Finally, I have time to write something about my beloved Colombia, especially starting from my favourite town San Gil.
San Gil is only a little town with around 30,000people, my guidebook Footprint even only has 8 lines about it. So usually, backpackers don't stop by here. And there is only one backpacker hostel in the whole place, others are all small hotels. However, there are lots of adventure sports to offer. Including rafting(up to grade 5), kayaking, paragliding, caving, rappelling, hydrospeed, bungee jumping and horseriding etc.
During my stay of 5weeks, the first and the only adventure sport I did was paragliding.
We set off with a group of 8 people plus 3 paragliding guides, including a lovely French girl, Julie, who wanted to take this chance to overcome her acrophobia.
Because Colombia is always infamous for its 'dangerous', so its tourism industry is not as developed as other South American countries. Thus, it is able to preserve lots of nature. That is also one of the reasons why I love this country so much.
Especially in San Gil, a town over 1000metres, and near the mountain range, the scenery is spectacular. The more expensive choice of paragliding is to fly over the biggest canyon in Bucaramanga. Even though I chose the cheaper one, I could still see this impressive canyon when we flew up about 400metres.
We waited for a long time to start, as the wind was too strong. Later on, we still started even though the wind was just a little bit weaker. To balance for the strong wind, they put 20kg weight of water on my back and on my lap! Still, my first 'flight' failed due to the unstable wind, I and my guide fell down helplessly and my forearm was scratched.
It took three men(one had fallen down on the ground already) to lift our parachute up for the first time. From my point of view on the parachute, I remembered it was just like a movie that we were set off for an important moon-exploring mission! But I forgot why Sarah(the red one) was running with them also.
Then we tried to slide down a slope and rose back again, it was successful this time! Soon we were rising up to the blue sky, overlooking all the forests and canyon.
The second time. We were sliding down the slope. I was really worried that it would just go down down down...
Yo! We rose back!
Gradually flying toward the canyon.
The Bucaramanga canyon could be seen from the sky.
The shadow of my parachute.
I love the greenery.
Actually, paragliding is not scary at all. It was just like sitting on the chair in the plane and looking out of the window. However, unluckily, despite the fact that I never had motion sickness, this time I felt terribly bad. I believe that was because I didn't have enough rest the day before, so I was pretty tired. Moreover, the 'swaying' when we set off from the sloping made it worse.
Despite all that, I enjoyed the 'flight' and it was an forgettable memory.
A panoramic view of the landscape. (Pay attention to the beautiful canyon)
Besides, the acrophobia of the French girl was also a drama. Till we set off in the van, she was already very nervous and her face was terribly white, though she insisted to smile. Before the departure of the parachute, she was confused and seemed to be suffered a lot. But she was very brave that she didn't wait until the last one to fly. Actually, she was the second one. After the flight, I saw she was totally relieved as she said it was not scary. She even did bumjee jump the next day! Wasn't she crazy? Even I don't have acrophobia, I don't want to do bumjee jump, but she was incredibly brave!
Julie was very nervous before the departure.
Her sister, Sarah was encouraging her.
Facing my camera, Julie started to say, 'Enough, Pink!'
Ok, get ready? ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
Yeah! I am flying!
How wonderful!
Beautiful scene with all the parachutes on the blue sky.
I heard Julie's screaming when the guide was playing the turn.
After about 20mins, Julie came back with an excited smile.
A happy ending. 'How grateful that I am still alive, my dear sister!'(Designed dialogue, haha)
I have been longing for doing voluntary work in S.A. since I started my travel. But I haven't done it since 3weeks ago. Because I really wanted to learn spanish and travel in all the countries where I haven't set my foot on. On top of that, I could not find an organization to which I did not need to pay administrative fee.
Until recently, I arrived this little city, San Gil, Colombia. I asked around for voluntary work and the opportunity is exactly what I like to do. So I decided to stay in this pleasant city for one month and work for a children's home.
This children's home is running by Colombians in which one Swiss-American woman is working voluntary for almost a year. They are mainly doing the administrative works. Besides, there is a psychologist,a social worker,a chef, child-takers and sometimes volunteers like me.
My job is very flexible as there is no itinerary for me, so it is my responsibility to organize activities during the free time (normally the time before they go to school in the afternoon) of the children, so they won't running around crazily and hitting each others.
Technically, it is not an orphange as some of the children who still have families, the problem is they have a single parent families and their fathers/mothers are not able to take care of them. So they are expected to reunite with their family when they grow older.
But some do have horrible family backgrounds and they are open for adoption.
Florentina, a 12 years old sweet heart whom I really want to bring home. She loves to receive gifts. She was really pissed off and very embarrassed once her sister told other kids in the school that she liked one boy. They reminded me my teenage.
She surprised me when she cried after she had received a birthday present from me. But after knowing her family background, I am regreted that why I didnt bring her a much better present.
Dioselina, a 14 years old teenage girl, sister of Florentina. She is always not interested to do the things or play the game that I organized for all the younger children. Sometimes, she looks sad, angry or indifferent. But when she has a good mood, we can still play happily and she is just like other normal kid.
Deysi, a 10 years old beauty. She is the best one in learning of making bracelets and origami. She talks like a little adult, sensible, reasonable and like to maintance balance. Though sometimes, she is just like other younger kid, naughty, not listening to me and crazy for being taking pictures.
Patricia, 9 years old, sister of Deysi. I can imagine she will become a high-maintenance girlfriend of someone in the future. She has a big temper. During the process of making bracelets, whenever she finds they are not well-made, she just destroys them, throw them into the brushes and cries. But if she makes a very beautiful one, she just becomes very proud of herself and shows everyone her bracelets.
Marisol, though she is already 11 years old, she just look like a 8 years old girl. She is always grabbing for attention, for example she likes to kiss on my cheek non-stoply when we are greeting for the day. And if I don't pay attention on her when she is crying out for my name, she will get pissed off and ran away.
Saray, a shy 8 years old sweet girl. At first, she didn't talk with me and would just play with other kids of similar age. After 2 weeks, she has got used to my presence and started to smile at me. Now, she likes me to pick her up and make turns. She just laugh on me if I feel really dizzle and she will keep requesting for more turns.
Liseth, 4 years old, the youngest one in the children's house. She has a pair of big eyes and beautiful blonde hair. Just like other 4 years old kids, she likes to cry when she needs to go back to the classroom nearby while I am playing with the other children. But unlike other 4 years old kids, her way of talking is very mature and she likes asking a lot of questions.
She is the best friend of Saray.
Natalia, a pretty 11 years old girl. Sometimes she is playing crazily with Patricia like a 5 years old girl. Though she is not a fast learner in making bracelets, she is the only one who is willing to learn the most difficult one from me.
Camilo, 8 years old. The only boy who is willing to sit down and learn how to make handicraft. At first, I think he is a tricky boy as he told me he had a birthday a day before after he saw Florentina got a present. Then I found out he really had a birthday, but it was 2 weeks ago.
Oscar. 5 years old. As we cannot communicate well, I know little about him. Just like other kids, he always request me to make bracelets, fold a plane or a boat for him. Sometimes he fights with Sergio.
Sergio. The 6 years old little devil. He is always messing up all the things, destroying toys or fighting with other kids. Maybe he just needs more love and attention.
I like all of them, so maybe I spoil them sometimes. I feel really sad as I am leaving when I get to know the kids more.
I enjoy voluntary work like this, but saying goodbye to the kids and my friends here is always a sad subject. They remind me my time in the workcamp of Mongolia...I still wish I will go back to Mongolia and now, San Gil, Colombia.
