I'd like to say my life flashed before my eyes..

So late last week, I went to see someone at the international office for information on volunteering in the jungle. I was given a form for my name, D.O.B and when I wanted to go. I took a stab at dates (next monday to friday). He made a call and told me that it was all arranged. So I basically went in for information and got signed up, with out getting much information!

So on monday the 27th I head to Manu, to volunteer to plant trees for four hours a day and have the rest of the day for walks and bird watching. So I am very excited about that. And the best thing is that it should only cost me $20 Us, where as to do a tour it could cost up to and above $300 US!

Also this Sunday I will go to Machu Picchu with Hans (not a very Peruvian name I know) my tandem language partner. He's studying to be a tour guide so I will get a personalized tour of 'The Piche' and because I wont be booking through an agency I should be able go go for considerably less. Which suits me just fine!.

On Saturday after a walk through a valley, I was walking down a street near the center of town. And turned to talk to someone behind me, however due to the slippery smooth stones on the streets and roads. I slipped on the curb and fell on to the road, so the sound of many screeching brakes. I was luckily enough that the driver of the car hurtling towards me was paying attentions and quick to stop as the car literally stopped less than an inch from my shoulder. Had either one of us been a second late and a different result could have occurred. I'd like to say my life flashed before my eyes, but if it did I need to live more! 

On Sunday (past) two guys from project took me and another house and volunteer mate out to a lake. They talked about how beautiful this lake was however they have not seen the lakes we have.  But I got back in time to head over to Pisac market again.

Today the coordinators from GVN (the organization I came through) were here, it was funny to hear such a strong kiwi accent again!

3 city tour of duty in Peru

So after Puno, plans were set to head to the south and visit Ariquipa. Due to holy week most of the house didn't have to go to projects so it was a great opportunity for another trip. This time is was the same crew as last time plus one that we met in Ariquipa.

We planed to leave on wend night, however as luck would have it on tuesday I began to feel very ill. Another friendly welcome from Cusco. Tuesday night I had serious doubts that I should go, and being woken every hour with an urgency for the bathroom did not help. However by tuesday afternoon I decided to take the gamble and go. So I went to my project which I had to leave early and head straight to the local version of Mc Donalds as I hadn't eaten much in the last 24 hours plus. I know fast food isn't the best idea but I had cravings. So a mad dash back to the house and then a taxi drive that went the long way around. The bus station is 5 mins walk but we thought it might be quicker to take the taxi, given that we had to be there at 8.30 and thats when we left the house. We were wrong  the taxi took longer.  

So once again we boarded the bus looking down the barrel of an 8-9 hour bus ride. We arrived safe and sound at about 6.30 met up with our friend, had breakfast and started to walk around. We  found a massive monastery that we had been told about and spent literally 3 hours walking around. It was pretty interesting but after couple of hours all the rooms started to look the same. 

After that we found another church to visit, but after it was time for a pizza lunch and then a relax in the square. Being holy week there were plenty of Peruians just loitering but soon enough the church's started opening up for Easter celebrations and all of a sudden the town came alive. For some reason Spider man, Barney and plenty of others also turned up which made for great pics. 

We caught up with the two other volunteers from my project and had a drink with them, which was harder than it sounds as they don't sell alcohol on holy days. But sure enough it was time to get back on the bus for another 12 hours!

This time my stomach was not being friendly which meant that I had another sleepless night, the third in a row. But before to long we arrived in a very hot Ica. We took a cab out to Wachachina a lagoon town found a backpackers with a pool and relaxed until lunch. The restaurant we went to had such service was soo slow I was the last to get lunch and turned it away when it came 25 mins after the others had theirs. We had to go to a wine tour anyways. The tour was interesting we saw how they make Pisco a local sweet wine. And went to a chocolate place.

But it was soon time for  a dune adventure and sand boarding! the reason for almost 40 hours of bus trip. It was amazing and so worth it!

That night despite the loud bar music at the pool I had a great sleep, just a shame it was so short! We had to be up at 6.30 to head out to the coast.

On saturday we went out to the 'Poor mans galapagos' which was great to be at another coast in the world and it was crazy hot. The rest of the day passed quickly back at the lagoon. We missioned up to the top of one of the sand mountains for the sun set. And then back to Ica for another 15 hour bus ride!

The 15 hour bus ride turned into a 17 hour bus ride which by the end we were all getting a little stir crazy. Especially me as my Ipod and my phone were both flat!! But we made it home eventually! 

So now I'm back at Cusco and in my new room on the other side of the house, so I am finally getting some unbroken sleep! And for a change Cusco sky is blue, so I'm heading out to see the sun!

Travels around Peru- Puno

So this is the third  time i am writing this as the last 2 times the computer froze after I tried to load a picture on here  from my flash drive. So here goes again...

Time is passing so quickly here. On thursday I will be at the half way mark. 5 weeks passed and 5 weeks to go! I'm already looking forward to going to the U.S for things like cold drinks, cleaner public toilets and K.F.C!

So since my last update I have started a tandem language exchange, it has been really good and my spanish is slowly getting better. However due to sickness, travel and now strikes we have only met for half the time.

On the first weekend of the month we had tickets to see "The Village People" however for what ever reason they canceled around lunch on friday. So by 4 on friday a plan was being hatched to go to Puno to see the reed islands. And by 10 we were on a bus, a sleepless night a bumpy road and 8 hours later we arrived in Puno. As soon as we left the bus we were hounded by lots of people selling tours, taxi's or a countless amount of other stuff that just wasn't necessary at 6am!.

So after an average breakfast at gringo prices we went to our company who eventually took us to the dock. A 45 min boat ride to the islands was nice, we made land fall. The islands were actually quite interesting, I had heard that they were quite touristy. I wasn't misinformed, after the guide gave the talk on life on the island all the trinkets came out, and locals tried to sell almost anything. I considered buying a house as the view is quite nice, but its a long way to go for a holiday house. We then moved onto another (actual) island however it was a 2.5 hour boat ride, and a very slow ride at that. I was good to catch up on some sun and finally see a blue sky again. When we made land fall we steeped onto an island that had a very mediterranean feel. But the steep walk up to the village for lunch was not appreciated after a sleepless night, 2.5 hours of lying down and being at altitude. However after we walked around the village and had a lunch of trout (which was very nice) there was a performance of traditional dance by the local people. And then a walk back down the other side of the island to another 3 hour boat ride back to port. I have to admit I wasn't too keen on going to the islands but now I'm glad I went, it was worth it. 

But once back at port we found a place for dinner, had  a walk around Puno and jumped back onto the bus for an 8 hour bus ride home! We arrived at 5 am and it was straight to sleep, only to be woken by a new room mate coming in at 7.30.

On Sunday we went to a local soccer game/ peruvian bbq that was a fundraiser for someone who was pinned for  crime he didn't commit. Here you are literally guilty until proven innocent  and given that to get innocent you need a lawyer, which is hard given the average wage. Most people are left in jail.

On Monday I went mountain biking to see some ruins in the Sacred Valley, the up hills were average and harder than I had expected with the altitude but the down hills were awesome. It turns out we were slower than the guide would have preferred as we were late for the bus we were supposed to be on.  But no stress there are plenty more, we got back into town just in time to head to the square to meet some others from the house for the procession of Jesus. An even that marks the start of Holy week. There were soo many people we literally couldn't move, and lots of short old Peruvian ladies gave me wicked looks because I was tall. Its not my fault their short. It was only on the way home that I found that despite my bag being on my front it still got slashed on the side. Luckily it was just my jersey (that I brought here) that suffered, I'm not fixing it as a souvenir from Cusco.

  

So thats enough for now, I'll update last week soon.

Love to all