Return to London

Oi everyone,

Well, we are back in London where it is an invigorating 6 degrees - the heat and humidity of South America is already quickly becoming but a sweet memory (although we didn't smell too sweet, especially Dave).

Rio was fun - we were all a little paranoid about being robbed, warned as we were by everyone we passed - even the street surveyor gave warning! Thankfully, none of us was robbed in broad daylight.

The arrival into Rio on Thursday night was spectular - I have never witnessed such an awesome arrival into a city with Jesus sitting on his mountain on one side and the city/bay spread out on the other. Friday was absolutely pouring with rain which dampened our spirits somewhat, but visiting the slums of Rio (there are many and the history of the slums is quite interesting) in the rain certainly put things into perspective - they have no gutter system so the streets were agush with rain water and all sorts of other nasties.

Friday night was spent in a samba house and then Dave and I went clubbing at Six - I have never had such an ego boost in all of my life! Thank god Dave was there to rescue me from the crowd of men encircling me 2 deep. Naturally, I was on my best behaviour and declined all invitations, but definitely a compliment nonetheless - nothing better than to hear so many men telling you that you are beautiful!

Sat was cloudy, but Jesus emerged from the clouds so we trooped up there to get some photos. Lunch was spent at the cafe where the song Girl from Ipanema was written (one of 3 songs that we had in our heads the whole time we were in Rio) and the afternoon was spent shopping.

Sunday was an absolutely glorious day. I went hang gliding, which was such an adreneline rush and I couldn't have hoped for a better day - stunning. The other girls headed straight for the beach and Dave went to Sugar Loaf, another mountain with spectacular views.

We departed Sunday afternoon and got back to London yesterday morning. Suprisingly, no dramas with Air Iberia. Kinda strange to be in a cold city with sunburnt feet and the thought that not 48 hours ago I was sitting at Copacabana with an icecream in my hands that was melting quicker than I could eat it because of the heat...

Will place photos on here soon. Don't worry - will pick out the best of the bunch of 2000 + photos!!

Summary: It truly WAS a trip of a lifetime. It will probably take me a good week to absorb all that was achieved on the holiday.

Few lessons learned:

1. Take travel tissues wherever you go - you never know if they are going to supply toilet paper (if there is even a ceramic toilet) and squatting over a hole with no paper on hand is not very pleasant...

2. Bring elastic bands to the jungle - wrap around ankles to avoid any nasties climbing up your pants.

Chao

Laura

Been there, done that

Since we last wrote we have been caught up in a middnight police raid, camped in the jungle, completed an Amazonian hike, met some more Indians and even saw some dried dolphin's vaginas for sale in the market (helps your libido by all accounts)...

Now, we are in Belem, Brazil! Tomorrow we are off to South America's party city - RIO!

Since we last wrote, we successfully left the country where three-quarters of all the world's kidnappings take place - Columbia. We boardered a river taxi which involved sleeping in hammocks on an open deck with 200 other people with our bags underneath. We slept in the middle of the deck so had people infront, behind and on each side of us - one guy was not even 30cm from my hammock. Loved the shower/toilet combos.

Twas an interesting experience being the only English speakers on board for four days, especially when the police shook us awake at middnight during an exciting evening raid where they went through all our bags. At one port, this sick guy in a stretcher boarded with his girlfriend, mother, siblings and nurse. It seemed the whole town had turned up to see him off and his boarding invovled a procession of people all who blessed him before he got on board.

We got off the boat in Manuas and quickly decided to jump straight back on another boat to take part in a two-day cruise. Highlight was when the guide pulled a cayman (crocodile) out of the river with his bare hands and we all gingerly patted it while he held it down. The American guy on board, asked if he could have a hold, his wife however did not think that was a good idea.

Camped out in the jungle under mosquito nets which was an experience. Saw quite a few nasties - inclduing more than our fair share of tarantualas - and heard a heap more in the distance rumbling around.

Tomorrow we fly out to Rio and return to London on Monday 5 December.

Later
Team Amazonia

Colombia: drugs, kidnappings and Team Amazon

Here we are in cheery Laeticia, Colombia where we all have our backpacks firmly on our backs to avoid having our kidneys ripped from our bodies as we walk through the dusty streets.

Just completed 3 nights on Rio Amazonias, a boat that travelled from Iquitos to here. We met some crazy Americans who just can´t get enough of the place and keep coming back - one couple on their 13th trip! They put us to shame with goodies for the Indian kids - we thought that lollies would suffice but no, they brought toys, tennis rackets, shoes, medicine, books and enough glow sticks that would light up the GAY bar.

About to jump on another boat to amble down the Amazon River to Manaus, Brazil. We suspect that every man, dog, chicken and goat will be joining us, such is the set up of the boat by the sounds of it, but no matter - at least we have Uno to entertain us.

More news from Manaus in 3 days time

Love yas

Laura (aka black panther)

We´re in the jungle!

Hey All We´re in the jungle and the craziest city I´ve ever visited – Iquitos, Peru. It´s the world´s biggest city that can´t be accessed by road (only by river and air). It is so loud, busy and fun. We´ve all been touched countless times because of our white skin, there are street sellers on every corner and at night the main square turns into a carnival with performers, fairy floss and even someone dress up as Winnie the Pooh. We´ve just visited the Belen Market and the ´floating city´ which due to the drought isn´t really floating but is just houses on big poles. A couple of police officers escorted us throughout the market which was slightly off putting as we weren´t sure what that meant. We left Tarapoto two days ago. Our whitewater rafting day was a lot of fun. At one stage we all just jumped in the river and floated as the current pulled us downstream. The same day we visited one of the ´sources´ of the Amazon River where we had lunch, tried some of the locals home brew (like tequila), popped into the thermal spas and finished the day at Papillion nightclub!!! Highlight of the nightclub was walking onto the packed dance floor and being the tallest person in the room by at least a head – I felt like a giant. We also got invited to a local´s house for dinner. When we caught our plane to Iquitos we were told that the plane left ´about´ 3pm. They couldn´t be more specific as Iquitos airport has lots of big black birds that fly around it and they have to wait until the birds have gone to bed (around 4pm apparently) before they can land the plane. We are now about to jump on a river boat for the start of the Amazon River component of our tour. Soon we´ll be in Brtazil. Hope everyone is well! Team Amazonia

Arriving, the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu (Leg 1)

Hello from Tarapoto, Peru where its a balmy 32 degrees! There are peacocks wandering around the grounds of our hotel, a huge pool which is currently calling my name and these crazy motorcycle rickshaw taxis waiting to take us into town.

The adventure has so far been brill. Were loving out Salomon clothes – we are the best dressed backpackers on the road.

We arived in Lima (capital of Peru) in the wee hours of Saturday morning thanks to a staggering display of incompetence by Air Iberia. Our flight from Madrid to Lima left without us so we were rerouted to Venezuela before landing in Lima 6 hours late. Highlights of the debacle were when Air Iberia said to us “your bags will probably be lost” and then borading a plane where we were assigned seats that did not actually exist. Oh, those crazy Spaniards.

After a very refreshing 3 hours sleep and a cold shower we caught a cab through the crazy streets of Lima and saw utes packed 1.5m high with potatoes and passengers sitting on the top, countless 5 person cars with 8 people sandwhiched in and beggars on every corner. Back at the airport we jumped on another plane to Cusco – the old capital of the Inca empire.

We met our Inca trail guide “Big Willy” and begun the 45km Inca Trail hike to the Inca City of Machu Picchu. It was spread over 4 days – which is not a lot of distance to cover over that time frame – but it was at high altitudes and was all up and down. One day we climbed over 2000m to a high of 4215m. It was tough and phyiscally exhausting but was one of the most incredible experiences of our lives. The views from the tops of the mountains we climbed, walking through clouds because you are so high, seeing so many Inca ruins, passing locals on the trail etc all made the trek amazing.

The final day saw us rise at 3:50am to begin the final hike to Machu Picchu – an Inca city that once had 1000 people but was abandoned about 100 years prior to the Spanish invasion and forgotten about until 1911 when an American explorer stumbled accross it (and looted all items of value from it). The final day was wet and very cloudy so we could not see Machu Picchu from the Sun Gate (a place high up in the mountain beside the ruins). After a half hour hike from the Sun Gate to MP the clouds parted and the lost city was revealed. We then spent a few hours exploring MP.

We also saw a Lama!

We then rewarded ourselves with a trip to some thermal spas and a night at the Savoy in Cusco.

As I mentioned before, we are staying at Tarapoto and Luara is now sitting beside me after a dip in the pool... Tomorrow, we are white water rafting... Its a tough life.

Will update again when we can.

Team Amazonia

Jungle Boogies - the evidence

Wih Team Amazonia jetting off in just 3 weeks, we decided it was time to celebrate with a JUNGLE PARTY!!!

The party was a resounding success: one noise complaint from the council; lots of people
pairing up (to the best of our knowledge, more than 20 people exchanged numbers or more); three people passed out, one of whom features here; monkey makeup streaked down the corridor walls; and a sexy black size 12 g-string found in Laura's bedroom (anyone want to own up to that one???)!! All indicators of an excellent party :) I also have hazy recollections of a congo line that ended up as a scrum in Cath's bedroom... More photos will be loaded up as they become available. If you have any photos, please send through to Dave or myself and they will be loaded up. Thanks for a great party everyone!!

Lots of Love Laura (aka Your Friendly Bla k Latex Panther)

And then there was five

According to Cath: After announcing to the world at large that we were about to embark on the trip of a lifetime, it seemed that we had inspired others - Laura and I have a very good friend Lisa del Vecchio who decided that she wanted to join the crazy troupe heading for the Amazon and participate in the 'Trip of a Lifetime.'

A little about Lisa:

Name: Lisa del Vecchio
Date of Birth: 29th January 1981
Star Sign: Aquarius
Likes: long walks on the beach, candlelit dinners and entertaining friends

Lisa has just completed two years living in Italia, so will no doubt be able to provide interesting 'campside' (or hammock) stories to keep us amused through the long Amazon nights. Stay tuned :)