Andrea Jenke
My favourite thing to do for the past 10 years is to travel, and now with the 'unemployed' status I thought I'd take off and do what I do best - no not just drinking, travelling!Jenksontheroad
I thought it about time I see some of my own country, so while I base myself at the parentals in Adelaide, decided on a few trips in Oz - South Oz & NT. Then its back to Central America to finish off that part of the world.
First stop the US, to follow in the footsteps of my favourite photographer, Ansell Adams, and check out the National Parks, and really, just see what California is all about. Starting in LA, taking in Mojave Desert, Joshua Tree National Park, VEGAS baby, Grand Canyon, Yosemite and finishing in San Fransisco - yes I will be making a US Road Trip Ipod playlist!!!
From there I head to Cuba for 16 days and visiting somewhere I've wanted to for years. From there I have 10 weeks to get down to Colombia, travelling through Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica & Panama, where hopefully I can get on a sailing boat to Cartegna in Colombia. Thanks for all suggestions for Mexico and Guatemala, but I visited those 2 years ago!
I get my flight up to Miami, then on to London, where from here I don't know......likely Africa, but will depend on funding availability!
**Watch this space**
Okay so this space is finalised and it only be fair I let you know my plans so we can plan our future peeee-ups! I'm staying out here a month longer and will be headed to Miami around the 20th August. I land in London on Monday the 24th August for which you poor b*ggers are stuck with me until the 4th Sept! Then it's off to Thailand for a month to carve up that country, before the reality check sets in on the 3rd of October and it'll be time to head home to look for work or.........do my tax return and take off again!
Not after a magnificant racing carnival once again OF COURSE - once must plan these dates carefully......hope that suits all those I'm planning on rendevouzing with in various parts of this big bad world!
Travel Blog Posts
COLOMBIA - Pablo Escobar, Coffee and Beyond.....
Published: September 26th 2009South America » Colombia
September 23rd 2009
You hear the name Medellin and you often associate bad people, bad times, bad crime all brought on by the drug wars over the past 20 years.....and one man in particular, Pablo Escobar. If you've ever read the book, Killing Pablo, you know what an arsehole this man could be although he was very generous to a lot of the people in Medellin - he built schools in slums, created jobs for the poor and injected a lot of wealth into the city - ALL funded by the drug trade of course. He saw himself as the Robin Hood of Colombia. I also read a book called News of a Kidnapping by Colombias' favourite son, Gail Garcia Marquez which is the story of 8 different politicians and journalists kidnapped by his terrorist organizations in the 1990s ... read more
COLOMBIA - continuing the coastal chill....
Published: September 23rd 2009South America » Colombia » Taganga
September 23rd 2009
So we arrived back in Taganga totally buggered, but in 1 piece. We were all gagging for clean clothes, showers and to get some serious laundry done - poor lady at Hostel Pelikan, she was in for some stinky clothes! I was gagging for a decent nights sleep, others were gagging for a bender! The next couple of days were spent generally beach bumming it. Taganga is next door to the famous Parque Tayrona so we were in search of its famous beaches. Unfortunately these do not lie close to Taganga, and even a fishing trip 2 hours from Taganga failed to deliver us the white sand we were looking for - we spent the afternoon at Playa Grande one beach over, and another at Bahia Concha which was nicer than the beaches closer to Taganga ... read more
COLOMBIA - Ciudad Perdida, The Lost City Trek
Published: September 9th 2009South America » Colombia » Santa Marta » Ciudad Perdida
September 9th 2009
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ciudad_Perdida - some background info on the Lost City for ya! So we set off on Day 1 - all of us doing a bit of Da-de-da-da, da-de-daaaa (think Indiana Jones theme music!) much to a first the amusement of our 4X4 Driver, which quickly turned into annoyance! We were introduced to our guide Carlos, who henceforth shall be known as MacGyver, and our cook/MacGyver #2, Enrique. We all had the state of the art hiking boots (well mine on their very last legs), MacGyver had on Cons All-stars and Enrique gumboots - clearly seasoned campaigners! The first day turned out to be quite a shock to this chicks' system - 2 hours of straight up hill, and I mean up, only to spend another half hour coming straight down over the top. One could easily ... read more
COLOMBIA - I don't know where to start?
Published: September 9th 2009South America » Colombia » Taganga
September 9th 2009
Colombia. What can I say. When you touch down in a new country at 10pm and end up partying until 6am, you know you're going to be in for an outrageous time! That was my arrival in Cartagena, the infamous old city on Colombia's Caribbean Coast. Welcome to Colombia Ms Jenke! The first thing that hit me about Cartagena was the oppressive heat - definitely close to the hottest place I have been to on my trip. I showered after arriving (before the carnage began!) although it was pointless - I think you actually sweat whilst under the shower. Needless to say, with the heat and a big night under my belt, I was happy to get out of the city and head down to the coast where I was to meet my travel buddy Phil. ... read more
July 26th 2009
Panama. What is there to say. I didn't have too many expectation on this place, but wow, have I've been blown away. From the time you cross the border, the scenery around you is just mind blowing, the people friendly, and thankfully prices so much cheaper than Costa Rica! Of course you know me, and the border crossing wasn't to be without its issues! This one was minor, they simply need proof of travel out of Panama when you're done - of course little Miss Anal Retentive had that - but on email.....but those ninjas had an internet cafe 100 metres from the border crossing so that fixed that. Note: To any Australians going to Panama with Dual UK/AUS passports - go in on your UK passport to save USD 5 on a Tourist Card! I ... read more
July 14th 2009
So I made it to the border in lightening speed, only to be met with the sh*t fight of sh*t fights! The process of exiting Nicaragua was a nightmare, lines all over the shop, 200+ people all trying to push in, plus high temperatures with the humidity to go with - all done with my 17kg pack on! Sweat factor was an all time high! I befriended a Costa Rican, Roman, in the line on the Nicaraguan side - turns out his son is a BIG Kylie Minogue fan, and well, I remember her days on the Henderson Kids so we were able to bond in the simplest of ways. He was kind enough to offer me a ride to as far as I could get - I was trying to get to Monteverde but its ... read more
Nicaragua - this place has it all!
Published: July 5th 2009Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Southern Pacific Coast » Granada
July 4th 2009
So after making it back safely to Managua, myself and 3 others (Dave from the UK, his GF Jenna from Perth, and our Swiss Miss, Josiane) from the Corn Islands decided to arrange a taxi, ala ‘flashpacking’ to Granda. Granada is a colonial city that was discovered some time ago by the yanks, and is described as the Jewel in Nicaraguas crown. I was scared it would remind my of Antigua in Guatemala which I visited 6 years ago and dispised due to the American influence, but I was surprised by Granada and likened it to San Cristobel de la Casa in Mexico instead, a place I really enjoyed all those years ago. The 1 great thing about Granada was the food! Although you couldn’t get the $8 lobster, you could get everything else! There is ... read more
Ahhh, this must be paradise?
Published: June 26th 2009Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Caribbean Nicaragua » Corn Islands
June 26th 2009
So off to the Corn Islands in Nicaragua I went, armed with Rian and Katie both Dive Masters from Altons, who were looking for a mini holiday away from their big holiday (well they have both been in Utila for 4+ months “working”!). It took a ferry to La Ceiba, a bus to San Pedro, overnight in San Pedro, a 12 hour bus to the capital of Nicaragua, Managua, overnight in Managua (in the dodgiest area, and remember this is Central America!), then our little Cessna flight to Big Corn, before the little lancha (fast boat) across to Little Corn - talk about trains, planes and automobiles, but after 2 days of travelling, we arrived - in what can only be described as paradise. Think of an island you can walk around in pretty much 2 ... read more
I feel the Earth, move, under my feet....
Published: June 19th 2009Central America Caribbean » Honduras » Bay Islands » Utila
June 7th 2009
So from one Caribbean Coast to another - off to the Bay Islands in Honduras I go. Our arrival in Puerto Cortes, Honduras, was not without it's dramas. We arrived on the water ferry from Placencia to be 'detained' due to Swine Flu check ups. Yep, Michael Jackson masks and all! We had to sit on the boat until a Doctor rocked up and gave us the all clear by not physically examining us, just asking us a few simple questions - uhm hullo, even if I had symptoms, not like I'm going to tell you! However, due to this mind numbing exercise, we managed to miss the last bus to San Pedro Sula and they were not running any 'tourists' buses due to the low numbers travelling at the moment. BUT we are in Central ... read more
Slooo down girl, u in Belize now man....
Published: June 2nd 2009Central America Caribbean » Belize » Belize Barrier Reef » Tobacco Caye
May 23rd 2009
What more is there to say. After the trials and tribulations of getting out of Cuba and into Mexico, what a welcome relief Belize was! I have to admit that my brief time in Mexico was great - the people as always, and as I experienced when we were all trying to get out of Cuba were brilliant. Great hospitality, without expecting a financial gain from it - a nice change from Cuba! I booked an internal flight from Mexico City to Chetumal by the Belize border, with no time allowed to be spent in Chetumal at all, but when I landed at night a really nice guy paid for my taxi into the centre - at 110 pesos, around A$9, this was a such a nice act of generosity. I didn't expect it so of ... read more
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