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Published: June 30th 2006
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Sorry it’s been so long since my last blog, am sure everyone is waiting in anticipation for the next exciting instalment! We have been in South America for about 5 weeks now and having incredible time! Sen and I were really sad to leave New Zealand and team consumption, especially the Great Danes (missing you both loads!!!), not so bothered about Simon and old WHJ (for those of you who don’t know WHJ stands for Wandering hands Jackson - I feel Phil’s new nickname needs no more explanation than that!) since they were following us to Chile a few days later. Really liked Santiago we hadn’t heard great things about it and so were surprised by how much we loved it, may have had something to do with all the amazing food which after all the pies in NZ was a nice change. We stayed there about 5 days and then headed across the border to Mendoza in Argentina. The journey over was amazing, huge winding road up through the Andes with the border checkpoint right at the top. The views were amazing, unfortunately poor old Maxers missed most of it as she spent the entire journey in the bogs being
slightly travel sick! And was then comforted by all the Chilean grannies on the bus who kept hugging and doing rake on her! In Mendoza we did a wine tour and I did a spot of shopping in C & A where I picked up a fetching pair of lesbian looking hiker boots for 3 pounds, Max has been slagging me ever since but needs must and its not advisable to come to the Andes in winter with just flip flops!!! Phil and Simon were very excited to get to Argentina as that’s where their mammoth steak eating began, you can get a massive steak for about 2 pounds here and its all they have eaten for about 3 weeks! After Mendoza we commenced our 22 hour bus journey to Bariloche but totally worth it as definitely one of my favourite places so far. Met up with Nat and Ally and had few brilliant drunken nights out with them, Phil and I thinking of heading back to Bariloche in a few weeks to hit the slopes! After 4 days there it was another 22 hour bus journey to Buenos Aires where we stayed in Millhouse (spiritual home of the 2
big J´s!!) and it certainly lived up to its reputation. We did all the tourist stuff in the first few days, visiting Boca and Evita´s tomb but Max refused along with everyone else I asked to get a tango lesson with me (have however been learning to samba which more than makes up for my tango disappointment!) Met a couple of amazing Irish girls in our dorm, Carol and Babs! Missing you both loads hope it’s good being home! And along with them and Phil, Simon, Steve (if that is his real name) and some people with very large foreheads...we had some amazing nights out!
Clubbing in BA basically involves getting so hammered that you fail to notice the terrible techno music and sleazy Argentinean men not to mention WHJ himself!! And getting back to the hostel about 9am just in time for breakfast! However our last night in BA I didn’t last quite as long, started drinking in the hostel and remember being worried that Max was getting too drunk and that maybe she wouldn’t make it out, but oh how the tables turned!!! Apparently I lasted all of 3 minutes in the club before I had to leave
as was feeling slightly unwell and poor Maxers had to take me home, not before I almost had us both arrested!! (I know it was you who spiked my drink Steve!!!) Won’t go into detail so as to worry Eunice!!
The next day we had to get up insanely early to get the boat to Uruguay, neither of us were on the best form that morning, I spent most of the time in the toilets and Maxers thought she lost her passport even although it was actually in her hand!! We both loved Uruguay such a beautiful county and such friendly people. First stop was Colonia, which is one of the most beautiful places I have been, then we headed to Montevideo and then Salta. After Salta we got a taxi back over the boarder to Argentina where we waited by the roadside in the middle of the night for our bus that was apparently going to take us to Iguazu. Our guide Juan was getting slightly nervous as it was about two hours late and sitting on the side of a highway at 1am was not the most fun but Maxers got to partake in her new favourite hobby
of falling asleep in public places! Eventually the bus showed up and it was amazing, better than first class in a plane, waiters serve champagne on the bus!!! We crossed border into Brazil in the morning and went to Brazilian side of the falls which were so stunning one of the most beautiful things I have seen so far on my trip. The next day we went to Argentinean side of the falls and although in didn’t stop raining was such a brilliant day, we took a boat ride right under the falls which was incredible and helicopter ride over them, my photos in no way capture how massive and incredible they are! The next day after a very random few hours in Paraguay where I was savagely attacked by a parrot we got the bus to Paraty, a small colonial town on the coast of Brazil. Its so beautiful here had amazing night out with Juan, Lucy and Randy Mandy!!! Which ended up just the 4 of us in Paraty´s only bar dancing on tables and me taking a serious liking for the barman’s hat, and Randy a serious liking for Juan! I got lost on way back to
the hostel but luckily the others found me sitting on a bench just outside it but apparently I couldn’t find it!! After Paraty we got boat to Ilhe Grande which is amazing little island with no cars few hours south of Rio. We did a boat trip around the island and a trek to Lopez Mendez, which is apparently Brazil’s best beach, and of course another few Caipirinha fuelled nights out, then it was off to Rio!!!
Since I am so so slow at writing these blogs I have been in Rio for over I week now and I adore it, wish that I lived here its incredible! Everyone has to come, its so so amazing. Seen Sugar loaf and Lapa but so far spent most of my time lying on Ipanema with Max starring at all the amazing bodies and thanking God that thongs are not part of Scotland´s traditional dress!! The place is so intense right now because of the world cup, such a carnival atmosphere with huge street party´s after each Brazil game, but of course due to my new travel companions being Phil and Simon, England’s top two football hooligans I am also being dragged to
Lord Jim, Rio’s only English pub to watch every England game, although at the last match I met a plastic surgeon who was telling me about the bum implants that Brazilian girls get, don’t worry dad no plans to go under the knife just yet!! But Rio also marked a very sad moment the end of my travels with Max. I handed her over to Rory the other day in exchange for a crunchie!! Still seeing them both everyday but will be so so sad when she leaves cant believe how fast our trip has gone, its been so amazing. Also met up with my aussie friend Ben heading to Sao Paulo with him to meet Fernando, friend of mine from Sweden, and then back to Paraty and then back to Rio at the weekend for the small matter of my birthday celebrations tomorrow night!!!!, happening few days early since Max, Rory and Ben leave on the 3rd and leave me in the capable hands of Simon and WHJ!
Hope that everyone is having a great summer and that NG and Shod enjoy their HSOG reunion alone tomorrow evening, wish I could be there guys!! Missing you
Will put photos
from Rio up soon.
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piaochong
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its been such a long time since i have heard from you.. i leave binzhou tomorrow for a few nights in beijing before the big trip back to australia. it sounds like your having a blast babe, and i cant believe your still travelling when im just about to go home! maybe i will see you again miss lauren.. someday.. somehow...;P