TravelBlog » Living the Dream

Living the Dream - Ben & Nastassia

Living The Dream,

That was the name we selected when we set off on our first adventure out of Canada in November, 2006. Eight short months, and eight countries later, the love of my life, Nastassia Kunz was taken from me in a tragic bus accident just outside Sucre, Bolivia. She died doing one of the things she loved most, and I am thankful she had the chance to expand her horizons and open her eyes to this bizarre, beautiful, demented world we are a part of.

This travelblog is dedicated to my soulmate, who I shared the most amazing and beautiful 8 months of my life with while travelling in Latin America. Her spirit of adventure will forever continue to live on in me as the dream continues in another shape and form.

Ben Craigen

my new adventures continue through my new blog

www.mytb.org/myworldplayground

Top Photos Blog Map

Blog Comments Search Blogs First Entry Latest Entry

Joined on: November 9th 2006
Last Login: April 4th 2008

Blog Entries: 25
Photos: 837
Recommended by 2

TB Code: [blogger=26211]
Status: BLOGGER

Blogs & Travel Journals

by Living-the-Dream, order by Date newest first.

By Living the Dream
June 2nd 2007

Remembering The Dream - Nastassia Angelika Kunz

North America » Canada » British Columbia » Vancouver Island

202

On May 27, 2007, the worst thing I could have possibly imagined happened just outside of Sucre, Bolivia. The bus we were on was involved in an accident and crashed. My girlfriend of four years was tragically taken from us. This was our second bus crash in 4 weeks. It is a difficult thing trying to deal with something as unfair as this. It just isn't supposed to happen this way, especially to someone I loved so much. She was so young, so innocent and so sincere. It just doesn't make sense why. We need to find the strength within [View Full Entry]

By Living the Dream
May 26th 2007

To Mars and Back

South America » Bolivia » Potosí Department

Cactus

Hey all you sports fans... We set off to Bolivia´s Southwest to view what some would call the world´s most bizarre landscape. We would have to agree, its pretty bizarre place to see in person. Started off our journey from La Paz to the town of Oruro, where we connected with a train to get us down south to a town called Tupiza. Most people start there trips from Uyuni, but everyone we had been talking to said to start from Tupiza and save the best for last - that being the trip across the world´s largest salt pan. So we [View Full Entry]

By Living the Dream
May 20th 2007

Jungle and Pampas Adventures

South America » Bolivia » Beni Department » Rurrenabaque

And There It Was...
Our guide coaxed the Aligator out of the water for us... they look fake cause they are so good at not moving.

Before we finish this trip, there was no doubt in our minds that we needed a healthy dose of jungle fever to satisfy our cravings...so off we went into the depths of the Bolivian Amazon. Over half of Bolivia is located in the Amazon Basin although most people never consider Bolivia to be on the top of their list for jungle adventure. We went in head first and were well rewarded with a good idea of what comprises of jungle life in the amazon. So after hearing of how heinous the 18hr bus journey is down and out of the [View Full Entry]

This Tree Prevents Animals from Climbing it and taking Papayas

By Living the Dream
May 12th 2007

Wild La Paz

South America » Bolivia » La Paz Department » La Paz

La Paz - Salt and Peper
As it was described to us, looks like someone shook salt and peper down the valley.

When you leave the big barren plains of the altiplano and drop over the rim of the canyon that La Paz inhabits, you canÂ´t help but be in awe at the sight unveiled before you. Take a city of just under three million people and drop them into a huge canyon 5 kms across and voila, you have La Paz! It is a crazy city that some people love and some hate. Fortunately, we found that this big city of chaos and confusion started to grow on the two of us. La Paz is a town of sprawl, and is [View Full Entry]

By Living the Dream
May 5th 2007

Lake Titikaka - Big Lake, Beautiful Scenery and Bus Crashes

South America » Peru » Puno » Lake Titicaca

Sun Set on Lake Titicaca

Greetings All! Well with a week spent around the worlds highest and largest navigable lake in the world, I must say we have had quite a few unique, first time experiences up here. At 3800 meters (12573 feet), its pretty amazing to look across a body of water and get lost on the horizon. We arrived in Puno, the major city situated on the Peruvian side. We booked a two day tour to see the various islands owned by Peru. First stop was the floating reed islands community of Los Uros. A little over-commercialized, but amazing none the less to [View Full Entry]

By Living the Dream
April 28th 2007

The Inca Empire - All Ruined Out...

South America » Peru » Cusco » Cusco

Smart Incas
Experimental farm for determining the best crops for the best temperature.

Well well well, This last week we have been marvelling at the amazing work of the Inca Empire. It is seriously nothing short of astounding! Cusco is definately the most touristy place we have been to so far in South America, but for a damn good reason! The Inca Culture must have been one crazy, bloodthirsty and devoted group of people to accomplish what they did in such little time! The rise and fall of the Inca Empire was only between 1200 -1500 AD (300 years) and were they ever busy! Master builders using carved stone, some is so elaborate [View Full Entry]

By Living the Dream
April 20th 2007

More From the B&N Show - Southern Peru

South America » Peru » Arequipa

Cañon Del Colca - Sky Line

Well well well... South we have gone stopping here and there to check out the ´cool´things to do on the Gringo Trail. You know you´re on the Gringo Trail when you keep running into the same travellers not just once, but in every new place we have been to. But there is a reason everyone is doing the same trip, to see the best sites in the shortest time. So here´s a rundown. We skipped over Lima due to the mutual feeling that large Latin American metropolis´are becoming somewhat monotonous by now, and headed to a desert oasis named Huachachina. Cool [View Full Entry]

By Living the Dream
April 11th 2007

From the Highlands of Ecuador to the Beaches of Peru and onward...

South America » Peru

Mt. Chimborazo
From the roof of a train in Riobamba. 6053m makes it the tallest in Ecuador.

Ecuador - Peru Ben & Nastassia Â¿Quittal Amigos? Well lots has been going on since getting back on the continent... We went directly back up to the highlands where we left off in Ecuador. Next stop was Riobamba where you have to ride the train down the Â´Devils NoseÂ´, a steep valley rockcut that apparently looks like a nose... Anyways riding on the roof is not only allowed, itÂ´s encouraged. We had a beatuiful day before us as and we set out to spectacular views of Mt. Chimborazo, the tallest peak in Ecuador. We had a great ride on a [View Full Entry]

By Living the Dream
March 31st 2007

Galapagos - Save the Whales

South America » Ecuador » Galapagos Islands

Siesta Time
Learning from the Best...

Galapagos Islands... How do you descibe them? Breath-taking, beautiful, amazing or special?All of them and then all the others you can think of. Truth is, there is not any just way of properly describing how the Galapagos are without actually being there in person. I will tell you a little bit about them and then our pictures will do an even better job, but truthfully the only way to know it fully is to go there yourself! So if you like what you see, get planning and better start saving! We had an awesome time. Two weeks was spent futively trying [View Full Entry]

By Living the Dream
March 14th 2007

Ecuador - In the Center of the World

South America

Making a Fan

Hey hey everyone! Greetings from way way up in Ecuador. The last couple weeks have been spent taking in all we can in the highlands of North and Central Ecuador. Our first stop was Otavalo, famous for its indigenous crafts and the resulting markets. We spent a day exploring the surrounding countryside watching how the indigenous people made reed mats, spun wool and weaved all sorts of clothing. One the following Saturday, pretty much half the town turns into a huge craft market to sell there hard work. This huge market originates in a central plaza and radiates outwards into all [View Full Entry]