It's been a few months since I last wrote, so I'll try and update you all on my latest exploits. At the end of November, I flew to the Philippines to try and help out after Typhoon Haiyan. I applied to many different organizations, and was accepted by All Hands Volunteers on Bohol.
The following weeks would definitely count among the best of my life. The work we were doing was mostly deconstruction of houses, schools and churches that had collapsed to make rebuilding possible. Each day was hard work that presented new challenges, and each night brought on another great party with new friends. It helped that the rum was cheaper than beer, a fantastic, but dangerous fact. Most importantly, the Filippino people were kind beyond words, and so very appreciative of our work.
In late December I returned to the United States to visit family for the holidays and to earn a few dollars to try and pay off my debts for flights and expenses incurred on the trip. I had a wonderful time catching up back home, but as usual after a few weeks I started getting restless again.
The next opportunity for travel and work was a position as a deckhand on a 55 foot sailboat headed back to the states from, of all places, the Philippines. I was stoked to be headed back! I flew to Cebu on the first of February and stepped aboard, excited to be on my way back to sea.
Unfortunately, the owner of the vessel (I won't mention any names) was totally whack, and after weeks of problems and unwise decisions, including a collision with a fishing boat at night, one equipment failure after the last, and a 660 NM voyage to nowhere, I decided it a prudent choice to jump ship. After all, I've got loads to do and I'm not ready to end up at the bottom of the sea just yet!
So I find myself in the a third world country halfway across the world from my home with $60 to my name, a backpack and my violin. Just like old times!
I'm now staying with my awesome friend Chiqui in Manila (20 million people---it's bloody crazy!) while I pull together a few dollars to continue on the road. Next stop if I'm successful is Thailand and then I would like to try to make my way towards Nepal and Tibet. The great Himalaya are calling, and the temptation is too great to resist.
The following weeks would definitely count among the best of my life. The work we were doing was mostly deconstruction of houses, schools and churches that had collapsed to make rebuilding possible. Each day was hard work that presented new challenges, and each night brought on another great party with new friends. It helped that the rum was cheaper than beer, a fantastic, but dangerous fact. Most importantly, the Filippino people were kind beyond words, and so very appreciative of our work.
In late December I returned to the United States to visit family for the holidays and to earn a few dollars to try and pay off my debts for flights and expenses incurred on the trip. I had a wonderful time catching up back home, but as usual after a few weeks I started getting restless again.
The next opportunity for travel and work was a position as a deckhand on a 55 foot sailboat headed back to the states from, of all places, the Philippines. I was stoked to be headed back! I flew to Cebu on the first of February and stepped aboard, excited to be on my way back to sea.
Unfortunately, the owner of the vessel (I won't mention any names) was totally whack, and after weeks of problems and unwise decisions, including a collision with a fishing boat at night, one equipment failure after the last, and a 660 NM voyage to nowhere, I decided it a prudent choice to jump ship. After all, I've got loads to do and I'm not ready to end up at the bottom of the sea just yet!
So I find myself in the a third world country halfway across the world from my home with $60 to my name, a backpack and my violin. Just like old times!
I'm now staying with my awesome friend Chiqui in Manila (20 million people---it's bloody crazy!) while I pull together a few dollars to continue on the road. Next stop if I'm successful is Thailand and then I would like to try to make my way towards Nepal and Tibet. The great Himalaya are calling, and the temptation is too great to resist.
