Half October is left France and entered beautiful Switzerland.  Just a couple km’s after the border i stopped for a meeting for which i was waiting for a long time. A meeting with someone who i met 1,5 years ago during a intense period in the green heart of the world, the Amazon. A place which changed life. I would like to take you back to the absolute start of the idea for this cycle trip. The roots of the DreamCycle Foundation.

The Amazon
At the beginning of 2017 i started my backpacking adventure to South-America. I took of as a ignorant guy and without any expectations. The choice to travel trough South-America was based on long cherished dream to see the Amazon.

As a little boy a became fascinated by the jungle, for me it’s pure nature. Beautiful bright coloured, huge trees, monkeys and waterfalls, a paradise.  I really enjoyed my months of traveling trough Argentina, Chili and Bolivia. To feel the freedom to do whatever you like and to see beautiful nature. But constantly a voice in the back of my head said “Yeah it’s awesome Jits but wait for it and you will see where you’re doing it for, the jungle”

Arco Iris
Eventually my dream came trough in Iquitos (Peru). And how! Via via I heard about a self-sufficient community who where living in the jungle, named Acro Iris (which means rainbow). More then ever i felt that’s where you have to go! After a hour walking trough a small muddy path through the jungle i arrived at a wooden hut. A guy came to and welcomed me with a hug. I didn’t expected that but okay it was a very warm welcome.

After a night on a mantras in a bamboe house i woke up in a paradise. Birds singing the most beautiful songs i ever heart, huge palm trees and a group of people who radiating calmness, peace and harmony. I didn’t know exactly where i was but i knew i have to open minded and let it all happen. Soon it came clear to my that this group of people where working together as a big family, where everyone is welcome. La familia (the family) counted 20 till 30 people who are together to retain the community. Together you take care of growing the food, filtering the water, cleaning the houses, preparing food and take care of each other. Actually the basic principles of life.
Because you are volunteering to retain the community you pay almost nothing (5 euro a day) for your stay, food and drinks and after a month it’s for free. Because there is very little influence of money the interaction between people is coming down to trust, norms and values, love for each other and Mother Nature.

Confrontation with leukaemia
The differences with my life back home was huge and this made me think. What do i want in my life? Is that what i am doing really what i want? What makes me really happy?
Luckily in Arco Iris is the place to develop yourself and is the founder of the community (Arbol) a great guide to support you. There is the opportunity to get healing through a traditional Indian plant medicine called Ayahuasca. Which can clear up your thoughts and will bring your deepest emotions to the surface. Through a strict diet and guidance form the Shaman (spiritual healer) a lot of deeply rooted feelings came clear. Also my history of having Leukaemia.
I felt pain in my whole body and it took me back the hospital. I knew the cancer had a big impact on my life but I didn’t know what to do with it. I didn’t wanted to be a victim of cancer the rest of my life. I wanted to build up a life after cancer. I thought i was doing quite well and it also helped me to be positive and to always see i dot of light at the end of the tunnel. But still i felt different. I asked myself many times “Is this where it is al about? Study? Making money? Making carrière?”
It told me to move on you need to deal with the past. I realised that the feeling i had was that i wanted to be free! The freedom to do want i wanted, to do what I believe in, to do what i think it will make the world a better place. I realised that i wanted to change my experience with cancer from something dark to light, from negative to positive. To change that what hit me in the deepest of my trust in myself, my own body to the power of life. To life the live that i wanted. Freedom adventure, discover new things and learn from other cultures.
So that’s where the roots of DreamCycle are coming from. Everybody has his problems and trauma’s and I believe that these are the biggest lessons in life. For me it was leukaemia and though living my dream i hope to inspire other kids whit cancer or survivors of cancer.
Gracias pachamama (thank you Mother Earth)!

Friends from the jungle

Within this intense period in the jungle i met Jonathan. From the first moment on we had a connection. We could speak about the process where we where going through, we could make music together, inspire each other an made lots of fun!

A beautiful friendship was build and when i came back in the Netherlands we stayed in contact though WhatsApp and skype. It felt so awesome to see him again. Do you know that feeling when you have such a good connection that even if you didn’t see each other for a long time you just continued where you ended? If it was like you have seen each other yesterday. We both developed ourselves last year and created a new path for ourselves. Both in our own ways and though being open and interested we still learn a lot from each other. A beautiful friendship with his roots in the Amazon.

Next time…
From Basel i continue my way though Switzerland toward Italy. This time i won’t be alone, my brother will join me on my journey. That will be a adventure i promise you that! Tschüss!