Hi this is my first blog in a long while but then again this is my first adventure as Carlos. Cebu and the islands called the philippines could be justafiably paradise. the weather is perfect the faces are friendly and the food exotic. [View Full Entry]

---

---

the subway, the subway, what can I say, i have experienced the best subway setup in the world. theres a subway coming every 90 seconds I kid you not. if you miss one then you just have to wait another minute and a half, and quick, I reckon they're travelling at the best part of 50 miles per hour, you can get from one side of santiago to the othe in less than fifteen minutes. I reckon I'm going to come back looking like a bean pole wht with all the wwalking I've been doing, about 3 - 5 km a [View Full Entry]

---

---

Hi everyone, I havent written for the past two dys as I had to reload the system. I've just about got it right again but am still missing my graphic program,you see every photo that is uploaded has to be don in certain size and format so it usually takes me bout 5 mins ech photo. I'll be right tomorrow I reckon. Yesterday, Tuesday I went into the city propper and boy what a city. They hve food malls there but not like in Australia. There are all theses little shops one after another virtually selling the same stuff, these little [View Full Entry]

---

---

Well I took a walk out towards this knob shaped hill that sits smack bang in the middle of Santiago. On this hill is the funsicale and the teleferico. A tram like ride up the side of the hill to he top and then cable car ride across the top of this hill showing a 360 degree view of the city and sorounding suburbs. The ride was steep and exhillarating and the view was nothing short of amazing. When you get to the top there is small market and hundreds of bicycles which people hire and ride down the hill to [View Full Entry]

---

---

Well I think I have settled down enough to start thinking of what to do next and where to go. I am thinking of doing a 1 week intensive spanish course. I didn't realise how difficult it was going to be with the language thingo. Anyway I think I'm over my emotional lag and jet lag. Today, I went to market which was only about five blocks away. It would have been nice to have been a woman because it was mainly all womens clothes and accessories, But all in all it was a pretty good market. Tomorrow I'm doing the [View Full Entry]

---

---

Hi everyone well I arrived two hours before I took off from Auckland, how that works I'm not real sure but I am in the past as far as Australian time is concerned, about 14 hours in the past to be precise. The people of Santiago are so happy. I went out to a street restaurant tonight and they are on every corner here. Carlos was serving me and boy the service was really good and so was the steak. At one stage it broke into a hale and paice sketch with the language thing, but he was very nice and [View Full Entry]

---

---

Hi everyone I have arrived ib Santiago in good spirits but boy is the language thing a barrier. I ended up staying at the Hotel belle vista. its a swank upper lass hotel in the restuarant side of town. Its quater to midnight here and Boy am I tired. The Aucklank thing is something else. THERES A CURENCY EXCHANGEEVERY TEN YARDS AND THE WHOLE TOWN IS GEARED TO ACCEPT THE TRANSIENT TOURIST DOLLAR. THEY DONT MOND EXPLOITING THE TOURISTS EITHER. heres a lurk, I wander past this sports bar come breakfast place and see two mauries out the front chowing down [View Full Entry]

---

---

Hi everyone, Its 9am on Tuesday morning in Auckland here. I had a good nights sleep at the fat Camel Hosteldown in the colourful part of Town.I dd have a photo to upload but mysd card munched it I've got a copy on the camera and wll post just as soon as I 'm sorted out with the staorage card. Wouldn't you know it, everything was working fineat home not I try to save one lousy photo andthe thing munts up on me. I think itisjust a connectionproblem. Anyhows, I got to Melbourne fine 7am thank you very much,I loitered around [View Full Entry]

---

---

Well Today was a memorable one. This afternoon we (Sarah and I) went over and put a headstone on Dads grave. It felt strange digging and poring concrete in the cemetary. I thought that at any moment someone was going to come up and say what are yous doing, but no one did. Some people grieve for weeks, others for months. I have finally put a closure on Dads death, it has been just a few months over 25years. It took us about an hour and then we sat down and just talked about Dad and life and death,said a short [View Full Entry]

---

---

Packing the backpack I've spent the past eight weeks collecting and gathering all the things I'll be needing on my adventure. I think I've got it all but who knows. Its going to be an adventure and adventures are just that the unexpected where you least expect it. All the charming little coffee shops, the majestic sunsets, the enigmatic street performer its all ahead of me and time is my friend for once. Yes come Monday 7th of April I am retiring. I know I'm supposed to already be retired but now am finally coming to terms with a few things. [View Full Entry]

---

---