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Date: 14th January 2010
Hi Alex
Take trainers, then sandles for river walking. Travel light, take a few T-shirts, 3/4 lengh trousers and shorts for swimming. A fleece, trousers and socks for night time. Cloths get trashed so nothing flash. Take blister plasters, tourch, water purification tablets and water bottle with strap. Waterproof bag inside small day bag sufficient. DEET repellant. Cigs for the soldiers. Walking boots will be too heavy! Expect to get dirty!
From Blog: La Ciudad Perdida (The Lost City)
Hi Alex
Take trainers, then sandles for river walking. Travel light, take a few T-shirts, 3/4 lengh trousers and shorts for swimming. A fleece, trousers and socks for night time. Cloths get trashed so nothing flash. Take blister plasters, tourch, water purification tablets and water bottle with strap. Waterproof bag inside small day bag sufficient. DEET repellant. Cigs for the soldiers. Walking boots will be too heavy! Expect to get dirty!
From Blog: La Ciudad Perdida (The Lost City)
Date: 14th January 2010
Shoes?
Hopefully you check comments regularly, 'cause I'm leaving for Colombia tomorrow. :P We'll be trekking Ciudad Perdida and I'm agonizing over footwear. I'm an experienced hiker, and I know I'm bringing good trekking sandals; do you think I should also bring hiking boots with ankle support? I feel like I might appreciate them, but they're so...big. Your opinion would be lovely! Thanks for this great blog, too. I've already sent the bikini machine gun pic to my wife, to let her know what I'll be expecting from her. :)
From Blog: La Ciudad Perdida (The Lost City)
Shoes?
Hopefully you check comments regularly, 'cause I'm leaving for Colombia tomorrow. :P We'll be trekking Ciudad Perdida and I'm agonizing over footwear. I'm an experienced hiker, and I know I'm bringing good trekking sandals; do you think I should also bring hiking boots with ankle support? I feel like I might appreciate them, but they're so...big. Your opinion would be lovely! Thanks for this great blog, too. I've already sent the bikini machine gun pic to my wife, to let her know what I'll be expecting from her. :)
From Blog: La Ciudad Perdida (The Lost City)
Date: 23rd December 2009
I find this very hard to believe
Hi I have visited Varkala twice, three years ago so things may have changed since then but I find it hard to believe that drugging of girls is occurring. I pretty much lived at funkys for three and half weeks, and again for two weeks and Babu and his team were lovely, and i think of them as friends. I was a young girl backpacking for the first time and Babu and his staff couldn't of been more helpful. One of his staff would always offer to walk me home, not in a sleazy way but to make sure i was ok because it is so dark along the cliff during the low season, they helped me book trips, took me to the dentist when my tooth hurt, Babu even has got out of bed in the middle of the night to get his driver to come and take me to the airport because the taxi i booked had not turned up and i was about to miss my flight. There was a small group of us travellers that hungout there with all the staff and we often went on outings together with Babu and some of the other guys. I never felt uncomfortable or unsafe when i was there, the complete opposite which is why i stayed so long. Yes Babu does have an eye for the ladies, but it is always reciprocated and it is often Babu that is left heartbroken when they leave (well for five minutes until the next love of his life arrives) Holiday staff flirting with travellers happens all over the world and there never seemed to be anything more than that, I and other girls who were not interested were never pestered or hassled. Babu is lovely and i am looking forward to visiting him again in January. I would also like to point out that I hung out with male travellers who got on fantastically with him and the staff, Babu even arranging for the guys to have martial arts lessons because they were a bit bored during a rainy week. Anyway that's penny's worth
From Blog: Big Trouble In Little Varkala
I find this very hard to believe
Hi I have visited Varkala twice, three years ago so things may have changed since then but I find it hard to believe that drugging of girls is occurring. I pretty much lived at funkys for three and half weeks, and again for two weeks and Babu and his team were lovely, and i think of them as friends. I was a young girl backpacking for the first time and Babu and his staff couldn't of been more helpful. One of his staff would always offer to walk me home, not in a sleazy way but to make sure i was ok because it is so dark along the cliff during the low season, they helped me book trips, took me to the dentist when my tooth hurt, Babu even has got out of bed in the middle of the night to get his driver to come and take me to the airport because the taxi i booked had not turned up and i was about to miss my flight. There was a small group of us travellers that hungout there with all the staff and we often went on outings together with Babu and some of the other guys. I never felt uncomfortable or unsafe when i was there, the complete opposite which is why i stayed so long. Yes Babu does have an eye for the ladies, but it is always reciprocated and it is often Babu that is left heartbroken when they leave (well for five minutes until the next love of his life arrives) Holiday staff flirting with travellers happens all over the world and there never seemed to be anything more than that, I and other girls who were not interested were never pestered or hassled. Babu is lovely and i am looking forward to visiting him again in January. I would also like to point out that I hung out with male travellers who got on fantastically with him and the staff, Babu even arranging for the guys to have martial arts lessons because they were a bit bored during a rainy week. Anyway that's penny's worth
From Blog: Big Trouble In Little Varkala
Date: 3rd December 2009
Stumbled Upon
I googled "extreme hiking" and got your page. I think that personally I will just stay home and enjoy your blog; I enjoyed your pictures (breath taking and terrifying) and blogs from the other places you visited. All I can say is wow. I am still amazed at the "tourists" just going up in everyday wear.
From Blog: The World Most Dangerous Tourist Route
Stumbled Upon
I googled "extreme hiking" and got your page. I think that personally I will just stay home and enjoy your blog; I enjoyed your pictures (breath taking and terrifying) and blogs from the other places you visited. All I can say is wow. I am still amazed at the "tourists" just going up in everyday wear.
From Blog: The World Most Dangerous Tourist Route
Date: 29th November 2009
never go to the funky art cafe
we been to have a beer at funky last night we have found that the most dangerioues place in varkala shit place we ask for beer and guy who serve he ask are on over honey moom and we say noo we later onn her boss come to say me if you not married you fucking not allowed in my cafe but there was a guy he make here underestand the lady who owns the place she is stowened all the time ! and fight with her all the costemer we if you not having a food in this place then i think there is no respect as long if you give them good busyness they good eles you have to face a trouble they have singh coll the most happening place it true been rude with the costemer and fight as i want to say in the massage to you all my friend please dont go toi funky bar you will be feel unrespecatable ur self the lady coll alessendra please try not to go stay safe have good time in india
From Blog: Big Trouble In Little Varkala
never go to the funky art cafe
we been to have a beer at funky last night we have found that the most dangerioues place in varkala shit place we ask for beer and guy who serve he ask are on over honey moom and we say noo we later onn her boss come to say me if you not married you fucking not allowed in my cafe but there was a guy he make here underestand the lady who owns the place she is stowened all the time ! and fight with her all the costemer we if you not having a food in this place then i think there is no respect as long if you give them good busyness they good eles you have to face a trouble they have singh coll the most happening place it true been rude with the costemer and fight as i want to say in the massage to you all my friend please dont go toi funky bar you will be feel unrespecatable ur self the lady coll alessendra please try not to go stay safe have good time in india
From Blog: Big Trouble In Little Varkala
Date: 18th November 2009
bloody brilliant!
That is certainly an insane climb. I've done a few nutter climbs round NZ in my time without ropes and harnesses but that takes the cake. I'm not sure if I want to rush over there and do it too or put in on my list of never go near the place spots. Good on you for having the guts to do the climb and brave unknown territory with Chinese people. cheers MArk Campbell - New Zealand
From Blog: The World Most Dangerous Tourist Route
bloody brilliant!
That is certainly an insane climb. I've done a few nutter climbs round NZ in my time without ropes and harnesses but that takes the cake. I'm not sure if I want to rush over there and do it too or put in on my list of never go near the place spots. Good on you for having the guts to do the climb and brave unknown territory with Chinese people. cheers MArk Campbell - New Zealand
From Blog: The World Most Dangerous Tourist Route
Date: 17th November 2009
Beware!
Being from India I'm painfully aware of so many ways tourists are scammed. If anyone is planning a travel to ANYWHERE in India just talk to an Indian guy around you (I'm sure it would not be hard to find). You will be thankful that you did. Also, the rules for playing the game (or surviving) are different there. The hard part for most travellers is the massive shift in paradigm. Nothing that you learnt in US or Europe holds good there. It can be fun and a truly out of world experience, but you need to learn few things before you step off that plane.
From Blog: Dodging the Dodgy - Welcome to Delhi
Beware!
Being from India I'm painfully aware of so many ways tourists are scammed. If anyone is planning a travel to ANYWHERE in India just talk to an Indian guy around you (I'm sure it would not be hard to find). You will be thankful that you did. Also, the rules for playing the game (or surviving) are different there. The hard part for most travellers is the massive shift in paradigm. Nothing that you learnt in US or Europe holds good there. It can be fun and a truly out of world experience, but you need to learn few things before you step off that plane.
From Blog: Dodging the Dodgy - Welcome to Delhi
Date: 12th November 2009
Mmmmmmm
glad that you enjoyed the experience. to bad stuart and jacques are still there. shame man. i wanted to get them out as well. at least i got kenneth out, but yeah he got greedy on the outside. anyway it was good times and yeah a good blog. if only you knew half of the true story. you only got a taste.
From Blog: Marching Powder - San Pedro Prison
Mmmmmmm
glad that you enjoyed the experience. to bad stuart and jacques are still there. shame man. i wanted to get them out as well. at least i got kenneth out, but yeah he got greedy on the outside. anyway it was good times and yeah a good blog. if only you knew half of the true story. you only got a taste.
From Blog: Marching Powder - San Pedro Prison
Date: 9th October 2009
Colombian Dog tag
I would like to know if through you and your Colombian Army peeps- I could have one of those cool Colombian ID tags made....(custom) I definitely would pay for whatever it would be... also one of those cool flag sleeve patches too if thatd b possible.... this its cool you got to chill wit the troops.... i think i sent you an email...
From Blog: La Ciudad Perdida (The Lost City)
Colombian Dog tag
I would like to know if through you and your Colombian Army peeps- I could have one of those cool Colombian ID tags made....(custom) I definitely would pay for whatever it would be... also one of those cool flag sleeve patches too if thatd b possible.... this its cool you got to chill wit the troops.... i think i sent you an email...
From Blog: La Ciudad Perdida (The Lost City)
Date: 2nd October 2009
Great Pictures!!
This morning my kids and I we're looking for some idea about the amazon, and you're space helped us to understand the life and the condicitions. Thank you for sharing this information. Leslie and Kids.
From Blog: The Amazon Adventure
Great Pictures!!
This morning my kids and I we're looking for some idea about the amazon, and you're space helped us to understand the life and the condicitions. Thank you for sharing this information. Leslie and Kids.
From Blog: The Amazon Adventure
Date: 22nd September 2009
Great Blog
Man, you need to get this published, fantastically written, exciting, although very scary at the same time.
From Blog: Marching Powder - San Pedro Prison
Great Blog
Man, you need to get this published, fantastically written, exciting, although very scary at the same time.
From Blog: Marching Powder - San Pedro Prison
Date: 3rd September 2009
GET ME IN!!!!
Mate. That sounds absolutely fucking mental!!! Heading over to Bolivia January 2010, I have to get in that prison! How do I do it???
From Blog: Marching Powder - San Pedro Prison
GET ME IN!!!!
Mate. That sounds absolutely fucking mental!!! Heading over to Bolivia January 2010, I have to get in that prison! How do I do it???
From Blog: Marching Powder - San Pedro Prison
Date: 23rd July 2009
Thanks for the anticipation
I'm about to leave on my own Lares Trek in a few days... it was very fun to read about your account, and see your cool pictures! I'm jealous of your camera :)
From Blog: Endurance - The Lares Trek
Thanks for the anticipation
I'm about to leave on my own Lares Trek in a few days... it was very fun to read about your account, and see your cool pictures! I'm jealous of your camera :)
From Blog: Endurance - The Lares Trek
Date: 19th July 2009
dude, just reading and thinking about this gets my adrenaline pumping.
From Blog: The World Most Dangerous Tourist Route
dude, just reading and thinking about this gets my adrenaline pumping.
From Blog: The World Most Dangerous Tourist Route
Date: 13th July 2009
i am going in august this year
i am going in august this year with a few of my friends hope we will be ok.....
From Blog: The World Most Dangerous Tourist Route
i am going in august this year
i am going in august this year with a few of my friends hope we will be ok.....
From Blog: The World Most Dangerous Tourist Route
Date: 10th July 2009
Awesome
I'm planning on going to Xian and climbing this mountain next week, so I was very interested in your experience. I think I will bring my own harnass!
From Blog: The World Most Dangerous Tourist Route
Awesome
I'm planning on going to Xian and climbing this mountain next week, so I was very interested in your experience. I think I will bring my own harnass!
From Blog: The World Most Dangerous Tourist Route
Date: 9th June 2009
My Favourite.
That's my favourite story so far. You had me on the edge of my seat. Oh how people think differently in South America to arrive at the same places we do. He was being nice and not trying to burn you in your sleep. lol
From Blog: The San Agustin Story
My Favourite.
That's my favourite story so far. You had me on the edge of my seat. Oh how people think differently in South America to arrive at the same places we do. He was being nice and not trying to burn you in your sleep. lol
From Blog: The San Agustin Story
Date: 10th May 2009
Superb blog made me going to Ciudad Perdida
This is one of the best travelblog entries I have ever read - and so far the only one which made me actually go to any place. Just got back from two weeks in Northern Columbia, including the trek, where I had an amazing time!
From Blog: La Ciudad Perdida (The Lost City)
Superb blog made me going to Ciudad Perdida
This is one of the best travelblog entries I have ever read - and so far the only one which made me actually go to any place. Just got back from two weeks in Northern Columbia, including the trek, where I had an amazing time!
From Blog: La Ciudad Perdida (The Lost City)
Date: 17th March 2009
Awesome!
I would be so scared! You're on stumbleupon now. :)
From Blog: The World Most Dangerous Tourist Route
Awesome!
I would be so scared! You're on stumbleupon now. :)
From Blog: The World Most Dangerous Tourist Route
Date: 16th March 2009
fantastic
Daz, I got here through StumbleUpon, which is probably where all your hits are coming from and why most people don't comment (we're just looking for cool stuff and moving on). But since you asked for comments, here's one for you! This sounds like an incredible trip. I'm jealous but have to admit that at age 36 with a family, reading your report is probably as close as I'll get to this one. Thanks for sharing.
From Blog: The World Most Dangerous Tourist Route
fantastic
Daz, I got here through StumbleUpon, which is probably where all your hits are coming from and why most people don't comment (we're just looking for cool stuff and moving on). But since you asked for comments, here's one for you! This sounds like an incredible trip. I'm jealous but have to admit that at age 36 with a family, reading your report is probably as close as I'll get to this one. Thanks for sharing.
From Blog: The World Most Dangerous Tourist Route
Date: 12th March 2009
sounds like a good time. how much was the trip? I'm actually quite interested in going now!
From Blog: The World Most Dangerous Tourist Route
sounds like a good time. how much was the trip? I'm actually quite interested in going now!
From Blog: The World Most Dangerous Tourist Route
Date: 23rd January 2009
Hi Res Photos
I have loads of hi-res photos at www.dazcrawford.smugmug.com Look in the Darrens Travels 2008 folder. At the moment I just dump my pics there so they remain un-edited and are in no order. As for publishing.. Wouldnt have a clue where to start, tbh I write for myself but it would be cool, any pointers appreciated LOL.
From Blog: La Ciudad Perdida (The Lost City)
Hi Res Photos
I have loads of hi-res photos at www.dazcrawford.smugmug.com Look in the Darrens Travels 2008 folder. At the moment I just dump my pics there so they remain un-edited and are in no order. As for publishing.. Wouldnt have a clue where to start, tbh I write for myself but it would be cool, any pointers appreciated LOL.
From Blog: La Ciudad Perdida (The Lost City)
Date: 22nd January 2009
big world
Most of what i read these days serves to force a perception that the world is much smaller than you think. Your blog serves to remind me that it's all bullshit. Our planet is huge and extremely diverse. Thanks for letting me live vicariously through you and your great blog! Fantastic photos! Do you have hires copies of these pics anywhere? I'd consider framing some. I'd recommend picking up some copies of Paul Theroux and Bill Bryson's books. When you read them I think you'll find yourself in good company. Maybe then you'll listen to me and realize that this blog presents many publishing opportunities. - Dean
From Blog: La Ciudad Perdida (The Lost City)
big world
Most of what i read these days serves to force a perception that the world is much smaller than you think. Your blog serves to remind me that it's all bullshit. Our planet is huge and extremely diverse. Thanks for letting me live vicariously through you and your great blog! Fantastic photos! Do you have hires copies of these pics anywhere? I'd consider framing some. I'd recommend picking up some copies of Paul Theroux and Bill Bryson's books. When you read them I think you'll find yourself in good company. Maybe then you'll listen to me and realize that this blog presents many publishing opportunities. - Dean
From Blog: La Ciudad Perdida (The Lost City)
Razza Muffin
non-member comment
What a day that was?!
A great blog, even though the story is somewhat exaggerated. Your a lucky boy Darren to have got those photos of the outside. Mine were confiscated. It was an incredible time and something ill remember for the rest of my life. Now back in England, I bet your glad I made you come in with me, it's a story that can be told over many a camp and christmas fire! I enjoyed it so much I went back a second time. As for the internet access, they didn't have it, but people could email them to an address and then workers in the prison would print out the emails to show the inmates their letters. Keep up the blogging, Peace, Ry
From Blog: Marching Powder - San Pedro Prison