Max4k

This is part two of my account from Torres del Paine National Park. You might want to read them in order. Part One: http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Chile/Magallanes/Torres-del-Paine/blog-673779.html Part Three: http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Chile/Magallanes/Torres-del-Paine/blog-674891.html Day 4 - Glacier, Paso, Cliffside Today started oh so early but it was oh so worthwhile. The first 3 hours were all uphill - a gradual incline through trees that would get smaller and smaller until they were no longer present, but not before making us look like giants on the Serengeti, interspersed with treacherous mud log walkways. Instead of taking the safer, longer, more snag... read more

Like most self respecting backpackers, I planned as little of my trip to this continent as I possibly could before embarking. Accordingly, The large southern extent of the continent was given a correspondingly large portion of my estimated time - a decision which I am certianly not regretting, having seen the likes of Pucón, Los Alerces, Bariloche etc. Something that I am finding a little unsettling is, as it turns out, the suitable destinations on the 'peninsula' are actually relatively small in number, given the extent of the area. This is something I couldn't quite comprehend until I got on a 24 hour bus between Esquel and El Calafate which, due to paved road restrictions, took me all the way to the East coast before cutting back towards the West for the Andes again. As you ... read more

Chile is an incredible country - just look at a map. It's not the kind of country you would hear being used as a unit of area (like the more common Wales or Belgium standard sizes), in fact it's less than 10% of it's length at it's widest point. Is this the fewest dimensional country in the world? I would say, it's quite possibly the most isolated in the world. Despite it's incredible length (I believe the most North-South spanning territory), it is almost completely defined by geographical boundaries. I would concede that islands are probably more geographically defined. But other than those? Of all the border crossings into the country, probably the most obvious is Tacna in the far North - a simple foray along the coast into Peru. All the others are somewhat limited ... read more

In contrast to the busy tourist bus route of the centre of the North Island, New Zealand's East Cape promised to be a venture into the rural, remote, and beautiful culture, lifestyle, and scenery that makes New Zealand unique. The first night was spend in a tiny lodge, boasting the only wild stingray feeding in the world. Unfortunately they had been scared away by a recent storm and would not respond despite the guide standing knee deep in the sea throwing out fish oil for a good hour. The saving grace was, without doubt, an immense barbeque and mussels banquet - apparently costing around $2 per kilo, a fraction of the price and a multiple of the quality found in the UK. Anyway, the real reason I am in New Zealand is (amongst others) to witness ... read more

It is worth noting that I am currently wrestling with an onset of what I can only hope is delayed jetlag (although there are a number of things I have done in the last 48 hours that may be responsible), and so this blog may not begin as coherently as may be desired from all you eager readers. Anyway, for those of you who don't know, I am setting off to add the Southern Hemisphere to my conquered places list (a list which currently consists of The Northern Hemisphere ). This begins with a short stopover in Sydney. During the (double decker) train ride to the centre of the city, I considered treating my backpack like a dog to elicit strange and confused reactions from the general public, but decide against it. In retrospect this would ... read more