Catch Up Time

Ok, i know its been a while and for that i apologise for not letting people know where i have or will be, especially mum who thought i was stuck in the shocking earthquake in Peru.
We actually were in the town of Ica, Nazca and many of the others that were hit but luckily due to other instances which i will go onto later we sped up the trip a bit and moved further North clear of any danger.

Equador

Right now i am chilling in Quito, the Capital of Ecuador, after a few short stops in Northern Peru to hit the beach then into Guayaquil to catch a flight to the Galapagos Islands.
However, im jumping the gun a bit here.

Jolly Flight to Cape Town!!

In between leaving Nazca and hitting Lima i was called into work with my Antarctic firm who needed some hands for trial work in Cape Town, South Africa. So, i said my goodbyes to the lads and caught a quick flight over to Cape Town. Unfortunately for me while i was flying over for the work it seems that a few problems were rearing there ugly heads and as i arrived i found out the work had been delayed!!!!!!
So, always one to look on the bright side of things i managed to get Kimmee over from England for a nice 2 week holiday cruising around the Garden Route of South Africa and checking out the wildlife on Safari.
After this and finding out the work was definately delayed for another month or so i flew back over to Lima and met up with the boys who were finishing there Huayhuash Trek in the North of Peru.

Shedding Skin

First stop, Mancora and the golden beaches which it had to offer. In 4 months of travelling this was our first time chilling on a beach and actually having some sunshine was well needed for our pasty white bodies! Unfortunately for Kev, me and Dave went into town for the day and he decided to chill around the pool in the hotel. Upon arriving back from town we found Kev still sitting next to the pool, without having any suncream on, just below the equator, looking rather red. Well, this soon turned into the worst sunburn i think i have ever seen in my life and Kev was in agony for days!!

Next country please!

So, after a few days chilling, with Kev not able to move or step out in the sun at all we decided to head off into Ecuador for the city of Guayaquil. We stayed just outside the centre of town in the Northern ´Burbs at a lovely hostal called “Dreamcatchers.” After a day of organising we were set. I was off to the Galapagos Islands the next day for 5 days of diving and the boys would meet me there later after going whale watching on the coast of Ecuador. We had an 8 day cruise booked taking in all the best sites which the Islands had to offer and i was wetting my pants with excitement at the prospects of it all.

The Enchanted Islands

I certainly wasnt dissapointed.

The diving was without a doubt the best i have done anywhere in the world and bringing my logbook up to 80 dives now i have a few sites to choose from. Gordon Rocks was a site which shone for me.
I have wanted to see Hammerhead Sharks for ages now yet it has never happened...until now. Every dive here i swam alongside these amazing creatures, on one dive we jumped in and sank to the bottom right into the middle of a school of about 10 swimming about!! Truly amazing and it didnt end there either, Turtles, Manta Rays, Sea Lions, Octopus, Schools of Eagle Rays, the list is endless.
Diving with the Sea Lions as well was amazing. They are such curious animals and even though they lumber about on land not doing much, when they are in the water they transform into playful, cheeky, exceedingly fast rockets. They often swim alongside showing off with summersaults, flips, blowing bubbles in your face and then staring you down eye to eye as if to challenge you to do better. Quite often i would feel something hitting and biting my head and as i look up a Sea Lion would be there playing with the bubbles coming out from my regulators and then looking straight into my eyes before playfully swimming away to annoy someone else. So cool.

The cruise never dissapointed either. We were booked onto the luxury catamaran, Archipel 2 and we managed to secure a last minute deal on which kept the price down just lovely. Every day we went on excursions, visiting Islands which contained completely different wildlife everywhere you looked.

From giant Land roaming Galapagos Tortoises to huge land and marine Iguanas there was something to keep the eyes peeled at every corner. All of the wildlife was so tame that you could easily walk right next to or even over the top of a lounging Marine Iguana or a pair of Blue Footed Boobies dancing on the ground. Watching adult Boobies feeding there chicks as the aptly known “Pirate Bird” the Frigate, flew into them trying to steal the regurgitated food.

Snorkelling was a great highlight as well even after the diving. Playing with Sea Lions in the shallows and swimming alongside Galapagos Penguins, the most Northerly ones on the planet was amazing. We spent ages chasing Whitetip Reef Sharks and Turtles around the bays until our poor legs couldnt keep up any longer.

The funniest Moment

Kev even had me in tears on one snorkell. Hes not the most confidant of people in the water yet we spent one afternoon swimming up and down the shores of a Sea Lion colony trying to get the babies out to play. However, in each colony of these amazing creatures there is always the one, normally huge, dominant male patrolling the shores protecting his harem of ladies, as would any man in his position. (1 guy, poss 30 girls, good on him!)

Well, Kev took his eyes off the game for a while and got a little too close for comfort for the big fella. Me and Dave were well back and i could see him heading straight for him. : “kev....Kev....KEVIN!!! Move your arse the big dudes coming”
It was nearly too late and as Kev was so panicked instead of swimming towards us he tried running in the water, with his flippers on, looking towards me with a look of absolute horror on his face. If it wasnt for me and Dave laughing so hard at Kev i would of taken a piccie, it was classic. Luckily it was just a false charge and the Bull went past Kev and probably swam away due to the stench coming from his pants.

Anyway, i just cant go on for too long about this place becuase the email would be like reading a book. All i can say was that it has been an absolute highlight of my life so far and never let me down in terms of expectations. I have so many stories about the place i will have to bore you all to tears over a few beers one night in the pub if you fancy knowing any more. Which im sure i will.

So, Quito it is then. Mountain Biking tom down the worlds highest active volcanoe, Cotopaxi. Then a trip to the Equator for the obligatory cheezy pic before me and Kev leave for Columbia on Fri, next stop, Carribean Coast and the Lost City Trek. Which, mum look away now, we will have to pay off the local drugs barrens to cross their land before arriving in an overgrown city abandoned once again during the Spanish Conquests.

Its been good talking to you all again, dont forget to drop me a line and say hello some time. Big love to you all.

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