Bolivia to Chile to Argentina!

First off, Feliz Año nuevo!!! I hope you guys had an awesome celebration, and I wish you all the very best in 2009!

Alright, so yup im in Buenos Aires right now...got here a few days ago, and I had a great New Year's eve party last night. Nothing too crazy, just ended up getting smashed at my hostel. I wanted to go out, but there wasn't too much happening in the city, and the clubs are really expensive, and getting a taxi to the clubs...almost impossible! New year's in B.A. isn't like back home, here most people spend the evening with the family and then around 2 am, they head off to the club. Nonetheless, I ended up having an amazing night with friends.

So catching up... I ended up touring the saltflats of Bolivia and it was extraordinary! Seriously, I think it was the best tour I've done in South America so far. I had an amazing tour group who were tons of fun, and an awesome guide! The sights and scenery were truly amazing.

We ended up finishing our tour in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile. The border crossing was hilarious, basically a shack in the middle of the desert! I just spent one night there in the Chilean desert oasis town, and then took off to Salta, a beautiful city in northern Argentina! I was expecting a small town in the desert, but it's actually a really cool tropical city. I spent Christmas there, and it was great! We had an amazing supper on Christmas Eve and Day! Had roast pig, awesome argentinian food and of course, lots of wine and champagne!

I'm just so happy to be in Argentina! It's just so much easier to travel than the Andean countries. Finally, I can flush the toilets (no more stinky bins by the toilets!), there's actually hot water, there are traffic lights, recycling bins, cross walks, and oh so much more! It's just nice to have the basics from back home! Oh and the safety issues, I just feel so much safer here. Now when I take a taxi, I don't have to be scared of being kidnapped or robed or molested (like oh so many travellers I've met in Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia - yup, im serious! There's so much crazy stuff like that all the time, I just didn't tell you guys coz i didnt want u to worry!) lol So yup, I'm just happy to feel safe!

So from Salta, I headed off to Cordoba in the centre of the country and spent one night there. Then I hurried off to Buenos Aires! So here I am, in this amazing city. I'm seriously in love with this town! It's a huge city, with close to 13 million people! It's busy, loud, crowded, rich, poor, snobby, but oh so beautiful! It has amazing architecture, and most of the time I feel like I'm in Europe! Oh and you can have a huge argentinian steak meal for like 10 dollars! The people are very special, they have siestas, eat supper around 10pm and party in the clubs until 8 in the morning! It's just such a different and fantastic city!

As for my plans here, not quite sure. I think I might study spanish, but we'll see how that goes (seeing how I always change my mind). So I'm just gonna go with the flow of the city, and see where it takes me!

You guys take care and have a wonderful year!!!

Ciao!

Wow, it's been a while eh?!?

Alright, so I just realized that it's almost been a month since my last update! Well soooo much has happened during that time! So where to start? hmmmm....

So I headed off to Cusco in the mountains of Peru, an ancient Inca empire city. Cusco is such a great city, with awesome sights, architecture (Inca vs Spanish), restaurants, ruins, and of course, nightlife! I was there for around 10 days, during which I got the chance to really experience Cusco! I got to visit amazing ancient ruins, and the most amazing of them all...the ancient Inca city on top of a mountain...Machu Picchu! Truly, unbelievable what the Quechua people were able to build without even knowing the wheel! lol I ended up taking the train to Aguas Calientes, instead of doing the Inca trail trek (there were sooo many reasons for this...money, gear, laziness etc.). But ya, it was still extraordinary nonetheless! Oh and while I was in Cusco, I got altitude sickness. I was in bed for only a couple days, which wasn't too bad, seeing how it can be quite dangerous. But, I survived and lived up the city!

After Cusco, I made my way to Arequipa, the ''white city of the south''. They call it that because of all the white stonework of most of the buildings. It's a pretty nice city, with the most beautiful Plaza de Armas I have seen so far in South America. From Arequipa, I did a 2 day tour of the Colca Canyon and Valley. It was pretty sweet, and I got to see some cool stuff. BUT, it was kinda one of those 'japanese style' tours, where you stop constantly to take pictures of everything...from llamas, to trees, to swamps, to hills, to basically really anything. The best part though, was getting to see the Condors...these huge beautiful birds! They were really cool and worth the two hour wait! I was just happy to see them because they usually stay in this time of the year!

Then I said Adios Peru and HOLA BOLIVIA!!! I bussed it to Copacabana, a small town on the shores of the beautiful Lake Titicaca (one of S.A.'s most highest and navigable lakes!). It's huge! I guess it's like Bolivia's ocean, seeing how they lost their coastline to Chile way back in the day. lol I had such a great time at Lake Titicaca, I ended up meeting some amazing people and we did a great hike on the Isla del Sol (Island of the Sun). The hike wasn't hard, but the flippin' altitude really got to us. We were constantly out of breath! haha

After that, we made our way to CRAZY La Paz, the capital city of Bolivia! And when I say crazy, I mean in every sense...from the crazy population of close to 2 million in this amazingly crazy mountain valley, to its crazy altitude of over 3,600 metres above sea-level, to its congested streets and markets to its crazy gap between rich and poor, to EVERYTHING! haha

First crazy thing I did in La Paz was when I went and visited the infamous San Pedro prison! Alright, so basically this prison became extremely popular when the book 'Marching Powder' came out. It's the story about Thomas McFadden, a small-time English drug smuggler who was arrested in Bolivia and thrown inside the notorious San Pedro prison. I never read the book, but it seems quite interesting. So for a small price, one can visit this prison, with a guide and bodyguards...who turn out to be prisoners themselves! I didn't ask what they were in for because I was too scared! lol

Anyways, so this prison ain't no ordinary prison! Everything about it was bizarre...from how we got approached by a guy asking us if we wanted to visit the jail, to the coked-out South African woman who brought us into a little room and gave us the 'low-down' of how this jail tour works....to our crazy Argentinean guide who explained to us how he's forced to give these tours against his will. Basically, it was one of the weirdest, craziest, uncomfortable places I've been in! But what makes this prison so special is how it's actually a mini-city within a prison. Women and children live in little apartments with their prisoner husbands and dads. And people own restaurants and stores, and there's even a sauna! It was just sooo weird, but so cool!


I also did the bike ride down the 'World's most dangerous road'! And yes, it was dangerous! It was rainy and foggy, and it was sometimes difficult to see the road. I came close to going off some crazy cliffs, but I luckily survived! There are actually quite a few people (especially travelers) who have died going off the edge!

Soo, my original plan was to stay in La Paz until New Year's, during which I would study Spanish and do volunteer work. I was excited to settle down somewhere’s after months of constant travelling, so I figured La Paz would be the place! But, to my surprise, I ended up getting really bored and sick of the city. My Spanish lessons were going well, but as for my volunteer program, really not so. I tried really hard to volunteer in this orphanage...I got the hostel to contact them and set-up a meeting...but the stupid coordinator never showed up! Then I got the manager to give them my email add so they could contact me with the details (which they never did)! and then finally, I tried contacting them via email and to this date, they still haven't contacted me! I even wanted to go in person to the orphanage, but the hostel told me not to because they ‘wouldn't let me in’...or something weird like that! So basically, I got soo frustrated with the whole situation that it really put me off of La Paz! I was quite unhappy there, so I recently decided to leave!

So....I decided that I'm gonna try to get my butt to Buenos Aires, Argentina for New Year's EVE!!! I got soo much terrain to cover in a very short time. So I'm in Uyuni right now, the small gateway town to the Bolivia's amazing salt-flats. I'm going on a three day tour of them tomorrow, and it ends in Chile! From there, I will take a bus to Salta in northern Argentina, where I will hopefully spend Christmas. Then I'm gonna get myself to Buenos Aires (dubbed the 'Paris of South America') and I can't wait! I think I'm more of an Argentina guy, than an Andean one! haha

So yupyup, that's my 'little' resume of the last month and the weeks to come!

I wish you all a Feliz Navidad and a Happy New Year!
Take care and happy holidays to you all!
I miss you guys tons!

Ciao!!!!

¡Buenos dias de Perù!

Alright, so it's been a bit since my last update, so here's a rundown of last 3 weeks...

So after doing some surfing in some really cold water, I made my way to the Sierra. I stayed in this great hostel in this awesome mountain city. I did do a hike which was rated 'easy', but I sadly didn't find it that easy. it was a good experience nonetheless...i realized that i'm really not in good enough shape to do the Inca Trail trek. So I'm not gonna do it...well for many reasons: it's really expensive, I don't have the proper gear, it's the rainy season so it means I would have to walk in the rain and mud, and finally...I'm not in shape! It's not an easy trek! lol But ya, I will come back in the future when i'm rich and fit! haha With the money I'm saving by not doing the trek, I can see and do so much more stuff! So it works out! oh and I will be going to Machu Picchu anyways...I'll just take the train!

Then I went to Lima, the capital city of Peru! Ahhh I fell in love with this city, especially the super cool area of Miraflores! I was so happy to finally have McDonalds and Starbucks after months of withdrawl! haha Lima is such a great city, I ended up spending a week there...checking out the sights, going to the beach, and of course, partying it up in the clubs!

Oh and I've been travelling with two awesome american girls; they are definitely the coolest americans i've met so far! lol But we sadly said goodbye last week as I continued south on my own.

So i went to Huacachina, a small oasis town in the desert! I had an amazing time sandboarding and dune-buggying! Ahhh it was sooo amazing to go down these huge sand dunes! I went down most of the time on my stomach (which is way faster), instead of on my feet because sooo many people seriously injure themselves. Ya one aussie guy in my hostal ended up breaking his arm and needed to fly to Miami for surgery...ya that definitely scared the crap out of me. So everyone in my group played it safe! haha

Oh and I sadly experienced one of my worst nights sleep in a hostal...I was woken up in the middle of the night to two dirty aussies 'doing it' in our 10 bed dorm room! It was disgusting, but quite funny because everyone woke up and started laughing at them. They thought they were being quiet..but they definitely weren't! lol

Then I made my way to Nasca, where I currently am! I took a plane this morning over the Nasca lines (google them!) and it was amazing! The plane ride made me kinda sick, but I'm feeling much better than the english pommy sitting behind me in the plane who vomited the whole trip. ya, poor guy.

So im just killing sometime...im taking the night bus to Cusco tonight!
I'm soooo excited! Cusco's suppose to be an amazing city! It's gonna be great!

Alright, take care guys!!!

Ciao

Ecuador to Peru!

Hola todo mundo!

So the last time I left ya, I was still in Ecuador. I had travelled down to the province of Loja in the southern mountains of Ecuador. I travelled with a frenchman, an american couple and a columbian guy to this awesome town called Vilcabamba in this amazingly beautiful mountain valley. I ended up spending 5 days at this great resort-hostel that had a bar, swimming pool, spa and extraordinary views of the valley. I had such a great time there; it was a great place to just relax and enjoy the scenery. I even got my first full-body massage where I had to be completely naked, and yup, I was quite shy. lol Luckily the masseuse was this old lady, so ya, no embarassing moments. haha

Then I made my way to Peru! I headed to this awesome beach town called Mancora in the northern part of Peru. It was super hot and sunny there, but sadly the waves were really small when I was there, so I sadly didn't do any surfing. Oh and I sadly got $400 'taken' from my backpack in my hostel while I was out at the beach. But I guess that's life...and sadly, that's South America! haha Everyone I've met so far has had something stolen etc., I guess it's all part of la experiencia sudamericana :)

Then I made my way south, hitting up towns such as Piurra and Chiclayo. I'm right now in Huanchaco, a small coastal town near the big city of Trujillo. It's funny because when I arrived into town, I started walking around with my bags to the next bus station not too too far away, and I ended up getting stopped by a police officer. He tried to explain to me that the area was pretty peligroso (dangerous) and that I would most likely get robbed! So he ended up giving me a ride on his little police motorbike, with me, my little travelpack and my huge backpack! haha Let's just say that I got some funny looks from the locals! Oh and then he chased this bus down, and basically ordered them to take me to my hostal. It was super nice of him to help me...I think it's because I told him I was Canadian! :) ya it was a funny experience.

I later got the chance to check out an ancient city of the Chimu people (an indegenous group prior to the Incas), and it was really impressive. Ya, there's tons of history out here. I also been chilling with some americanas I met back in Ecuador. We were suppose to go surfing today, but it's been pretty cold.

Tomorrow we are heading back into the mountains to this adventure town called Huarez, half way to Lima. I'll probably spend a few days there and do some hiking. I definitely need to do some hiking because I'm hoping to do the Inca trail to Machu Picchu at the end of the month (which is really gonna cost a lot, but will so be worth it!). So I need to get into shape! lol

So yup, that's what I've been up to!
Take care!!!

¡Ciao amigos!

So what I've been up to in Ecuador!

So after spending a few days visiting Quito, La Mitad del Mundo (half of the world) site and an extinct volcano, I headed off to the coast! I spent a week travelling from Atacames (a resort town in north of Ecuador), to Manta (where I took a night bus that ended up breaking down), to Puerto Lopez (a beautiful fishing village, where I did a whale watching tour and saw FIVE humpback whales - truly amazing!), and finally to Montañita. I spent a few days in Montañita because it's a really nice/touristy/party/surfer town. I didn't do any surfing because the waves were small, but I did chill on the beach a lot. lol

I then travelled with some French buddies I met back in Puerto Lopez to Guayaquil, the biggest city in Ecuador. I had really expected the worst of this city because everyone I had met during my travels had really disliked the city. But surprisingly, the frenchies and myself actually quite liked it. It has a really nice Malecon (waterfront promenade) and some cool little neighbourhoods. It was nice being in the city again, after a week in small towns, eating only Arroz con pollo (rice with chicken).

Oh ya, here you can have an almuerzo (a lunch special that consists of a starter soup, with a main dish of either beef or chicken with rice, salad and plantaines), all for the small price of 2 dollars! I've seen some as cheap as 1 dollar! Crazy eh? Ya everything here is soooo cheap! I seriously feel like a millionaire here! I'm constantly buying food because everything looks sooo good. I'm gonna be fat by the time I get back home! haha

After that, I headed back into the mountains to a small tourist town called Baños. From there I did a 3 day tour of the nearby jungle. I had such a great time. We did tons of walking through the jungle, learning about the medicinal plants and the crazy insects and animals, and checking out beautiful waterfalls! My guide was awesome, but I did get scared a bit when he would take us on trails that were untrecked for a few days and when he would have to take out his macheté to clear the path. Oh and he even got bit by a spider which had hurt him like crazy (he was jumping around in pain) haha but thankfully it wasnt poisonous, but I was still freaked out nonetheless. lol
oh and there was this weird german guy on my tour, and we shared room...and during the night i woke up to him talking in his sleep, but in German! ya, it scared the shit out of me! lol

Then I headed back to Baños and relaxed there during the weekend. I did a crazy four hour hike, during which I ended up getting lost on this mountain...trying to find a viewpoint of a volcano. I would cross cow fields to try to find my trail, and i would wave a stick in the grass in front of me to hopefully scare any snakes that may have been around. lol but ya, it was a good hike.

After that, I headed off to Cuenca in the south of the country, where I am right now. It's a beautiful colonial city in a mountain valley. I was planning on staying here a week or two to study spanish and volunteer, but I decided to leave today for Loja, a city in the south. I wanted to stay here in Cuenca, but yesterday I checked out some language schools and it's really expensive. So I figured that for the price they want me to pay, I might as well teach myself! haha and I've been learning so much since I've been here, because hardly anyone speaks english! I can't believe how patient the people are with me because my spanish is horrible! but it's getting better! :) I think I may settle down in Lima, Peru for a bit and study there. I hear it's a pretty cool city. I'll probably head out that way in a week or two.

So yup, that's about all I've done so far. I'm having an awesome time here in Ecuador...the country and the people are beautiful.

Alright, well I hope all is well with you all!
Take care!

Ciao!