http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/MJO/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from MJO en-us Sat, 02 Jan 2010 04:54:03 +0000 Sat, 02 Jan 2010 04:54:03 +0000 Safe and sound and now to catch up on some serious sleep thank you to all who have followed our little trip and for the comments and emails received.Michael and Jeff http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Albury/blog-414903.html We caught a Taxi out to the airport around 3 hours before our flight left which left us plenty of time to book in.The flight to Santiago Chile was good and we had a 6 hour stop over to kill time. Not much to do in an airport for six hours but to play cards eat talk and duty free shopping. We both decided to buy some Pisco rum so we could make Pisco Sour back in Australia we also brought a http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Lima/Lima/Barranco/blog-414740.html Today was our last day at the lodge we were all up at 600am and went bird watching in the lagoon behind the lodge the same spot were we went Caiman spotting last night.The Irish girls didnrsquot turn up this morning as they did the tribal medicine thing Shamanism where you hallucinate from this drink that comes from some Jungle tree it take the evil spirits out let's you see back in your pa http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Amazonas/blog-414739.html Forgot to mention we had golden catfish for lunch and chicken for dinner last night.Didnrsquot get that much sleep as Irsquom a light sleeper it was due to frogs and other jungle critters should have stuck my ear plugs in Jeff snored all night and couldnrsquot wake him wrist still burning . . . bloody ant.We were up for breaky around 6.00am where we had a feed of two bread rolls jam and http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Amazonas/blog-414708.html We were picked up by Mini Bus and then went and waited and waited for these other two girls who were also going with us to the lodge the guide said they were just finishing breakfast Yeh right know women they would still be pampering themselves as 2 minutes is 5 and 5 is 10. Sure enough we were right these couple of girls were Irish around mid twenties and had the lipstick eyeliner hair don http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Amazonas/blog-413573.html This is my third attemp at updating due to losing everything twice..GrrThis morning we decided to catch a bus to Cusco from Ollantaytambo because the Caf and Pizza lady said it was easy to do who were we to argue with them. We packed up our gear and headed around the back of this shed to find many 10 seater buses ready to go in all different directions we were looking for a bus that would take http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Cusco/Cusco/blog-412625.html This morning we woke at 4.30 to get our train to Agua Caliente which is far as you can go before Machu Picchu and is only accessible by train or by foot. Couldnt have a shower as they turn of all water late at night and not sure what time they turn it back on. We took the back packers carriage up there which fine just like a normal carriage no ducks or chickens racing up and down the aile like I http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Cusco/Machu-Picchu/blog-411950.html We headed out of cusco to a little town called pisac around 1 half hours away by our mini bus and we also found another aussie to talk to as he was from swan hill and has been traveling for 3 months throughout south america and still has another 3 months to go before heading back to Oz.We arrived at the pisac ruins and got a very good heads up by our Tour guide Marc Anthony his spanish name non http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Cusco/Ollantaytambo/blog-411720.html we took one last look around Arequipa this morning before heading back to Annas. Both jeff and myself think Arequipa is great and would like to have maybe spent one more day here and spent a little more time discovering this fine old city. You can walk everywhere and once again felt safe at night. we only got asked twice if we wanted to buy any drugs but we thought nothing of it as you get this ba http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Cusco/Cusco/blog-411705.html There has been a strike here in Peru Cusco area now for over a week they are not letting any buses in and out of Cusco and have blocked all major roads with rocks and whatever ever else they could find we only found out a few days ago about this as our bus trip to Cusco was for today. We really didnt have much of an option but to fly to Cusco from Arequipa as they did have direct flights bu http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Cusco/Cusco/blog-410757.html You have to excuse my typing as I am not very good on a Spanish keyboard.We headed off to Colca Canon around 630am this morning and the trip takes around 2 hours with stops along the way the road is not sealed a pretty rough. Lots of little old towns along the way where we stopped to take photos and get hassled by the street vendors. At one place they stick an eagle on your arm or head to have p http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Arequipa/Colca-Canyon/blog-410555.html We were picked up around 730 and another couple from where we are staying are doing the same tour Richard and Caroline from the UK who are back packing it for a year and have a few interesting stories. On the bus there are another seven of us one young fellow from Oz two young American fellows three Peruvian and another girl from the chec republic and all seem like a good bunch. Our guide is http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Arequipa/Chivay/blog-409978.html This morning we decided to head into Lima and visit the The Sanfransico Monastery which houses over 35000 bones of dead people buried deep in the catacombs beneath the monastery pretty impressive Monastry and the all the bones lying around down there such a very old Spanish influenced architecture dating back around 1546 and with many old paintings and even books that are 400 years old. The o http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Arequipa/Arequipa/blog-409594.html After we both slept for around 56 hours we had some quick breakfast at the lodge and decided to walk into down town Miraflores which is the better part of Lima. Around 20 minutes from our Hostel you come across the the cliff tops over looking the Pacific Ocean the coast line is always surrounded in a sea mist this time of the year other than that a very spectacular coast and a top spot for s http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Lima/Lima/blog-409068.html Well where to start flight from Albury to Sydney only took 37 minutes and we ended up staying at the Sydney International airport pretty basic accommodation with basic meals great for a one night stay and that's about it.Our flight to NZ was good and only took a few a hours and smooth all the way when flying in I expected to see mountains but all we saw was water rain and clouds but i am sure http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Lima/Lima/blog-408946.html On Sunday June the 14th Jeff and I leave Sydney on our South American trip we planned last year Destination PERU. During our 16 day journey we'll try and keep friends and family up to date with our travels by uploading photos and writing a travel blog along the way.I don't know what the internet service will be like but check back every couples day and hopefully we will have a story to tell.Sat http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Lima/blog-401609.html