hillys Blog on RealTravel

Panajachel journal: Stunning Panajachel - but how do you pronounce it?

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 18:43:46 GMT

Decided to make my way today, out of Xela and over to lake Atitlan. Not much write up on this place in the guide books, but many other travelers recommended it - so I was really looking forward to it. Took a short taxi ride to the dusty and frantically busy bus lot just out of town. There seemed to be hundreds of old busses waiting in the dusty car park, so again put my faith in the taxi driver's advice and jumped on the bus he pointed me to. It had no driver or attendant, but my taxi driver assured me this was the right bus, and to just get on and wait. About half an hour later (after ...

Panajachel journal: good way to fill in a free afternoon

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 18:43:13 GMT

Only $3 entry to this nature park just outside of town (in the grounds of Hotel Atitlan). You can walk there from town (around 25 mins walk) and its a good way to fill in a free afternoon. Includes walk through the jungle to a waterfall.

Panajachel journal: Cheap little hotel on the main street

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 18:40:46 GMT

Basic little hotel on the main drag for around $10 per night. Room included private bathroom and the most comical bedsheets ever (first night was Pinnochio cartoons, second night an american flag). Nice little garden courtyard and good view of the mountains from the balcony. Only complaint was you had to ring the bell and get a cleaner to let you in and out, which annoys me, as I like to come and go a lot.

Mexico City journal: Time to go home :(

Sat, 31 May 2008 18:36:31 GMT

10th: Most of the morning in Granada coimically trying to get a police report for my stollen ipod. Back to the mini bus stop (remembering it was sweltering hot)... and caught the short bus ride back to Managua. Stayed again at the same hotel in Managua - but the oudoor resteraunt had closed down. Wandered around town. Made my way out to the markets, OK but nothing special. Organised the taxi for first thing tomorrow.

11th Early morning flight back to Mexico city via. San Salvador. Spent a lot of the day in Airports - flew TACA, very impressed. Amazing view of Mexico City ...

San Juan del Sur journal: Lounging away my last days in San Juan

Sat, 31 May 2008 18:25:23 GMT

8th - Wondeful bus trip from Granada down to San Juan (taxi from Rivas). Stayed at Casa Oro - OK, but undergoing repairs and a bit dirty, bumped into the french hiker and his travelling companion - also met the vollunteering from US.

9th - Morning in San Juan swimming wandering and eating. Afternoon travelling back to Managua - met the sweed girl from Black Cat on the bus.

Granada journal: Sick as a dog in Granada

Sat, 31 May 2008 17:57:30 GMT

under construction

6th - banged up in bed sick as a dog

7th - spent most of the day in bed again, just well enough to walk around town for a few hours

Granada journal: One of the best hostels in Central America

Sat, 24 May 2008 23:41:31 GMT

A little pricier than other options in town, but worth the extra $5. Very cool chilled out place, with great breakfast, and a pool in the patio out the back.

Huehuetenango journal: Hooray - Independance Day in HueHue

Sat, 24 May 2008 23:22:53 GMT

Unfortunately leaving the cool mountain town of San Cristobal, but was very keen to make my way to my second country, Guatemala. You could get tour packages in SC that take you all the way across the border to Guatemala, but I decided to go my own way and save about 30 and get local busses.. There was quite a few bus options from SC down to the border town of Ciudad Cuauhtemoc - the hardest part was booking my ticket, as I had no idea how to pronounce the border town. Luckily I struck another comfy OCC bus for the short 2 hour trip to the border. The border crossing took a while, but was ...

Huehuetenango journal: Mi Tierra Cafe - Huehuetenango

Sat, 24 May 2008 23:22:42 GMT

Charming and fanstastic little cafe in HueHue. Took me a while to find, but I had a great breakfast here, and the coffee was so good I had a second.

Huehuetenango journal: Hostel Don Diego - Quetzaltenango

Sat, 24 May 2008 23:21:14 GMT

This place has recently moved, and aparently the new premices aren't as nice. But its clean and very cheap, and the dorm beds are really comfy. Can't complain for $3 per night.

Huehuetenango journal: Hotel Mary - Huehuetenango

Sat, 24 May 2008 23:19:16 GMT

Very basic, and kind of drab. But very cheap, and some rooms have a TV. Just off of the main square but fairly quite. The owners not the most welcoming. Don't bother eating in downstairs, there's much nicer places in town.

San Cristobal de Las Casas journal: Palenque day trip

Sat, 24 May 2008 22:07:02 GMT

A real ball breaker, and really too much to fit into one day trip from San Cristobal (especially when the trip includes the three waterfalls. But the scenery and ruins are spectacular.

San Cristobal de Las Casas journal: Colonial San Cristobal in the cool Mexican mountains

Sat, 24 May 2008 22:05:25 GMT

Again I had a grueling overnight bus trip (supposed to be 12 hours, ended up 15) from Puerto Escondido down to San Cristobal (De Las Casas) in the mountains down the south of Mexico. I must say the busses so far in Mexico have been extremely comfortable, with wide comfy seats and good service - but the few I have taken so far, the journey has always taken much much longer than in the timetable. We seemed to stop at some shitty little road stop at 3am for about 3 hours, for no apparent reason. The bus ride this time was also made uncomfortable by the fact that I had fallen asleep on the beach ...

Managua journal: One Capital city to another in a day

Sat, 24 May 2008 19:49:59 GMT

Woke fairly early, and decided to have a quick look around the city to decide if I wanted to stay a night. The bus I wanted to catch to Managua in Nicaragua left at 9am - so I had about 30 mins to decide if I wanted to stay. After a quick walk down to the poluted river, then to the dirty main square, then a quick look at the fine cathederal, I'd decided Tegus' charms weren't quite enough for me to stick around for. Turned out to be a great decision in the end, because I ended up loving me extra time in Nica.

Quickly went back to the hotel Iberia, packed, said adios to the cheerful ...

Tegucigalpa journal: Basic but clean

Fri, 13 Jul 2007 23:43:54 GMT

Reasonably priced, owner was friendly enough - communal toilets and bathroom - but fine for a night. In a great location just off of the square.

Tegucigalpa journal: Long day of travelling, and not even a nice place to rest

Fri, 13 Jul 2007 23:41:43 GMT

Today was a huge travelling day of mega proportions. Started early in Roatan with a 5.30 am taxi pickup (my taxi driver mate that i bumped into whilst staggering home at 2 am the night before, was good to his word and was waiting for me out the front of chillies at 5.50am) The 20-25 min journey from West End to the new ferry terminal at French Harbour was the same price as before US$30 - except this time I didn't have Nick to share it with.

My plan for the day was just to set out, and see how far I got. Wasn't sure about connections etc, so was expecting to spend the night in San ...

Roatan journal: Fleeced at Valeries....Diving made up for it tho..

Fri, 13 Jul 2007 23:15:17 GMT

Four days of bliss in Roatan, marred only by getting my iPpd nicked whilst staying aty the worst hostel in the world, Valeries. Next day decided to take the advice of my fellow travellers, and moved to the next cheapest place, CHillies. Still $25/night (compared to $5 at Valeries), but worth every honduran cent!

Dving was cool - the dive shop, another reocmmmendation, was Reef Gliders - very cool people, and a great place to Hang out. THe diving was amazing!

Did some dives off of "Sea Quest", "Mandy's Eel Garden", Lighthouse and then the deeper side off Sea Quest. Wish I'd made ...

Roatan journal: Chilling out at chillies

Fri, 13 Jul 2007 23:11:57 GMT

This place is simple but clean. At $25 per night its not the cheapest place for a backpacker, but well worth it compared to the nightmare shithole of Valeries down the road.

Nice relaxing communal area with hammocks and just across the road from the little beach and a nice beach bar.

Fork out the extra dough for Chillies, people! You have been warned

Roatan journal: What is it with hostels with female names...they're shit

Sat, 16 Jun 2007 22:51:23 GMT

I thought 'Tina's In Belize was bad - but this place takes the cake for the worst hostel in the world. Dirty, smelly, unsafe (i got my ipod nicked) rats, spiders, cobwebs...and i think Valerie herself is on crack. Take heed people - fork out the extra bucks and stay it Chillies...

Punta Gorda journal: Two days of solid travel

Sat, 16 Jun 2007 22:38:54 GMT

Next two days (26th and 27th) was two full on days of travelling. This is what real travellings all about. Involved several difficult combinations of ferry and local bus journey's, and had to time it right, as one of the ferry's was only weekly, so would have been stranded if i got the days wrong - however the quicker I could get down to Bay Islands, the longer I could spend in paradise.

My journey involved the morning ferry for caye caulker to the colourful (and slighty shitty) Belize City, then taxi ride to the dodgey local bus station (my taxi driver was the re-incarnation of Bob ...

Caye Caulker journal: Tina's Hostel - Dirty Shithole

Sat, 16 Jun 2007 22:23:39 GMT

THe cheapest place to stay in town apparently - I would have rather slept in the streets. Dirty and smelly, and thats just Tina. Did have a cool hang out area out the front with hammocks tho (and a cool cat). Everything else about this place smells.

Caye Caulker journal: Chillin in the Carribbean...how good is this!

Sat, 16 Jun 2007 22:23:34 GMT

24 - Journey day, checking out the place - swim down at the split; organising boat trip.

25 - Best day of the trip - sailing and snorkelling tour out on the raggamuffin. Only bad thing was my back got burned to a crisp!

Flores journal: Hostal Dos Amigos

Sat, 16 Jun 2007 22:16:26 GMT

Also not in the guide books, recommended by a fellow traveller. V-laid back hostel, great communal area, and great (but slow) food. Order your food about 1.5hours before you need it. CHeap too!

Flores journal: Steamy weather in Flores

Sat, 16 Jun 2007 22:16:21 GMT

to be expanded when i have more time.....

22 - Arrived Santa Elena at 4 am, no idea where to go (or where i was). Luckily the cabbie knew Dos Amigos, and the security guard let me in and gave me a bed dispite no booking - v.grateful... Had a small sleep, then spent the day wandering the streets of Flores. Very tropical weather - high humidity, 40 degrees C, and raining!

23 - Tikal trip (incl sunrise which never happened)

24 - From the jungles of Guatemala in the morning, to the Cayes in the afternoon - perfect.

Antigua journal: Black Cat Hostel

Sat, 16 Jun 2007 22:05:33 GMT

Not in the guide books - found by word of mouth, much better than any other hostels - great food and very sociable atmosphere - no good if you want some sleep tho....

Antigua journal: Touristy Antigua not my bag baby

Sat, 16 Jun 2007 22:05:28 GMT

tbc

19 - need to change hostel, found black cat - much better; cruize around town, nice buildings but very touristy, has lost that 'gritty guatemala charm'

20 - Day trip to the volcano (Vulcan), the worst day for it - rainy and storms.

21 - night trip to flores a shamozzle! ripped off big time!

Puerto Escondido journal: Chillin out at the beach

Thu, 21 Sep 2006 11:10:25 GMT

My overnight OCC bus from Mexico City down to Puerto Escondido was a grueling journey. The bus was very nice and comfy, as most mexican long-distance busses are, however, for most of the journey there was torrential rain and storms, so the bus had to travel much slower than usual. The journey was supposed to take 14 hours , actually took 19.

Got to Puerto Escondido just after lunch feeling very tired and in need of a sleep. Checked into the Hostel Mayflower right on the main street near the beach, great location, but just a mediciocre hostel compared to others in Mexico.

Had a ...

Puerto Escondido journal: Basic, no-frills hostel accomodation, good location.

Thu, 21 Sep 2006 10:52:43 GMT

This hostel, just minutes from the beach was basic to say the least. The reception lady (a middle aged Canadian woman i think) was very welcoming and friendly and gave us lots of good information about the town and where to go (an where not to go). However the hostel seemed a little dirty and the shared kitchen was so filthy I didn´t want to even use it.

On the positive side, they had free internet access, hot water, no bunk beds, hammocks and good communal areas which made it easy to meet other gringos, and nice and close to the beach.

The price was $80 pesos per night for a dorm ...

Mexico City journal: Mad-house Mexico City

Thu, 21 Sep 2006 10:40:44 GMT

Well I must say that Mexico city was a pleasent suprise. After 3 days of gruelling flights from Australia on JAL via Sydney, Japan, Vancouver and finally DF, to say I was shagged is an understatement.

My taxi ride to the Zona Historico was a cracker. The official airport taxi was a Hummer-type 4x4 vehicle with tinted windows and a huge body-guard looking driver. I felt like some sort of gangster warlord. Of course one dude wanted a tip for lifting my pack into the vehicle even though i didn´t ask for it. The drive into town was through some pretty rough looking districts and there ...

Mexico City journal: Awesome hostel with free desayuno & almuerzo & great social atmosphere

Tue, 19 Sep 2006 12:47:03 GMT

Central America / Caribbean journal: Central America - Jungles, Pyramids and Tacos

Fri, 15 Sep 2006 13:15:51 GMT

My 6 week trip to Central America and Mexico.

Mae Hong Son journal: Hillarious chicken bus ride to MHS

Sun, 09 Jul 2006 02:00:32 GMT

24th Dec - Reluctantly left Pai and caught a chicken bus to Mai Hong Song. Only 100km journey but took nearly 7 hours. A very memorable ride. Mae Hong Son one of the prittiest little towns around.

Pai journal: Peace man! You're in Pai

Sun, 09 Jul 2006 01:53:48 GMT

21st Dec - 1/2 days bus trip to Pai. Got there near dusk - spent the evening sleeping.

22nd Dec - Spent the day wandering the hippy outpost of Pai. Slightly overrated by the guide books, but still a relaxing place. If you like pirate DVD's, cheap splifs, beer and good food - you'll love Pai. Hired a scooter and explorred the pretty countryside and temples around Pai.

23rd Dec - Found another place to stay in Pai - my own bamboo cabin on the river for just B100 / night - what a find.

Chiang Mai journal: Trecking in Chiang Mai

Sun, 09 Jul 2006 01:46:43 GMT

15th - 16th Dec - Making friends & exploring Chiang Mai and surrounds. Also organised trecking tour

17th 19th Dec - Wonderful treck up in the mountains near Chiang Mai and stayed with some of the mountain tribes - did not see any other tourists on the way - really felt like we were exploring an unspoiled part of the earth. Also went on an elephant ride.

20th Dec - back in Chiang Mai - not feeling the best so didn't do much.

Southeast Asia journal: Tuk Tuk's, Sarongs & Sang Song in Thailand

Sun, 09 Jul 2006 01:37:42 GMT

The next leg of my 6 month backpacking trip. I have my flight booked in and out of Bangkok - and 6 weeks to fill with no plans at all - the best way to travel.

London journal: Goodbye South America - 2 fab nights in London

Sun, 09 Jul 2006 01:33:04 GMT

7th December - Arrived in Madrid at 5 am - t'was dark and cold, and I was still in my Rio attire (ie shorts, thongs & a t-shirt.) My backpack was checkin in until Heathrow so couldn't even put on a jumper. Got many a funny look wandering around the Mardrid terminal when everyone else was rugged up like an eskimo. 2 1/2 hour flight to London in a dirty iberia plane with no leg room and snooty cabin crew - if you have any other option don't fly Iberia. I guess you get what you pay for though - my whole return trip to SA was around 450 pounds - 200 pounds cheaper than BA. Spent most of the ...

Rio de Janeiro journal: Beach, Babes & Football - I must be in Rio

Sun, 09 Jul 2006 01:16:05 GMT

4th Dec - Great weather for wandering around Rio. This place has it all. The most vibrant town on earth.

5th Dec - Another fab weather day - more wandering around Rio. Also went to a football match at their main stadium - only 1/2 full, but I was deafened by the crowd noise - an amazing atmosphere.

6th Dec - My last day in Rio - my flight not till 5. More wandering about, then a shuttle to the airport with some beefcake aussie guy who told me some horror stories about his experiences at Heathrow immigration - just what a guy needs who's tryin to get back into London after ...

Puerto Iguazu journal: Iguazu Falls

Sun, 09 Jul 2006 01:05:51 GMT

1st December - SPend morning trying to find the Brazillian consulate to get a Visa - eventually found it - takes a day to process - left them my passport - then caught the bus out to the falls. Spectacular. Explored from the Arg side - the prettiest falls I've seen. And the surrounding national park is lovely.

2nd December - Very very bad day. Nothing went right. Went to pick up my passport from the embassy - they had lost it. My flight to Rio was actually from the Brazillian side (Foz du Iguacu) airport at 11am - so I was cutting it fine anyway. An hour later they found the ...

Montevideo journal: Strange day in Montevideo

Sun, 09 Jul 2006 00:46:46 GMT

28th Nov - My first real travelling mis-hap and all my fault. Missed my bus due to the time difference in Uruguay. Its usually on the same time as Arg - however I wasn't aware that Arg was still on daylight saving, and Uru had gone off a few days before. Got put on a non-direct local bus to Montivedeo - took 2 hours extra but didn't mind as they were good to put me on the next bus for free. Spent the rest of the day wandering around Montevideo - an unusual place I thought - not a huge city, kinda run down, and lots of people just milling about the place - staring at you as you walked ...

Buenos Aires journal: Bussling Buenos Aires

Sun, 09 Jul 2006 00:28:49 GMT

23rd Nov - Only arrived in BA at 4pm due to bad busses. Found a good hostel - Millhouse in centre of town - nice place but noisy and my dorm full o long stayers with smelly feet and towells. Hard to sleep when your room reeks.

24th Nov - Day wandering BA

25th Nov - Bad day in BA - no sleep due to noisy roommates in the dorm. Then had a big fight with the staff at the ferry terminal. Also it rained.

Mendoza journal: Majestic Mendoza & a nightmare bus trip

Sun, 09 Jul 2006 00:23:16 GMT

21st Nov - Amazingly scenic bus journey from Santiago - Mendoza

22nd Nov - Spent the day wandering majestic streets and plazas of Mendoza - a beautiful city. Would like to stay longer, but due to my ad-hoc trip to Easter Island I was cutting it very fine to make it to Rio by 6th Dec. Took the overnight bus to BA. A nightmare trip - bus broke down 3 times. Didn't get to BA till 4pm the next day (should have been 8am!)

Santiago journal: Everything you want from a Youth Hostel

Sat, 08 Jul 2006 23:46:35 GMT

I really enjoyed staying in this hostel and would recommend to anyone. It was clean, comfortable and in a lovely bohemien part of Santiago - Barrio Brazil. When I was there they had BBQ and DVD nights, lots of comfy louning areas - STUNNING hot showers and helpful staff.

The only negatives I can say is that when I was there in 2004 they were renovating the upper floors - so it was noisy, but I'm sure thats finished by now. Also the bunk beds squeeked like nothing i'd ever heard before.

Also you should be warned that it gets a fairly young party crowd who stay in drinking till ...

South America journal: Going it alone - Santiago to Rio

Sat, 08 Jul 2006 23:35:50 GMT

Although still part of my South America trip - I have started a new Journal, as it was a whole different experience. I had left the tour group in Santiago to make my own way through Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil in just one month - not long enough!

Easter Island journal: An unexpected week in Rapa Nui

Sat, 08 Jul 2006 23:32:49 GMT

9th Nov - EARLY flight from Santiago to Easter Island/Isla de Pascua/Rapa Nui. Pissing with rain.

10th & 11th Nov - Still pissing down with rain. Barely left our "lodge" ecxept for a walk up to the volcano - which was twice as far as we'd thought.

12th Nov - Hired 4wd and explored the island and the Moai.

13th Nov - Tried to con Lan Chile to take me back to Santiago - didn't work.

14th Nov - First hot day. Hired a cab to take us to the other side of the island to the beach & swam all day. Great day, but bambi in a bad mood.

15th Nov - Last day on the ...

Santiago journal: Three long days drive to Santiago

Sat, 08 Jul 2006 00:44:22 GMT

6th Nov - Long day on truck - stayed at a desolate camp site on the roadside near the coast (no nice beach though).

7th Nov - another huge day on the truck. Our day was passed with spannish scrabble, card games, truck stops and service stations. Also Damien's birthay, so had a cake. Stayed at a very wild part of the coastline which reminded me of Irish coast (even though i haven't been to Ireland). The only other ones there were an older couple in a tent - who very promptly packed up and pissed off when we got there. Also did an truck clean as our last night of camping.

8th ...

San Pedro de Atacama journal: Sandboarding in Atacama

Fri, 07 Jul 2006 23:53:32 GMT

Chile - $1USD = 600 Chilean Pesos

4th November - Bordercrossing to Chile - smelly toilets, and a wasted afternoon in San Pedro. Drive out to the Atacama desert to see the spectacular Lunar Valley and a beautiful sunset

5th November - Day's sandboarding and mountain bike riding

Uyuni journal: Spectacular Uyuni Salt Flats

Fri, 07 Jul 2006 20:26:34 GMT

Journal TBC

26th Oct - Days drive down to Uyuni.

27th Oct - Amazing day on the salt flats - Solar de Uyuni - in my opinion one of the most spectabular places on earth.

28th Oct - Worst night - food poisoning in a hotel with no running water is not one of life's pleasantries. Long day's drive to Tupiza got there after dark.

29th Oct - Day in Tupiza - wonderful camp site.

Potosi journal: Bleak Potosi & its silver mines

Fri, 07 Jul 2006 20:18:29 GMT

25th October - Potosi. While La Paz takes the mantle for wolds highest Capital - Potosi is actually the worlds highest City at 4100m - thats the same hight as the highest point in the inca trail - and you could tell - the air was thin and crisp in Potosi. The town itself is a UNESCO heritage listed place due to its many interesting colonial buildings and it had ovbiously once been a grand rich city - in the 1500's it was one of the fastest growing and ritchest cities in the world (so our giude told us) due to the riches of silver the nearby mining of the Cerro Rico mountain. Now the silver ...

La Paz journal: Dizzy in the worlds highest capital, La Paz

Fri, 07 Jul 2006 19:54:37 GMT

21st Oct - Bolivia. Currency, Bolivianos ($1USD = 8 bv) not to be confused with the few Venezualan Bolivares I had left in my pocket from my brief stopover in Caracas.

We were less than an hour away from the Bolivian border, so a very relaxed morning walking about 3km from our hotel in Puno to where Tony had left the truck - a fair hike with a heavy backpack full of souvenirs. Lovely scenic drive along the edge of Lake Titicaca to the relaxed border crossing near Copacapana- getting out of Peru was much easier and less fantic than getting in. The Bolivian immigration was a piece of ...

Puno journal: Titties in Titicaca

Wed, 05 Jul 2006 05:29:21 GMT

18th Oct - Reasonably long drive from Cuzco down to Juliaca - don't remember much about the scenery other than it being quite bleak. Stopped at the bizarre funerary towers at Sillustani - a wind swept area just north of Puno, not overly impressive, exept we stayed for sunset, and got some awesome photos over the lake (hope you agree). As it was dark ended up camping in some guys back yard - I think it was the groundkeeper of Sillustani. We had very little gas left, so everything was cooking slow as. Ended up eating at 10.30 - glad we werem't in cook group. Tents were piched on the ...

Quito journal: Farwell London, home for last 5 yrs.

Wed, 05 Jul 2006 02:18:32 GMT

It would have been lovely to say that my trip to South America got off to a riper start - unfortunatly it didn't quite happen that way. Tuesday September 14th 2004 was a very long day!

The cab was booked to pick me up in Bethnal Green at 4.30am - the sparrows hadn't even begun to warm up their bowells. Fourty pounds poorer would get me to Heathrow - I think the cabbie must have known I was leaving London for good, and feeling extreemely sad about it - as he managed to drive past many of my favourite spots - and along Embankment for much of the way - Big Ben's night time reflection in ...

Cusco journal: Cusco and breathtaking Maccu Piccu

Wed, 05 Jul 2006 02:04:08 GMT

12th October - Cusco, the day before the trek - time to make preparations for the Inca Trail, and a free day to wander around the country's undesputed tourist highlight, Cusco.

13th October - first day of the 4 day trek, and the easiest - early start, then took 4wd's to "Km 88" the start of the trek for most people. An easy day's trek along the river and up a small incline, to our campsite for the first night which looked down the valley to snow capped peaks. Awesome.

14th October - Day two of the trek. Physically the hardest as today we climb from 2100m to the highest poing ...

Arequipa journal: Peru's southern jewell, amazing Arequipa

Sat, 01 Jul 2006 21:43:59 GMT

9th Oct - Back at altitiude again, Arequipa at over 4000m in the shaddow of El Misti this wonderful colonial town was a highlight for me in Peru - easily the nicest city in Peru so far, and a lovely change from grotty Lima. The others chose to go on an overnight tour to the Cocla Canyon, where you get to see massive birds (I forget which ones, lets say they were falcons). But this didn't really appeal to me, prefer to spend the day exploring Arequipa - and so glad I did. Wonderful town.

10th Oct - Another day wandering around Arequipa - the others arrived back just in time for ...

Nazca journal: Poor man's Galapagos & getting Narky in Nazca

Sat, 01 Jul 2006 21:12:03 GMT

6th Oct - Finally left Lima after three days too many in the smelly shit hole they call their capital. Although not the nicest place, still wasn't as bad as we'd been led to believe, also not as dangerous as the guide books say - we had no safety issues at all. Today was a long (cramped) day on the truck, with 10 extra campers, the big yellow beast was now chocka block - and our tour leader Diane had to sit on the floor. Stayed the night at a campsite (with a pool) in Pisco.

7th Oct - Boat ride out to Isla Ballestras - also known as the poor man's Gallapagos - amazing wildlife ...

Lima journal: 3 days in Lima.....3 days too many

Sat, 01 Jul 2006 21:03:25 GMT

3rd October - Half day's drive along the dishevelled Pan American highway to Lima - the scenery just before Lima was stunning - massive dunes with the highway carved through - got some good shots, unfortunatly the CD got scratched and no longer work - bummer. Drive into Lima was a real eye-opener - appawling living conditions, nasty smelly slums and kiddys playing in sewers - nice introduction to the city. Best part about Lima was our hotel - right in the Centre, clean, and amazing showers - much needed after a weeks free-camping.

4th Oct - Free day in Lima

5th Oct - ...

Quito journal: Dizzy beginnings, my first few days at altitude

Sat, 01 Jul 2006 20:20:10 GMT

ECUADOR 1USD=1USD - how easy is that. $1=100 centimos

15th to 17th September. First few days alone in Quito before meeting the tour group.....

Journal Entry TBC

Punta sal journal: Grotty introductio to Peru - chaotic border crossing

Sat, 01 Jul 2006 18:59:43 GMT

PERU 1 USD = 3.3 Soles. (1 Sole = 100 Sentimos)

28th September - Long drive from Incaperca through the banana platations of southern Ecuador, and an even longer border crossing into Peru. About an hour after the border was Punta Sal, our beach oasis home for the next 3 days.

29th September - Fun day at the beach - also a quick trip into the nearest town to get some supplies. Stopped by guards who inspected our bags. Very confused by Emmas pencil case full of tampons - had some trouble explaining what they were used for in Spanish.

30th Sept - Another lazy day on ...

Banos journal: Last days in Ecuador

Sat, 01 Jul 2006 18:47:21 GMT

24th Sept - Long buympy ride from Tena to Banos

25th Sept - My first (and only) experience with Ecuadorian public transport unforgettable

26th Sept - A wasted day - just lazing and wandering around Banos

28th Sept - Another long day on the truck, and sadly our last night in Ecuador, at Inca Pirca

Tena journal: Stunning mountain passes through the Andes to the Amazon

Sat, 01 Jul 2006 18:16:17 GMT

20th Sept - Day at Orchards Paradise Lodge - got chased by hoard of Monkeys. 21st Sept - Tubing down the Rio Napu, stayed in Tena and power kept going off 22nd Sept - Superb day of rafting and activitied in the Amazon - finished off by a stay at the Shangi-La Lodge - best place of the whoke tour 23rd Sept - Lazy day, which included a walk to a primative and remote jungle villiage - our tour guide tried to get me to marry his 16 year old daughter. I politely declined.

Detailed journal entry to come

Otavalo journal: Haggle for a hammock in Otavalo

Sat, 01 Jul 2006 18:03:51 GMT

Friday 18th Sept - Sund 19th Sept

Otavalo markets and a the first night in the tent, a cold cold experience in the Andes. Journal TBC

South America journal: My Own Gringo Trail

Fri, 30 Jun 2006 21:23:42 GMT

My wonderful 4 1/2 month introduction South America. The first few months as part of an overland truck tour group to Santiago, then making my own way through Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil.