James and Julie

Some recent advice I got at a baby shower was that I shouldn´t scream during labour, because if I did the baby would go up rather than down. Instead, it would be better to put a trap over my mouth and expel the baby from below, rather than from above. I can´t quite imagine how the baby might come out through my mouth so I think I will try and follow their advice. A couple of nights back, James and I joined a few others and walked the red light district (or one of them) in El Alto. We carried hot chocolate and offered a steaming cup to each woman that we met, hoping that it would be a slight comfort on such a cold night. It is so very cold up there. The women loved ... read more

We arrived on the Chilean side of Patagonia, got out our hiking shoes, packed our backpacks with our tents, gas cooker and sleeping bags and left the hairdryer behind for five days in Torres Del Paine National Park. Our time spent in southern Chilean backcountry was great and we enjoyed hiking beside tall mountain peaks, glacial lakes, glaciers, pristine rivers and lush valleys. We walked for 5 days - which I think is an impressive feat for a very unfit pregnant woman! Admittedly it was made a lot easier by the husband who could carry most of the weighty objects as well as pretty fancy campsites to stay in. Most people that venture to the park do either day hikes or what has become known as the 'W' (a 5 day hiking route)... we spent five ... read more

After nearly a week in Buenos Aires we´ve decided we could potentially live here... we like it! Although we might have to leave every January since its so stinkin´ hot! Today its supposed to reach 36 degrees which being the temperature of the inside of our bodies seems a little unbearable for us kiwis from the mild climate of NZ. But the Self family who have generously provided us their home to stay in also have a pool! So we will survive and are eternally grateful. But back to the city... its a city that is nothing like any of the cities we have seen in South America so far. For starters, we blend in. Well not really, we just don't stick out as much as we do anywhere else in the continent. There is definitely ... read more

Over the last couple of weeks the political situation in Bolivia has spiced itself up and has got us all wondering about the future of Bolivia. There's been talk of autonomy in the east and even the possibility of a civil war. The situation has turned worse recently because the government of Bolivia decided it was about time to change the constitution, something which they have been promising since before they were voted into government. President Evo Morales, Bolivia´s first indigenous leader, and his supporters approved a new draft constitution for Bolivia which allows for the Presidents indefinate reelection in a move to bring about a ´democratic revolution´. It seems that Evo is following the footsteps of his communist Venezuelan friend, Hugo Chavez, which is a fascinating thing to watch. The draft of the constitution has ... read more

After over two months of blog-silence its difficult to know where to start, although the process of writing a blog is great for making oneself think what have we been doing with ourselves?? Well, its that time of year when there are no holidays... which makes James rather sad and me too... since we don't have the opportunity to venture out into the unknown with our trusty Landcruiser Legend. But we have been up to a few things and these are a few of the highlights since the last blog. We went to the brothels! Two times a week staff from Word Made Flesh visit the brothels and chat to the women - getting to know them and inviting them to the House of Hope for lunch. We were going to go on James' birthday but ... read more