costaed"s journeys

2009-07-01T15:18:00.000-07:00

This area is full of butterflies and other bugs and creatures probably because there are no peolpe around, check out the butterfly on my shoe, it was on my hand and on top of my noggin at first!!

This road is way out in the back forty about 5km into the jungle outside of Granada. At the end is a big gate to private property and on the way are some farms, not many in these parts with tranquala holes in the road and vipers in the bushes but the veiw of Laguna de Appoyo is amazing, you need to ask permission from the local resident to cross his field to get the veiw though and of course my batteries in my camera died on the way up the road, doah!!

What it's all about!!

2009-06-28T10:54:00.000-07:00

This posting is for the person with the misconception of what addiction really is and not because there is just nothing better to do in their lives!! It is their lives and they do have alot to do!!

THERE IS ALWAYS A WALL WE HIT IN OUR LIVES!!

Trust issues are always going to get in the way of relationships, this is a fact even with people who have led normal lives, haha what the heck is normal though, last time I heard it was a town in Nevada.

Some times it takes time to realize things that are rite in front of your face but blinded by things you want or distracted by things that are more attractive at the time will stop one from going forward constructively
I've spent alot of time here in Leon relaxing and thinking about things, sometimes not so good things but this is part of the process of recovery.
People hear the word recovery and automatically think drugs or alchol but the fact remains that it is actually recovery from the way one has been thinking about life and love.
Retraining the way one thinks and how one reacts is the true process of recovery, this takes the most amount of time and is the most dangerous time during recovery, due to fact it is much easier to go back to old and familiar ways, self destruction. Dealing with people on the normal plain and being able to accept their ways even if it is different then yours and possibly completely out in left field is the challenge, for me anyway probably due to the fact I'm very analytical and have a different perception about everything I encounter.

Acceptance and patience is still the answer I believe, but still difficult with so many dumb asses out there in this world.

2009-06-27T11:37:00.000-07:00

I´ve found some paths are over grown and difficult to see where they lead or if leading any where. In the world of addiction I´ve had regain the hunger for life to chop a new path to see what is on the other side, chop through the fear of the unknown and the what to expect. Not thinking of what I´ve allready seen and am comfortable with, THE ZERO STATE, my secure spot where I´ve allways felt safe, self lothing in pity, shame, guilt and anger with my blanket, my dope or booze!!

I´ve followed people down some pretty shitty paths and some how in most cases found myself lost and no one there to follow and no one there to hear me as I screamed out for help. Scared, lonely, angry and beaten up by the path that I was on, it broke me down and kick the shit out of me.

Reaching some of the highest points in ones life does take time and patience along with the will to reach these places, maybe for the view or just to say they can do it and have done it.

Holding on to pain and fear is not an option. A person can not be happy doing what they love to do if they hold this stuff in without facing it and or over coming it and moving on with thier lives.

Somethings you just to walk awy from and forgive the ingnorance that has blessed some peoples lives. They really don´t understand how dangerous this lack of education they have could get them into hot water one day, I found if one isn´t to quick to comment on subjects beyond thier compryhention, they remain safe from ridicual.

Pictures of the trek

2009-06-23T18:48:00.000-07:00

Riding on top of the chicken bus could be a task but alot cooler and the breeze feels fine aswell!!!

Can you imagine this fling through the air off the top, it's two hours out boat and 200 feet out of the water.

Lava flow of may layers that indicate the heat involved at the time of eruption

Traffic was frustrating on the volcanoe

>

On the way to the camp location was a journey in it self on the chichen bus and why is it called a chicken bus you ask? Well they transport live chickens from time to time on these buses.

2009-06-23T18:45:00.000-07:00

Hike volcanoes, help street kids!!

2009-06-23T18:10:00.000-07:00

Cosiguina was quite the amazing location, it had a view from the top of El Salvidor and Hondurus in the distance, absolutely stunning. The hike was greuling, hot, humid and constent with an elivation gain of 684m from sea level or from our camp. There were six of us in total including two guides, a couple from Montreal, three ladies, two from the British Islands, one from Texas and of course myself. It was a four hour bus ride, stopping in Chinetega to transfer buses and of course the terminals were all the way across town from one another. There wa sa storm that rolled through with thunder and lightningon Saturday nite that was insane, it felt like the storm was within arms raech, loud and certainly wet as water was of abundance in our canp, not in our tent but in the others.
The town was like going back in time, no electricity, hand pump wells and of course cattle and other animals roaming the dirt roads in numbers. A beautiful baech that was of black sand and cliffs reaching 70 feet in places. In these cliffs you could see the evidience of the mass destruction with the layers of lava flow covering everthing in it's path, petrified trees and who knows what else!!
In 1835, this volcanoe blew it's top off in a and probably the most violent eruption in the Amercas since colonization. Sitting at 872, it was over 3000m high, the highjest in Central America, then!! There's a picture of a few islands off the beach, which takes about one and half to two hours to reach, these were part of this volcanoe and the largest out there is close to 200 feet high. You calculate what kind of devistation this created and multipy it by 10, you maybe close if not very far off the mark!!!!

Life is to short to be miserable!

2009-06-11T11:06:00.000-07:00

I've be in Leon now for 2 weeks and I find it to be a very welcoming city. The people here are friendly and the food here is good, except for that stuff that lady sells over at the mercado, man that made me feel bad. On a brighter note things are cheap here and this includes rent, taxis and tours of volcanos, which are situated every where in the area form big to small. There are also very beautiful ladies like my friend here, a dance instructor and proud mother of a very intelligant little girl, whom has mom rapped around her finger.

It's been a long time since I smelled beautiful!!

2009-06-08T10:29:00.000-07:00

My freind in Leon has been teaching me spanish, a very nice lady named Elvera!

Some more pics to trip out on!!

2009-06-01T13:39:00.000-07:00

Note the kid in hand on the moterbike flyn´by, ya don´t see that in Canader!!

2009-06-01T13:02:00.000-07:00

The most beautifull church I´ve seen so far in Leon!

Focus in on the entrance!

1700´s shadowed by 2000 technology!

Standing on top of one of oldest cathedrals in Leon was truely an epic experiece, for the cost of $2 it was well worth hanging out taking photos with a friend I just met from New Jersey staying at the same hostel, super cool gal.
In the back ground is the church in the first two photos, built in the 1700´s aswell.

One day trekn´around

2009-05-31T06:15:00.000-07:00

I´m now in Leon, the univirsity capital of Nicaragua and also the most colonial city other than Granada. This city has tons of history from churches built in 1700 to the Santinista war just recently concluded, which there is still eveidence of from the bullet holes in the sides of buildings.
Life is hard for some people here and harder for others, on the same token in most cases people are happy. Hardship is something that exists in every culture, every city, country and or neighborhood. There are some things that will never stop and change, death and time are some of three, I believe to be the main elements in life one can never halt or harness.
Life is what you make it "yes" but at the same time life is life and what happens, does exactly that happens, so living with that by acceptance is key!!
I´ve seen some disturbing things since I´ve been here but have also seen more disturbing events else-where and wouldn´t change a thing in the past because it got me here, physically and mentally.
I have two songs for people to listen to and a mini video that I recommend, the songs are "Change" by Blind Melon, "Mouth full of cavities" also by Blind Melon and the video "Validated" sent to me from a friend via youtube.
Check them out and enjoy!!

2009-05-30T06:22:00.000-07:00

I went to a place called Miradira on the volcano Madera after I rode out of Domingo, which has a number of petroglyphs dating back to 300 b.c.
The ride over was torturous going into Belgue, a small village were the local bus starts in the morning and ends in the evening. The last hill up to the eco-lodge was "well " the sign said 1 km, it felt like 10km with the sun beating down on me and a very steep grade. By the time I arrived at the lodge, my core body temp was past it´s limits, I registared at the reception and went directly to the shower to bring it back down to normal range. 15-20 min later, I finally stoped sweating under the cold water of this little more than basic shower stall. After do this I drank 2 liters of water and had a meal then a siesta in one of the hammocks for an hour or so. This was the only worriesom time I´ve had on this adventure here on Ometepe.

Hear her grawl

2009-05-27T07:35:00.000-07:00

So I decided to go hang out on the Island of Ometepe, which has two volcanos, the biggest of the two is Conception and she is active 24/7. I started my ride from my friends house(a Vancouverite)in Rivas to the ferry terminal in San Jorge. It cost me all of $4us to get on the ferry that took 1hr and 15 min to reach the port on Ometepe. From there I rode to a place call Playa Vencia, where I stayed at this little place on the shore of lake Nicaragua for $5 and a nice plate of chicken with rice and fresh veggies for $4.25, in total I cost me under $10 for the package. The next day was a longer ride and took alot more out of me, my destination Playa Domingo. This is where I could her grawls while I relax, swing from the hammock privlage that came with the room cost of $12. This place was sweet, my room even had a private washrroom and shower, the other did aswell but was a dorm(all to myself mind you)aswell on the beach.

some more pictures

2009-05-22T06:42:00.000-07:00

Listening is worth a thousand words

2009-05-22T06:10:00.000-07:00

I found my ears to be my best tools I've recieved. I've heard a lot of bullshit in the past and expect to hear more in the future and have found there is some benifits to weathering the storm. One can gain a lot of information about a persons character from listening to bullshit or trash talk coming from someones mouth. I've recently experienced this while living in Nicaragua. Past relationships gone bad and recentments built up over time in a he said she said crowd, very interesting stuff if one has the patience to just sit back and listen.
I'm quite fortunate in the fact that I made some decitions a few years ago to clean up my life and find a new direction for my future, I still battle with my habitual activaties today but without recentments and the knowledge of what it can and will do if you let shit get to you. I've taken alot from the recovery scene and applied most of the information along with the memories of the people in those scenes, houses, meetings, etc, to my life today.
Unfortunatly there are people out there that will never recover, some because they just don't want to and others that are to far gone into despair and or phsycosis.

I wish all the best of luck with thier stuggles and my your day of happiness come sooner than you expect it!!!

Back in Canada ( shortly)

2009-04-02T11:59:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I've posted anything on my blog and the time is now. I've been back in Canada now for 3 weeks and I'am not really enjoying it here to say the least! People are very uptight and inconciderate I've found, basically the same way as when I left and only to get worse. My time here is almost done, I fly out again on Sunday for a longer period of time on this next adventure to the south pacific. The people there are far more genuine and friendly with a strong survival character to them, living on a day to day basis and enjoying life for what it has to offer.

While I've been back, I've noticed some of the people I knew were not doing anything with them selves as far as growth, remaining in thier pitty pots or self lothing frames of minds. When I left I still held some recentments and while I've been back I have achieved on lifting those further off my shoulders. With this I can go on living my life knowing what efforts made on my behalf are just that, "my efforts". Being free from anger and giving forgiveness will do just that, set one free.
There were some things that I really had to bite my lip with and somethings I couldn't hold back on. I said my peace and gave my opinion or my view (my perseption!lol)on certain subjects involving certain individuals. If it's not heard, it's not my place to make it heard. I know one thing , it's off my chest!!

NOW IT'S TIME TO CONTINUE WITH MY STEP WORK!!
STEP13, living life outside of the program and meeting people who are not in the program that are confident, conciderate, caring and have control over thier actions knowing the meaning of the word consiqences or out come.

Peace out!!

2009-02-28T15:02:00.000-08:00

2009-02-28T14:30:00.000-08:00

While I've been here I've paid close attention to peoples ways, mannerism, character and habits. It's like every where else, there's a certain amount of facaud involved with every group of people. In this small community, I know now who is who and to a point what is and what isn't. Proding, testing and creating reaction is one way of finding truths, I believe this is a nessessary, deliberate way for me to figure out what I want to know about what I need to know. When it comes to being involved with people on a personal level or a buisness level, one needs to know all the strengths and weaknesses of those individuals that your involving your self with, by choice of course. Stength, honour and respect play in on living amongst people of different walks of life and culture. I found every world one chooses live in is pretty much the same, whether if it's in the drug world, the recovery world or everday living life to it's fullest world. The drama and sometimes dynamics and frustrations of timing or accepting will forever exist in every little world we put ourselves in and with this I've found listening and patience to be the most important elements of living and being happy, knowledge is grand.

sweet

2009-02-26T15:45:00.000-08:00

Photos of Nicaragua

2009-02-25T07:32:00.000-08:00

I've got a few photos I've uploaded to my facebook site, if you like to view them, please go to my FB site. I've been busy these days helping with the construction of a new hotel in Gigante'. I've been journeling quite a bit on paper these days due to the fact that accessing a comuter is time consuming, so when I have a day when I have more time, there is going to be a whole lot of things to be said and of couse photos. For the time being I will say life in Nicaragua is quite different and wonderful for the most part. In this little village, there is some drama between some parties and some hard feelings, I've done and doing work for them and staying out of the drama but hear it from time to time. The surfer world is like any other world full of excitement and squables just like other worlds, for example the recovery world, the only difference is surfers are die from waves but their are some that do from drugs. Addiction is every where and that's the way it is, live with it but remember what it can and does do on a daily to many. I've accepted this fact and live with it around me, people partyn' and having fun doing it, I'm not going to remove myself from events or refuse to accociate with some people because them have a cold drink on a hot day, this is their choice but not nessessarily mine at that time. Anyway enough of my views I have to go install an electrical panel for the hotel and get ready for my siesta in the afternoon. From the south pacific, Edwardo.

2009-02-20T09:28:00.000-08:00

This journey is just being I believe, and has a whole lot of venture around the corner. Livingthe Nicaraguan style is showing me alot about my strengths, curage and patience. I look back now at the last 9 months of how I was lioving and believe it built a callus and instilled a new characteristic in me that will forever be with and part of me Not a whole lot bothers me anymore nor do I find myself dwelling on too many things. This posting will be short and sweet due tto the fact I have a lot going on here in Gigante', work, play, sleep and eat.
Edward, peace out!!

2009-02-18T12:04:00.000-08:00

I've found it quite interesting being down in another country away from people in your own country. The distance in miles creates a distance emotionally between many friends, some make claims, some stay in touch and some loose contact completely. It's hard to say why this happens but it does, due to busy life style or no life style possibly? These things are none of my concern at this moment nor will they be, just the fact I'm pointing them out is enough for me to accept the way these things may be and are. Letting go and accepting is so easy these days. Accept the things you can not change, courage to change the things you can and the wisdom to know the differance. 12 step should include a 13th step moving on with your life and hanging out with people with every day problems, normies as some call them, what retards who ever comes up with this stuff. Give your self a label and you will live it, as labeled till you stop labeling ones self. One will always be stupid if they constently call themselves stupid, one will be an alcoholic or addict if they call them selves as such. Segrigation creates isolation, WHO WANTS TO BE ISOLATED. Isolate yourself and you will continue to stuggle and whine to the other struggling whiners, nice life, time to move on and live life for what it has to offer. Ten or twenty years of yappn' to people you really don't give a shit about, in a room of problems and problemed people with no life, sorry time to impement step 13, MOVE ON. A friend of mine told me you need support, support and more support, I agree but getting support from people who believe they are sick with a disease that gives them an exuse to fuck up all the time and look up to people who have more confidence, doesn't make sense to me. Getting support from people who are just living, laughing and loving with self control and self respect, I believe is the answer. That maybe just my perseption, LMAO!! Peace and love from the south pacific !!!!

2009-02-16T07:04:00.001-08:00

I know I was born and I know I will die, in betweens mine. Brilliant stuff, I believe for what ever that's worth. The verse is writen by Eddie Veddar and makes me think and liveon a daily basis, charishing every hour or even every minute some days, depending on what I'm encountering, learning or even teaching. I went to a music festival on Valentines nite in a place called Tola, absolutely amazing, I was one of 3 foreiners. When I arrived, I was a little intimidated at first, but after 5 minutes, I was quite comfortable. I had people asking me about my tattoos, where I was from and if we could practice spanish & english, this went on through out the evening. There was 300 to 400 people there and when it was over to my suprise, it was like it never happened. All the people vanished within 20 minutes. We couldn't find a taxi after the event, so I started walking back to Gigante', solo. I left my two amigos behind, they wanted to party in Tola and I wanted no part of it, so I was putting one foot infront of the other to home. Now this is no walk in thye park kinda walk, this is a 4 hour journey of dry jungle on both sides of this dirt road. I got to the junction to Gigante' and a fisherman on his way to work in Gigante' pick me up and procceeded to tell me I was a little crazy to walk all that way at nite and it is very dangerous because of big cats and other things that go bump in the nite. I had an hour left of walking before I got back to Gigante' but thanks to this gentleman I was in my bed earlier then I expected. I was told by a few people in Gigante' this has never been done and I'm going to be a legend once the news get aound. It will be good for my reputation when the two buisnesses get off the ground, the disco teck and the mountain bike shop. LMAO!! As they say in Nicaragua "Nica chimba" ya don't wanta now, it's slang and dirty but I like it!!

From paridise in the Pacific, liven', laughn' and loven'
Edwardo, peace!!

TRUE PURA VIDA

2009-02-13T08:02:00.000-08:00

Nicaraguan coffee and a Belmont red, a type of cigarette made here in Central America, to start my day while watching the local fishermen bring in thier daily catch. The family, I'm watching are the owners of a restarante' called " LaGaviota", who are the now friends of mine. I help them every once in a while at the restarante or on a surf, fishing tour for geengos, who have money to spend searching for that perfect wave. It's a very pleasent and enjoyes style of living. The families are close and laughter is always present. This family is the most prominent in Gigante and have offered me a home stay, helping them, helping me with spanish, english and chorus for an indeffinet amount of time, Raffy the head of the family asked his cousin Zack if I would be interested in this proposition. He's always asking how I'm doing, which is very endearing, and told his cousin I could stay for what ever amount of time I like. What an honour, I believe they like my comic style of speaking in spanish. I'm allways smiling and making them smile, I love it!!! I'm going to accept thier offer and immerse my self into thier life style, understanding the communities politics and gaining respect. This is very important for living and opertating my own buisness here!!

Gigante is the spot for me

2009-02-07T09:18:00.000-08:00

I'm in Gigante now and have been here for a few days tenting on the beach. What a place to relax, it's so peacefull and laid back. There's a population of maybe 100 local people, and about 20-25 American and Canadian residance. There's good people, good surf and good fish but it is off the beatn' path, well worth the journey to get here. Signal is weak for the internet sometimes, so communication is difficult from time to time. Buisness possibilities here are good for it is an undiscovered area for now. I been offereed some work on some propositions for buisness venture, and it sounds very promising.

2009-02-02T11:50:00.000-08:00

Well here I am in Nicaragua, finally! What a journey getting to the border and out of Costa Rica. San Jose´ was an absolute gong show, I planned on staying for 2 days and decided to leave the following day the plane touched tarmac. Fast, dirty and quite dangerous if you don´t keep you head up and your eyes pealed. The bus trip to the border was fabulous, the driver was a pretty cool cat, who seemed to know amost every person traveling that highway, if that´s what you want to call it. There was a little black car that almost ran us off the road, but due to the skills of this man, we provailed and stayed on the road. I have pictures of the trip, the bus and a ton of other really cool things, but I´m still workn´on finding the facility to accomidate my needs. So be patient, stay tuned and you´ll see what I see but not how I see it. It´s a absolutly beautiful place full of buisness and romance oppurtunities. At the moment I´m in San Juan Del Sur, check the web for some info and pictures for the time being untill I post my own.
PURA VIDA !!!
Ed.S

2009-01-28T10:59:00.000-08:00

I've recently discovered a song by Sarah Mclachan called witness, a beautiful song! Check it out on youtube, enjoy!! Another 24 to all !!

2009-01-27T18:27:00.000-08:00

This one of the views and activities of the Fraser Valley that I enjoy when I'm in Canada. Fishing on the Chilliwack River is very special, the salmon runs are something to see and remember. Fisherman from around the world come to get one on the line.

2009-01-23T07:54:00.000-08:00

6 more sleeps to lift off, I 'am so looking forward to my walk about in Central America. Life in Canada is not a life I want to be part of on a full time basis, there are way to many people to meet out there with no angles or alternative reasons to associate with you. Canada is beautiful for the most part ( the scenery), but the governments are becoming corrupted and citizens becoming dumb, cost of living is increasing and the wages remaining stagnant, property value is going up and so are the taxes, drugs are rampant and recovery is a bigger business than construction.

It may sound like I'm complaining to some but these are the facts or in recovery they say, "that's your perception", fucking' joke you get a label if you get help for an obsession, your thinking isn't correct now that you've been in treatment. Well I've got some news for you, it wasn't before I asked, that's why I asked.

My perception is just fine when it comes to viewing the world for what it is today and what I see for what it will be tomorrow.

You fall down and you gotta keep getting' back up, brush yourself off and keep on walking', sometimes a little slower so you can see the leg sticking' out that wants to trip you or the rock your not looking for, cause your enjoying the scenery. What ever the case maybe, you just don't run all the time, it hurts a lot more when you fall on your face.

2009-01-21T06:36:00.000-08:00

These are views from a possible project site in the works for the community of Chiliwack. I truely hope this project goes through. Make it work and as a good friend says from time to time, make it so! You know who you are!

2009-01-20T08:10:00.000-08:00

PURA VIDA

Mama, demands respect!!!

Epic photo that, unfortunately I didn't take.

Having skills to play at this level, takes some kind of spiritual unity with her, I suspect.

2009-01-19T09:09:00.000-08:00

A symbol of balance, the yin yang.

I picked this picture to represent the fact there can be balnce in your life, BUT on a constent, you battle other forces within that balace and outside you may get burned if you lose that balance.

I hope you find your balance and keep it safe.

Pura Vida,

Edward.

2009-01-19T08:11:00.000-08:00

Chilliwack has some beautiful shots this time of year, the hike up to the peak in the summer gives a 360 degree veiw that's amazing.

2009-01-16T08:09:00.000-08:00

I 'd like to hear some comments on my posting regarding recovery in the Wack, I'm interested to hear some opinions! Don't be scared I can handle it!

2009-01-16T08:00:00.000-08:00

Here's a picture I took in the fall this year of a old school truck. There for a few years I imagine!
There will be alot of photos from Central America published on this blog in the next month, stay tuned, you won't be disappointed.

2009-01-14T08:03:00.000-08:00

If you have a chance, view this video that I'am unable to upload, but it's at www.maniacworld.com/are-you-going-to-finish-strong.html
Please check it out, it is well worth it!!

2009-01-14T07:28:00.000-08:00

15 days and counting the minutes for departure on my journey.

This stay in Chilliwack has been a test of will and patience, dealing with and helping those in a recovery setting.
I've found so much deception and hypocrisy, it makes sense now why the failure rate is so high for those less fortunate souls with addictions or a hopeless state of being, due to whatever has happened to them in their lives, losing a loved one or losing their career of 20 yrs because of attrition or many other reasons.
There are so may predators out there in the fellowships taking advantage of the system and those lost within it, that it's easy for them to be just a statistic or even a casualty.

One day they will all be exposed and hopefully the health care system will appoint an organization that truly cares to take the reins and help those who need it!!

Without any angle for their own personal gain.

My new bloog I created

2009-01-12T20:21:00.000-08:00

This is the first time I've ever created a blog!
I created it for people to check out while I journey through Central America on my quest for tranquility, honesty and a peaceful life style.
There will be photos, video and commentary attached to this blog and hopefully some people will get some inspiration from my life and how I've changed it from who I was to who I've become.

Life is to short for conflict and kayos.
What happens to a man is less significant, than what happens within him