I arrived in Seattle and was greeted by my most gracious hosts Daniel & V and driven back to there lovely house. I spent 6 wonderful days in Seattle. Had massively long walks in town, checking out the amazing markets and popping into coffee shops every now and then (it's the law in Seattle to have some caffeine after every four blocks of walking) The people are just as friendly as in San Francisco and it's just as hilly too!
One particular day Daniel drove us all out to Twin Peaks country and we did a little tour. Earie and beautiful at the same time! On other days we ate amazing sushi, drank in exclusive backstreet speakeasy's and attended high class burlesque nights. All in all a wonderful experience and one that I hope to repeat again as soon as I can get myself back there :)
After Seattle time was sadly over it was time to head for Vancouver. A greyhound bus and around three hours took care of this and Emma was at the bus station to meet me. I spent 6 wonderful days with Emma & Wayne at their lovely flat in Commercial Drive (which is by FAR the best neighbourhood in Vancouver according to Emma) Generous to the core, they took me out everywhere and gave me evil stares if I attempted to take my wallet out of my trousers! (I managed occasionally though haha!) Vancouver is a stunning place surrounded by huge snow capped mountains. I had a lot of fun with Emma and her gorgeous friends. There were beach trips, lunch dates, spin classes and so much more! Vancouver is a jolly place that I really hope to get back to soon :)
And so eventually it was time to lift my bags and carry on, for New York was waiting for me! And another two plane flights later I arrived in The Big Apple! Coming from London I didn't think New York would astound me like it did, but it did! It is truely a massive place! It was great to see Kristine again and one couldn't hope for a better host/tour guide/drinking companion! We ate massive burgers at amazing diners and even sampled what can be best described as alien food! We found goth nights and burlesque nights and made me feel right at home. New York was also a chance to catch up with my friend Chef and also Nellie. I spent at least two days in Central Park as it was just about the only place that made me feel grounded.
After New York I flew home via Iceland right only a day after it had been reopened due to volcanic activity. Only got to spend an hour in the airport though which was a shame.
Arriving back to the UK was about as uneventful as I thought it would be. And I basically waited for the start of the festival season and the Sunrise Celebration where I could be back in nature with my festival friends. I wasn't liking the big city much and when I finally got to Sunrise it didn't take me too long to reconnect and ground myself.
So this blog will now be a tale by tale or should I say festival by festival update through the summer. Currently I should be attending around 12 festivals though that number is expected to rise. Expect all the highlights and lowlights here. Then in October I shall be on my merry way again first to Switzerland to see my grandma then to Israel with, if I'm very lucky indeed, a few pit stops on the way.......But that all depends on my cash flow.
Till the next update, thank you for reading and I'll post again soon x
Showing posts with label travelling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label travelling. Show all posts
Wednesday, 15 June 2011
Sunday, 8 May 2011
Leaving Parque Machia
My last few days at the park were spent training two new Israeli guys, Tomer & Idor to walk safely with Sonko. It now seems an age away that Helen & I were here in the rainy season before Sonko moved cage, and when he was having issues in going home at the end of his day (sometimes leaving us out in the jungle till 9pm in the darkness and the rain) For a quick second I wish I was walking Sonko when he was only a happy cat, but then I realise that you've got to take the rough with the smooth in order to fully appreciate life. Those days were amongst the hardest I have ever had to conquer, but I stuck with it and that made my relationship with Sonko even more special.
Leaving the park was much more painful then I envisaged, quite literally! On my last work day I woke with a pain in my sternum which by the time I had eaten breakfast was getting to a stage where it was difficult to breath deeply. All the same I climbed up the mountain path to Sonko's cage tensing my muscles on the way up as it seemed to help with the pain. As I arrived Tomer & Idor were standing by Sonko's cage and he wouldn't come out (he has never done this to me before, he always wants to come out of his cage) But when he saw me he came out. Looks like he was waiting for me to arrive! Aw so sweet! Once I was there I realised that I wouldn't be able to walk Sonko for the first walk because of the pain so sent Tomer & Idor by themselves (it had been four days of training and about time they did this alone) They lasted about 20 seconds when Idor fell and wacked his knee and Sonko jumped Tomer, they called for me and I jumped out of the hammock and was there in moments. I ran to help Tomer who was behind a tree. Sonko took one look at me and meowed! He was a little excited seeing Tomer all by himself and jumped him, but now with someone else (me) there too he quickly calmed down. Idor turned up behind us a few moments later in a bit of pain (welcome to the jungle boy!) So I walked with them both up to Candy Cane junction and down to the first creak where Sonko is usually much more relaxed. They carried on and I took a shortcut back to the cage (the rest of loop 1) where sat in the hammock waiting for the guys to return.
They returned at around 2pm but the pain by this point had gotten worse so I had to lay the last walk out as well. I am truely sad for this :( By the time they returned I was having trouble breathing and was in a lot of pain. The Ocelot walker Alize always passes nearby on her way out of the jungle at the same time as we finish up for the day so I called for her to wait for me as I genuinely needed help (I actually didn't know how I would get out) Every step hurt like hell! Alize took my rucksack and followed close by on what is usually a 10 minute run across a hill and down what we call 'The Mountain' then down 'Frenchmans Hill' till we reach the bird enclosure. This took around 30 minutes and took every ounce of strength in my body & soul. By the time I got to the vets I was ready to pass out. Nelly was the first person I encountered (she works with the vets) she took one look at me and went to get help. The vets took one look at me and went to get a car to take me to the hospital. Frank (the volunteer coordinator) and Luis (one of the vets) came with me.
At the hospital we had to pay them before they would look at me, and then they took some blood to check for any infections. After they gave me a lovely sedative and asked me for a stool sample to check for parasites. After around 4 hours in the hospital they returned with an answer that I had parasites and gave me a prescription for some tablets. Luis through it away and gave me some proper tablets form his surgery. I was still in a lot of pain but had calmed down a lot. the following day the pain had not really let up so I decided to leave early to Santa Cruz where they have proper hospitals. I left that morning and arrived at a hospital in Santa Cruz around six hours later where after I paid them some money they gave me a similar prescription but intravenously and I started to feel better.
I spent two days in a wonderful Santa Cruz hostel surrounded by great people, hammocks, toucans and better food. Then I was to embark on two six hour flights to get to San Francisco. It wasn't terrible but I wasn't able to eat anything on either flight, however the flight attendants were very nice and caring. I arrived in San Francisco just before midnight, quite excited, a little thinner with no appetite.
Please stay tuned, the next part of this story will be typed up tomorrow :D
Leaving the park was much more painful then I envisaged, quite literally! On my last work day I woke with a pain in my sternum which by the time I had eaten breakfast was getting to a stage where it was difficult to breath deeply. All the same I climbed up the mountain path to Sonko's cage tensing my muscles on the way up as it seemed to help with the pain. As I arrived Tomer & Idor were standing by Sonko's cage and he wouldn't come out (he has never done this to me before, he always wants to come out of his cage) But when he saw me he came out. Looks like he was waiting for me to arrive! Aw so sweet! Once I was there I realised that I wouldn't be able to walk Sonko for the first walk because of the pain so sent Tomer & Idor by themselves (it had been four days of training and about time they did this alone) They lasted about 20 seconds when Idor fell and wacked his knee and Sonko jumped Tomer, they called for me and I jumped out of the hammock and was there in moments. I ran to help Tomer who was behind a tree. Sonko took one look at me and meowed! He was a little excited seeing Tomer all by himself and jumped him, but now with someone else (me) there too he quickly calmed down. Idor turned up behind us a few moments later in a bit of pain (welcome to the jungle boy!) So I walked with them both up to Candy Cane junction and down to the first creak where Sonko is usually much more relaxed. They carried on and I took a shortcut back to the cage (the rest of loop 1) where sat in the hammock waiting for the guys to return.
They returned at around 2pm but the pain by this point had gotten worse so I had to lay the last walk out as well. I am truely sad for this :( By the time they returned I was having trouble breathing and was in a lot of pain. The Ocelot walker Alize always passes nearby on her way out of the jungle at the same time as we finish up for the day so I called for her to wait for me as I genuinely needed help (I actually didn't know how I would get out) Every step hurt like hell! Alize took my rucksack and followed close by on what is usually a 10 minute run across a hill and down what we call 'The Mountain' then down 'Frenchmans Hill' till we reach the bird enclosure. This took around 30 minutes and took every ounce of strength in my body & soul. By the time I got to the vets I was ready to pass out. Nelly was the first person I encountered (she works with the vets) she took one look at me and went to get help. The vets took one look at me and went to get a car to take me to the hospital. Frank (the volunteer coordinator) and Luis (one of the vets) came with me.
At the hospital we had to pay them before they would look at me, and then they took some blood to check for any infections. After they gave me a lovely sedative and asked me for a stool sample to check for parasites. After around 4 hours in the hospital they returned with an answer that I had parasites and gave me a prescription for some tablets. Luis through it away and gave me some proper tablets form his surgery. I was still in a lot of pain but had calmed down a lot. the following day the pain had not really let up so I decided to leave early to Santa Cruz where they have proper hospitals. I left that morning and arrived at a hospital in Santa Cruz around six hours later where after I paid them some money they gave me a similar prescription but intravenously and I started to feel better.
I spent two days in a wonderful Santa Cruz hostel surrounded by great people, hammocks, toucans and better food. Then I was to embark on two six hour flights to get to San Francisco. It wasn't terrible but I wasn't able to eat anything on either flight, however the flight attendants were very nice and caring. I arrived in San Francisco just before midnight, quite excited, a little thinner with no appetite.
Please stay tuned, the next part of this story will be typed up tomorrow :D
Sunday, 14 November 2010
More plane tickets purchased!!
Another plane ticket purchased!
April 27th from Santa Cruz, Bolivia to San Francisco, USA. So it seems I will be spending three whole months in Bolivia! It also means that I will be spending my birthday in the Bolivian rainforest with all the big cats, monkeys & birds! Happy happy happy!!!
1 more ticket to get, sometime around the end of May, Van Couver, Canada to London, England. Then I have my itinerary sorted. I know some would rather have no plans as things change but this trip is very much in two parts for me. Bolivia and the USA. The Bolivian part is me seeing my friend Rako and her partner and then volunteering in Parque Machia. The US trip is a little more open and free, except for the knowledge that I will return from Canada in May....Most probably ;)
Well this weekend was my last free weekend in London till June 2011. From next weekend I will be working two jobs. Winding down my time at Medical Couriers till December 3rd but starting at Winter Wonderland from next weekend, my bar will be situated in The Spiegel Saloon. I'll working through till January 4th around six days a week if I can hack it! o_O
My next Weekend day out will be (apart from Gogol Bordello & Hawkwind gigs) will be Saturday 22nd January for some leaving drinks in The Big Red in Holloway. FB event to follow at some point :)
April 27th from Santa Cruz, Bolivia to San Francisco, USA. So it seems I will be spending three whole months in Bolivia! It also means that I will be spending my birthday in the Bolivian rainforest with all the big cats, monkeys & birds! Happy happy happy!!!
1 more ticket to get, sometime around the end of May, Van Couver, Canada to London, England. Then I have my itinerary sorted. I know some would rather have no plans as things change but this trip is very much in two parts for me. Bolivia and the USA. The Bolivian part is me seeing my friend Rako and her partner and then volunteering in Parque Machia. The US trip is a little more open and free, except for the knowledge that I will return from Canada in May....Most probably ;)
Well this weekend was my last free weekend in London till June 2011. From next weekend I will be working two jobs. Winding down my time at Medical Couriers till December 3rd but starting at Winter Wonderland from next weekend, my bar will be situated in The Spiegel Saloon. I'll working through till January 4th around six days a week if I can hack it! o_O
My next Weekend day out will be (apart from Gogol Bordello & Hawkwind gigs) will be Saturday 22nd January for some leaving drinks in The Big Red in Holloway. FB event to follow at some point :)
Wednesday, 3 November 2010
The end of my ten year career and my big adventure!
Well I did, I finally did it! Today I gave in my notice at Medical Couriers, from December 2nd I will no longer be a medical courier controller anymore, and that makes me very happy indeed!
The story so far:
Ten years ago I got a job as a motorbike courier in London, one of the most dangerous job going (they tell me) and after two years I decided I wanted to go where the cabbies and buses couldn't get me, in the office! So I worked my way through, Telephonist, Courier Co-ordinator, Postroom Manager, Van Controller, Ambulance Planner, Telephonist Trainer, Motorbike Co-ordinator, Medical Courier Controller & Courier Trainer.
So today I was offered the position of bar supervisor at the bar in Winter Wonderland in hyde Park for the xmas period, it pays a shit load more money then my current job and will help me to save the final bits of money needed for my supreme adventure :D
I leave behind a career (of which I shall never return) but also a great team and fantastic boss at Medical Couriers, without which I would have left a long time ago. Moira my boss has been the fairest and greatest inspiration boss i have ever had the fortunity (it's a word now!) to meet, someone who shall remain in my life for time to come. Adam is a great guy to work with, and even with his ability to forget things he surely makes up for in his knowledge of the industry and ability to inject his great navy born sense of humour into our office environment. Tim is the most devoted family man you'll ever hope to meet ever! A dedicated man to the very core and one that I hope to know for a long time to come! A music lover like no other. He's my kind of guy! Tracey is cantankerous, short tempered and awkward, and I love her for it, for Tracey tells it like it is, there's no beating around the bush, what you see is what you get, lets keep in touch. Natalie has been the biggest surprise of all, adapting to our department like someone who's always been there, keeping us on our toes and making us smile with her lovely stories and fantastic unprejudiced opinions, I will surely miss her. And that just leaves Lili, such a loving soul, such a passionate person, somehow my life would be emptier without Lili around....She makes great cakes too! ;) to all of you I bid farewell, auf wiedersehen, catch ya on the flipside! I will make you all very jealous with my postcards, but fear not, I will pop in with dark chocolate for you all randomly when you least expect it!
And here I find myself standing on the edge of a great mighty cliff, ready to dive off into the realms of my first travelling adventure, Bolivia is where I will begin (actually I'm starting in Switzerland to visit with my grandma in the mountains, a nice chill before the jungle of Bolivia!) I'm going to visit my very good friend Rachel in the rain forest for a bit then relocating to Inti Wara Yassi
Parque Machia
I will be working with big cats, monkeys and birds for a few months, and quite frankly I cannot wait to get stuck in!
After my time has ended in Bolivia I will begin phase two of my adventure. In April i'm flying to San Francisco where I will spend around a week partying it up (well it will be my birthday after all) before hitting the road on this
Big Enough bike for ya?!
Right up the highway 101. Should take around three days and I'll stop off with some great friends and founding members of The Texas Chainsaw Orchestra Vee & Daniel in Seattle, party party party!! And then finally to Van Couver to stay with the wonderful Miss Emma before I fly home in time for next years festival season to begin!
Wow is all I can say! plenty of hard work and long hours in my bar in hyde Park before I go (Please drop by and say hi!!) And it will all be worth it for the chance to do what i'm about to do.
So there it is people, my big adventure! And the first of many :D
Much love to you all,
Paul Lazar xx
The story so far:
Ten years ago I got a job as a motorbike courier in London, one of the most dangerous job going (they tell me) and after two years I decided I wanted to go where the cabbies and buses couldn't get me, in the office! So I worked my way through, Telephonist, Courier Co-ordinator, Postroom Manager, Van Controller, Ambulance Planner, Telephonist Trainer, Motorbike Co-ordinator, Medical Courier Controller & Courier Trainer.
So today I was offered the position of bar supervisor at the bar in Winter Wonderland in hyde Park for the xmas period, it pays a shit load more money then my current job and will help me to save the final bits of money needed for my supreme adventure :D
I leave behind a career (of which I shall never return) but also a great team and fantastic boss at Medical Couriers, without which I would have left a long time ago. Moira my boss has been the fairest and greatest inspiration boss i have ever had the fortunity (it's a word now!) to meet, someone who shall remain in my life for time to come. Adam is a great guy to work with, and even with his ability to forget things he surely makes up for in his knowledge of the industry and ability to inject his great navy born sense of humour into our office environment. Tim is the most devoted family man you'll ever hope to meet ever! A dedicated man to the very core and one that I hope to know for a long time to come! A music lover like no other. He's my kind of guy! Tracey is cantankerous, short tempered and awkward, and I love her for it, for Tracey tells it like it is, there's no beating around the bush, what you see is what you get, lets keep in touch. Natalie has been the biggest surprise of all, adapting to our department like someone who's always been there, keeping us on our toes and making us smile with her lovely stories and fantastic unprejudiced opinions, I will surely miss her. And that just leaves Lili, such a loving soul, such a passionate person, somehow my life would be emptier without Lili around....She makes great cakes too! ;) to all of you I bid farewell, auf wiedersehen, catch ya on the flipside! I will make you all very jealous with my postcards, but fear not, I will pop in with dark chocolate for you all randomly when you least expect it!
And here I find myself standing on the edge of a great mighty cliff, ready to dive off into the realms of my first travelling adventure, Bolivia is where I will begin (actually I'm starting in Switzerland to visit with my grandma in the mountains, a nice chill before the jungle of Bolivia!) I'm going to visit my very good friend Rachel in the rain forest for a bit then relocating to Inti Wara Yassi
Parque Machia
I will be working with big cats, monkeys and birds for a few months, and quite frankly I cannot wait to get stuck in!
After my time has ended in Bolivia I will begin phase two of my adventure. In April i'm flying to San Francisco where I will spend around a week partying it up (well it will be my birthday after all) before hitting the road on this
Big Enough bike for ya?!
Right up the highway 101. Should take around three days and I'll stop off with some great friends and founding members of The Texas Chainsaw Orchestra Vee & Daniel in Seattle, party party party!! And then finally to Van Couver to stay with the wonderful Miss Emma before I fly home in time for next years festival season to begin!
Wow is all I can say! plenty of hard work and long hours in my bar in hyde Park before I go (Please drop by and say hi!!) And it will all be worth it for the chance to do what i'm about to do.
So there it is people, my big adventure! And the first of many :D
Much love to you all,
Paul Lazar xx
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