Costa Verde - Brazil

Oi! Almost been a week since my last post so I do apologize, however I've been quite busy laying on one of the world's best beach, hiking through the jungle, drinking caipirinhas and with being Chief Avo Smusher on Team Salsamole.

Island time baby. 

Originally I planned to spend about five days in vila do Abraão on Ilha Grande and that quickly got extended to eight when I arrived. Stayed at Holandes hostel which itself is practically a paradise, being my first hostel I was a little nervous when I arrived and seeing only one other guy there in the morning didn't quite help  However I met so many different types of people over my time there that it was simply phenominal. From brits to aussies and danes to south africans, pretty much a world melting pot! My expectations of an island getaway were quickly crushed as the first four days were spend on four different hikes between 2-5 hours to beaches, waterfalls and an epic lookout point. Praia do Lopes Mendes y Pico do Pappigaio were definitely the two highlights of the island. Crushing out a few family meals at the hostel and listening to wild stories were right behind!

Panorama from Pico de Papagaio

Then I had to leave on the island with about 3.5 hours of sleep.. Made it to the ferry just on time and arrived mid day in Paraty realizing I had no idea where my hostel was. One somewhat long, indirect stroll later and I'm all settled in now! 

Currently watching the sun set on this cool wave breaker on the beach before I head back to cook up some pasta ;)

Sunset from the wavebreaker in Paraty

Quick two days here and then off to Sao Paolo! 

Fact - It's possible to spend less than 300$ for a two week stay in Rio during world cup season. 

Channy

June 22 - The end of the wave breaker, Paraty, Brazil

What does Luck have anything to do with Travelling?

"You're so lucky!"

I've heard that line and a few variants over the last few months while on and preparing for this monster of a trip. From friends, family and even the odd ex-coworker. While it definitely helps being just a young gun, here's what I think about luck.

Luck wasn't a factor in paying for my airplane tickets. Luck wasn't a factor in the hours spent preparing myself for the trip. Luck wasn't a factor each time I put money away into my travel fund. Ultimately, luck didn't decide if I was going to travel or not. 

I decided to travel. Not luck.

Just like how I decided I wanted to work at the best restaurant in Vancouver and then did everything I could to get there, just like how I decided to move out after high school and did everything I could to make it happen, just like how I decided I wanted to travel and then did everything I could to make it happen.

If you want something. Make it happen! It's as simple as saving money, buying a ticket, getting a visa, and showing up at the airport on time! I hope I don't sound condemning at all, I just wanted to really make a point that luck has nothing to do with it. Just like it didn't in deciding to go to University, or getting a part time job.

Luck was a factor in my ticket prices though! As it also was with not getting mugged walking home at night, meeting two photographers at Christo who gave me a lift back to Lapa, with meeting a bunch of Epic Canadians, among other things!

Nice little selfie with Jesus

Anyway, I'm currently all done in Rio! Had a blast being sick for three days, watching Germany win, watching Argentinians cry, hiking a bit of Christ the Redeemer, and having a sweet final night with a bunch of great Canadians! I'm at the bus terminal waiting for my 5am bus to Mangaratiba where I hope to catch my 8am boat ride to Ilha Grande where I'll be for the next eight days! Hope Lady Luck is on my side ;)

This is how much I trust myself to waking up at 3am..

Channy

July 14th - Rodoviária Novo Rio Bus Terminal, Rio de Janerio

Caçhaca and Coconuts

Rio update! So far so good in Brazil! The culture is completelty different from anywhere I've been before. People here run on "Brazil Time" meaning if you plan to meet at the beach for 11am, you show up closer to 1pm! Food is expensive down here with restaurants jacking up prices to World cup levels. Essentially I've been living off Salgados (ham and cheese inside a baked pastry) and bananas! Streets here are a bit of uneven and with last nights rainstorm there was a bit of flooding all over Copacabana and the rest of the city. 

I haven't done too much so far even though i've had ten days in the city. I've hiked up sugarloaf, drank from a few coconuts on the beach, tried Gabriella Caçhaca which is a fermented sugarcane liquor made with cinnamon and star anise, and spent most of my time at the Fan Fest watching the games! Jumping on bandwagon to bandwagon, my favourite so far has been cheering for Deutschland during the Germany/France game. 

Brazil vs Germany. I went a few hours early to beat the crowds and eventually ended up seeing a big Canadian flag on the big screen during the pre game party! Weaving my way through the crowd I was greeted by a group of about six Canadians from all over the country. Within the next half hour the group must've quadroupled until we had an EPIC Canadian party going on. One of the guys even threw in a dirty Surrey joke.. Of all places too. 

Then Brazil got spanked. Hard.

Channy

July 10th - Rua Siqueria Campos, Rio de Janerio

Everyday is a Dream

One year ago I dreamt about going to southeast Asia to backpack around exploring and discovering. I added on a stop in Brazil to see the FIFA World Cup and quickly added on some of South America as well. Then I 86'd Asia and was left with an epic backpacking journey through South America! Not long after I decided I was going to make that dream into reality, and I seriously had no idea what I was truly getting myself into. Being my first long term solo trip, I had no idea where to begin. However slowly, my trip started to come together. Many hours were spent shopping for the right backpack, figuring out vaccinations, putting together visa applications, and simply figuring out where and what I wanted to do while abroad. 

That being said, now, I'm seriously living the dream. No more of this "You're living the dream! Now back to your fourteen hour work day haha". This is a quite an epic chapter in my life, I don't have a girlfriend, a job, a mortgage, or a single responsibility that would drag me down and keep me in one place. In the week and a half I've been away, over a dozen people have reaffirmed that if there is ever a time in life to travel, it is while you are young. Don't get me wrong, you can travel anytime in life if you want to, it's just much more difficult to figure it out with a 9-5 job or a whailing baby. 

Well now that my tangent is longer than what I planned to write on I'll just keep going with it. Considering I'm about twelve days late I think answering the good ol' 5 W's would be a decent choice.

Who - Me! By myself :) I'm fully in control of where, what, and when I want to go places and do things instead of having to deal with another person (even though I'll be meeting Rosalyn Aug 1). There's no one familiar to gravitate towards thus leaving me to be as open and friendly as possible to make new friends as fast as possible!

What - Six months on the open road. Just my backpack and camera, hostels and couches, perfect beaches and glorious mountain ranges, world class restaurants and greasy street carts. 

When - As of June 24th! Until sometime between Christmas and New Years. I don't plan on buying a return ticket anytime soon!

Where - New york City, Brazil, Argentina, The southernmost city in the world Ushuaia, Torres del Paine "W" circuit, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands, and Colombia! Being quite broad but those are the countries and big attractions I plan to see. 

Why - To dive into new cultures and everything that comes with it, good and bad. Foreign laungages, strange ingredients and different lifestyles. Filthy cities, child pickpockets and piss smelling streets. I want to see it all.. Spme things obviously more than others! To see God's creations, everything from epic mountain ranges to marble caves in patagonia, to the wildlife of the Galapagos & the Valdes Peninsula to the hustle & bustle of NYC.

Anyway.... No idea where I went with this post so I have no idea of how to end it and so...

I spent about nine hours on and around Copacabana beach today, eating all day, drinking heavily, cheering on Brazil & Germany at the Fan Fest, and celebrating both victories. Also got a bunch of selfies with two groups of Germans and a Brazilian with a Canada flag. Be jealous. 

Take a wild guess at where I am?

Channy

July 5th - Rua Washington Luiz 50, Apt 1001, Rio de Janerio

Drinking water and orange juice heavily, obviously! ;)