Salut 2015!

I always meant to write a thank you *insert year* post but half way into it, I find the posts way too cheesy. I ended up scrapping them after reading a couple of times.

It was a year that came after a year that was very tough to follow.

The year 2015 was a continuation of what a great year 2014 was. I was grounded. Locked relationships. Racked up my savings account. Paid debt. Invested. 2015 was indeed a year of fostering connections, self-discipline, and self-awareness.

Although the past year may sound not bad at all, it has been very challenging for me, 2015 did raise a huge question for myself. What's next for Justin?

I have been a champion for change. Change is something that I do not fear. I understand that uncertainty is a part of life and I intend to keep it. Change keeps things exciting. I think that 2016 will be a year for changes. I can feel it.

For this past 2015...

To my friends and fam...

Thanks for being a great support system. I may not see everyone all the time but I can always feel everyone`s love and support. Especially to the ones back in my base country. 

To my work and Voguefit fam...

Thanks for introducing me to this art and sport. To pushing me to be strong and healthy. To elevating me to knew heights, figuratively and literally. For challenging me every day. 

I can feel it. 2015 was a great year over all. 2016 will definitely be so much better. 

Much love. < 3

Cuba with Love

Unlimited food, unlimited drinks, both alcoholic and non. Sunshine that burns, and pretty much a time in your life where you have people to treat you like kings and queens.

I have always had a very strong opinion towards all-inclusive vacation trips. I have promised myself, that I will only buy a package like such when the need arises. That need being when I am old enough to not be able to carry a heavy backpack, or there's a milestone in a friend/family's life that we needed to celebrate with a drink or a thousand.

One of my cousins is getting married next year(congrats Sam and Ed!) and a part of her pre-wedding last hurrah is a trip to Cuba with our closest friends. We stayed in an all-inclusive resort in Varadero, Cuba where we spent most of our time within its blue waters and fancy marbled gates. We got stuffed by food cooked and served by nice locals; we bought tour packages which includes, swimming with dolphins(which I highly recommend only if doing with a large group of people that you know), and city and snorkeling tours; we spent our nights getting drunk with infinite local alcohol; and we slept in suites where our bed was already made by housekeepers.

I must say, I never thought that I would have so much fun in an all-inclusive resort at this point in my life. I have had the pleasure of travelling nine countries before where I got to see cultures and paid my accommodations per night This trip to Cuba is just something different. I have said many times that travel could be from a simple walk to the park or a plane ride. Travel is a matter of learning from a journey where our hearts and minds end up feeling fulfilled. Travel is an experience where we go home feeling exhausted because of our sleepless nights thinking about what we have learned throughout that day, planning our next destination, or simply observing our surroundings in order to get comfortable in the foreign land we were currently exploring. Travel is cruising smoothly in airports, packing lightly and smart. It is going in a place with an open mind, alone and eventually meet people you already knew, came with, or will be knowing.

I went on this trip thinking I am going on a vacation, I ended up leaving Cuba and going home feeling that I have traveled. I felt exhausted from the laughs I shared with close friends. From all the info I have taken from the tours we all went together to. From the hangovers. To exhausting our wallets giving tips to resort employees. To dancing endlessly. To watching colourful Cuban shows. I could not enumerate them all because experiencing it is just something different. No words will be able to express what we all felt and shared.

My point is, travelling is different from a vacation. You are not wandering if you stay inside a hotel. You are not travelling if you complain that your drink is too sweet, or your bed is not soft enough. You are not travelling if you complain at all. A huge part of travelling is still feeling joyful although you are more than experiencing anything different. Please see the difference.

Until the next travel adventures with these people. Thanks for making this trip a traveling one instead of a vacation.

Much love. <3 p="">

My top ten things that I look for in a travel buddy...

I have been addicted to this site called Buzzfeed for quite a while now and they do this thing where they list top things about whatever. I have been to many places and heard many stories and from those, I got to know myself a little deeper. Because of these inspirations, I wanted to present my personalized list of 10 things that I look for in a travel buddy.

10. Second language

Parque Tayrona, Colombia

Please be able to speak another language other than English. Svenska, Hebrew, Arabic, or whatever. The more exotic, the better. As I am a fan of learning languages, and I am damn good with it, the language that you speak will be my fifth one. Likewise, I will teach you to speak Tagalog, French or Spanish if you want. 

9. Strong Stomach

Guatape, Colombia

Santa Marta, Colombia

Coconut

Arepas y Patatas

Please please be hungry for food! Let's not be afraid of taking pictures of them too! You need to have an empty and a strong stomach as we try new types of food and binge on burgers and fried stuff after a drunken night out. Balut, Betamax, Adidas, or Buko Pandan should not be foreign to you, or if they are, do not be afraid of trying them. Never say no just because that oyster just started to move just as you were about to put it in your mouth.

PS. The only thing I would not eat are cute animals like lamb, ducks, dogs, cats or rabbits.

8. Be physically fit

740 meters above ground.

Las Piedras, Colombia

Parque Tayrona, Colombia

Bungee jumping in Monte Verde, Costa Rica

I definitely don't have a six pack, or huge arms but I could run like a horse, thirsty in a desert and I can jump from stone to stone on an obstacle course. I am also quick enough to be able to run away from a gun, and I can swim and float if our boat tumbles. I'm trying this thing called walking harder paths and I should say it won't be easy. If you wanted to catch your breath after fifteen minutes of a hike, or wanted me to carry your bag after a few steps, mehh, you better start training yourself.

7. Innocence

Las Escaleras, Colombia

Parque Tayrona, Colombia

I have been told a million times that I've got a very young personality. For this, please be ready to play cards, slide on a waterfall, take a jumping picture, or pretend you're riding a huge peacock picture. Many a times, I also like feeling smart so please ask your questions. They might sound stupid and I might laugh sometimes, but I promise you, they just add to your charm and I do not mean anything bad. 

6. Be a very keen observer. 

Guatape, Colombia

Las Escaleras, Colombia

Boquete, Panama

Hint: in each of these pictures, there's a hidden treasure. 

Take a minute or two just to look at things around. What is that person wearing? Why is that person looking at us weirdly?  Not only that both of our observant selves could possibly save our lives, it is also good for being able to see good things around. Like that $1 shot of tequila, or that hidden restaurant no one knows about. Be able to communicate with just a look. 

5. Dancing shoes

Club Pasulto, Cartagena, Colombia

1,2,3, bump. Simple as that. You don't need to know how to break dance or do complicated salsa. Seriously, you just need to know how to 1-2 step and turn and get low. Follow my beat when our song plays, or be confident enough to go in the middle when a dancing circle forms. 

4. Secured.

Guatape, Colombia. 

(I did not know this lady but she thought I was asking for a picture with her when all I want is for her to take a picture of me.)

Las Escaleras, Colombia

(We did not know the lady and the child on the right.)

I am a very social person. I meet all types of people so you could never be jealous. Please be comfortable with being able to dance with yourself, or the DJ or talking with random strangers. If I want to get a ride with strangers to our destination, I would be able to and you need to be alright with that. If I am talking to a random stranger and I want to fool around, please also be confident that I will meet you at our hostel the next day.

3. Irresistible charm

Panamanian Canal, Panama

(So the building to see the boats closes @ 5pm and the only way to see the boats is if we go eat at a restaurant on the same building. We went to the restaurant pretending we we're going to eat but left after taking pictures without buying anything.)

Did I ever mention that I am also broke? I am a sucker for free things and my bargaining skills definitely got sharpened from trip to trip. From shalosh ve shaloshim, to getting free taxi rides because I am with blonde friends. Be charming enough to be able to bring that price down, and stern enough to save our bank accounts. 

2. Fearless

Parque Tayrona, Colombia

Boquete, Panama

Do not freak out when you see a spider hanging out on a ceiling. Maybe a bee chasing us would not hurt either. From insects to the unknown. I must admit that I am not the most courageous person ever. Flying cockroaches, snakes and sharks sneakily trying to harm you while swimming are my worst fears. I want to travel with someone who compliments my fears. Who will be able to push me through my limits. For those times I am slacking and just simply afraid. Be able to tell me everything's going to be okay even though it's quite obvious it's not.

1. Respect

San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua

Of all things that I value most, respect to people, places and things around is my priority. We did not have to have the same values but please be able to respect mine as much as I respect yours. Respect is the new open mindedness. You could be as close minded as you want but I want to feel that you are able to be compassionate and respect people. Respect over the environment is definitely a must too. Respect for family is probably the best value we could all have. 

C'est la vie.

Pura vida

Much love. 

Sights, sounds, and smells of Nicaragua.

Almost there. Few more hours and I am boarding to the plane that will take me back home. I would stop right at this moment because the sad feels definitely has room when I get back to Winnipeg.

Anyhow, so after a day of travelling last Wednesday, I finally got to San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua where I met a Norwegian friend that I made during my Colombia-Panama boat trip. If you want to party with backpackers all over the world, San Juan Del Sur is the place to be. It is also a great starting point to go to surfing points. There is also a taco chain in every corner which will definitely make you want five every time you encounter one. One day I am bungee jumping in Costa Rica, the next day I am surfing in Nicaragua. Life could never be any better. Going out every single night is very tiring though, I must say, but definitely worth it.

Friday was travel day where me and my Norwegian friend went to Granada on an adventure. You can pay taxistas to get you around the country for a very expensive price but of course, as travellers, we wanted to get there the hard way. We took chicken buses from chicken buses to get to the next destination. The buses were literally school buses made to a public transporting vehicle. Imagine the yellow school buses we use to take in school, but occupied with travellers, vendors, families and all sorts of people trying to get around Nicaragua. The scorching sun was not helping either. I sweat buckets just sitting down with the feeling of being in a Bikram Yoga session.

Granada is very special. It looked like a colonial Divisoria in the Philippines. Our hostel was near a wet market and lots and lots of churches. Me and my Norwegian friend went to Laguna de Apoyo, which is an idle volcano where there is a lake nearby where people could swim. Definitely beautiful.

Granada was not a party place though, we found ourselves stuck binging on restaurants because we could not find a decent bar that would play music. My last night, we went to a karaoke place where no one was singing. They were playing reggaeton music with lyrics on screens but no one seemed to be performing. It later turned to be a salsa-slash-bachata club.

Before I left to San Jose today to catch my flight, me and Marie went on a chocolate making class. Our teacher Ismael taught us how to make three different chocolate drinks and a chocolate bar. We went through the whole process of chocolate making from scratch and even got a certficiate at the end. So cocoa tree grows, then harvest season comes from September to December twice a year. Cacao beans are harvested, fermented, then roasted. After being roasted they are grinded until they become very pasty. From then chocolate is ready to be made to a drink. We made Mayan, Aztec and European chocolate drinks and a chocolate bar.

Two major things I missed in Nicaragua: Sunday fun day in San Juan del Sure, and Isla de Omatepe. My plans changed a lot and I was able to miss these two events to see. Oh wells, I for sure would be back though.

On a different note, less good things are always expected to happen when travelling. Yes folks, thieves seemed to be on the loose when me and Marie were in San Juan del Sure. Thursday night, Marie lost her Ipad and Iphone through this thief who pretended to be the hostel owner's nephew. Friday night, I lost almost $200 while I was out having drinks. DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT LET THINGS LIKE THESE SCARE YOU. I put this on my blog to serve as a reminder that we always have to be careful. No one wants things like these to happen and it just was me and my travel bud's moment. Those people probably needed the money at this point in their life and hopefully we were able to help them. Also, karma is an itchy bitch so I would let karma do its work. All in all, Nicaragua was still a very positive country with nice people.

Modern coloured Catholic church. 

San Juan del Sur sunset. 

Jumping shot. 

Sweating. 

Mexican roller coaster bus rides part 2.

Yep. Bus people. 

Laguna de Apoyo. 

-Chocolate making pictures are yet to come.- 

Much love!

Pura Vida Costa Rica!

Costa Rica is the second to the last country that I am supposed to visit and it definitely did not disappoint. Although I only had Four days in a huge country, I definitely picked the cities to visit and went on an adventure for sure to remember.

I left Bocas Del Toro, Panama on June 24th and took a day of travelling to San Jose, Costa Rica. I heard a lot of things about San Jose and I decided to just stay one night to recupérate and prepare myself for an adventure. Right the next day, I went to the mountains and explored Monte Verde. There are so much things you can do in Monte Verde including hikes, coffee and cheese tours, canyoning, horse back riding, canopying, and my most favourite, bungee jumping. Oh boy would I ever miss that opportunity to bungee jump. NOPE! I did it with five other brave people which made the whole jump much more easy. The company that we did the bungee jump with held the highest point where we could jump across Latin America, and yes I completed it. It definitely made up for the adrenaline that I have been looking for. I can still feel the rush that I felt thinking what if the cord broke, or the instructors forgot to tie something. All in all, I definitely recommend doing the jump. Scared or not scared of heights, try it for the sake of trying.

From the jump, I met these Americans and travelled with three of them to Manuel Antonio. I was not really planning to go to Manuel Antonio as I do not know what to see there but heck, I needed to take a 6am bus to get to my next destination in Nicaragua. So I chose to drive with them to Manuel Antonio because why not? I spent a night there but still had to take a 6am bus to Nicaragua. Manuel Antonio is where you go to really explore nature. We saw small monkeys within ten minutes of landing into our destination. It was quite expensive though. Costa Rica in general was quite expensive.

It was quite a stretch crossing the border from Costa Rica to Nicaragua. You can pay $27 USD for a convenient ride from San Jose to Managua, or take chicken buses from San Jose to Liberia, then to the Nicaraguan Frontera, then take a taxi or bus to your next destination. Everything is pretty close to each other and you can probably go around with a taxi for $25 per hour. I took the easier route.

I am currently in Nicaragua but this is a whole different story. I will write about it when I get to Costa Rica and wait for my flight back to graduate.

Canopying before jumping.

Ziplines!

 

Serious canopying face.

Rapelling down.

Another serious face?

Tándem zip line!

 

The parrot we were playing with while waiting for our jumping instructor. WILD!

The Americans I travelled with the next day after jumping. <3 br="">

Waiting for my turn. That cable car right there is where I jumped from.

 

Video with my face on. 470 Feet. Pardon for my language. #sorrynotsorry
 

From afar.



 

 

 

Much love.



Wettest side of the boat

I cannot help but countdown the remaining days that I have in Latin America. I only have eight more days left until I come home and wait for yet another adventure. I am currently in San Jose, Costa Rica waiting for tomorrow so that I can go to Monteverde and jump from the highest bungee jumping spot in Latin America. Over 200 feet baby.

A week ago, I landed in Panama City with wonderful people and from then, I have travelled the northern part of the country with them. There was not a lot of things to see in Panama City but the Panamanian Canal where huge shipping vessels went by to load/unload. I don't really know a lot about the canal because the museums were already closed when we got there. I was not able to learn more about where did these huge ships came from and how long have they been sailing, or what really is happening.

After the Panamanian Canal, we went to the Lost and Found Hostel in between David and Boquete. I had LOOOOOADS of fun. We took a night bus and arrived at the hostel at around 9am. After an hour of rest, our group went on a fun adventure in search of a treasure and get free cervezas. We were climbing hills, jumping over rocks, and diving from cliffs cheering on each other. Apart from the amazing view, our group that went on the hike really made the whole trip fun.

After the Lost an Found Hostel, our group went to Bocas Del Toro. It is a group of islands with hotels and hostels and I thought it was pretty commercialized. Bocas Del Toro looked like Sayulita in Mexico. We stayed at Isla Colon and raged at Aqua Lounge, a party hostel on top of the sea where people can jump from trampolines and swings straight to the water.This is where my adventure ended with my adopted English family, as I departed to Costa Rica. Fun times, both strong waves and island paradise would not be forgotten.

Panama is definitely a beautiful country but I think it is too commercialized. Merchants and taxi drivers fight for tourists and they are all very aggressive. All I want to do is my own thing when I just got off from an  hour bus ride. All I want to do is get to my next destination without anyone talking me through something that I am not really interested in. All in all though, I am glad I visited Panama.

For some reason, all the boat rides that I go to, I always seem to be the one splashed over by water the most. Not complaining or anything but heck, getting wet in Latin America sure is annoying especially before a bus ride when all you want to do is stay dry and sleep. The rain is not helping either but hopefully, the sun picks up.

Some old church in Panama City inside Puerto Viejo. 

Sea men waving at some point @ the canal. 

The Panamanian Canal behind. Definitely wanted to keep this skin color forever. 

The two boats we caught at the very last minute. 

So our bus from Panama city dropped us off on this dirt road. Definitely not complaining. 

Figuring out our first clue after going through a maze at the beginning of our treasure hunt. 

First clue. 

Elder's tree. 

Loads of insects everywhere in that place. 

Shameless wearing 1 shirt 2 days in a row. 

Our group finding our last clue!

Isla Zapatilla. 

Much love.