I can´t believe it´s been 3 months since I´ve left Sydney. I feel I´ve already experienced quite a lot, but the best part is there´s more to come. I´ve also gone a number of weeks without mentioning the premier sporting event in South America, which is of course the World Cup. In between gadding about to different places, I´ve been able to catch a few games in the various pubs in Peru and Bolivia. Hilarious when you hear the commentators yell out - GOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLL !!!!!! - for at least a minute after someone scores. Pretty bummed about Australia getting knocked out. [View Full Entry]

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Caught the 25th overnight bus from Cuzco to Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca. No pfaffing around - bus got in at 6.15am, dropped stuff at hostel, then joined a full-day boat tour at 6.45am. Went first to the Uros floating reed islands. The people first settled in this way to escape the marauding Incas and other tribes. Now some live on land, and some on the water. I was expecting it to be overrun with tourists, but it was surprisingly nice & quiet with only our small group on this particular island. The people use the reeds for the [View Full Entry]

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Well I´m back in Cuzco again, this time for Inti Raymi (Festival of the Sun). Supposedly the most important festival which celebrates the winter solstice and dates back to Inca times. There have been tons of street processions including Corpus Christi (celebration of the Virgin and each parish´s patron saint), street food stalls, folk dancing groups and marching bands. There is definitely some meaning behind the different masks, but buggered if I can found anyone to explain them to me. Cuzco is one huge party town at the moment, with everyone out and about in the streets until late. Got to [View Full Entry]

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It had to happen sometime - I got my first fake 100 soles note this week, and from a damn ATM of all places. Put in a claim for a refund, but chances are pretty slim so have to consider it a write-off. There are so many bad notes and coins in Peru that no-one gets offended when you check every one you receive. Arrived in Arequipa, which is known as the 'white city' as a lot of the historical buildings are made of a light-coloured volcanic rock. Nice and cruisey place. Visited the Monasterio de Santa Catalina which is practically [View Full Entry]

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Arrived in Huaraz and spent the next 2 days acclimatising, sleeping, shopping for food supplies in the local market (great fun), hiring camping gear, and organising donkeys for the Santa Cruz Trek. Decided to do it on our own with no guide, just donkeys to carry most of our stuff and the Lonely Planet guide. Advantages were lesser cost, and being able to do our own thing and not be tied down by a group. Disadvantage was we had to prepare all meals for ourselves and the donkey dude. Day 1 - Went by colectivo to Caraz, and then by taxi [View Full Entry]

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Landed in Lima which was shrouded in a depressing damp grey mist. I´m missing sunny Cuzco. Met up with Bernice (Excel alum) at Larcomar which is really touristy and the same kind of shops like ¨Darling Harbour¨, but hanging on the side of a cliff-face facing the Pacific Ocean. Basically been chilling out. I´ve already watched 2 films (X-Men 3, and The Omen) at the local multiplex for about A$3 each. My dorm-mate took me to his fave lunch place, and I had my first ceviche looking out at a view of the ocean with parapenters floating around. Fabulous. He´s going [View Full Entry]

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Spent the past week in Cuzco taking in the sights. It's getting cold now so I've had to buy a parka, jumper and gloves. The hostel I'm staying at is one big frat party, just like being back in uni. It's really amusing listening to people talk about their vomiting and bed-hopping exploits. Did a city tour - the guide was worth the $5 fee alone. Hilarious to watch him wave his umbrella around, quote Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code as pure fact, tout signed editions of his Machu Picchu book for $20, and wax lyrical about his experiences trying to [View Full Entry]

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Spent the past week at Manu Biosphere Reserve which is an Amazonian tropical rainforest. The major highlight was encountering 4 rare sightings of jaguars - one resting in the shade, two courting and mating, and another at night that almost pounced on us from a tree. What beautiful and majestic looking cats. Brilliant!!! Shame my digital camera wasn't up to scratch; I wish I still had my SLR and 300mm lens. Saw heaps of other wildlife as well, such as - Mammals - 6 species of monkeys such as saddleback tamarins, red howler monkeys, night monkeys, black spider monkeys, squirrel monkeys, [View Full Entry]

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On the 12th, Mini decided to do a Sacred Valley tour, while I planned to organise my Spanish school for next week. That night tried the local drink - Pisco Sour (okay), and also tried the local specialty - guinea pig. It was really tasty with crunchy skin, and kind of tasted like quail. But you can´t eat too much of it, not that you got a lot anyway, as the meat is quite rich. On the 13th, after some last-minute shopping, Mini flew home back to Sydney. She was pretty bummed on having to go, and didn´t want the holiday [View Full Entry]

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After a false start including spending a night in Lima and our plane diverting to Arequipa for an hour, we finally arrived in Cuzco on the 9th. Had to acclimatise to the high altitude (about 3400m) by taking it easy doing some housekeeping stuff like banking and getting our train tickets to Machu Picchu for the next day. We´ve become hooked on coca tea which is supposed to help. Arose early on the 10th to catch the 6.15am train to Machu Picchu. Trip took about 4.5 hours as there are a series of switchbacks while the train ascends/descends onto different tracks. [View Full Entry]

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