Where I've been and what I've seen

One may think that I haven't been doing anything with my life since I came home from Guatemala. Truth is, I've had many adventures since then but other things on my mind besides posting about them. While the Guatemala trip was awesome, a quick trip driving to Idaho was pretty enjoyable and made me think I must be crazy.

After work my friend and I took off. He drove for 2 hours, I drove for 2 hours. During my shift we had a close call with the Nevada Highway Patrol but nothing serious. We took an exit soon after where he drove for the next 4 hours and I drove the rest of the way to Idaho.

We got there about 8 am and the Spud Day Parade started at 10 so we had some time to relax. The small town parade life was awesome.

I was impressed with the turn out of Spud Day fans. It hailed, and rained, and was also sunny and bright. It just changed as quick as could be. I ate a world famous Winder Funnel Cake and I was in heaven.

At about 2 pm we left the small town fiesta and went home where we were quickly sleeping in the recliners that can only be found at the Bird house. We slept right through the Spud Tug or as some call it a tug-o-war over a pit of mashed potatoes.

When we woke up we went to the tourist spots as my family heavily insisted and while it wasn't much, my compadre was liking it. We saw potatoes in a cellar, I guess it doesn't get much better than that.

Next thing I knew it was 11:30am we were leaving church and out on the open road again. We made pretty good time for some reason even though I thought I did a much better job at keeping Bonnie around the speed limit. It must have been when my friend was driving. So we drove about 26 hours and spent about 27 hours in Idaho. It was a great trip but next time I think I'm just going to fly. Driving is so much work and it only makes me want to be a trucker.

I also went to Phoenix where my best friend I met on my mission got married. Sadly there is no proof to show I was there. I took my camera but never took a picture. I'm not exactly sure why this happened but most likely because I was not in a tourist type mood. I only like to take pictures when I'm feeling like a tourist.

I got to go inside the Mesa temple where he was married and that was pretty neat. My favorite part about this was his dad, I call him Mayor since he is the mayor of the great city of Duncan AZ, met me about 4 minutes before and was asking everyone in the temple if they had any single girls in their parties about my age. It was really funny as moms and grandmas would look me up and down to see if they could find a match. I told him there was no need to do such a thing as I never hope to live in such a hot place.

Another great part about Arizona was the family I stayed with. My fake grandma and grandpa I also met in Honduras were there and I stayed with them, their son, his wife and their 3 kids. That was really fun because we got to see the sights together. Costco was on place we went that sticks out. The two younger kids had on those shoes with wheels and they kept skating into me and I'd spin them around and get them in trouble but the adults didn't know I was doing anything to make them go faster and the kids didn't tell on me! It was a quick trip as my trips usually are but it was worth it to see my friend and his beautiful bride together.

Last day already

I´m sitting in Guatemala, not really sure where the last few days have gone. Sorry there aren´t more photos like I had hoped. My plan was every 2nd day put the pictures I had taken on a cd and then I´d be able to put them on this blog. Sadly the memory card went bad and so I had to buy a new one but if fits like 10 times the amount of fotos so I didn´t have to keep putting them on cd´s. The pictures will come later when I am back in the good old USA. For my dad this has been an eye-opening experience. He really did love it and I feel that he came to understand why I love it so much here.

It is the people. Every where we went the people were wonderful. They are so happy and they love to live each day. They have simple lives without all the distractions that we face in the U.S. There wasn´t a day that I didn´t run the numbers to see how I could live down here. Old friends and new were so kind and friendly. Wherever we went we found friends and many of them you just feel like you have known them forever. I feel very lucky to have been back here and especially to have been able to bring my dad so he could see some sights and sounds of a very different world.

He says he wants to come back so there may just be another chapter later on. We will see how well that works out because afterall, today he tried to buy a stuffed squirrel for my little sister. It was very expensive though, better just catch one outside and give it to her. The world is a great place and I´m glad to have seen some more of it this last week.

Sunday is well, lots of sun day

A picture with Fernando in the corner, read about him below.

Hola from Honduras. We slept well in the high rollin hotel and woke up to go to church in a little pueblo called Buena Vista. This is a pueblo where I lived 3 years ago. I could find a few landmarks but we ended up having one of my old friends take us around so we didn´t get too lost. We got to church and of course we were the only white people and everyone was very excited to see us. It was hard for me because many of the people I recognized but couldn´t remember the names. Of course we were all gathered in this little house converted to church and I was asked to share a message with the people. I was very excited to do this and it really was a great experience. However, when I stood up not 3 minutes passed by when the power went out. The little fan that we had going would no longer work so I knew it was going to get hot. I spoke on many things and reminded them of how lucky they are to live in such a great place. As I did this I was just sweating to death. Then I was done and I guess I didn´t talk as long as they wanted because the leader asked me to see if my dad wanted to speak too. So he got up and would say a sentence and I´d translate it for the people. It was a great experience to be there but I was soaked in sweat as this happened. My old friend Fernanado who used to just run around the streets without clothes was there with only shorts on and he wanted to keep touching me and hugging me as well and flip me off. He´s not all there and how Downs Syndrome but is one funny kid. I think I scared him a little when he blew me a kiss so I blew one back. Everyone laughed and I was just full of more thoughts of living in Buena Vista forever. Here are some pictures from Sunday.

Washing my hands in the PILA before going inside to help a lady make tortillas.The fire where the tortillas were cooked, you can also see some amazing meat that we ate cooking over the fire as well. It was a meal fit for a king.

The hotel where we stayed. Funny thing is the bottom line reads with all your extras. My dad thought that the spots on the sheets, hidden hairs between covers, toilet that leaked into the shower and the sink faucet that sprayed more water out the top that out the correct spot were all extras. He was very shocked by all the things that could happen and needless to say we had brought out sheets and he broke them out to sleep tonight. I froze as my dad insisted on having the AC on all night which was pretty much like sleeping with a semi truck. It was quite the night but we woke up in one piece and to the driping of the shower. I´ll find a picture of that later.

Sort of sideways but just tilt your head to enjoy the bathroom where we tried to get clean. I however think I was cleaner before, the towel I used didn´t exactly smell like roses.

Day of Travel

Saturday 30 August 2008

Today was an eye opening experience. For some reason I thought that a trip down the old PANAMERICAN HIGHWAY would be quick and easy. Little did I know that pretty much the entire trip would be in the winding roads of the mountains. It was a long drive but it was all so cool that I couldn´t close my eyes. Besides that if I would have tried chance are I´d open them only to find a car trying to pass coming right at us honking the horn. So I was able to see many pretty places in Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. I´m going to try to attach some pictures of that. Most of you who know me would be proud to know that I actually paid full price for something. Our first night in Honduras we stayed at the nicest hotel within a 3 hour ride. It was nice and the gecko in the shower didn´t scare my dad as much as it scared me.

The Guatemalan city of Antigua and my dad.

We slept well and I was enjoying the AC because it was so hot without it. You can´t just sit down and not sweat. It´s very humid and sticky like no other. It has been 3 years since I´ve been here so I guess I forgot how great it was.

The road ahead, we passed quite a few buses and one even had people hanging out of it. Sorry but I can´t see the pictures before I select them so I just have to add them without being too picky.

A small view of the valley below. I took this going about 80mph so I figured it turned out ok.

Some deep question of life answered today

I am here in a 8x8 room in Mexico City using internet. The plane leaves soon but I had to document this before I forgot.

#1. We are taking off and for some reason every time I fly on MEXICANA, they ask us to open the windows for take off and landing. I told my dad what they had just said and asked him why.
His response was classic.
That way if we crash the Mexican newspapers can get good pictures of the passengers since they love to put that bloody stuff on the front page.

I think he may be true.

#2 Also my dad confessed that since 1963, he has been wondering why Chino in West Side Story was called Chino. Without knowing I told him today how some latins are nicknamed Chino because they look a little Asian or what not. The light clicked for him and it all made sense, it was as if I solved a 43 year old mystery. I just laughed. What fun.

#3 I love watching people look at my dad when he says things in spanish I tell him to say. On the second flight I taught him how to ask for peanuts. I was sure he could do it but as soon as the lady came with drinks he woke me up and said PEANUTS! PEANUTS! I was not sure what he was trying to say but I told him to ask the stewardess and she said I will go check and never came back. I wish I could have taken a picture of his face after he asked. It does not get much better than this. Pictures to come soon.

Let the fun begin

This time tomorrow I'll be hanging out in Guatemala. Not sure what I'll be doing but it will be fun. This is my farewell to America for a few days. My blog should keep you updated on my whereabouts if I can find the necessary equipment to post. You are invited to enjoy this wild ride.

Almost two years ago I lived in Honduras. A small central american country. I lived there for two years as I was a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was the best experience I have ever had. I loved every moment of it and loved the people and the lifestyle. From day one I said to myself, "Self, my family has to come here." Finally I am going to be able to take my dad to see some of what I lived back in my prime.

We will mostly be visiting the old towns I lived in and visiting with the many people that became my family away from home. My dad is a little nervous but I don't blame him, I know it will be fun though and it will most certainly be an adventure, from the flight to the dogs lining the dirt roads, I'm sure his eyes will be wide open the whole time trying to believe what he is seeing.

I'm excited to go and I'm glad you are interested in following my journeys.

Here's a schedule of my next few trips I have planned:

Guatemala/Honduras 8/29-9/9/08

Shelley Idaho Spud day 9/19-9/21/08

Phoenix Arizona 10/16-10/18/08