http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/jasonwu/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from jasonwu en-us Wed, 16 Dec 2009 21:15:06 +0000 Wed, 16 Dec 2009 21:15:06 +0000 Chilean society is a society in transition. With a relatively new and successful democratic political system a strong and highly globalized economy a conservative Catholic backbone and a new generation of liberal youth the birth pangs of modernization can be seen throughout Santiago. This liberalconservative dichotomy contributes to a distinctively mixed cultural climate one where free speech http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Chile/Santiago-Region/Santiago/blog-270352.html Buenos Aires is a very sexy city.The architecture the language I dare say even the women have a very distinct appeal not found in any other location I've visited on this side of the prime meridian. Often referred to as the Paris of South America hundreds of years of strong European immigration have given it its unique flavor I was in a truly distinct city.As soon as I arrived I rendezvouse http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Argentina/Buenos-Aires/Buenos-Aires/blog-257883.html I write you from within the trenches I'm on the front lines in the battle of life. My classes have started and I'm finally finding a routine and settling in. I welcome the return of the everyday struggle and like at home hope to carry it on like a true warrior.As my blog entries slowly approach 1000 cumulative views let me thank you once again. I want you all to know that recently there hav http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Chile/Santiago-Region/Santiago/blog-255882.html I went to the island of Chilo Cheeloway hoping to find few tourists peace quiet and time to read write and meditate. Well I certainly found it. After a 17 hour bus ride I arrived to an island with beautiful landscapes and quiet seaside villages. As soon as I got there I wandered around the city of Castro Chilos largest city. The island is known for its culture of wooden architec http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Chile/Los-Lagos/Chiloe-Island/blog-253198.html So I wanted to write this entry just to give a quick update on my status. Thanks to everyone who has been reading and supporting my blog. It's been rewarding and at times a lot of work investing in it and I hope you've all enjoyed it thus far. Whenever I'm out and something is going down I take a video and think Damn this is good blog footage My entries should slow down now and will re http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Chile/Santiago-Region/Providencia/blog-250802.html Ahhhh La Paz How I adored you... You charmed my heart gave me a thrill or two and you were awfully cheap. No this is not me wooing an unsuspecting Latina I'm writing about the highest capital in the world La Paz literally Peace Bolivia I had a wonderful time in La Paz and it was a great way to end my trip. Things are pretty cheap here in La Paz even cheaper than Peru. Many of my http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Bolivia/La-Paz-Department/La-Paz/blog-249015.html So these past 4 or 5 days we have been hardcore tourists. In order to get the most out of our time and money we must be hardcore. Dozens of churches museums markets festivals we must hit them all. Forget pleasure tranquility and leisure were on the move baby I admit its a bit tiring and Im getting burned out. If I were traveling for months at a time I would go at a much slower pace. http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Puno/Lake-Titicaca-/Uros-Island/blog-246048.html Here we are the much anticipated Machu Picchu entry.Everything that comes to mind when you hear the phrase Hiking South America is true.The Cusquean mountains are some of the most beautiful Ive ever seen. They are populated by Peruvians who pour sweat and blood into the land maintain indigenous traditions and languages and who were very welcoming and friendly to two gringo travelers. The http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Cusco/Salkantay-Trail/blog-244649.html HolaThe 26 hour bus ride to Cusco was at times miserable and at times more miserable. I got to see plenty of the country side and absorb a sense of the Peruvian landscape but a bus crossing over a mountainous landscape using excruciatingly twisty curvy roads at night does not sit well with my stomach. Anyways it was part of the experience and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I have over 45 hours of http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Cusco/Cusco/Cusco/blog-242742.html Much has happened so I will have to cut down some of my long winded decorations and get straight to the points.The airline lost my luggage itll arrive late and I had to buy some cheap clothes at the local supermarket before my trip to Lima. Thus I feel a little shorthanded walking around the streets How is one supposed to impress the Latin girls without his gear but truly it doesn't matt http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Lima/Lima/Miraflores/blog-241782.html Around the time of my first departure I experienced my life's happiest moments and soon thereafter I encountered its saddest. A period of 5 days brought all the felicities of love friendship and voyage along with the extreme heartbreak and melancholy that comes with the mourning of a fallen comrade and brother. Such concentrated emotion stacked on top of 45 hours of continuous travel is more http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Michigan/Ann-Arbor/blog-239138.html Here is my travel blog. Writing this I realize how rarely I divulge information about myself. My 3 sentence profile at the top of this page is already much more than what I usually reveal.This blog will be used to let you all know what is going on with me. Check back every couple of weeks or click subscribe. Some entries will be short some entries will be long but hopefully all entries will e http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Michigan/Ann-Arbor/blog-235873.html