This was to be an extremely hungover (maybe still not sober) experience after two hours sleep and a massive night out.Not to mention i was allready shitting myself about going out of control down rocky rapids for hours in a blow up boat.
But true to my country i came through.The mini-bus ride there was squashed and completeley uncomfortable.Luckily i was'nt alone in the "feeling like death department" as i was with three other funny pissed people from my hostel,everyone straight up new we had just got home but at least we gave them a few laughs.
CHARLIE-a tough pom
TOM-a skinny funny pom
and COLLIN-my mate from the state's i've been travelling with
Tom and Charlie were the one's that stupidly asked me while i was drunk if i'd join them in a whitewater rafting day trip.Of course when after a few beers ill say yes to doing anything a little extreme (and also talking colin into it).Anyway i was on and no backing out when thay came and woke me in the morning.
We finally arrived at the river,i felt 80 years old but once off the bus,into the fresh air,a quick toe dip in the cold water and seeing the rapids i was sooo keen.
We got the safety rundown,the helmuts,the life vest and the wetsuits.I really can't remember much of the safety talk,a bit like school,but also like school i had a lot of fun and made it out alive.
We had a team,us four slightly crazy and drunk boys and two chicks from canada who turned out to be a little wild too,oh and our guide steering at the back.
Straight away we bonded and all wanted to go hard,i saw the first rapid ahead and screemed like a little girl.I was surely nervous but once in the soup took it all head on and bloody loved it,it was rough,bouncy and wet.I had to hold on tight with my feet jammed in under the grips not to fall out.
Once throught the first rapid our boat went feral with high five's wanting more,more and more intense runs.In between the rapids it was nice and tranquil with beautifull landscapes and cliffs surrounding but all we wanted was extreme shit.
We became quite good at judging the rapids and making it through safely but not without fun,we were charging.
There was a part of the rapid,i don¿t know the technical name for this but it is when you place the raft in a whirlpool typed rapid and sit motionless on the water,facing upstream with walls of water coming at you but not moving.
This was really fun but a little bit of hard work to situate ourselve¿s properly in this position.We had to paddle hard upstream 5 metres then all jump to the front (on top of one-and-other) in order to then be stationary.We did this about three times but would only be still for a minute or so to enjoy it.On the last go i heard from behind tom say "Allright let¡s really go for it this time", with that on the count of three we all jumped forward with heaps more force,this resulted of course in the raft tipping front end over,flipping our guide out high and putting the rest of us in the water.
The addrenlin hit,wooo hoooo,i was stoked underwater,i came up under the boat which was upsidedown on top of me so i could still breath.I stayed for a little bit then went under to surface outside.The guide and i were the only two still with the boat and everyone else getting ragdolled downstream.We tipped the boat and then it was up to us to rescue the rest of the crew.It was panic stations for a while (as apparently 16 people drown on with this group a year,not the best rep) but after 5 minutes we had all in the boat,pulled to the side,cuaght our breath and got over a little shock.I loved it,tom,charlie and the guid loved it.The girls were shaken and so was colin a little,completely understandibly.
Anyhow we got over it pretty quick and decided we want more and even another chance to tip the boat.Off we go.
The next obsticle was a low lying,bowed in the middle,dodgy peruvian built footbridge.When i say low it was two to three foot above the water lavel,only just enough to get the boat under,i mean low.
We had 5 practice goes at all piling in on top of each other level with the top of the boat,seemed fun.Then we rounded the corner and saw it and i thought there was now way we could possibly get under that thing without someone losing a limb.But when we reached it,we all crouched for 20 seconds,got the order to get up,looked behind and made it all in one piece.For me,nearing that bridge scared me more than flipping.
After that there were a couple of more rapids,a swim with the current downstream at a mellow part of the cold river and a few more splashing oppertuninty's.
Finally we reached the camp after a few hours of SOLID FUN and ate a well deserved feed and a hangover curing coffee,no beer here.The bus ride i completly passed out and woke up at cuzco,only to return to the hostel for yet another night of partying,but this time on a high with something to celebrate.GO WHITEWATER RAFTING TODAY,or TOMORROW.
wink wink
20 October 2006
PART 3-ESCAPE FROM MACHU PICCHU (woops need a ticket out)
This is a three part series so you must go down and start at 1-machu picchu.
It has come out all upside down,back to front,start from finish.Sorry bout the inconvenience,any complaints mail to someone else.
HE HE,anyway this is where it gets even funnier.
There is another huge peak that sits behind machu picchu.You can see it in all those famous photo's and its called Wanu Picchu (i think). Anyway it's a bit of a dangerous climb and dangerously situated on a verticle mountain.So to get in here you need to lineup and sign your name in at a registry point and show your ticket number.I guess they do this so they know when someone goes missing,if they don't sign out at the end of the day they are probably dead 8000 metres down and need rescuing.
So of course we could'nt get into here,well not easily anyway because we did'nt have a ticket for them to get our number.Soooo,us geniuos ozzi's told the gate that Al's girlfriend had our ticket's with her in her backpack and was allready up there waiting for us.Of course they did¿nt beleive us.looked at our dirty shoes and cloths and shook their heads and laughed."You need that ticket now guy's or you can't go in".
Well with a little charm,persuasion and al getting a little fired up they let us sign in (fake name's of course,im Joel Parkes today),on the deal we show our tickets on the way out.They put a big red cross next to our name's and also Bronnies name (as she allegidly had our tickets).
As soon as i'd passed i knew it was a silly thing to do as getting out was gonna be real hard.Ah well,another adventure to the day was needed.After doing the breathtaking climb,my lungs nearly popped.Some parts of the track you needed to use a guide wire on near vert rock,i have no idea how they carted boulders up here by hand to build it,or i can't imagine how many people died doing it.
But once at the top and in the ruins it was far more impressive than the main Machu Picchu for me.It was higher,quiter,crazier positioning,tunnel's,gaps to jump,more intricately built and just on another level i thought.This day was worth all the effort and more.
We had lunch up there with two other aussie freinds that we'd both been running into on the tourist trail for the past few weeks,good dood's,good lunch,great to drink water and even better to relax and get our breath back.All at a place that resembled storie's of heaven itselsf.
But the relaxing and the added brains of the others also brought about the realization that we had to get out of the gate without been busted,certainly a hard feat.But then i said "If these bloody inca's can build an empire like this by hand at such a crazy locatin, then getting out should be so easy,if not we are just a bunc of useless new-age suckers".With that came idea's and chat,(Not much from Bronnie tho as she was pissed about us getting a red cross next to her name,and fair enough too).
So she went out first,and the other boy's pissed off too.Bron was to tell them at the gate she had seen us and given us the two tickets and then we were on our own again,set for another mission.
Al and i half an hour later neared the gate,sussed out the landscape,secuirity and made our decision.He was going bush again,straight over the top of a knobby hill,probably in full veiw of all tourists and not knowing where he was gonna come out.I was'nt convinced and was not going to follow,also thought we would have a better chance alone(less attention),therefore i was on my own.After 10 minute's of scratching my head i thought i would try to charge the gate without been recognised.
No such luck,the gate was blocked and the secuirity picked me from 10 metre's away."Got your ticket now", "naaaaaa" i said,
"my mate has them both and just took a sidetrack walk to the cave,i'll wait here for him,how long does it take?"
They shook their heads and replied with"Three hours",
"Faaaark,im not sitting here for three hours,he has my ticket,cant he just show you when he come's through".
"Nup,You move to the side plaese sir your going nowhere".
They were soooo on to me and new we were illegal entrants.I sat next to the office,while tourist after tourist walked past and looked at me with the,"what the hell are you doing sitting there look".I gave them back the ozzi "what the bloody hell you looking at mate" look.
I sat and thought,then started the acting roll,and it was an act cos im not really a angry person in public that get's agitated with proprioter's.
Anyway,i walked circles,cursing and muffling buuuuullshit under my breath.While doing this i was making sure the gaurd was noticing me,and also the other tourist's.Sure felt silly and like i was on stage but something had to be done.
Then it happened,i walked up to the desk,busted through the tourist's and said quite loudly "Listen here mate,this is F/ing B/shit,im not gonna sit here for three F/ing and wait for my mate just cos he has my F/ing ticket,aarrgggghhh".
This caused quite a scene (im a good actor when i wanna be) and all tourists listened with a few agreements and a few "whoooaaa's", therefore resulting in the guards getting me out of there as soon as they could."ok,sign your name,But I WANT THAT TICKET BY THE END OF THE DAY". "Sure" i said as i walked off,laughing on the inside,suckers.
Another mission complete.On my exit of the ruins like it was meant to be i heard,"joel" and it was the whole crew leaving at the same time,back topgether again,Me and al swapped storie¿s and he's was crazy too.Funny.
On the walk down the hill we counted the steaps,1705 give or take 10.So we walked about 3400 steps for the day,not counting those inside the ruins.It was such a fun day with many elements of excitement.
And they are probably still searching for the body of AL CRABBY from Australia today.
It has come out all upside down,back to front,start from finish.Sorry bout the inconvenience,any complaints mail to someone else.
HE HE,anyway this is where it gets even funnier.
There is another huge peak that sits behind machu picchu.You can see it in all those famous photo's and its called Wanu Picchu (i think). Anyway it's a bit of a dangerous climb and dangerously situated on a verticle mountain.So to get in here you need to lineup and sign your name in at a registry point and show your ticket number.I guess they do this so they know when someone goes missing,if they don't sign out at the end of the day they are probably dead 8000 metres down and need rescuing.
So of course we could'nt get into here,well not easily anyway because we did'nt have a ticket for them to get our number.Soooo,us geniuos ozzi's told the gate that Al's girlfriend had our ticket's with her in her backpack and was allready up there waiting for us.Of course they did¿nt beleive us.looked at our dirty shoes and cloths and shook their heads and laughed."You need that ticket now guy's or you can't go in".
Well with a little charm,persuasion and al getting a little fired up they let us sign in (fake name's of course,im Joel Parkes today),on the deal we show our tickets on the way out.They put a big red cross next to our name's and also Bronnies name (as she allegidly had our tickets).
As soon as i'd passed i knew it was a silly thing to do as getting out was gonna be real hard.Ah well,another adventure to the day was needed.After doing the breathtaking climb,my lungs nearly popped.Some parts of the track you needed to use a guide wire on near vert rock,i have no idea how they carted boulders up here by hand to build it,or i can't imagine how many people died doing it.
But once at the top and in the ruins it was far more impressive than the main Machu Picchu for me.It was higher,quiter,crazier positioning,tunnel's,gaps to jump,more intricately built and just on another level i thought.This day was worth all the effort and more.
We had lunch up there with two other aussie freinds that we'd both been running into on the tourist trail for the past few weeks,good dood's,good lunch,great to drink water and even better to relax and get our breath back.All at a place that resembled storie's of heaven itselsf.
But the relaxing and the added brains of the others also brought about the realization that we had to get out of the gate without been busted,certainly a hard feat.But then i said "If these bloody inca's can build an empire like this by hand at such a crazy locatin, then getting out should be so easy,if not we are just a bunc of useless new-age suckers".With that came idea's and chat,(Not much from Bronnie tho as she was pissed about us getting a red cross next to her name,and fair enough too).
So she went out first,and the other boy's pissed off too.Bron was to tell them at the gate she had seen us and given us the two tickets and then we were on our own again,set for another mission.
Al and i half an hour later neared the gate,sussed out the landscape,secuirity and made our decision.He was going bush again,straight over the top of a knobby hill,probably in full veiw of all tourists and not knowing where he was gonna come out.I was'nt convinced and was not going to follow,also thought we would have a better chance alone(less attention),therefore i was on my own.After 10 minute's of scratching my head i thought i would try to charge the gate without been recognised.
No such luck,the gate was blocked and the secuirity picked me from 10 metre's away."Got your ticket now", "naaaaaa" i said,
"my mate has them both and just took a sidetrack walk to the cave,i'll wait here for him,how long does it take?"
They shook their heads and replied with"Three hours",
"Faaaark,im not sitting here for three hours,he has my ticket,cant he just show you when he come's through".
"Nup,You move to the side plaese sir your going nowhere".
They were soooo on to me and new we were illegal entrants.I sat next to the office,while tourist after tourist walked past and looked at me with the,"what the hell are you doing sitting there look".I gave them back the ozzi "what the bloody hell you looking at mate" look.
I sat and thought,then started the acting roll,and it was an act cos im not really a angry person in public that get's agitated with proprioter's.
Anyway,i walked circles,cursing and muffling buuuuullshit under my breath.While doing this i was making sure the gaurd was noticing me,and also the other tourist's.Sure felt silly and like i was on stage but something had to be done.
Then it happened,i walked up to the desk,busted through the tourist's and said quite loudly "Listen here mate,this is F/ing B/shit,im not gonna sit here for three F/ing and wait for my mate just cos he has my F/ing ticket,aarrgggghhh".
This caused quite a scene (im a good actor when i wanna be) and all tourists listened with a few agreements and a few "whoooaaa's", therefore resulting in the guards getting me out of there as soon as they could."ok,sign your name,But I WANT THAT TICKET BY THE END OF THE DAY". "Sure" i said as i walked off,laughing on the inside,suckers.
Another mission complete.On my exit of the ruins like it was meant to be i heard,"joel" and it was the whole crew leaving at the same time,back topgether again,Me and al swapped storie¿s and he's was crazy too.Funny.
On the walk down the hill we counted the steaps,1705 give or take 10.So we walked about 3400 steps for the day,not counting those inside the ruins.It was such a fun day with many elements of excitement.
And they are probably still searching for the body of AL CRABBY from Australia today.
PART 2-ENTERING MACHU PICCHU (on the sly)
Ok,so what i did'nt say is that a few days before heading to Machu Picchu i met a crazy guy that had just done a mission up there,jumped the fence's and snuck in for free.
This story totally appealed to my adventurous side and also my bank account.
This place was a friggen tourist scam and quite the expense i told myself.
Anyway i buy the guy a beer,have a chat then get a good ol map scribbled out on paper and the complete lowdown on jumping,only to be even more keen on seeing the place.
I also had another member of Australia keen for the fun.Big Al from Perth i met months ago and had reunited with him and his lovely girl Bron(the quite girl who once let out is a party fiend).So we left cusco by bus to Ollyantambo,thats half way through the sacred valley to the ruins.There is also some cool ruins at that town and rather than been boring and paying we thought we might go aroung the side and see if we could pass for free here too.We did well,walked through the local farmers feilds,meeting a couple on the way,climbing,skirting,getting wet then to the side of the ruins.There we encountered peruvian secuirity.Now peruvian security differ greatly from any other,they would happily take a chocolate bar as a bribe.
Anyway he asked for tickets, "ahhh we got none", he say's we need them,we say "nup,got none senor",
Then the true colors come out,He says we can pass for a tip.We give him about $1:50 ozzie between the three of us,it cost about 20 each at the gate.
He was then so happy he gave us a quick run down (tour guide style) on where and how to get around the ruins.We did'nt hang around long and bailed straight in there,too easy.The ruins were good too,they boulders it was built with had come 10kms from another mountain and even accross a river that they apparntly damned off in sections.Smart cookies these inca's,nearly as smart as us seeing it all for $1:50.
Anyway,back to the main event.
We then took a train through the sacred valley.It was beautifull.a river at the bottom wich the train track hugs and huge beautiful steep mountains at either side.Felt like a place out of Lord Of The Rings,very ancient and very spiritual land.
We then got to Aguas Callientes (hot water) and thats the town at the base of the mountain.It was soooo touristy,felt like i had just stepped out of peru.Got some accomodation,had a beer then slept in anticipation to wake at 4am,start walking at 4:30am and sneak under the radar at sun-up.
Up early we were off,walking in the dark and the freezing cold.A guide with two guy's from serbia passed us and asked us to join with them walking.The walk was to take an hour and a half straight up a mountain by staircase.(the real hardcore tourists catc a bus).It was nice and quite,birds chirping and light slowly revealing the majesty of the surrounding mountains.The bush was fresh,rainforest like coverage,green and moist.It was a pretty hard walk due to the constant climb and also the high altitude,there were many puffed stops,many puffed stops but we were getting there none-the-less.
Once near the top the light was out and it occured to me i was in the clouds at an amazing place,but before i could think too much i saw the track,blocked out with three logs just like my mate had told me.Me and Al burst into action,we sepperated mischeiviously from the three others and Bronny joined them as she was paying and would'nt think about joining us delinquents.
So there gone,we had to be quite,not talk and not tread on too many sticks army style.It was full on bush bashing on a hardly noticible track,not to mention i was knackered allready and the hill was extremely steep.If we rolled down we probably would have ended up in china (or whatever country is accross the globe from peru).
After 15 minute's of bush bashing we spotted the walls of Machu Picchu.But also we spotted the track where those who had tickets entered,it was right beside us.
I could hardly control my excitement and i felt like a lil kid again,a priceless feeling.
Anyway we were in full veiw as soon as we stood up,Al went for it,scailing a wall via a tree while none the wider tourists watched him,he looked sooo funny,i have no idea what they were thinking other than "what the hell is that scruffy looking guy doing down there".By scruffy i mean we were dirty,wet and raggy from the bush bash.Next,he was gone,in without a problem.
I was hiding in under shrubbery,awaiting my moment.It tiook age's as there were loads of people rocking up.I could see all of them but no-one could see me.Then i had a break,i jumped up,ran towards the wall,got about ten metres from it then saw people coming.I then busted out my camera and calmly pretended to be a pro photographer,down on one knee and all that.People thought nothing of it.Then again i calmly walked uphill through the remaining scrub,jumped up the ancient wall,only to be greeted by the group we had walked in with.
I thought i was gone,my heart was in my throat,but then the guide,Bron and the two serbs all pissed themselves laughing and congratulated me on my great effort.All they wanted was for me to take a foto of THEM.Then they asked us once again to join their group for an instructed guide of the ruins,"what great people".
Of course i declined,went in with Bron to a hidden area and changed my cloths,plus we had to go find Al.
Then i relaxed and watched the sun light up the surrounding hills and the ancient ruins.It was an image i will never forget,sooo amazing and the best thing was there were hardly any people there at that stage.
We then spotted Al,joined up and marvelled the morning away at one of the most amazing place's on the planet.All for free,the way it should be.
This story totally appealed to my adventurous side and also my bank account.
This place was a friggen tourist scam and quite the expense i told myself.
Anyway i buy the guy a beer,have a chat then get a good ol map scribbled out on paper and the complete lowdown on jumping,only to be even more keen on seeing the place.
I also had another member of Australia keen for the fun.Big Al from Perth i met months ago and had reunited with him and his lovely girl Bron(the quite girl who once let out is a party fiend).So we left cusco by bus to Ollyantambo,thats half way through the sacred valley to the ruins.There is also some cool ruins at that town and rather than been boring and paying we thought we might go aroung the side and see if we could pass for free here too.We did well,walked through the local farmers feilds,meeting a couple on the way,climbing,skirting,getting wet then to the side of the ruins.There we encountered peruvian secuirity.Now peruvian security differ greatly from any other,they would happily take a chocolate bar as a bribe.
Anyway he asked for tickets, "ahhh we got none", he say's we need them,we say "nup,got none senor",
Then the true colors come out,He says we can pass for a tip.We give him about $1:50 ozzie between the three of us,it cost about 20 each at the gate.
He was then so happy he gave us a quick run down (tour guide style) on where and how to get around the ruins.We did'nt hang around long and bailed straight in there,too easy.The ruins were good too,they boulders it was built with had come 10kms from another mountain and even accross a river that they apparntly damned off in sections.Smart cookies these inca's,nearly as smart as us seeing it all for $1:50.
Anyway,back to the main event.
We then took a train through the sacred valley.It was beautifull.a river at the bottom wich the train track hugs and huge beautiful steep mountains at either side.Felt like a place out of Lord Of The Rings,very ancient and very spiritual land.
We then got to Aguas Callientes (hot water) and thats the town at the base of the mountain.It was soooo touristy,felt like i had just stepped out of peru.Got some accomodation,had a beer then slept in anticipation to wake at 4am,start walking at 4:30am and sneak under the radar at sun-up.
Up early we were off,walking in the dark and the freezing cold.A guide with two guy's from serbia passed us and asked us to join with them walking.The walk was to take an hour and a half straight up a mountain by staircase.(the real hardcore tourists catc a bus).It was nice and quite,birds chirping and light slowly revealing the majesty of the surrounding mountains.The bush was fresh,rainforest like coverage,green and moist.It was a pretty hard walk due to the constant climb and also the high altitude,there were many puffed stops,many puffed stops but we were getting there none-the-less.
Once near the top the light was out and it occured to me i was in the clouds at an amazing place,but before i could think too much i saw the track,blocked out with three logs just like my mate had told me.Me and Al burst into action,we sepperated mischeiviously from the three others and Bronny joined them as she was paying and would'nt think about joining us delinquents.
So there gone,we had to be quite,not talk and not tread on too many sticks army style.It was full on bush bashing on a hardly noticible track,not to mention i was knackered allready and the hill was extremely steep.If we rolled down we probably would have ended up in china (or whatever country is accross the globe from peru).
After 15 minute's of bush bashing we spotted the walls of Machu Picchu.But also we spotted the track where those who had tickets entered,it was right beside us.
I could hardly control my excitement and i felt like a lil kid again,a priceless feeling.
Anyway we were in full veiw as soon as we stood up,Al went for it,scailing a wall via a tree while none the wider tourists watched him,he looked sooo funny,i have no idea what they were thinking other than "what the hell is that scruffy looking guy doing down there".By scruffy i mean we were dirty,wet and raggy from the bush bash.Next,he was gone,in without a problem.
I was hiding in under shrubbery,awaiting my moment.It tiook age's as there were loads of people rocking up.I could see all of them but no-one could see me.Then i had a break,i jumped up,ran towards the wall,got about ten metres from it then saw people coming.I then busted out my camera and calmly pretended to be a pro photographer,down on one knee and all that.People thought nothing of it.Then again i calmly walked uphill through the remaining scrub,jumped up the ancient wall,only to be greeted by the group we had walked in with.
I thought i was gone,my heart was in my throat,but then the guide,Bron and the two serbs all pissed themselves laughing and congratulated me on my great effort.All they wanted was for me to take a foto of THEM.Then they asked us once again to join their group for an instructed guide of the ruins,"what great people".
Of course i declined,went in with Bron to a hidden area and changed my cloths,plus we had to go find Al.
Then i relaxed and watched the sun light up the surrounding hills and the ancient ruins.It was an image i will never forget,sooo amazing and the best thing was there were hardly any people there at that stage.
We then spotted Al,joined up and marvelled the morning away at one of the most amazing place's on the planet.All for free,the way it should be.
PART 1-MACHU PICCHU
Yep i finally made it to the world famous inca ruins of Machu Picchu.Im sure the place does'nt need any introduction to any of you,but if it does its insane ruins atop insane mountains in the insane clouds and was obviously built by insane people.
Seroiuosly the inca's who built this place really must have been a little crazy.I mean just to walk,trek or climb to the ruins is a mission in itsels and to build a city and live there also is absoluteley mind blowing.
I was a little weary about doing the whole "lost city" ruins as there is sooo much hype and tourism blowout around it.Somewhere like 1-2000 people visit this place a day and they charge about 120bucks per person,now peru is not a real well of country so with figures like that this place probably supports the whole countrie's economy.
Not to mention the devostation this amount of people must cause on the timid enviroment.Seroiusly this place is in the clouds on the steepest of steep mountains.
Anyway i got over my moral stubborness after a few good people told me i must do it, and so i did it.
I was not affected by the amount of tourists at all,the place was absolutely awe inspiringly amazing.I was totally blown away and so stoked to be there.
The scenery surrounding it was majestic,and the location somewhat surreal.
The city is built sooo perfectly from boulders and stone quarried then carried from quite a distance.And cosidering it was a hard climb up there due to the steepness of the mountain and altitude(i was'nt bgetting no bus)it was hard to imagine just how this place was constructed by hand.
Some areas you would sit on the edge of a wall only for there to be a sheer drop to eternity,i'd love to show photo's but there is 2 reasons why i won't,
1-they just would'nt do the place justice
2-im retarded at getting the friggers on my blog
Anyway,yeah Machu Picchu was totally amazing,an amazing human feat,beautiful artwork,and an insane idea turned into reality.
Seroiuosly the inca's who built this place really must have been a little crazy.I mean just to walk,trek or climb to the ruins is a mission in itsels and to build a city and live there also is absoluteley mind blowing.
I was a little weary about doing the whole "lost city" ruins as there is sooo much hype and tourism blowout around it.Somewhere like 1-2000 people visit this place a day and they charge about 120bucks per person,now peru is not a real well of country so with figures like that this place probably supports the whole countrie's economy.
Not to mention the devostation this amount of people must cause on the timid enviroment.Seroiusly this place is in the clouds on the steepest of steep mountains.
Anyway i got over my moral stubborness after a few good people told me i must do it, and so i did it.
I was not affected by the amount of tourists at all,the place was absolutely awe inspiringly amazing.I was totally blown away and so stoked to be there.
The scenery surrounding it was majestic,and the location somewhat surreal.
The city is built sooo perfectly from boulders and stone quarried then carried from quite a distance.And cosidering it was a hard climb up there due to the steepness of the mountain and altitude(i was'nt bgetting no bus)it was hard to imagine just how this place was constructed by hand.
Some areas you would sit on the edge of a wall only for there to be a sheer drop to eternity,i'd love to show photo's but there is 2 reasons why i won't,
1-they just would'nt do the place justice
2-im retarded at getting the friggers on my blog
Anyway,yeah Machu Picchu was totally amazing,an amazing human feat,beautiful artwork,and an insane idea turned into reality.
16 October 2006
CUSCO
Allrighty, Cusco is the entry city to the sacred valley which is where the famous macchu picchu lies.Its one of the most ancient citie's in peru with loads of history.
Its also very famous for been a huge party city with some of the funnest partying i have ever seen and in so much good cocain that even Senor Pablo Escobar would be proud of the place, and that is why i have become stuck here in a way for almost two weeks.
It actually feels like a lot less,then again i really have no perception of the time here and can only gel it into one big day,a lot of happy face's,one big night and one massive hangover.
Apart from partying i have done a few side trips to machu picchu,white water rafting and a huge lake, but thats for another time.
There is so much competition here between pubs and clubs that people mob you at the doors and give you a free drink card to enter other bars.This really works well as you can gather up ten or so free drink cards,go to each bar for the freeby then move onto the next,in turn not buyinganything and drinking the night away for free,which is really good on my budget.Also the local girls are friggen animal's,it's like been a chick at the sleeziest ozzie pub.They love the gringo fella's,and when you walk through the clubs they grab you on the arm,trip you,bite or whatever it takes to get you to stop.Sounds good hey boy's,well its actually a bit much and a turn off.
The other crazy thing is that i went to a bar on a tuesday night only for the owner to come around to the tables and give each table free cocain.Yep sounds crazy, but let me tell you it LOOKS even crazier when you look around the pub and people all over are doing cocain in public off the table,now i know what the rich and famous peoples patie are like at home and in the states.
So i belieive when in rome,do as the romans do and after that have come off the biggest partie in my life with a decsent hangover.I wont go into details as im not sure of the legal content policies in this blog,lets just say i've got a sore nose.
Thought i might as well make the most of it as i may never get another chance.
Its also very famous for been a huge party city with some of the funnest partying i have ever seen and in so much good cocain that even Senor Pablo Escobar would be proud of the place, and that is why i have become stuck here in a way for almost two weeks.
It actually feels like a lot less,then again i really have no perception of the time here and can only gel it into one big day,a lot of happy face's,one big night and one massive hangover.
Apart from partying i have done a few side trips to machu picchu,white water rafting and a huge lake, but thats for another time.
There is so much competition here between pubs and clubs that people mob you at the doors and give you a free drink card to enter other bars.This really works well as you can gather up ten or so free drink cards,go to each bar for the freeby then move onto the next,in turn not buyinganything and drinking the night away for free,which is really good on my budget.Also the local girls are friggen animal's,it's like been a chick at the sleeziest ozzie pub.They love the gringo fella's,and when you walk through the clubs they grab you on the arm,trip you,bite or whatever it takes to get you to stop.Sounds good hey boy's,well its actually a bit much and a turn off.
The other crazy thing is that i went to a bar on a tuesday night only for the owner to come around to the tables and give each table free cocain.Yep sounds crazy, but let me tell you it LOOKS even crazier when you look around the pub and people all over are doing cocain in public off the table,now i know what the rich and famous peoples patie are like at home and in the states.
So i belieive when in rome,do as the romans do and after that have come off the biggest partie in my life with a decsent hangover.I wont go into details as im not sure of the legal content policies in this blog,lets just say i've got a sore nose.
Thought i might as well make the most of it as i may never get another chance.
07 October 2006
90 DAYS IN PERU
My visa for peru is nearly up and its time to leave this wonderfull country.I have a week and a half left to get to bolivia but have one more thing to do and that is machu pichu.Also go through the biggest party town around,Cusco.
Could be a long detox in bolivia.
It has gone so quick my time here but i guess that allways happens while on holiday.
Gracias por todo Peru.
Could be a long detox in bolivia.
It has gone so quick my time here but i guess that allways happens while on holiday.
Gracias por todo Peru.
THE GRINGO TRAIL and my fat ass
Since leaving the coast i have joined what is known here as ¨The Gringo Trail¨, in ozzy terms.All those frigging backpacker and tourist hangouts.Apart from been an expensive trail it is also not good on the body as everynight is a hard party full of sex,drugs,rock'n'roll and copious amounts of alcohol.And its a little hard not to join the fun.
This is partly why i am turning into a tubba-lard-ass too i guess.Also the food here is full of starch and everything cooked in oil,basically really shit food.Anyway after 6 years of not gaining any weight,even after last year of three months sitting around doing nothing with my buggered leg.I have finally started chubbing a little.
Dunno if it's a lot but Ive gained 6 kilo's in four months,dunno if thats a lot but i know have love handle's,no six pack and a lil chub around my face.Its actually a bit funny.
At least now i knbow for sure that i don't have worms.
This is partly why i am turning into a tubba-lard-ass too i guess.Also the food here is full of starch and everything cooked in oil,basically really shit food.Anyway after 6 years of not gaining any weight,even after last year of three months sitting around doing nothing with my buggered leg.I have finally started chubbing a little.
Dunno if it's a lot but Ive gained 6 kilo's in four months,dunno if thats a lot but i know have love handle's,no six pack and a lil chub around my face.Its actually a bit funny.
At least now i knbow for sure that i don't have worms.
LINEA'S DE NAZCA
Otherwise known as the Nasca Lines, this is a sight where there are picture's, lines and markings etched into the desert floor stretching over 500 kms in the desert of peru.
I remember seeing these line's on a doco years ago and was fascinated by them and also fascinated that scientists still have no real clue's about what they resemble and who or what made them.They are surrounded in mystery and theorie's so i thought id better see them for myself by aeroplane to understand more and gather my own opinion of what they were and still are.
rar rar rar, more of this entry ro come,
Well two months after i went i just checked my blog and saw i did'nt finish this entry,and im not going to.
But my theory is the lines and picture's are dipictions of the solar system,stars and also maybe calenders.
I remember seeing these line's on a doco years ago and was fascinated by them and also fascinated that scientists still have no real clue's about what they resemble and who or what made them.They are surrounded in mystery and theorie's so i thought id better see them for myself by aeroplane to understand more and gather my own opinion of what they were and still are.
rar rar rar, more of this entry ro come,
Well two months after i went i just checked my blog and saw i did'nt finish this entry,and im not going to.
But my theory is the lines and picture's are dipictions of the solar system,stars and also maybe calenders.
BIG FARKEN SAND DUNES
After hitting Lima for a couple of crazy crazy and rather hazy days of partying i headed south with a new gang.Ali a bloody good ozzy sheila who ive travelled with for the past few weeks and colin,a bloody good seppo bastard from san diego.
We grouped up and heade south to a desert oasis.It was a wild bus trip along the coastal sand dunes.We arrived at night so not too much could be seen but once the sun was up it was like been in a saharan movie.We were totally surrounded by massive sand dunes with a feral little green lake in the middle.The dunes were easily two hundred metre high so of course the first thing to do was go and hire some sandboards.
After a hellish calf burning climb to the top in hot desert heat i was ready.Colin hit it first, then me and everything was going pretty well.It was very similar to snowboarding but without the manouverability and a little less speed.Although it was still real fast.Anyway my first stack was on my ass and it was a horrifying feeling,like someone was trying to shovel a tonne of sand up my poor little sphinkter,it felt like some even went in,like been butt-fu#@ed by an elephant.Man i was sore and nearly shed a tear but didnt let that stop me and continued the run.
After that we hit another dune but that was it as the sun was way to hot to be climbing mountains of sand.After all to my dissapointment i was turning out to be quite a kook at sandboarding.
We then booked a dune buggy tour for the afternoon when the weather cooled down a bit.Been ozzy we rocked up 45 mins early to get some liquid confidence.The dune buggy was an 8 seater,huge roll cage and looked like a vehicle straght from the set of mad max.It also sounded like an absolute monster.
Out on the dunes it was insan,a full addrenlin rush as we hit steep peaks with speed and got thrown around like ragdole's.There were screams of fear and also excitement continously from all aboard.We would stop at the tops of dunes for some more sandboarding,these dunes were sooo sooo big and i was shitting myself.Most people took the smart and safe option of going down on their stomach,this was also much faster than standing up as you would just go in a straight line.
But us silly youngens opted for the stand-up.Over six or so more humungas dunes i got more sand packed up my coit,took a freat stack in front of everyone attempting a jump over another dune and sloghtly smashed my shoulder and wrist.Another injuy to the list.And after all these runs i was still a shit sandboarder ¨with a sore coit¨.
But overall it was so much fun and the buggy was a rush,going sideways up all sorts of angles on the side banks of dunes and up and down and up and down more crazy hills.
After that it was back to town for our free coctail and out to dinner.Ate good food and drank good beer at a restuarant wich then to our suprise brought out a bowm of marijuana for desert.It was a strange thing to look around a restuarant and see people smoking free pot for sweets.No cops,no laws,no worries.
We grouped up and heade south to a desert oasis.It was a wild bus trip along the coastal sand dunes.We arrived at night so not too much could be seen but once the sun was up it was like been in a saharan movie.We were totally surrounded by massive sand dunes with a feral little green lake in the middle.The dunes were easily two hundred metre high so of course the first thing to do was go and hire some sandboards.
After a hellish calf burning climb to the top in hot desert heat i was ready.Colin hit it first, then me and everything was going pretty well.It was very similar to snowboarding but without the manouverability and a little less speed.Although it was still real fast.Anyway my first stack was on my ass and it was a horrifying feeling,like someone was trying to shovel a tonne of sand up my poor little sphinkter,it felt like some even went in,like been butt-fu#@ed by an elephant.Man i was sore and nearly shed a tear but didnt let that stop me and continued the run.
After that we hit another dune but that was it as the sun was way to hot to be climbing mountains of sand.After all to my dissapointment i was turning out to be quite a kook at sandboarding.
We then booked a dune buggy tour for the afternoon when the weather cooled down a bit.Been ozzy we rocked up 45 mins early to get some liquid confidence.The dune buggy was an 8 seater,huge roll cage and looked like a vehicle straght from the set of mad max.It also sounded like an absolute monster.
Out on the dunes it was insan,a full addrenlin rush as we hit steep peaks with speed and got thrown around like ragdole's.There were screams of fear and also excitement continously from all aboard.We would stop at the tops of dunes for some more sandboarding,these dunes were sooo sooo big and i was shitting myself.Most people took the smart and safe option of going down on their stomach,this was also much faster than standing up as you would just go in a straight line.
But us silly youngens opted for the stand-up.Over six or so more humungas dunes i got more sand packed up my coit,took a freat stack in front of everyone attempting a jump over another dune and sloghtly smashed my shoulder and wrist.Another injuy to the list.And after all these runs i was still a shit sandboarder ¨with a sore coit¨.
But overall it was so much fun and the buggy was a rush,going sideways up all sorts of angles on the side banks of dunes and up and down and up and down more crazy hills.
After that it was back to town for our free coctail and out to dinner.Ate good food and drank good beer at a restuarant wich then to our suprise brought out a bowm of marijuana for desert.It was a strange thing to look around a restuarant and see people smoking free pot for sweets.No cops,no laws,no worries.
GOT CAMERA
Yay, i have a camera again,scored a lil ripper at a dodgy market and am back on the photo's.But yet again i am retarded at getting them up on my blog.I got one surf shot up of jd @ lobitos but thats the best i can do.Maybe ill have to wait till i get back to out em all up,better late than never they say,but what do they know anyway.
CAMEL-TOE CONTINENT
Now we all know what a camel toe is don't we.
Well for those of you who don't it's when a female wears her pants so bloody tight around their crutch area it creates lines around their fanny that resembles the look of a camel-toe.
Well there is a camel-toe phenomonem flooding peru and the rest of south america.I dont even know how these women get into their jeans.It looks quite painfull and quite bloody funny,walking down the streets with an ¨ooohh,ahhh,owch that ones gotta hurt,and the old,check out those camel toe's¨.
I would love to post a foto but i thought it would be a little seedy walking the streets taking foto's of girls,womens and even grandma's snatch's.
Well for those of you who don't it's when a female wears her pants so bloody tight around their crutch area it creates lines around their fanny that resembles the look of a camel-toe.
Well there is a camel-toe phenomonem flooding peru and the rest of south america.I dont even know how these women get into their jeans.It looks quite painfull and quite bloody funny,walking down the streets with an ¨ooohh,ahhh,owch that ones gotta hurt,and the old,check out those camel toe's¨.
I would love to post a foto but i thought it would be a little seedy walking the streets taking foto's of girls,womens and even grandma's snatch's.
01 October 2006
YUNGAY AND A GLACIAL LAKE
First tour for a decent while.The weather here in Huaraz is worth mentioning too.
It feels like you could throw a rock to the snow on the peaks yet it gets sunny here from about 10 till 4 and gets quite hot.I never thought it would be this hot so close to the snow.In saying that it then rains and thunders in the arvo,clears up and then gets really cold in the night.Similar to melbourne weater in a way or two or three or four seasons in one day.
Anyway i did a day tour up to a glacial lake at the base of Mt Hauscarin,it stands at 6000 and somethen metres.A fair dinkum big bastard of a mountain.So this lake was pretty close to the base and the colors and surroundings were magical.The lake was a bright turqouise and changed dramatically with the light of the sun.With high peaks covered in snow all around it was definately breathtaking veiws 360 degrees.
I ate some pig intestine's that a local lady was cooking up on a bbq ind it was quite nice.After a couple hours of photo's and taking it in it was time to move.
I stopped at a small town to see a little street fiesta happening.Over here there is a parade or band marching down the streets everyday in every town.Usually they are churched based but this one was a little different and much more my cuppa tea.
There were about five old couples doing this strange traditional dance rocking side to side like they had stiff legs and hips.But the best part was that the ol codgers were dancing around two crates of longneck beers.I thought now why dont we do that in oz.
After that there was one more stop at a town called Yungai that was buried in the early eighties from a landslide caused by a huge earthquake.A huge part of Mount Huascarin collapsed and caused a massive mud and snow avalanche.It came about 15 kms toward town within three minutes.People watched the mass of mud then jump over the top of a 150 metre high hill like a gigantic wave and then bury the town along with 17,000 people.Seeing exactly how it happened was mind boggling and made me realise the real power of nature and natural disaster's.Some people escaped by climbing to higher ground but the rest still lie underneath the new town.It was an eerie walk as it got dark over the site to a massive cemetry atop of a hill.
HUARAZ
Got up into the ande's only to be completely puffed just from grabbing my bags off the bus and walking into the bus station.This of course is due to the altitude,Hauraz sits at 3000 metres and coming from the coast after three months to these altitude's mess with your body a little,dizziness,shotness of breath and really sensitive to alcohol.
This town is bordered by two huge famous ranges of alpine peaks and glaciers.Here is where all the hardcore ice climbs and mountain treks and run from in peru.The town is pretty big and at the same time as been touristy it has a lot of tradition with the local women wearing their old colorfull traditional garmets.
From just about every street in town you can see an amzing peak out of town that looks like something off lord of the rings.
If any of you have seen ¨Touching the Void¨ well this is the area where it all happened.For those of you who have not seen it i would recomend it strongly,a amazing tail of human courage and survival.
Scored a hostel that was`packed with 40 stinken isreali's and had to leave the next day.They are famous here for travelling i9n huge groups and been massive tight ass's.They come here only to hang out with people from home,go figure.
Anyway all is good as the scenery has changed dramatically from desolate dry desert to fairy like crazy huge snowcapped peaks,think im gonna like it here.
This town is bordered by two huge famous ranges of alpine peaks and glaciers.Here is where all the hardcore ice climbs and mountain treks and run from in peru.The town is pretty big and at the same time as been touristy it has a lot of tradition with the local women wearing their old colorfull traditional garmets.
From just about every street in town you can see an amzing peak out of town that looks like something off lord of the rings.
If any of you have seen ¨Touching the Void¨ well this is the area where it all happened.For those of you who have not seen it i would recomend it strongly,a amazing tail of human courage and survival.
Scored a hostel that was`packed with 40 stinken isreali's and had to leave the next day.They are famous here for travelling i9n huge groups and been massive tight ass's.They come here only to hang out with people from home,go figure.
Anyway all is good as the scenery has changed dramatically from desolate dry desert to fairy like crazy huge snowcapped peaks,think im gonna like it here.
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