Welcome to the Jungle
I have been a travelling machine lately. So here is a brief update into the life of Kristin...
2 weeks ago, a thursday night, went out for Britt´s last night in Cusco, very very sad saying bye to him. If you read this Britt, you are one of the fucking funniest people I have ever met and Cusco was 10 times more fun after I met you (all of the Taray group). Though it was a sad night it was also a fantastic night of endless dancing and drinking and other activities. Good stories from that night. Next night was Kimberley´s last night and we went out again but it was a bit harder with only having had 3 hours sleep and having to get up at 430 the next morning to leave for Aguas Calientes. Wasn´t a fun train ride at all, I left so sick, probably from being over tired and probably because I had to start my malaria pills. Aguas Calientes is a friggin hidious town but you have no choice but to go there if you want to do Machu Picchu. Got there at 11 saturday and just slept til 2, then went to eat and to the hot springs, which I thought were pretty disgusting but it was something fun to do. But sitting in yellow coloured water with other dirty smelly backpackers not really as appealing as one would think....
Sunday morning took a bus up to Machu Picchu, no walking for me. Would have loved to but just really didn´t have time. The thing with Machu Picchu is, because you know you HAVE to see it if you go to Peru....kinda makes you not want to, especially since its pretty expensive for such a short trip. But it was very very pretty and I´m glad I did actually go. Was really cloudly at first but then by noon it cleared up. Brought our delish palta and queso sandwich lunch with us again and just chilled after all the walking around and ate. Wasn´t really busy when we were there either which was very nice.
Got back to Cusco sunday night...last week? (its so hard to keep track...) Met up with Brittany at Indigo and got ready for our jungle trip the next morning.
Although going to the jungle was freaking expensive it was so totally worth it. Such an amazing 5 days. Hamish, Brittany and I flew to Puerto Maldonado at about 11. Saw Susan at the airport waiting for her much delayed Lima flight. Best random run in, so glad I got to say goodbye again. I am def coming to visit you and Britt. There is nothing in Puerto Maldonado. The airport is the smallest I´ve ever seen, it was endless trees and a weaving river and then out of nowhere there was a runway...Got on the bus with the others in our tour and stopped for a beer before heading down the river. Had to take the bus an hour and then a boat about 2 and a half hours up the Tambopata River until we finally got to the lodge. Tambopata EcoLodge, in case you are interested. Saw some camien and macaws on the way there. The lodge is beautiful. Rustic, which I love, no electricity, just candles which was really fun. Had our own little hut. Walking up to the dinning room at night with the path lit with candles was like being in Survivor walking up to that elimation thing...I hate Survivor but Im just giving visuals here...Luis was our guide, the most laidback person ever, but knowledgable. Went for a night walk the first day and saw a sloth lots of cool (big) bugs, and an emerald tree boa wrapped up in a tree which was amazing! The next day went hiking and had a ride on a small lake there. Swam in the Amazon, complete with pirrahnas and snakes and what not. That day saw some monkeys and an anteater. Probably other things but I don´t remember them all. A tree that produces penis looking roots, seriously look it up, its called exotica...something. Maybe you can´t look it up. And discovered my all time favourite tree! The Strangler! Its a type of fig, I think. It starts from the top of the canopy and starts growing down, wrapping itself around an already existing tree, growing more and more and eventually eating all the other trees nutrients and killing it. Sounds twisted I know but it looks amazing the way it twists down and forms itself. Beautiful. One was big enough we went inside it and I climbed the inside of it (because the old tree dies so there ends up with a hole inside). My second favourite tree is the Walking Tree. Its like Ents...but totally different...3rd day did more hiking and fishing for pirrahnas. I got nibbles but couldn´t actually get one. Went for a hike on our own and almost got attacked by a wild boar...thats all Im saying about that story. It was freaky.
Got back to Cusco friday around noon. Had a busy day of doing laundry and getting stuff organized because left that night for Puno and Lake Titicaca. Said goodbye to Hamish. Weird not having all these people here that you get so used to being around everyday. The bus to Puno was horrible. Broke down an hour in and we stayed on the side of the road for 2 hours listening to the Peruvians argue with eachother about whethter to go on or not. We were in the back of the bus yelling VAMOS while this psycho woman was up front yelling PELIGROSO!! It was entertaining we finally made it alive to Puno 9 hours later at 630 am. Took the boat to the floating islands and spent the night with a family at another island. Can´t be bothered to write anymore...got back to Puno at 315, to the bus terminal at 320 and Amazing Race style, Brittany and I bought tickets, got food and went to the washroom in enough time to make the 330 bus to Arequipa, which is where I am now. Going to get info on the Colca Canyon today and possibly leaving tonight.
