For Nick, Ty and Joe

The Tentative Itinerary
So this is roughly the route we'll be taking. It is pretty rigidly mapped out, but that was mainly so I could make sure I was accounting for timing that we need to consider. Let me know what you think. I'm also mapping out approximate costs so that you can know how much to budget for different things. Keep in mind that you may opt to spend more or less according to your budgetary needs. Also, if you plan to hop on the internet or pick up some souvenirs, you'll want to budget for that as well. Please feel free to check my logic on all of this.

T=Transportation
L=Lodging
F=Food
A=Activities

SAT, NOV 22: The Canal
T=$38 L=$0 F=$5 A=$5 (TOTAL: $65)











03:00am cab to EWR ($17)
03:30am check in at EWR 05:30am flight to IAH 08:14am arrive IAH 09:00am depart IAH 02:06pm arrive PTY 03:00pm clear customs 03:15pm cab to bus terminal ($10)
03:45pm buy tickets to Changuinola ($24)
04:00pm cab to Miraflores Locks ($2)
04:30pm admission to Locks to see Canal ($5)
05:00pm cab back to Panama City ($2)
05:30pm dinner ($5)
06:00pm buy food supplies at bus terminal mall
08:00pm bus to Changuinola*
*We had originally talked about going to Boquete (Chiriqui province) first, but I thought it would be good to put the cold area in between the beaches and if we're sure we're going to be wiped from the overnight trip, lounging on the beach sounds like a better way to shake that off. Also, the buses have reclining seats and are pretty comfy so we should be able to sleep some.

SUN, NOV 23: Isla Bastimentos (Bocas del Toro)
T=$7 L=$10 F=$12 A=$? (TOTAL: $29+activities)










06:00am collectivo ride from bus stop to Finca 60 docks ($1)
07:00am water taxi to Colon($5)
08:00am water taxi to Bastimentos ($1)
08:30am check into hostel ($10)
09:00am breakfast ($3)
-beaches
-surfboard rental ($10)
-snorkeling tour ($15)
-hiking
-bike rental($8)
-Bastimentos Day Parade
01:00pm lunch ($4)
06:00pm dinner ($5)

MON, NOV 24: Isla Colon (Bocas del Toro)
T=$24 L=$10 F=$12 A=$? (TOTAL: $46+activities)











09:00am breakfast ($3)
09:30am water taxi to Colon
10:00am transport to wherever we go on the island ($3)
-Boca del Drago beach
-La Gruta bat cave ($1)
-scooter rental ($10)
-hiking
-bike rental($8)
01:00pm lunch ($4)
03:30pm water taxi to Changuinola ($5)
04:30pm collectivo to bus station ($1)
05:00pm bus to David ($13)
06:00pm pre-purchased dinner on bus ($5)
09:00pm bus to Boquete ($2)
10:30pm check into hostel ($10)

TUE, NOV 25: Boquete (Chiriqui Province)
T=$2 L=$10 F=$8 A=$96 (TOTAL: $116)















07:00am breakfast ($3)
07:30am pre-arranged rafting trip + tip ($95)
04:00pm cab to hot springs ($1)
04:30pm admission to hot springs ($1)
06:00pm cab to Boquete ($1)
07:00pm dinner ($5)
08:00pm night at hostel ($10)

WED, NOV 26: Boquete (Chiriqui Province)
T=$15 L=$0 F=$12 A=$? (TOTAL: $27+activities)












09:00am breakfast ($3)
-mountain tours ($20)
-hiking
-gardens
-mountain biking tours ($25)
-canopy tours ($60)
01:00pm lunch ($4)
06:00pm dinner ($5)
06:30pm bus to David ($2)
08:00pm buy tickets to Panama City ($13)
-catch a movie ($5)
-walk around town
-dance at La Boom* ($6)
10:45pm bus to Panama City**
*This might require paying a nominal fee to ask a local hostel to stash our stuff
**Again, I advocate the overnight bus. We had originally talked about flying from this side of the country back to Panama city. The reason I'm pushing for the bus is because the only advantage the plane has is comfort. Taking the overnight bus, we would definitely be saving money in terms of lodging and travel costs ($13 vs. $100 for the plane ticket, cab to hostel and lodging). Also in order to catch the plane, because of the timing of the flights, we'd actually have to leave Boquete earlier and still not be able to leave for San Blas until the next morning.

THU, NOV 27: Isla Robinson/Isla Carti Sugdub/Isla Kuanidup Grande (Archipelago de San Blas)*
T=$27/$32/$32 L=$18/$25/$45 F=$3 A=$0 (TOTAL: $68/$55/$95)










05:30am pre-arranged jeep to Carti picks us up from Hotel Caribe + tip** ($27)
07:30am pre-purchased breakfast ($3)
09:00am boat to Island ? ($20/$0/$20)
10:00pm check into pre-reserved hotel ($18/$25/$45)
-beach
-snorkel
-Kuna tours
01:00pm lunch
06:00pm dinner
*We need to decide before we leave where to stay so we can call ahead and make reservations. I don't want to show up at the docks and have to island hop until we find a vacancy. All of the options are all-inclusive with meals and tours. I narrowed us down to 3 options considering price, beach access and distance from other tourists. Here are my favorite options (pictures linked):
1. Isla Robinson ($18): teeny weeny, unpopulated island, nice beach on site, backpacker crowd, thatch-roof accommodations
2. Carti Sugdub ($25): populated island near the mainland, homestay in a Kuna community, access to nice beaches via tours, exposure to Kuna culture, dorm-style accommodations
3. Isla Kuanidup Grande ($45): tiny, unpopulated island, superb beach on site, no crowd, thatch-cabin accommodations
**We have to tell the jeep a hotel to pick us up at ahead of time and Hotel Caribe is the closest one to the bus station that I know of.

FRI, NOV 28: Isla Robinson/Isla Carti Sugdub/Isla Kuanidup Grande (Archipelago de San Blas)*
T=$0 L=$25/$45/$18 F=$0 A=$0 (TOTAL: $18/$25/$45)









10:00am breakfast at hotel ($18/$25/$45)
-beach
-snorkel
-Kuna tours
01:00pm lunch
06:00pm dinner

SAT, NOV 29: Panama City
T=$47/$27/$47 L=$12 F=$9 A=$? (TOTAL: $68/$48/$68+activities)











09:00am breakfast
11:00am boat to Carti* ($0/$20/$20)
12:00pm jeep to Panama City + tip ($27)
01:00pm pre-purchased lunch on the way ($4)
05:00pm check into hostel ($12)
06:00pm dinner ($5)
-dancing
-shopping
*Depending on the timing of the jeep transportation, we may need to leave earlier than this.

SUN, NOV 30: New York City
T=$45 L=$0 F=$5 A=$0 (TOTAL: $50)












07:30am pre-arranged cab to airport ($10)
08:00am check in with departure tax ($20)
09:00am breakfast ($5)
10:00am flight from PTY
03:10pm arrive in EWR
04:00pm back to NYC ($15)

Basically, you should budget about $425 for the basic package above up to $600 if you decide to go deluxe with plane transportation, nice restaurants, accommodations, and extra activities. Either way, let's do it.

experimental mp3 2008

This was fun.



Brief appearances by yours truly at 1:35 and 3:50. I'm wearing a yellow sweater and brown shorts and carrying a cream-colored purse.
An awesome closeup of Karen bringing latex destruction upon opposing forces at 4:20.

Following the event, Amy, Martha, Ted, Clara and I went to go eat. Giddiness and bad jokes abounded. Ted summed it up well: "I think that event just made me happy." Amen.

compound checklist

My roommate and I sometimes talk about food storage, sustainable building and alternative energy like many people talk about their retirement. That same sigh and "someday" sentiment often pops up as we're sorting our grains and trying to find cheap land in the pacific northwest. Recently as we were discussing the upcoming election and trying to decide who to write in as presidential candidates, I realized that we're not normal. It was a completely new concept for me as I've always considered myself pretty mainstream. I mean, I wear relatively normal clothes. I go to concerts. I ride the subway. I have a normal-ish job. I subscribe to magazines. I do normal stuff. So what if we have a "grains of the month" calendar (happy rye month, by the way)? I don't think I stand out as someone you'd notice from across the room as a person who secretly dreams of building her dream house out of dirt. When I verbalized this revelation, I could tell by her face and her knowing nod that she's actually been aware of this for some time. I'm slowly coming to grips with this reality.

In order to fully own this part of my identity, I'm putting my compound checklist on the record. This is the running list of things that I'll need in order to live my dream life. Feel free to add any suggestions.

For starters, we'll need some chickens

and definitely one of these (along with a local sawdust supplier).We'll also need one of these to make use of those Arrested Development DVDs.
We're also going to need basic things like a food processor, lots of cheese cloth and so forth for making use of our food storage. While we're at it, I'd also like to get one of these because they're cute and it'll keep the weird, woodsy serial-killer-types at bay....and I'll probably want a red wagon too.

questionnaire

I had to fill out a survey for a facebook my work is putting together. Some of the questions, I was pretty stuck on so I solicited some gchat contacts for some help. I loved what they had to say.

If you could spend a day in the life of anyone, who would it be and why?

Holly: someone who was sitting on a fabulous beach someday. and whoever this person is has skin that can be exposed to the sun. and the beach would be really beautiful. and someone would be bringing me fruity drinks

Jessica: a black child living in the projects. their experience is so opposite from my own, I think it would offer some fascinating prospective. i would also love to be Micheal Phelps and go for a swim. I have decided that I would want to be Bon Jovi for a day so that I could figure out how he can stand to be so dang sexy

Ned: someone close to the leadership of Hamas in the Gaza Strip...i want to better understand their mindset...that, or some in the Taliban...or someone in North Korea...would be interesting to witness very first hand a very different view of my world

Brook: johnny depp. (So you could make out with yourself?) yes. maybe Renne Fleming. she has a killer voice. ok, she does, but i would pick someone who does things i would never do. maybe an extreme sports person. snowboarder or motocross. the expert. you know. like Hotrod or someone.

If you could have played the starring role in any movie, which would you have picked and why?

Brook: Buttercup in the princess bride. just kidding

Jessica: well for this one I just have to think about who I would really like to kiss and be the girl who got to kiss him

If you had to describe your day as a traffic sign, what would it be and why?

Amy: soft shoulders

Holly: i had to google common traffic signs. i think I've decided on "Under Construction" because i'm always trying to make myself better. (cheesy, I know)

Brook: you need all those yields, and no left turns, and wrong way signs and STOPs. you could say, "I sing to myself all day. 'STOP in the name of love before you break my heart...'"

What is something that most people would be surprised to know about you?

Holly: how hard it was for me to overcome my fear of dead lobsters. most people are surprised by that when it comes up

flashback

that was fun

consolation prize

almost dying is fine, if it comes with this:

it happened like this

in march, i had probably the most amazing joint birthday party ever. it started off with a game of capture the flag in harlem and ended in a dance off where 4 teams, led by team captains, had 30 minutes to choreograph and perform a dance routine to assigned war-themed songs. getting a large group of 20-somethings to dance their brains out in central park...it was the gift that keeps on giving. allow me to share.

team blue 1


team fuchsia 1


team blue 2


team fuchsia 2