Goodbye to Panama We left Bocas del Toro in Panama by a fast water taxi, sitting beside a local man carrying a rather terrified looking chicken, then reached the Panama/ Costa Rica border by an even faster and scarier land taxi. The border is crossed via a old, worn bridge, which takes you to the Costa Rican town of Sixaola, where the formalities were fast and efficient. Neither of the border towns was attractive, so we hopped on the first bus out of there along the Caribbean coast to Puerto Limon. Costa Rica may be the most rich and developed country [View Full Entry]

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After a year away, It was time to come home. On the way home I had to stop in Kiev, Ukraine. At the airport I was amazed that in the toilet I could wash my hand with hot water. ..This was an amazing year. It thought me not to take for granted many things. Before this trip I wouldn't even thought abot how amazing is that we have hot water ( or just plain running water) electricity and all the likes. It is great to be home and after the many hours in asian public transport, my 8 + 2 hour [View Full Entry]

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It is said by locals that you have not really experienced Bali until you fully experience a cremation. The Balinese send their dead off to the Nirvana realms in pure style. The day we arrived in Bali I was asked by our nice hotel what I wanted do for one whole month? Did I fancy seeing another monkey forest, or maybe a load of Hindu temples in the sea, a dormant but impressive volcano, did I want to buy any real silver at cheap cheap prices? No, no, no were my answers, because after nearly 18 months of travelling we have [View Full Entry]

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We spent over two weeks in Martinique and had a lovely time, when the weather permitted. The trade winds kicked up to about 25-30 knots constant (the highest of the season) and we were having squalls up to 50 knots with each tropical wave that moved across the Caribbean. Hurricane season has officially started. Most of our days we were stuck inside, reading books or watching movies or playing dominoes, seeking shelter from the the howling wind, down pouring rain, and earth-shattering lightening. We moved our boat down from Anse Mitan to Marin, Martinique's best protected anchorage to ride out the [View Full Entry]

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First update from the almost 1000 meters of Landeck, in the Tyrolean Alps. A day of rest where, apart from ensuring a minimum of maintenance to Rocinante, I'm in full immersion in the art of eating: breakfast at 10; half a ton of junk-food at lunch-time and now a rich snack of coffee and cake. And it’s only 5pm. Sometimes I suspect I cycle 100 kms per day just to allow myself to consequently freely indulge in food. Food was actually the greatest of my concerns during the first days of this trip. The heat was so torrid to make food [View Full Entry]

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Having felt somewhat disconnected from the "gringo trail" recently, it was a shock to find myself surrounded by backpackers on the bus to Salta. The amount of crisp-eating was astounding, and I doubt even the most indigenous of villages would have sported such a collection of chullos. I noticed that the girl in front of me was learning some Spanish so, nosy by nature, I peered at the page she was currently reading. My eyes alit on a sentence, presumably intended for her boyfriend, that read "Yo quiero un festival de cock pronto" and I nearly laughed out loud - surely [View Full Entry]

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This morning, after fueling our bodies with breakfast at Silver Nugget, we head for the four-wheel drive trails to Engineer Pass. With many of them still closed due to snow damage, choices are limited. So, we pick an old standby, Mineral Pass Trail. This road is always bumpy with boulders and today is no exception. In addition avalanche debris litters the area. But, soon, the view changes from devastation to mountain meadows carpeted in yellow blooms. Summer has come earlier to this side of the San Juan’s. After a muddy, rocky climb, we pass snowmelt trickling through alpine tundra. In a [View Full Entry]

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“The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth” Known as the Calgary Stampede is simply an excuse for cowboys to have a great party! Nine days in July, it culminates in $1.8 million prize money being given away for the best cowboys in various disciplines. Of course it is also a great opportunity for the people of Alberta and Calgary in particular to show off their own brand of ‘something special.’ We are now recovering from our week of non stop partying and look back at our time filled with lots of Yahoo’s, Yeeha’s, dancing, laughing and meeting some wonderful new friends. [View Full Entry]

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