South America

Since Project BlueSphere is my forum I think it’s necessary for me to be honest about my feelings and travels. I know I seem a bit ADD sometimes but I like throwing everything up on the board uncensored. I’m feeling like my path is unclear and I don’t really know where to go…, I’m feeling lost.

I like Tahiti but I really miss South America. Many times I wish I could snap my fingers and go back. I’ve been trying to figure out why I miss South America so much. I know I like living in poor countries. Not because things are cheep, but because of the people. In poor countries people go out of there way to help each other and they don’t spend all of their time trying to accumulate wealth. That’s one of the tings I really like about the “Cruising” community, people go out of their way for each other and it’s a nice way to live. I know many tourists feel uncomfortable in poor countries because people ask for money. The reality is the locals are just hungry. They don’t have welfare, unemployment, or other government plans to ease their suffering. When the “Gringo” shows up to visit they feel that “he” should help out, and the truth is “we” should. That’s why I want to do my “Make a wish” thing outside of the states where people have so little. It’s like the man who complains about his old shoes. He is unhappy until he meets the man with no feet. I used to complain about my “old shoes” a lot.

I’ve changed my mind about wanting to stay in Tahiti even if I could get a visa. I really enjoyed my time in the Marquesas and Tuamotos with the indigenous people but the structure of Tahiti is a bit much for me. I’m looking forward to going to sea again even though I don’t know where to go. I’ve been looking at charts and reading cruising guides trying to figure out where I’ll be happy. I think I will really enjoy China, India, and Africa; however they all seem so far away

By the way…, I’m still getting negative messages about the conservation thing; “You know what, if you don’t like it go somewhere else”!

That’s pretty much it for today. My visa is up on Monday but I can’t leave yet. I’m still waiting on a charger for my new satphone from the states and I still need to deal with my motor and radar. If I left at this point I would feel like I was compromising some important safety issues. I don’t know if they will give me an extension or not but I’m staying anyway. I should have everything dealt with by the 5^th, hopefully they won’t arrest me or something.

Peace, Love, and Coconuts

I hope everyone had a great weekend.

– Alex