Tour de Shalpal
Donation protected
Hello beloved friends, family, and acquaintances!
Thanks for taking the time to check out my page. I am going on a journey of self growth and exploration. I am leaving at the end of Feb. with little to no plans or money, my backpack, and an open mind and heart. Like I said I don't plan well, but this, I do know. My first stop will be in the Philippines. There I will be volunteering to help in anyway I can with the destruction caused by the recent, massive, Typhoon Haiyan. I am scheduled to be there a little over a month with All Hands Volunteers. But, I am very open to staying as long as I am needed. I will be living out of my tent in a communal space with the other volunteers and working 6 days a week. I will head to Vietnam from the Philippines. Then I will travel through Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, and Myanmar(Burma), whilst making my way to India. I will travel by bus, train, boat, motorcycle, even my boots! I plan on doing as much volunteer work as I can. I would love to work with a women's empowerment program in India, and am looking into organizations. I also love to work with kids, and with my experience teaching in Ecuador am confident I can find a similar program. Other than that I will spend my time getting to know the people of the world. I will also do some jungle trekking, scuba diving, bar hopping, and music/art partaking of course.
I came home from Central and South America with the realization of the importance of traveling; especially alone. We are told constantly in society what our role is. What we can and cannot do. What is safe or unsafe for us. Traveling shatters our preconceived thoughts about the world and ourselves...or solidifies them. It helps us break down barriers between cultures and the human race. It helps us see that we have much more in common than we thought. When we see that, we see much more beauty in the world. And when we can find beauty in things that are different, painful, or chaotic; we thrive.
I want to learn how to thrive. I want to inspire and be inspired. I want give and receive love in the most unexpected places. I want to grow and learn. I want to challenge myself to be the best me I can be. I want to help others and be helped in the process. I want to find beauty in the most gnarly of environments. I want to leave my comfort zone to really experience the world.
So, this is where you come in. I have been saving for this trip for a long time. I am not asking for help for clubbing, tourist attractions, or nicer accommodations. I like to rough it. It is amazing what even a few dollars can perpetuate when you are living day to day out of a backpack. I am asking in the hopes of not having to say no. I want to financial freedom to say yes if an amazing opportunity arises to help others, to learn, or further explore something neeeeeding exploration. I want to experience without the worry in the back of my head if I will have enough money to get my next meal (you don't wanna see me HANGRY). I want to keep going until I am ready to stop, and not be stopped by the lack of funds in my bank account. I am planning on writing throughout my journey in hopes to share it when I get back. I was inspired years ago by my best friend/lover/travel partner, to explore, challenge, and love, through travel. I want to pay it forward. I want to inspire others to cross something off their bucket list. And, I want to do this without having to worry if I will have the money for a flight home to tell about it!
Thanks for your time and support. Anything helps. Never Expected, always appreciated!
Love and Light, Shalyn
Check out the volunteer program I will be working with!
http://hands.org/
"Life begins at the end of your comfort zone." Neale Donald Walsch
Thanks for taking the time to check out my page. I am going on a journey of self growth and exploration. I am leaving at the end of Feb. with little to no plans or money, my backpack, and an open mind and heart. Like I said I don't plan well, but this, I do know. My first stop will be in the Philippines. There I will be volunteering to help in anyway I can with the destruction caused by the recent, massive, Typhoon Haiyan. I am scheduled to be there a little over a month with All Hands Volunteers. But, I am very open to staying as long as I am needed. I will be living out of my tent in a communal space with the other volunteers and working 6 days a week. I will head to Vietnam from the Philippines. Then I will travel through Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, and Myanmar(Burma), whilst making my way to India. I will travel by bus, train, boat, motorcycle, even my boots! I plan on doing as much volunteer work as I can. I would love to work with a women's empowerment program in India, and am looking into organizations. I also love to work with kids, and with my experience teaching in Ecuador am confident I can find a similar program. Other than that I will spend my time getting to know the people of the world. I will also do some jungle trekking, scuba diving, bar hopping, and music/art partaking of course.
I came home from Central and South America with the realization of the importance of traveling; especially alone. We are told constantly in society what our role is. What we can and cannot do. What is safe or unsafe for us. Traveling shatters our preconceived thoughts about the world and ourselves...or solidifies them. It helps us break down barriers between cultures and the human race. It helps us see that we have much more in common than we thought. When we see that, we see much more beauty in the world. And when we can find beauty in things that are different, painful, or chaotic; we thrive.
I want to learn how to thrive. I want to inspire and be inspired. I want give and receive love in the most unexpected places. I want to grow and learn. I want to challenge myself to be the best me I can be. I want to help others and be helped in the process. I want to find beauty in the most gnarly of environments. I want to leave my comfort zone to really experience the world.
So, this is where you come in. I have been saving for this trip for a long time. I am not asking for help for clubbing, tourist attractions, or nicer accommodations. I like to rough it. It is amazing what even a few dollars can perpetuate when you are living day to day out of a backpack. I am asking in the hopes of not having to say no. I want to financial freedom to say yes if an amazing opportunity arises to help others, to learn, or further explore something neeeeeding exploration. I want to experience without the worry in the back of my head if I will have enough money to get my next meal (you don't wanna see me HANGRY). I want to keep going until I am ready to stop, and not be stopped by the lack of funds in my bank account. I am planning on writing throughout my journey in hopes to share it when I get back. I was inspired years ago by my best friend/lover/travel partner, to explore, challenge, and love, through travel. I want to pay it forward. I want to inspire others to cross something off their bucket list. And, I want to do this without having to worry if I will have the money for a flight home to tell about it!
Thanks for your time and support. Anything helps. Never Expected, always appreciated!
Love and Light, Shalyn
Check out the volunteer program I will be working with!
http://hands.org/
"Life begins at the end of your comfort zone." Neale Donald Walsch
Organizer
Shalyn Nelson
Organizer
Lake Oswego, OR
