these sentiments I will
share with you one of my personal experiences.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Do you believe in God? If not, do you believe in some force that is
more powerful than you? What about the
spirit or the energies? Maybe a higher
form of self or the great I AM? What
about reason? Do you believe in reason
enough that you could say you believe in the God of Reason? The purpose for which I ask is that the tool
that I want to share with you tonight is somewhat infeasible if you don’t
believe in anything…. </span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;">But even at that,
I bet it would still work if you try.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">What I am talking about tonight is prayer,
the power of a simple prayer; in this case, a prayer that is repeated every
night for 90 days. First, I will share
a bit of my story and then I will share the prayer.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">When I was in my early twenties, I was like the
average young person in America these days.
That’s to say, I was by no means rich.
I didn’t have a career or a place of my own.
To be honest, I had only done a few years of college, but I had not
completed my university studies. I could
have been further ahead at the time, but I had been too busy checking out what
was happening around the good ole US of A.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I had come to a point in my life, however,
where I wanted to get serious and make a future for myself. I wanted to cultivate a profession through
which I could contribute to society and the environment. Maybe I was just growing up but, whatever the
case may be, I was led to make a change in my life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In this same time period, my aunt and uncle
gave me a book titled the Prayer of Jabez.
They said that they had prayed it for my cousins and it must have worked
because my cousins were going all sort of great places with their lives. So, I got this book and I read it. I prayed the prayer of Jabez every night for
90 days. I may have even prayed it in the
morning too. This is how the prayer
goes:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<h3 align="center" style="background: white; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #351c75;">"Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory,
that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I
may not cause pain."</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #351c75;"> I Chronicles 4:10 NKJV</span></span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: white;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></h3>
<h3 style="background: white;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">By praying this I was simply asking God to enlarge my
territory (expand the geographical territory of my life) and be with me as I
go. I am here to say tonight, that if you pray this prayer often and
repeatedly, if you can bring yourself to believe in something when you do, then
strap on your seat belt because you are in for an incredible journey.</span></h3>
<h3 style="background: white;">
<o:p></o:p></h3>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUbObJSfUbocEZzNmqzbBZnU70pQ8LsShdxwE0_paEllpuAeARj7-MlXdsYX9hcYz9DGc2BcEacexoAfERrH5DRlx3UWfolKwLXbN_1lx0owHyre1YAn_EDjP8kdyRq6-NQCMTlHnqDbc/s1600/268931_1815674398757_1447004253_31529260_4066755_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Power of Prayer" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUbObJSfUbocEZzNmqzbBZnU70pQ8LsShdxwE0_paEllpuAeARj7-MlXdsYX9hcYz9DGc2BcEacexoAfERrH5DRlx3UWfolKwLXbN_1lx0owHyre1YAn_EDjP8kdyRq6-NQCMTlHnqDbc/s320/268931_1815674398757_1447004253_31529260_4066755_n.jpg" title="International Travel" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Corcovado, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">I believe that my praying this
prayer in trust has everything to do with my world travels. I saw Mt. Everest and hiked the Isla del Sol
in Bolivia. I prayed at the Tomb of
Apostle John in Turkey and I rung in the New Year dancing the night away in
Prague. I have jumped off the cliffs in
Rio de Janeiro and flown across the coast to reach the ground. I have learned to make my way, on my own,
through any country in the world and I am not afraid. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Of course, I am not stupid either…
there are measures of safety that I follow, but what I am saying is that this
prayer came true. It came true for me
when I did not even really know what I was praying it for. It came true in magical ways, even when I had
no vision for the outcome whatsoever. If
you want your life to change in incredible ways, believe in something and try
prayer, it works!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">So, lately I really felt like I
wanted to do something incredible with my life.
I really, really want to live a life where I am able to help people and
make a positive impact on the world around me.
I figured that the most magical way for me to do this is for me to start
another prayer regime, like I did with the prayer of Jabez. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">I started this prayer regime on
April 21<sup>st</sup>, 2012 and I am here to say, folks, that I almost
immediately stumbled onto the most incredible new path for my life. I have met people that are really changing
the world. I have met people that doing
the impossible. I have met people that
are free from limits that the world tries to force on us. I have been made aware of an entirely new
venue through which I can help people.
This venue embraces my childhood dreams, my unceasing flow of creative
ideas, and my relentless workaholism. I
absolutely could not be more excited to see where God ends up taking me on this
prayer. This is how it goes, and goodnight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;"><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-size: 12pt;">A
Prayer for Blessed Service:</span></u><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Dear God, let your will for me be known.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Use me, oh God, as
your creation.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">When a kind word
needs to be spoken, use my voice.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">When a load needs
to be lifted, use my back.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">When a hug needs to
be given, use my arms.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">When a journey
needs to be taken, use my feet.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">When a message
needs to be delivered, use my mind.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">When a friend needs
to be loved, use my heart.</span><br />
<span class="textexposedshow"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">In all things, in all ways,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"> </span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><br />
<span class="textexposedshow">use me God, as your instrument of love, faith,
peace and tranquility.</span><br />
<span class="textexposedshow">© 2002-2010 by Vicky Thompson</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #604a7b; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10174155532602287042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7096659882542788943.post-13631406787029897612012-05-06T17:42:00.002-07:002012-05-06T17:57:52.695-07:00Self-Publication: A Success Plan for the Indie Writer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
Self-Publication: A Success Plan for the Indie Writer</h2>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf7BnXwzd-G72Grm4QN__7NOR-HQP3oZWt077HJ7cSPtspzeLRgFiixqZw1sIGSk-1ajDxBuiJw6Qi5F5AC7Zvyx8NAz0Gs0q6iklvN4NgkQRnlhRAr_C4O6K_g6q4TrIrTcbhyphenhyphenSqrjUI/s1600/DSC01821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Tantra, Laos, Indie Writing" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf7BnXwzd-G72Grm4QN__7NOR-HQP3oZWt077HJ7cSPtspzeLRgFiixqZw1sIGSk-1ajDxBuiJw6Qi5F5AC7Zvyx8NAz0Gs0q6iklvN4NgkQRnlhRAr_C4O6K_g6q4TrIrTcbhyphenhyphenSqrjUI/s320/DSC01821.JPG" title="Reading and writing in Laung Praubang, Laos" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reading and writing in<br />
Laung Praubang, Laos</td></tr>
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To facilitate indie book-writing success, there are many
things that you should do before releasing your first book. Developing a social platform is
paramount. It is also important to have
a website where you can house your books, blogs, and related multimedia
creations. It is an excellent idea to
start an email subscriber list before your book release. Readers who have subscribed to your email
list may be willing to provide pre-release book reviews. These reviews can give you ideas for last-minute
book edits and they can be used in support of your Amazon portfolio. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Twitter is an absolutely incredible way to meet top-notch
writers and to increase awareness of your work and the work of writer’s you
admire. It is a good idea to release
your book cover and summary before releasing the book itself. This will help you to increase reader awareness
and get your book “on the radar” prior to the book launch.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I have spent a fair bit of this weekend working on my indie
writing platform. I have been following
at least five new people a day on Twitter, and making sure to engage in
dialogue with at least one of them per day.
This has been very cool because I have become acquainted with some travel
writers that are doing simply incredible things with their lives. After having read and watched some of their
work, I have become very excited about the potential for my own creative work
through my book-writing platform. <o:p></o:p></div>
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In particular, I am very much looking forward to creating a
few video-casts for my readers. Of my
foreign friends, some very talented artists have generously expressed an
interest in supporting my video-casts with their music and videography. I have the scripting on paper already and I
have the software needed to develop the final video product. I think that video-casting through YouTube and
Vimeo may someday be one of my favorite outlets for social engagement with my
readers.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YhWyaSZChws/T6cZLqJO7QI/AAAAAAAABGk/8Mh_l6FTyGI/s1600/Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Freedom, Safety & the Sacred Sensual" border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YhWyaSZChws/T6cZLqJO7QI/AAAAAAAABGk/8Mh_l6FTyGI/s320/Cover.jpg" title="WORLD TRAVEL: Escaping the Rat Race" width="246" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Upcoming Book Release - <br />
WORLD TRAVEL: Escaping the Rat Race</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Earlier today I used Abobe Illustrator with a few of my
travel photos in order to create a book cover.
I set up my domain name and email address with Network Solutions (my
email address is <a href="mailto:lillian@lillianpierson.com">lillian@lillianpierson.com</a>). I have switched my hosting package over from
my other domain name, but the changes have not finalized so I am not able to make
edits to my website just yet. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am primarily going to run my website on Word Press. I will develop the site myself; until I have
gotten established enough in my writing to justify the expense of, perhaps, hiring
a professional developer. I am anxious to
make the website changes so that I can have my work consolidated at one reliable
and personal web address. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today, I will
also sit down and make an overall plan for my writing work. This plan will include daily goals and long-term
goals. It will also include scheduled
time for things in my life that support my personal brand. What I mean by that is, I want to make sure
that I stay very active in all of the things for which I stand (ie; <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #222222;">Environmental Stewardship, Technology,
Writing, Spirituality, International Travel, Social Justice, Freedom</span>). These are the areas where I believe that I
have the most to give, so it’s important for me to stay strong in them.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #222222;">I did not come up with all of these
ideas on my own. Quite to the contrary, I have the great fortune to stand on
the shoulders of the giants who have come before me. I have spent a lot of time listening to the insightful
podcasts of self-publisher Joanna Penn (<a href="http://www.thecreativepenn.com/">www.thecreativepenn.com</a>). Through these podcasts I have become familiar
with the spectacular works of other travelers and indie writers, such as Chris Guillebeau,
Alastair Humphreys, and Jane Friedman.
Joanna Penn and these other writers are hugely inspiring to me. I am very grateful for the things I have
learned from them already.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 17px;">Twitter: <a href="http://www.twitter.com/LillianPierson" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">LillianPierson</a></span><br style="line-height: 17px;" /><span style="line-height: 17px;">Facebook Author Page: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/Lillspot">www.facebook.com/Lillspot</a></span><br style="line-height: 17px;" /><span style="line-height: 17px;">Email: <a href="mailto:lillian@lillianpierson.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">lillian@lillianpierson.com</a></span></span></div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10174155532602287042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7096659882542788943.post-68777247255560521542012-05-03T18:28:00.002-07:002012-05-04T04:59:51.398-07:00Developing a Social Platform as an Indie Writer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
Developing a Social Platform as an Indie Writer</h2>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBSUQeddPYtubXmIgo-Y-gT4Xn0Ap1Mcxgm7rSWAyBjoOYFOvjaCvDgqpsfo0GUgU3x20oQTabbBHw1m0mehnswMLkZUxHRyUr1aoRwmNAl3Aw5kwl0DcBO32qGU_BhncNErk-FH8jeNw/s1600/DSC01447.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBSUQeddPYtubXmIgo-Y-gT4Xn0Ap1Mcxgm7rSWAyBjoOYFOvjaCvDgqpsfo0GUgU3x20oQTabbBHw1m0mehnswMLkZUxHRyUr1aoRwmNAl3Aw5kwl0DcBO32qGU_BhncNErk-FH8jeNw/s320/DSC01447.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">World Expo, Shanghai 2010</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Self-pub information overload!
Absolute information overload! In
true Lillian style, of course I have outdone myself with over-emersion in my
latest and greatest passion. It has all
really got me to thinking.
Self-publishing is a long and bold journey where I get to learn new truths
about myself, as I share some of the most personal things about myself with the
world.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
“Branding”, we have all heard the word, but did you know that if you’re
going to be an author you should brand yourself? I have now gone and thought of all of the
things for which I stand. I picked a few of them to develop into my personal “Lillian
Pierson” brand. It’s like “who is
Lillian Pierson in 25 words or less?” Com’on?!?
My Brand: Environmental Stewardship, Technology, Writing, Spirituality, International
Travel, Social Justice, Freedom. Those
are the things that I love, and so that is my brand. I am definitely open to ideas for how I can
title that brand, if you have any…<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Here is an off-the-cuff list of things I have heard that I need to do,
or have, in order to be a successful self-publisher. A really hot website, a current blog, a
strong social media presence, an editor, a cover designer, ISBN codes, a
business license, a teaser, media assistance if possible, et al. Well, guess what I found out. That stuff costs money, and lots of it! <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
I started to get stressed and anxious until I realized that this
sentiment defeats the entire purpose of self-publishing. Heck, if I can’t pay for all that stuff, I
will do it myself. Isn’t that what “indie”
is all about? I am an engineer; I should
be able to handle all of it on my own.
Plus, if I do, I can write about all the tricks that I learn so that my
readers can learn to do the same for themselves if they so choose. It’s a win-win all around!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
I have had a real case of information overload going on here. I had to step back and re-evaluate. It seems that, with the explosion of internet
technology, a person really needs to develop a cognitive model with which to harness
new information. If one does not create
some sort of structure and function within the stream of internet information
that is available, the lack of organization could potentially render the
information useless. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Keeping in mind all that I have learned, I developed my own strategy
and goals. My mission is to help people
by sharing knowledge with them that can change their lives, and consequently,
change the world in which they are living.
I also want to help people who are already helping people in that way. I want to stay focused on who I am best
suited to help, and how I can help them.
This is my sole mission, and I don’t want to put any cart before that
horse.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
If you are going to read my work, then one thing that you will notice
is that I am a spiritual gal. I never
prescribed my beliefs on to anyone else, and I seek to learn from the beliefs
of others, but at my core I am a spiritual person. This being said, I have strong faith that I
will be shown what to do and when to do it.
The right people will cross my path.
The right opportunities will unfold.
I need to put forth the effort to prepare myself the best that I can,
but preparation doesn’t mean stress. It
doesn’t mean competition. It doesn’t
mean force. To me, this will be a labor
of pure love and of nothing else.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10174155532602287042noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7096659882542788943.post-75031915546254398972012-04-30T16:25:00.002-07:002012-04-30T16:48:07.699-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
A New Adventure: On the Track to Self-Publishing</h2>
<div>
So, a long rest after my Peru/Bolivia adventure, I find myself back at it again. This time I have decided that I will finally actualize my childhood dream by authoring some non-fiction books. My first book, or series of books, will be about the hows and whys of independent travel. I will focus mainly on the developing world. I am keen on this subject because I know that there are billions of people out there who want to travel, but have not done so because of a self-imposed limitation. Most of these limitations would be eradicated if people actually knew the facts about what it is like out there and what it takes to go. I have insight on these topics. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Additionally, I am very excited about the idea of having my books translated and sold to readers outside of the USA. Knowledge is power. My heart breaks for a large portion of women around the world, who are stifled and trapped, not because of oppression but because of lack of knowledge. I would give anything I have to make a difference for people in situations like this. I see writing and knowledge-sharing as one vector whereby I can make a difference.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I have been studying up and doing my research, of course. There are some absolutely incredible indie writers out there, and I have been blown away by their willingness to share helpful information through social media and pod-casts. I have been listening to a pod-cast series that is put together by Joanna Penn (<a href="http://www.thecreativepenn.com/">http://www.thecreativepenn.com/</a>). I could not begin to name all of the interviewees that I admire the most, but I do know that I am greatly impressed by the work and character of a woman named Jane Friedman (<a href="http://janefriedman.com/">http://janefriedman.com/</a>). I read some of her blog posts and I was delighted at the helpfulness and good-manner that is embedded within everything she has to say. I have really gotten a lot out of the work that these two ladies are doing.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I have learned that its really not as easy as just writing a book and then publishing it. I have learned that this is only half the work. The other half is in embracing the audience. It is in positioning one's self and presenting one'e self so that readers are able to best receive the messages that you are trying to convey. Cuz really, what good is it if a person has an important message, yet is unable to present it in a way where people can receive it? None whatsoever.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In keeping with this principle, I am rekindling my blog. I am working with my South American friend to get my writing website designed and up. Once I have this, then I will be transitioning this blog to that site. I will be creating an email list, whereby I can interact with my readers in order to get information about their interests and needs. My plan is to issue a series of mini-books for all the e-readers out there. My first book may be a bit longer though, just because I really want to go all out and get this whole self-publishing thing calibrated in my mind. I am thinking that it would be really fun to put together a screen-cast in preparation for the launching of the first book. I am on the look-out for a good indie videographer in the Central Florida area. If you know of anyone, please let me know.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I have a Twitter account and I am trying to get situated in learning how to really utilize the thing. I have a day job of course, so I cannot do any of the social media or book writing until the evening hours. I don't tweet or commment, or anything else, while at work. I love my position and want to make sure I give it everything I have while I am on-the-job. If you are on Twitter though, please find me. If you know how to work the thing, I would definitely like some pointers please. I have a Google+, but I have decided not to utilize this very much for the time being. I hope to make my Facebook Page my most active forum for social media sharing, but we will see.<br />
<br />
Twitter: LillianPierson<br />
Facebook Fanpage: www.facebook.com/Lillspot<br />
Email: pierson.orlando@gmail.com</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I am very excited about this new expedition. I am really looking forward to getting to know my readers and hearing about what is happening in their minds and lives. I am excited to get the chance to hopefully offer some solutions, and if not, at least share some useful information. Thank you for the chance.</div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10174155532602287042noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7096659882542788943.post-87650011724048316162012-01-07T06:44:00.001-08:002012-02-01T13:34:03.060-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><u>Post eleven: Serendipity
and fire in the sky</u><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">I had just plopped down at my regular table at
The Meeting Spot in Cusco. I looked to my right and noticed that there was a
man telling me that his name was Jeremy. The thought skipped across my mind “he
looks like a Jeremy.” We began the normal conversation about how long we were
each traveling, where we have gone, and where we were going. The conversation
then diverged to the topic of employment and work. I talked all about how I
tried to become an attorney and how I found the legal field wanting. He told me
that he was living in Cusco and was at The Meeting Place that day in order to
get some work done. He told me about how he had been a paralegal for eight years and
asked me where I went to law school. I told him I am from Orlando.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">As it comes to find out,
he is from Orlando also! He went on to explain to me how it’s possible to be entirely
free of the rat race; how he makes his living from any city in the world. He
described to me a lifestyle where he does not have to answer to the man. He
then went on to show me his website. I read his name “Jeremy Hillpot” and a
flood of memories burst forth unto my mind. I knew this man, he had been kind
to me, he had even done me a favor.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Although we had never
actually met yet, we were supposed to, that much is obvious. We had both been
members on couchsurfing.com. There are some pretty comical details about our
conversations in the past which I will not divulge in my travel blog, but it’s
hilarious that I ran into this cat in Cusco. Actually, I had had a pretty rough
night the night before. Something had made me sad and I had been upset. I didn’t
really have anything to do and it was New Year’s Eve. Up until the time I ran
into Jeremy I’de been feeling pretty down, but that all changed very quickly.
Jeremy explained to me that he was having a New Year’s Eve party and a lot of
couch surfers were going to attend. He is paying $100 a month to rent a huge
house on the hill in Cusco. From his house we could see the fireworks in the
plaza, he asked me if I would like to come.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">I went to the house
around 9 PM and began to fraternize with the guests. Around 11:15 PM we walked down to the Plaza de Armas to watch the fireworks. This fireworks
display was unlike anything I ever could’ve imagined. It went on for an entire
hour. The city wasn’t exactly putting on the fireworks, it was more like the
people, and hundreds of them. Fireworks were going off everywhere. If you weren’t
careful they could even be going off in
your face or on your leg. The closer it got to 12, the more fireworks went off.
At 12 o’clock, so many fireworks were going off in so many different directions
that it was staggering my comprehension. The next thing I realized, Jeremy was
grabbing my hand and we were running into the center of the plaza along with
the masses. Apparently the Peruvians have a custom of running around the plaza
counterclockwise, as a practice of good luck.
There were 1000 bodies all pulsing and pushing in the same direction,
screaming and laughing, running and stopping, then walking. The fireworks were still going mad. At one
point when we were all running, my foot slipped upon a puddle of booze. I fell
beneath the crowd and I feared for my life. For a split second I saw myself
dying by being stampled to death by a crowd of festive Peruvians who were
making their way around the plaza for good luck. Just about when my visions
were to become reality, Jeremy grabbed my hand and pulled me back from jaws of
death. It looks like I owe a favor.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">GOOD EATS AND OTHER
DODGY HAUNTS</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-weight: bold; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">The hostel where I stayed in
Cusco was only $12 a night. It wasn’t the cleanest but it was safe and the
owners were nice. I had Wi-Fi so I was happy.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">WHERE’S THE
DRIVER?!?</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-weight: bold; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">The taxi from San
Blas to the bus station costs about $3 and takes about 15 minutes. The bus from Cusco to Lima cost about $80 and
took 24 hours. If I had to go again, I
would definitely go with lineas de Cruz del Sur. I was supposed to have gotten a full cama
seat, but these camas must have been designed for people who were 3 feet tall. Nonetheless, I made it here happy and alive.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">EVERY SOL SAVED IS
A SOL EARNED<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">The handicrafts in
Cusco are exquisite and somewhat expensive. If you have a budget for it, I
would save some money for their purchase.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<b></b><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">THE SWEET SPOT</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"> / </span></b><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">SAY WHA.?!?</span></b></b></div>
<b>
</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Did I mention that
I ran into an internet friend in Cusco?; and that he set me free and then saved
my life?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<b></b><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">ESPIRITU LIBRE PARA LA VIDA</span></b></b></div>
<b>
</b><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-weight: bold; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">I stared straight into the eyes of serendipity
on New Year’s Eve. I was greatly set free from the oppressive ideas that have
been beat into my head as a Westerner. Now, the horizon I see is limitless;
the only thing that can hold me back is me. Somehow I do not foresee that this
will be a problem.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">RANDOM THOUGHTS</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">I wish I had bought my
gifts in Bolivia, rather than in Cusco.
You will pay about 7 times as much for silver in Cusco, but the quality
will be the same. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">The weather is rather
rainy and cold all of the places I have travelled on this trip. It is summer here. When you come, brings some warm clothes, some
close toed shoes, and a poncho.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">I am sure there are some
other great summary points, but they aren’t leaping out at me just now. I will conclude my Peru/Bolivia travel blog
here.<span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
</div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10174155532602287042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7096659882542788943.post-88751325303131754312012-01-05T10:43:00.001-08:002012-01-17T21:03:01.728-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><u>Post ten: Gettin’ what
I paid for – The trip to Machu Pichu</u><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">GOOD EATS AND OTHER
DODGY HAUNTS</b></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>By the time I got
to Aguas Calientes I was practically delirious with exhaustion, for I had only
slept 3 hours the night before embarking on this long journey. I was so tired and cold that I could not
manage to “shop around” for a well-priced meal.
I ended up spending $40 just that night for dinner and a massage to help
me recuperate. So much for saving costs.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>WHERE’S THE
DRIVER?!?<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>The bus driver was
rather nice on the way out of Cusco. I
ended up taking Perurail for a 2-hour train ride followed by a 2-hour bus ride
to get back to Cusco the next day. I
paid $75 for this transport and it still required quite a bit of patience. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>EVERY SOL SAVED IS A SOL EARNED</b></div>
<b><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Overall, I spent
about $200 on the trip to Machu Pichu. By
trying to save an extra $110 I ended up having to travel 16 hours instead of
just 8. I ended up having to hike in the
pouring rain alone in the jungle for 3-odd hours. I ended up paying about the same. I would highly recommend just paying
full-cost if you’re planning to go see Machu Pichu.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
</div>
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</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>THE SWEET SPOT<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>As I wound along
the cliff and the ruins of Machu Pichu unraveled before my eyes, I realized
what an incredible sight that was to see.
The Incas were clearly very intelligent and prolific. I don’t buy into the theory that aliens made
Machu Pichu, but it is clear that the Incas were privy to some very advanced
and long-since-lost technologies. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>My mother passed
away January 4, 2009. That was the day
after I had seen the sunrise over a hidden Maya Estella on a Honduras
mountain-top. Three long and interesting
years have passed since then. It filled
my heart with joy to be able to sit alone at Machu Pichu and watch the sun rise
over the mountain as I meditated on the memory of my mother. I have been blessed with far more freedom and
love than I could ever deserve. For all
the set-backs, tragedies and weird things that have happened to me, I have been
compensated with an incredible richness of life experience. The lows have been grossly over-compensated
by the highs. If I had to go today, I
would go knowing that I had left no stone un-turned and that my life was far
more incredible that any one person could deserve.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>SAY WHA?!?</b></div>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>I spent a net $90 on the “all-inclusive” trip
to Machu Pichu where other agencies were selling for $210. When I heard this price I thought to myself, “Exactly,
this is what I’m talking about. I can do
this!” The next morning I arrived to the
oficinia at 7:40 am to board my bus, but low and behold, it was not there. After some searching, phone calls, and other
efforts on my part, I finally located and boarded a bus that was supposed to be
Machu Pichu-bound.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>The travel agency’s owner had explained
to me that he could sell me the ticket so cheaply because they would drive us
instead of send us by train. For $110,
that was ok with me. What he failed to
mention was that the road didn’t go all the way to Agua Calientes (the city
where one must lodge in order to see Machu Pichu in the morning). The roads that we drove were eternally
winding around plummeting cliff’s edges.
It was pouring rain and the driver was speeding. There was two-way traffic, bicycle riders in
the road, and zero visibility. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>I noticed that the roadway engineers that
designed this new road must not have been too concerned about the landslides that
were occurring all along the site development area, for it appears that they
just dig the road out every time it gets covered over in earth. Perhaps somehow, they did not foresee that
the road would become part of the landslide itself, as it had. I remember waking from restless dreams only
to see the bus trying to pass by on one-side of the road because the other had
already fallen off of the cliff into the deep chasm below. Also, I believe the stormwater engineers must
have been taking a snooze, for areas of the road were covered in rivers and
waterfalls which sprung from the cliffs above.
Those were always nice to drive through because of the risk that the
flood current would be just high enough to lift our van and carry it off over
the cliff’s edge with the waters.
Somehow, though, once again… God was on my side and we made it to a
stopping point.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Unfortunately, this stopping point was
not Aguas Calientes. Instead it was a
park entrance about 8 – 10 miles from the hostel where we had
reservations. It looked as though I
would be walking through the Andean jungle, just as I hoped for the chance to do
while I was still in Bolivia. The walk
was only supposed to be 2 hours and there was 4 hours until dark. With a broad smile on my face, I embarked on
this amazon trail with my fellow travelers.
Somehow though, I couldn’t stand to walk so slowly, so I made the courageous
decision to go it alone through the Amazon jungle bound towards Aguas
Calientes. It began to rain fairly
heavily about 1 hour into the trip.
Comes to find out, the trip between the drop-off point and the town was
2-hours by train, but about 4-hours by foot.
I ended up walking alone through the jungle in the pouring rain, as fast
as I could for 3 hours until I arrived at the city at nightfall. I would have paid the $110 had I known, but
isn’t hindsight always 20-20?<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>ESPIRITU LIBRE PARA LA VIDA</b></div>
<b><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>As I type here, in
a Cusco café, barefoot with no make-up on, I realize how little so-called
status means to me anymore. I want to
live a rich life, where richness is measured in how many people I can help and
how much I can contribute to society and the environment. Of course, I want to be able to support
myself, but this is the floor not the ceiling.
Life can be so magical and those born in the US are so privileged. To me, it would be really something to be
able to share that privilege and freedom with people that weren’t so
lucky. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>RANDOM THOUGHTS<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>I wonder how much
longer I will stay living in the USA.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
</div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10174155532602287042noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7096659882542788943.post-39401044961181607392012-01-01T19:19:00.001-08:002012-01-17T21:12:49.589-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b style="text-align: justify;"><u><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Post nine: Peru is magic – adventures in the valley of
Cusco</span></u></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>I just looked
around me and realized that I am surrounded by a roomful of monks and
nuns. While I am wondering where these
people even came from, I am about to relay one of the most surrealistic
experiences of my life.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
</div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>GOOD EATS AND OTHER
DODGY HAUNTS<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Last night I had
the MOST INCREDIBLE sandwich at the street corner café by my hostel. The sandwich came complete with seasoned
chicken, mushrooms, onions, sweet potatoes, squash, and curry mayonnaise. It was probably the most delicious sandwich I
have ever tasted in my life. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>WHERE’S THE DRIVER?!?</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">
</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In this city you
don’t need a driver. You do, however,
need strong legs. There is a ton of
hiking up and down stairways that will need to be done if one is to navigate
this city. The walks are always
beautiful though. As one walks one can
see remnants of ancient Inca architecture.
There are lovely little cafes, incense, music, yoga/healing studios, and
artesian studios; All scattered along the narrow cobblestone street-ways.</span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">
<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">EVERY SOL SAVED IS
A SOL EARNED</span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">
<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Cusco is
expensive. It’s so expensive that I am
not even going to go to Machu Pichu. It
costs $190 for one day! Anyways, hasn’t
everyone already been there? I have seen
the stone work that is allegedly derived from alien origin. It’s here in Cusco too. As cool as it would be to see this same stone
work on top of a cliff’s edge, I pretty much get the point. I will catch Machu Pichu next go ‘round, when
I am rich.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">THE SWEET SPOT</span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">
<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>I went and saw the
Church of San Blas today. I agree with
the guidebook author’s opinion. This
church does contain some of the most intricate wood carvings in the entire
world. As I observed the details of this
church, it occurred to me that the man who did these carvings had sacrificed
his life for God. If he had not made such
intricate carvings, then I would not have been compelled to enter the church
this Sunday morning. If I had not
entered the church, then I would not have knelt before God in His sacred
home. I would not have had the
incredible and genuine prayer experience that I did. I would not have gained the clarity of heart
and mind that I did. The life’s work of
one man, many, many years ago allowed me to have a beautiful spiritual
experience today. I believe that this
man’s life was a life lived for great purpose.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
</div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>SAY WHA?!?<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>The New Year’s Eve
celebration of Cusco was unlike anything that I could have even imagined. It was so wild and out of control that I will
have to save this story for next time.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>ESPIRITU LIBRE PARA LA VIDA</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>The long and seemingly
endless stairway led directly to Jesus on the Hill. With his ivory white features smiling down
upon me, I felt sure that I could surmount the series of stairs that were
taking every last inch of breathe from my heaving lungs. Upon arrival, I had the chance to dance with
Jesus. If you don’t believe me, just
look at the picture. I thanked Him for
the beautiful land and the beautiful people that He created, and then we moved
on. We saw the ruins of
"sexy-women" in the distance, but we knew that there was a far
greater adventure awaiting us on the opposing horizon. The road turned into foothills. The only way to the Temple of the Moon was on
footpaths which lead through green grass valleys and trickling streams. Before the sun set we reached the temple and
awed at the sheerness of the cliff directly adjacent to it. I caressed the stones of the temple, where
the Incas had so careful carved their magic.
There was a ledge that seemed to scream out, “I am the site where many
beautiful young women were sacrificed for the betterment of the Inca
Nation”. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>This was the place. This
was it. This was the place for
meditation and prayer; the place for a new era of good. This was the place where we could open our
hearts to the Great Spirit that had moved us here. We took a few moments to practice the 5 sense
Tantra mindfulness meditation. There was a hawk that appeared and took flight
along the footpaths that lead toward the sky.
It was getting darker and the lights of Cusco began to shine out far
below us. My friend then led me in a
meditation to ground my body into the earth.
As I felt my bones align with the stone beneath me, my closed eyes
recognized a deep and cool darkness settle upon me. The night had come and from behind closed
eyes it felt as vast as the giant sky I had known just moments before. When I
opened my eyes there was a brilliance of fireworks that lit the sky from across
the Cusco valley. I was one with the
earth, the sky, and my own spirit. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
</div>
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</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>There was a great power
in this place, and in the center of my solar plexus. I had come to know the great freedom that is
available to me in this life. I had come
to know this land of great meaning and antiquity. I felt blessed and complete, but it was
getting dark and we were in a hidden spot of the hills above Cusco. We needed to return before the rains came and
before we could not see our way through the darkness.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>We wandered a few
hundred yards and I noticed a figure above us in the dark. At first I believed it was an Indian woman in
traditional dress, but I was not sure.
The figure stopped and stood very still, while we kept along our way. As we got a little closer I noticed that it
was a man in pants carrying a grocery sack in each hand. I did not give it a second thought, for I
knew that we had God on our side. As we
crossed paths with the figure though, he called out to us in the night. “Tu hablas Español?” There was a feeling of power that came along
with the words; a feeling of some authority that obligated us to answer. My friend said “yes”, and the figure
continued on by asking us if the site was free and peaceful of people. We said ”yes”. Then the figure looked straight at me and
asked my friend whether the woman wants ceremony. In fact, this was the reason I came to
Peru. I wanted to meet a shaman and
experience ceremony. Nonetheless, my friend
answered for me with a resounding “no”. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>The man then turned from
us suddenly. He faced the site and
raised prayer hands to his chest. He
breathed out forcefully and made a gesture that indicated he was attempting to
clear the site of energies. He was
shaman and he was protector of the sacred Inca site. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
</div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He then turned straight
towards my friend and I and began to move very quickly towards us. It appeared that he was going to charge us
and our natural instinct was to turn and move quickly away. I then knew what was happening to us. The lessons I learned of shamanism in my youth
came to me quickly. I was living a
moment out of the books of Carlos Castaneda and I knew what must be done. We had to face the shaman, we could not
run. The terror that I felt as I was
fleeing quickly turned to a feeling of power.
I turned and faced the man that was charging at me in the dark. I felt no fear; it was time for battle. I focused my energy on this man, and held the
intent of battle and repulsion. He
changed trajectory quickly and began to run.
He ran straight past us, but he did it with flight-like grace. A few seconds later he was slithering quickly
up the hillside and then back down along the footpath. I focused on him intently as he disappeared
along the path. I did not want to let my
guard down for prospect that he may return.
We eventually found the road, and decided to take the lighted path back
down to Cusco. I have realized that
something very deep and magical is happening here in this land.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>RANDOM THOUGHTS</b><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Where did these monks
come from and why are they so loud? I
wonder if they can figure out that the bright pink earplugs in my ears
indicate that I wish they would shush up?!?!</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10174155532602287042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7096659882542788943.post-69386784523901524502011-12-30T15:40:00.000-08:002012-01-17T21:06:19.633-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><u><b>Post eight: IncaLand - The path of the joyful heart</b></u></span></div>
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<span id="internal-source-marker_0.023889222647994757"><span style="text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>GOOD EATS AND OTHER DODGY HAUNTS</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>A night in Copacabana, Bolivia - The sound of the drums from the streets wafted in and mixed with the music of Incan tribal calls that played on the stereo. As I contemplated these sounds it struck me just how beautiful this candlelight moment was. I was FB chatting with my friend (Shannon Meehan - in Geneva, Switzerland) about the life lessons from which we have both been learning over the years. The server then came with the most delectable garlic trout, caught fresh from Lake Titicaca. I savored every bite as I continued the meaningful chat that I was having with my old friend. </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>What I can't get over about eating in South America is how everyone is pushing these coca leaves and coca tea. As I was walking along the pathes of Isla del Sol (Bolivia) I noticed that the men who were building a portion of the path were all eating coca leaves, as if they couldn't build the path without the leaf. Even here in Cusco (Peru) my hostel-keep has tried to push free coca tea on me about 10 times. I think that this is rather crazy, myself, but to each there own.</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>WHERE’S THE DRIVER?!?</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>I took a boat ($3) for 2 hours out to Isla del Sol and spent the day there. After hiking the island all day, I took the overnight bus for 12 hours to Cusco. The bus ticket cost about $20.</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span style="text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">EVERY SOL SAVED IS A SOL EARNED</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>How much can I really say about money? Bolivia is pretty cheap, nough said?</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>THE SWEET SPOT</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Isla del Sol, Bolivia is an island in the middle of Lake Titicaca. It is known to be the primary region where the ancient Incas lived. I hiked, alone, from the very north end to the south end of the island. It took me 4 hours to hike the island. It was essentially un-developed and was quite mountainous. I remember that I could barely stop smiling the entire time I was on the island. There was something so peaceful about this place, it brought pure joy straight to my heart. I had tremendous gratitude that I could see and feel the things that I was seeing and feeling as I hiked. I don't think I have felt such an intense sense of inner contentment since I did on my day of prayer in Luang Prabang, Laos. That was almost 2 years ago. On this Island of Sun, I believe that I may have experienced a spiritual release of sorts.</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>SAY WHA?!?</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Two interesting things about the Isla Del Sol (besides the coca eaters) - (1) Inca descendants are commonly about 3' tall (2) The geology of this island is absolutely fascinating. I found myself rock hounding all over the place, just to decifer the geologic history of the land. It has been 12 years since I took Geology or Geomorphology, but I would like to hypothesize on how this island formed. There was some pyro-clastic material, which indicates that the first phase of the development was a very explosive volcano which erupted lots of silicate magma. This magma then cooled, probably underwater, and the accumulation laid there for quite some time. Then as sediment gathered along the lake floor, gravity helped sedimentary rocks to form over top of the volcanic silicates. Then, as a later phase of development, it appears that there was tectonic activity which forced the sub-plates to buckle and push up. This resulted in the islands emergence from under Lake Titicaca. It also explains why the lines of striation are all at very odd, but uniform angles. I may be COMPLETELY wrong, but this is my best guess based on my limited knowledge and observation.</b></span></div>
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<span style="text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>ESPIRITU LIBRE PARA LA VIDA</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">When I travel I miss home, but somehow the closer I get to my return the more I would like to just travel forever. The road is a home to me in ways that no actual home has ever been. I guess it is like they say, home is where the heart is.</span><span style="text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>RANDOM THOUGHTS</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>I had lunch today in a Cusco cafe called "The Meeting Place". This place was quite random, because it was owned and operated 100% by evangelic Christian Americans. It was pretty cool, but having to hear all the evangelic theories non-stop for a half an hour got a little old. Anyways,what the heck are they doing in the Hippy HQ - Western Hemi?</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!</b></span></span></div>
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10174155532602287042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7096659882542788943.post-54349360446621097112011-12-27T08:41:00.001-08:002012-01-17T21:13:24.989-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><u>Post seven: happiness is La Paz in the rearview mirror</u><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>I am back using NaturallySpeaking Dragon again, so please excuse
my strange grammar. I am in the village of Copacabana along the shores of Lake
Titicaca. I’m much happier here than I
was in La Paz. It is a town of artisans
and bohemians. There are splendid
Alacade handicrafts, musicians, drummers, and lovely side-street cafes. This café in particular is playing Brazilian
jazz and has WIFI (that’s major here). I
am really wishing that I could go on an Amazonian adventure now… maybe I will just
forget Cuzco altogether, who knows?
Maybe I should go to the Amazon….<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>I opted out of hostel life for a while. I have gotten myself a
seven dollar per night room, all for me. The only thing it does not have is
Wi-Fi, but no hotel in Copacabana has Wi-Fi anyway. Tomorrow I will go to Isla
del Sol and Isla de la Luna. Today I’m
pretty much just chilling, keeping to myself and working on things. The
demographics of the population of Bolivia are quite different than that of
Peru. Bolivia is mostly populated by
descendants of Native Americans. Peru, on the other hand, has a population that
is largely descendent of both the Chinese and European nations. It was quite interesting to me to see quite a
few people of Chinese descent living in South America. My taxi driver said it
was because the Chinese were brought over as slaves in the 1800s. Apparently, they studied and worked until
they began to own businesses and take positions of prestige within the society.
That makes sense, the Chinese are industrious.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>GOOD EATS AND OTHER DODGY HAUNTS<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>I’m
trying to get by on $100 for the entire five days I’m staying in Copacabana;
therefore I don’t see myself eating anything very fancy. Yesterday I had a hamburger with cheese and
egg on top. I must admit, that was pretty good. My seven dollar per night hotel
room is pretty nice. It even has English-speaking stations on the TV. There is
no heater here, but I just sleep with two sweaters on and under two blankets.
It is not so bad and it is really awesome not to have any hostel mates for a
while. Loki really wore me down.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>WHERE’S THE
DRIVER?!?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>The bus from La Paz to Copacabana cost me 20 Bolivianos, or about
three dollars. There is no need for a taxi in this small village. I did have to
pay an extra 1.5 Bolivianos to take a ferry across Lake Titicaca. They shipped
the bus on a different boat and then we continued our ride.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>EVERY SOL SAVED IS
A SOL EARNED</b></span></div>
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<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>I have a hard time paying 16 Bolivianos for some cookies when I
only paid 20 Bolivianos for the bus ride over here. Although two and three
dollars is not much, when I compare the relative value it makes me want to
spend less. I am down to eating one meal per day.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">THE SWEET SPOT</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>On the way over here I was sitting next to three traveling
Argentines. I did not know I had any Bolivianos remaining. These Argentinian
guys kind of smelt like that haven’t been staying in hotels, but they were so
generous. They offered me food on several occasions, as I was starving. When we
had to cross Lake Titicaca I did not have the Bolivianos. They paid my way for
me, until I could pay them back. I was really impressed by those generous
gestures.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>SAY WHA?!?<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">On the bus ride over here I noticed individuals and families
camping out along the shores of Lake Titicaca.
They were people of Indian decent and they have constructed tents from
blue tarps and rocks. I noticed old
Indian women who were looking out over the lake while tending the sheep. It is
a beautiful view. These families and people looked content. It reminded me of
how little we really need in order to enjoy life.</span></b></div>
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<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>ESPIRITU LIBRE PARA LA VIDA<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>I
was thinking about how people often confuse the means for the end. We need food, water, shelter, and
warmth. We need these things so we can
survive and live our lives in relative comfort. We don’t have life just so that
we can acquire more of these things. In the recent past I have been surrounded
by people who appeared to be living mostly to acquire more material status. For
the most part these people appeared lonely and unfulfilled, even though they
had millions of dollars in the bank. In the American culture it’s very easy to
confuse a means for an end. I do it myself but it doesn’t make me happy. I’d
like to try to keep focused on the great things that I can do with the life I
have been given, rather than obsessing over the accumulation of things I really
don’t even need.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">RANDOM THOUGHTS<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I
am a little curious about this hotel that I just booked for the New Year’s.
It’s in Cuzco. It is new and very cheap.
There were no reviews but I did notice that there was Wi-Fi. Cuzco is pretty booked up at this time. I
guess I will sort it out when I get there.</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10174155532602287042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7096659882542788943.post-46456249259247352772011-12-25T08:42:00.001-08:002012-01-17T21:07:27.645-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<u><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Post six: NO PEACE IN THE "CITY OF PEACE" (LA PAZ, BOLIVIA)</span></b></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>GOOD EATS AND OTHER DODGY HAUNTS<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>I have been based out of La Paz,
Bolivia for the last 3 nights, and I only have one more left. I am staying at Loki Hostel, which appeared
to be very cool at first sight but has really worn on me. Being surrounded by a bunch of sloshy drunk
Europeans and Australians is not my idea of a “Merry Christmas”, but here I
am. I am counting down the minutes until
I can leave for the more quaint town of Copacabana.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
WHERE’S THE
DRIVER?!?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Two days ago I took a morning flight
out to Uyuni Salt Flats. The plane was a
propeller plane that seated about 15. I
was more scared on that flight than I was on the similar one that I took out to
Mt. Everest. The pilot somehow managed
to land us all on the ground in one piece.
I took the local bus for 12 hours back to La Paz that night, and woke up
in panic that I was going to suffocate from lack of oxygen in the overcrowded
and non-ventilated vehicle. Transport
has been interesting, to say the least.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
EVERY SOL SAVED IS
A SOL EARNED<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Bolivia is very poor. Money really goes a long way around
here. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">THE SWEET SPOT<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>I came to Bolivia expressly to visit
the Salt Flats. I will leave here
knowing that I have one less item on my “bucket list”. The salt flats are incredibly beautiful. If it could be managed to get on a 3 day tour
with only other backpackers, I would recommend that. There were some details of my tour that
diminished the quality of the experience, but everyday cannot be absolutely exquisite,
now can it?<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>SAY WHA?!?<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I was a little disappointed in the
short Latin Americans on my Uyuni tour.
They insisted on sitting in the front back seat, forcing me and another
tall Caucasian to be jammed in the back back seat. They had over twice the leg room as us, and
about half the leg length. It was ok
while I was still very excited to be going to the flats, but many hours later,
I found myself getting a little resentful.
I was glad not to be stuck in that position for 3 days though. That is something for which I am grateful.<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>ESPIRITU LIBRE PARA LA VIDA<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>When I feel like this I know that I
must not be in His will. I am looking
forward to getting back on track as soon as possible, so that I can again enjoy
the awe that I always feel when I am where I was meant to be. I’m pretty sure that I was not made for Loki
Hostal – La Paz, or any other Loki Hostal for that matter.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
RANDOM THOUGHTS<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Is it inappropriate to spend Christmas working
on resumes and business plans? If you
think so, I already thanked Jesus for coming to Earth to save me from sin… and
I am sure He would not mind if I keep to myself for a bit. I would definitely like to be with my family
right now instead.</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10174155532602287042noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7096659882542788943.post-60726720487912351232011-12-21T17:20:00.001-08:002012-01-17T21:08:39.552-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><u>Post five: What can I say?</u></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>I’m currently hiding out on
the back of an Autobus Ormeno destined for La Paz, praying and hoping that no
“gentes peligirosos” will hop on board. The bus ride from Lima to La
Paz is dangerous in legendary proportions, but we know if this blog gets posted
then the laptop must have made it to Bolivia along with me. </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Lima has been a whirlwind
of fabulousity and excitement. Starting from around 4 am on Monday,
when a 4.3 magnitude earthquake roused me from my slumber and saw me jetting in
my unders to the closest door frame. After seemingly 25 seconds of
steady shaking, I explained to the European women that were lying around me,
that “girls, this is an earthquake… do you think we should go stand in the
street?”. After tossing around the idea of a standing in the streets
of Peru at night while wearing nothing but our undergarments, we made an
overwhelming and joint decision to take our chances and just go back to
sleep. Another group decision well led, how’s that for “Leadership
Skills”?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Fast forward 10 hours, I
managed to navigate my way over to la Clinica Arroyo Goldstein in San Isidro,
in order to meet with Dr. Giuliana Arroyo-Goldstein
(“Julianna”). After waiting for quite some time in the poshist of
waiting rooms, I was ushered to the back and lead into her
office. ~~First impression, smashing beauty. ~~Upon
further conversation, witty charm and fascinating intellect. I was
beginning to think this Julianna and I might be quite fast friends, when she
asked me if I would like to join her at a black tie event for the grand opening
of her sister’s third med spa (Kalieska Arroyo Med Spa). Apparently
these girls come from a long line of prestigious Peruvian
doctors. We agree that it is a brilliant idea for me to join along
and then she proceeds to work her magic on me, by way of a little mesotherapy
(nothing major). </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Now this Julianna is
generous, very generous. Of course I had no clothes for a black tie
event that night, but that would not be a problem because she decided she would
like to take me to her mansion in Oro Reino and dress me up in her finest
attire. The Mira Flores and San Isidro district of Peru are very
similar to southern California mixed with a bit of Ipanema, however the
neighborhood of Doc Julianna is a gated-community very similar to a Peruvian
Coto De Caza. Her house is exquisite, over-looking all of Lima from
the mountain-top and fully equipped with maid staff and
chauffeurs. I spent a number of hours relaxing there and enjoying
the chance to chat with her and her daughter, both of whom speak perfect
English. It comes to find out that Julianna and I are kindred
spirits, particularly in our knack for traveling the world and getting caught
up in whirlwinds of romance and intrigue.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>The party starts at 8 pm
and it’s very hard to look good in a picture when standing next to my new
friend. I do my best as she hastens me through the
crowd. EVERYONE who was anyone in Peru must have been
there. The women were gorgeous and the men were rich and powerful. After
speaking to the Egyptian ambassador for a while about the plight and status of
the Egyptian government (essentially it doesn’t really exist at this time, but
they’re working on it), I move on to the gent to his left. This was
a charming little man named “Jorge”, clearly of Indian decent. He
spoke little English, but had a translator and was a Peruvian Congressman, or
so says the Egyptian ambassador with whom he fancied to converse. I
spoke with Jorge about the sad state of affairs with the mining corporations
operating in Peru, and how it is tragic that they are not practicing proper
waste management and, consequential, are poisoning the Peruvian
people. Apparently the government is trying to regulate this
industry, but the mining companies have wielded international power, and the
Peruvian president feels almost that his hands are tied in not being able to
force them to pay for proper waste treatment. The government of Peru
cannot afford to pay, therefore there appears to be a huge impasse which must
be surmounted. </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Standing near-by to the
Jorge was a beautiful, elegant blond dressed in white, staring at me with blue
eyes of devastating hue. Apparently she was Turkish-born, and married to the
Turkish Ambassador there, but she looked very much like a Brit to
me. I met “Victor”, the most acclaimed artist of Peru at this
present time. I met “Cesar”, who is head of the government staff
security division and is writing a book. He was a tall and
good-looking older gent, and apparently part of his upcoming book will be
dedicated to me, picture and all. His colleague “Gustavo” was also
there, a more mild mannered guy, but very generous nonetheless. He
has offered to take me the building where the president works on a regular
basis. This will all happen when I return to Lima. The
event photographer was somehow enamored in such a way that he would like to
offer me a free professional studio session upon my return. I just
need to try to work that gig out so that if I end up on ads in Peru, that I receive
some compensation for my modeling services. His gesture was very
thoughtful. </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>I could go on and
on. An Angelina Jolie exact look alike was there, and 2 blonds that
looked like the cousins of Cameron Diaz. That night I was told I
look like Cameron Diaz, Kristen Duntz and Nicole Kidman. Those are
the ones I got when I was 22, so I felt honored that the 10 years that have
passed have not aged me in such a way that I am no longer recognizable the
same. I, however, don’t feel that I look as good as any one of those
ladies. Lastly, an Irish looking Peruvian-born plastic surgeon named
~I forget, but I have his card~ would like to take me on a tour of Lima’s
chicest, upon my return…. Yet, I question whether it gets any chicer than this. By
the time I got to sleep it was 4 am and I had to leave for the bus station at 8
am. When I was done pressing snooze, it was 5” after 8 am and I had
nothing packed. The bus left at 9, but somehow I found the time to
pay my hostel-keep and taxi to the station. I believe that God may
be on my side.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>GOOD
EATS AND OTHER DODGY HAUNTS</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Haven’t
eaten anything major to speak of, and my lodging experience in Peru will be
forever remembered by that earthquake. I have made it to Loki Hostal
in Bolivia. It is def hostal shwank, as hostals go. I am
looking forward to 6 days in Bolivia.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>WHERE’S THE DRIVER?!?</b></div>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>I’ve
just spent 32 hours on a bus to Bolivia. I haven’t showered for 3
days. The taxi to my hostel from the bus station cost 15 Bolivianos
(~$2)</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>EVERY SOL SAVED IS A SOL EARNED</b></div>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>7
Boliviano = 1 USD</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>THE SWEET SPOT</b></div>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>The
hot shower of which I am about to enjoy.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>SAY WHA?!?</b></div>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>An
earthquake followed by a celeb-like royal treatment in a foreign land was all
quite unexpected. Traveling is like living a circus-life.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>ESPIRITU LIBRE PARA LA VIDA</b></div>
<b><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Realized
some things on the bus over here, but its all too much to mention.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>RANDOM
THOUGHTS</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Should
I take a bus for 2 days to Uruguay, or head to Cuzco after this?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10174155532602287042noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7096659882542788943.post-77945472081138506512011-12-18T00:02:00.000-08:002012-04-29T19:59:38.449-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><u>Post four: So, this is Lima</u></b></span></h2>
</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">GOOD EATS AND OTHER
DODGY HAUNTS</b></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">
<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">While I’m blogging on one end of the couch, Christian is snoring away on the other, and there is some random Brasilian dude to my right who checking his Facebook at 3 o'clock in the morning. Christian owns this place. It looks like I will be sharing a room with 2
other women, both of whom have been snoozing upstairs for hours. This hostal feels a lot like a big home, or a
local bed-and-breakfast sans the breakfast-in-bed.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">WHERE’S THE
DRIVER?!?</b></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">
<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I literally had to
pick my driver out from a pack of 600 crowded people that were all smiling and shining at
me from every direction. There had to be
about 150 name cards being held up, so finding mine wasn’t exactly a
gimme. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">EVERY SOL SAVED IS A SOL EARNED<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The currency here
is the Soles, short for Nuevo Sol, or “New Sun”. There are ~3 Soles per Dollar. I have heard it will cost me about 300 Soles
to take a bus for 36 hours across the desert, from here to La Paz, Bolivia. My hostal is costing me $7 per night, but that’s
because it’s the best in town.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>THE SWEET SPOT</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Well one good thing
about traveling for 17 hours straight is that you have lots of time to kill. I got about 15 hours of work done today, between
the reading of business books and the streamlining of business plans… the
entire experience left me thrilled and excited for the new year to come.</span></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">
<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">SAY WHA?!?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The flight was
interesting. I don’t think I will take
Spirit Air ever again. I am not sure if
it was the gentleman in front of me that kept passing extra stinky gas, or the
screaming children behind me that were kicking my seat all night, but there was
some definite room for improvement on the flight experience.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>ESPIRITU LIBRE PARA LA VIDA</b></span></div>
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</b><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I
would hate to miss out on something now because I was too busy trying to plan
how to get where I want to be in the future, when I am already someplace that,
in the past, I have always wanted to be.
The grass is forever greener when it is on the other side. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>RANDOM THOUGHTS</b><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Every thought is seeming
pretty random right now. I've been up almost 24 hours and the dawn's probably pretty close to breaking. I think I better call it a night.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10174155532602287042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7096659882542788943.post-83725532039517240362011-12-16T12:51:00.000-08:002012-01-17T21:10:00.019-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><u>Post three: TRAVEL INSURANCE</u></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>A few days back I posed a question on Facebook "What is best way for me to protect my brand new laptop from being stolen while I am overseas?". Crickets chirp louder than the response I got on that one.</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Today however, in a very valiant and generous gesture, my friend Jon Curran sent me a quote for travel insurance through his company Cruise Adventure Travel, LLC. The price was unbelievably low and now my baggage is covered, up to $2,000, if it is stolen. What a gent...thanks Jon!!</b></span></div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10174155532602287042noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7096659882542788943.post-66384698523147389492011-12-14T19:05:00.000-08:002012-01-17T21:10:41.166-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><u>Post two: LET'S GO PERUZARUZAN</u></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>PURPOSE </b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Most people look at me with blank stares when I tell them I'm going to the third world by myself, with no concrete plan whatsoever. There's something about the culture and religion of most countries in the developing world that somehow just sets my soul on fire. Now that I've had a taste of this, I don't think I could ever go back to the way I was before. So this winter, I plan to take my time of solace and reflection. I plan to reflect on my life, the relationships within my life, my hopes for the future, and my sense of purpose for being here on Earth. I plan to take the moment, to seize the moment, and to make the very, very most of it....as if these moments were the last moments of eternity. That's the make-believe game I like to play when I travel.</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>PACKING FOR SUCCESS</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>When you're going to a developing country there are certain things that you are going to want to make sure you bring with you. Bring sunscreen, it's not cheap there. You're probably going to want to go to Walmart and get an adapter set so that you can plug your appliances into the outlets. I'de bring my travel appliances and a bag pack. I'de also bring about six sets of undergarments and a bathing suit. Me personally, I'm going to bring one pair of jean shorts and two pairs of jeans, a few T-shirts, and a baseball hat. I will bring some sandals too. I will just buy anything else that I might need while I'm down there. </b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>I wouldn't really worry too much about medications, as most medications can be purchased for 10% of the price paid in the United States, at any corner pharmacy, in any developing country, in all of the world. (the costs of medicine here in the US really ticks me off)</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>COMMUNICATION INFRASTRUCTURE</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>You'll probably be surprised to find out that companies are making a lot of money off of people's naivety. Gone are the days that you have to pay for international calling. I just installed Viber onto my phone for free, and now anyone with Viber on their phone can call or text me from any country for absolutely no cost. I also like to communicate to my friends back home using Facebook, Gmail, Gmail chat, or even WhatsApp. Lastly, if you'd really like to go all out you can bring an unlocked cell phone with you and purchase a sim card upon arrival. This is a really cheap way to make calls within the country of destination, and even back home.</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span>VIBER: 3214392055</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span>GMAIL/FACEBOOK: pierson.orlando@gmail.com</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>SAFETY PLAN</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>One thing that I have done is scanned my passport and uploaded a copy of it to my cloud computing account. It's also a good idea to do the same with credit cards and your yellow fever card, if you have one. Another thing that I've done is gotten a passport case that looks like a passport on the outside. Then I made a photocopy of my actual passport and arranged it in such a way that it looks like my real passport is inside the case. I carry expired credit cards and cash in this case as well. Most of the time officials will accept a copy of my passport in lieu of me pulling out of the real thing. Not only that, if someone comes to rob me, then I can give them my fake passport case with my fake credit cards and a little bit of cash.... They will think they have gotten everything and they will leave me alone. I generally just use this case as my wallet when I'm traveling, and I keep my real passport and cash at an undisclosed location. </b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>TRAVEL LOGISTICS</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>All I can say here is that sleeping is overrated, and I will sleep when I die. Well, in my case I will sleep when I fly, but heeeyyy... Anyone who knows me knows I'm a huge fan of overnight flights. That way you can kill two birds with one stone and really get a lot of travel bang for your buck.</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>LET’S TALK MONEY</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Rule one – make sure to tell your bank you're going overseas so they don't freeze your cards when you go to use them. That happened to me in Rio and it wasn't cool. Rule two - no one uses travelers checks anymore. Don't waste your time. Bring your ATM card, that's how you will get cash. Carry your day cash in the fake passport pouch, and leave the rest in a safe location. For me, sometimes a safe location is my hotel room, and other times a safe location is underneath my clothes. Also, one more thing.... make sure there is no card reader device on the ATM when you go to get cash. You don't want your identity stolen while you're overseas, that would really complicate the issue.</b></span></div>
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10174155532602287042noreply@blogger.com3Winter Park, FL 32789, USA28.5950986 -81.350941628.5393316 -81.4299056 28.6508656 -81.2719776tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7096659882542788943.post-55203722946644186492011-12-13T19:25:00.000-08:002012-01-17T21:11:22.132-08:00Post one: Don't ask me how I work my magic<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></b><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So, as I lay here in Winter Park, Florida I just started my first blog without even lifting a finger. Don't ask me how I work my magic. I remember my cousin Mary Pam saying ",you could write a book"... Well here it goes, it's not a book, but it's close enough.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I leave for Lima Peru in four days. I have my hostel set up for the first three nights of the trip and the hostel's driver will be picking me up from the airport. Other than that, I have no arrangements for the remaining three weeks. I can go anywhere I want at any time. I love the thought of that. The open highway has always been my home, it seems. Hence, the theme of my blog is "to live is to fly". "To live is to fly" is also a great Townes Van Zandt song.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Status: nothing is packed, laundry is dirty, only slept three hours last night,. Period. But hey, there's a lot on my list of things to do, so you can't say I don't have my stuff together.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I think I will go to Bolivia as well, although I must mention that the thought of Uruguay has crossed my mind once or twice. I should be prepared for both, you never know. I'm going to have to think about how I want to structure this blog. I think there are a lot of people out there who would love to go traveling through the developing world, but don't quite know how to go about doing that. I kind of figured it out. I might be able to help someone get where they want to go. It's best if all I've learned doesn't go to waste, so I am hoping to find a way to share it.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Oh yeah, here's a link to that song:</span></b></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkIwj_tyU9U"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkIwj_tyU9U</b></span></a></div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10174155532602287042noreply@blogger.com5Winter Park, FL, USA28.5999998 -81.33923519999996228.5676858 -81.378534199999962 28.6323138 -81.299936199999962