Stumbled Upon I googled "extreme hiking" and got your page. I think that personally I will just stay home and enjoy your blog; I enjoyed your pictures (breath taking and terrifying) and blogs from the other places you visited. All I can say is wow. I am still amazed at the "tourists" just going up in everyday wear.
never go to the funky art cafe we been to have a beer at funky last night we have found that the most dangerioues place in varkala shit place we ask for beer and guy who serve he ask are on over honey moom and we say noo we later onn her boss come to say me if you not married you fucking not allowed in my cafe but there was a guy he make here underestand the lady who owns the place she is stowened all the time ! and fight with her all the costemer we if you not having a food in this place then i think there is no respect as long if you give them good busyness they good eles you have to face a trouble they have singh coll the most happening place it true been rude with the costemer and fight as i want to say in the massage to you all my friend please dont go toi funky bar you will be feel unrespecatable ur self the lady coll alessendra please try not to go stay safe have good time in india
bloody brilliant! That is certainly an insane climb. I've done a few nutter climbs round NZ in my time without ropes and harnesses but that takes the cake. I'm not sure if I want to rush over there and do it too or put in on my list of never go near the place spots. Good on you for having the guts to do the climb and brave unknown territory with Chinese people.
cheers
MArk Campbell - New Zealand
Beware! Being from India I'm painfully aware of so many ways tourists are scammed. If anyone is planning a travel to ANYWHERE in India just talk to an Indian guy around you (I'm sure it would not be hard to find). You will be thankful that you did. Also, the rules for playing the game (or surviving) are different there. The hard part for most travellers is the massive shift in paradigm. Nothing that you learnt in US or Europe holds good there. It can be fun and a truly out of world experience, but you need to learn few things before you step off that plane.
Mmmmmmm glad that you enjoyed the experience. to bad stuart and jacques are still there. shame man. i wanted to get them out as well. at least i got kenneth out, but yeah he got greedy on the outside. anyway it was good times and yeah a good blog. if only you knew half of the true story. you only got a taste.
Colombian Dog tag I would like to know if through you and your Colombian Army peeps- I could have one of those cool Colombian ID tags made....(custom) I definitely would pay for whatever it would be... also one of those cool flag sleeve patches too if thatd b possible.... this its cool you got to chill wit the troops.... i think i sent you an email...
Great Pictures!!
This morning my kids and I we're looking for some idea about the amazon, and you're space helped us to understand the life and the condicitions.
Thank you for sharing this information.
Leslie and Kids.
Thanks for the anticipation I'm about to leave on my own Lares Trek in a few days... it was very fun to read about your account, and see your cool pictures! I'm jealous of your camera :)
Awesome I'm planning on going to Xian and climbing this mountain next week, so I was very interested in your experience. I think I will bring my own harnass!
My Favourite. That's my favourite story so far. You had me on the edge of my seat. Oh how people think differently in South America to arrive at the same places we do. He was being nice and not trying to burn you in your sleep. lol
Superb blog made me going to Ciudad Perdida This is one of the best travelblog entries I have ever read - and so far the only one which made me actually go to any place. Just got back from two weeks in Northern Columbia, including the trek, where I had an amazing time!
fantastic Daz, I got here through StumbleUpon, which is probably where all your hits are coming from and why most people don't comment (we're just looking for cool stuff and moving on). But since you asked for comments, here's one for you!
This sounds like an incredible trip. I'm jealous but have to admit that at age 36 with a family, reading your report is probably as close as I'll get to this one.
Thanks for sharing.
Hi Res Photos I have loads of hi-res photos at www.dazcrawford.smugmug.com Look in the Darrens Travels 2008 folder. At the moment I just dump my pics there so they remain un-edited and are in no order. As for publishing.. Wouldnt have a clue where to start, tbh I write for myself but it would be cool, any pointers appreciated LOL.
big world Most of what i read these days serves to force a perception that the world is much smaller than you think. Your blog serves to remind me that it's all bullshit. Our planet is huge and extremely diverse.
Thanks for letting me live vicariously through you and your great blog! Fantastic photos! Do you have hires copies of these pics anywhere? I'd consider framing some.
I'd recommend picking up some copies of Paul Theroux and Bill Bryson's books. When you read them I think you'll find yourself in good company. Maybe then you'll listen to me and realize that this blog presents many publishing opportunities.
- Dean
Hi Danny Thank you for taking time to read my blog. The Funky Art Cafe certainly gets a lot of mixed reports. I will publish your comments, its nice to hear the positive views too :-)
Upset and Shocked!!! I visited Varkala in 2006 and stayed at the Funky Art Cafe for over a week. I never saw anything like this going on and only have good memories of Babu and his staff. Admittedly I was aware of some local young males who visited the place, and it was obvious they were there for the white western girls but that happens in any country. As for the cocktails, I saw both sexes but particularily young western woman partaking in the drinking of cocktails at the Funky Art, and getting totally smashed and oblivious to whats going on around them. Drinking alcohol in a hot country is not recommended as it really has a much stronger effect, particularily when there is no control on the measure that is being served Obeying the alcohol or drug laws in any country is what is important, legally or illegally available. maybe I enjoyed myself thoroughly when I was there and had encouraged my 24 year old daughter to go there this year for a holiday following the route I had taken, but now I don't know what to think!!! I am shocked to say the least at what I have read here. It certainly does not sound like the same place when I was there. Fair enough I will say that Babu was a bit of a chancer with the ladies but a more helpful and considerate person you could not meet. But better to be safe than sorry I think I will have to look further into this and discuss with her the safest choice.
Hi Matt Thank you for taking time to read my blog. The children were very difficult to photograph, luckily I have a very powerful zoom lense on my SLR. Ciudad Perdida is definatly a highlight of Colombia. I recommend it for next time. Its an amazing hike to a stunning and remote place.
"Darren has a desire to learn, but not just from books, he wants to touch, smell, taste, hear and see the world. He loves interacting with people from different backgrounds and cultures and likes the challenge of getting to remote and unusual places. He is an outgoing and confident traveler that is always looking to take a step beyond the norm, often leaving him to face bizarre and unusual situations. Darren's blog has proven to be a big hit on the Internet and many people have requested that he write a book about the places he has visited together with the bizarre and unusual situations th... full info
Jennifer
non-member comment
Stumbled Upon
I googled "extreme hiking" and got your page. I think that personally I will just stay home and enjoy your blog; I enjoyed your pictures (breath taking and terrifying) and blogs from the other places you visited. All I can say is wow. I am still amazed at the "tourists" just going up in everyday wear.