Not a fungi, is and Insect This is the Cochineal scale insect, makes a beautiful dye the Aztecs used in making cloths. It was the Spaniards' #2 money making industry in the new world after silver!
Advice on Torres Del Paine? Hello there, I came across your blog while searching for info. on hiking the W in Torres Del Paine. I plan on doing this in November and would be grateful for any tips you could provide. On a scale of 1-10, how hard would you say it is? Can you tell me what your pack consisted of (excluding tent and sleeping bags) and what items you absolutely couldn't have survived without. Did you map out your route beforehand, or do they have maps there-(if you have any really informative websites to point me to that would be great)? Is it fairly easy to navigate? I have been trekking in S. America once before (guided) and my travel partner has never done anything like this, but from all I've read, I feel confident that this is a pretty easy trek that we can handle--would you agree based on your experience? And then finally, do I understand correctly that once you get to the end of the "W" you can catch a bus back to the park entrance?
Thanks for any info you can provide!
Rebecca
Austin, Texas USA
Stunning! Absolutely fantastic, Ben! I can't even begin to comprehend what kind of experience this may have been. This is something I'd love to do myself, some day.
Also, breathtaking photographs! Definitely picture-perfect! How well did your camera deal with the extreme sub-zero temperatures?
Congrats I knew from the moment I saw your subject line!
Congrats! I am so happy for you both.
Let me know the next time you are in NYC so we can celebrate!
Congrats again.
Andrew
Beyond my imagination! incredible! I took the trip with you and Sheena. Having never left the U.S. physically but was taken mentally with the two of you. Thank you.
Welcome home! What a few months. So glad Antarctica featured in the top ten. A trip none of us will ever forget. We've loved the blogs, always thought I was too old to receive a blog!! Quite right about travel, it's like jazz, if you need to ask you'll never know the answer! Looking forward to catching up with the two of you in London, thats when we're all backin London....!! Cheers wendy
Welcome Home Ben,
Sad to see your journey has come to an end. I felt as though I was a tagalong on your trip. Not having been further west than Hershey, Pennsylvania in my own country, your pictures and elegant prose provided a window to the world. Not just for me but for the family. It was a wild trip and you will have untold stories and new found wisdom to impart to your family in the future. A new trip begins with your first mate and that will be best journey of all. Glad you got home safe and will talk with you soon.
Warmest regards,
Steve
¡Bien ahí che titán! Keep travelling, keep coming down south. Yo que ya me pasé al club de los familieros te aseguro que la vida en pareja tiene sus encantos. ¡Y Sheena es flor de mina! Así que felicidades. Y de nuevo, si podés veníte para el casorio en diciembre. Abrazo grande desde una de tus patrias adoptivas.
Hey hey Ben. I have really enjoyed reading about your travels, you should maybe become a writer as you are damn good. I totally get the taking time out to explore (as you will know already) and in fact my last day at work is tomorrow. I realised that I have not seen any of my own, beautiful country so am off in a campervan to travel the length and breadth of it. I only wish more people would realise that this precious time we get on this wonderful planet is not a dress rehearsal. Therr are wonderous sights and beautiful people (its a shame we generally only hear about the bad).You must follow your dreams and stand by your decisions. I wish you nothing but the best for the future and hope that you will maybe read some of travel diaries in the months to come. keep in touch as I am also based in London and would love to catch up sometime over pint with a true 'Global Player'. All the best, kirsty x
lerv the great ocean road and the photos, but then we're from melbourne and the town right at the end of the road. It's just nice to see home sometimes, Cheerihoo
Hello chap Hello chap,
I am glad to see the dead goat has been removed from you chin.
At first I thought you had killed the poor creature just to keep your chin warm.
Thanks for the amazing pictures, I have to admit my favourite is ther Bird in flight on the South Coast, wow what a picture.
I have one for you but it's on my mobile, it's a bird with a can of beer.!!!!
Cool stuff Very nice pictures of the terraces and the Spanish style architecture in town. The locals decked out in their Carnivale regalia must have been something. Those colors are so vibrant they make teh spice in Bangalore look muted. I hope your parasites get killed. Whether you decided orally or anally, you are the man to get the job done.
Quick update on the election. Barack has won every caucus/primary since California. In terms of states he is ahead. In terms of delegates they are dead even. She has a big lead in super delegates (political elders, senators, union leaders). If she did not have these, she would be behind. She fired her campaign manager last night and had to chip in $5mm of her own money. Some are saying that if she loses the next three or four primaries in terms of states and not delegates, she is through. We will see. John McCain has run away with teh Republican side although Huckabee has won the last few primaries.
Take care buddy!
Steve
Great job Excellent pictures of Machu Picchu. Smart to get there before everyone else. Sheena looks great in that picture, seriously. The backgrounds are so lush and the mountain back drops are stunning. Glad you are enjoying yourselves.
And the Crow? How come?! You forced us to the Crow and won't even mention the filthy hole you used to dragg us down to have fernet! Haha. Please come back soon. You're the best possible excuse for asados, wines and bar tours. Keep travelling, keep enjoying.
Wow The scale of that desert makes you feel insignificant. Sometimes it is not the prettiest picture but rather a dusty desert that goes on forever that hammers a point home. Good stuff.
Welcome to my TravelBlog!
This where I shall be keeping a journal of our travels, uploading photos and letting you all know what a great time we're having!
Enjoy!
Ben... full info
Cerena Childress
non-member comment
Not a fungi, is and Insect
This is the Cochineal scale insect, makes a beautiful dye the Aztecs used in making cloths. It was the Spaniards' #2 money making industry in the new world after silver!