The 1000 Day Holiday

Arrived 1am this morning after the plane ride from hell. Well it stopped in Belem, Fortaleza and Recife on the way, so it was slow going. Hit some huge turbulence too, people screaming, holding onto seats and trying to not hit the ceiling! so that kept it interesting.

They also lost my bag! however they did find it and deliver it at lunchtime so I wasnt travelling light for all that long.

Now going to try and find some locals who kitesurf to fill my days pre carnaval. fingers crossed.

Woohoo!

Although I just said that to Jen, and she was like, wow.. thats almost halfway. Hmm maybe have to make it a bit longer?

Also, looks like ive got me a yacht from NZ in April to Southwest pacific or french polynesia.  woohoo. Joys!

Post 10hr fast cramped boat to Tabitinga on the border of Columbia, Peru & Brasil I was looking forward to some jungle expeditions or at least a funky town.

Alas, Tabitinga is liken unwanted growth. A town that exists soley because theres a decent town in Columbia, and in fact theyre joined, no real border between them if youre not going any further afield.

Thus Tabitinga doesnt have a centre, so it sucked as a place to get around and try and organise anything. So With the Slow boat departing the next day at 2pm, and only 2 a week leaving. I was on it.

Like a floating hammock refugee camp, we floated down the river to Manus. We got to the boat early and claimed our hammock space.  It quite a spiffy boat in all, very proper looking.  As departure time approached everyone turned up. Always space for more!

Ended up being hamomck city, and if you left your hammock while in port you would find someone moving into the “space” beside you.

the first 24 hours seemed to drag, the food being  not so crash hot. What appeared to be pigs trotters and snouts in a stew. Chilli sauce saves the day tho!

And Im sure they loved messing with us gringos, The kitchen nazi wouldnt let us in if we turned up 1 minute after the finishing time of service.  But check it out. Breakfast 6am – 7.30. Lunch 10.45 – 12 and dinner 4.45 – 6.30.  Crazy considering brazillians normally eat lunch around 2pm and dinner around 9 or 10!

the other 3 days flew by tho, getting into the swing of the hammok. Now in Manus. Sorting out a jungle trip so I can pat some slots, kiss a jaguar and ride a pink dolphin.

Stay tuned.

365 Days down, 635 to go…

01/01/07 NY Day, got home 8am! fun party fun
02/01/07 Salta, Hanging around
03/01/07 Salta, Hanging around
04/01/07 Malaria Free!!!
05/01/07 Bus: Salta – Villazon – Tupiza, Bolivia
06/01/07 Tupiza Fiesta.6 person ferris wheels
07/01/07 Salar Tour delayed by rain
08/01/07 Salar, Snowy alpline passes and stuck jeep
09/01/07 Salar, Lagoons for everyone
10/01/07 Salar, Hot pools and nite party
11/01/07 Salar, 5 flat tyres, salt flats, abandoned jeeps
12/01/07 Share Jeep: Uyuni – Potosi
13/01/07 Potosi, Mine tour, Playing w dynamite
14/01/07 Potosi, exploring
15/01/07 Sucre, exploring
16/01/07 Sucre, exploring
17/01/07 La Paz, exploring
18/01/07 La Paz, Bolivar Vs Strongest
19/01/07 La Paz, result from Malaria checkup..
20/01/07 La Paz, Party Party
21/01/07 Bus to Cusco, Peru
22/01/07 Explore Cusco & Horse Trek
23/01/07 Train to Aguas Calientes
24/01/07 Gay Mountain
25/01/07 Machu Picchu
26/01/07 Fly Lima, Day exploring, Fly Iquitos
27/01/07 Exploring Iquitos Belen and the markets
28/01/07 Outdoor Concert, Pickpocketed 🙁
29/01/07 Exploring ‘amazonian villages’ by water
30/01/07 Fast boat to Santa Rosa (border) 10hrs
31/01/07 Slow boat Tabitina to Manus. Port snout & trotters stew for dinner

apparently some dude is going to swim the length of the Amazon.

No peeing in the pool

Otherwise this may happen.

Hes starting upriver from me in the next couple of days. Maybe We´ll cross propeller shafts or something in the journey.

His site: Swim the Amazon

So I guess it had to happen.

Ended up at a concert in Iquitos tonight. Was funky fun and all good stuff.

My wallet was pickpocketed while I was at the bar.  I realised within 10 seconds. But what can you do, everyones looking at me, since Im 12Inches taller than the other 5000 People there! Seriously!

haha.

Oh well. Guess it was lucky/karma or that I had withdrawn money today and knew I was going out. Thus cleared out my wallet totally. Otherwise I would have had my main ATM card in there too (plus a whole lot of other stuff tghat would have been missed).. and the $250 that I withdrew.

So all they got was approx $10AUD and my cracked aussie license.

Now all I have to do is get into my hotel. A gringo the security dude has never seen says:

Im staying in 3 0 3. my amigo has the key.. haha he wouldt let me in.. DOH. hmm.. I know my roomies name is Marcel. HA!  And its 4.30am.

So either way. Not so bad.. /long..  and look at what goodies the internet pumps out when you need them  (see next post)

Into the Amazon I am. Huge temperature change.

Weird fish in the markets, and apaparently turtle soup is one of the best tastes in the world. The market had de-shelled turtle too.

Iquitos feels like thailand or Laos, motorcycles everywhere. Funky vibe, out to experience the nightlife tonight.They love to party here!

This morning I flew to Lima, tonight connecting to Iquitos. So my commute to Salvador for Carnaval has begun.

GRIN, like the amazon is a commute, its a frikken long way. But Im sure it will be fun. Back on the malaria prophylaxis meds 🙂

Well, why the hell not!

So I´m going to sneak into Machu Picchu

sounds like a great adventure!
maybe..  haha, on the train tomorrow morning.. 2 nights there. So plenty of time for adventures!

Also booked my flight to Iquitos, so my crazy ass commute for Salvador brazil begins on the 26th!

Confirmed malaria free! yay

Party party party all night long and then a 14hr bus ride to Cuzco today.. Urgh.

Inca trail is full, but will probably do the “alternative” route which involves mountain biking, hiking and stuff. sounds cool.