Honestly Cambo, that is what everyone should take from my road trip...the bigger picture. If all I got out of the trip was how bad it sucked to be extorted by cops then I would never want to leave the USA. For me it is just the opposite....I am ready to leave tomorrow...in 10 days I can be surfing in Latin America! Who wants to GO!?
I am good with the "junk", like I said above just no negativity. If you been there and done that and have something negative to say then I am all ears. If you haven't been there and done that then keep it to yourself! I think that should go for anybodies trip report or blog. That is normal and logical to me (and also respectful)....anything else doesn't make very much sense (to me).
It is not like there is a bunch of people saying negative things....just the one ******** on YouTube. I guess since I am being totally honest and open about my trip report (I could leave out the parts about the cops and being extorted)...well, I guess I just don't want people to read it and think Latin America is negative because my trip was in no way negative. It was a very positive experience for me and I am deeply craving more!
Here is an example of how I felt privledged to be part of something (even if it is something I made)....
While I was in Dangriga, Belize for a week I got fairly well known. Between my truck and my dog it didn't take but a few days for a lot of locals there to know who I am. I am also not shy, I will walk up to a guy on the street and try tot talk to them. I made some friends in Dangriga in just a couple days which also helped my popularity. Jaime and other guides live in Dangirga but do not socialize with the locals much, even though they worked there on and off for years. It is not that cut and dry for them but I am not going to get into that. We would be at the guides house having some beers and rum and keeping it to ourselves if you know what I mean and I would just split out on my own and walk around town. Everybody says Dangriga is a bad seedy town, 2nd to Belize City. I didn't get that experience there at all. The guides I know who live there are hardly known, mostly because they do not socialize with the locals. After 3-4 days of being in town I would take my dog for a walk....sometimes a guide would join me. People everywhere in town, even those I didn't know would say "hey Ian, what is up!" but they hardly noticed the guides I might be walking around with. I met people on the street there who would sing to me reggae songs they wrote. We would share a beer and sit around and talk about the world or Belize or whatever. This is culture first hand, no TV, no books, no blogs, no BS....the real DEAL! It was worth every bribe I paid on the trip and really there is no price that can be put on this.
What this says to me is a town or place is what you make it. If you think it sucks or is a negative place you will experience negative things. If you are open minded and respectful and friendly then it is a postive experience and you can make some friends! Heck man I could drive to Dangrigae right now and I am sure I could find a place to sleep at some locals house (which would be very secure) in under an hour! To me that rocks hard...and I wouldn't trade it for anything. The first day or two I was in Dangriga I was worried about my truck parked on the street loaded with expensive gear and a huge red kayak on the roof. I soon relaized if you get to know the locals and make some friends nobody is going to mess with your stuff. I could go on about this and give many more examples....
I wish Jaime had sent me the videos of working on my Taco in Dangriga because it gave a little bit of a feel on how helpful and cool and down to earth the people are there.....
I crave adventure...this trip was food for my soul. I need more food!
