Author Archives: roxanne

Well… off on my way to Croatia.   Long journey here stopping in Atlanta and Munich with long layovers.  In Atlanta I took advantage of Priorty Lounge and found comfort there.  I worked on beginning my blog and then was contacted by the coordinator for the Bear Sanctuary project and discovered she still needed some information from me.  A questionnaire, but it was rather detailed and had 16 questions.  So I worked on it during this layover and the next.

Took advantage of being in Atlanta and had to try the fried chicken, collard greens, and rosemary tater tots.  It was good, but the collard greens were alittle salty.  Probably the best thing was the biscuit which was buttery and crispy on the outside.

In Munich, I tried the sausage, sourkraut, and mashed potatoes.  The sourkraut was yummy. 

Long trips on the airplanes (8 – 9 hrs), I was very tired and able to sleep somewhat.  Flying into Split was on a smaller plane so it was a bit cramped, but only for 2 hours.  Upon arrival, it was easy, no immigration.  Guess I did that all in Munich. 
Took the shuttle from the airport and it took me right to the old town.  It was an 8-minute walk to my accommodation, which was inside Diocletian’s Palace.   

A little problem finding the right place because it was like a maze inside.  Corridors going all over the place.

Was suppose to do a boat ride to Blue Cave and 5 Islands, but it was canceled due to predicted thunderstorms on friday then again on Saturday.   It only rained alittle on friday.  Will see what it does today.  So I went on a walking tour, explored the town, went to the underground of the Palace and went to Game of  Thrones Museum. 

Today, I’ll walk up the bell tower, go to Diocletian’s Dream and walk to Marjan Hill (depending on weather)
Tomorrow I am taking the fast ferry to Bol.  I hope the ride will be smooth.  There is Zlatni Rat beach I want to see (aka Golden Horn Beach).  The shape of the beach changes due to the tide.  Upon return, the coordinator will pick me up and I will start on program.

Well, I visited the museums, the bell tower, and walked 30 minutes up Marjan Hill.  On my way back there was a downpour and I got soaked! 

So after visiting the sites and eating my way through Split I will leave for a day Bol to see Zlatni Rat then start my volunteering.

Well it is that time again. I am beginning a new journey. I accidentally deleted some of my posts from last year so had to republish them. Sorry for any confusion.
This year I am going to Croatia to volunteer in a bear sanctuary then will go on to visit the country of Croatia before heading to Naples then Sicily and Malta. I am looking forward to this trip. It is a long journey there as I am now in Atlanta for 11 hours then fly to Munich for 5 hours and finally reach Split tomorrow afternoon. It’s taking me 2 days to get there. I have 3 days in Split before I start to volunteer. Going on a 5 island boat tour and will be going to Bol to see the Golden Horn Beach or Zlatni Rat. Am excited! Pictures to be coming…

Well my phone is supposed to arrive by courier tomorrow. 
I waited for my phone to no avail.  Too much waiting around.  The cab driver texts me that it is in Mumbai and will come soon.  So I wait.

The beaches here are gorgeous.   The sand reaches out what seems forever.  The water is warm.  The surf is about 1 to 3 feet. The local people just love the play in the surf.  The height makes it easy to play.  What throws me off is that no one wears a bathing suit.  They go in the water with their clothes on.  I’m not sure if it is because of modesty, not wanting to get sun tanned or all of that.  I just think it is strange.

The sunsets are beautiful… and when the sun goes down, the tables and chairs go up on the sand, and the lights come up.  What fun… music is loud, the food is great and the drinks start flowing.  I have yet to find somewhere to dance, however.  The nightclubs don’t begin till at least 11 pm. I’ll find dancing somewhere before I leave.

We went on a sunrise hike to this rocky shore area where fishermen used to go and still go.  Nice view, but a relatively easy hike. 

Almost every day we went to a different beach.  Jhit had never been to the ocean before and didn’t know how to swim, so it was fun to watch him learn and experience that.  By the end, he was able to swim!

The beaches are all kinda the same, but yet still very nice.  Warm water, long sandy areas, small waves and lots of water sports.  Para gliding and jet sking for reasonable prices.  You can’t complain.  $5 for a minute paragliding and $8 for a short jet ski.  Of course if you want to go longer it costs more. 

The food was delicious, and there were many restaurants within walking distance from our Air B &B.  It was fun to try as many as we could. The seafood was good… pomfret, prawns, and crab, and the South India food had a different flavor than North India. I think more coconut milk, different spices and Portuguese influence.

One night, after dinner on the beach under the stars and lights, I saw a place where there was dancing.  I quickly went up and joined in. It was great, but I noticed it was mostly guys.  It got a little weird, especially when a guy kissed me on the neck when he dipped me and then did some inappropriate touching.  I moved away and soon after left the dance area… little too friendly.  I did have fun dancing for a while.  I need to go back to Hawaii, where I can dance with no harrassment.

I loved Goa, but what I didn’t like was the pollution in the sky.  No beautiful blue sky like I am used of in Hawaii.  I am also coughing and a bit conjested maybe because of the pollution. 

This was a nice way to end my trip to India… just relaxing and enjoying the beauty of Goa.  I really liked the beaches and the feel. 

Well, my cell phone arrived a week later than it should have, but not without texting and calling to and from the cab driver and the courier.  Finally it came and I thanked the cab driver for all he did.  I don’t know why the courier had so many problems, but finally, it did come. Now I feel complete.  Finally, I got my phone back to where it belongs.  I haven’t been able to text, so some of my friends were worried. My phone came back only because of the kindness of the 2 guys in Chandigarh,  India.

On the last day, Jhit and I decided to get matching tattoos.  Just that his is a little bigger.  The tat he chose was the lotus flower with the Tibetan script saying nying-je … meaning compassion.  I love it, both the meaning and the look.  This connects me forever to Jhit and all he has done for me.  I will remember as long as I live.  Hopefully, I’ve done something for him as well.

As I leave India, I have many thoughts.  This, I feel, has been my best trip so far.  Maybe it has been the organizations I chose or the countries, or maybe it is just me learning how to travel better and how to make people connections. I’ve loved the volunteer organizations I have been to… Wildlife SOS and Volunteer Journeys.  The people I have met along the way have been awesome.  I feel I have made some lifelong friends.  From meeting Pauline, from Honolulu, on my flight to Tokyo, to the guides in Varanassi, Avinash, and in Jaipur, Sonu,who have kept in touch, to Eiko, the Japanese tourist studying in Varanasi, to Jen Rose, the travel writer I met there and to, Maya, the resturant owner who feeds the homeless, to the staff at Wildlife SOS and Volunteer Journeys, to the amazing hotel manager, Jana, who spent time to get to know me, to the Jain family who hosted me for 5 days, to the shop owners, Apsara Thapaliya  and Pandey Ramesh in Kathmandu, to the laundry guy, Mohit, and the taxi driver, Mr. Cool, to, Nikhalish, the man with the dog named Lucy, to the fellow volunteers David, Emni, Mary, Christina, Sonja, Glo, Susan, Karen, Leone, and to Jhit of Himalayan Scenery Tours and the other awesome trekkers I met along the way.  What a journey it has been… made best by the people I met.  You just can’t make this stuff up… it has been nothing short of miraculous.

What can I say about Kochi and my Volunteer Journeys experience.  It was nothing else but extraordinary.   I loved every minute of it… from the beautiful country, to the other volunteers, and to the participants and staff as well. 
When I first got there, I met Emni from Florida and David from Dubai.  We had a great first day walking the streets of Kochi  and that night went to a music storytelling performance.  The singers played music and interspersed storytelling.  It was a creative exhibition, but there were times I couldn’t quite understand their English.

Afterward, we walked back and stopped for a drink.  Low and behold, they had youtube projected on the wall and played Indian, English, and contemporary videos.  Needless to say, I saw a girl who wanted to dance, so we started, and soon, many others joined us.  What fun, that was!  That was a great introduction to what was to become an awesome experience.

In the meantime, I’m still upset about my lost phone… I locked the phone and my American sim card, so at least I no longer have to worry.  Then I got texts and calls from the laundry guy, Mohit, his Instagram handle (his laundromat is next door to the hotel I was staying).  He was busy trying to locate my phone and said I should report it to the police.  Then he found the taxi driver that took me to the airport and… guess what… he had my phone!  In my rush, I had left it in the back seat of the cab.  The cab driver, Mr Cool, again an instagram handle,  called me and said he went back to the airport to find me, but I had gone already.  He said he wanted to return my phone.  Remember, this was my old phone.  I was using my new phone with the Indian sim card.  I told the cab driver to just give the phone to the laundry guy.  The taxi driver said no and that he would only return it to me.  So I gave him the address of my Volunteer place and my next location in Goa.  He said he’d send it in the next few days.  What a miracle! These 2 guys did so much to help me.  It made me appreciate  India even more. 

In the morning, we met the ladies in the English program.  There were about 15 of them. All well dressed wearing jewelry and looking gorgeous.   I was surprised at how good their English was.  Sonja, one of the other volunteers who had been there awhile, taught the class beautifully.  We work on grammar, punctuation, making sentences, conversing, and more.  The hour and a half went by fast, and I truly enjoyed the ladies. 

The volunteer house provides 3 meals a day, except for Sunday night.  Simple, sufficient, and healthy meals. 

I met the volunteers from all over the world… England, New Zealand,  Dubai, and US of A.  A really great group of people.  I really enjoyed getting to know each and every one of them.

We teach the English classes in the morning and then computer class in the afternoon.  The only day of no classes, besides the weekend, is on Friday.  On Friday,  we can help the embroidery classes.  My friend,  Rosie, had given me friendship bracelet supplies.  I felt this class was perfect for it.  I gave it to the instructor and explained it.  She caught on real fast, and the next day, when I saw what they had completed, I was amazed.  The bracelets looked great.

On Friday, some of us volunteers went on the backwater boat ride.  These waters here are interesting.  Depending in the time of year fresh water enters from the mountain, turning the water salty.  There are these water plants that only survive in the fresh water and they die and return every season.  It is so interesting how it works.  Different sea life depending on the water. 

The ride to the backwaters took about 2 hours.  When we got there we boarded quite the boat!  It was soo fun.  We stopped at the Hindu temple and ate lunch on a banana leaf to be eaten with only our hands. 

Actually, we’ve been eating with our hands regularly.   Food actually tastes better that way.  Maybe I will continue this at home…

The next morning some of us went on a historical walking tour.  Kochi is quite an interesting place.  Once a vibrant spice trading market, Kochi, in the state of Kerala, also known as Cochin, has had Portuguese,  British, Chinese, Arab and Dutch influences.  Kochi was once part of the Spice trade and still remains famous for its black pepper among other spices.  They still use the Chinese fishing nets and you’ll see a variety of churches, including Christian, Jewish as well as Muslim and Hindu. 

We found some nice places to watch the sunset while we enjoyed the local beer Kingfisher and we always seemed to have alittle happy hour at the next door hotel outside Mai House.

They have a vibrant arts community and started many art cafes, which are interesting places where you can eat, browse merchandise and vew art pieces.  It is very peaceful and serene. 

Tasteful street graffiti and it has been the background of many movies. 

In the afternoon computer class, the ladies do extremely well.  We are getting a computer lab, thanks to a generous donation from a volunteer and her family.  All they need now are a few more working computers.  They are very blessed to have this awesome ac computer lab. 

While I chose to volunteer with the Women’s Empowerment Group, there are other areas as well. Some are working in neighboring schools teaching various grade levels, and there is a special needs school as well.  Our volunteers are quite good, and they lead the classes and provide much needed help.  They are amazing people, to say the least.  They take their volunteer jobs very seriously and put their all out.  Then we come home and laugh the nights away as we enjoy cards, going out and just being together.  What a great group we had for the week or so that I was there.  We even went back to dance and got caught in the rain. Where would you dance with the roof leaking and chairs put up to secure the area? Then they started mopping with towels… it was fun, fun, fun!

We went to see some traditional dancing.  It was very interesting and beautiful at the same time.  The colorful costumes and music took me back to another place.  We were all impressed. 

One afternoon, we went to the nearby orphanage to play with the kids.  Woah… I said play… they were exhausting.  Full of energy and the mosquitos were out in full force.  We were all exhausted and ready to leave in about 1 1/2 hours.  There are so many kids at this orphanage and of varying ages.  I noticed that when the head Sister came home, the kids stopped what they were doing to say hi and help her carry her packages.  It showed me mutual respect and that they must take care of the kids there because I felt love.  You know, when you play, there is no language barrier.  However, the kids seem to know more English than I do Hindi.  The volunteers go acouple tines a week to play with the kids, and we also are trying to help them with other projects, like playground renovations or improvements. 

The women in the program were inspiring.   They were fun as they shared their lives and loves.  We shared ourselves as well, so our bonds grew deeper.  It is hard to leave, but I know they are in great hands here and that the program will never leave them.  The originator of the program is quite the woman, Ridhi Patel.  She is a lady who saw a need and fulfilled it.  She also has a side business designing plastic recycled beach wear.  I purchased some of her swim suits and love the feel and look of them.  Her online company is called Cocopalms.

I left the program a little early to meet Jhit in Goa.  Jhit was my Mt Everest Base Camp guide, and I invited him to join me in Goa.  The trek was life-changing for me, and Jhit was so much a part of that.  I feel a special connection to him, and I don’t feel quite ready to let that go. So we’ll see what Goa will bring.  Kochi has been more than amazing.  I would come back here again.  Will see what happens in the future, but I really think this place is doing awesome things.  I would support them in any way possible.

Never heard of this place, but my friend Karen from Petersburg Alaska referred me to friends she got to know on her trip to India maybe 10 years ago. 

She got to know the little girl and her grandfather during her walk.  Karen, if you know her, is the ultimate traveler and ambassador of kindness.  Well, this encounter led to Karen developing a lasting friendship with this family.  The little girl, Priya, is now a grown woman attending her first year of college in Shainghai.  She is a scholar and is studying Chinese.  When I reached out to Priya, she invited me to spend Diwali with her family, even though she would be in Shanghai.  I graciously took advantage of their kind offer as I was excited to spend the time in an unknown place with a Jain family.  A Jain family belongs to the religion of Jain. They all carry the same last name. They are vegetarians, if not vegans, and believe that all nature should exist in harmony and unity.  This is also a practice that I respect and honor.
Not knowing what to expect, I prepared myself for anything.  I was surprisingly pleased.  They live in a concrete house in what I would describe as in the countryside. 

The father, Lokesh, is a supervisor for the hydroelectric company.  He drives a scooter to work, and they walk daily, maybe once or twice in their neighborhood.   It is a lovely place.  The people are wonderful.  We often stopped in to visit someone and were treated to tea, milk tea, cookies, and water.  They were all so friendly and pleasant. 

The son, Sambhav also came to visit, and we all drove the Reslawar, a Tibetan Hindu village.  It was so peaceful and beautiful there.  I loved seeing many people walking around the Lotus shaped Lake, holding their prayer beads.  I met an older monk, and we smiled and acknowledged each other and did our best to communate as I helped him find a seat at the local coffee, tea, and street food establishment.   It was wonderful.  We all walked and enjoyed the scenery. 

The father also took me to Minala  a nearby town that is known for their temples.  We stopped along the way to see his friend in the insurance business and again was offered water and tea.  We also got some help to the bus as we were carrying lots of vegetables and grains from the market.  I would have stayed longer but decided to head to Chandigarh.  I truly enjoyed my visit with the Jain family, her mom, Nitu, made awesome homecooked food, and the father, Lokesh, was a hoot as he talked just about everything.  

The son was also pleasant and helpful.  I also got to meet other friends.  I got to know Priya’s mom quite well.  We shared stories, and she shared some of her dreams and goals.

I hope to go back and visit again.  We surely will keep in touch.
Chandigarh was something else.  I stayed near the lake.  I enjoyed walking to the lake and visiting the rock garden.  There, I met a man as we bonded over a dog named Lucy. 

It all started with me walking on the path, and I saw this dog, which looked like she was chained to the bench.  I went over just to find out, but he was just laying under the bench.  As I stayed, I enjoyed the scenery  then a man came walking straight over and sat down.  I thought that was weird but then realized that he came to see the vdog… not me.  We started talking and visited for over an hour.  Then I went on my way to the rock garden. 

The Rock Garden was amazing.  Anyone who knows me knows that I like rocks and have from different areas that I have traveled to.  Well, this rock garden consisted of clocks of all shapes and sizes, other fixtures made into shapes.  So creative.  Just loved it. 
On my way back, I passed the bench, and low and behold, he was still there, but without Lucy.  We talked again… this time for maybe 2 hours.  We shared contact info and will keep in touch. 
Well… I met the laundry guy a few doors down from my hotel.  We talked and he was really nice.  Showed me a picture of his son.  When I went shopping the next day I bought some some dried fruits and nuts. 
Then it was off to the airport.  I woke up a little late, so I ended up rushing.  The hotel booked a taxi for me, but I felt it was a little late in timing.  Well, it was.  The cab driver was concerned, and we tried to check in, but it was too late.  Upon arrival to the airport, I rushed out to the counter , and they said it was too late even though I had about an hour to take off.  They sent me to the counter, and she found another flight that would get me to Kochi earlier in the day.  That was OK, so I headed towards security.  When I passed security I was looking for my phone… I use two phones – the older one for text messages and the newer one has the India sim card in it.  I could locate my older phone.  Security tried to help me and sent my things back through the machine to help find the phone.  To no avail and I had to catch my plane.  So anyway, I figured I left it in the hotel room in my rush.  I’d have to figure that out later.  Then I remembered the laindry guy next door who I had been messaging him through Instagram.  I sent him a message to please go talk to the hotel.  Then I boarded.
Stopover in Bangladore, I found wifi to check my messages.  He said the hotel couldn’t find my phone.  Now, I am really confused.  Maybe under the bed or something. Well, gotta get on the flight to Kochi…