(Mark Twain – American author and world traveler)

In our 10th year of continuous travel we are at times amazed that we not only lasted this long on the road as nomads, but also that our flame still shines brightly.  Our passion pushes us on and on to discover new people and places on this exceptional planet we all share.  We try to look for the best in those we meet and build bridges between cultures.  First hand knowledge and love can replace ignorance and fear, so we try to share what we learn. I started our webpage to send photos to a few family and friends.  Now with over 130,000 people stopping by for a look each month we are motivated to carry on.

Last month we received an email from a follower in Indonesia:

“Greetings from Indonesia,
Apa kabar?

Cuba almost the same like in eastern part of Indonesia. Viva Cuba-Indonesia.
Best regards and Terima kashi. )”

Last month we also received emails from Europe, the U.S., China, India and Africa.  Fidelius, from the Samburu village of Wamba in Kenya (September 2009) It was great hearing from him after 8 months. He wrote that, “all is well in his high school; Joseph, the student who we sponsored graduated last year, and Fidelius is working on his Masters degree, utilizing academic resources we gave him.  His church choir is still singing and dancing and the family says “Hi!”

From China:
“I got an email from Bryan, he met you in Bali, It’s so surprised! the world is really a village and a big family now.”  With Qi –  Jian She

From Europe:

Bonjour “You probably don’t remember me (we met in the best Indian restaurant in Mombasa) but I wanted to let you know that I’m very happy to be on your mailing list. Keep those inspiring postings coming !” Take care,

“Thanks Nancy, there are great people in the world right now making a paradigm shift and this is very strong.  People like you have a lot of power to open the eyes of others while you travel to real things which need change.  Not just the pretty scenes but what is happening that is not being told to us.  So that as a people we can help each other unite.”

From the U.S.:

Nancy and Joseph,
“I continue to admire the dedication and beauty of the way you have chosen to live.

You are an inspiration.

Your health information is so basic, so necessary and so simple: it would behoove so many people to just stop the huge amount of time, effort, money and drugs they are taking and check out what our world has to offer naturally. All drugs are natural as they originated in nature, but they have been so altered that toxins have proliferated.

If only the world became everyone’s home: then each person would treat others as they should in their home.

I counsel at a middle school in an urban area: one of the most difficult parts of the day is attempting to lift the veil of materialism from students’ eyes. They have grown up thinking that Nike shoes, for example, are needs, not wants.

Your life style shows so well how simplicity and peace, understanding and love are true values and go hand in hand.

Many might think it difficult to go from Rodeo Drive to the back of a pick up truck heading for a small village: I see it as people connecting at whatever level they can with others and as one of the most fundamental things. That is where we are all alike: our deep seated values and emotions, so thank you once again for continuing to be role models for more and more people.”

“We people of the world need to find ways to get to know one another—for then we will recognize that our likenesses are much greater than our differences, however great our differences may seem.”
(Peace Pilgrim – author and visionary)

And so we learn and learn; from people we meet, situations we end up in, books we read, inspiring emails we receive.  Wondering if all the work with the webpage is worth it, uploading the page slowly as rain drips through the roof onto the computer we are using; we are recharged by yet another positive email.

We are not the same people who left on the trip so many years ago. We have evolved, changed, digressed and advanced.  We know all too well that ‘wherever we go – there we are’.  We are, as with everyone, always working on improving our shortcomings; trying not to judge but allowing people their path, trying to reduce our stress level, keeping our heads clear of unnecessary noise, worry or clutter.  Working on the much needed patience in so many situations but speaking up when called for, trying to increase awareness in a world crying out for help. Remembering to connect and live in the NOW, something traveling forces us to do.  We like the little space or ‘home’ we create each place we visit (home is carried in our hearts). Classical or Cuban or? music is playing depending on our mood, surrounded by our few possessions.  We make friends easily and enjoy our interactions with those we meet, those whose path intertwines in our tapestry of life.  One corner always overflows with colorful fresh vegetables and fruit from the local market.  Good health is freedom.  We try to research and share information on health and MMS.  Walking our talk down our vegan path.

We travel lightly on the earth, conserving water and electricity and taking public transport for the most part.  We have simplified our lives from 2 houses in Hawaii to carrying an eighteen inch suitcase and a day pack.  All business is done on line.  Calls to family, important in our life, are done through skype.  We often wonder what all the fuss with former details in our lives was all about?  We know that it is no longer us.

We try to remain empathetic and open to those around us but let’s face it – we are resilient, rough tough individuals.  At times it has been trying on our relationship living together 24/7, through sun and rain.  But we work it out.  What we have been through is not for the faint of heart.  We went ‘bush’ long ago, especially after 2.5 years on public transport and driving around Africa.  We have given up social niceties for utilitarian habits. We wash ourselves and our clothes in buckets and change locations rather than wardrobes.  It is nothing to ride in the back of a garlic truck, hitch a ride on a motorcycle, or catch a lift on a cargo ship.  I am writing this because the electricity just went on.  We caught a boat over 100 miles down the river with locals, far from any services, just to see what’s down the Rio San Juan in Nicaragua.  With wild riverbanks full of monkeys, sloths, vibrant birds and friendly locals we haven’t been disappointed.  We rarely are.  Only our heart aches for destruction of Nature planet wide.  We didn’t know a week ago where the Rio San Juan was, let alone that we would be in absolutely the ‘middle of nowhere’ down this remote river; reachable only by water.  We are just enjoying the journey and where it leads us.  We are forced into the moment, dealing with what opens up.  We are on the river of life.

Eternal River.  Moving, ever changing, flowing without thought or concern.  Change is the only constant, as with travel. Starting as rain over the lush jungle on the slopes of an ancient volcano, the drops become a tiny stream that in turn joins a larger river.  At that point the minerals of the converging streams combine in an explosion of magic, creating one of the most stunning colors on earth.  Unaffected by its beauty the river roars on over endless waterfalls and rapids, pausing slightly to rest in creamy turquoise lagoons or steamy hot pools; surrounded by colorful orange and red heleconia flowers.  Bright blue butterflies sun themselves on the tranquil banks.  Life is as it is.  The river enjoys its journey with no worry of the destination.  Rushing down to it’s eventual home in the ocean it is connected to the ‘tierra’ or earth, the ‘cielo’ or sky and to each of us.  The cycle of life continues.  Nature is the guide we seek.  All is one.  All is well.    (Written along the banks of Rio Celeste 3 weeks prior.) 

In contrast with the political instability of neighboring countries, Costa Rica shines like a beacon of light and hope.  Costa Ricans or ‘Ticos’ have Central America’s highest rate of education and literacy, health care and life expectancy.  With a long standing democratic history the national army was abolished in 1948 and peace has prevailed since then.  Part of the great global chess game, ‘coups’ or political overthrows in Central America are the norm but Costa Rica is the golden child, protected by behind the scenes agreements.

‘Ticos’ are lively, fun loving people with trendy professionals shopping at Wal-Mart in San Jose, remote villagers living without electricity in tiny tin roofed cement houses, cowboys roping cattle in northern Guanacaste and Creole speaking Afro Caribbeans along the steamy East coast of Limon.  There is a noticeable lack of indigenous people remaining in Costa Rica.  The Spanish tried unsuccessfully in the early 1500’s to colonize the “Rich Coast”.  The indigenous people fought back and many were wiped out.  Now part of New Spain the central area was eventually settled but the country was largely ignored by Spain for hundreds of years, once it was determined there was no gold in “them thar hills”.

Costa Rica won its independence from Spain in 1821.  First a member of the Federal Republic of Central America, eventually coffee cultivation was created and the coveted beans were exported directly to England, setting the country on a positive financial path.  In 1856 an American adventurer, William Walker, decided to invade Costa Rica and was defeated miserably by the countries troops.  I guess he had to buy coffee like the rest of us.  Good thing there wasn’t any oil in the country or the history books would have been changed forever!  In 1870 General Guardia seized power, taxing the coffee barons to provide federal funding and curbing the power of the military.  In 1948 Don Pepe Figueres, a visionary, abolished the armed forces, established citizen rights for blacks and voting for women.  Links with the U.S remain strong but, spurred on by the Nicaraguan War, Costa Rica fell in financial crisis in 1981.  In 1987 President Sanchez was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts in ending the Nicaraguan civil war.  Still Costa Rica is without an army, and with little police presence; there are more teachers than policemen.  Costa Rica is a neutral bridge in the sometimes fiery Central American countries.

We arrived in Costa Rica totally on a last minute whim, taking advantage of a cheap air ticket – postponing our arrival in South America so we could explore Central America for 5 months.  We were shocked at how expensive the country was, the first night spending $24 for bunk beds in a room so tiny we couldn’t pass each other, with an outside bath.  Adapting to the situation, as we did in Jamaica, we began looking at options. Our daughter Mariah and son-in-law Shane had just listed their house in Kona, Hawaii on www.airbnb (:http://www.airbnb.com/rooms/544336) so we gave it a try.  Instead of a tiny room in a noisy backpackers hostel we stayed for $16/night at a lovely new condo in the suburbs.  This service is worldwide in 80 countries and helps you hook up with private home accommodations for a reasonable price.  Couch surfing is another option to consider but for both services you must be signed up, verified and near the internet to confirm arrangements.
 

Ending up only a few miles from the Panama border we decided to nip over and have a look.  We basically stayed on back roads through the jungle and so enjoyed the remoteness of it that we just hung out in little villages.  Hidden away we marveled at the animals, little farms and friendly locals.  Back up to Costa Rica we headed back to San Jose.
 

 We met other travelers and ex-pats living in Costa Rica and spent time going together to farmers markets, the Nacional Theater, and walking around the culturally interesting sights of the center of San Jose.  A big city, it was time to remember our street smarts.  Recharged and rested we headed out to explore the far corners of this impressive country.

And so it goes…………………………………..Next exploring the Caribbean coast and lush mountains of Costa Rica.  Until then let’s get rid of our prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness which are rooted in ignorance and fear; and instead get to know one another—for then in love we will recognize that worldwide, our likenesses are much greater than our differences.  We are glad you stopped by.     Thanks for keeping in touch!  Take care!