From ChileFor hitchhiking, Chile rates somewhere between New Zealand (never waited more than 5 minutes) and Australia (stood by the side of the road for an hour, got a bottle thrown at us). It took us 20 minutes before we were picked up, but when we did, we got to ride in this. Which is […] Read More…
Monthly Archives November 2006
Hitchhiking 30th
Third Time’s a Charm 22nd
It became clear last night that my continuing lack of appetite and energy was not a holdover effect from the latest bout of fun with high altitude. After several trips to the bathroom produced unfortunate results, I realised my body had entered a competition to get sick as many times as possible on this vacation […] Read More…
Film Developed 20th
From SLR Colour Fi…So far all the pictures I put up have been from Anne’s compact digital camera. I’ve been shooting some pictures on an SLR, but mostly in B&W, which I won’t get developed until I find somewhere I’m confident won’t ruin my film when developing it. However I did just finish a colour […] Read More…
Earthquake 20th
I was sitting at a cafe this morning, waiting for my breakfast of scrambled eggs to arrive, when I heard screams, the ground started wobbling, and plaster dust started falling from the walls. Earthquakes are a startling experience. I heard later this one was a 5.something on the Richter scale.(I know, 4 posts in a […] Read More…
A Change of Plans 20th
Two days ago Anne and I spent 7 hours on a bus getting to Lake Titicaca. At 3,800m, it’s the highest navigable lake in the world. If that’s ringing alarm bells, there’s a good reason for it. Yes, I got altitude sickness. And I did what I do best in that situation. Spent the night […] Read More…
Elections 20th
Elections in Peru were held yesterday, and just like in Ecuador they were preceded by weeks of parades in the streets and cars driving around blaring music at incomprehensibly distorted levels out of megaphones. I can’t say I’m sorry the noisy shows are over.I read a little about the results of the US elections, but […] Read More…
Inca Ruins 19th
From Machu PicchuAnne and I reached Machu Picchu at the end of last week after a 4 day biking/hiking trip. It’s a beautiful place, in large part due to its surroundings. And although it’s impressive, I think a lot of the hype is due to the mythology surrounding it. What was it used for? Why […] Read More…
Now I Can Ride a Bike 12th
From CuscoOther countries require months of classes, practice and a license. Peru requires $25 and a face. That’s how I learnt to ride a motorbike. I spent 4 hours terrorising the roads and dirt tracks around Cusco today. Beautiful scenery and great fun. And now, if I ever find myself on the set of an […] Read More…
Painful Steps 10th
From Colca CanyonI’m walking with slightly achy legs from yesterday’s final day of a 3-day hike in Colca Canyon. The “Canyon” is more of a cross between a valley and a canyon, but suffice it to say it’s steep. And deep - about 3200m, versus 1600m for the Grand Canyon. The first day was the […] Read More…
Southern Peru 4th
(Forgot to post this after writing it a week ago.)I hadn’t expected much from Peru. Before going all I heard was horror stories from other travellers about the dire state of the economy, the corruption, and the danger of getting mugged on the street or threatened in a taxi. Luckily for me, so far so […] Read More…