fredag 27 mars 2009

About bonito Bonito and bonito Bolivia,

So before heading to Bolivia, I got to spend a fantastic day with a dear friend of mine in Bonito, Brazil! We went to Rio Da Prata.which for the second year a row was ranked as Brazil's best attraction.Not having experienced all the rest, I wouldn't be the right person to tell, but my spontaneous feeling after having been dropped into an aquarium, with colorful fishes,anacondas *(we didn't see one), Caymans, and other animals, and on top of that flow in a stream was an incredible experience. I am a diver and usually when I get the question on the difference between diving and snorkeling, I tell myself and others that the real beauty with diving is that you get to become one with the underwater world, as opposed to when you are snorkeling, then you get to visit the under water world. I still feel the same around this specific question,however,the experience in Bonito was very diving like,because of the shallow water. Thus, the Bonito experience was incredible because I got to become one with the underwater world once again, in the same was as the Pantanal experience was incredible because we got to live in the jungle for a few days,as opposed to just visit the animals at a zoo.

After a late night, I took the morning bus to Corumba to cross the border to Bolivia. Reaching there, there were no train tickets which is from what I have heard the best way of experiencing the travel from the south of Bolivia to Santa Cruz, thus, my mean of transpiration became a bus. It was by far the most challenging bus ride so far in South America, partly because of the condition of the bus, but mainly because of the roads,which were muddy, slippery, and at times covered with lots of water. Without going into details about the specific events,they were enough to lack some sleep for the upcoming day in Santa Cruz. Following the news about the Dengue fever, which currently is draining the city, I was keen on enter and leaving the city. Even though I had gathered information that the situation had improved, I wouldn't like to risk to get ill. Read more about Dengue fever here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dengue_fever and specifically for Bolivia, here http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-03/08/content_10968448.htm. Unfortunately, this specific day, there were no buses to La Paz (world highest capital). In the past, it was common in Bolivia to block villages in protest for different things, often politically related, but today it is a lot less common, thus, a rather unfortunate event. Recognizing a tight deadline to reach to Bogota (I am planned to be there the 31st of March), I was keen on progressing, especially, since no one really knew for how long the blockade would last. My option became to join a Bolivian group of 7, who together jumped into a car, which assumed a different rout to La Paz, across the mountains. The road conditions were, again very bad, but what a fantastic country!!! I was amazed by the nature and the scenery, so the light hours of the trip just disappeared in humbleness. However, the darkness came and so did issues with the car. The steering broke down, which delayed us a few hours, however, after around 40 hrs of non stop traveling I arrived to La Paz this morning. The day here has been incredible. I am amazed by the country, and I have respects for its challenges. There is a burning need for positive leadership here. I haven't for a second regretted the decision of crossing the continent over land, absolutely amazing!

Tomorrow, I am heading to Peru, I shall look forward to that. For now, I am just very peaceful, loving the beauty of Bolivia and the world, also, I look forward to some sleep!

måndag 23 mars 2009

About Pantanal...Braizil!

So I am guessing everyone who gets to experience the Pantanal find it hard to express the beauty that unfolds as you are travelling deep in to the jungle of Pantanal, Brazil:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantanal

I am online briefly after three days in the jungle where I got see "hundreds of Caimans", Piranha, incredible birds and just getting the opportunity to live with the nature and visit the most impressive wildlife I have ever seen in my entire life. I I hope to revisit this experience in a later post, but as for now, I just wanted to capture a few words and feelings before entering a new intense experience, in Benito, also, Brazil!

Currently I am tired, happy, and excited. I realizing that the common theme of my travels in South America is to find the nature and experience it. Being in the nature calms me and amazes, it it gives me a doze of compassion, compassion towards everything - ts, my overriding feeling is compassion! Seeing the nature and hove beautifully it words makes me curious and humble.

Combining with these feelings I am also planning the continuation of my trip to Colombia! My plan is to enjoy the Cristal clear water in Bonito tomorrow, and the day after catch the morning bus to Corumba, where I hope to cross the border to Bolivia. In Bolivia, I will take a train to Santa Cruz, (a city recently challenged with the worse denge fever outbreak in 20 years), however, based on my current sources, it should be OK to enter the city without too high of a risk of getting the fever. If this status change, I will have to reconsider my path.

didnt want to capture much, but capture something...! The journey continues!

torsdag 19 mars 2009

About Iguazu...!

So, today was all about Iguazu! I had one of those days that I know will be standing out during the rest of my life!

I will be uploading some personal pictures shortly, however, here is a snap shot about the falls: http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=Iguazu&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=gr7CSZ6AO4SPmQecltXlCw&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&resnum=4&ct=title

My trip up north in South America has started and I couldnt have wished for a better start!

Soon, Asado at the Hostel!

måndag 9 mars 2009

Sobre Carne, Asado y Helado, termino la clase en espanol, disfruta Cordoba y Buenos Aires y el dia de las mujeres,

The last few weeks have been about completing my Spanish course, visiting Cordoba and seriously starting to enjoy the city of Buenos Aires.

La clase de español termino hace mas de una semana. El proyecto final fue sobre la dictatura militar en argentina entre 1976-1983…el parte de me, especialmente fue sobre la Guerra sucia (the dirty war). La Guerra es una parte de la historia muy negra durante de la dictadura militar. Consecuencias general de la guerra es de aproximadamente 13 000 personas fueron "desaparición forzada," y 30 000 persones fueron asesinadas durante el período. Porfavor visitar esta dirección por mas información: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dirty_War(I am getting closer to a post completely in Spanish)

Straight after finishing the Spanish course, we head off to Cordoba to spend time with a family of a friend of mine over the weekend. In dept understanding of “La crisis 2001-2003 was gained through speaking (in Spanish) with the father of the family, a chilled asado and pileta fiesta (bbq & pool party) was enjoyed and a new friendship with the Argentinean way of enjoying a summer Saturday was formed! The night was about party and the Sunday about visiting mountains and swimming in a lagugune. All in all, the weekend was fantastic and memorable. Not necessarily for having the opportunity to experience yet another city in Argentina, but really because of the opportunity to live, act and be Argentinean for a few days and to experience absolutely fantastic nature. Thanks Marcello + Family for enabling that experience!

Coming back to Buenos Aires have been about regaining energy, enjoying nice company, reflecting about the future and eating excellent food. The food culture in Argentina is specially designed for me! I love meat, bbq and ice-cream, these components combined are too good to be true…! Yesterday we experienced the celebration of the international women’s day here in Buenos Aires, the city really put in efforts in recognizing the significance of the day, which I believe is very encouraging. I am also asking myself the question what the role is of days like the one yesterday…

As I am writing this post I am realizing that the last few weeks and days haven’t been so much about reflecting, but just experience…indeed an interesting realization!

Going forward I am planning a trip up north in South America. I shall look forward to the planning and execution of that trip!