BALI

village of Ubud

 Ubud is a village municipality, oversees the 13 (thirteen) train service consisting of 6 (six), traditional villages, including the district of Ubud, Gianyar regency with a distance of 20 km from the city of Denpasar, Ubud can be reached in 30 minutes or 15 minutes from the town of Gianyar .

With a height of about 300 meters above sea level, Ubud has a cooler air from the plains region south of the original Balinese. Ubud Village has a population of about 9800 inhabitants. With an unspoiled environment, this area is an area source of inspiration for artists, including artists overseas, mainly European artists.
Ubud besides having beautiful nature, this area is also a village with a rich cultural heritage of the great artists, especially the famous painter, for example, I Gusti Nyoman Lempad (1862-1978), Anak Agung Gde Sobrat (1919-1992), I Gusti Made Deblog (1910-1986), later followed by others like, I Gusti Ketut Kobot, Ida Bagus Made, Dewa Putu Bedil, Ida Bagus Rai and others. The fame of the painters mentioned above participate inspire Western artists to reside in the village of Ubud.

Around the 1920s, two European painters from the Netherlands Rudolf Bonnet, Walter Spies of Germany and carve a new history of development of painting in Ubud area. Both the European painters introduced the technique of European aesthetics, especially in the fields of lighting, shading, perspective and anatomy. The local painters to absorb the new techniques in accordance with the basic values and local mind while taking the traditional themes so as to give a separate identity with a name or style Ubud Ubud style.

Ubud Village became famous as the birth of the artist thanks to the cooperation between Tjokordo Gde Agung Sukawati with Rudolf Bonnet to form an association of artists with the name of Pita Maha, who also gave birth to the birth of the Pita Maha is Gde Raka Sukawati Tjokordo, I Nyoman Gisti Lempad on 1936. Pita Maha is a gathering and a place to discuss issues and development of painting, as well as to exchange ideas and introduce the results of their art.

In its development and then, on the initiative of Ida Tjokordo Gde Agung Sukawati, supported by Rudolf Bonnet, a painter born in the Netherlands as well as local artists plan to establish a museum. Yayasan Ratna Wartha previously established given the task to carry out the development and management of the museum. In 1945 began the construction of the museum which is laying the first stone by Prime Minister Ali Sustroamidjoyo. In the past two years, precisely in 1956 the museum was opened by the Minister of Education and Culture Mr.Moh.Yamin
As a tourist destination, Ubud has many objects that appeal to tourists, both domestic and foreign. Some of these objects is the Puri Saren, which is located in Puri Ubud, the traditional art market, Monkey Forest (Wenara Wana) and museums.

NUSA TENGGARA BARAT

Moyo Island

Although small, quiet island but has a tremendous natural wealth of this, some people managed to attract "large" caliber Lady Diana and Mick Jagger for a vacation. Moyo Island, a small island located in the northern island of Sumbawa, West Nusa Tenggara Province. Seeing the beauty of the beach, sea and nature, it offers tranquility for connoisseurs of the beauty of the outdoors and underwater.

When visiting this island, we can see unspoiled natural beauty. Forests are beautiful and almost untouched, waterfalls and rivers experience, as well as the beauty beneath the endless sea. In addition to hiking in the woods, along rivers and waterfalls, several caves that can be reached by foot, can be an alternative activity. One of them is Cave Sweet Ai that must be achieved with a little rock climbing. This cave where hundreds of bats nest. In addition, other activities you can do is trekking for two hours that can be started from Labuan Haji, Waterfalls toward Brang Rea (Big River) located in the middle of the island.

 Moyo Island also offers natural beauty under the sea. Almost the entire island surrounded by reefs that are still in good condition and not damaged. Sharks with a length of approximately two meters, anemones, pelagic, eels, groupers and even mantas, all there. If you want to dive, you can do around the Island Medang, located in northwestern island of Moyo. You can contact Blue Lagoon Resort is located on the outskirts of the town of Sumbawa Besar. Cruises from Bali, Lombok or even abroad often do a stopover on the island. Pcrjalanan usually stop in the island of Moyo and Satonda Island, a tiny island in the northeast of the island of Moyo who has a salt water lake in the middle of the island.

LOMBOK

Senggigi Beach

Senggigi Beach is a famous tourist spot in Lombok. Located on the west coast of Lombok Island. Senggigi Beach is not at Kuta Beach in Bali, but once we were here will feel like staying in Kuta Beach, Bali. Coastal beaches are still beautiful, although it is still littered with garbage foliage because rarely cleaned. Very beautiful underwater scenery, and tourists can do as much snorkeling as the waves are not too big. Coral reefs towering ketengah cause large waves breaking in the middle.

About half an hour by foot, the tourists can find Batu Bolong in this beach. This is a temple built on the reef which is located on the waterfront. According to local legend of yore often held sacrifice a virgin to fed to the sharks in this place. Another legend says early days, many women who deploy away from this place into the sea because of a broken heart. From this place also seen Mount Agung in Bali.

KALIURANG-YOGYAKARTA

Kaliurang gives the feeling of coolness and the beauty of nature. There are some in Kaliurang the beauty of various shows. Kaliurang itself is shaped like a complex right and left is still surrounded by vast forests and beautiful. There is a place where we can look at the beauty Kaliurang, namely watching post.

Yet there are other places around Kaliurang are quite beautiful and deserve to be visited times yellow. There you can walk along the creek is clear and clean. Sometimes we will not tire when we walk away in a place like that. Or if you want to see the ex larva 2007, you can stop at Kaliadem. You will be treated to views of a former keperkasaaan trim a large river is covered with sand (former erosion trim).

Kaliadem area was once a tourist area that beautiful rivers and natural beauty of the mountains promises with the river water flows clear and cold. Kaliadem tourist area has now changed its name to Lava tourist area TOUR former Kaliadem. Following the eruption of Mount Merapi at the time, this area is buried by Mount Merapi Lava material.

Many houses were buried under lava material, and this area was like a lost Kaliadem drowned Lava buried. Yet we still be able to track a visit from Merapi lava flow with the background of the Merapi find that seems so exotic. The situation had remained untouched since the event was the eruption of Mount Merapi.

To access the area Lava Tour, we are required to pay Rp. 5000 per person. Furthermore, even here there are not many tourist facilities in general, all of nature really. Sightseeing Kaliurang slope area has been flattened, so this is a tourist attraction is a highland area that cold weather and cool. Ground could be said was a "peak" of his city of Yogyakarta, with a location close enough, only about 40-60 minutes drive from the city of Yogyakarta.

BINTAN ISLAND

E-collar Bintan Island in Riau Islands province, the atmosphere on the island is truly enchanting natural beauty of one of them. Gleaming white sand, blue water, and thick pepohonaan is the combination that makes this island so beautiful.

Lagoi area is landscaped very nicely with the maximum safety, to ensure safety for tourists. Structuring these Lagoi like Nusa Dua in Bali, with several 5 star hotels, golf courses and a spa. Dihotel imposed currency-star hotel Singapore or U.S. dollars. Although Bintan island has no airport, but the access, both kepulau Batam and Singapore is very good.

Trikora beach on the eastern island of Bintan. The origin of the name seemed Trikora two versions: the first is connected with the words "three bead" allegedly uttered by the first foreign settlers on the island is a few decades ago. Other versions are more common for many, Trikora name is linked to the Tri Komando Rakyat a "euphoria nasionalistic" is echoed in the late first president Soekarno, in connection with a campaign of confrontation "Crush Malaysia" a few years ago.

 Unlike Lagoi, this beach, with the name of one of the selected version, provided that the local tourism which certainly did not get treated like a beach Lagoi. This can be seen along the way, the people and fishing villages are found also in the form of hotels and other infrastructure infrastructure such as restaurants and so on.

MP and Sailing the ´High´ Seas

Eight months on the road. I can see holes in my hands where numerous splinters have been dug out with a sewing needle, along with a number of other unidentified cuts and scratches. The latest layer of skin on my nose has almost completely peeled off, leaving behind bright pink splotches. As I scratch my beard and reflect on the excitement of the last couple weeks I am reminded that it has been over a month since I last shaved. I seem to be letting my chiseled image fall to the wayside, but for what...?

My last post left off right as we were about to head out to the famous Incan complex of Machu Picchu, but before I headed out I had to try the infamous Peruvian delicacy known as Cuy. In the states we call them guinea pigs, and here they´ve been on the dinner table for millenia. While many tourists fork out a hefty penny to have a nice guinea pig fillet from a proper restaurant, I decided to try the endemic version at the local market. While I had been mentally prepared for the sight of the little creature on my plate, I have to say that the topping of uncooked seawead and fish eggs caught me a little by surprise. At this point I had already struck up a convesation with some locals at the same table, so to save face I had to force down a bit of everything. I was pleasantly surprised by the taste of the cuy, and at the risk of breaking the cliché, I would relate the flavor much more to that of pork than of chicken.



With my belly full of giant hamster meat Viviana and I hopped on the 8pm bus to sart our alternative approach to Macchu Piccu. As I mentioned before, the typical route is far too expensive for our stretched out travel budget, so our new plan was to take the overnight bus from Cusco to Santa Maria, arriving at 2AM. From there we hop in a collectivo (shared van) to the small town of Santa Theresa, arriving at 3AM. At this point we lay out the sleeping mats in the middle of the main plaza and take a nap until 5AM, when we catch a ride with some workers out to the hydroelectric plant. From the hydroelectric plant we walk along railroad tracks for 3 hours until we reach the town of Aguas Calientes, the typical starting point for the final climb to Machu Picchu. Despite our haphazardly planning and a few horrifying cliff-side bus rides, our plan worked flawlessly and only set us back about $12 each. However, arriving at Aguas Calientes was only part of the battle, and the next hurdle would be getting to the gate early enough to be able to climb Wayna Picchu, the photogenic mountain in the background of every Machu Picchu photo worth bragging about. The lucratively popular ruins receive an average of 2500 people per day and only the first 400 are allowed to climb Wayna Piccu. In order to make it in this group without staying at the $600/night hotel or taking an equally overpriced tour, you have to line up at the main gate at 5AM and then hike up 1600 odd-shaped stone steps to an office where you get your ticket stamped. Of course this was our plan, and when we arrived at the gate we were surprised to see that not only were there about 40 other people waiting, but a number of them were decked out in shiny new jogging shoes and spandex pants, ready to race to the top. At 4:50 the gate opened and we all started the ascent. After a couple flights I realized I was in the lead, and the people behind me were starting to pant heavily. Then suddenly I heard Viviana yell out from a half flight of stairs below ´Go Alex Go!´ At this point my competitive spirit kicked in and I decided to try and go for the gold. Employing my disgruntled teenager hiking style (jacket dangling from wrists, arms flopping around randomly) I quickly beat everyone to the top, only to find another 20 people from the hotel already waiting. Viviana came up soon after with a respectable 6th place and after another 30 minutes in line we started into the much anticipated Incan metropolis. At this point it was difficult to believe that anything could live up to the hype that precedes Machu Picchu, but as soon as the city unfolded before us we were completely astonished. The complexity of the buildings and sheer area it consumes is impressive, but what really sets it apart is the location. The ancient university, temples, houses, terraces, and other stone structures are just perfectly perched on the top of a mountain that drops steeply away on all sides. Upon our arrival there was a mist floating through the area that added a touch of mysticism to the experience. Soon after walking through the main gate we flashed our stamps and started climbing Wayna Picchu. An hour more of steep stone steps and we found ourselves on the top of the mountain, which is also covered in ruins and feels like a fortress in the sky, looking down onto the main ruins below. We passed the day exploring the various temples, astronomical observatories, and ceremonial fountains before finally returning to the real world below in Aguas Calientes. A short dip in the local hotsprings followed by a good nights sleep prepared us for the return journey along the railroad tracks, back to Cuzco and the Sacred Valley.

Macchu Piccu is by far the most famous leftover city in Peru, but there is a plethora of other astonishing ruins all around Cuzco known as the Sacred Valley. Unfortunately to see these ruins you also have to pay a hefty sum of around $50 for
a tourist pass. Thanks to a tip from our Spanish traveling companions, we found a way to drop this price in half, and hopefully save a bundle more on other sights down the road. All we had to do was make a few ´modified´ academic transcripts to show that we are still students, slap on Michael Jackson´s signature in place of the school registrar, and apply for a local ID card at the Cuzco office. With the new golden ID card in hand we swept through the valley, stopping at the ancient city of Ollantaytambo, the massive walls of Saqsaywaman, the intricate caverns of Q´enqo, and the royal tombs of Pisaq. Soon our heads were packed full of Incan history, and we felt ready to slip over toward our next destination on the shores of Lake Titicaca.

Before heading into Bolivia, we stopped briefly at the town of Puno to see the floating islands of the Uros people. This tribe has lived for centuries on the
waters of Lake Titicaca, constructing their own islands out of the totora reed, a fast growing plant found in abundance near the lake shores. In addition to the land istself, they also build their boats, houses, furniture, and just about everything else out of this reed. Despite the immense impact that tourism has had on their culture, it was incredible to see such a perfect use of renewable, locally available resources. A short visit to the lake got my mind moving in new directions, and on our way to Bolivia I started formulating plans for a little free-style island hopping.

Upon arriving in Copacabana I quickly set out researching a way to row out to the nearby Isla del Sol. I spoke with a local about renting a canoe, but he quickly convinced me that the proper way to get around on the ´highest navegable lake in the world´ was with a sail. He showed me his boat, which was tiny and had a mast and other crucial elements made out of logs and used horseshoes. Although I was a bit nervous about the quality of the craft, and the fact that I had no previous sailing experience, Bolivians can be very convincing, and after a half hour sailing lesson we were hashing out the details of the ship rental. That night we stocked up on provisions and the next day Viviana and I headed out for our three day sailing trip. We started off at 6AM, and the first hour the wind was at our backs and we were cruising along. Another hour later and we were sitting in one spot in the middle of the lake, catching a sunburn and praying for wind. I tried the oars for a bit to help us along, but this quickly filled my palms with tons of little splinters as only a couple inches of each handmade oar had been sanded down. Eventually the wind did pick up, but this time it came right at our faces. Using the zig-zag pattern we slowly made our way toward the island, arriving at 5PM, only 7 hours later than the locals had promised us. The next day we lowered our aim and decided to sail around to the other side of the island, instead of all the way to the north. In just a few hours fighting the wind we arrived. With the help of 5 locals we pulled the boat on shore and hauled our gear up to a small hostal with a humongous view. We cooked our rice and had a couple beers at sunset, then passed out to rest for another long day returning to the mainland. The next morning we recruited a few locals and one other tourist to help push the boat back in. The tourist turned out to be from Washington state, and liked fishing, so we offered him a ride back to Copacabana. This time we made it back in a swift 4 hours. The sailboat trip was truly an adventure, and when we got back all we wanted to do was relax and play it safe.



So now we are here in La Paz, the dense Bolivian capital built in a steep valley. Our arrival was hectic, but now we are starting to unwind, passing the day eating delicious local salteñas and touring the many plazas. My hands have begun the healing process and today I may even search out a barber. Of course no matter what temporary improvements are made the trip goes on, and the real rest won´t come until sometime next spring when we finally get back to our native land.

BUNAKEN ISLAND

  Bunaken is an area of 8.08 km ² island in the Bay of Manado, located in North Sulawesi, Indonesia. The island is part of the city of Manado, the provincial capital of North Sulawesi, Indonesia. Bunaken Island can be reached by speed boat (speed boat) or a rented boat with about 30 minutes travel from the port city of Manado. Around the island there is Bunaken Bunaken marine park which is part of the Bunaken National Park. This marine park is one of the highest marine biodiversity in the world. Diving attracts many visitors to the island. Overall Bunaken marine park covers an area of 75,265 ha within five islands, namely the island of Manado Tua, Bunaken Island, Island Siladen, Mantehage Island several children watch his island, and island Naen. Although an area of 75,265 hectares, is the location of diving (diving) is limited in each of the five beaches around the island.

Bunaken Marine Park has a 20 point dive (diving site) with varying depth of 1344 meters. Of the 20 diving points, 12 points below their diving around Bunaken Island. Twelve point diving is the most visited by many lovers and the beauty of the underwater landscape.

Most of the 12 point dive in Bunaken Island lined up from the southeast to the northwest of the island. In this region there is a large underwater walls, which also cover the walls, or of a huge rock walls that stand vertically and curved upward.

Hot Sand Merapi 100 Degrees Celsius

Radius beware Merapi in Sleman reduced from 20 km to 10 km to the west of the Kali Boyong and 15 km east of Kali Boyong. Residents and visitors are also not advisable to do any activity, especially in areas covered with volcanic material (debris) because it is still hot.

According to the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), at a depth of 20 centimeters from the surface of the debris, hot volcanic material reached more than one hundred degrees Celsius.

BANGKOK

PATTAYA

As is well known party town of Pattaya, located on the beach crowded with tourists, even in the one place during a trip to visit the town Thailand

Pattaya party, in addition to the beach there are some places you can enjoy with the family.

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BOROBUDUR

Borobudur is the name of a Buddhist temple at Borobudur, Magelang, Central Java. The location of the temple is about 100 km southwest of Hyderabad and 40 km northwest of Yogyakarta. This temple was founded by the followers of Mahayana Buddhism around the year 800 AD during the reign of the dynasty dynasty. The ethnic Chinese, this temple called (Hanyu Pinyin: PO Luo Fu tu) in Mandarin.

Origin of the name Borobudur

 Many theories try to explain the name of this temple. One of them states that the name is probably from the word Sambharabhudhara, the "mountain" means derived (bhudara), where are the hanging terraces. And there are some other folk etymology. Suppose that the word comes from the greeting Borobudur "Buddha" due to a shift in the sound Borobudur. Another explanation is that the name of two words "coal" and "beduhur" comes from. The word bara its supposed origin of the word monastery, while other statements, where the coal comes from Sanskrit, the temple or monastery and beduhur phrase means "high" or to remind the Balinese language means "above". So the point is a monastery or hostel located on a hill.

The historian J.G. the Casparis in his thesis for a doctorate in 1950, claims that Borobudur is a place of worship. Based on the inscriptions and Karangtengah Kahulunan, Casparis estimate Borobudur founder of the dynasty was the king of Mataram dynasty Samaratungga called to the building to do around the year 824 AD The giant new building was at the time of her daughter, Queen Pramudawardhani be completed. Borobudur Development estimated a half-century. In Karangtengah inscriptions also granting land Sima (tax-free country) of CRI Kahulunan mentioned (Pramudawardhani) to maintain specified kamulan Bhūmisambhāra. [1] The term itself comes from the word kamulan first place of origin means that the ancestral shrine is likely to glorify the ancestors of the dynasty Sailendra. Casparis estimates that Bhumi Sambhāra Bhudhāra in Sanskrit and means "mountain of the set of ten levels of Bodhisattva virtue," was the original name of the Borobudur.

MALANG

BATU CITY

 Batu town is a city in East Java province, Indonesia. The city is located 15 km west of Malang, was on track and Malang Malang, Kediri, Jombang. Batu directly adjacent to the Regency of Mojokerto and Pasuruan in the north and the District of Malang to the east, south, and west. Areas of this city located at an altitude of 680-1200 meters above sea level with average air temperature of 15-19 degrees Celsius.
  Batu once dubbed Little Switzerland on the island of Java and the cool mountain tourist areas. In tourism there Songgoriti Songgoroto Temple and Ganesha statues and relics of the kingdom Singosari retreat built since the Dutch era


Tourist cave:

Cave tour is available at Cangar and Tlekung

Waterfall:

    * Coban Rondo
    * Coban Rais
    * Coban Talun

Bathing place:

    * Songgoriti (cold and hot water baths)
    * Selecta (cold water bath)
    * Cangar (bath of hot water containing sulfur)

Agrotourism:

    * Kusuma Agro (plantation of apples, strawberries, guava, and citrus, as well as place outbound

Camp:

    * Forest Park People's R. Soerjo (Cangar)
    * Mount Panderman
    * Coban Rondo

There is also a new tourist attraction in the town of Batu in the form of air tour paragliding. Every Sunday, at the square batu Travel Market held Sunday selling typical food and various kinds of batu crafts.
 Java Park is one of the most popular tourist attractions in East Java, and most recently from a tourist attraction in batu Town is the Museum of Wildlife. In this city there are many villas and a five-star hotel.

Batu is also known as agropolitan region, earning it the nickname City of Agropolitan. As with any area and surrounding Malang, Batu generate a lot of apples, vegetables, and garlic. batu is also known as a city of artists. There are a lot of studio painting and art galleries in the city. The newest Spectaculer Stone Night, an amusement park with some rides like a teenager at the World Fantasy Ancol Jakarta. No less interesting than BNS / Batu Night Spectaculer, there is also a student of Tourism and Wildlife Family of Museums. Museum of International Standard and this is a Greek-style museum where a replica of the World's Creatures that have not already extinct and extinct here. We can also see replicas of ancient animal bones.

BROMO

Mount Bromo

Tourist attraction of Mount Bromo is one of the very well known by foreign tourists and domestic. Seeing the sunrise and watch the crater is not the only option, because Mount Bromo is the center of the Tengger National Park Area, which means there are many more objects that can be witnessed in the complex.

  Semeru is the only conservation area in Indonesia, which has a unique form of sand sea covering an area of 5250 hectares, is located at an altitude of 2392 m above sea level. Bromo-Semeru Mountains, a mountain that is still active and most famous as a tourist attraction in East Java.

Area Tourism is promising a beauty that can not be found elsewhere. From the top of the volcano is still active, you can enjoy the expanse of ocean pasri area of 10 square kilometers, and witnessed the splendor of Mount Semeru, a towering through the clouds. You also can look beautiful sun went Tengger Sand Sea and Mount Bromo. Equestrian and climbed Mount Bromo via stairs and see the sunrise.

Sanur Beach Denpasar Bali

Sanur beach is a beach because the beach is the historic beach where the landing of the Dutch royal troops when the Dutch attacked the territory during the colonial era Badung

Among tourism, Sanur beach was first introduced by the Belgian painter named AJ Le Mayeur and his wife Ni Polok who settled in Sanur since 1937. In 1963 tourism stretching more so with the establishment of Sanur Bali Beach Hotel (now The Grand Bali Beach Inna which is the first hotel built in Bali. Until now this area is still one of the major tourist destinations in the city of Denpasar.

In an effort to increase the attractiveness of tourist area of Sanur, since 2006, implemented the Sanur Village Festival. Sanur Village Festival is an annual event which regularly held in Sanur. This event is initiated by communities of Sanur, the Sanur Development Foundation and be supported by the Government of Denpasar.

BARONG DANCE

    Barong Dance is a dance that is danced by two male dancers, one plays the head of the barong and the front legs, and another plays the hind legs and tail. Barong this mytologi animal shaped so many kinds, there is a head-shaped head of a lion, a tiger, a male boar, elephants, oxen or Keket. Keket by the Balinese considered the king of the jungle which is also called by the name of King Banaspati.

This dance is a Hindu cultural heritage that uses puppets Pre tangible quadruped or early humans who have magical powers. Allegedly barong word comes from the word bahrwang or interpreted bear, an animal mythology that has supernatural powers, was considered pelindung.Tetapi Barong Bali in fact embodied not only in the four-legged animals but there is also a two-legged. Barong mask is made from wood taken from haunted places such as tombs, and therefore sacred Barong is an object that is consecrated by the Balinese Hindu community. This dance show with or without act, always beginning with the demonstration accompanied by gamelan performances are different, such as gamelan Gong Kebyar, Babarongan gamelan and gamelan batel.

BALINESE

Bali is the name of a province in Indonesia, and also the name of the largest islands that are part of the province of Bali Province tersebut.Wilayah also consists of the islands are smaller in the vicinity, namely the island of Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan Island, Nusa Island Ceningan, and attack the island.

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    Bali lies between Java and Lombok Island. Denpasar is the capital of his province, located in the south of the island. The majority of Balinese are Hindu. In the world famous Bali as a tourist destination with a unique variety of art-culture, especially for the Japanese and Australian tourists. Bali is also known as Island of the Gods and Pulau Seribu Pura.

Hills and Valleys

At the end of my seventh month I found myself, once again, on a bus. This time the bus was climbing upwards to the town of Huaraz in the Cordillera Blanca. The only reason for visiting Huaraz is to set off on a hike in the snowcapped peaks that surround the town. Perhaps the altitude was affecting my judgement, but for some reason I decided to do this hike with a tour company. They arranged all the transportation, guides, food, and even mules to carry our packs on the 4 day trip. After winding through innumerable switchbacks by bus, we hiked into the lower section of the valley and set up camp. We could already see the snowcapped peaks looming further up the canyon. This is also the point when we started really questioning the tour. As we set up camp the guide realized he was a tent and a few sleeping bags short. Luckily Viviana and I had brought our own sleeping bags as backups, knowing how cold it can get at 16000 feet. Of course these ´minor´ omitions were just adding to our dissatisfaction, as the tour had already been delayed a day for an altitude sick couple from Holland that never came, and the group was also nearly twice the size we were promised. Luckily our woes and my complaining came to an abrupt stop the following day when we hit Union Pass, the highest point on the hike with undoubtedly one of the most amazing views of my life. We stopped for lunch and about 82 pictures of the scenery and then continued down into the canyon to set up camp in another valley that looked like it was straight out of a screensaver. At this point we could really feel the altitude and it was amazing to see how well the coca leaves worked to fight the symptoms. We had bought a bag for about 15 cents on the way up and after macerating (dont chew!) for 5 minutes the high mountain headache quickly subsided. The last day we descended to find that instead of camping by the beautiful trout-filled river we had been following, instead we would be camping in some guys backyard/farm in a town nearby. The ammenities in the yard included a nice view of the village, about 200 piles of horse shit, and even a delightful spectacle of 4 men castrating a horse no more than 20 feet from our tent at 6 AM. An hour or so of bargaining for some of our money back proved highly unsuccessful, and we finished off the tour with a dip in some local hotsprings to wash away our indignation. Despite the bad experience with the tour, the mountain range was thoroughly impressive and left us in high spirits as we headed back down to sea level on our way to Lima.

Originally we had planned to shoot through Lima, stopping for just one night before heading into the canyon country. We dropped off our stuff and set off to see the downtown area. The city quickly surpassed our admittedly low expectations and the government buildings surrounding the main plaza were in contention for the most impressive we`ve seen yet. After the plaza we did a little experiment to see if Viviana would get a better price on a pair of pants at the market than I would, seeing that she looks rather Peruvian and I stand out like a Hanson brother at a Daddy Yankee concert. Although I was able to procure a similar price (a couple of Soles more), I had to haggle for 20 minutes and she received the better deal without a word. Donning my new pair of pants we caught the city bus back to the hostel and started to plan our exit. As Viviana plugged in for a final facebook check before we hit the road she saw a message from a mutual friend, Olga, that lives in Lima, whom we had already contacted twice before to plan our visit, and whom we had completely forgotten about. When traveling for an extended period it is rare that you really get to know people well, and an opportunity to see a familiar face (and sleep for free) is always welcome. We quickly changed our plans and decided to spend a few days partying and seeing the city with our personal guide. I started the fiesta off by setting her stove on fire and melting the nice glass cover piece, fortunately realizing before the apartment caught. After ordering a costly replacement we toured the citys parks, restaraunts, and markets. In the bohemian neighborhood of Barranco we had the pleasure of tasting skewered cow heart, which was actually quite delicious. In the upscale neighborhood of Miraflores we sampled a number of different varieties of pisco, the local firewater made from distilled grapes. In the beachfront neighborhood of Chorrillos we watched huge hoardes of pelicans begging at the fish market. It took us a while to adapt to the late nights in Lima, but by the final night we had it. A beer-and-pisco filled prefunk at Olgas friends house carried us until 2AM at which point we went to the local bar and downed a bottle of Aguardiente in an homage to Olgas Colombian heritage. After semi-succesfully shaking off our hangovers the next day with a tour of the Incan city of Pachacamac we hopped on the 16 hour overnight bus for Arequipa to prepare for some more hiking.

Arequipa is yet another beautiful colonial city, and this time it was the jumping off point for Colca Canyon, a massive slice in the earth that is said to be twice as deep as the grand canyon (although my GPS says differently). Before we began our 3000 ft. tumble into the canyon we decided to head out bright and early to catch a sight of the incredible `potential` Andean Condor. The `potential` Andean Condor is a breathtaking sight, and as you watch the small black dot cirle around miles away in the sky you can`t help but wonder, `Is that a condor, or just some crap stuck on my sunglasses?` After the lifechanging condor experience we started the 7 hour hike down the canyon and over to the Oasis, a haven of spring-fed swimming pools and cheap camping at the bottom of the barren canyon. As I limped past a few small indigenous villages before reaching the Oasis I started to notice that none of the other people I saw were carrying tents, sleeping bags, towels, extra clothes, or any of the other items that made up my 40lb backpack. It seems that after hiking down the 3000 ft, you also have to hike back up, and most people were smart enough to use mules for that labor. Fortunately we are on an extended vacation, and so we decided to take a day relaxing by the pool, catching trout from the river, drinking pisco, and then sleeping it all off before making the grueling ascent the following day. After a bumpy ride back to town we caught another overnighter to Cuzco to check out some neatly arranged piles of rocks we`ve been hearing so much about.



Now we find ourselves in the cradle of Incan history, surrounded by some of the most impressive ruins on the planet. We are ready to explore and nothing can stop us... oh except the $61 one hour train ride to Macchu Piccu... oh yeah and the $45 entry fee... and of course the $75 historical sites pass... hmmm... So now we are searching for an alternative route to the worlds most talked about ruins. We think we have a makeshift plan now that involves a little late night travel, but I`ll save that for next time.