Off to Africa

Monday, 24 March 2008

Location: South Africa

I know I am a month into the trip and havent gotten around to setting this up. But wanted to post some pics and give you feel for our life here.

I am gonna try to update it one more time before I leave, but this is more for those of you who wont be around Rye when we get back to share this with you personally.

The Hostel

The Hostel we have been living in is great. It is run by a couple, Jaime and Liz, who are really relaxed and have a beautiful place. Jamie took me out the first day I was here and showed me the wave, the rocks, and also quelled most of my fears about “the big fish.”
A lot of the people we met here have stayed here for a while. It has a kinda magnetic vibe that is hard to get away from. It is the nicest hostel I have ever stayed in, and is right across from the wave.
I actually found the place when I was looking to do some volunteer work, and it made it super easy. The owners have a partnership with a project in town called the Joshua Project, which is a school and soup kitchen for street kids in the area. Once I told Ry what I was up to, he felt like he needed to come and see it for himself and get involved as well, so both brothers are here helping and charging the surf.

The Project and Volunteering

I guess, to be honest, I had no idea what to expect with the project. I read what I could on the website and tried to get a feel from the people who had volunteered before, but it was still all a shock when we got there. We didn’t really get to interact with the kids much during the day cause they were in class, and because we were here for such a short time that we would have been a distraction. So we scraped and painted the building during school, but got to hang with the kids after school or during lunch. We didn’t get a lot of time with the kids, but in the time we had I feel like we were able to make some connections. Especially during the afternoon when we taught a surf school for all the kids. I got real sick, so couldn’t go unfortunately, but Ry, Jaime, Lara, and Ed took all the kids out and killed it! They got boards donated in town and had a solid hour session where all of the kids got up. Pretty Stoked.
I can’t fully explain what these kids go through each day. I have seen some rough areas in my travels, but nothing compares to what I have seen here. And what is scary is that South Africa is one of the more stable and prosperous nations in Africa, so this is merely a glimpse into the hardships that are endured on a daily basis throughout the continent. I can’t really explain it to you in an email, and may not be able to in person either, but it was too serious an experience to minimalize it by explaining it in this posting. But needless to say, both Ryan and I were profoundly impacted.
The bright side is that there really are a ton of incredible people here. There is a 20 year old girl who has been here now for 3 years volunteering everyday at the project and at the hospital, which is pretty serious bearijg in mind what I was doing at 17, ha ha. Another couple sold there house in Holland to come and work with the project for the next 5 years. They told me that property values are sky rocketing here so they are lucky they got a home when they did in Jeffrey’s Bay. When I aksed whether they were going to sell there house here after their missionary time and buy a home in Holland again. They respinded that they planned on giving all the appreciated value of their home to the project when they sold and start from scratch when they returned home. It is hard not to be inspired around people who are so selfless.
Probably the most influential person we met just happened to be visiting the project while we were working. He came by to talk with one of the girls that attends his church and struck up a conversation with me and one of the girls that was working with us. He had recently moved from Washington State with his family to help at a church her and give his life to charity and God. He invited us to dinner at his farm outside of J Bay with some of the local members of the church as well. It was really incredible, because we got to hear first hand what was happening in the township (the ghetto here) and what the major problems facing the community were. We met one couple, Keith and Marlene, who had recently lost their only son, and decided to open their home to some local children who were being abused or whose lives were in danger. Many of the stories were even harder to digest, but too intese to go into now.
We tried to get an idea for what life was like for people in the township and for Dave. Dave’s life is pretty incredible here. I asked him what it was that he actually did. He replied, “I just look for people to help, and help them. Around here it is not too hard to find people in need.” Basically he walks or drives around the township and helps anyone and everyone he can. Sometimes it is crisis management, sometimes it is just lending a hand or giving someone a lift to work. It is an amazing way to help, and a good philosophy to live your life by.
We actually got the chance to go to a church service last Sunday which was really cool. Certainly a lot more energy and dance than St. Theresa’s in rye! There was an awesome live band and serious dance jams. Right up our alley. And before the service Keith took us through the township to meet some of the people in his neighborhood and give us a feel for what life was like there. The government is trying to provide housing and infrastructure to families that were displaced and disenfranchised during aparthied, but progress is slow. It took five years for Keith and his family to get a proper house, and running water is still unavailiable. We were lucky keith took us around, because apparently it can be dangerous if you don’t know the people and cant speak Afrikaans. But our experiences were all positive and the people were incredibly inviting. Actaully, anytime I had my camera out everyone wanted to get in a picture, which made it really easy to interact with the locals and the kids.
And last week, after the volunteering at the project was done, dave invited us to come on one of his tours throught the township. We went and helped level the front walk way for a woman that had Neuropothy in her legs as a result of H.I.V., and we went to the hospoital to get her a wheel chair so she could actually leave her tiny home. We also visited with a boy in the hospital who had been abandoned by his parents, and had not had a single visitor in the six months he was in the hospital until dave came to see him. The boy has TB and H.I.V. that he had gotten from his parents. He was only 11, and his family had not been back to see him since they admitted him to the hospital. I feel like this was only a glimpse of the need that is out there. In reality, Dave is no more qualified to help these people than the next guy. In fact, he doesn’t even speak the languauge, but has found a community that really needs him. We were truly lucky to have been allowed to work with him, visit their church, and really explore the township with Keith. Keith actually said something which really hit home. He said, “That just having you guys come into coloured (this is the proper termonolgy for mixed raced South Africans) and Black people’s home up here is a huge step towards reconciliation.” For these people, it was the first time a white person had entered their home, or shown the initiaitive to see what their lives were like, which is a huge deal. The fact that we were making an effort to come to their town and their homes helped in some small way to try to bridge the gap between the races. Keith told us that few, if any South African whites were ever seen in these areas. So, we felt truly blessed to have had this experience.

Fun Road Trips

We borrowed our friend Lauren’s car to get down to stroms river, an hour or so drive to the south, where there is the world’s largest bungee jump, zip lines, and lots of other cool stuff. The drive was epic, but ran into some minor car problems when we got there. Actually, the CV joint fell out and the entire gear box dropped. Pretty standard really when we hit the road. But we got it fixed and were actually able to drive it home.
Luckily these two twin brothers from the town, Kanyilhee and Kanyhiso, helped us find a mechanic and a hostel. We actually had to push the car to the hostel, which went pretty smoothly until one of the boys fell off the back of the car as we were heading down a hill. No serious damage, just a bump on the head. Actually he didn’t even cry, and I would have been balling.
But eventually got there and the place was truly beautiful. We did a zip line over water fall and did the bungee as well. And let me tell you, 216 meters is a pretty big fall. Ha ha. It was one of the coolest experiences I have ever had. I jumped out as far as I could, and then it feels like a hand is grabbing your chest and just pulling you down as far and as fast a s possible. You reach speeds of 120 k. That is serious. Ryan actaully lied to them and told them he had jumped before and they let him go backwards off the platform. You will see his face in the pics, it will give you a good feel for how serious the drop is. They actually hung him over the edge by his harness and then just let him go. It was totally insane. We also have video that is priceless, but the pics will give you a bit of a feel.

More to come soon. Much Love, Ry and Ty

Tuesday, 26 February 2008

Location: South Africa

I am alive and well!!!!!

Survived the 15.5 hour trek from washington to Joberg with little problem. The South African Airline was super comfy and the plane wasnt full, so I was styling. Also, good food and free drinks. So, that was pretty easy.

Got to cape town at like 10:30 pm, and walked to the closest hotel, actually the only hotel that wasnt a $30 cab ride away. And of course it was full, so was a bit perplexed. It was 11 at night by this point,. and i left the next a.m., so asked the night man if i could hang and read in the lobby. Luckily he obliged. Sooo . . . my first night started as all good surf trips should, as a bum. Luckily I am 7 hours ahead, so I wasnt too tired, and was able to read through the night.

Got to the airport in plenty of time, and had breaky with a nice fella I met in the airport. He was a black south african, and like all the others I have met so far, exceedingly friendly and polite. Not to generalize, but the people I have met have to be the most polite bunch I have ever met. I dont know if it is the british influence, but even at the airport diner ëveryone was overly polite and extremely inviting.

Anyways, the fellow I ate with said something really cool during the meal, which has kinda set the tone for my trip thus far,

he asked, ''Is this your first time to south africa?"

I replied "yes."

To which he responded, "Welcome home."

It was an extremely welcoming interaction, and my experiences since have reinforced these first impressions.

The hostel is really ill. It overlooks the waves, and the crew here is great. I will send some pics soon, so you can see the paradise in which I live. And the wave, ha ha ha, is sick. i havent surfed it too big yet, but next week it is supposed to get well overhead. But i have gotten ride super tubes, one of the worlds best waves, basically alone, or with just me a small group of locals. And i have been reassured about the shark fear i have, so feeling quite a bit more comfortable sitting out there on my board.

It has to be the fastest wave i have ever ridden. You take off angled and the thing just cooks. When it really gets working it is gonna be macking.

Got a pool tournament tonight, so gotta practice up, and gonna try to get in one more evening session.

Just wanted to let you all know I was alive and well.

I have attached a pic of the wave as well just so you can get a feel for what I'm talking about. pretty sicky.

alright all, much love

ty

PS- for those who dont know I guess ry is coming next week as well. Look out south africa. ha ha

Sunday, 22 April 2007

Location: Po Town, USA

Home again Home again!

Seems like onyl yesterday when I was writing to set this page up. But I'm done. I got back to ice cold NH a week ago, after over 6 months of travel. It was epic.

Although, one of the members of our team is still treking. Crab Brian Kuhn wont be back til May, 1 - but the rest of us have arrived home safely.

Trip Details:

Time- 6 months and 7 days from sept. 19th to March 26th
Distance- really really far
Countries Visited- Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador,
and Peru
Money Spent- Not too much, since it was 6 months and all, but still
more than I had
Boards Broken- 3
Countries Won - Costa Rica and Ecuador
Broken Bones- None to mention, but some sold reef rash and
Brian's dislocated thumb and fainting spells
Best Waves- Peru, Peru, Peru

Well that is all for now. viva syur america y nos vemos pronto. chao

Wednesday, 21 March 2007

hey guys.

Just added some moree fotos our buddy miguel sent me from the trip to the segunda farro. pretty great.

Friday, 16 March 2007

Location: Pacas Mayo, Peru

And then there was one!

They all left me. First it was matty and now it is Brian. I guess though, really, I am suprised they put up with me for so long!


But in all reality, it was a strange feeling to see the last bus pull off after six months of hanging full time together.
But, there was some serious concelation in the form of swell.

Matty headed up to Northern Peru (where he also got slammed with waves), and Bri headed to Cuzco on his way south, and I remained in Pacas Mayo. Where, the following day the waves got as good as they get here (Sorry Bri Guy). Double overhead plus and over a kilometer long. It took me nearly half an hour to paddle back to the point after one wave. It is the most beautiful and perfect thing I had ever seen. And the wave took people so far in, that by the time you got back out it was just you sitting on the point. I was seriously giggling in the water with this other Brazilian after one of my waves. It was just insane. So, I am posting just surf pics. Really, the only good ones we´ve gotten yet (because some pro took them)

check them out, and if you surf, commence drooling.

Ty