Arriving in Lima, I thought it would be best to head straight to the meeting hotel (Los Girasoles) for my first tour, albeit a few days early. It´s a little more expensive than hostels but I figured the extra safety (and comfort) justified the cost.
Again, I was straight onto the street to savour a new and exciting city. Av. Jose Larco in Miraflores is a bustling centre for Lima. At the end is a fantastic shopping centre, atop a cliff overlooking the beach. Certain parts of Lima can be dangerous (especially for the single traveller) but they have developed this district primarily for tourists to feel secure. On almost every corner is either police or security - nearly every shop has security too. I guess this indicates how serious Limeons are about protecting their thriving tourism industry (or it could also indicate the underlying dangers in South America).
The next day I wanted to try a tandem parachute off the beachside cliff in Miraflores. Although, the operator told me there wasn´t enough wind and I didn´t feel like becoming a pancake 200 metres below.
At lunch, I dined solo with Peru´s self-proclaimed national drink, Pisco Sour. I think that will be the first and last. You know those sour wartheads we had as kids? Multiply by about ten and you´ll be close to the taste.
With a belly full, I did my own walking tour of another popular suburb called Baranco. I figure you see more when walking and it´s easy to know where to go by following the hundreds at tourist buses.
After being average male height in Australia, it´s a pleasant change to be well above average height . In fact, there aren´t too many locals taller than me. I thought I would blend into South American appearance but that´s obviously not the case with the amount of people staring and hassling me to buy their goods on the street. It´s been rather difficult weeding out the genuinely nice people from the scammers. I have been trying to meet locals but need to know more Spanish.
Well, it´s now time to meet my tour group for Peru and Bolivia. At last, I won´t be travelling alone and will have security in numbers for 15 days. Pumped to start one of the highlights of my trip.
Return rating: 4
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Goodbye Santiago (20/3/07 - 21/3/07)
Finally I´ve come across some fellow travellers, however, most of them are at least middle aged. On the bus ride out to Valpraiso, I met a friendly semi-retired couple fom NZ, John and Pauline. It was very comforting to speak with someone in English again. They even offered me a lift to the airport the following day as we had the same flight to Lima. I declined as they were leaving almost 4 hours before the flight was due to leave and they were staying in a different hotel.
The bus was not without troubles - about halfway to our destination, I heard a loud bang even through my iPod. The bus started to wobble at 120 km/hr and we knew a tyre had blown. With smoke billowing from the left side, the driver did a great job of slowing the bus and kept control until we stopped on the side of the highway. This was another first in my life: I had never been in a vehicle that has blown a tyre. We later discovered that both tyres on the left of the bus had blown - again, brilliant job by the driver to stop the bus from 120 km/hr with no tyres on one side.
The beach itself was rather disappointing (and cold). A fog lingered over the town all day. Then it was time to grab some lunch at a prestigous restaurant, which is where I met a girl from Miami and got a bit of info on South Beach. Everyone slept on the return journey as it was a longer than expected day with the blown tyre, switching buses 3 times and heaps of walking.
At 5:40am the following morning, I was glad to leave Santiago. At the airport, I ran into John and Pauline. We met another middle aged couple who told us of their encounter with a thief. The lady had her necklace and glasses ripped from her neck while simply standing in the streets. There was no hope for reclaiming those items and they didn't even report the crime. I´ve also heard other stories of someone being asked to hand over their camera to crooks. When they refused, they were stabbed and spent a few months in hospital... cameraless. Looking back on my experience, I guess it worked out for the best. I´ve learnt that in South America, you cannot expose anything of value when you are by youself - safety in numbers. Therefore, I´m confident with my decision not to buy another digital camera until the States.
Return rating: 0
The bus was not without troubles - about halfway to our destination, I heard a loud bang even through my iPod. The bus started to wobble at 120 km/hr and we knew a tyre had blown. With smoke billowing from the left side, the driver did a great job of slowing the bus and kept control until we stopped on the side of the highway. This was another first in my life: I had never been in a vehicle that has blown a tyre. We later discovered that both tyres on the left of the bus had blown - again, brilliant job by the driver to stop the bus from 120 km/hr with no tyres on one side.
The beach itself was rather disappointing (and cold). A fog lingered over the town all day. Then it was time to grab some lunch at a prestigous restaurant, which is where I met a girl from Miami and got a bit of info on South Beach. Everyone slept on the return journey as it was a longer than expected day with the blown tyre, switching buses 3 times and heaps of walking.
At 5:40am the following morning, I was glad to leave Santiago. At the airport, I ran into John and Pauline. We met another middle aged couple who told us of their encounter with a thief. The lady had her necklace and glasses ripped from her neck while simply standing in the streets. There was no hope for reclaiming those items and they didn't even report the crime. I´ve also heard other stories of someone being asked to hand over their camera to crooks. When they refused, they were stabbed and spent a few months in hospital... cameraless. Looking back on my experience, I guess it worked out for the best. I´ve learnt that in South America, you cannot expose anything of value when you are by youself - safety in numbers. Therefore, I´m confident with my decision not to buy another digital camera until the States.
Return rating: 0
A few more days in Santiago (19/3/07)
I initially had thoughts of changing my flights to reach Lima a day earlier. However, I have now booked a beach tour (Valparaiso - Vina del Mar) tomorrow with a different company, still affliliated with my hostel. Speaking of which, my hostel has probably been the best part of my time in Santiago which is a shame because it shouldn´t be a reason to travel. The people at the reception have been very helpful, probably cause I´m paying their wage in a quiet time of year.
Today I walked to Cerro San Cristobal (a mountain with cable cars). The view of the city and spread of 6 million people was impressive. However, for a country in the better half econimically, there is not a great deal of order and structure. For instance, people throw their rubbish in the streets for collection which stray dogs rummage through for scraps.
Today I walked to Cerro San Cristobal (a mountain with cable cars). The view of the city and spread of 6 million people was impressive. However, for a country in the better half econimically, there is not a great deal of order and structure. For instance, people throw their rubbish in the streets for collection which stray dogs rummage through for scraps.
Monday, March 19, 2007
Santiago, Chile (17/3/07 - 18/3/07)
After landing, finding a hostel and a short kip, it was time to scope the streets. My hostel is on a side street off the main road, opposite the main malls. I stopped to watch some salsa dancing in the streets. For anyone lucky enough to have seen me on the dancefloor at 3am, you will know I´m not much of a groover but appreciated the skills all the same.
I had forgotten how difficult the language barrier can be at times. Even simple things like ordering a taxi and hostel were a task. I´d love to know a little Spanish right now but all I know is the basics like ´hello´, ´thanks´ and a can piece together some written words. Generally speaking, most major cities in the world will know a little English at various points but I´ve found Santiago to be on the lower end. Likewise, I haven´t seen many backpackers in my hostel or in the city. During my first few hours, I began thinking to myself that Santiago didn´t appeal much to me. I´m really into being active with sports and the beach - the beach is about an hour and a half drive. They have tours at my hostel but need at least 2 people to make it worth their while. None have signed up in the last 3 days. Where are all the normally abundant Australian backpackers?
My next experience might go some way to explaining it... While walking down the main street, I came across a bus spilling out the doors with soccer fans, seeming to be celebrating a victory. As I mentioned before, soccer would certainly be an aspect that genuinely attracts me to Santiago and South America. So, I got out my camera to take a photo of the passionate supporters. A few teenagers approached me for what I thought would make a great photo. As I turned to take a photo, one of the pricks grabbed my camera and ran back to the bus. I chased him onto the bus but copped a kick from his friend waiting. I was hopelessly outnumbered: I didn´t know how many of the 20-30 supporters were his friends protecting him - besides I also had my wallet with credit cards, US$100 cash and a passport I didn´t want them getting aswell - not to mention that I was trying to protect my health. With everything to lose, I was forced to back away to wait for help. The bus didn´t move and the doors stayed open, so the mob ran out the door with the thief being sheilded in the mob. No help arrived and I couldn´t explain my problem to anyone - even the police weren´t of any help until I found one that spoke broken English. They wanted me to get in their patrol car to make a report at the station but I wasn´t trusting anyone by this stage. Again, I was forced to wait until the morning to make a report for insurance purposes. Of course, I won´t get back my precious photos of my farewells (I think most are backed up at home before I arrived in Sydney). Now I´m feeling a little deflated especially after all the time and effort I went to replace the camera in Sydney. Seems like I was never meant to have a Pentax (right Lach?). I´ll probably get a disposible camera which won´t be targetted in the next third world countries and that means I can´t post pictures until I find a decent digital camera, most likely in the States.
It´s now Sunday night with little possibility for a beach day tour and I can´t find any live soccer. I´m ready for the next leg of my trip, the Macchu Pichu tour... hoping it will be much more interesting in the ancient ruins and loads more fellow travellers on my level.
In closing, I won´t be returning to Santiago for a very long time, unless it´s to transit through to another South American city. But in some ways, I guess that´s what my trip is all about - discovering what I like and don´t like (as well as having some fun along the way).
Well, I should try to make the most of it. A few days left to find some action in Santiago...
I had forgotten how difficult the language barrier can be at times. Even simple things like ordering a taxi and hostel were a task. I´d love to know a little Spanish right now but all I know is the basics like ´hello´, ´thanks´ and a can piece together some written words. Generally speaking, most major cities in the world will know a little English at various points but I´ve found Santiago to be on the lower end. Likewise, I haven´t seen many backpackers in my hostel or in the city. During my first few hours, I began thinking to myself that Santiago didn´t appeal much to me. I´m really into being active with sports and the beach - the beach is about an hour and a half drive. They have tours at my hostel but need at least 2 people to make it worth their while. None have signed up in the last 3 days. Where are all the normally abundant Australian backpackers?
My next experience might go some way to explaining it... While walking down the main street, I came across a bus spilling out the doors with soccer fans, seeming to be celebrating a victory. As I mentioned before, soccer would certainly be an aspect that genuinely attracts me to Santiago and South America. So, I got out my camera to take a photo of the passionate supporters. A few teenagers approached me for what I thought would make a great photo. As I turned to take a photo, one of the pricks grabbed my camera and ran back to the bus. I chased him onto the bus but copped a kick from his friend waiting. I was hopelessly outnumbered: I didn´t know how many of the 20-30 supporters were his friends protecting him - besides I also had my wallet with credit cards, US$100 cash and a passport I didn´t want them getting aswell - not to mention that I was trying to protect my health. With everything to lose, I was forced to back away to wait for help. The bus didn´t move and the doors stayed open, so the mob ran out the door with the thief being sheilded in the mob. No help arrived and I couldn´t explain my problem to anyone - even the police weren´t of any help until I found one that spoke broken English. They wanted me to get in their patrol car to make a report at the station but I wasn´t trusting anyone by this stage. Again, I was forced to wait until the morning to make a report for insurance purposes. Of course, I won´t get back my precious photos of my farewells (I think most are backed up at home before I arrived in Sydney). Now I´m feeling a little deflated especially after all the time and effort I went to replace the camera in Sydney. Seems like I was never meant to have a Pentax (right Lach?). I´ll probably get a disposible camera which won´t be targetted in the next third world countries and that means I can´t post pictures until I find a decent digital camera, most likely in the States.
It´s now Sunday night with little possibility for a beach day tour and I can´t find any live soccer. I´m ready for the next leg of my trip, the Macchu Pichu tour... hoping it will be much more interesting in the ancient ruins and loads more fellow travellers on my level.
In closing, I won´t be returning to Santiago for a very long time, unless it´s to transit through to another South American city. But in some ways, I guess that´s what my trip is all about - discovering what I like and don´t like (as well as having some fun along the way).
Well, I should try to make the most of it. A few days left to find some action in Santiago...
More farewells in Sydney (13/3/07 - 17/3/07)
Hi guys,
After a mad 2-3 days of packing my bags for travel and my life into boxes for moving homes when I return to Oz, it was time to depart for Sydney and start my adventure. There were a few tears with my folks at the airport before I arrived at my mates place, Herge aka Dippy, in the evening. No time was wasted in getting some ice for the beers to celebrate my last few days in Australia.
Jules and I met for some dinner while Dippy cooked a cheap meal at home and met us for drinks later. We got excited seeing some Australian cricket on the big screen, however, it was only a replay from the night before. Turns out the matches start in the early hours of the morning for Oz viewers. Jules was off to visit her family on another houseboat the next morning, so we parted early.
Dippy and I went to his work as he wanted to submit a dream team for the world cup. Macquirie was an eye-opener. I don´t know how Dippy keeps up-to-speed with all the happennings in the financial world, being such a dopey bastard all the time (sorry Dippy, the name is fitting sometimes).
Wednesday night saw Dippy and I out at Bondi for a meal and ´a few beers´. Played 8-ball with a few chumps that thought they had beaten us when Dippy hit our last ball in the pocket followed by the black in the same shot. Are NSW people crazy or what?
The next morning it was time to catch-up with my best mate, Lach. Again, we wasted no time in heading to Manly to soak up some rays and meet some of Lach´s friends formally from Brisbane. I think it was my first visit to Manly and I was well impressed: such a laid back lifestyle, so close yet so removed from the city. When it was too late to catch the ferry back, we crashed on Rocket's floor for the night.
After another swim to wash off the BO, Lach and I slowly made our way back to the fast pace of Sydney city. My camera wouldn´t work the day before, so Friday was mostly spent trying to get it replaced. I eventually managed to convince the Pentax head office to replace it on the spot as I was going OS the next day and it was less than 3 months old - the second one that had broken not long before by an unidentified work colleague... not mentioning any names, hey Ash.
My last night in Oz rolled round and it was now time for the final farewell with two of my closest mates in Australia´s biggest city. Dippy wanted to show-off and have after work drinks at the basement bar of Macquirie. Except, it wasn´t your typical basement bar - Lach and I felt rather underdressed amoungst all the suits in our jeans and T-shirt. After drowning a few bourbons and jaegerbombs, we felt it was time to mingle with the less elite. I can´t remember the places name we finished but it doesn´t really matter cause Dippy got thrown out for trying to piggy back me through the pub. There was no warning from the bouncers but what else you would expect from those clowns. After searching for another drinking hole, we decided to call it a night around 4am. Probably a good thing since I was due to get up at around 7:15am for my first international flight. I must thank Dippy and Lach for delivering me to the airport with a ripper hangover ahead of a 16 hour flight. The Port Power team were all at the airport, flying back to Adelaide. We considered taking out the biffo on the teal but were heavily outnumbered without Roo and the boys.
I guess all is well that ends well... no barfing and I probably managed to sleep better on the plane.
After a mad 2-3 days of packing my bags for travel and my life into boxes for moving homes when I return to Oz, it was time to depart for Sydney and start my adventure. There were a few tears with my folks at the airport before I arrived at my mates place, Herge aka Dippy, in the evening. No time was wasted in getting some ice for the beers to celebrate my last few days in Australia.
Jules and I met for some dinner while Dippy cooked a cheap meal at home and met us for drinks later. We got excited seeing some Australian cricket on the big screen, however, it was only a replay from the night before. Turns out the matches start in the early hours of the morning for Oz viewers. Jules was off to visit her family on another houseboat the next morning, so we parted early.
Dippy and I went to his work as he wanted to submit a dream team for the world cup. Macquirie was an eye-opener. I don´t know how Dippy keeps up-to-speed with all the happennings in the financial world, being such a dopey bastard all the time (sorry Dippy, the name is fitting sometimes).
Wednesday night saw Dippy and I out at Bondi for a meal and ´a few beers´. Played 8-ball with a few chumps that thought they had beaten us when Dippy hit our last ball in the pocket followed by the black in the same shot. Are NSW people crazy or what?
The next morning it was time to catch-up with my best mate, Lach. Again, we wasted no time in heading to Manly to soak up some rays and meet some of Lach´s friends formally from Brisbane. I think it was my first visit to Manly and I was well impressed: such a laid back lifestyle, so close yet so removed from the city. When it was too late to catch the ferry back, we crashed on Rocket's floor for the night.
After another swim to wash off the BO, Lach and I slowly made our way back to the fast pace of Sydney city. My camera wouldn´t work the day before, so Friday was mostly spent trying to get it replaced. I eventually managed to convince the Pentax head office to replace it on the spot as I was going OS the next day and it was less than 3 months old - the second one that had broken not long before by an unidentified work colleague... not mentioning any names, hey Ash.
My last night in Oz rolled round and it was now time for the final farewell with two of my closest mates in Australia´s biggest city. Dippy wanted to show-off and have after work drinks at the basement bar of Macquirie. Except, it wasn´t your typical basement bar - Lach and I felt rather underdressed amoungst all the suits in our jeans and T-shirt. After drowning a few bourbons and jaegerbombs, we felt it was time to mingle with the less elite. I can´t remember the places name we finished but it doesn´t really matter cause Dippy got thrown out for trying to piggy back me through the pub. There was no warning from the bouncers but what else you would expect from those clowns. After searching for another drinking hole, we decided to call it a night around 4am. Probably a good thing since I was due to get up at around 7:15am for my first international flight. I must thank Dippy and Lach for delivering me to the airport with a ripper hangover ahead of a 16 hour flight. The Port Power team were all at the airport, flying back to Adelaide. We considered taking out the biffo on the teal but were heavily outnumbered without Roo and the boys.
I guess all is well that ends well... no barfing and I probably managed to sleep better on the plane.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Farewells (9/3/07 - 13/3/07)
Hi guys, thanks heaps for coming out and making my last few days in Adelaide enjoyable and memorable. I'll miss everyone but at least you can now log onto this site to keep up to date with my world - and of course I'd love you to keep me updated with what's news for you (I can't guarantee I'll reply quickly simply because I don't know when I'll have access to the net).
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