Our first stop in north west Argentina was the MAAM (Museo de Arqueologia de Alta Montana) museum in Salta that houses the mummified remains of 3 young children, who were sacrificed to the Inca gods. It was a fascinating exhibition which dealt with the uncomfortable issue of human sacrifice in a very delicate and informative way. From Salta we went 4 hours north to the small town of Tilcara. Tilcara is a quiet town surrounded by striped mountains and a few nice restaurants, so served as the idea base as we explored the surrounding area. The day after arriving in Tilcara [View Full Entry]

---

---

From Iguazu falls we followed the Parana river, which forms the border between Paraguay and Argentina, to the small town of San Ignacio. Along with old pick-up trucks and dirt roads the town also has the restored ruins of a Jesuit mission, abandoned and lost to the jungle in 1798. The restoration had cleared the trees and rebuilt most of the buildings with the original stone. It clearly showed how the settlement would have been back then, when 4000 indigenous people moved from the jungle to live with the Jesuit priests and farm the land. We visited 2 other ruined missions [View Full Entry]

---

---

The Rio Iguazu, which feeds the Iguaza water falls, creates a natural border between Brazil and Argentina. So our visit the these huge water falls marked the end of our time in Brazil. We spent a day on the Brazilian side, walking a nature trail as it made its way along the river to the falls. As we got closer the noise from the smaller falls was drowned out by the torrent of water cascading from the main falls. A metal walk way had been constructed to allow us to walk out, over the top of a smaller water fall and [View Full Entry]

---

---

Our pursuit of deserted beaches was leading us to the island of Ilha do Mel, which in turn meant we had to pass through the city of Curitiba. This city wasn't a bad place but it came across as very forgettable. Tracy and I both thought it reminded us of Luton, with its shopping arcades full of discount shops and cheap chemists. Just as Luton has great countryside and limestone hills out of town, so Curitiba has Villa Velha national park. The park is in a limestone area and has strange columns raising to the skies and sink holes that disappear [View Full Entry]

---

---

After the craziness of Rio at Carnaval, Tracy and I headed inland to the cooler, calmer highland town of Ouro Preto. This old mining town was once the richest place in the New World, but when the gold dried up all that were left was the beautiful buildings and the deliciously cooler climate. We spent 2 wonderful days wondering the cobbled streets and visiting the old baroque churches built with gold money and suitably decorated. With our batteries recharged, laundry done and overnight bus tickets in hand, we headed back to Rio and down the coast to a tropical island full [View Full Entry]

---

---

We arrived in Rio at 2am and went straight to bed. The next morning we collected our tickets for Rio Carnaval and spent the afternoon walking along Ipanema beach. The beautiful bronzed bodies were squashed onto every available patch of sand and as we passed the gay section the bodies became even more bronzed, incredibly buff and impossibly crowed. After sunset we went to a block party and joined in the drinking and dancing as a samba band played in a small park. The Carnaval had started. To shake off the hangover we joined the beautiful people on the beach for [View Full Entry]

---

---

Australia was to be a bit of a rest for us. It would allow me to activate my visa and organise all the paperwork I would need to live and work in Australia, while Tracy could catch up with her family. We spent time in country Victoria and had a great night out in Melbourne. After picking up Tracy's old car we went on a road trip from Canberra to Sydney, staying with Tracy's sister and her lovely 18 month old niece, Charlie. From there we were able to visit Tracy Grandmother in Newcastle and take the odd trip to the [View Full Entry]

---

---

Arriving in Hong Kong after nearly four months in India was a shock, but in a good way. The city seemed so clean, organized and quiet. The train from the airport to the city centre was fast and efficient and buying our tickets was so easy. We were staying with our old next-door neighbors from London, Ali and Caz, who had a flat opposite the Conrad hotel. When we entered their flat we were shocked to be staying in such a beautiful apartment in the heart of Hong Kong, with constant hot water and a working shower. Throughout our stay the [View Full Entry]

---

---

We arrived in Hampi at 4am to find all the hotels full or shut. Thankfully it was a warm night so Tracy and I snuck into a hotel courtyard and slept on their benches, pulling blankets over our faces to keep the mosquitoes away. The hotel turned out to be a bit of a dump so we left at 9am to find somewhere better. At least we got a free nights 'accommodation' out of it! After a hearty breakfast we set out to explore Hampi's boulder strewn ruins. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, we found ourselves [View Full Entry]

---

---

Getting to the world heritage sites of Ajanta and Ellora caves involved a number of bus and train journeys but Tracy and I were mildly surprised at how well it all came together. Great planing by me! Ajanta caves were carved from a horse-shoe shaped gorge around 200 BC to 650 AD and are covered in beautiful paintings depicted tales of gods and kings. Whist the area was busy everytime we entered a cave a large tour group left and we were able enjoy the atmospheric lighting in peace. The next day we went to Ellora caves which did not have [View Full Entry]

---

---