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Archiv der Kategorie: Alex & Taru
Decorating walls
Delighted to be able to start decorating and taking care of the homely part of the boat again now that tools and cans are stowed away. I really wanted to put a vintage world map on the wall, collecting pins from our previous stops and our soon to be destinations around the world. But nowhere is one to be found around here. There are maps of Colombia and South America, but neither the paper shops, school or education stores nor antiquarians carry a proper world map. Neither old nor new, it doesn't seem the Colombians want to teach their kids too much about the rest of the world. We've searched for one for two months now. This chart of the West Indies and the Caribbean sea will do for now. It is probably a sign of that we aren't done around here quite yet..
Safety in Colombia
And here's the view when the boat is swung towards NW. Boca Grande to the left, the Colombian navy base straight ahead. Feeling safe here, having so many nations army surrounding us.
Speaking of safety. So many people seemed concerned when we a few months ago declared that we were going to Colombia, and also that we were staying there for a few months. Why? It's dangerous? Aren't you afraid? Evidently, there is a rumor that Colombia is very dangerous and of course we didn't take that supposition lightheartedly. But when weighting and studying the good and the bad rumors, we realized that the positive reviews and people who've actually had good experiences from the country, overwhelmed the bad. Yes we had heard and read about people getting mugged, drugged, shot and even killed. But we had never encountered anyone who actually had faced these problems.
Having lived in Spain and Barcelona, you have inevitably been or at least you know someone who's been mugged at least once. And drug rapers are everywhere, I know of people in little Gothenburg, in Dubai where drugs aren't even allowed, in Barcelona, New York and probably in your hometown too - who's been victims of date rape drugs. These things happen everywhere. No city, no place is spared from these sad occurrences. We live in the world, so we must learn to know and accept the world, not be scared of it. Good and evil go hand in hand and if you want one, you can never totally escape the other. It is just up to you to practice the right amount of vigilance and make sure to not put yourself in situations or places, nor surround yourself with people who might mean a threat to your life and personal integrity. To be scared about everything in the world won't help the matter, but conscious planning, education of real facts (and not only propaganda showed in the news), as well as always having one eye open to your surroundings - will keep you out of most trouble.
Of course that means the obvious: Do not get totally wasted alone with strangers. Only collect money from a secure ATM inside of a bank or a mall rather than out on a dark empty street. Walk in lighted and peaceful neighborhoods rather than dark and sketchy ones if you want to be out at night. Do not carry more money than what you can afford to loose. Leave passports and things of value in a safe in your hotel room or on the boat and do not wear startling jewelry in countries and cities where a simple necklace of gold means a monthly income for the natives. Show respect to the local people and learn to know their traditions and manners rather than insisting on expressing your own culture out loud. Use registered taxis, no dodgy versions, and if alone, ask a restaurant or a hotel to call and book one for you rather than hailing them on the street. Don't flash your values nor your money. Don't be too obvious with your expensive camera in rural areas or where there are no other people. If someone would rob you, let them do so rather than fighting against it.
One beautiful summers morning at 3:00 am, a girlfriend and I was robbed by ten young guys on a lonely dark street in Barrio Gothico in Barcelona. Yes I said ten. I resisted and screamed out of anger, and thankfully for us, we had our lucky starts joining us that night and these boys got away with only a bag. That event made me realize how incredibly lucky we had been. Your life will always be so much worth than a few hundred dollars or a camera in your old leather purse. These things happen everywhere, just be smarter than what we were. We were young, drunk and had taken a dark trippy road we had never been on before. In a way I feel it was our own fault what happened that day, we were simply too careless and allowed ourselves to be vulnerable. Another lesson learned. These days I am naturally more conscious and observant to my surroundings.
In my opinion, Cartagena feels no more dangerous than any other big or medium sized city I've been before. In fact, I've never visited any city or country where I've encountered so many security guards and police men patrolling day and night than here, and that gives a very peaceful impression to the place. We have walked these towns both day and late nights and never ever have we felt any threat. But that's because we walk where we should walk and not where we shouldn't.
Let's forget what they say in the news and instead have a look at some real numbers and recent statistics. In a recent list of the fifty most dangerous cities, counted by murder rate, neither Cartagena nor Santa Marta where we were previously, makes it to the list. But we have four American cities such as New Orleans, Detroit, Saint Louis and Baltimore listed. This is just to give some perspective, as it's mainly American readers who have expressed their concern about the dangers of Colombia. Now, there are a few Colombian cities on that list too: Cali, Medellin, Cucuta, Pereira and Barranquila. And though they aren't on our list of cities to visit this time around, we would hesitate as much or as little as we would for Cape Town, Panama City, Johannesburg and Kingston - all which are also included in the list. You must also remember that gunshots and murders most often happen either among family members or in between gangs and obviously where there are drugs, there are naturally conflicts of interest. But you are not involved in such conflicts, and thus you shouldn't have to worry too much about other peoples whereabouts.
Kidnappings were earlier a matter of concern in Colombia, but since 2002, both kidnappings and terrorist attacks have fallen 91 percent. As a result of Colombia’s nationwide efforts to improve security, tourism has doubled since 2004 and foreign direct investment has skyrocketed. Despite what many people might want you to think, travelers in Colombia has not been the targets for kidnappings. Unless you are here working for a multinational corporation or CIA or such, your chances of being kidnapped while on holiday in Colombia today are as big as in your own home country.
Then if we look at the number of guns per capita, we all probably know which country leads that list by far. Colombia has only 5,9 guns per 100 residents, compared to 88,8 guns for every 100 people in the US, and roughly 30/100 in Scandinavia. In this crazy world we live in today, there is no real safe place anywhere which is a real sad fact of truth. But we must be wise enough to make our own opinions and stop listening too much on media which is anyway owned and controlled by a wealthy few who has their own personal and financial interests. We mustn't close ourselves in because of fear. Traveling enriches you, fear will always limit you. There is too much beauty and wonderful experiences to gain and collect in the world to let it slip us by.
It totally seems that most people that are victims of crime when traveling outside their home country, has been affected because they were more careless than what they would've been at home. Just like my friend and I was that hazy Sunday morning in Barcelona. Just stay sharp and use common sense and you should be just fine.
A well deserved pause
Oh sweet jesus, isn't this a sight for sore eyes then I don't know what is. All Alex's cans and chemicals are finally, after two months scattered about in our direct living space, been transferred back to where they belong. Neatly packed and stowed away under the seats of the sofas. It is a relief greater than what you can imagine. Life goes back to normal again now that he's done with the renovation indoors. Of course, all is never really done knowing that we live on a floating renovation object and there are so many smaller details to consider. But we can finally bid adieu to the tough part for this time around, and we'll welcome a moment of peacefulness before we move onto the yard and continue with the maststep.
Cockpit sole is now remade, compression tubes are in place, the area around the sinks are repaired, sealed and re-varnished, the bulkheads are installed, the leak in the water tank is fixed, fittings and new scuppers on deck are installed and maybe I forgot something now. Will show images of these jobs shortly. Only being anchored rather than tied to the dock, gives us a brand new sensation. It's a thrill walking around on deck, inside and in the cockpit and sense how much more united the boat is now compared to only eight weeks ago. Those tubes and the bulkheads really made a big difference. We're still a bit nervous about how these new additions will adapt and feel when we're actually sailing, but we won't know before new mast step is in place as we don't want to tension the rig before that has been done. We (especially Alex) need some time of quiet vacation before that new project starts though. Three years of almost non stop boat work and rushing through islands, he's starting to feel it. Complaining he feels old and tired, and having always been extremely active, he's now begging for a long quiet vacation. It's really a pity there are no clean and nice beaches around this city.
International visitors
So nice being on anchor again. And so much activity around us in this bay in between the skyscrapers of Boca Grande and the commercial harbour. I find it interesting that Dutch and French navy ships come and go like they belonged here. This is a massive Dutch patrol vessel just leaving port. After some googling, it seems to us it could be the one called Groningen P843?
Seeking refinement
On Friday night, we were delightfully invited to the private yacht club, Club de Pesca, by a Colombian club member with a stunning Friendship 40’. Ivan also happen to be our blog reader and he found us through this online diary of ours and contacted us already when we were still in the West Indies. It was a very pleasant evening full of food, music and wine among Ivan’s family and friends.
A normal occurrence when socializing with new people, is that we often get to answer questions about how the journey is, how did it begin, how long time we have left of it and other very normal questions that naturally are born out of curiosity for this sort of travels. One of the best questions, in my opinion, is: Why did you decide to let go of everything to sail around the world? What was the drive? Was it adventure, to prove something to yourself or someone else, or to find yourselves?
The answer to this seem to slightly develop with time, as at least I, get to know the reasons for my reasons with a clearer view as the journey unfolds. The questions of that night got me thinking. What is the actual psychological reason, and with a rear view of past chapters in life, and the first three years onboard a boat behind us - how would I describe it today.
To find myself sounds a bit pretentious and the sentence is so worn out by all those commercial self help books that I’ve almost lost connection to its real meaning. Having always been very close to myself, always followed my instincts and dreams, never lied to myself, always made my best in being connected to the truth, never stayed someplace that would make me unhappy and so forth - I think I’ve had a pretty good and clear view of who I am and what values I stand for. I've never been a crowd pleaser and never ever would I hurt myself in order to do something that was expected from me. I have done my mistakes like everyone else and thankfully so as that is how we learn, but I have always listened to my own needs and knew very early in life that if I wanted happiness and gain meaningful and growing experiences, I better go out and search for it.
Of course I've learnt to know myself better in the process of this tour. I've had the opportunity to put my life in relation to previous chapters in life, and in that way been able to define a more complete and better nuanced version of who I am. So what this journey ultimately has done to me so far, and what is one of the main reasons to why I embarked on it in the first place – was the chance to refine my life and myself.
This time off the random, with all the challenges and tests we have had to go through, without much other outer distractions, has given me the opportunity to study myself with a microscope. The adversities we have faced, has showed me how I deal with things, it has humbled me and made me grow. This time has showed me which sides of my personality and my life that have been good to me and others, and which has been less so and what needed to get cleaned out. It has showed me more clearly who I am in relation to my family and my friends, and the longing has taught me better what and who really is important to me.
I have also been able to work with the things that I love and from the foundation that I am and have always been as a human being - I’ve been able to start polishing myself, cleaning up the ugly traits and enhance the positive in a brand new light. I have been able to extract the essence of my soul, my needs and my mind. And thus growing and developing in the refinement process.
The answer to “why do we do this” is a bit different depending on who of us two you ask. For Alex who isn’t (yet) as spiritually inclined as I am, this journey means mostly to get away, find happiness in simplicity, cut off pressure and a society that is destructive, and to sail and sail and sail – which is one of his greatest passions. I too had a strong will of getting away and I do love sailing which has also grown to become a great passion of mine, but for me the sailing part, although exhilarating and wonderful, is merely a tool to fundamentally grow and better define my mind and my life's purpose. Sailing is an expression of freedom which we both seek. But the freedom and clutter free life gained, also offers insights and opportunities to learn and grow from within.
Besides that, this journey has also given me an opportunity to compare different worlds and learn from all places and people we've met along the way.
Besides that, this journey has also given me an opportunity to compare different worlds and learn from all places and people we've met along the way.
I have always strongly believed that you must walk on both, or four sides of the meadow to know how the grass feels from every different angle before you actually know what you’re talking about without risking to judge falsely. Before having tried it all, we can not be complete. It is a bit roughly put, but it is a philosophy that I often adhere to in most areas in life. I've wanted to know how everything feels. How it is to go through a storm and survive and how does it feel immersing in nothing but quietness for a lengthier period. How does a big glamorous city life feel in comparison to a life in the suburbs or in an introverted village? What does financial freedom actually do to a human being and how is it to be completely broke and pull yourself out of the dirt with nothing but your own sore hands? How it is to love immensely and how does it feel to get hurt? What are the needs and dreams of a person living in a capitalist society, compared to the ones with less financial and educational opportunities? What are the real differences between the mind of a man and a woman, and can those differences be adjusted and altered - and if so, by what, love? Fear? All those things that every human feels at one point or another in life. How strongly influenced are we actually by the fundamental needs and what happens when we are left with nothing but the essentials?
I’ve always had so many questions, and I’ve always felt a strong need of searching answers. One truth is one, but never the complete truth. Having lived and experimented for thirty one years now, I do believe I’ve come a long way in my studies but I am in no way done with my researches. I believe it is a lifelong process, and I believe that every person and every situation we meet in life can teach us something of value. This journey means so many things, but ultimately, it offers so many answers that I would not have gained if I would have forever stayed on land. There are obviously many ways to gain such intellectual stimulation and knowledge, I am not saying sailing around the world is for everyone. But for me, who’ve already tried and searched on many different levels, in various different worlds - the opportunity to get off the grid and isolate myself from the ordinary to see how life is with less - was simply a no brainer. I was given the opportunity to grow further and learn more of what I needed to know. About myself, about love, about the world, about others.
Naturally none of this would have ever been possible if it wasn’t for the fact that Alex and I work so well together as a team, with minor hickups on the way of course as for every couple. We’ve had our very sour moments and periods be so sure. But even though our motives and needs aren't always the same, we have proven to each other that we have all what it takes to survive - physically, mentally, financially - combined, between the two of us. Even in moments where life seem to be literally and completely turned upside down – we have survived, and it has brought us closer. Not only to each other, but also to our real selves.
For me, this journey as well as life itself, is all about refinement in the end. To be able to paint a clearer picture of the world, and gain a better understanding about ourselves and our life's purpose. No one knows how long we have left on this planet, so for me it's been essential to learn as much as I possibly can until it's time to throw in the towel. Be it with literature, earlier gained experiences, people we meet and the travels we've done - why not combine all these things in one and the same boat. One could say that this journey with all what it means, is one of the most important teachers I've encountered in life. And there's still so much more to learn.
Read here for more technical advantages of our sailing travels.
For me, this journey as well as life itself, is all about refinement in the end. To be able to paint a clearer picture of the world, and gain a better understanding about ourselves and our life's purpose. No one knows how long we have left on this planet, so for me it's been essential to learn as much as I possibly can until it's time to throw in the towel. Be it with literature, earlier gained experiences, people we meet and the travels we've done - why not combine all these things in one and the same boat. One could say that this journey with all what it means, is one of the most important teachers I've encountered in life. And there's still so much more to learn.
Read here for more technical advantages of our sailing travels.
For the morning smoothie
A day always starts off well with a fresh, perfectly ripe mango delivery. $0.25 per fruit isn't such a bad deal.