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Kat Liam - Kat & Liam

Sorry for the inexcusable delay in updating our blog.

We are now in India.

Read on to see how we got here…

2006
March - England
April to July - Canada
August - Canada, Mexico
August - Mexico
September - Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua
October - Costa Rica, Panama, Columbia
November - Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia
December - Chile, Argentina

2007
January - Chile, Argentina
February - South Africa, Zimbabwe
March - Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, Zanzibar,
April - Kenya, Uganda, Congo (Zaire) India
May - India, Nepal, Tibet
June - India
July - England
August - England / Canada?

Just scroll down to see our entries from newest to oldest.

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Joined on: March 27th 2006
Last Login: January 10th 2008

Blog Entries: 14
Photos: 148

TB Code: [blogger=14531]
Status: BLOGGER

Blogs & Travel Journals

by Kat---Liam, order by Date newest first.

By Kat Liam
September 12th 2006

Salvador - Beach near La Libertad

Central America Caribbean » El Salvador » Libertad

Pacific sunset

In the evening we headed to Rolando’s friend’s beachfront house. The house was basic, but we had our own room with an air conditioner. We made dinner together and went for a late night swim in the fish shaped pool to cool off. We spent the next few days hanging around in hammocks and swiming to combat the humidity. The ocean was very violent. The waves were huge. We went for swims with extreme caution. Every 5 seconds we had to dive to the bottom to avoid being tossed around like a rag doll. Occasionally, a wave would follow another wave [View Full Entry]

Beachfront House with Fish shaped Swimming Pool

By Kat Liam
September 11th 2006

Salvador - San Salvador

Central America Caribbean » El Salvador » San Salvador

Esso Gas Station Employee - Guns Everywhere

We weren’t sure if we wanted to go to El Salvador. We had heard numerous stories about the sometimes dangerous political climate. Our friend Cedric from Switzerland, who we had met up with for the third time convinced us to join him to meet his old University mate Ronlando in San Salvador. The three of us took a bus to San Salvador arriving at night, and were told to wait inside the station as it was very dangerous around that neighborhood. When we arrived, the bus area was caged in with numerous security guards armed with automatic rifles. We went on [View Full Entry]

By Kat Liam
September 9th 2006

Guatemala - Lake Atitlan

Central America Caribbean » Guatemala » Lago de Atitlan

Boat Boy

Welcome to the most beautiful lake in the world; Lago de Atitlan. Crystal blue water surrounded by volcanoes. We took a boat to a remote little village of about 600 people called San Marco. On the main foot path we met a lady named Lily, from New York, who directed us to her boyfriends place called Acculax. This place was amazing…just off the shores of the lake with incredible stain glass in every room. We settled in and met up with Lily who organizes a community after school program with local children. We spent a few hours playing and making necklaces. [View Full Entry]

By Kat Liam
September 8th 2006

Guatemala - Antigua

Central America Caribbean » Guatemala » Antigua » Antigua

The old capital´s buildings

We navigated our way through Guatemala City with the help of some strangers. Hopped on-board a “Chicken Bus” aka old US school bus (the ones you see on Snoopy cartoons) and spent the next few hours squished in a tight space while being assaulted by offensive odours. We arrived late to Antigua, Guatemala’s old cobblestone capital. A helpful man showed us to our desired budget hotel. We tried to negotiate a better price to fit into our budget. No luck. They directed us across the street to a much darker and dirtier location owned by the same person. ¨Oh yes please, [View Full Entry]

By Kat Liam
September 2nd 2006

Guatemala - Cloud Forest

Central America Caribbean » Guatemala » Coban

Dani & Carlos
Dani 7, was the cutest kid with a ready smile and an interest in everything we did. He made a big impression on us.

This was probably the most humbling experience either of us will ever have. We saw the opportunity “advertised” in the Lonely Planet and I (K) was unsure. These types of visits are often ill managed with families being saturated with visitors and numbed by the experience. The literature at the centre, EcoQueztal in Coban, was carefully written and clearly well planned. The organisation had been running for 12 years. 50 families were involved throughout the area and it was used to supplement to their regular income. All products sold and profits made were ploughed back into sustaini [View Full Entry]

By Kat Liam
September 2nd 2006

Guatemala - Tikal

Central America Caribbean » Guatemala » Flores Tikal

Downtown Tikal

5 am was announced by the chickens outside our window. We packed our bags, which has become much easier since a routine has been established. Dirty clothes and shoes / sandals in the bottom, then extra books, first aid kit and homeopathy remedies, clean clothes, and rain jacket close to the top. Zip lock bags containing 4 pieces of similar clothing make it easy to extract what you need at short notice. Before leaving, Katharine found two other travellers sleeping outside having arrived to Palenque in the middle of the night, and invited them to use our room for the rest [View Full Entry]

New friends from Belgium - Steven and Lizbet and Cedric from Switzerland

By Kat Liam
August 29th 2006

Mexico - Palenque

North America » Mexico » Chiapas » Palenque

In 30-something degrees....
While we were gasping for breath and resting every few steps in the shade, these guys manicured the acres of grass around Palenque

Our journey to the Mayan ruins of Palenque started with a rush to the bus station. We had to take 4 different subway lines and no time for mistakes. We arrived with minutes to spare and a chance to find some liquid yogurt and some churios (Mexican donuts). Our new Volvo coach entertained us with DVDs and air conditioned us into semi conscious comas. We stopped for some road side gruel, beans, some kind of poultry and fried platano (big tasteless brother to the banana). We were then approached by an attractive lady introducing herself and welcoming us to her country? [View Full Entry]

Liam looking deceptively cool in his shades

By Kat Liam
August 20th 2006

Mexico City

North America » Mexico » Distrito Federal » Mexico City

Teotihuacan Pyramids
This is called the pyramid of the Sun but is thought to have been misnamed. It is now considered to be the Pyramid of Rain, the highest pyramid in Teotihuacan

We left the cozy comfort of Alex and Gaye’s in the Bahia (only to find a few weeks later that a huge hurricane had visited the area leaving many houses torn asunder. We hope all is well with everyone in La Ventana and have heard that there were no casualties) and headed for the mainland. We slept as happily as one can on the deck of the ferry (close to the lifeboats) and booked our tickets straight to Mexico City as soon as we arrived. Liam had met Diego, a friend of Pat and Hayley (friends in Canada), at their wedding [View Full Entry]

L & K with Diego, China, Filipe and Pablo

By Kat Liam
August 9th 2006

Mexico - La Ventana

North America » Mexico » Baja California Sur » La Paz

La Ventana fishing village
We had this beach to ourselves, crystal water and the prettiest fish around....

FINALLY - we left cozy Canada and headed south to Mexico. The two weeks of travel down the west coast of the States will have to be saved for another trip. Sorry to those along the west coast with whom we deferred our visit for 3months and then another …..year…? Or do I hear you sigh with relief..? So, on to Mexico. First stop the Baja - that long finger of land jutting off the Pacific Coast (that’s on the left when you look at a map - well, you know, don’t laugh, it might be useful!). Warmly met at the [View Full Entry]

By Kat Liam
July 7th 2006

The never ending summer.....

North America » Canada » British Columbia » Vancouver

Bacci Ball in the Park

We planned on staying in Canada for 5 weeks and it turned into 17. This was due to some extenuating circumstances and we decided to make the best of them. Here is what we did for those extra few months. Liam managed and served at earls restaurant www.earls.ca Katharine helped out with the Plan Advocacy Network www.plan.ca We both helped out Marilyn at Cuisine and Company www.cuisineandcompany.ca These were great experiences and kept us really busy. Besides being enjoyable they were also able to help maintain our budget and we ended up leaving with a little more money in our poc [View Full Entry]

TravelBlog » Kat Liam