TravelBlog » globalfreeloader

globalfreeloader - andrew fraser

I am on a meandering spirit quest, learning and growing with each step. My home state of Colorado is beautiful and captivating in it's own right, but my insatiable wanderlust has not allowed me to sink roots just yet. I am still young, enthusiastic, passionate about exploration and at times overzealous. I prefer the less beaten path to the daily commute.
As my world view expands and curiosity grows, I keep finding new places to explore and making great friends along the way. At 26 years old, I still have plenty of time for adventure and am in no particular rush to find a 9 to 5. The mind, once stretched by new experiences, can never return to it's old dimensions...

Private Message Subscribe 1 Forum Posts Top Photos Blog Map

Blog Comments Search Blogs First Entry Latest Entry

Joined on: December 19th 2007
Last Login: May 12th 2008

Blog Entries: 9
Photos: 215

TB Code: [blogger=55006]
Status: BLOGGER

Blogs & Travel Journals

by globalfreeloader, order by Date newest first.

By globalfreeloader
April 20th 2008

Where the Wild Things Are...

South America » Bolivia » Cochabamba Department » Villa Tunari

welcome to Parque Machia. Octavio the spider monkey greets you at the door.

Hola a todos! I´m now on the homestretch of my Latin American adventure and reflecting on a series of amazing experiences. In retrospect, I must say that the last month has been one of the most unique and outstanding I have ever spent. I finally pulled myself out of the big city and made it to my intended destination of Villa Tunari, a small village in the Bolivian tropical rainforest and home to the animal refuge known as Inti Wara Yassi. Here in the Parque Machia situated in the thick Amazonian jungle I spent an incredible 30 days that is [View Full Entry]

mischievous squirrel monkeys go wherever they please

Quirqui, the 15-year old grandpa Puma relaxes in his retirement home

hangin´ with a capuchin monkey at the end of the day

By globalfreeloader
April 5th 2008

Higher ground

South America » Bolivia » Oruro Department » Cordillera Real

18,190 foot condoriri spreads it´s massive wings

As you all know by now, I can't seem to sit still for long periods of time. Perhaps its some form of ADHD, but I am frequently living with my head in the clouds, even while on vacation. After an action-packed 10 weeks in the hectic metropolis of La Paz, I decided it was finally time to move on to my originally intended destination in the jungle...but only after one last adrenaline fix. Challenged by the ascent of the last mountain, Huayna Potosi, but yawning over the lack of technical stimulation, I began seeking out peaks in the area that were [View Full Entry]

burros helped carry the tents and food from a nearby village

a beautiful basecamp at the foot of the beast provided quick access for the midnight ascent

By globalfreeloader
March 24th 2008

The Road Less Travelled...

South America » Bolivia » Oruro Department » Cordillera Real

"the world's most dangerous road"

It has now been over 2 months that I´ve been living and working here in the crazy city of La Paz. My spanish has improved immensely, my salsa moves are shakin´and I´ve learned and experienced a great deal from a part of the world vastly different from what I´ve known previously. And while adventures in the concrete jungle have been quite exciting, I have to run to the hills every so often to keep myself sane. Thus, I´ve found great ways to get my adrenaline fix in high places thoughout the Cordillera real, and have been happy to escape the smog [View Full Entry]

pre-ride briefing at the high summit lot

racing traffic down the early asphalt stretches

visibility decreases and danger increases with heavy rain and huge drops into the abyss

By globalfreeloader
February 18th 2008

Loca La Paz and Adventure Brew

South America » Bolivia » La Paz Department » La Paz

Illimani towers over La Paz at a lofty 6462 m/21,122 ft

Though I was making steady progress on my way east toward the isolated wildlife refuge in the jungle of Villa Tunari, I have now gotten stuck in the big city of La Paz - in a great way. Shortly after my arrival I checked into a hip backpacker's accommodation called the Adventure Brew Hostel, so aptly named because there is a brewery on the main floor which serves up Saya beer, the best microbrew I've yet to taste in South America. After chatting a bit with a transient bartender working at the rooftop bar and inquiring about employment opportunites I [View Full Entry]

soaking in suds at the Adventure Brew beer spa

Lanny and I serve up good times in the rooftop bar

helping out in the saya brewery at the Adventure Brew Hostel

By globalfreeloader
January 30th 2008

5 Ways to cross a border

South America » Bolivia » La Paz Department » Copacabana

the deadly moto-taxi: should have long ago been recycled into pop cans

Forget what they say about robberies, kidnappings and violence in South America. Public transportation is the scariest thing about this place. Never before have I employed so many (shady) modes of transportation in 24 hours. Satisfied with the Peruvian experience, Takeo and I began the historic pilgrimage into neighboring Bolivia. From the plaza in Puno we squeezed into a moto taxi that should have been retired a decade ago. With only a 100cc engine towing 500+ pounds of weight we crept uphill at 3 m.p.h. slowing traffic and infuriating motorists everywhere. At least twice I saw our driver hang his [View Full Entry]

Takeo enjoys the fresh air en route to Kasani

bienvenidos a bolivia! crossing the border on foot

checkin the scene from atop our hostel in Copacabana

By globalfreeloader
January 23rd 2008

From the peaks to the water

South America » Peru » Puno » Lake Titicaca

colorful madre y bebé in a comfy pouch

Having had an amazing time trekking through the high Andes of central Peru, Christy, Kent and I set off from Cusco on phase II of our joint travels - eastbound to Lake Titicaca and the high altitude Peruvian altiplano. As expected, the bus ride was a cultural experience in it's own right as we passed through several highland villages and towns unlike any I'd seen. Despite the paved (albeit bumpy and outdated) one lane highway that our bus bounced along, most towns lacked any modern infrastructure in the form of roads or facilities. After heavy rains the dirt roads crisscrossing [View Full Entry]

sheep grazing the median while passing through Juliaca

need to replace your muffler? just park it in the middle of the road.

the high road descends into lakeside Puno

By globalfreeloader
January 14th 2008

A step back in time: Cusco and the high road to Machu Picchu

South America » Peru » Cusco » Inca Trail

starting the inca trail: km 82

What an experience... Hard to recap so many days of activity and discovery, but I'll try to give you a glimpse: From Cusco we joined our guide Edison and other Mayuc staff (highly recommended tour operators) and made a 3.5 hour drive through high farm lands and small villages to the starting point of the famous Inca trail at kilometer 82 in the grandiose Sacred Valley of the Incas. The drive itself was a cultural experience as we passed through very impoverished highlands where subsistence farming was the predominant way of life. Pigs, sheep, chickens, burros, oxen and countless dogs were [View Full Entry]

indigenous quechua porter pulls his weight for the tourist dollar

kent, christy and I, high on thin andean air and a historic trek

huge agave plants tower above our heads in the river valley

By globalfreeloader
January 7th 2008

Peruvian paradise

South America » Peru » Cusco » Cusco

overlooking Lima from Monte Cristal

Hola a todos, I currently write while sipping a cold Cusqueña cervesa and watching night fall over the heart of South America, Cusco. It has been a mere 4 days south of the equator and I´m already in love with the latin life. Well, most of it anyway. After a rough 9 hour layover in Miami and a redeye flight over the equator I arrived in Lima, Peru´s capital, at 5:30 a.m. to be greeted by a swarm of taxi drivers fighting for the tourist dollar. Luckily, one had a sign with my name and escorted me to a friend [View Full Entry]

police guarding the congressional palace during a speech

dummy being tried in museo de la inquisicion

By globalfreeloader
January 2nd 2008

The journey begins...

North America » United States » Colorado » Denver

Hello to everyone, This is a preemptive kick off email to what I expect to be a steady stream of crazy and colorful travel stories over the next 3 to 6 months. For those of you who did not yet know, I am setting off on a Latin American adventure at 8:30 a.m. today when I board a plane to Lima,Peru. I plan to explore the country and pay a visit to Machu Picchu during the first few weeks before continuing on into Bolivia where I shall spend some months working at a wildlife refuge in the rainforest. I expect to [View Full Entry]