As promised a long time ago, this is a photo of where I live in Santiago. The tall building on the left. 24th floor, 3rd from the top. Home sweet home, or at least it was...
That's right, I am moving again... For those of you who don't yet know, I have a new job as, wait for it... A Tour Leader! Hahaha, crazy no? Anyway, with this wounderous new job I will be travelling pretty much permanently. So I am now officaly homeless...
I am going to miss Santiago, the life style here is great. But the show must go on...
Zac
Friday, March 03, 2006
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Ecuador in a nutshell.
I am back in Cusco, Peru for a few days. So I figured I would give you a wrap up on Ecuador…
Ecuador in a nut shell… Go. Simple as that. Ecuador is great, it has everything you could want to see or do, and it’s small. So if you only have a few weeks to travel, and you don't want to waste half you time and money getting around, it perfect.
A few things I forgot to mention…
A) Don’t drink Ecuadorian fire water. I don’t know what it is really called, but I call it fire water. At around 80% and 15 cents US a shoot, it is lethal. The old man who sold it to us poured some on the floor and lit it up. It burned for ages! Lethal.
B) When your guide book or whatever recommends not walking in a certain area in the afternoon as there maybe drunks about. Heed the advice. I didn’t. I went for a walk through the old part of Quito at about 4.30 on a Friday afternoon. Not the nicest part of town at that time of day...
C) If the bus seems too cheap. It is too cheap! Don’t take it. You are not getting a good deal; you are getting a crap bus.
I am sure there should be a few other things on this list, but I am kind of out of it. I have just arrived in Cusco after spending 40 odd hours in transit, 3 different busses and a plane. After 2 nights and a day on busses I couldn’t face the thought of spending another 25 hours on a bus to get from Lima to Cusco, so I took the soft option and flew. My spine is fussed together, my knees are aching, and I smelt rank (not any more, thank you). Riobamba (Ecuador) to Cusco (Peru) in just under 48hours. My advice, don’t do it.
I am going to bed.
Zac
Ecuador in a nut shell… Go. Simple as that. Ecuador is great, it has everything you could want to see or do, and it’s small. So if you only have a few weeks to travel, and you don't want to waste half you time and money getting around, it perfect.
A few things I forgot to mention…
A) Don’t drink Ecuadorian fire water. I don’t know what it is really called, but I call it fire water. At around 80% and 15 cents US a shoot, it is lethal. The old man who sold it to us poured some on the floor and lit it up. It burned for ages! Lethal.
B) When your guide book or whatever recommends not walking in a certain area in the afternoon as there maybe drunks about. Heed the advice. I didn’t. I went for a walk through the old part of Quito at about 4.30 on a Friday afternoon. Not the nicest part of town at that time of day...
C) If the bus seems too cheap. It is too cheap! Don’t take it. You are not getting a good deal; you are getting a crap bus.
I am sure there should be a few other things on this list, but I am kind of out of it. I have just arrived in Cusco after spending 40 odd hours in transit, 3 different busses and a plane. After 2 nights and a day on busses I couldn’t face the thought of spending another 25 hours on a bus to get from Lima to Cusco, so I took the soft option and flew. My spine is fussed together, my knees are aching, and I smelt rank (not any more, thank you). Riobamba (Ecuador) to Cusco (Peru) in just under 48hours. My advice, don’t do it.
I am going to bed.
Zac
Saturday, February 18, 2006
Fishy fishy fishy....
Back from the Jungle… But where am I? Not in Peru… That didn’t work out quite as planned. I made it is far as Coca in Ecuador, I even had a boat ticket to the border. But when we went to catch the boat in the morning they told us it was broken and there wouldn’t be another boat until the next day. Meanwhile we had been speaking to this guy who was telling us that the only boat from the border back into Peru took something like 15 days to make it to Iquitos. Now I am not sure if he was telling the truth or trying to sell me a Jungle tour, because the whole time he keep offering to take us on a jungle tour leaving that morning. Well no one else was able to provide us with more accurate information so, I let my plan of catching a river boat down to Peru slide, as I didn’t have 15 days to spare. But I haven’t give up on the idea, before I leave South America (yes, I will leave some day) I am going to take a river boat to somewhere. Mark my words…
So, what did we do? Well we signed up for the jungle tour. Sounded like fun and fun it was! 4 days and 3 nights in the Jungle, what more could you want. Day one was spent on a canoe heading down river to the lodge, I think in total around 7 or so hours on the boat. By the end my legs were red. Yes, Mum I had sunscreen, but there is only so much that can do. Lucky I had a hat…
2nd day we went traipsing off into the jungle looking for monkeys and what ever else we could find. Well we saw some monkeys, a tiny little frog. Then I found a little bit of snake skin, which turned out to be a lot of poisoness snake skin. Then, well then we found a real snake. A dirty great Boa Constrictor. The thing was huge, over 3 meters long, and so fat. Then…. Then our fearless guide picks up a stick and starts to poke the damn thing. I was getting a little worried at this stage, but hey, I am sure he knows what he is doing… But then, he picks it up, grabs the head, and we all had to grab the rest of it to stop it "constricting" him. That thing was strong, there were 4 big guys holding on to that thing and it was still struggling like demon. It also smelled bad, real bad. Somehow I ended up down the smelly end, and the snake didn’t really like being picked up like that so it shat itself. And I got it all over my hands, it took days to wash that off. I couldn’t bring my hands close to my face with out gagging for the rest of the day. It was rank…
That night we also went out in the canoe spotting for crocodiles. Again all good fun until our fearless guide decides it’s time to catch one and drag it up on the shore so we can all take a photo of the thing. Well the one he caught was about a meter and a half long. Big enough to put up a fair bit of a struggle. But I did get a nice photo of it. We also saw a heap of monkeys and birds a few spiders. Oh yeah we also went fishing for piraña! And I caught 2! Now normally I hate fishing cause I suck at it. But this was easy. Every time I threw the line in I got a bite. Most times they just stole my bait, but I managed to catch a little one, an then a real big one! We took the big one back to the lodge and they cooked it up for me. Tastes ok, but too many bones. They also took the bottom jaw off the thing and gave it to me. Though I left it behind as I wasn’t too keen on the idea of travelling around with that in my pocket.
And that was about it for my jungle trip. We caught our little boat back up to the main river and from there a fast boat back to Coca. But… the fast boat broke down 5 minutes out, so we spent the next hour floating back to the little village we set out from. Then spent the afternoon waiting for another boat which we were assured was coming. And come it did, it came, it towed the other boat away, and left us behind… Not impressed. So we spent a night staying in a little village on the Rio Napo. Next morning we were told there would be a boat. But by now I know that when they say there will be a boat, they mean, there might be a boat. This little village was pretty much cut off from the outside world, no phone or anything. So next morning a military boat with about 70 conscripts rocks up, and our fearless guide negotiates with them to take us back to Coca. He told us this was the only boat going that day. So on we get. What took us about 4 hours on the first day going down river, took around 8 coming back up river. Ok so we picked one of the slowest boats going, but I was just happy to be going somewhere.
So where am I now? Back in Baños, and the place is covered in ash, turns out the volcano is getting a little restless. Not to worry as I am off tomorrow, heading back down to Peru.
Later
Zac
So, what did we do? Well we signed up for the jungle tour. Sounded like fun and fun it was! 4 days and 3 nights in the Jungle, what more could you want. Day one was spent on a canoe heading down river to the lodge, I think in total around 7 or so hours on the boat. By the end my legs were red. Yes, Mum I had sunscreen, but there is only so much that can do. Lucky I had a hat…
2nd day we went traipsing off into the jungle looking for monkeys and what ever else we could find. Well we saw some monkeys, a tiny little frog. Then I found a little bit of snake skin, which turned out to be a lot of poisoness snake skin. Then, well then we found a real snake. A dirty great Boa Constrictor. The thing was huge, over 3 meters long, and so fat. Then…. Then our fearless guide picks up a stick and starts to poke the damn thing. I was getting a little worried at this stage, but hey, I am sure he knows what he is doing… But then, he picks it up, grabs the head, and we all had to grab the rest of it to stop it "constricting" him. That thing was strong, there were 4 big guys holding on to that thing and it was still struggling like demon. It also smelled bad, real bad. Somehow I ended up down the smelly end, and the snake didn’t really like being picked up like that so it shat itself. And I got it all over my hands, it took days to wash that off. I couldn’t bring my hands close to my face with out gagging for the rest of the day. It was rank…
That night we also went out in the canoe spotting for crocodiles. Again all good fun until our fearless guide decides it’s time to catch one and drag it up on the shore so we can all take a photo of the thing. Well the one he caught was about a meter and a half long. Big enough to put up a fair bit of a struggle. But I did get a nice photo of it. We also saw a heap of monkeys and birds a few spiders. Oh yeah we also went fishing for piraña! And I caught 2! Now normally I hate fishing cause I suck at it. But this was easy. Every time I threw the line in I got a bite. Most times they just stole my bait, but I managed to catch a little one, an then a real big one! We took the big one back to the lodge and they cooked it up for me. Tastes ok, but too many bones. They also took the bottom jaw off the thing and gave it to me. Though I left it behind as I wasn’t too keen on the idea of travelling around with that in my pocket.
And that was about it for my jungle trip. We caught our little boat back up to the main river and from there a fast boat back to Coca. But… the fast boat broke down 5 minutes out, so we spent the next hour floating back to the little village we set out from. Then spent the afternoon waiting for another boat which we were assured was coming. And come it did, it came, it towed the other boat away, and left us behind… Not impressed. So we spent a night staying in a little village on the Rio Napo. Next morning we were told there would be a boat. But by now I know that when they say there will be a boat, they mean, there might be a boat. This little village was pretty much cut off from the outside world, no phone or anything. So next morning a military boat with about 70 conscripts rocks up, and our fearless guide negotiates with them to take us back to Coca. He told us this was the only boat going that day. So on we get. What took us about 4 hours on the first day going down river, took around 8 coming back up river. Ok so we picked one of the slowest boats going, but I was just happy to be going somewhere.
So where am I now? Back in Baños, and the place is covered in ash, turns out the volcano is getting a little restless. Not to worry as I am off tomorrow, heading back down to Peru.
Later
Zac
Saturday, February 11, 2006
Which way does it flush?
Quito at last!!! And it only took 2 weeks and 9 different busses… Now I have to turn around and head all the way back down to Santiago again…
But first an update. I spent my last day in Baños wandering around the hills. Started out at about 10ish in the am, and made it back to my hostel by around half 5 in the pm. Wore myself out well good and proper. I had a headache for the next day, combination of too much sun and altitude. But I had fun, I even had tea with some old dairy farmer in his little shack up in the hills. I was walking along minding my own business when this guy came running out and invited me in for tea. So I spent a good hour or so having tea and chatting away in Spanish with this old guy. He kept trying to feed me, I had to physically stop him from cooking me up some eggs. Crazy, but fun.
Quito! The northern most point of my journey, and the farthest north I have ever been. Quito sits across the equator so I am no sure if I have crossed into the North Hemisphere yet, would be the first time for me. I’ll have to check which way the toilet flushes when I get back to the hostel.
Today I went out to Otavalo to see the market out there. Absolutely amazing, this was by far the biggest craft market I have ever seen. Fortunately I went on my own, so I was able to wander through, make a purchase or two and be done all in about an hour. Pretty good huh? I reckon if I had of had female company (i.e. Sophie, Mum) I would never have made it out of there.
Anyway I’d show you my new groovy hat I bought, but the computer here doesn’t like my new camera. I blame the computer, it can’t be the camera, it’s new!!! And boy do I love it, though I haven’t a clue what half the buttons do, yet. But fear not I have a week on a river boat ahead of my to work it all out. And when I do I’ll put up a photo or two of me, in my brand new Roy Ban sun glasses. I look like a pimp in them, they are great! The guy who sold them to me said they were Ray Ban, but I figure for $12 there is no way they are, so Roy Bans it is.
Anyway have to go, much to do and so little time. Tomorrow I am off to the Jungle to try my luck catching a river boat back into Peru. Could be quite the adventure.
LaterZac
But first an update. I spent my last day in Baños wandering around the hills. Started out at about 10ish in the am, and made it back to my hostel by around half 5 in the pm. Wore myself out well good and proper. I had a headache for the next day, combination of too much sun and altitude. But I had fun, I even had tea with some old dairy farmer in his little shack up in the hills. I was walking along minding my own business when this guy came running out and invited me in for tea. So I spent a good hour or so having tea and chatting away in Spanish with this old guy. He kept trying to feed me, I had to physically stop him from cooking me up some eggs. Crazy, but fun.
Quito! The northern most point of my journey, and the farthest north I have ever been. Quito sits across the equator so I am no sure if I have crossed into the North Hemisphere yet, would be the first time for me. I’ll have to check which way the toilet flushes when I get back to the hostel.
Today I went out to Otavalo to see the market out there. Absolutely amazing, this was by far the biggest craft market I have ever seen. Fortunately I went on my own, so I was able to wander through, make a purchase or two and be done all in about an hour. Pretty good huh? I reckon if I had of had female company (i.e. Sophie, Mum) I would never have made it out of there.
Anyway I’d show you my new groovy hat I bought, but the computer here doesn’t like my new camera. I blame the computer, it can’t be the camera, it’s new!!! And boy do I love it, though I haven’t a clue what half the buttons do, yet. But fear not I have a week on a river boat ahead of my to work it all out. And when I do I’ll put up a photo or two of me, in my brand new Roy Ban sun glasses. I look like a pimp in them, they are great! The guy who sold them to me said they were Ray Ban, but I figure for $12 there is no way they are, so Roy Bans it is.
Anyway have to go, much to do and so little time. Tomorrow I am off to the Jungle to try my luck catching a river boat back into Peru. Could be quite the adventure.
LaterZac
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
