TravelStream™ news feed for member livingthedream on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/livingthedream en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Sun, 11 Oct 2009 08:06:10 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/livingthedream/livingthedream/1255262696/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/livingthedream/livingthedream/1255262696/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/livingthedream/livingthedream/1255262696/tpod.html Sun, 11 Oct 2009 08:06:10 -0400 Living The Dream - South America

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Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Caught a flight to Adelaide to buy a new car!! drove it back to Sydney via Coburg!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/livingthedream/livingthedream/1255262570/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/livingthedream/livingthedream/1255262570/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/livingthedream/livingthedream/1255262570/tpod.html Sun, 11 Oct 2009 08:04:45 -0400 Living The Dream - South America

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Coburg, Victoria, Australia

Caught a flight to Adelaide to buy a new car!! drove it back to Sydney via Coburg!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/livingthedream/livingthedream/1255262275/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/livingthedream/livingthedream/1255262275/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/livingthedream/livingthedream/1255262275/tpod.html Sun, 11 Oct 2009 08:02:32 -0400 Living The Dream - South America

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Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Caught a flight to Adelaide to buy a new car!! drove it back to Sydney via Coburg!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/livingthedream/livingthedream/1149365940/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/livingthedream/livingthedream/1149365940/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/livingthedream/livingthedream/1149365940/tpod.html Thu, 30 Jul 2009 20:36:59 -0400 Living The Dream - South America

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Santa Cruz, Bolivia

I am dedicating this page to people who are interested in volunteering in Sata Cruz in Bolivia. Please also see my entry on this blog under Santa Cruz for personal insights on my experience.

Are you from Austria? Have you been searching for volunteering opportunities in Bolivia on the internet? Finding it hard to locate volunteering opportunities? Let me save you some time!!!
I was recommended to an organisation called FAMUNDI, (Familias Unidas en Dios) an organisation based and funded out of Austria. Sounds religious? they are but i did not feel ANY religious pressure at all during my stay.

FAMUNDI is based in Rancho Nuevo, which is about 15 minutes from the centre of Santa Cruz. The foundation is committed to poor families who cannot afford to feed their families, primarliy focusing on single parent families. The foundation is currently committed to 36 families who have 120 children between them! Some with 11 children each!!
I was the first travelling volunteer FAMUNDI had received and what a great experience it was. I was fortunate enough to be there on the 5th day of the month which is when FAMUNDI hands out the monthly food portions to each of the 36 families. The portions consist of:
3kg of potatoes
3kg of onions
1kg of flour (2 due to winter when i was there)
1kg of pasta
1kg of sugar
1kg of rice

Each of the 36 families arrives to pick up their portions on the 5th. I was able to meet 26 of the 36 families during this exercise. My role was to measure up the contents of the handouts and to greet the families. (see my pics under my Bolivia, Santa Cruz entry on this blog.
We also spent a whole afternoon making and baking bread!! (see pics). I had never done this before so it was a great learning experience. We made over 400 rolls and over 70 empenadas with onion and Cheese which are handed out to 5 families per day until the ingredients run out.
Other roles i played was entertaining the kids. I played cards, marbles (bola as they call it) and football (or Pelota as Bolivians call it). The kids are starving for attention, and will hang outside all day just to kick a ball or help you improve your spanish!

The foundation was brilliant and really looked after me. There was a group meeting called to formally introduce me to the families where i had to say a few words. Accomodation and food was all supplied, unlike other volunteer organisations you didn´t have to pay a cent for anything! No administartion fee´s, no accomodation costs, no food costs, nothing. Any dontations you want to make are greatly accepted but NOT required. I gave my host family who put me up and fed me some meals a lot of fruit as the kids needed the nourishment. I also gave the foundation money so that next month every family could receive a portion of fruit along with their current portions. I am also returning in 2 weeks and am taking and taking 90 of the kids to the Circus!!! Will be unreal and a real treat for them!!!

If host families are not your style then from September 4th FAMUNDi will have 2 X 6 bed dorms available for volunteers on the grounds. They are beingt built right now, i saw the construction and they look great. One dorm has an on suite bathroom with a very cool jet bath!! The other has a toilet and shower seperate. there will be a kitchen and a common room. Also, the roof is being converted to an outdoor common area where barbeques or sunbaking can be had. All brand new and very modern and clean.

Transportation is not a problem either as Ruthy´s (the coordinator) husband (Lolo) is a cab driver and can take you anywhere (at a cost of course).

The requirements are minimal:
You must be from Austria
Basic Spanish to be able to communicate as none there speak english.
Experience with kids is a great advantage but not a necessity.
Ability to teach English again is a great advantage but not a necessity.
The desire to play with kids, drawing, playing, talking etc. kids rannge from 2 months to 20 years old.
A Phsychologist is really required, so if you posses these skills please help.
Committed to help. There are no strict rules or hours of work, you decide how much or little you want to do.
A strong will to want to help and make a difference in a community that needs it.

If you Austrian and are interested in finding out more here are the contact details:

1st point of contact in English, Spanish or German:
Anna
email - bolivien_famundi@gmx.at

2nd point of contact in Spanish only:
Ruthy
email: famundi_bolivia@hotmail.com

I highly recommed the organisation and feel their offering is exactly what travellers are looking for. A rich rewarding opportunity to give back without having to fork out expensive ´fee´s´that you never know where they end up. I know where all my donations will go and that is unique and amazing. The cultural experience and the opportunity to ´give back´ make FAMUNDI a great choice of volunteer organisations.

Feel free to also contact me with any questions - paulsemale@hotmail.com.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/livingthedream/livingthedream/1149283620/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/livingthedream/livingthedream/1149283620/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/livingthedream/livingthedream/1149283620/tpod.html Thu, 30 Jul 2009 20:14:35 -0400 Living The Dream - South America

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Santa Cruz, Bolivia

Whilst in Santa Cruz sitting at an internet café i met a couple of Americans who gave me some tips on volunteer organisations in Santa Cruz. I was having trouble locating them so it was perfect timing. One of the recommendations was an organisation called FAMUNDI, (Familias Unidas en Dios). Sounds religious but i did not feel any religious pressure at all. The organisation is based and funded out of Austria.
FAMUNDI is based in Rancho Nuevo, which is about 15 minutes from the centre of Santa Cruz. The foundation is committed to poor families who cannot afford to feed their families, primarliy focusing on single parent families. The foundation is currently committed to 36 families who have 120 children between them! Some with 11 children each!!
I was the first travelling volunteer FAMUNDI had received and what a great experience it was. I was fortunate enough to be there on the 5th day of the month which is when FAMUNDI hands out the monthly food portions consisting of:
3kg of potatoes
3kg of onions
1kg of flour (2 due to winter when i was there)
1kg of pasta
1kg of sugar
1kg of rice

Each of the 36 families arrives to pick up their portions on the 5th. I was able to meet 26 of the 36 families during this exercise. My role was to measure up the contents of the handouts and to greet the families.
We also spent a whole afternoon making and baking bread!! I had never done this before so it was a great learning experience. We made over 400 rolls and over 70 empenadas with Onion and Cheese which are handed out to 5 families per day until the ingredients run out
Other roles i played was entertaining the kids. I played cards, marbles (bola as they call it) and football (or Pelota as Bolivians call it).
The foundation was brilliant and really looked after me. There was a group meeting called to formally introduce me to the families where i had to say a few words. Accomodation and food was all supplied, unlike other volunteer organisations you didn´t have to pay a cent. Any dontations you want to make are accepted but not required. I gave my host family who put me up and fed me some meals a lot of fruit as the kids needed the nourishment. I also gave the foundation money so that next month every family could receive a portion of fruit along with their current portions. I am also returning in 2 weeks and am taking and taking 90 of the kids to the Circus!!! Will be unreal and a real treat for them!!!

If you have found this page by search engine and are interested in volunteering with FAMUNDI please see my other entry called info for Volunteers in Santa Cruz, Bolivia where i have more details including contact info. I highly recommed the organisation and feel their offering is exactly what travellers are looking for. A rich rewarding opportunity to give back without having to fork out expensive ´fee´s´that you never know where they end up. I know where all my donations will go and that is unique and amazing. The cultural experience and the opportunity to ´give back´make FAMUNDI a great choice of volunteer organisations.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/livingthedream/livingthedream/1234535760/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/livingthedream/livingthedream/1234535760/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/livingthedream/livingthedream/1234535760/tpod.html Sun, 01 Mar 2009 04:55:55 -0500 Living The Dream - South America

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Torquay, Victoria, Australia

Wicked little town for chilling out for a few days and going to the beach.
Torquay is the home of Australia surfing and home to Quicksilver, Rip Curl and otherr major surfing labels.
Caravan park was really well located and clean but a little cramped, they really made the most fo the land and squeezed as many caravan and tent sites onto the lot. http://www.gorcc.com.au/torquay-caravan-park/.

Check out Flamenco resturant for great Spanish Tapas at a great price. Good wine too. Service was excellent as was the food.
Perfect place to start Great Ocean Road drives (see my previous entries for another trip I took all the way down the Great Ocean Road. We went as far as Airey Inlet for breakfast and to check out the lighthouse (see pics). On our way back to Melbourne we decided to pop into Queenscliff. Passed some awesome towns on the way - Ocean Grove and Barwon Heads after a tip from a Sydney Cabbie. He didnt lets us down they were brilliant little towns.
Really enjoyed Queenscliff, an old town with wide streets and fully catering the tourists. Here is where you catch the vehicle ferry. Highly recommed the trip.
Made our way back to Melbourne for a taste of St. Kilda. do yourself a HUGE favour and get to a bar/restaurant called Borsch Vodka and tears. This place is AWESUM! wicked Polish food in a wicked atmosphere. Go the Polish tapas style food for a variety and allow yourslef plenty of time to go over (and drink) the Vodka menu!!
http://www.yourrestaurants.com.au/guide/?action=venue&venue_url=borsch_vodka_and_tears
After dinner head to the best bar in Asutralia! Revolver! www.revolverupstairs.com.au. Get there at about 7pm and plant yourslef on one of the lounges and watch it change slowly till about 11pm..... then become part of it... Goes off.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/livingthedream/livingthedream/1229955840/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/livingthedream/livingthedream/1229955840/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/livingthedream/livingthedream/1229955840/tpod.html Sun, 01 Mar 2009 04:28:15 -0500 Living The Dream - South America

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South West Rocks, New South Wales, Australia

Stay in SWR for 3 nights camping with the family. Nice quiet place to relax. Tourist Park was good, clean amd within walking distance of everything http://www.southwestrockstourist.com.au/
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/livingthedream/livingthedream/1213968840/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/livingthedream/livingthedream/1213968840/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/livingthedream/livingthedream/1213968840/tpod.html Fri, 22 Aug 2008 03:02:23 -0400 Living The Dream - South America

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Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Wentt to Melbourne for Jay's wedding.
Was an awesome laid back informal wedding in a stuuning location called Comme at 7 Alfred Place. Highly recommedned for functions. Great food, service and setting.

On the Friday before the wedding i went to see a cool exhibition of Ned Kelly at the libary. The building of the library was stunning enough, the exhibition was cool. they had his armoured suit on display, very cool. See the pic attached.

Headed off to the Crown Casino to try and get on a table without any luck, the place was packed!

On the Sunday we toured St Kilda which was cool and went to Luna Park Melbourne (see the pic). It is the tinniest Luna Park, Sydney's is much better.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/livingthedream/livingthedream/1214487840/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/livingthedream/livingthedream/1214487840/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/livingthedream/livingthedream/1214487840/tpod.html Fri, 22 Aug 2008 02:52:41 -0400 Living The Dream - South America

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Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Did the Centrepoint (AMP) Skywalk today. Very cool. Not too scary

Was extremely windy on one side, we had a clear day with spectacular views. See the picture

Recommended.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/livingthedream/livingthedream/1218019620/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/livingthedream/livingthedream/1218019620/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/livingthedream/livingthedream/1218019620/tpod.html Tue, 12 Aug 2008 07:53:34 -0400 Living The Dream - South America

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Port Douglas, Australia

Had a work function on the Wednesday and Thursday but had the Friday and Saturday to myslef.

Thursday night was great, as part of the work function we were taken into a rainforest where the event was set up, we ate and danced in the middle of the raisnforest, was awesome!

On the Friday i went diving, wasnt as good at my trip back in march but wicked none the less.
Went Diving with Calypso 0740996999 - http://www.calypsodive.com. Thy are a pretty good outfit. Good service and good food, unlike my previous trip we were accompanied by staff on our dives. $245 gets you 3 dives with all the gear, pick up and drop off at your accomodation and lunch.
The highlight was seeing a humpback whale on the way out to the reef AND on the way back!!! Wicked. Check out the video.

We went diving on South Opal Reef at 3 locations - Blue Buoy, Bash and Wedge reefs. Was O.K,saw a heap of fish, a couple of turtles and loads of coral. Unfortunately we had bad weathe ron the way out and on the way in, the seas were rough and choppy.

For work I stayed at the Rydges Sabaya Hotel, very good, nothing to rave about though.
I then moved to Blue Leaf Rooms at Treetops which i booked on the internet. This place was great. It is a hotel based inside a resort, so you have access to all the resorts facilties like pools, spa's, restaurants, bars and transportation.
Great friendly service. i was met by the owner KC who checked me in and showed me to my room. KC gave me a 4:30pm check out, that is completely unheard of! She was very friendly givign me some tips on good restaurants nearby (Barrier Reef Tavern) and other local shops and well as transportation into Port Douglas.
Only two minor drawbacks are - (1) proximity to Port Douglas, you need to take the shuttle which is a 5-10 minute ride and costs $3.50 and (2) a little noisy , i think this was the room i had. You could hear the goings on in the hallway, to be fair it was past 9am before any noise started.
The rooms have massive king sized beds, air con, cable T.V and they have family rooms too. All this for $85.
Around the corner you have the beach and all sorts of water sportss - kite surfing, windsurfing etc.
Providing KC doesnt have your room reserved for someone else she is very flexible on your check-out time.
Forget about booking online, contact KC and her husband Phill on 07 4099 1683. Check out their website at www.blueleafrooms.com.au. Click contacts us on the website to communicate directly with KC and Phill.

If you want to do a foot tour in Port Douglas make sure you head up to the lookout and the location of the old lighthouse for great views. See my 2 pictures.

For other good food go to Salsa in Port Douglas. No shortage of bars, restaurants and shops. See the pic.

For transportation from/to Cairns use Coral Reef Coaches (07) 4098 2800 for $32.00 or Sun Palm is another company.

othr dive companies:
http://www.cairnsdive.com.au
http://www.silverseries.com.au
Tech Dive 0740996880
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