Last night was my last evening in Puerto before catching the night bus to Oaxaca so before leaving I went with a few friends to watch the sunset over Playa Carrizalillio and have a beer. It was hard, I wasn't really keen to leave Puerto as it is such a good place, and I'd met some cool people and I like being by the beach, but I didn't want to stay too long as I don't want to miss out on anything later down the track.
So we hung out and watched the sunset, went and had some food, the sopa pasole again. Yum. Then I hopped on the night bus to Oaxaca. Worst sleep ever. Luckly I wasn't queasy from the windy roads, but the constant corners and then the bus slamming on the breaks for random potholes and speed humps made for a well interrupted sleep.
I got to Oaxaca quite early, so dropped off my bags at the hostel and went for a walk. I had been wanting to come to Oaxaca because I'd heard a few people talking about it and they all talked it up. For me, so far the jury is still out. I like the fantastic old and colourful buildings. I like the markets everywhere. I like all the crafty stuff. However, I don't like the large amount of beggars, especially that alot seem old or disabled. Who is supposed to be looking after these people? I don't like the spitting everywhere, it's disgusting. And I especially was not a fan of the old man who grabbed my arse in the street.
I think maybe once I've had some sleep the dislikes won't seem to outweigh the likes so much.
After I'd had a walk and then returned to the hostel to check my stuff in, I spent the afternoon doing some domestic chores. Took my clothes to the laundry. It's good, you pay like A$2 and come back in a couple of hours and it's all done for you. After that I went and got my hair coloured. I usually do it myself, but didn't want to in a hostel as whoever had the shower next would probably think someone had been murdered in there with the red everywhere. But the hairdressers here was good, it only cost me like A$25.
Now time for a little planning of what to do in Oaxaca and how to get to Guatemala, then a big long sleep I think.
Sunday, April 03, 2011
Friday, April 01, 2011
The gambler, the fisherman and the tiger.
Today is my second last day in Puerto. I spent it having a Spanish lesson and wandering around a couple of beaches taking some photos. Puerto is one of those towns that feels as if you've been there forever after a couple of days, but when it comes time you leave you feel like you've only been here a few days. I've met quite a few people who have come here and have now returned or never left.
The days are hot and sunny. I've now adjusted to the ridiculous heat and have bought myself a big sombrero so life is good. I've been spending my mornings taking Spanish lessons, in which the theory is going well but the practise not so much. Israel, my teacher is always telling me I should be practising. This morning I tried practising on a guy playing a flute on the beach; he's now taking me in his canoe in the lagoon tomorrow morning for $300 pesos. So I'm still up in arms whether that was a success practise or not. I was also practising with a cabbie this afternoon. He told me he loves living in Puerto and has for 10 years. He loves Puerto because this is where his 3 daughters are. Or he loves Puerto because this is where he has 3 girls on the go. I'm not sure, I just kept hearing 'tres senoritas'.
So I've been checking out the different beaches, Manzanillo is a small beach where you can go do some snorkelling. The other day Matt, Dr Kennedy's friend, and I went out there for the afternoon. The water had cleared up a little since I had last been there and there were a few large schools of fish so it was good. We swam and snorkelled, had a little nap on the big beach recliners and played cards. Matt showed me a game called Cabul which I'd never played before and we also played shithead, but his rules were different. So I kicked his arse at cards and then we walked up the cliff to the bar at the big posh hotel and had a couple of beers while we watched the sun set.
Matt's been fun, we've been playing a lot of cards. But he likes to have little wagers on the games. For example, I still owe him a dinner. But he left Wednesday, so sorry Matt :( We were also playing at Fausto's place while Fausto was busy prettying himself up for the night. We were playing that the loser had to put on a mask and wear it for the next game. So we're playing cards, I'm in a fox mask and Matt is in a chicken mask with a hat and sunglasses as well (obviously I was winning). But there were also dances to go with the masks. I also lost a bet where if I met anyone that night I had to introduce myself with 'Hi I'm Kelly and I like to party.' - Hod rod style. Matt also had to do the same thing but introduce himself as Voltron.
Nadine, a Swiss girl I've met, organised for her, Matt & I to go out to the waterfalls the other day. It cost us about A$30 each, and the taxi man drove us out there, hung around waiting for us all afternoon and drove us home. The trip out there was a bit longer than we thought. We were told half an hour only to discover it was an hour and a half, along windy, dirt roads, so needless to say, the trip ended up being even longer when we had to stop for yours truely to get out and have a vomit. But the queasiness was worth it. The falls were big, but not gigantic, maybe 20metres high and they collected into this big pool which was great for swimming in. The water was alot cooler than the beach and freshwater too, so it was lovely to swim in. The rocky river it the falls led into reminded me a little of being up at the channels at home, although the vegetation was a lot less bushy.
We've also been eating a lot of good food. The other night we had these tasty tacos from a street vendor. We also went to a local restaurant that had awesome burritos and this soup called 'sopa azteca', which is like a tomato-based soup, it's thin and not chunky, but has corn chips, cheese and avocado in it. Yummo, although I am not a big fan of the cheese here, it lacks flavour and smells like it needs another couple of months to mature. Nicole, you'll be happy to know that you can get pancakes for breakfast anywhere and everywhere.
But last night was a great meal. I went fishing with Nadine, a friend of hers and her husband who is a local. I feel bad as I've forgotten their names alreadty, but they were really lovely and had a little boy who was just turned 1, so cute as. The hubby was fishing with a net, so i got a few cool photos of that. It looks like pretty hard work and it would take a bit of practise. Once he'd caught a few fish, they invited us for dinner. So we just had this fantastic fresh fish cooked up for us, along with some guacamole, tortillas and a couple of beers. Yum again.
So yesterday before we went fishing, Nadine took me for a bit of a ride on her scooter. That was pretty good fun and the roads here are fairly quiet so it was too hairy a ride. But those things can get some fair speed up. We drove up out of Puerto in a direction I hadn't been before which was fun and I got some good photos of us out on the road. But before that we went into town. We passed a bus and suddenly were face to face with a tiger. No shit! In front of us was a ute with a cage on the back and a real live tiger inside. I was like WTF? The poor thing though, stuck in the little cage in 35 degree heat all afternoon while they were driving around with a megaphone on the roof spruking about a circus or something.
Anyway, I'm off to the lagoon tomorrow with the man with the flute and tomorrow evening will catch the night bus to Oaxaca where I will hang out for a couple of days. And, yeah I'm slack, but photos will be coming soonish.
The days are hot and sunny. I've now adjusted to the ridiculous heat and have bought myself a big sombrero so life is good. I've been spending my mornings taking Spanish lessons, in which the theory is going well but the practise not so much. Israel, my teacher is always telling me I should be practising. This morning I tried practising on a guy playing a flute on the beach; he's now taking me in his canoe in the lagoon tomorrow morning for $300 pesos. So I'm still up in arms whether that was a success practise or not. I was also practising with a cabbie this afternoon. He told me he loves living in Puerto and has for 10 years. He loves Puerto because this is where his 3 daughters are. Or he loves Puerto because this is where he has 3 girls on the go. I'm not sure, I just kept hearing 'tres senoritas'.
So I've been checking out the different beaches, Manzanillo is a small beach where you can go do some snorkelling. The other day Matt, Dr Kennedy's friend, and I went out there for the afternoon. The water had cleared up a little since I had last been there and there were a few large schools of fish so it was good. We swam and snorkelled, had a little nap on the big beach recliners and played cards. Matt showed me a game called Cabul which I'd never played before and we also played shithead, but his rules were different. So I kicked his arse at cards and then we walked up the cliff to the bar at the big posh hotel and had a couple of beers while we watched the sun set.
Matt's been fun, we've been playing a lot of cards. But he likes to have little wagers on the games. For example, I still owe him a dinner. But he left Wednesday, so sorry Matt :( We were also playing at Fausto's place while Fausto was busy prettying himself up for the night. We were playing that the loser had to put on a mask and wear it for the next game. So we're playing cards, I'm in a fox mask and Matt is in a chicken mask with a hat and sunglasses as well (obviously I was winning). But there were also dances to go with the masks. I also lost a bet where if I met anyone that night I had to introduce myself with 'Hi I'm Kelly and I like to party.' - Hod rod style. Matt also had to do the same thing but introduce himself as Voltron.
Nadine, a Swiss girl I've met, organised for her, Matt & I to go out to the waterfalls the other day. It cost us about A$30 each, and the taxi man drove us out there, hung around waiting for us all afternoon and drove us home. The trip out there was a bit longer than we thought. We were told half an hour only to discover it was an hour and a half, along windy, dirt roads, so needless to say, the trip ended up being even longer when we had to stop for yours truely to get out and have a vomit. But the queasiness was worth it. The falls were big, but not gigantic, maybe 20metres high and they collected into this big pool which was great for swimming in. The water was alot cooler than the beach and freshwater too, so it was lovely to swim in. The rocky river it the falls led into reminded me a little of being up at the channels at home, although the vegetation was a lot less bushy.
We've also been eating a lot of good food. The other night we had these tasty tacos from a street vendor. We also went to a local restaurant that had awesome burritos and this soup called 'sopa azteca', which is like a tomato-based soup, it's thin and not chunky, but has corn chips, cheese and avocado in it. Yummo, although I am not a big fan of the cheese here, it lacks flavour and smells like it needs another couple of months to mature. Nicole, you'll be happy to know that you can get pancakes for breakfast anywhere and everywhere.
But last night was a great meal. I went fishing with Nadine, a friend of hers and her husband who is a local. I feel bad as I've forgotten their names alreadty, but they were really lovely and had a little boy who was just turned 1, so cute as. The hubby was fishing with a net, so i got a few cool photos of that. It looks like pretty hard work and it would take a bit of practise. Once he'd caught a few fish, they invited us for dinner. So we just had this fantastic fresh fish cooked up for us, along with some guacamole, tortillas and a couple of beers. Yum again.
So yesterday before we went fishing, Nadine took me for a bit of a ride on her scooter. That was pretty good fun and the roads here are fairly quiet so it was too hairy a ride. But those things can get some fair speed up. We drove up out of Puerto in a direction I hadn't been before which was fun and I got some good photos of us out on the road. But before that we went into town. We passed a bus and suddenly were face to face with a tiger. No shit! In front of us was a ute with a cage on the back and a real live tiger inside. I was like WTF? The poor thing though, stuck in the little cage in 35 degree heat all afternoon while they were driving around with a megaphone on the roof spruking about a circus or something.
Anyway, I'm off to the lagoon tomorrow with the man with the flute and tomorrow evening will catch the night bus to Oaxaca where I will hang out for a couple of days. And, yeah I'm slack, but photos will be coming soonish.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Puerto egg and level fiesta
So last night I thought I'd try a get a few photos of the moon rising and practise some night photography on the beach. Here are some of the results.
On the way down to the beach I ran into Dr Kennedy who was going to meet a few people for dinner and invited me along. Fausto, a mexican guy who works at the school, took us to a little local place where we had tacos and this soup thing. It was so good. The soup was like a simple broth which you could get with chicken or beef or with both. So I got both. The beef I'm pretty sure was pork, but it was pretty tasty anyway.
Then in the way of the Mexicans you add a heap of things to the soup, ie. peppers, onion, lime and lettuce. Yep, warm lettuce in your soup. I was like I might pass on that one. But then I added too many peppers and needed something to cancel out the heat a bit, so ended up piling in the lettuce. And the whole thing was so damn tasty!
After that we went to Sativa, a bar with a rooftop deck that overlooks the ocean. It's a great little bar, although unsurprisingly a little quiet on a Monday night. The people who run the place are good value though, so it's fast becoming one of my fave places for a quiet beer.
On the way down to the beach I ran into Dr Kennedy who was going to meet a few people for dinner and invited me along. Fausto, a mexican guy who works at the school, took us to a little local place where we had tacos and this soup thing. It was so good. The soup was like a simple broth which you could get with chicken or beef or with both. So I got both. The beef I'm pretty sure was pork, but it was pretty tasty anyway.
Then in the way of the Mexicans you add a heap of things to the soup, ie. peppers, onion, lime and lettuce. Yep, warm lettuce in your soup. I was like I might pass on that one. But then I added too many peppers and needed something to cancel out the heat a bit, so ended up piling in the lettuce. And the whole thing was so damn tasty!
After that we went to Sativa, a bar with a rooftop deck that overlooks the ocean. It's a great little bar, although unsurprisingly a little quiet on a Monday night. The people who run the place are good value though, so it's fast becoming one of my fave places for a quiet beer.
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| Matt showing us how his level egg can stand up by itself. |
Hey gringos!
Here is where I am studying Spanish.
So today my Spanish teacher told where the term 'gringos' comes from. I thought it was a semi-derogatory term for white person or white tourist. Apparently it applies to white Americans, whether a tourist or not is irrelevant.
The term was coined back in the day from Mexicans who needed to cross the border into the US for work. To do this the Mexicans needed a visa which was known as a green card; funnily enough because it was green. The people manning the border where white Americans who would check the Mexicans green cards as they went through. As they went through they would spot the card and wave them through saying 'Green. Go'.
When the Mexicans were talking about going into the US they would say you have to go through the man at the border - the 'Green. Go.' Now white Americans are known as gringos and when I get called a gringo I can say 'No gringo, yo soy de Australia'.
So today my Spanish teacher told where the term 'gringos' comes from. I thought it was a semi-derogatory term for white person or white tourist. Apparently it applies to white Americans, whether a tourist or not is irrelevant.
The term was coined back in the day from Mexicans who needed to cross the border into the US for work. To do this the Mexicans needed a visa which was known as a green card; funnily enough because it was green. The people manning the border where white Americans who would check the Mexicans green cards as they went through. As they went through they would spot the card and wave them through saying 'Green. Go'.
When the Mexicans were talking about going into the US they would say you have to go through the man at the border - the 'Green. Go.' Now white Americans are known as gringos and when I get called a gringo I can say 'No gringo, yo soy de Australia'.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Learning Spanish in paradise.
I've been in Puerto for almost a week now and it really is a fantastic spot. Hot all day every day and the beaches are just lovely. I've completed my advanced dive course and started taking Spanish lessons. So I'll be here until the 1st of April and then start heading towards Costa Rica via Guatemala and Nicaragua.
I'm staying at a homestay organised by the language school. It is staying with a lady called Reina and her family. Her granddaughter is about 3 and the cutest little thing, she looks like Dora the Explorer. I don't speak much Spanish yet, but that's ok. I know how to say yes and no when Reina asks if I'm hungry and can tell her that I'm going to the beach or going to classes, but that's about it. But I've had Dr Kennedy here to help me. Yes, he's a doctor and his name is Kennedy. He's a nice guy with a bad mo and has been showing me the ropes. Literally. As in the rope through the window with the key on the end for when we come home late at night.
The other night I went out with Dr Kennedy and a few people from the language school. It was good fun, we had a few cervezas and were ripping it up on the dance floor. Then a new singer came on and the music went from bluesy stuff to the chilli peppers, then the guy announced he was doing a little song he wrote back in 2004 called 'my funkititus'. Pure gold I tell you. The chorus went something along the lines of 'you can't deny this, my funkititus'. Sounds like a venereal disease if you ask me.
So
I'm staying at a homestay organised by the language school. It is staying with a lady called Reina and her family. Her granddaughter is about 3 and the cutest little thing, she looks like Dora the Explorer. I don't speak much Spanish yet, but that's ok. I know how to say yes and no when Reina asks if I'm hungry and can tell her that I'm going to the beach or going to classes, but that's about it. But I've had Dr Kennedy here to help me. Yes, he's a doctor and his name is Kennedy. He's a nice guy with a bad mo and has been showing me the ropes. Literally. As in the rope through the window with the key on the end for when we come home late at night.
The other night I went out with Dr Kennedy and a few people from the language school. It was good fun, we had a few cervezas and were ripping it up on the dance floor. Then a new singer came on and the music went from bluesy stuff to the chilli peppers, then the guy announced he was doing a little song he wrote back in 2004 called 'my funkititus'. Pure gold I tell you. The chorus went something along the lines of 'you can't deny this, my funkititus'. Sounds like a venereal disease if you ask me.
So
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Embarcaderos
So last post i forgot to write about the Embarcaderos in Xochimilco. I had no idea what it was, but Sophia said she was going out to this floating garden thing with canoes and mariachi. I think she was thinking the same thing. But when we got there we found out it was more like venice-style pole-driven boats, not little canoes and there were hundreds of them going up and down this canal system which was apparently a series of old moats built by the Aztecs.
So Sophia and I got a boat, by ourselves, these things are made to fit 20, and headed off down the river. It was really nice and relaxing cruising down the river, but we realised we came under-prepared when we started passing the other boats. Each one was like it's own little party on the river. They all had food and music and drinks. Some had portable cd players playing everything from local mexican music to western pop to metallica and some boats even had their own mariachi bands! There were also small boats of people selling stuff and small Mariachi bands pulling up beside the other boats if needed.
It was all pretty cool, however half the adventure was getting there and back. Sophia had the instructions, catch a train to the end of the line, then there should be signs showing the way and a short walk.
So it began. A train ride to the end of the line, then a tram to the end of the line. Then we walk out and see the signs 'Embarcaderos' and an arrow. We follow the signs until we come to a T intersection and there are no signs, and very few people. And this part of town is looking a little more like what you expect from Mexico, dusty roads, squat square buildings, cracked pavements, random dogs running about and bad street lighting.
Sophia, however speaks a little Spanish, so asked a guy for directions. He told us it was about a 40 min walk! I was more than a little reluctant to be walking 40 min in downtown Mexico in any direction. Then the guy said that the bus could take us there. So this little old bus pulls up and we get on.
This bus was would take off like a bat out of hell, then slam on the brakes at a stop, however it didn't quite stop and people were just jumping on and off as it rolled past. But we got there in one piece. The trip home on the bus was similar, except this time the bus didn't take the little back roads, but the main highway. Remember the night bus in Harry Potter? Besides the screeching halts and take offs similar to Nicole in the Micra, there was the swerving from lane to lane, overtaking and squeezing between cars, running red lights and everyone in the crowded bus just swinging from the rails. So a little adventure in the real world Mexico.
So Sophia and I got a boat, by ourselves, these things are made to fit 20, and headed off down the river. It was really nice and relaxing cruising down the river, but we realised we came under-prepared when we started passing the other boats. Each one was like it's own little party on the river. They all had food and music and drinks. Some had portable cd players playing everything from local mexican music to western pop to metallica and some boats even had their own mariachi bands! There were also small boats of people selling stuff and small Mariachi bands pulling up beside the other boats if needed.
It was all pretty cool, however half the adventure was getting there and back. Sophia had the instructions, catch a train to the end of the line, then there should be signs showing the way and a short walk.
So it began. A train ride to the end of the line, then a tram to the end of the line. Then we walk out and see the signs 'Embarcaderos' and an arrow. We follow the signs until we come to a T intersection and there are no signs, and very few people. And this part of town is looking a little more like what you expect from Mexico, dusty roads, squat square buildings, cracked pavements, random dogs running about and bad street lighting.
Sophia, however speaks a little Spanish, so asked a guy for directions. He told us it was about a 40 min walk! I was more than a little reluctant to be walking 40 min in downtown Mexico in any direction. Then the guy said that the bus could take us there. So this little old bus pulls up and we get on.
This bus was would take off like a bat out of hell, then slam on the brakes at a stop, however it didn't quite stop and people were just jumping on and off as it rolled past. But we got there in one piece. The trip home on the bus was similar, except this time the bus didn't take the little back roads, but the main highway. Remember the night bus in Harry Potter? Besides the screeching halts and take offs similar to Nicole in the Micra, there was the swerving from lane to lane, overtaking and squeezing between cars, running red lights and everyone in the crowded bus just swinging from the rails. So a little adventure in the real world Mexico.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Salsa, Audiorama & Museo de Historia
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| Squirrel in the park |
So over the last couple of days I've been seeing the sights of Mexico City. I went to a Salsa bar, visited the big park Bosque de Chapultepec, had a canal boat ride at the Embarcaderos, visited a few museums and chilled out in the Audiorama.
I went to the Salsa bar with a few people from the hostel, Nathaniel, Sophia from Canada, Chris from Germany and Antonio along with a couple of his local Mexican friends. It was good fun, the band was great and we all danced, but gee I suck. I think I whacked Antonio in the face at least three times when he was trying to swing me around. His friend Alessandro was nice though, took it easy on me and acted very impressed when I didn't screw up the simplest moves. Anyway it was a good night, but I don't think I'll be getting right into the salsa thing any time soon.
Yesterday and today I went to the Bosque de Chapultepec, it is a big park walking distance from the hostel. In the park are lots of markets, museums, statues, couples who really should just get a room and squirrels. Today I went there for the museums and lucky me, Sunday is free day at all the museums, so I went to 3 and saved myself a whole $15. The Museo de Nacional Historia was the best. The Galleria de Historia was too much reading and I can't read Spanish yet, and the Museo de Arte Moderno was just a bit crap, a lot of the old WTF? art.
The Museo de Nacional Historia is in an old castle/fortress. It's a fantastic building and a lot of the displays are rooms refurbished to look as they would have back in the day, along with all the original furniture and stuff. There were also some great city views (except for the pollution limiting the visibility) and really spectacular gardens.
However, the museum everyone is talking up is the Museo de Antropologia, so I will go there tomorrow before I leave.
So the one other great thing I found in the park is the Audiorama, I found it yesterday and went back today. It's kind of hidden away behind this big statue thing, but you go in and it's a little closed off garden. There are speakers playing cruisy music and all the park benches are reclining. And there is a table of books, so people come in and just chill out or read a book. I think it must be the only place in Mexico City where you can't constantly hear the traffic.
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| Me in the park |
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| Audiorama |
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| Museo de Historia |
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Teotihuacan pyramids
Yesterday Nathaniel & I went out to the Teotihuacan pyramids. Being the tight-arse backpackers that we are, we did this via public transport. So 3 train changes and and hour long bus-ride later, we were there.
There are 3 main pyramids and a multitude of other small ruins all along one street known as 'Calle de los Muerdos' or Avenue of the Dead.
And it was damn hot too. But being pasty and freckly like I am, I kept covered up and managed to only burn one forearm. We climbed to the top of the largest pyramid, which is called Pyramid of the Sun, the second one is called Pyramid of the Moon, but you can only go half way.
Photos will be coming soon via facebook...
There are 3 main pyramids and a multitude of other small ruins all along one street known as 'Calle de los Muerdos' or Avenue of the Dead.
And it was damn hot too. But being pasty and freckly like I am, I kept covered up and managed to only burn one forearm. We climbed to the top of the largest pyramid, which is called Pyramid of the Sun, the second one is called Pyramid of the Moon, but you can only go half way.
Photos will be coming soon via facebook...
Beggars, buskers and hawkers
It's not a big surprise, but Mexico city is chock a block full of people try to sell you something at every turn. Whether it's in the streets, at the metro stations, on the trains and on the buses.
They wander up and down the trains shouting about what they've got to sell, and it could be anything from bottled water, to batteries, to some random kids toy. And all for a tenth of what these thing would cost you in Australia. Yesterday there was a man who was selling cd's. He had a portable cd player which was blaring snippets of bad 90's pop throughout the carriage.
Nathaniel & I went out to the Teotihuacan pyramids yesterday. On the bus they had a man get on to sell drinks, at the next stop a lady got on to sell some kind of sweet cake thing. At the third stop a guy got on with a guitar and played a few songs before asking for donations. And he was damn good! I was hoping he would play again if he got enough. He was singing in Spanish, but it was songs I recognised. It made for enjoyable trip out of the city.
They wander up and down the trains shouting about what they've got to sell, and it could be anything from bottled water, to batteries, to some random kids toy. And all for a tenth of what these thing would cost you in Australia. Yesterday there was a man who was selling cd's. He had a portable cd player which was blaring snippets of bad 90's pop throughout the carriage.
Nathaniel & I went out to the Teotihuacan pyramids yesterday. On the bus they had a man get on to sell drinks, at the next stop a lady got on to sell some kind of sweet cake thing. At the third stop a guy got on with a guitar and played a few songs before asking for donations. And he was damn good! I was hoping he would play again if he got enough. He was singing in Spanish, but it was songs I recognised. It made for enjoyable trip out of the city.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Mexico city
So I have arrived in Mexico City. The first few days have been relatively uneventful with me spending a lot of time sleeping off the jetlag and generally struggling to get in and out of my top bunk.
The first day I went for a wander around near the hostel and ended up stopping at a sushi bar for something to eat. Bad bad idea. Warm sushi with cream cheese in it, ugghh!
Yesterday I did some wandering around the Zocalo with Nathaniel, from Malta, who I met in the hostel. He was telling me that the area we're staying in is a good area, 'see look at all the police', I said I wasn't so sure that police everywhere is such a good sign!
The Zocalo is a big city square, with lots of old Spanish-style architecture and lots of market-style shops. And everything is so cheap!
Last night we went out with Antonio, a Mexican who now lives in Germany. He took us to a Mariachi bar. It was good fun. We had guacamole with chips, tacos and were drinking beer and tequila all night and it cost us the equivalent of $50 each. Beers are like $2 here and you go out and get a quesadilla off the street for less than a dollar.
So Antonio got the Mariachi to come and sing for us. The band has about 10 people with various instruments, guitars, violins, trumpets, etc and they surround your table and play and sing. And they're really good. So they also got me up for a bit of a dance, then sat me down in a chair and a couple of them started wiggling their bums in my face! Then another one grabs my hand and puts it on his bum! I was all, 'agghh I don't want to touch Mariachi's bum'. But it was pretty funny and he had a pretty hard arse for an old fella ;)
The first day I went for a wander around near the hostel and ended up stopping at a sushi bar for something to eat. Bad bad idea. Warm sushi with cream cheese in it, ugghh!
Yesterday I did some wandering around the Zocalo with Nathaniel, from Malta, who I met in the hostel. He was telling me that the area we're staying in is a good area, 'see look at all the police', I said I wasn't so sure that police everywhere is such a good sign!
The Zocalo is a big city square, with lots of old Spanish-style architecture and lots of market-style shops. And everything is so cheap!
Last night we went out with Antonio, a Mexican who now lives in Germany. He took us to a Mariachi bar. It was good fun. We had guacamole with chips, tacos and were drinking beer and tequila all night and it cost us the equivalent of $50 each. Beers are like $2 here and you go out and get a quesadilla off the street for less than a dollar.
So Antonio got the Mariachi to come and sing for us. The band has about 10 people with various instruments, guitars, violins, trumpets, etc and they surround your table and play and sing. And they're really good. So they also got me up for a bit of a dance, then sat me down in a chair and a couple of them started wiggling their bums in my face! Then another one grabs my hand and puts it on his bum! I was all, 'agghh I don't want to touch Mariachi's bum'. But it was pretty funny and he had a pretty hard arse for an old fella ;)
Saturday, December 18, 2010
South America here I come.
South America is a trip I've been wanting to do forever. I'm not sure whether it was ever since I was 10 and starting watching The Mysterious Cities of Gold (remember that one people? best cartoon ever) or when I once saw a doco that had sloths and this guinea pig thing the size of a cow.
Anyway, I've always wanted to go, and have spent a lot of time, since back in Melbourne, talking about it. So now I'm finally planning the trip. And now that I'm planning the trip I am reviving the blog.
'So what is the plan?' I hear you ask. Well, thanks for asking.
Due to the fact I have an awesome job and went to my boss and was all 'wahh I don't wanna quit but I really really need 6 months off', I now have 6 months leave without pay from March - August 2011. How fantastic is that? I really appreciate that I've been given this break and can go off knowing that, I still have the security of going back to my job at the end of it.
So I've booked the flights - flying into Mexico in March and out of Santiago in August.
I've booked a 3 week tour with Intrepid to go from Lima - Cuzco and ending with the Inca Trail.
I'm also looking into volunteering at the Sloth Sanctuary in Costa Rica for a month and booking a tour (perhaps a dive tour) in the Galapagos.
And in between those things the plan is to have no plan.
Now just 3 months til I go...
 |
| Here's a sloth. |
 | ||
| The mysterious cities of gold. |
Anyway, I've always wanted to go, and have spent a lot of time, since back in Melbourne, talking about it. So now I'm finally planning the trip. And now that I'm planning the trip I am reviving the blog.
'So what is the plan?' I hear you ask. Well, thanks for asking.
Due to the fact I have an awesome job and went to my boss and was all 'wahh I don't wanna quit but I really really need 6 months off', I now have 6 months leave without pay from March - August 2011. How fantastic is that? I really appreciate that I've been given this break and can go off knowing that, I still have the security of going back to my job at the end of it.
So I've booked the flights - flying into Mexico in March and out of Santiago in August.
I've booked a 3 week tour with Intrepid to go from Lima - Cuzco and ending with the Inca Trail.
I'm also looking into volunteering at the Sloth Sanctuary in Costa Rica for a month and booking a tour (perhaps a dive tour) in the Galapagos.
And in between those things the plan is to have no plan.
Now just 3 months til I go...
Friday, March 28, 2008
:( home again home again
Only 4 more days of holidays. I easily could spend so much more time here. The diving out at Mataking Island was great, we saw heaps of sea-turtles and a frogfish and a tiny tiny sea-horse and a pikachu - don't ask me what the hell it is, it was that small i could barely see it.
Lisa and I did a second day diving out at Sibuan Island. Not quite as good. There were some strong currents running through and a shit load of rubbish - plastic bags etc which was a bit disappointing after Mataking Island which was a pristine tropical island paradise kind of island. The dive guides out at Sibuan were also a bit crap. There was my guide who was a german dude who was nice, but a couple of the other guys were fat lazy backpacker types who thought it was fine and professional to smoke all over the passengers and throw their cigarette butts in the water. Dirty pigs.
Ahh well I guess they fit in in Semporna then, it really is a hovel of a town. The markets stink of rubbish and there are rats running around everywhere. Not really what you would expect as the gateway to one of the worlds top diving spots.
So after Semporna we spent a couple of days in the Gunung Mulu National Park which is in Sarawak. It was great. We only had 3 days so we didn't get to climb the pinnacles which looked like it would have been fantastic. But we did get in a couple of days adventure caving which was awesome.
hmmm, this internet is a bit slow so i'll post this and write a new one for the caves.
Lisa and I did a second day diving out at Sibuan Island. Not quite as good. There were some strong currents running through and a shit load of rubbish - plastic bags etc which was a bit disappointing after Mataking Island which was a pristine tropical island paradise kind of island. The dive guides out at Sibuan were also a bit crap. There was my guide who was a german dude who was nice, but a couple of the other guys were fat lazy backpacker types who thought it was fine and professional to smoke all over the passengers and throw their cigarette butts in the water. Dirty pigs.
Ahh well I guess they fit in in Semporna then, it really is a hovel of a town. The markets stink of rubbish and there are rats running around everywhere. Not really what you would expect as the gateway to one of the worlds top diving spots.
So after Semporna we spent a couple of days in the Gunung Mulu National Park which is in Sarawak. It was great. We only had 3 days so we didn't get to climb the pinnacles which looked like it would have been fantastic. But we did get in a couple of days adventure caving which was awesome.
hmmm, this internet is a bit slow so i'll post this and write a new one for the caves.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Fat nosed monkeys and tiger leeches
Hey guys,
Today Lisa and I arrived in Semporna which is in southern Sabah on the coast. It is where everyone comes to go diving. So, although we couldn't get out to Sipodan Island because it was fully booked, we are going out to Mataking Island to do a couple of dives which should be fun.
We spent the last couple of days out in a little resort thing on the Kinabatangan River where we did some cruises and some little walks. The walks were good fun. All muddy and lots of leeches. The funniest bit was when our guide first came out dressed for the night walk in blue overalls and gumboots; he looked like dad ready to go milk the cows!
On our last day as Kinabatangan we saw a heap of probiscus monkey. They are the massive blue and orange monkeys with these big fat noses. And they live so damn high up in the trees it is hard to see them. We also saw an orang-utan which was pretty cool. It's pretty rare to see them in the wild, but we saw one that was quite young sitting in a fig tree by the river, it was so so cool. I have taken about a billion photos, I just hope some of them turn out ok.
Still no Slow Loris or Pygmy Elephant, but I'll keep my eyes peeled.
Today Lisa and I arrived in Semporna which is in southern Sabah on the coast. It is where everyone comes to go diving. So, although we couldn't get out to Sipodan Island because it was fully booked, we are going out to Mataking Island to do a couple of dives which should be fun.
We spent the last couple of days out in a little resort thing on the Kinabatangan River where we did some cruises and some little walks. The walks were good fun. All muddy and lots of leeches. The funniest bit was when our guide first came out dressed for the night walk in blue overalls and gumboots; he looked like dad ready to go milk the cows!
On our last day as Kinabatangan we saw a heap of probiscus monkey. They are the massive blue and orange monkeys with these big fat noses. And they live so damn high up in the trees it is hard to see them. We also saw an orang-utan which was pretty cool. It's pretty rare to see them in the wild, but we saw one that was quite young sitting in a fig tree by the river, it was so so cool. I have taken about a billion photos, I just hope some of them turn out ok.
Still no Slow Loris or Pygmy Elephant, but I'll keep my eyes peeled.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Trekking the jungles of Borneo
I was going to add a post on facebook with my Borneo adventures but decided it would be better revive my old blog. Hopefully later in the week I will get some photos up.
Anyway, for those who are a little behind the times. Lisa and I are holidaying in Borneo. It's a great place. We first flew into KL and then to KK (Kota Kinabalu) which is a cute little city on the beach. We didn't have time to see much of it, but it reminded me a bit of Zanzibar which was cool.
The next day we went out to climb Mt Kinabalu. It's just over 4000m, so big but not a massive mountain. But it is quite a full on hike to get to the top as it is very steep. Although I think that the going down was actually harder than the going up.
The first day was quite hard work. 6k up to the base camp. The first 2k's we hardest for me as I was still throwing up from getting car sick (which may or may not have been caused by numerous margaritas the night before) in the bus on the way up. That was a long trip. 2 hours of windy bumpy roads and me having to get them to stop the bus every 15 minutes so i could have a throw!
The other thing that made the climb hard was the fact that our tour operator wasn't fan of letting you know what was going on or organising anything much. So we were the only people climbing the mountain with 16kg packs! Everyone else had been told what to bring or had porters organised for them.
But it was all worth it. 5 days later my calves are still aching but the climb to the top and the view of dawn breaking over the mountains was spectacular. We got up at 3am to climb so we'd be there for dawn. The climb in the dark is so steep that they have ropes bolted into the side of the mountain to help pull yourself up. Then we got to the top about 1/2 an hour before dawn and it was bloody freezing!
Then the sky started to lighten up and you could see the outlines of the mountains and although the sky was clear where we were, there was cloud cover over the other peaks which turned all kinds of colours as the sun came up. Hmm, i don't think i'll even bother to try to explain it any more i'll just get frustrated because it's not right. anyway, it was really really good and then when you went to come back down you could actually see the path you had climbed in the dark and were like holy hell i came up there?!
After the climb we went to poring hot springs for some relaxing hot spring jacuzzi action. We also got to see the evasive Rafflesia in flower. This is a rare plant that flowers once every 5 years and only for 7 days! It is the weirdest looking plant and to me looks like something that belongs in the ocean not sitting in the rainforest.
We're now down in Sandakan and have seen some Orang utans and sea turtles, but Stilly wants a go on the internet so i'll write again later.
Anyway, for those who are a little behind the times. Lisa and I are holidaying in Borneo. It's a great place. We first flew into KL and then to KK (Kota Kinabalu) which is a cute little city on the beach. We didn't have time to see much of it, but it reminded me a bit of Zanzibar which was cool.
The next day we went out to climb Mt Kinabalu. It's just over 4000m, so big but not a massive mountain. But it is quite a full on hike to get to the top as it is very steep. Although I think that the going down was actually harder than the going up.
The first day was quite hard work. 6k up to the base camp. The first 2k's we hardest for me as I was still throwing up from getting car sick (which may or may not have been caused by numerous margaritas the night before) in the bus on the way up. That was a long trip. 2 hours of windy bumpy roads and me having to get them to stop the bus every 15 minutes so i could have a throw!
The other thing that made the climb hard was the fact that our tour operator wasn't fan of letting you know what was going on or organising anything much. So we were the only people climbing the mountain with 16kg packs! Everyone else had been told what to bring or had porters organised for them.
But it was all worth it. 5 days later my calves are still aching but the climb to the top and the view of dawn breaking over the mountains was spectacular. We got up at 3am to climb so we'd be there for dawn. The climb in the dark is so steep that they have ropes bolted into the side of the mountain to help pull yourself up. Then we got to the top about 1/2 an hour before dawn and it was bloody freezing!
Then the sky started to lighten up and you could see the outlines of the mountains and although the sky was clear where we were, there was cloud cover over the other peaks which turned all kinds of colours as the sun came up. Hmm, i don't think i'll even bother to try to explain it any more i'll just get frustrated because it's not right. anyway, it was really really good and then when you went to come back down you could actually see the path you had climbed in the dark and were like holy hell i came up there?!
After the climb we went to poring hot springs for some relaxing hot spring jacuzzi action. We also got to see the evasive Rafflesia in flower. This is a rare plant that flowers once every 5 years and only for 7 days! It is the weirdest looking plant and to me looks like something that belongs in the ocean not sitting in the rainforest.
We're now down in Sandakan and have seen some Orang utans and sea turtles, but Stilly wants a go on the internet so i'll write again later.
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Nine Inch Nails
Wow it's been ages and ages since I wrote. I think it's because I was always wanting to tell everyone about my hols, telling people about work isn't as exciting. So the obvious solution is MORE HOLIDAYS. I am thinking after France and learning how to ski I am all excited about that so I think I'll take a couple of weeks off in the winter and go to Kiwi-land to do some skiing.
Tonight is exciting, I am going to see Nine Inch Nails. They are going to rock. I love 'em. I saw (I see-ed 'em Auntie Yonie) them once before, years ago, at the Big Day Out so I've been hanging out to see them again. And I also got tickets to go see The Butterfly Effect in July which will be fantastic too! I saw them in Perth a few years back and they're great too.
Ohh, guess what I did. I got myself a place to live. That's exciting. A little hovel of a unit in Kooyong. It's a good area, I met my first neighbour who told me I could come over if I need sugar or salt or anything, so that's good, nice neighbours. It's not too bad a place, it will be better when I get some furniture and housey stuff like cups and bowls. Everything is coming over from Perth - hopefully soon. At the moment all I have is a bed, a sandwich maker and little tea set from turkey! Poor Tan has come all the way from Perth and has to stay with me and has gone into shock because I don't have a kettle or some coffee!! Ah, screw 'er, she'll live ;)
Tonight is exciting, I am going to see Nine Inch Nails. They are going to rock. I love 'em. I saw (I see-ed 'em Auntie Yonie) them once before, years ago, at the Big Day Out so I've been hanging out to see them again. And I also got tickets to go see The Butterfly Effect in July which will be fantastic too! I saw them in Perth a few years back and they're great too.
Ohh, guess what I did. I got myself a place to live. That's exciting. A little hovel of a unit in Kooyong. It's a good area, I met my first neighbour who told me I could come over if I need sugar or salt or anything, so that's good, nice neighbours. It's not too bad a place, it will be better when I get some furniture and housey stuff like cups and bowls. Everything is coming over from Perth - hopefully soon. At the moment all I have is a bed, a sandwich maker and little tea set from turkey! Poor Tan has come all the way from Perth and has to stay with me and has gone into shock because I don't have a kettle or some coffee!! Ah, screw 'er, she'll live ;)
Friday, March 23, 2007
i'm a doodle
i forgot to tell you about what i did on my way to footy training last week. it was funny, i am a doodle head.
i got off the tram and so did Michelle, this other girl who plays. As we were walking past Burnley Campus I said 'oh, someone told me it's a short cut, we can just cut through the campus and come out the other side where the oval is.' so michelle was like 'ok'.
god damn longest short cut EVER! we walked through the campus and came out the other side in this big paddock with greenhouses and little gardens everywhere and 8ft high fences! we walked to the end where we could see the training oval on the other side of the road, but the gate was locked. so we walked back up the way we had came in, but that gate was locked too!! someone had locked us in!! and by this stage it was dark so where wandering around in the dark going 'shit we've been locked in!'
so i said 'let's jump the fence', but michelle wasn't too keen on that idea, but seeming we were locked in we didn't have much choice. so i climbed up and over, then michelle climbed up and started having difficulties with the over bit. and me being the nice, helpful person I am was nearly wetting myself laughing while she was stuck on the top of the fence and cars are going past and other people are turning up to training thinking 'what the fuck are they doing climbing the fence?' she finally got over and it was all a good laugh, but i am not listening to other peoples 'short cuts' again!!!!
i got off the tram and so did Michelle, this other girl who plays. As we were walking past Burnley Campus I said 'oh, someone told me it's a short cut, we can just cut through the campus and come out the other side where the oval is.' so michelle was like 'ok'.
god damn longest short cut EVER! we walked through the campus and came out the other side in this big paddock with greenhouses and little gardens everywhere and 8ft high fences! we walked to the end where we could see the training oval on the other side of the road, but the gate was locked. so we walked back up the way we had came in, but that gate was locked too!! someone had locked us in!! and by this stage it was dark so where wandering around in the dark going 'shit we've been locked in!'
so i said 'let's jump the fence', but michelle wasn't too keen on that idea, but seeming we were locked in we didn't have much choice. so i climbed up and over, then michelle climbed up and started having difficulties with the over bit. and me being the nice, helpful person I am was nearly wetting myself laughing while she was stuck on the top of the fence and cars are going past and other people are turning up to training thinking 'what the fuck are they doing climbing the fence?' she finally got over and it was all a good laugh, but i am not listening to other peoples 'short cuts' again!!!!
lovin' melbourne
Hey gang,
How goes it? I hope everyone had a good easter and got lots of chocies from the easter bunny. I went home for easter and took my brother and sister to the pub where they had a band in the back of a truck in the carpark. I got them pretty drunk which was funny. I got me pretty drunk too and I thought I was funny. But that's nothing new.
I am getting myself settled in melb now. I have started my new job which is great. Everyone there is really nice and I have been 'doing lunch' with a friends who also work around the city.
I've also started playing gaelic footy again. It's hard work though; the hard work being getting out to the games as they are on sunday mornings and in the arse end of nowhere. Last week we got flogged by the team on the bottom of the ladder and I copped an elbow in the face which gave me a black eye, but it's good fun all the same.
The only thing I need now is to work on the 'place to live' thing. I am still staying at my auntie's, she's on holidays (Africa and Barcelona, i am very jealous despite the fact I just finished 4 months of holidays), but i should find something soon. Some crappy little place close to the city so i don't have to comute too far.
But Melbourne is such a cool city. And it's comedy festival time at the moment. Last week we went and saw Wil Anderson, fuck he's funny. I also want to go see a couple other comedy dudes and I have tickets to see Nine Inch Nails in May which I am excited about.
Anyway, that's me for now. Keep in touch people!!
How goes it? I hope everyone had a good easter and got lots of chocies from the easter bunny. I went home for easter and took my brother and sister to the pub where they had a band in the back of a truck in the carpark. I got them pretty drunk which was funny. I got me pretty drunk too and I thought I was funny. But that's nothing new.
I am getting myself settled in melb now. I have started my new job which is great. Everyone there is really nice and I have been 'doing lunch' with a friends who also work around the city.
I've also started playing gaelic footy again. It's hard work though; the hard work being getting out to the games as they are on sunday mornings and in the arse end of nowhere. Last week we got flogged by the team on the bottom of the ladder and I copped an elbow in the face which gave me a black eye, but it's good fun all the same.
The only thing I need now is to work on the 'place to live' thing. I am still staying at my auntie's, she's on holidays (Africa and Barcelona, i am very jealous despite the fact I just finished 4 months of holidays), but i should find something soon. Some crappy little place close to the city so i don't have to comute too far.
But Melbourne is such a cool city. And it's comedy festival time at the moment. Last week we went and saw Wil Anderson, fuck he's funny. I also want to go see a couple other comedy dudes and I have tickets to see Nine Inch Nails in May which I am excited about.
Anyway, that's me for now. Keep in touch people!!
Work Work Work
Once again I have been slack on the blogging, but I haven't been up to alot. Catching up with everyone, looking for work & spending way too much time in dirty ole geebong.
The work thing has happened pretty quickly. A couple of weeks ago I thought I should start looking because I'm not sure how long it will take to find work. So I had a bit of a look on seek and started sending applications and I was only half way through when I started getting calls from recruitment dudes and later that week I had a couple of interviews and the next week I got offered a couple of jobs and so I start on Monday. So it's all happened pretty damn quick. I'm excited though, I think the company I'm going to work with will be good if the interviews are anything to go by.
So I will be starting gaelic footy this week which will be good. A bit of exercise wouldn't go astray.
Ah crap, nothing of interest to write so will get back to you later.
The work thing has happened pretty quickly. A couple of weeks ago I thought I should start looking because I'm not sure how long it will take to find work. So I had a bit of a look on seek and started sending applications and I was only half way through when I started getting calls from recruitment dudes and later that week I had a couple of interviews and the next week I got offered a couple of jobs and so I start on Monday. So it's all happened pretty damn quick. I'm excited though, I think the company I'm going to work with will be good if the interviews are anything to go by.
So I will be starting gaelic footy this week which will be good. A bit of exercise wouldn't go astray.
Ah crap, nothing of interest to write so will get back to you later.
Monday, March 12, 2007
There's no place like home
Hey guys,
It's been a while since I last blogged so I think I'll just give you a quick run-through of what I got up to in Africa. It was awesome, by the end I was very sad because most of the group were going on to Capetown while I was going home. I was like 'I wanna go to cape town too!'. But as Blue told me on the last day of the tour, after Andrew's parting words to me were 'Kelly, I'm sorry we never got to have sex', 'Kelly you can't always get what you want.' So I headed back to Melbourne.
But fuck that was a mission and a half. I got delayed in Nairobi over 5 hours and then over 2 hours in Dubai and if you included stopovers it ended up taking me almost 3 days to get home! But I am now back in Melbourne catching up with everyone and starting to apply for a few jobs. So it's been good. Melbourne really is a beautiful city and I think I'm gonna like living here. (Until winter - then it may be a different story)
But back to Africa. The tour was great. The group were all pretty good people. Lots of aussies, kiwi's, irish and english. We went white-water rafting which was awesome and to the serengeti national park and ngorongoro crater. It was so cool, we saw lions and elephants rooting - well not lions rooting elephants, the lion was rooting another lion and the elephant was trying to root every other elephant it could get too. but that was pretty funny. and in the bush camps we seemed to get a different animal in the camps each time.
first it was a fat old pumba roaming around like he owned the place. then the next camp had baboons who came up and stole our carrots. with their beady ugly little eyes, i'm pretty sure they are all evil. and then one night i woke up and there was something grazing right by our tent. i was so sure it was an elephant and all excited i snuck out to have a look. but he heard me and shit himself, and i shit myself and all i could see was this massive shadow jump and nearly land on one of the tents and i was like 'oh crap he's gonna trample someones tent' so i quickly hid back in my tent and woke sara up to tell her there was a crazy elephant right outside the tent. it turns out it was a water buffalo, but still those things are bloody huge and i wouldn't be happy if one landed on my tent.
we did other good stuff like the elephant orphanage where we got to see baby elephants and the giraffe sanctuary and the trekking with the mountain gorilla was fantastic. oh and the diving in zanzibar and the seafood markets in stone town and the meat on a stick was pretty damn good as well.
anyway, writers cramp is setting in. keep in touch kids and for those of you around melbourne i'm sure we'll catch up soon and i'll get to tell you all my holiday stories.
It's been a while since I last blogged so I think I'll just give you a quick run-through of what I got up to in Africa. It was awesome, by the end I was very sad because most of the group were going on to Capetown while I was going home. I was like 'I wanna go to cape town too!'. But as Blue told me on the last day of the tour, after Andrew's parting words to me were 'Kelly, I'm sorry we never got to have sex', 'Kelly you can't always get what you want.' So I headed back to Melbourne.
But fuck that was a mission and a half. I got delayed in Nairobi over 5 hours and then over 2 hours in Dubai and if you included stopovers it ended up taking me almost 3 days to get home! But I am now back in Melbourne catching up with everyone and starting to apply for a few jobs. So it's been good. Melbourne really is a beautiful city and I think I'm gonna like living here. (Until winter - then it may be a different story)
But back to Africa. The tour was great. The group were all pretty good people. Lots of aussies, kiwi's, irish and english. We went white-water rafting which was awesome and to the serengeti national park and ngorongoro crater. It was so cool, we saw lions and elephants rooting - well not lions rooting elephants, the lion was rooting another lion and the elephant was trying to root every other elephant it could get too. but that was pretty funny. and in the bush camps we seemed to get a different animal in the camps each time.
first it was a fat old pumba roaming around like he owned the place. then the next camp had baboons who came up and stole our carrots. with their beady ugly little eyes, i'm pretty sure they are all evil. and then one night i woke up and there was something grazing right by our tent. i was so sure it was an elephant and all excited i snuck out to have a look. but he heard me and shit himself, and i shit myself and all i could see was this massive shadow jump and nearly land on one of the tents and i was like 'oh crap he's gonna trample someones tent' so i quickly hid back in my tent and woke sara up to tell her there was a crazy elephant right outside the tent. it turns out it was a water buffalo, but still those things are bloody huge and i wouldn't be happy if one landed on my tent.
we did other good stuff like the elephant orphanage where we got to see baby elephants and the giraffe sanctuary and the trekking with the mountain gorilla was fantastic. oh and the diving in zanzibar and the seafood markets in stone town and the meat on a stick was pretty damn good as well.
anyway, writers cramp is setting in. keep in touch kids and for those of you around melbourne i'm sure we'll catch up soon and i'll get to tell you all my holiday stories.
Monday, February 05, 2007
hippos sweat blood and look manky
hey guys,
i made it to the tour after a 2 1/2 hour taxi ride and US$130. but it has been all good since then. we've been to rwanda where we trekked to see the mountain gorillas which was awesome. they are so bloody huge! there was this massive sliver-back in our group and when get got up you were ready to bolt! they were so cute, especially the young ones playing and wrestling.
in rwanda we also went to an orphanage and played with the kids there. they were such cute kids. all orphans due to HIV which is pretty sad. at first it was a bit strange, all the kids came up and were introducing themselves and hugging us. and we all know i'm not exactly the hugging type so that was a bit odd. then they sang us a song, but they all looked bored silly. so then our tour guide said we should sing a song. so we sang hokey pokey and then got them to join in. the kiwis taught them to do the haka which they loved and we taught them to thumb wrestle which they loved. so we all ended up having a good fun time.
crap, i was gonna write more about it, but am running out of internet time, so will do it later.
anyway, am having an awesome time and rwanda and uganda are real nice countries. next we are going to Ginja where we get to go white water rafting and quad biking which should be good fun.
catch yas
i made it to the tour after a 2 1/2 hour taxi ride and US$130. but it has been all good since then. we've been to rwanda where we trekked to see the mountain gorillas which was awesome. they are so bloody huge! there was this massive sliver-back in our group and when get got up you were ready to bolt! they were so cute, especially the young ones playing and wrestling.
in rwanda we also went to an orphanage and played with the kids there. they were such cute kids. all orphans due to HIV which is pretty sad. at first it was a bit strange, all the kids came up and were introducing themselves and hugging us. and we all know i'm not exactly the hugging type so that was a bit odd. then they sang us a song, but they all looked bored silly. so then our tour guide said we should sing a song. so we sang hokey pokey and then got them to join in. the kiwis taught them to do the haka which they loved and we taught them to thumb wrestle which they loved. so we all ended up having a good fun time.
crap, i was gonna write more about it, but am running out of internet time, so will do it later.
anyway, am having an awesome time and rwanda and uganda are real nice countries. next we are going to Ginja where we get to go white water rafting and quad biking which should be good fun.
catch yas
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