Arrived in Quito on 27/4 and it was pouring rain and freezing cold. Quite a change from balmy Cuba. Went to our travel agent to pick up our tickets for the Galapagos Islands only to find out that the tour operator had double-booked and stuffed up our reservation. To cut a long story short, the agent as a gesture of good faith changed our booking at their expense from the original 16-person tourist boat to a 96-person luxury cruiser, a difference of about US$500 each. The boat (Santa Cruz) was brilliant, the service was A-1, and the yummy food and cocktails [View Full Entry]

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On the 19th headed to Santiago de Cuba, the second largest city & home of the Buena Vista Social Club. I couldn´t wait to get out of this place as it was dirty & polluted, totally without character unlike Havana, and the people were aggressive and unfriendly. It was a bit of a culture shock after being in the smaller towns. Did a city tour visiting the Plaza de la Revolucion, Jose Marti burial memorial, and the Moncada Barracks which Fidel and 118 students unsuccessfully attacked on the 26 July 1953. The place is now called the 26th July School, with [View Full Entry]

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On the 14th headed out to Topes de Collantes for a 3-hour trek (about 6kms). Walked through green valleys and visited a cave with an underground river and rock pool. Water was freezing. Our destination was an isolated, century old hacienda where we camped under the veranda awning for the night. The house specialty was roasted suckling pig which was so delish. Normally I avoid the crackling but this was unlike any I've tasted before it was so crunchy. Good night sleep until the bloody cock started crowing at 5.00am. Next day we travelled a bit in a Russian army truck, [View Full Entry]

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On the 12th headed east out of Havana to Trinidad. On the way to the Zapata Peninsula there were endless fields of citrus trees & sugar cane. Stopped for a yummy lobster-tail lunch at a roadhouse and had a swim in the Caribbean - fabulous. Visited the Museum Giron dedicated to the unsuccessful Bay of Pigs invasion by US-supported Cuban exiles against the Communist regime. Fascinating stuff. Stopped in Cienfuegos for a coffee break. A local did a caricature of me, which you generally pay 1CUC. On the road to Trinidad there were thousands of crabs crossing the road to lay [View Full Entry]

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Apologies everyone but the internet is pretty crap in Cuba, so I have had to download my Cuba trip in dribs and drabs. Cuba Libre - Free Cuba, or another way of asking for a rum & coke. Arrived in Havana on the 10th. Your hand luggage is x-rayed after you pass through immigration. Mini had a camera charger in her bag, and was asked if she had any other electronic items, whereupon she showed them her walkie-talkies. There & then her passport was requested, and she was told to collect it at the exit. After we got our luggage we [View Full Entry]

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Booked a day trip in advance through our guesthouse to the Mayan ruins at Tikal. Woke up at the ungodly hour of 4am to catch the flight to Flores. Our guide Carlos was very entertaining, and it was a sight to see him and his pals fleece the Americans in our bus for sunrise tours & jungle canopy trips. It's Sunday & the beginning of Semana Santa (Holy Week). There were lots of local families and tourists alike enjoying the ruins - a very festive air. The ruins were truly magnificent. The guidebook says that the Maya settled Tikal around 700 [View Full Entry]

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Arrived yesterday in Panajachel by shuttle; it took about 2.5 hours travelling through the western mountain ranges. Weather is a lot cooler here. Dodgy driver told us our accommodation was around the corner, but it turned out to be a little further than expected. A bit miffed since he was supposed to drop us at the door. To add insult to injury the hotel (Hotel Utz Jay) didn´t have our booking even though I had a confirmed email as proof. They managed to book us into alternative accommodation (Monte Rosa), however the owner wanted immediate payment. We enquired about a shuttle [View Full Entry]

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This is a really long entry with 4 days worth of impressions, so bear with me. Endured an uneventful & boring 23+ hrs plane trip via LA & Miami. Travelling on a foreign passport guarantees you will be thoroughly checked in the US. Don't they know JH & GWB are bosom buddies? Best not to crack any jokes; this is no laughing matter. Just have to be patient & bear it. Strangely fascinating though watching my iPod, camera & boots getting tested for explosives residue. After an overnighter in Miami, I was starving not having eaten for 18 hrs. Rocked up [View Full Entry]

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31/3 was my last day at work. Workmates took me to lunch at the Northbridge Hotel. Then had some drinks, drinks, & more drinks plus roadies... Have also had a few farewells with family & friends. On 11/3, had lunch with my gal-pals (Susanna, Allison and Lisa) at Ginger & Spice. Consistently fab singaporean food. Sadly will miss the birth of Al's son who is due on Fri 7/4/06. On 18/3, had dinner with my golf buddies at Restaurant Sojourn. Chef is ex-Banc. Great food, wine, and company as always. Double the fun as it was Mini's birthday too. On 01/04, [View Full Entry]

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