AuntiesAntics

The adventures are over...for now!!!

deanneandwilbur — Tue, 8 May 2018 08:24:00 GMT

I am a mess!!! Having to cut my trip short and missing out on Colombia is very hard for me. I have such mixed emotions about returning home to Canada, sad, angry and a little bit happy for a hot bath!! I am not very good at having an injury, I have never had one before so I don’t know what to do about it, mostly I do NOT like sitting idle and not being able to do everything that I enjoy doing. I know I sound like a spoiled brat and that I should just be thankful for all that I got to do and see while only travels, but I feel like I am not done yet.

I can but won’t go into specific details about each country and city I visited but I will tell you that I have truly enjoyed almost every country I went to. The Philippines has some of the best beaches I have ever seen in my life, Vietnam is so full of life and excitement all the time, Myanmar was the best way to spend my Christmas, Nepal is like another home to me in so many ways, Kenya stole my heart, literally its still there, Uganda, kayaking down the nile and bungee jumping again makes this one of my top places, Turkey was so interesting and such a learning experience for me, Jordan is a place where you can explore for weeks and still not see everything, Israel is so flipping amazing, so historic and comfortable to be there, Ecuador well we all know how that turned out for me, but it is still a great place to visit and explore.

I have made so many new friends along the way some that I want to be able to keep in touch with and hopefully see again one day. People often ask me what is my favourite place that I have visited and I can honestly say its Kenya!!! Kenya truly needs the help of volunteers, my homestay was fabulous and my house mom made it that way. There is always something to do and children to help, the children really appreciate all you do for them even if its just a hug in the morning they don’t care, and they never ask anything from you. The weather is perfect for me nice and hot, just the way I like it to be. Kenya will always hold a special place in my heart for many different reasons. I can honestly say that everywhere I volunteered the children are what makes it great for me. I have realized they are the same in every country I have ever been to, including Canada. They all have needs and wants just on different levels, but mostly they all just want some acknowledgement and attention of any form. They really make my trip worth the money, time away from home and my family, the long layovers in the airports and the many bus rides that are sometimes good and sometimes bad, the children are worth it!!!

Figuring things out!

deanneandwilbur — Mon, 9 Apr 2018 23:40:00 GMT

So I have been in Quito for one week now and I still haven’t been able to get my shit together! All I want to do is sleep, and sleep more, I don’t know what the hell is wrong with The city is great, although the area I am living in is not safe to go out and about and do lots on my own but that has never stopped me before, and its cold here, well colder than I am used to anyways.

My program I am working on here is Street Children and it is great. The children are not real street children per say, they have parents, food and shelter. They do not go to school or have the opportunity to get an education so that’s what we do for them, they are expected to work in the markets with their parents. I am working in the local markets (not the ones tourists go to), the ones for the locals, we go there and walk around the market and pick up the children from their parents who are selling items in the market. Once we have collected all the children, the numbers vary depending on the day/market we are at, we take them to an area we have with tents set up to teach them, play games with them, and just allow them to be children instead of having them working in the stalls with their parents. It really is a great program and one that is very needed here, the children themselves are great and just want what all children want, attention and someone to listen, or with the young ones (they start at 1 one year old), they just want snuggles, and that is something I am very good at. Last week there was one day when we had so many babies under 12 months old that all I did for the whole morning was sit with a baby on my lap and give snuggles, pretty easy day I would say!e??? I am supposedly living the dream right??? So why I am not able to be motivated to do anything here? Could be jet lag (8 hour time difference from Nairobi to here) or that I am nearing the end of my trip and I have just realized that, or that I am missing Kenya, who knows but I better snap out of it soon!!! I’ve got exploring to do here, and adventures to make happen!!

Turkey - and no not the Bird!

deanneandwilbur — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 20:35:00 GMT

Istanbul!!! I have always wanted to come to the Middle East and Turkey was a great place to start my adventure. If you enjoy history and beautiful old buildings then I would totally recommend coming to Istanbul. I was told by someone that I had met along my travels that there isn’t much to do here and he was bored…thats just ridiculous! There is so much to do and see here, you could stay for a month and never get bored of the city or the history.

I wandered around so much that I was lost most of the time but that way I saw more than I would have if I had joined up with a tour company. I am not saying that tour companies are bad, they are just not my cup of tea, I like to do my own thing and sometimes that got me into trouble but it is what it is. I was lost for 50% of my time there and I didn’t care, I always found my way to wherever I felt like going on that day. The hotel I stayed at was fabulous, it was a boutique hotel with only 15 rooms, so great, the location was better than I could have ever imagined it would be, The Blue Mosque was right behind me…literally I could see it from my room and almost reach out and touch it.

I am feeling pretty lucky to be able to go see all the countries, well not all of them, but most of the countries I have always wanted to visit, its really making think about things that I have never thought about before and although it may not be all good experiences, everything happens for a reason and just having the opportunity to travel as I am is life changing!

Oh my heart!!!

deanneandwilbur — Tue, 6 Mar 2018 03:45:00 GMT

I know I suck at writing this blog, I don’t know how people do it everyday, I guess they have way more self discipline than I do, I don’t want to sit at my laptop typing when I could be out exploring the world.

Anyways Kenya Kenya Kenya!!! I knew there was a reason I didn’t put this last on my trip list…I would never leave here if it was my choice. When you find a place where you feel like you can fit and stay forever does it matter that you have/had a life back home, or can one really choose to try to make a difference and take a huge leap of faith?

The children I was volunteering with are so amazing, talented and just down right special in every sense of the word. Even though they are all special needs they are still just children wanting love and attention, and I was thrilled to give it to all of them. Their teachers are amazing and really genuinely care about what is best for the children, they give them love, affection, schooling and the are teaching them the skills they will need to be self sufficient one day…I miss them everyday!

If and when you are ever in Kenya you must go on a safari…best day ever!!! I was lucky and there were only 3 of us on our safari, we saw Elephants, Giraffes, Lions, Hyena’s, a Leopard, Buffalo, Zebras, Monkeys, Hippo’s, and a Rhino! It was so amazing and everything I could have ever wanted it to be. I have lots of great memories from that weekend excursion and some new friends out of it as well, what more could a girl want. Giraffe Manor is another must see while you are there, the giraffe’s actually walk right up to you and are friendly, as long as you are feeding them.

My homestay was great, the location not so much but that is all part of the adventure right??? You have to adjust and be willing to accept things you normally wouldn’t at home. The people and friends I made while in Kenya were so great to me and really made me feel welcome, I won’t forget any of them anytime soon.

Same..Same..but Different!

deanneandwilbur — Sun, 11 Feb 2018 04:03:00 GMT

Going back to Nepal after 3 years was interesting to say the least. I had forgotten how sick I had gotten there the last time, and this time was no different in that department. So much has changed but yet so much has remained the same, they have done a really great job of rebuilding tourist attractions and government buildings since the earthquake in 2015, however the people in the villages are still not living in homes. Some are still living in tents and not getting the proper medical care that they require and many are too poor to do anything about it. Tourism is way up since I was there last time as well, there is a lot more people wandering about and shopping in the local stores, which is great for the country. The kids are all still amazing and such fun to be around, many have graduated and are now attending college, I am so proud of them for pursuing their dreams and goals.

Its hard to explain how much has changed but yet stayed the same, I know that doesn’t make much sense but Kathmandu still feels like home to me so I guess thats what I mean when I say things are still the same. I have really great friends there who look out for me and are just really nice people, I miss them already. It really is a beautiful country to explore and adventure around in, but you must really be willing to go out of the tourist area’s in order to experience the whole Nepali lifestyle. I still ate at the same restaurants and loved it just as much as before, to feel safe knowing the staff is a comforting feeling when you are halfway around the world from home and you just want comfort.

I already miss Nepal, but who knows where life will take you….I could always go back!

Sometimes you just gotta do it!

deanneandwilbur — Wed, 10 Jan 2018 20:00:00 GMT

I’m in Nepal now and have been for a couple of weeks now. Although I’m very happy to be back with the kids I love and in a country that I truly enjoy being in, this place does not like me!

I’ve been sick with the flu for awhile and it just keeps hanging on so I decided to go to Pokhara for a few days and get some fresh lake air.

After a bus ride from hell, literally the worst one ever, a 7 hour bus ride took 11 hours from Kathmandu to Pokhara and it’s only 205 km’s, it’s like driving from Revelstoke to Craigellachie multiple times. The highway is only 2 lanes but their 2 lanes are like one for us. Still not feeling great I felt like I was going to vomit, even after taking gravol and then having to fight for my seat every time we stopped just pushed me over the edge!

So what do I do? The next day after sleeping for about 13 hours I decided to pamper myself. I went shopping (of course!) and then for a half day beauty treatment at a spa. I had a manicure, pedicure, facial and a massage and the best part was is that I actually fell asleep after it all, I only woke up when the door to my room opened! Needless to say I feel so much better and I don’t even feel one bit guilty about it, considering my day at the spa only cost me $50! I’ve also booked a flight back to Kathmandu...not a chance I’m ever getting on that bus again!!

Vietnam

deanneandwilbur — Tue, 19 Dec 2017 11:23:00 GMT

So much has changed here since I was here 5 years ago, some for the better and some maybe not so much. I don’t understand why they now have Starbucks and McDonalds! Vietnam is known for fabulous food and the best coffee around the world so why bring in a coffee place when it is unnecessary, well at least in my eyes. I have gone to Starbucks, just to check it out and yes it is just like at home but the only people in these places are tourists, and they are missing out on the best coffee by choosing to go there instead of a local coffee shop with great coffee. I would recommend skipping Starbucks and McDonalds and eating the street food (its the best) and sitting in a local coffee shop and meeting the locals, they are wonderful people. I also know that when you are travelling for an extended amount of time it is nice to have a comfort from home, just not everyday, step out of your comfort zone and enjoy Saigon.

As I mentioned before the food is fabulous! The Spring Rolls are the best that I have ever eaten, anywhere that I have been and the mango’s with the Chilli Salt are my favourites I honestly eat at least one a day. The people here are great and the scenery is one of a kind, if you choose to leave the city and see the countryside that is. Mui Ne is a beach town that has everything you could want to do there. I tried the kite surfing and after 4 hours of lessons, which was really affordable, I got in the water. It was such an amazing thing to do. My instructor was patient and kind with me, he had no choice as I wasn’t understanding some of what he was explaining to me, but that didn’t stop him from teaching me.

There are so many great things to do and see in Vietnam, you would need more than a week here to really be able to take it all in. I am happy that I was here for a month and was able to find my way around and see and do everything that I wanted to do. The weather is great, nice and warm almost all the time, things here are still very affordable and you can eat and sleep for under $20 a day if you wanted to.

Saigon was and is still my most favourite city to be!!

The Philippines!!!

deanneandwilbur — Sun, 3 Dec 2017 22:24:00 GMT

What can I say about a place as beautiful and amazing as the Philippines? Lots actually, it was an experience I will never forget and truly loved (except for certain parts of course). The beaches are fantastic and there is an abundance of them, you can go for days and days and still never see them all.

Elnido is a small tourist town that is full of great restaurants with lots of nightlife available to you all along the beach, you are literally sitting on the beach having dinner almost wherever you go to eat. The food was so good, spring rolls galore, if you like other foods there are many different options for you to choose from, they have traditional Filipino foods as well as western dishes if you are craving something from home. We went on an island hopping tour one day, we went to 5 different islands, we snorkelled, went swimming and kayaked in a lagoon. I would recommend doing a tour while visiting there for sure, it was very affordable and worth every penny.

Port Barton is a secret gem not yet totally discovered by tourists yet. It is smaller than Elnido and the cities but if you like to relax and chill out this is the place to be. They also have so many different beaches and boat tours to do as well, we did one and swam with a turtle, went to a private island (private owned one) and we also went snorkelling here and saw coral, and so many different fish. Did I mention the water is amazing and so warm that swimming here was perfect for me, except at the waterfalls, that was too cold for me but so much fun getting there on our rented motorbikes! My favourite place in Port Barton is Mojito’s, it is a new restobar just opened up by a couple from Victoria who now live there, the food, atmosphere, drinks (especially the Mojito’s) and company are fabulous!!!!

Sabang is another place I would recommend going to, here they have the Underground River (one of the 7 Wonders of the World) and Zip Lining over the ocean, which is priceless and amazing!!! The Underground River took my breath away all the way through it, it takes about 35 minutes and is full of bats (that don’t bother you), the way the formations have formed over the years and what they look like now is too hard to put into words, it is a must see if you are in the Philippines, well at least I think so.

I have made so many more friends here and had experiences that I will never forget, so many laughs, lots of ups and downs, the children are amazing and so accepting of volunteers that they made my job teaching kinder so much more fun and easy to do. I even survived the bucket showers!!!

Jet Lag, Culture Shock and Culture Week!

deanneandwilbur — Sun, 19 Nov 2017 11:00:00 GMT

After traveling for 19.5 hours I finally arrived in Puerto Princesa Philippines and it was time to find Sally! Sally and I checked into our hotel and promptly went for dinner (I am 16 hours ahead of Canada). Our hotel was not what we were expecting so we changed and ended up staying at a Best Western Plus, we treated ourselves to a good nights sleep and comforts of home for one last night before I headed to my placement. After trying to find a bank machine that would actually work for her we eventually found a beach that was empty except for the two of us and relaxed. It really was so beautiful I could have stayed there all day but of course that was not possible I had a placement to get to.

I met up with the staff at the airport and off to Tigman I went. Tigman is a tiny little village on the ocean in Aborlan and when I say tiny I mean tiny, we have nothing around us, no wifi, no cell service, no banks, no restaurants or anything, we do have 2 little shops that we can buy snacks and water at if we choose to. I do love waking up every morning and seeing the ocean and hearing the waves crashing in, it’s my happy place. Josh and I even got lucky one morning and got see the sunrise it was absolutely beautiful and unexpected. Once I slept for hours and hours to get over my jet lag, which took a couple of days to do I started to relax and enjoy myself. Jet lag can take so much out of a person and you don’t even realize it as the adrenaline and excitement seem to over take you just to get you to your final destination but once there watch out!

I think being in Asia before helped me with the Culture Shock! I haven’t seen anything that I haven’t seen before, nothing that would be too hard to handle. Of course there are differences between my life at home and my life here but nothing some adjusting my life style can’t fix. The biggest adjustment for me was the BUCKET SHOWERS!! Cold water of course, but I did it and its not as bad as it sounds some people really like it as its hot here so it cools them down. I am sharing a room with 4 other girls, we have bunk beds and the nicest room here!! The girls are all nice from all over the world, I am the only Canadian here out of 17 volunteers. Tigman Village is a poor area in the Philippines about 700 people live in the village I think most are fisherman as the boats go out every morning and return the next morning with boat loads of fish. Watching them come in with the fish to sell is pretty sweet to see.

Culture week has definitely been a bit of a challenge, but interesting at the same time. We helped a lady build thatched roofs that she will then sell to the local people for their homes, we went to a farm here we just planted seeds for the gardener and he will then plant them into the ground in a month or so and sell the vegetables. The farm had mango trees, coconut trees all on 7 acres of land that he owns, he sells his vegetables at the local market to earn money. We made banana fritters for a snack one day, they use coconut oil here for everything as it is the cheapest here, back home it is the most expensive one to buy. We also went into Puerto Princesa for a day, here we had massages, ate lunch at a local restaurant the highlights for me were defiantely the Cathedral and the War Monument. I did not know that the Philippines was involved in World War 2, so learning about this was very interesting for me. The massage was amazing, $12 for 90 minuets with hot rocks and Swedish Massage combined…delightful! The next day we went to an amazing waterfall and played in the water, we even saw one monkey running around which was pretty cute.

Next week on Monday I will be starting to work with the children teaching kinder and I am hoping it will be everything I want it to be!!

Almost go time!

deanneandwilbur — Wed, 1 Nov 2017 07:00:00 GMT

It’s crunch time! I am 2 weeks away from heading overseas for my next adventure. I’ve packed and re-packed 3 times now, do I really need 24 pairs of Capri pants??? The answer is no I do not. I have finally gotten all my travel documents, passport, travel insurance, criminal record check, vaccines, all of them, so it should be smooth sailing from here.

This is the time when reality sets in and I realize I am going to developing countries and start to doubt myself. I question why I am doing this, I have great friends, amazing family, a job I love and my own home. So why leave the comfort of home for the unknown??? It’s because I love to travel and in reality the world is so so much bigger than my little circle of comfort. I know it is just nerves and such and that it will pass once I am on the plane flying away from Canada for the next 6 months, it always does.

1st stop is the Philippines then from there it is Vietnam, Burma and Nepal. Yes I do love Asia, it is so warm there! I am once again going to be volunteering with special needs children in orphanages and teaching kindergarten as well. Volunteering is one of the most amazing, enjoyable things I’ve ever done in my life, it is also one of the best and safest ways for a solo female traveller to travel.

I will be writing about my work, the children, the countries I am going to, about all the adventures I do along the way, and I will do my best not bore you with it all.