If the children I’ve seen playing in the street are any indication, badminton is popular in Beijing. I don’t know why I find it surprising - maybe because I always imagined that the only people who play badminton have names like Percy or Cecil, and grew up attending posh schools in England set on large […] Read More…
Tag Archives: Peru
Something Unexpected 18 Mar, 2007
Third Time’s a Charm 22 Nov, 2006
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…
Earthquake 20 Nov, 2006
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 20 Nov, 2006
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 20 Nov, 2006
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 19 Nov, 2006
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 12 Nov, 2006
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 10 Nov, 2006
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 4 Nov, 2006
(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…
Into Peru 2 Nov, 2006
From PeruLast Friday I finished my 4 weeks of language school. I am supposedly at an intermediate Spanish level now, but locals would probably argue with that. Have successfully crossed the border into Peru and spent a couple days at the beach in Mancora. Tried surfing for the first time, but didn’t get too far. […] Read More…