March 11, 2025

RIO DE JANEIRO - DAY 3 - ROCINHA FAVELA "SLUM" TOUR

I have always been curious of the images you see of Rio, with the vast number of homes seeming piled on top of each other. A friend who has been here several times and recently just came back, told me his favorite tour, Inside the Favelas and he gave me the contact info of a private guide. I was excited that 8 others wanted to join me too! It was a real eye opener to what life, for so many in Rio, is really like! What I also loved is that a significant part of the cost of the tour, goes to the local community center.

Our tour guide Leo, gave us a ton of facts - all pretty grim with little hope for change. Brazil is the 5th largest country in the World by area, and the 7th largest by population, over 212 Million people. They have extreme income inequality, despite high rates of economic growth. The country's richest 1% of the population ( less than 2M ) have 13% of all the household income, while the poorest 50% of population (or 80 Million), share the same 13% . Our Guide summarized by saying more than half the population is working for the 1%! Education is the key to change, but resources are even poorer for getting this Education. Corruption also runs rampant. The Favelas are controlled by drug lords. Massive fees go to these drug lords to keep things running smoothly in favela -  rent, wifi, fuel and transportation. You have no ownership in favela, you have squatters rites, somewhat administered by local government. As much insight as we gained, we were left with tons of new questions!

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View from terrace atop of Rocinha Favela , the largest favela in Rio from the rooftop tourist bar and cafe where they teach Samba ( which has roots in favelas) and you marvel at the amazing views. Turns out the hilltop real estate was believed to be haunted by locals, so land was undesirable. This is why the favelas in Rio are built on hillsides, and not at low lying areas like in South Africa and India.

Here's our group on the overpass that joins the 2 sides of the favela. Holly, Anna & Jimbo, Sherrie, Scott, Callie, me, Bob & Sarah.

Sadly these pictures don't convey the massive amount of motorcycles that flood the favela street when residents are being shuttled back and forth to their jobs. The rush hit us when we were leaving the Rocinha Favela and we were inside the van awe struck! One motorcycle was even carrying a 15 foot extension ladder. This curvy street, the only real road in the favela, was originally built for race car driving back in the 1960's. There are city buses to this area, but motorcycle is the way most seem to go.

KUANTAN, MALAYSIA

By Pat Patrick • October 12, 2026
Just the other day a friend asked me if I got enough down time while living this lifestyle. My answer was "you have to make it !" In the beginning, it was go, go, go, every port. We had lots of FOMO ( fear of missing out ) and we tried to cram in as much as possible at every port. Sea days, were our only down time and there were never enough. It was a tad exhausting. Now two years into this life, I can say there are some ports that just don't call me and I opt to get other things done. Kuantan, Malaysia was one of the Ports. I never got off the ship, either day we were here. I intended to this morning, but we had storms with loud thunder late into the night and then was awoken by a crew alarm around 6:45am. My energy was low, there were shuttle issues, town was an hour ride away and there is alot of air pollution, ( due to neighboring Indonesia burning organic materials, in preparation for the upcoming monsoon season ). So I bagged my plans and continued working on my never ending TO DO LIST!

Sad Passing of ODYSSEY Shipmate

By Pat Patrick • October 11, 2026
During our two years of sailing we have had several Shipmates come and go for a variety of reasons. Their health, has sadly been the reason for many departures. Cindy Harvey , would have loved to have lived out her days here on the Odyssey and even bought a second cabin and had an adjoining door added, to have a care provider, stay with her full time. However, Cindy's limited mobility, pain and confinement got to be too much - so she left us a few months ago. She went to an assisted living facility, on the coast of Oregon, to be near her family. Tragically she fell, was trying to recover, slipped into a coma and sadly passed away this week.

SANCTUARY OF TRUTH MUSEUM, CHONBURI, THAILAND

By Pat Patrick • October 8, 2026
The Sanctuary of Truth Museum is the world's largest hand carved wooden castle, located on the coast of Pattaya, Chonburi Province, Thailand . Conceived in 1981 by Thai visionary Khun Lek Viriyaphun the structure is built entirely from 4 types of wood - Teak, Mai Daeng, Mai Takien & Mai Panchaat and put together using Thai nailless wood joinery - mainly dovetails, carrying poles and tongue & groove. We started the tour in the workshop where the artisan, mainly woman, were hard at work. Since conception, the Museum has been an active construction site, thus we all wore hardhats! The artisans continue handcarving sculptures and columns, daily and will most likely continue for years to come.