Just life...

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take,
but by the places and moments that take our breath away.

Sum it all up...

I thought it was about time to sum up my backpacking trip once and for all as my trip is coming to an end. Except for not having to pack my backpack I am still somewhat on my trip as I am doing just about nothing these days (a very difficult skill to have), enjoying the summer sunshine, the nature and good books. Being at my folk's place on the country side in Finland, is the best ending to the trip and the best adjustment back to reality. Soon I will have to put my high heels back on and go back to work...

My 7.5 months backpacking trip through Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia and the east coast of the States was an amazing and well needed trip! I stayed close to 1 month in each country and I had the best time of my life and really, truly enjoyed the freedom of backpacking and not knowing the next step. Backpacking is a way of life and the best way to travel. It is cheap, fun and adventurous! Here comes the best and the best of my trip:

• Favorite country: Guatemala, Panama and Colombia
• Best food: Local food in Colombia (platanos covered with chicken sause with hints of cheese and veggies), tortillas in Mexico and bbq:ed lobster tail and marinated shrimps in Belize
• Best sunset: So many sunsets, but the most memorable is from the beach in San Juan del Sur in Nicaragua... the sunset was just so strong and beautiful
• Hottest place: The surfer town Santa Teresa in Costa Rica... spent a lot of time in the hammock
• Coldest weather: In Guatemala around New Years ...brrrr... why didn't I bring my woolen socks, hat and gloves and for god sake my own 5 inch sleeping bag??
• Scariest thing I did: Standing on top of Pacaya volcano in Guatemala trying not to fall over and step in the flowing lava as the wind was blowing like crazy in the darkness...did I mention it was dark and that I could feel the lava moving under me. This volcano actually erupted 4 months later. Thank God I managed to climb down before that happened.
• Funniest moment: Dancing like insane at the CocoLoco pier bar in Utila (Honduras) while being sick and having fever... who said you can't have fun when you are sick??
• Scariest moment: The first time I heard howler monkeys. I thought it was 5 huge gorillas that was going to attack me.. and I was in the middle of the jungle somewhere in Guatemala with nowhere to hide... hahaha.
• The funniest thing I did: Flying like a superman (well superwomen) while canopying in the beautiful, green forest in  Monteverde, Costa Rica
• Best dance: Pieter from Holland definitely had the best moves, I had the best time dancing on the beach bar in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua and dancing salsa in the hostel in Panama city.
• Most beautiful women: The Canadian guy who dressed up as a girl to get the free drinks for ladies in the bar... and I actually thought it was a girl! Good job Cam!
• Best drink: RUM, rum rum, and the best one is Flor de Cana from Nicaragua or One Barrel from Belize... and it has to be rum with pineapple juice (ron y pina)!
• Best beach: No doubt, the islands in Archipelago San Blas outside Panama City in the Caribbean sea.. amazing beaches, snorkeling and tranquilo life
• Scariest chicken bus ride: Riding up and down and around the mountains in Guatemala while the bus driver is speeding like there is no tomorrow (when this happens just close your eyes and try to sleep or pray... it works!)
• Best body painter: The crazy Englishman David that has traveled the world many times and always carry body paint. All 20 of us had a blast painting each other :)
• Best party: Daniel's birthday party in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua... what a party!!! so much love!
• Gained: tons of incredible experiences, memories and some kilos
• Lost: a blue jacket, lotion and 5 years
• Learned: to live in the moment, never take anything for granted, to laugh and enjoy life, that sharing is caring and that you always should pack lighter than you think ... oh and I learned how to make coconut milk from scratch and to drum..somewhat
• Thought: thought someone how to float, dance salsa and drink a lot of water
• Most interesting locals: The Kuna people in Panama and the crazy Garifunas along the Caribbean coast
• Best Mayan ruins: Tikal in Guatemala.. amazing!
• Biggest fish: Barracudas
• What not to do while in Central America: be in a hurry
• Funniest CouchSurfing host: Charlie in Cali, Colombia, he had the funniest jokes
• Best hostel: Pagalu in Puerto Viejo in Costa Rica
• Worst room: Sleeping with cockroaches in Cauhita, Costa Rica, in my private room... so much for private!
• Best market: the fruit market in Medellin Colombia..wow I wanted to by every fruit in there, everything looked so exotic and tasty!
• Most memorable song: One more night with hmm a reggae singer... I heard this song every time I woke up in the hostel Bellas on the island Caye Caulker in Belize.... ahh yes I WILL stay one more night!
• Best bar: The Split in Caye Caulker, Belize (the best bar vibe and reggae, rum punches and clear blue water to chill in)
• The thing that made me scream the most and think I am going to die: The huge Tarzan Swing while canopying in Monteverde, Costa Rica .. Wow my heart git stock in my throat
• Tastiest fruit: I looooooove passion fruit, maracuya and Costa Rica has the best papaya, Panama the best coconuts and Colombia is just fruit heaven!
• Best music vibe: I wanted to marry the DJ playing at the beach bar in San Juan Del Sur cos he played the very best music and I danced like insane the whole night :) .. I think he turned down my marriage proposal...
• Funniest chicken bus ride: sitting side by side with 7 people in a row in a school bus, with small Mayan people in Guatemala holding on for life to the railing not to squeeze to death the poor small man next to me when the bus took steep turns left and right around the mountains...  this was a 4h bus ride and I couldn't stop laughing at the end as it was just insane :)
• Best guide book: Lonely Planet's Central America on a shoestring

There are just too many "best ofs" and memories that I could fill a 300 page book. I had a blast and was very lucky throughout my whole trip; nothing got stolen or broken and I met so many lovely, caring and funny fellow backpackers and locals on my journey. I can strongly recommend a trip to Central America! It is beautiful, cheap, has amazing nature, oceans, surf waves, beaches, people, fruit, islands, rum, and much more! Just go for it!

Always remember the magical times in life!

And remember to laugh! The situation may be critical but never serious :)

The adventure continues...