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Roatán’s East End
Blog: Hecktic Travels - 11 January 2011
Just say the words "remote" and "beach" in the same sentence and we're in the car and ready to find it.
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Happy New Year!
Blog: Hecktic Travels - 2 January 2011
A very feliz año nuevo to y'all! I hope that hangovers have dissipated and that resolutions are still intact thus far!
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We Live And We Learn
Blog: Hecktic Travels - 28 December 2010
I can't believe we have been here over one week and I have no discernible tan lines to show off. Even Pete's first-day farmer burn has disappeared, and we both look as pasty white as we did when we got off the plane. I had expected to already have my name carved into a shady palm tree, marking my spot on a beach for the months to come. I had visions of spending Christmas Day under said palm tree, a fruity drink in hand and the sound of waves permanently ringing in my ears.
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¡Bienvenidos a Roatán!
Blog: Hecktic Travels - 22 December 2010
It is awfully hard to believe that just a week ago we were saying goodbye to one home, and braving the icy mountain roads to begin our journey to another. Our few days in between driving and flying south were jam packed with quick goodbyes, long car rides, and a whole lot of swelling in my bum leg. It was a painful journey - to say goodbye once again to our beloved family and friends, and rush rush rush (as fast as my leg would allow) to pull it all together in time.
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Ready To Go!
Blog: Hecktic Travels - 10 December 2010
And just like that! Our two months of exploration in the British Columbian wilderness are coming to an end. Unfortunately, it has included less exploration then we originally hoped, being that I was laid up for more than half of it. The last few weeks have been filled with monotonous days of reading, writing, movie watching, gaming and crafting. Pete has been doing double duty, jamming his days with cooking, cleaning, snow shoveling, and looking after me. I am (very gratefully) one spoiled chica!
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Lessons from a Cowboy Town: the Importance of Good Institutions
Blog: Kiva Stories from the Field - 3 November 2010
Betsy McCormick, KF12 There is a saying here in the cowboy state of Olancho: “Come if you want, get out if you can.” The phrase, I believe, originates from two primary facts: 1. Olancho is quite removed from anywhere else in Honduras, and 2.
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Partner Politics, Or, How to Motivate a Loan Officer
Blog: Kiva Stories from the Field - 17 October 2010
Betsy McCormick, KF12, Honduras When most of us think Kiva, we picture the website and hard-working entrepreneurs standing in their corner stores or out in their fields. Kiva is, after all, a direct connection between lenders and borrowers. Well…sorta kinda. You are probably aware that Kiva works through field partners—the “middlemen” who find loan clients, approve loans, and submit borrower profiles for the Kiva Community to fund. But after nearly three months working with one of those field partners, I have come to the tough realization that this process can be a clunky one.
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From Piñatas to Flower Arranging: Kiva Loans and Community Development
Blog: Kiva Stories from the Field - 12 September 2010
Betsy McCormick, KF12, Honduras Some lenders may be unaware that Kiva loans have the potential to benefit a wider clientele than the selected entrepreneurs. As a member of the Kiva community, you know that lenders don’t receive any interest that the client pays back on the loan. So, you may ask, what becomes of it? In some cases, the Microfinance Institution (MFI) that administered the loan may use it to increase their operational self-sufficiency.
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A New Sense of Professionalism
Blog: Kiva Stories from the Field - 13 August 2010
Betsy McCormick, KF 12, Honduras After one week working with FAMA ODP´F in Honduras, I learned that their operations are in many ways far more professional than I had ever imagined. However, it wasn´t until a threatened hitchhiking adventure that I realized some of the nuances of what professionalism looks like in Honduras.
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Gettin' Stranded in Esteli
Blog: Joe's Trippin' - 6 August 2010
OK, I admit it. I am a stubborn independent traveller. I never look up recommended restaurants in the guide books. I rarely stay in the popular youth hostels. And i almost never get on the spiffy tourist buses to get from A to B. I prefer the challenge of local buses.
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There are Worse Capitals
Blog: Joe's Trippin' - 4 August 2010
Everything is relative. How big is "big"? How heavy is "heavy"? It all depends on your perspective which is in turn based on previous experience. Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras, is not a great place.
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Untouristed Tourist Spot
Blog: Joe's Trippin' - 3 August 2010
Guatemala has Lake Atitlan. Costa Rica has Lake Arenal. Nicaragua has a couple lakes to choose from. But Honduras isn't a country known for it's lakes. Recently, the country has been trying to change all that.
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The Worst Island in the World
Blog: Joe's Trippin' - 2 August 2010
Allow me to preface by saying, I'm not much of an “Island guy”. I'm just not a fan. Some might say i'm getting old, but i'm never liked them.
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Thanks, but no Gracias
Blog: Joe's Trippin' - 31 July 2010
Many travellers often worry about not being able to speak the local language. While it's true that it might limit opportunities to get to know the locals, sometimes the ability to converse ain't all it's cracked up to be.
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A Little Exotic Pet Trade…Can We Undo the Harm?
Blog: A Little Adrift - A RTW Travelogue - 30 July 2010
As I was jumping, wiggling, tugging and contorting my body into a ballet of ridiculous postures to pull the wetsuit over my damp skin my instructor and I went over our plan for the day’s dives as he also explained some of the fish I was about to see. Trumpet fish and crabs, eel, barracuda, and a toad fish—they were the guaranteed sightings in the warm waters off the coast of Honduras that I hadn’t yet seen. But Ethan didn’t mention the lionfish until after the first two dives and ...
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The Beaches, Ruins, and Jungles of Honduras
Blog: GoBackpacking - 26 July 2010
For all its recent political difficulties, Honduras has a wealth of stunning places to visit.--------- Join Travel Blog Success today and learn to build a better travel blog. Membership includes 12 lessons, community forum, audio interviews, and a blog.
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It’s the Little Things that Count
Blog: Kiva Stories from the Field - 23 July 2010
Matt Raimond, KF11 Life as a Kiva Fellow has been a huge change of pace from the rest of my life, a chance to slow down and reflect on all the changes in my life while experiencing to a tremendous learning opportunity. It has been an eye opening experience and I have been amazed at how many things I take for granted in my life. Through my reflections I’ve come to realize that it’s the little things that count.
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A Little Consideration…Honduras: The Central American South
Blog: A Little Adrift - A RTW Travelogue - 21 July 2010
“The American South” is one of those phrases that carries with it all sorts of implications depending on who you ask; Hollywood has sculpted the image of a region dotted with slow-talking hicks settled alongside gun-toting cowboys and the good-ole Southern hospitality thrown in there to serve up some sweet tea, fried chicken, and a dollop of mayonnaise. I actually grew up in the South, although saying that and being from Florida can cause all sorts of eye rolls from “true southerners;” but I do consider myself a southerner. Florida ...
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Multiple Loan Cycles – A Never Ending Cycle?
Blog: Kiva Stories from the Field - 20 July 2010
Many MFIs depend heavily on repeat customers to achieve financial stability, resulting in multiple loan cycles for clients. Is this a good thing? Click on the post to read the thoughts of one Kiva Fellow in Honduras.
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Honduras Border Crossing – The Gauntlet
Blog: Lost World Expedition - 14 July 2010
We love being on the road. Driving through North and Central America has been a wonderful experience and most definitely a once in a lifetime opportunity, but there is one thing we always dread… Borders. No, not the bookstore chain, actual imaginary lines delimiting where one country ends and another one starts. There is a [...]
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A Little Travel Guilt…Copan Ruins, A Necessary Third?
Blog: A Little Adrift - A RTW Travelogue - 14 July 2010
Reluctantly paging through my Lonely Planet guidebook in the quite cool of the incredibly westernized Bagel Barn in Antigua, Guatemala (one of my favorite places for a western breakfast in the city) I was seeking out inspiration. Divine travel guidance. Something of interest to break up the 16 hour commute between western Guatemala and eastern Honduras. I’m not a big planner but I was down to a mere 12 hours before I boarded my 4am bus to the Honduran border so I had run out of time. I should probably ...
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Recognizing Hard Working Clients – FAMA Premiaciones (Award Ceremonies)
Blog: Kiva Stories from the Field - 9 July 2010
It's not often that clients of an MFI get recognized for their successes and for being loyal clients. However, recently FAMA, a partner in Honduras, began holding premiaciones (award ceremonies) for their clients. The first premiacion was held a few weeks ago at FAMA's headquarters in Juticalpa, Olancho, Honduras. In typical Honduran fashion, I was not told about the event until the day of when everyone was running around frantically setting up for the event.
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FAMA OPDF – Kiva’s Newest Field Partner in Honduras
Blog: Kiva Stories from the Field - 14 June 2010
Matt Raimondi, KF11 Familia y Medio Ambiente (FAMA OPDF) is Kiva's newest Field Partner in Honduras. FAMA was started in the village of San Nicolás in 1990 with the first loans being for 50 Lempiras (Approx. $25USD in 1990). FAMA has grown significantly from its humble beginnings and is now headquartered in Juticalpa, Olancho and operates 12 additional branches throughout Honduras, serving over 12,500 clients. Click here to read more about FAMA and making loans to FAMA's clients!
