Where is my shoe? Salkantay Trek // Peru Part 3 // 17 - 22 Sep 2019

Salkantay Trek - arriba!

The Salkantay Trek was probably one of my top experiences in Peru, in South America even.

Sultry tones at dawn in the Andes

The most popular trek to get to Machu Picchu is the famous Inca Trail - a part of the route of pilgrimage from Cusco to Machu Picchu used by the Inca (the Emperor) in the 15th century. But that required booking 6 months in advance as it is so popular but only has limited spaces due to conservation, and it was too late to book to fit this into my trip. But a little research brought up Salkantay Trek as the best alternative - in fact, it looked and sounded even better than the Inca Trail - blue lagoons, higher altitudes, hot springs, forests, close up views of spectacular snow-capped mountains…It was longer, but cheaper. It’s definitely suited for one who likes to hike (insert hands up emoji here) and be close to nature.

Friend, new and old // Lima & Cusco, Peru part 2 // September 14 - 17, 2019

Lima take 2 

Alas, I had to return to the grey city for a couple of nights as I was meeting Derek on the 15th to set off for Cusco. I suppose I didn’t have to spend 2 nights here, but I was getting a bit tired of doing nothing in Huaraz (I was sick and had to conserve my hiking muscles for the upcoming 5-day Salkantay Trek, and other than hiking there’s nothing much else to do around here), and I was quite keen to dig into the restaurant scene a bit more in Lima. So I left the blue skies and snowy mountainous views of Huaraz on a day bus, 9 hours later I was back in the concrete coloured capital, greyness rushing back into my veins as the bus crawled through rush-hour traffic.

Leaving the blue skies and chill vibes. of Huaraz

Conquering new highs - very high, and some lows, Peru part 1 // September 4 - 13, 2019

Leaving Colombia was tough. I wasn’t just leaving behind a country that I had gotten to know and love in the last 10 weeks, but familiar settings, familiar faces and places, the friendliness and openness and hospitality from strangers that I hadn’t experienced anywhere else. And a community that I got to discover Colombia with. Not just the Medellín community, but even when I was in the northern coast, I was always with people with whom I was able to share experiences with.

But onward I must go.

Lima

But first, some home comforts :)

If my mood wasn’t grey enough for leaving Colombia, the greyness of Lima seeped into my soul to paint it a solid shade of concrete. The Peruvian capital was so grey. Its sky was grey. The buildings were grey. The streets were grey. And…only because we’re on the subject of aesthetics, the people - bless their kind hearts - were not nearly as good-looking as their neighbours up north haha. And not as outgoing, but rather reserved - still nice people, but comparatively much quieter and less colourful. Perhaps the only thing that brought any form of delight these couple days in this city was the fantastic sushi rolls I had on my second night. (Is it a ‘quality’ of mine that I can almost always rely on food to bring a little light back to my life?!).

I went on one walking tour, and spent other time doing life admin - going to the doctors, sending documents to the bank, sitting in cafes watching the grey city tick by…and wait for my night bus to Huaraz (pronounced 'WA-RAZ') where things get very, very high...

Petronio and Paragliding, and the U-turn back to Medellín // Aug 15 - Sep 3, 2019

Cali - Just a couple of stories.

After a few amazing days in the mountains, I arrive in Cali, a somewhat unremarkable city by appearance, known for being the salsa (dance, not sauce) capital of Colombia, and home of what was once one of the largest drug cartels in the region.

It was hot, humid and polluted. I was here because I had heard about the salsa, but also because while I was in Medellín I had been told that there was a big music festival - a FREE music festival - being held here in a couple weeks' time.

I booked myself into an Airbnb, which turned out to be a big house built and owned by an Australian-Colombian family. They warmed welcomed me with coffee and snacks and showed me the city from their rooftop terrace. I knew I was in good hands.



I didn't have much expectations for Cali, other than to attend the music festival. Motivation to explore the city during the day dwindled as quickly as the rise in temperature and humidity each day. The only memorable daytime event was how I met my Colombian “uncle” Jorge (pronounced: hhor-hey)…

Colombian Countrysides - the views and the hues in the hills // 11-15 August

My journey through Colombia continues to possibly the most picturesque places I've visited in my Latin American journey so far.

I hadn't come across Jardin while researching Colombia, but I heard about it when I was out on that rad tour to the desert La Guajira, talking to a Colombian family from Medellín who were staying at the same hospedaje (I think best described as a camp). Unlike Guatape and Salento which were on every backpacker’s guide blog for Colombia, Jardin was much less talked about. I had only learned about it from the locals of Antioquia, and in fact every single Paisa said it was unmissable.

And it was definitely one not to be missed.