Jul 2007

I'm currently staying in New York with my brother, all is well. Danni and Prue headed up from Miami to have a cocktail party last week, we went to Chigaco on Broadway, checked out that big statue, wandered through central park and relaxed at 'Strawberry Fields' - I love that so much space has been dedicated to a park, it's huge!

Shamus and I and a few of his friends went to a 'Strange Fruit' performance last saturday. They're this acrobatic thing from Australia, very entertaining and odd. It was in the Brooklyn Bridge Park under the bridge on the Brooklyn side. Right on sunset, an impressive backdrop looking back over Manhattan!

Other than that theres been a little bar hopping (by the way, I discovered this city does sleep. It can be impossible to wake up again too!) and a lot of wandering. Included in the wandering is a (lame) attempt to get a normal wardrobe and some attention to the 'beauty' things that have been missing out in South America.

Off to see Neko Case tonight in Central Park, perfect weather for it, warm and a little humid. Sunday in Central Park again off to see Brazillian Girls (music not porn) and wait for it.... Cat Empire, a few bevvies in the sun. As I'm 'Errand Girl' for Shamus during my stay here, I'm in charge of buying a picnic rug, I have a busy schedule these days.

Meat Challenge Update

Apparently in Miami its morally acceptable to eat Dolphin, so I'm behind in the challenge stakes. In search of something to top it here, no luck so far.

More soon. xo.

P.S. The simple things are still exciting me, for example the perfect recipe for relaxation, dvd + couch + pizza + a house to myself = something I missed in hostels. Love it!

I'm in New York and yes, I agree with all who have come before me. This place is great! Only got here yesterday morning but so far, very good. Love it. Also, very suprisingly, the American accent isn't as painful as anticipated!

After we left Cusco, Danni, Prue and I caught a bus to Ica. Danni and I got off at the end of the earth - Nazca. Thisplace is actually a spitting image of the surface of Mars. It seems like a breeding place for depression. We spent half a day there and did the 2 things that anyone goes to Nazca to do. We went to the middle of the desert (fearing for our lives as the taxi sped further and further from civilisation) to see ancient tombs and mummies, was pretty rank but really interestiing. The photos are at http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=12924&l=ccb5a&id=741335836

The other crazy thing we saw was the Nazca lines. Ancient lines made with perfect precision. On the ground (Mars ground) in the shape of crazy lines and also animals. The plane was nuts and its clear that the term 'Public Liability' is not a concern in Peru. The "pilot" used the tip of the wing to point out the lines (ie, the plane was as far as I'm concerned, the wrong way around and spiraling in a downwards direction for most of the time!). Due to the fact my ears were completely blocked from a nasty sinus infection and the noise of the plane was intense, neither Danni or I really understood what we were nodding yes to when the "pilot" said "Rollercoaster???Yes??" Next thing our legs flew to the roof and I had to catch my camera as it flew up up up and almost away. The poor dude in the back was an odd shade of yellowish green and vomiting his life away-so i suppose it could've been worse.Interesting experience. The lines are among the most bizare thing I think Ill ever see, really worthwhile.

After this we got the hell out, asap. What a hole.

Off we went to Huacachina, the so-called 'Oasis' - bullshit! There was a pot hole out the front of my old house that was more of an oasis. You can go sandboarding there but the weather was so bad we were forced to spend a lot of time indoors at Casa De Arena 2, where the Israelis run the show and the thick smoky atmosphere houses a lot of very relaxed and hungry people. Strange strange place.

2 Days and the 3 of us had had enough! Off to Lima. lima is a big, smoggy city with a huge crime rate. Not my favourite place in the world. It was odd just having the 3 of us travelling together after so much time as a gang of 6, but much to our surprise (and his) Rory was still in the country. We were all in the same hostel in Lima...ahhhh, good times.

Went to the market and ate and drank, that was Lima in my experience. Not in a rush to get back.

I am now in NYC, Godbless it! Shamus's place is in the West Village of Manhattan, I think I'll be very comfortable here for a few weeks!!

Until next time,

Mmmwah!!!!!

In short, we spent some quality time in Araquiepa as there was a transport strike, nice little place. The main problem was that the hostel we were at ran a tab system so after 4 or so heavy nights, it was a little more pricey than planned. Nice place to chill out on the hammocks for a few days though.

Before this we were in Puno, a short stay was susfficient as this place was a little bit of a hole. Nothing particulary bad about it but it was a little cold and boring. Spent a day out on the lake checking out the floating islands, they were pretty amazing. The people that live there have to build a new island every few decades as it gets all rotten and stinky. Extremely touristy, too much so. Also, Peru seems better equipped for tourists than Bolivia. Probably because theres so many middle aged Gringoes here.

Before that we were in Copacabana, Bolivia. A quaint place, with good trout as its right on the lake. We did the day trip over to Isla del Sol (island of the Sun) and trudged our way from the north to the south. Pretty cool views of Lake Titicaca, but again, a day trip was enough.

Finally we ended up in Cusco on the 21st of June, a very cool little city. Heaps of night life and all the fun revolves mainly arounfd the main square so its easy to navigate too. Played rather hard for just under a week and then it was off on the trek. Five days, four nights up to Salkantay Mountain (camped in the freezing cold at 4200m alt in ¨SLAKANTAY PAMPA¨). It was damn hard going for the first couple of days, 10hours walking one day, 7 or so the on before. 51kms i think but the distance wasn´t the problem, it was the altitude and the mountains. Amazing trail, from snow to jungle, hot springs, and finally to Machu Picchu.

To add to the aquired diseases: I got mauled but some Peruvian jungle bug and had festering blisters seeping down my legs for a day or two. They then became raw leisions of which I still have. Also I managed to lose all definition between the foot and the calf due to some serious swelling (check the face book photos to see photos of the famous elephantitis of the ankle region, aka kankles).

Leaving Cusco (12hr bus) this afternoon to fly over the Nazcar lines tomorrow and chill by the beach somewhere along the coast until I fly out of lima on friday night. NYC. BRING ON COMFORTS OF HOME (ie. toilets and clean sheets!!).

Photos at

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=12658&l=a6879&id=741335836

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=12669&l=e75e6&id=741335836

xox.