iBankCoin
My name is Rob and I'm a gregarious gentleman who travels and blogs. http://stophavingaboringlife.com/
Joined Jan 9, 2014
222 Blog Posts

Caribbean Commute to Work

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This is my commute home if I don’t opt for the big boat that some call “The yacht”. The big boat is slower but way comfier so I usually just go for that. For years this was the only way to get to Little Corn Island from the big island and is known simply as “The Panga”. It takes about 35 min and you probably will get wet.

This sunset Caribbean commute sure beats sitting in traffic, yes?

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Designing a Caribbean Crib

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I’ve been busy designing my Caribbean crib and I must say; it’s one of the most stressful things I’ve done in quite some time. It’s so easy to stroll into someone’s abode when looking to purchase or rent it and critize the idiot who designed it. When designing it you need to think of everything and all sorts of circumstances and how to best fit the house around it.

It’s like art that you could touch up forever; eventually you must drop the brush.

I’ve concluded two floors with ample patio space is needed; also a monster kitchen on the ground floor in a more social spot of the house. In the past, people used to have servants who would cook for them while they entertained guests drinking strong spirits while in high spirits. Today, people cook themselves typically and why should the chef be astrocized from the social aspects of the setting? A steady stream of fresh air is also important but so is privacy and windows are as wonderful as they are worrisome.

What about fire? What if the master (me) wishes to sneak out?

This is sort of an end-game play for me. You see, I like traveling and hopefully that will never change but after a while gents like myself want a base. One of my biggest fears of this lifestyle is being that 40 something year old approaching the globally agreed upon age of 47.5 aka going full vanilla gay and having seen the world but having no real place in it. Also, I didn’t leave the comforts of my comfy office chair just to travel and return; life is a choose your own adventure and you can’t flip the pages back.

I digress.

Most people build these types of things at the end of their life; why not now?

Soon I’m off to Europe for another adventure that might even include Africa.

The photo is from “the view point” on top of the only hill on Little Corn.

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Banking Coin on Big Corn

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In a marvellously manic mood after a most magnificent Monday work session. It has been about a month since I did anything serious except stroll around white sand beaches and go on random adventures which were all slightly different but basically the same.

If you have no business, you have no business traveling the world as you please. It’s something I often remind myself when I’m on the edges of the earth and the edge of sanity. It’s easy to get lost in the whole whitewash and get spit out on the rocks; you know end up teaching English somewhere you don’t want to be or worse, come home and get tied to a leash.

No dog likes a leash like most people don’t like being wage slaves but they get used to it. That said, if you take a stray dog which is basically what travelers become and try and tie them to a short leash or worse, throw them in some inhumane cage from 9-5 week long; they’ll go nuts and be dead from a self imposed hunger strike in no time.

Suffice to say, Big Corn Island has everything one needs for a bare-bones office. I was hustling like I often do yesterday and it’s a weird lonely time when you’ve let your wagon stop rolling and you look up that hill. Normally the momentum carries you to far flung places but at times when it’s stopped it takes all the energy in the world and a little faith that it will roll once more.

I’m off to my regular breakfast spot where I’ll consume a pot of coffee, fresh lime juice, baked beans and two eggs for $2. Long story short, the little island is good times but it’s absolutely toxic during the week if one isn’t retired or on vacation. At 6am when that fan cuts and your edge network connection stalls out loading an email; you say “$@# it” and the loop continues.

That photo  is downtown on Corn Island aka Big Corn, FYI.

 

 

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Dhow from Zanzibar to Pangani

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Hello from Corn Island, it’s Monday and after a month long absense from things that still matter; it’s time to get back on track. The photo is from a ride I took on a traditional dhow from Zanzibar to Pangani. Pangani is along the coast of Tanzania across from Zanzibar and through a chance meeting at some messed up barbershop; I ended up living outside it in Kikokwe(sp?) for a few weeks in early 2011.

Those weeks were some of the best of my life; when I left I helped a massive straight edge Masai guy buy a house for $100. He had saved $40 of his $50/month wage so I gave him $60; it was roughly a 1/4 acre not far from the ocean. Granted the roof was collapsing and there was no water pipes or electricity for miles; still a good deal I reckon. This guy only worked out and was the private security guard / right hand man of the guy running the show. Turns out boss man left and it was just me and the work camp for weeks.

The main ferry to get to Zanzibar leaves from Dar Es Salaam which is known to most as Dar Es Slum if they have been there. It’s one of the few cities in the world that I never want to go back to and I hope you don’t have to visit it yourself. I needed to visit the embassy so I spent some time there and it’s a dodgy place; as dodgy as anywhere I’d been / have been.

So dodgy I wouldn’t get in a cab; walked everywhere.

Long story short, I had no desire whatsoever of returning there and came across this option going direct to Pangani. The dhow leaves every few days and it makes the 42km trip from Zanzibar to Pangani in a few hours. I was off to Lushoto before heading back to Arusha so it just made sense. It was also a unique experience and one of the more memorable ones yet.

Will always remember that about a mile out this speedboat came up and dropped off a big old cardboard box and then sped off again as fast as it came. The water was crystal clear and the rest of the passengers and crew onboard were super chilled out. They used to go only by sail but these days they have a motor as well and it was a mix between the two. What’s cool is there is an island on the way that you can see at lowtide but it disappears at high tide.

The dhow drops you in Pangani which used to be a big slave trading hub, not much going on there these days but lots of dilapatated buildings and the like. It’s a small place and I became a known character by the name of “Mr. Avocado” as I’d order avocado smoothies from this gent by the seaside in egregious quanitities. It was my only “escape” from living at a work camp isolated from everything and sleeping in a cashew tree fort; I’d buy countless and ensure anyone whose company I was enjoying was enjoying one as well.

Zanzibar… It’s even nicer than it sounds and love Stone Town.

Click here for the full story.

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Little Corn’s Got the Power

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I’m off to London in ~3 weeks as I’m making a mission to Malta before a conference in Germany so this probaly won’t help me much on this trip but in the future… This photo is of a new generator for Little Corn Island in the Caribbean off the coat of Nicaragua and rumor has it that soon the power will be 24 hours a day.

I’m beyond thrilled about it as my biggest complaint is that at 6am when the power dies; your room heats up into an inferno suitable for Satan himself. It turns heaven into hell in a hurry especially if you were up late to partake in some good old clean Caribbiean fun. Currently power is supposed to be 1PM-5AM but that never happens as the current generators are in disrepair.

It’s cool seeing a place change before your eyes; change is good. That said, things that happen too fast don’t last from relationships to development. What the future holds nobody knows but I’ll tell you this; it just got a little brighter…

Update: The plant has been running since they put it in; the future is here.

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Clean Caribbean Fun


This video is from a song that is prevalent in the Corn Islands; it was always blaring last time I visited and still does to this day. Caribbean Dancehalls are some of the most fun you’ll ever have, if you’re up for it.

At the end of the day, the dancing in these said halls / reggae bars is next level and no matter how lame you are; your edges will smooth if you spend sometime in such said establishments. Spend a lot of time “studying to become a mechanic” and you can flx floors in other countries.

Also, in today’s world of disease, distrust and degeneratism; a good late night grind is about as much “clean fun” as anyone can have. If you do come to the Caribbean make at least one night a rum one filled with ice that spills over the glass and into the halls. You’ll be glad you did unless you’re over 47.5 and then you’ll probably have a heart attack while having the time of your life.

Worse ways to go.

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Helicopter Ride to Uluwatu, Bali

I was back in Bali, Indonesia a few months ago and it all started with a trip to Singapore. This lady I know is into the fashion scene and The Stones Hotel in Legian was having a festival. One thing lead to another and I was on a plane to Bali for ~11 days or so. Slick hotel and first time going to an event like this; lots of interesting people to converse with, I assure you.

One day we made our way to Semara Luxury Villa Resort for a media lunch and took a helicopter to get there. Helicopters are the future and I think this video pretty much speaks for itself. Bali is worth visiting as it has something of interest for most and options for any budget. If you do come, don’t be put off by what’s happening near the airport in Kuta, Legian etc… They are really busy, messy and loud. Also the beachs are quite polluted; don’t be shocked to see plastic bags in the sea; lots of them.

The partying in Kuta is nuts.

Those places are chaotic messes that I enjoy but if you cruise the coasts or make your way into the mountains you’ll feel like you’re on another planet; let alone the same small island. From Bali you can also go to the Gili Islands which are supposedly out of this world; I never made it while there in 2009 as I got caught in the chaotic mess I just mentioned. I did make a trip to the black sand beaches of Pemuteran with these Swedish girls I met for Christmas only to get attacked by aggressive ants and chased by a pack of rabid looking dogs while hanging out with ninja orphans; Merry Christmas.

To each their own but I’m most certainly not a fan of black sand beaches.I’d go on but it’s time for a snorkel to see what odd creatures are lurking in and around the shores. I’ve been going more often of late and seeing all sorts of stuff from sting rays to snappers and whatever else you may find inbetween.

Supposedly Ubud is beautiful; just too hippy for this gent.

 

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Sunrise in Sally Peachy, Corn Island

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The power is back on so I figure I’d take this time to show you a little more.This photo is from sunrise the other day in the Sally Peachy area of Corn Island. I’d call it Big Corn but that is wearing thin as it’s not big and it’s not called Big Corn. It’s actually called Corn Island and where I’m writing this is simply called “the little island”.

It’s tiny but just big enough to hold lots of cab drivers who drive all sorts of styles. Some I get agitated with as I’m rushing for something and they slow-jam while listening to country. Others, I’m bracing myself as we turn a corner at mach something speeds and I’m hoping when the driver’s time comes; I’m not in the cab. Cabs cost $0.70 a ride; wherever you wanna go on the island.

Most of the people I saw who stayed there a while were older couples who rented houses. Also those who complained of inflated prices on the little island or weren’t into interacting with other tourists. If you do find yourself in Sally Peachy; there are a few places to stay. For $50 a night you can get a luxury safari tent with a view at Los Escapados; that’s where I was.

Notice the south-end of Little Corn in the top left of the sea.

 

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Sally Peachy on Big Corn Island

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Writing this from Little Corn Island where the generator is broken and I’m on a tethered iphone with 7% battery while playing some beats a pathological liar I met in Buenos Aires suggested I download. That recommendation may have been the only worthy words out of said gents mouth.

Turns out Big Corn came through for me in a big way. As though I was some odd traveler in an amphibious Tesla with a plethora of porters I rolled into town with a bag full of broken electronics and dreams. I searched high and low until a man named Eddy started getting mentioned and I set forth on the pursuit; with great haste might I add.

We caught him getting on a moto bike and a few hours later he was diagnosing my machine. I have some seriously geek friends as while most were doing whatever those did in the mid-90’s; I was living the BBS(bulletin board system) lifestyle. Suffice to say, Eddy was as patient and geeky as the best. My hard drive was corrupted so we found a used one, loaded up and here I am; back in my sweaty office on Little Corn.

Sally Peachy is the place in the photo and it’s on the east side of Big Corn. Big Corn has power all day and a decent signal aka you can maybe even stream a video. Brig Bay aka westside is the sketchy side; Sally Peachy is a slick place where most of the old school islanders live and a few cool guest houses on the east. I hung out at Los Escapados for a few nights; cool place with a great view.

I’d go on but I risk losing this whole bloggery; I’m back and oh does it ever feel good to be given another go at the gauntlet. Also finished with the fencing on my second property. You really don´t know what you have in terms of land until you stake your claim aggresively with barbwire then smoke a pipe while pondering the future sitting on a plastic chair with big dreams inhaling ocean air.

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When Paradise Becomes Prison

Writing this from notepad on my iPhone which is all I have. The connectivity here is horrific and lack of power compounds the problem.

I have tried to update here and stay on top of business but it’s like swimming up a waterfall, you will lose your grip and get thrown in the whitewash.

Today was the final straw that broke this dehydrated camels back. I woke up just before 6am filled with ideas and ambition but my windows 8 PC stopped working and is caught in the endless “preparing automatic repair” loop.

Even paradise can become a prison if the timing isn’t right. I am bringing my pc to this fix it all on the island later; after it will work or I am on a flight out of here this weekend.

This has been eye opening and a reminder that there is a reason why parts is the world like this move as slow as they do. Also, great way to escape the world but be wary of spending too much time because if you do, your world might escape you.

I have had plenty of temporary setbacks over the last 4.5+ years, this is just the latest. That said, feeling rather indifferent about leaving as I know this place is a bit of a productivity prison and the world is waiting.

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