Dale 23

I remember having the entire contents of my backpack spilt out across the floor, imagining the adventures ahead. The unknown was coated with excitement and anticipation. Yet with each footstep, bus ride, river crossed, canyon descended, mountain range passed, the journey has slowly unravelled. With each friendship formed, cuisine savoured, drunken exploits (forgotten) and stone unturned, the mystery has now transformed into an experience, one that resolves itself to be etched permanently in my soul. As I had hoped, I have grown through all of this and the experiences in South America have made me a better, stronger person. Each country serves differently in my memory, yet they have all combined to create a truly unforgettable passage in my life. Before the cultural learnings, the self-discovery and the introduction to hot dogs with potato chips, ... read more

Canyon del Colca South America » Peru » Arequipa » Colca Canyon By Dale 23 April 2nd 2007 Dale Cochrane One of the deepest canyons in the world (twice as deep as the Grand Canyon). Home to the giant Andean condors. Our destination for three days, two nights. I have decided that this blog will be a visual story just to mix things up a little (in truth it's all a matter of laziness:) The canyon was a great experience and I was lucky to share it with some great people. To Reid, who formed the better half of our Oceanic travel duo, thanks for the ride mate. Was definitely ... read more

It looked like a moving coffin for the living. I stood amongst the mass of people flowing through Lima"s bus station and stared up at my transport. The cheapest available ticket had led me to stand in the shadow of this crumbling bus and I anticipated with dread the trip ahead. Departing Lima, the bus will snake its way across the mountains of Peru to Cusco in the east, taking a little over 24 hours to complete the journey. Throwing my backpack in the storage underneath, I climbed aboard, found my seat and tried to make myself comfortable. The trip was long and tiring but not the excruciating experience I had predicted. We did however have to push start the bus twice to get the engine to roar into life, the roof leaked directly over ... read more

"Huanchaco, Huanchaco!" comes the shrill cry from a young woman leaning periously out of the collectivo door. The bus is lined with trinkets of all descriptions and old and battered, it grumbles down the highway to the tune of poppy (annoying) Reggaeton. "Huanchacho, Huanchaco!" Leaning my head against the window, I watch the Peruvian desert roll by, met onimously by the mighty Pacific. Over the next few days, I will learn the subtle intracies of this small coastal town; the cheap set menus of fresh seafood, the small bars that line the dusty backstreets, glorious sunsets that conclude each day, the traditional reed fishing boats (still used practically) thought to have been the origins of surfing and, the primary reason for my stay, the rich history of the area. Between the main city of Trujillo ... read more

The sound of waves are rolling around in my head. The air in the tent is thick and warm and I grapple with sleep. The lure of early morning waves pull me out of the tent and in to the day. Stepping out, my toes hit sand and I breathe in the salty air. The rising sun casts warm, red light that dances across the ocean. Nearby, a charcoal black marine iguana pauses on the white sand to consider this new creature on its´shores. It bucks its´head once, then twice, snorts sea water out of its´nostrils and resumes the slow trek across the beach. Its´snake-like tail follows, carving a small ravine in the sand. I wade in to the warm water, watching for manta and sting rays that cruise the sandy floor. A curious sea lion ... read more