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Article #18 MISCELLANEOUS (PART 2) ISSUES - What About Them?

by Jim Jaillet - Copyright 2006 - All Rights Reserved

Article #1, CENTRAL AMERICA: You Can Do It!, discussed the importance of
planning. In this final article, I'll provide more miscellaneous tips
that will complete your preparation of planning for YOUR TRIP! Rather
than categorizing them, they appear randomly.

* Weather/Clothes. I can only provide basic information on these two
subjects. I'll share with you that on my 343 day trip I experienced
weather conditions ranging from 110+ degree temperatures with 100%
humidity to 0 degree wind chill factors and several inches of SNOW. The
vast majority of the time 70-90 degree temperatures reigned. With the
Internet, it is very easy to find out year-round weather conditions for
any given time of the year, for any given location. Plan clothing
accordingly. Unless you live in your rig full-time like myself, with
limited space bring less clothing rather than more. Clothing is both
available and relatively inexpensive everywhere.

* Laundries. Available most everywhere. Drop-off service or
do-it-yourself. Usually inexpensive.

* Telephones. Depending on the country, I can rate service mediocre to
very poor. Mexico being the best and Honduras totally antiquated and
almost non-existent.

* Air-conditioning. I elected to drive my rig with NO air-conditioning
operating. I could see no sense in riding in air-conditioned comfort
only to open the door into blast-furnace heat at the end of the day's
drive. My illness during the entire trip consisted of a one-day cold
while others who rode in air-conditioned comfort experienced several
colds. Besides, I wanted the maximum cultural experience; I wanted to
experience the climate as lived by the locals and it proved most
interesting!

* Poverty. It abounds most everywhere in Central America. It seems
everyone asks for money, some rather boldly! We decided we could not
help everyone, but we really did try to help the aged and infirm.

* Chicken (local) Buses. If you desire real cultural experiences, take a
chicken bus ride or two. They genuinely depict life in Central America.

* Children. MILLIONS of them abound in Central America with 99% of them
selling something. Every one of them will ask you for either money or
candy. GIVE THEM NEITHER. Money only turns them into professional
beggars and candy will rot their teeth. No money for proper dental
care...or much else, for that matter. Instead give them a "lapiz por
escuela" (pencil for school). Give every child you meet a pencil!

Let me offer a final tip of warning about the "siren's call" of Central
America. 1962 began my career as an RVer and I most certainly enjoyed my
many years of RVing around the United States, Canada, and even Baja,
Mexico. But not until I went to Central America and saw real poverty and
met some of the nicest, happiest people in my life did I feel the most
alive!

I felt a "newness of self", when:
* I traveled in this very foreign-to-me environment.
* I no longer saw the riches of the United States where everything is so
available.
* I knew no one except my very few travel companions.
* I could communicate with the locals only on the most basic level.
* I knew my FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN no longer existed.

While there, I "lived simply and simply lived" and loved it! It almost
seems the fewer the possessions, the richer the life! I always knew
RVing epitomizes the old saying, "Variety is the spice of life!" But, in
Central America, I really came to understand that wonderful old saying
after experiencing seven similar, yet different, countries within the
same area size as Texas,

More than 18 months ago I returned from Central America to the United
States. I find myself feeling a "restlessness" very hard to put into
words. It seems to revolve around the greed, signs everywhere telling me
things I cannot do, the boringness and predictability of the American
way of life. I definitely evolved into a different person since I went
to Central America and every night in my dreams I feel Central America
beckoning me to return. Only time will tell!

This completes the articles, but it only marks the beginning of YOUR
COUNTLESS CULTURAL EXPERIENCES! I hope to cross paths with you in
Central America!

Remember my promise at the beginning of Article #1 ................... YOU CAN DO IT!

PLEASE SEND YOUR TRAVEL MESSAGES TO MY PANAMA OR BUST YAHOO GROUP
AT http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/panamaorbust . We'd love to hear from
you!

Vaya con Dios,
Jim
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Jim Jaillet is a full-time RVer, Adventurer and Author of PANAMA OR BUST - A 343
day adventure in a motorhome!

You can claim your copy of my book for only $19.95 at www.panamaorbust.com

Please send your comments, questions, and ideas for upcoming articles to me at
jimj@panamaorbust.com

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Disclaimer: The author in no way can guarantee your safety in Central America. After all
they are Third World countries and not without danger or the possibility of death. You go
at your own risk. The author is only suggesting that with some planning, common sense and
caution you may minimize your potential dangers and be rewarded with countless cultural
experiences. :)