LB Phillips

 Last friday I received and email from my good friend Leslie saying she finally landed a job and had one week before her start date, and guess who she wanted to visit in that week!? ME!

The adrenaline started to rush, I quickly responded with a one word email. YES!
Next, I opened up a new tab in my browser and started searching for the best flight deals from San Fran to San Sal.

48 hours later, I'm at the airport picking up my girl. All I could do was smile from ear to ear. It had been 2 1/2 years since we had seen each other last. But that's the thing about genuine friendship... thru time and space... ain't no thang but a chicken wing.

Short and sweet, but complete with sand, waves, mountains and hammock swingin under pines. . .

All self-revelation and intimacy in friendship must be spontaneous and natural. It must come like the opening of a flower in the sunshine and cannot be forced.

Bertha Conde

jump!

“Trust your own instinct. 

Your mistakes might as well be your own, instead of someone else’s.”  

-Billy Wilder

The one scary as shit,
I don't wanna do it,
out of my comfort-zone
thing that I did this year 

The last thing the tour-guide said was "try now to land right on-top of a ray or shark"
Um... good advice
When I finally jumped out of the boat I landed on a sting ray
yeah, it would happen to me.
But they were everywhere, it was impossible to avoid it
the ray slithered on my back and shoulder and then swam off
I stayed far away from the sharks and sting rays after that

But then later... I got a little friendly
and I'm so glad I did.


I hope I never stop jumping out of my comfort zone
and so as I plan my next steps 
I try to keep this in mind

current status: pondering my next move after peace corps

a combination

collage on door at Tunco Beach, El Salvador
  

“Life is a process of becoming. 

A combination of states we have to go through. 

Where people fail 

is that they wish to elect a state 

and remain in it. 

This is a kind of death.”

~Anais Nin Normally 

work.

Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”
~Confucius

Mom's last Salvo Sunset

Playa El Tunco, La Libertad, El Salvador

our last supper was a little fishy

Ring in 2012 in Mayan Country

Gigantes dance
 

Cuerpo de paz!

Mom gets in there too!

waiting for a table at cafe bourbon, then waited 2 hours for our dinner
thumbs down, but the night was young and the vino flowed 

super powers in that golden cuff

Oh yeah! Welcome 2012!!!

Got your eye on 2012

raise your shoes in the air like you just don't care!

Aftermath. 

Discovering Antigua w/Mom

First night in Antigua we eat at my fav. resturant
and have front row seats to the action
 

yes, that's a leaf

mom and her fancy salads

break

oh, its time for a vino, smoked meats and cheese break

meeting new friends at the cigar bar

new friends and fantastic indian food is the best!

broken shades, not the best

dogs with shades, the best!

pretty fountain

my 4th time in Antigua, famous for its Jade, and I finally get a couple pieces of jewlery
thanks mom!

this photo for my dad who loved all the sunken in windows

outdoor artisan market

In front of the most beautiful church, the Merced

Pretty Momma

relaxin at the hotel

Last Supper at fav resturant, just can't get enough!

Lago de Atitlan w/Mom

shuttle from Antigua to Atitlan,
then 1/2 hour boat ride to San Marcos (one of many small mayan villages around the lake)

arrive at our hotel, drop bags and get to the tough work 

relaxing and enjoying the sunset from our balcony

on the boat ride over we made fast friends who we later met for dinner

the mom and delicious dinner at Ganesh. 

reading angel cards, kinda like tarot but different

My new soul sister and I get matching shell rings from our artisan friend

in front of my favorite mural in San Marcos, artist is Sonrie :)

Fati and I both loved this beautiful sari, it was huge!

self explanatory 

mom in the last and very full boat from San Pedro back to San Marcos

banana wheat french toast at La Paz in San Marcos
Abundance. 

Mom made another friend

he's so cute