Today began a little on the rainy side. We are relatively high in the mountains so it was clod, foggy and a constant but light drizzle. Glad I brought my Walmart rain suit! I enjoyed a light breakfast of some fresh fruits, breads, coffee and, of course, cocoa tea. I learned to chew the leaves after you make the tea. They are much easier to make a proper mush and they taste far better when boiled, rather than stuffed dry in your mouth. Today we began with an optional tour of a local salt production collective that had been operating since the days of the Inca rulers. We drove high into the mountains and entered the salt mine area called Maras. We learned this was a collective with 400 families participating in the process. The process ... read more

Today began with an excellent buffet breakfast. There was french toast, actually a toasted it tasted and looked like a peanut butter sandwich cut into 4 pieces.There were eggs and cheese scrambled, various fruits, cold cuts and cheeses. There was even sausages and other fine delicacies. Coffee was interesting. When I poured it out of the pot it looked very black and very thick. I assumed it would be bitter so I pulled our 5 sugar packets. I added a little hot milk to the coffee and it lightened up immediately. I added one sugar and tasted, hummmm, pretty good. Not bitter at all in fact it was perfect. Three cups later I was really buzzed! Our tour today was in two parts. Part one was a city tour of Lima followed by lunch then a ... read more

Today is Sunday April 15, normally tax day in the US but we have a two day reprieve since the date falls on a weekend. Being ever at the ready my taxes are filed and painfully paid for, leaving me free to prepare for my next adventure Peru. I will be traveling with Bob Lubell, a new friend and roommate for the trip; and Tony Barone and his wife Trish. Tony has done all the are work for my books The Enochian Dilemma and now Ghost Witch, we we have some history. Bob and I not so much. Oh well how bad can it be...we will be in Peru. Preparations for me on these trips is very important so I want to detail some of my preparations. First, I did a deep google dive on all ... read more

There is much to talk about today, our first full day in Cambodia and our visit to the amazing Angkor Wat complex of temples. First some history. Cambodia was first called the Khmer Empire from the 9th to the 15th century. then, as now, it was ruled by a king. At one time the Khmer Empire was at war with Siam, now called Thailand. The Khmer won the war and decided to name this region Siem Reap, which means Siam lost! The Thai do not like the name of this region of Cambodia too much for obvious reasons! In any event, Cambodia is HOT, and I mean brutally hot. Today the temperature soared over 100F with humidity approaching 90% making this the hottest day we have had so far by a long shot. The heat was ... read more

Today was another long day, and a hot one. The temperature at breakfast was over 85 degrees and was expected to hit 100 before the day was over. Wake up call was 5:30 am. Whoever said touring was a vacation, obviously never went on a tour! Breakfast was again a sumptuous affair at the buffet tables of the Bangkok Sheraton, the same hotel at which we started our journey many days ago. After breakfast, we headed off to the busses for the long trip to the Floating Market. Our first stop, as usual after two hours driving was the "Happy Room" aka pee pee room! For many a most necessary stop. I must say that all the rest stops were at clean, modern facilities. They were mostly no charge, however, some special locations charged 5 baht ... read more