Haiti. Don’t Believe the Hype

Posted on February 20, 2012 by Leon Logothetis

As you grow older, you’ll find the only things you regret are the things you didn’t do.  -Zachary Scott

We have all heard the stories.

Voodoo. Earthquakes. Kidnappings. Disease. Poverty. This article is not about those stories. This article is about the other side of Haiti. The hopeful side. The side of Haiti that goes unreported. Undocumented. Lost.

The time has come for a different narrative. A narrative that doesn’t deny the very real things that blights this country. But one that gives a brighter image of this Caribbean nation. An image of hope rather than despair.

I want my experiences of this country and its people to inspire you to take a chance. A chance on visiting a country that needs you. A country that will both inspire and force you to stop. Think. And reflect.

When I told people I was off to Haiti for a few days they looked at me dumbfounded. Haiti? Why? Why indeed. I did my research and found that the country is inundated with people inspired to help; doctors, volunteers, UN soldiers and good Samaritans abound. I am none of these. But I still wanted to be of service in my own small way.

I have travelled extensively across the globe. And Haiti has been one of those missing pieces in my globetrotting jigsaw. I wanted that to change.  So I took a leap of faith.

My leap of faith involved getting on a plane and discovering the other side of this nation, from the perspective of a traveller. A tourist. Not someone coming to be of service in a traditional sense, but someone coming to see what the country had to offer. If what I found was positive I would write about it and hopefully people would visit. If they visit they help the Haitians rise above their poverty. Tourists bring money. Money brings the chance for a better life. If what I found was negative then so be it. Maybe I would find something in between. Time would tell.

This, my friends, is what I found.

The truth is that Haiti is not for everyone. But then again what destination is. If you have an adventurous spirit and a thirst for traveling off the beaten path then Haiti can most certainly be for you.

As I touched down on the tarmac from the early morning Miami flight the heat of Port Au Prince clenched at my throat. I had arranged to be met by a local guide who would take me around. Francois was a gentle fellow. Proud of his country. Proud of his people. Proud to be showing a foreigner his homeland.

We had a plane to catch to Cap Hatien the northern most city where the majority of my stay would unfold, before that, I wanted to take in the sites and sounds of Port Au Prince. I admit to feeling some tension. The warnings about the capital are not easy to digest.

As we drove through the streets we made a brief stop at the presidential palace destroyed in the 2010 earthquake. I felt a shiver through my soul. Haitians are used to tragedy on a biblical scale. Westerners such as myself, not as much.

We completed our day trip in Port Au Prince and I found myself in a small propeller plane. I prayed. For 22 minutes. That seemed to do the trick. We arrived safely in Cap Hatien as the sun started its descent beyond the nearby mountains. This northern city has a different feel to the hustle and bustle of Port Au Prince. A calmer one. I felt relaxed and the tension of the early morning dissipated.

I was looking forward to my few days of exploration….

As morning broke, we found our way up to the town of Milo, which is home to two UNESCO Heritage sites: The Citadel Henry and the Sans Souci Palace. Both built by the only King of Haiti in the early 1800’s. There is only one word to describe the Citadel. Spectacular. It rises majestically above the mountains and the clouds that cover them; its imposing walls a reminder of the ingenuity of the human spirit.

To reach the Citadel one has to take a small mountain road with the help of a rather malnourished looking horse. This part of the experience is fascinating as you find your way through local communities. Smiling children running around barefoot. Women washing clothes. And of course the hawkers. It brings you back to nature. The simplicity of life. It connects you with the real Haiti; a rich mosaic created through its people.

Once you reach the top, the citadel beckons. Its magnificence overshadowed only by the views of the valley below.

Once again. Spectacular.

The descent back to Milo and the memory of the Citadel still fresh in my mind it was time for a guided tour of the colonial town of Cap Hatien. If I was expecting a clean and sterile city, I was to be mistaken. Cap Hatien is not clean. It is not sterile. It does however have its charms. The local markets are certainly a site to behold. People selling. Buying. It’s all happening. If you are expecting your local grocery section at Wal-Mart then think again. It’s manic. A mass of humanity heaving and weaving their way through their daily lives. The colonial architecture is also a captivating aspect of the city. I must say it’s a bit run down but you can easily envisage its glory days.

Then it was off to the beaches.

Haiti really does have some delightful beaches. So much so that Royal Caribbean have leased their own private beach called Labadie. There are many more near the city of Cap Hatien to enjoy as well. Beaches that rival any other Caribbean nation has to offer.

You see there is an alternative way to help Haiti. A way that serves two purposes. One. To help. The other. To experience a destination way off the beaten path. A destination where memories can be made. A destination where lessons will be learnt. A destination where time will stand still as you soak up the Haitian sun.

Haiti. Don’t believe the hype.

Leon Logothetis

Follow me on Twitter
Connect with me on Facebook
Visit my Website

 

Categories: Adventure, Travel | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Obsessions of a Travel Addict…

Posted on January 31, 2012 by Leon Logothetis

Ob.ses.sion:  The domination of one’s thoughts or feelings by a persistent idea, desire, etc.

Travel has shaped my life. Travel has taught me much about the world. The good. The bad. The ugly. In many ways Travel is my life. But sometimes things can get out of hand…

I am obsessed. Completely obsessed.

You see I have this little bug inside my brain that won’t let me stop. It keeps whispering in my ear “Keep going Leon”. It won’t leave me alone. Whatever I do. Wherever I am. The whispers continue.

This is where I reveal what the voices are saying.

I hope by sharing my truth with you, you won’t call the chaps in white coats to take me away. If you do, I wont go! Nothing is going to stop me from nurturing and one day completing my obsession. Nothing.

Well, nearly dying in a Romanian car crash came rather close. A bout of acute appendicitis in the Pacific Ocean had the audacity of trying to derail my dream. Oh yes, lets not forget the mudslide on my way back from Machu Pichu that attempted to wash away my dreams along with the train tracks. You will not stop me. Oh no. You will not.

Moment of revelation fast approaching…

Here goes. I am obsessed with visiting 100 countries. My mind is haunted by the nirvana of reaching my 100th country.

I once took a 6-hour detour to have tea in Luxembourg. I faced the wrath of border guards in El Salvador as I tried to reach beyond the gates of the airport on a layover. (If I find my way out of the airport and touch land I count that as a country visited).

I won’t stop.

Every time I find myself in a new country I get a high. A bolt of adrenaline surges through my soul. I get to experience the sights and sounds of a new environment. A new place. A new world. I get to explore. I get to meet a new part of myself. An inner place that is awakened when I see and feel something new. Life happens in these moments.

Second moment of revelation fast approaching…

So, Leon how many countries have you been to? How close are you to reaching your 100-country goal. Your own personal place of nirvana. Tell us. Tell us. Just f**king tell us! Oh all right then. I am at 63 countries and counting.

The irony of all this is that when I do reach 100 I probably wont be satisfied. 150 will be the next target. By that time I will either be in rehab for travel addicts or driving my grandchildren crazy with my weird and wonderful travelogues. Including the time I was nearly eaten by a lion whilst walking through the bush in South Africa…

True story.

Please visit my website for information on my recently published book Amazing Adventures of a Nobody.

Categories: Adventure, Amazing Adventures of a Nobody, Inspiration, Travel | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Fearless Five

Posted on January 17, 2012 by Leon Logothetis

“Put a grain of boldness into everything you do”. 

Baltasar Gracian

I just had the pleasure of talking with five fearless English girls. I was in the relative safety of my living room. I say relative because sometimes my Boston terrier, Winston Churchill, can get rather rowdy. The Fearless Five were in the deepest darkest reaches of the Atlantic Ocean. Rowing their way into the record books.

I am no stranger to adventure. However, it is one thing to have an adventurous spirit and it is quite another to cross the Atlantic Ocean in a rowing boat…

The Fearless Five are true adventurers.

Julia, Debbie, Katie, Kate & Helen are the brave souls embarking on this epic journey. Their goal is to break two world records (One is so 2011). As I write they are well on their way to becoming the first all female team of 5 to row any Ocean. And their attempt to be the fastest all female team to cross the Atlantic Ocean is inching towards the record books as well.

The girls row 2 hours on and 2 hours off. The Guardian, which is the name of their boat, is 7 meters long and will be there home for just over 40 days. Or 3000 miles. Or in plain old English. A bloody long time! They are attempting to raise one million pounds for charity to eradicate the scourge of human trafficking around the world. The route they are rowing retraces the shipping lanes of the old slave trade.

The Fearless Five are part of the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, which is recognized as the world’s toughest rowing race. Oh, did I mention that 4 out of the 5 girls have no sailing experience. None. Thought I should add this little tidbit, just to insert some more gravitas into the epic nature of their undertaking.

The trials and tribulations they have endured are truly epic. It seems that crossing the Atlantic is predictably fraught with challenges. They have had to contend with extreme heat. Massive waves. Powerful storms. Boredom. Sea Sickness. Loneliness.

Their beloved Guardian has not faired so well either. Their automatic steering malfunctioned within the first few days. This meant they have had to steer manually across the whole Atlantic Ocean. Not good. Their water desalinator broke down. They have been using a plastic pump to make their own drinking water. Again. Not particularly good. The only mechanical thing they have left is their GPS. If this fails I hoped that one of them knew how to navigate using the stars. None of them did…

One more thing to frighten the daylights out of you (and me), they don’t have a back up team. So. If the sh*t hits the proverbial fan. They are in a serious pickle.

Many may read this and think why have they done this to themselves. Well, in adversity there are priceless lessons to be learnt. I have always found that adventures are not simply external journeys. They are in fact predominately internal ones. The greatest adventures happen within our hearts. They change us. They mold us. They make us into the best we can be. They push us out of our comfort zones and into a new reality. A reality where we realize anything is possible. Successfully rowing across the Atlantic Ocean is a perfect example of the famous mantra: impossible is nothing.

I was tremendously impressed by the courage, boldness and shear magnitude of will these 5 girls have showed. Life experiences are fuel for the soul, you see. And the adventure of crossing the Atlantic Ocean I am sure will shape their lives. The money they raise will shape the lives of those whose existence has been touched by the odiousness of human trafficking.

Bravo to the Fearless Five. Bravo.

For more information or to donate, please visit www.rowforfreedom.com

Categories: Adventure, Charity, Inspiration | Tags: , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Live like there’s no tomorrow. One day there won’t be.

Posted on January 9, 2012 by Leon Logothetis

Inspirational people are a joy to be around. They cajole you out of your comfort zone and show you that life is a giant cupcake waiting to be devoured. Alex Papanikolaou is one such inspirational chap.  Our paths crossed recently and his powerful words of self-realization and hope resonated with me. I felt the need to ask him to share some of his story with you.

Be inspired. I was.

Live like there’s no tomorrow. One day there wont be.

“Life begins outside of your comfort zone”

Cesare Pavare

My name is Alex Papanikolaou and today I’d like to tell you a bit about myself and a subject that’s on almost everyone’s mind at this time of year. The dreaded New Year’s Resolution. More on that in a moment.

I’m 23 years old and grew up in a small town in the UK, and as you may have guessed from the pictures there is a wheelchair and a disability involved in this story. When I was a baby I was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, a disability that affects the part of your brain that controls balance, coordination, and fine motor skills.

I vowed not to let this stop me. Ever.

Over the past 3 years, I’ve made it to over 100 cities in 31 countries with a backpack and my electric wheelchair as companions. I’ve used hundreds of buses, trains, boats, taxis, cars and airlines you’ve probably never even heard of. I’ve lived in Australia, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates.

I have lived.

I now spend my time speaking, writing and coaching others on how they can take control of their lives, set a new definition for their life and grab a hold of what they thought was out of reach. In the process I have learnt that nothing is out of reach. Nothing.

Now, why am I telling you all this? I’m not trying to impress. I’m telling you because I am on a mission to teach people that what you can and can’t do in your life, what your life means, how that affects you, and everything in between comes down to one person – YOU!

I am not special. I am not gifted.

Everything I have achieved came down to a decision I made a long time ago that I wasn’t going to put myself in a box called ‘disabled’. My disability was never going define the rest of my life.

The decision I made was simple; I chose to give myself more choices. More choices? I hear you mutter. How confusing! Think about it though, what would it mean if you had more choices in your life?

Are there things you consider just impossible or unimaginable, or thought of as “I’m not that type of person, it’s out of my reach, I don’t have the skills, knowledge, education, that’s for other people! All these crazy ideas like travelling, making more money, having better relationships, having a better body image, what if you took all these ‘not possible’ labels off them, and instead made them a choice?

What if you made them possible?

There is a funny little secret about the way our brains work, and that’s that if you ask yourself why you can’t do something, your brain will do a really good job of giving you a thousand reasons why you can’t do it. But guess what, it works the other way too!

Our brains job is to give us answers. Imagine what would happen if you suddenly took that ‘impossible’ thing and made it a choice! You would immediately start asking yourself “how can I do this?” and what do you think your brain would start doing? It would start giving you answers! Oh yes. Lots and lots of inspirational answers. Never ending streams of fresh and brilliant answers. Over and over again. You would be drowning in a sea of answers!

Now of course this is just the first step, and I bet you can guess the next step…

Taking action!

Which brings us back to our New Year’s resolution. Most of us are very good at setting these light-hearted goals for the New Year. Nice to think about ideas we wish we could do. But know we wont.

The best gift you can give yourself this New Year is the gift of opening yourself up to more choices, choices that you never before thought possible. Start asking yourself “What if I really could do this? What would that look like? How would I feel if I achieved that?”

And then comes the best part, action! Go exploring! Remember how much fun it was as a kid when you did things you knew you weren’t supposed to do, not knowing what would happen, but just doing it anyway because it was exciting? I do. So does my mum…

Do things you wouldn’t normally do. Say things you wouldn’t normally say. Mix up your routine. Get uncomfortable! Take a chance, Take a risk. See what happens, and see what fits. You never know, you just might stumble across the best thing to ever happen to you!

I wish you the very best of luck and success for 2012!

Please visit my site (www.alexpap.com) and connect with me on facebook.com/alexapc

Categories: Adventure, Inspiration | Tags: | Leave a comment

Happy Holidays from Leon!

Posted on December 16, 2011 by Leon Logothetis

Hello!

I hope all has been well since I last reached out to you. I wanted to extend a big thank you to all who supported me during the launch of my book, Amazing Adventures of a Nobody, and during my Kindness Cab Tour. During the tour I re-traced the route I took in Amazing Adventures Of A Nobody, where I crossed America with only $5 in my pocket, relying entirely on the kindness of strangers. I gave back to the cities and communities that offered me kindness and enabled me to complete my first journey. In the spirit of the season I wish you from the bottom of my heart a huge THANK YOU and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

All the best,

Leon Logothetis

 

***LIMITED TIME HOLIDAY OFFER***

The book would make a great gift or stocking stuffer for your friends, family and colleagues. Please consider purchasing a gift copy today! And for a limited time only, I’ve created a special holiday offer. With every purchase of the Amazing Adventures of a Nobody Season 1 DVD, I’ll include a FREE copy of the book! This offer will end December 31st so act now!

 

“A gem of a book: endearing, engaging and inspiring!” – Catharine Hamm, Los Angeles Times, travel editor

“Amazing Adventures of a Nobody… An amazing read from an amazing and truly inspiring guy!” – Christy Cahela, Executive Producer & Co-Host, DayBreak USA

 

Categories: Amazing Adventures of a Nobody, Holidays, Video | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Kindness Cab in Whole Life Magazine

Posted on December 6, 2011 by Leon Logothetis

Categories: Amazing Adventures of a Nobody, Charity, Inspiration, Kindness, Kindness Tour, The Kindness Cab, Travel | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Kindness Cab Arrives at the Hollywood Sign

Posted on November 23, 2011 by Leon Logothetis

What this world needs is a new kind of army - the army of the kind. ~Cleveland Amory

The Kindness Cab began its journey on the not so mean streets of New York City.

Over 4000 miles later it has completed its epic journey, arriving at the Hollywood sign in one piece. It battled through snowstorms. Engine Freeze. Battery Malfunction. Hills. The Kindness cab hates hills. Really hates them.

It has come to the aid of people all across America. 96-year-old great grandmothers. Four-year-old great grandsons. Bankers. Homeless VA veterans. Teachers. Above all the Kindness Cab has put a smile on the face of thousands. Included in that statistic is the Kindness Cab driver himself…

If you have been in the back of the Kindness Cab you know there is something special going on. You feel the energy. You soak up the goodness. Magic happens in the Kindness Cab. It has nothing to do with me. It has nothing to do with you. It has everything to do with us.

The Magic of us. The magic of connection. The magic of people. Strangers. Connecting. Life happens in the back of the Kindness Cab.

The trip started as an opportunity to give back to the communities that helped me during my trip across America relying on the kindness of strangers.

It turned out to be so much more. It turned out to be a reminder of what I believe to be the innate goodness of humanity. The simple need and desire that we all have to connect. To talk. To be a part of something. Being in the back of The Kindness Cab gave people that chance again.

The Kindness Cab and I want to thank all of you who made this journey possible. From Kenneth Schulz who sold me this magical cab. To Lauren, who graced us with her 96 years of wisdom and brought her great grandson along for an ice cream. To the good Samaritans, who helped fix The Kindness Cab along the way…

The Kindness Cab will be back. In fact it’s already plotting its next adventure. Africa.

To read the book that inspired The Kindness Cab tour please visit my website.

Categories: Amazing Adventures of a Nobody, Inspiration, Kindness, Kindness Tour, Travel, Video | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Kindness Cab in Las Vegas

Posted on November 19, 2011 by Leon Logothetis

Categories: Amazing Adventures of a Nobody, Kindness, Kindness Tour, Travel, Video | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Kindness Cab in the LA Times

Posted on November 16, 2011 by Leon Logothetis

The Kindness Cab: So many fares to remember

By Catharine Hamm
Los Angeles Times Travel editor
November 16, 2011, 7:01 a.m.

Three weeks, 11 cities, $11,500 raised and countless lives touched.That’s a summary of the 4,150-mile journey of the Kindness Cab, a 1985 London Sterling cab (see pictures of it here) that adventurer Leon Logothetis bought in New Mexico, transported to New York and christened as the conveyance of good works. Along with friend and cameraman Steve Privolos, the two took calls from people wanting a free ride in the cab. They were happy to oblige.

They took a man with liver cancer to a VA hospital in St. Louis. They took a couple to their wedding at a chapel in Las Vegas. They picked up a family that didn’t get out much and took them for ice cream. They carried a harmonica-playing dad (video above). Everywhere they went, the deep-green cab attracted attention, garnering smiles and waves from people amused by the unusual looking (and unusually painted) vehicle. (I saw this for myself on a recent spin around downtown Los Angeles—lots of smiles and nods from people, and when was the last time you saw that in L.A. traffic?)

You may remember Logothetis from stories he has written for the Los Angeles Times. Perhaps you know him from his TV series, “Amazing Adventures of a Nobody.” Maybe you recall that he and his driving partner/cameraman, Steve Privolos, started the Mongol Rally this summer from Britain to Mongolia in a tiny car that was broadsided in Romania, bringing their adventure to an end.

After that near disaster, Logothetis was down but not out. He was eager to find another way, he said, to celebrate kindness.

Categories: Amazing Adventures of a Nobody, Everyday Adventures, Inspiration, Kindness, Kindness Tour, The Kindness Cab, Travel | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Kindness Arrives in Sin City

Posted on November 14, 2011 by Leon Logothetis

How beautiful a day can be
When kindness touches it! -George Elliston


The Kindness Cab limped its way into Sin City early yesterday afternoon. These were troubling times. Engine trouble. Battery trouble. Snow trouble.  All kinds of trouble.

I stopped off at a vintage mechanics and the cab had a complete overhaul of its alternator. Catastrophe was averted. The journey could continue.

Las Vegas is world renowned for being the center of all the action. Gambling. Prostitution. Lost dreams. Gained dreams. Now you can add kindness to that list. Yes. The Kindness Cab was taking Vegas by storm.

I had a varied assortment of guests in the cab today. It started off with taking a young family to buy some treats. They were living in low income housing and struggling to get by. We found our way to a 7 -eleven and The Kindness Cab bought them all Slurpee’s!

Next stop was a young saxophone player on the outskirts of Vegas. His beautiful and melodious tunes soothed the frayed nerves of The Kindness Cab. Even though the alternator had been fixed the cab was still a bit shook up from its earlier visit to the mechanics…

The highlight of the day was taking a soon to be married couple to their wedding. It was a special moment to have these two lovely and infectiously smiling people in the cab. It was also a first. Wedding bells always brighten the mood!

The trip to Vegas was not filled with the usual vegas exploits but I felt lucky to have had the chance to bring kindness to Sin City. Los Angeles here we come!

Schedule of Kindness Cab pit stops can be found at: www.kindnesscab.com, additionally use #thekindnesscab on Twitter to reach me there.

 

Categories: Amazing Adventures of a Nobody, Everyday Adventures, Kindness, Kindness Tour, The Kindness Cab, Travel | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment