Kovan

Hello people, I have just touched down yesterday morning. I was not being lazy for the past 2-3 weeks, it’s just that everything in Colombia was in a rush, and my schedule was really packed that I had no time to update the blog. A couple of times i tried to upload some photos, but the computer hanged and i just gave up from then on. Now that I’m back in Singapore in my own comfortable bedroom, l shall put an end to this blog  (a short summary and pictures for each of the places i’ve been to), which i hope had provided reading pleasures for all in the past months.

My travel experience in Colombia is quite different to that of Peru. In a way, it’s due to the fact that i am being brought around by my friends (and their friends). In these 3 weeks (19 days to be exact) in colombia, i’ve met great people (friends of my friends), who had gone all out to ensure my stay was comfortable, safe and pleasant. Despite the language barriers (especially at the beginning), our time together had been fantastic and these beautiful memories will surely reside in my heart for a long time to come. I would also like to give special thanks to the parents of alejo and felipe, who had provided excellent hospitality in their homes. I had been to great places, from the capital (Bogota) at 2600m, to the lovely tropical/amazonian city of Florencia, to the incredible carribean coast (Taganga, Tayrona and Cartagena), and each left a deep yet characteristically different impression. I swam in a river and natural pools, got dragged by the furious rapids, threw out after a few heavy shots at a house party, tried some amazing local food and fruits from the amazon (i missed the juices!), did my virgin dive in the crystal clear carribean sea and got awed by a turtle swimming beside me, cursed and swore as i tackled a humid and mosquito infested national park, and more.. Most importantly, after having received a heavy dosage of lessons on colombian economy, history and politics, i now have a greater understanding/perspective of this country, and too, the latin region.

In conclusion, i declare my graduation trip a huge success. Everything that could happen (expected/unexpected, good/bad) happened, making this once-in-a-lifetime trip a truly South American affair.

Cartagena

After my PADI examination, we took a bus to Barranquilla, and another bus to Cartagena. We stayed in an apartment that belongs to one of his friends. Nice shower and comfortable mattress, just what we needed. Cartagena is a popular tourist destination because of its historical importance and its location in the carribean region. Being the primary shipping port for gold and other treasures to be transported back to Spain, the spanish strengthened the defences by surrounding the whole city with wall. This helped the city to withstand many pirate and military (mainly the English) attacks/plunders in the past.  I visited 3 places of attractions, La Popa (monastery), Castillo de San Felipe and the walled city. The colonial walled city is very beautiful, but unfortunately my battery went flat just after i reached (so most of the pictures are in the other camera). 

I left for the airport in the following morning, and began my journey back home. This was the flying route that took 2.5 days:

Cartagena->Medellin->Miami->Los Angeles->Tokyo->Singapore

 

la popa..

the monastery

apartmentmates with felipe..

me

the interior

hotels and expensive high-rise apartments

entrance of San Felipe castle

the guard tower

cannon facing the city

at the top of the castle

colombian flag

random pic 1

random pic 2

old ship

colonial city

Tayrona National Park

The trip to Tayrona National Park. We did freaking lotsa (can’t rem how many hours) of walking here, from forest trail to sand, to forest trail up into the mountain and finally out of the park in day 2. Our plan was to stayover night in a hammock, but after getting swamped by so many mosquitoes at the registration booth, we decided to get a 2 men tent (and it comes with two mattresses) instead. The beach here is REALLY pretty, i had a hard time deciding which photos to upload. The waves are strong enough to kill if you venture too far off the shore, so we had to be careful. The sole of my left boots finally came off, so did felipe’s. Once we left the park, we rushed back to Taganga for my diving examination.

Day 1

map of tayrona

children from the Kogi tribe spotted..

shore..

coconut trees during sunset..

 

Day 2

our tent..

hammock..

my boots, sole coming off..

beach near the campsite 1

beach near the campsite 2

top view with me..

random pic

killer waves

good for surfing

crab

getting a little crowded

from afar

i was at tayrona beach

i love this towel..

start of trail to pueblito..

never seen this before...

rocks piled up together

pueblito!

kogi hut

Taganga

From Florencia, in a 26hour bus journey, we traveled from the south (amazon) to the north (carribean) of Colombia. We arrived at Santa Marta, where we took another bus to the village of Taganga. I signed up for a 3 day, open water PADI diver course. Underwater,  everything felt different, tranquil and very vibrant, as if you’ve come to a different world. Fishes and other aquatic animals swimming all over you, colourful coral reefs and of course, the feeling of weightlessness in water just felt so cool. At the end of the course, i took a 2 day 1 night break to tayrona park, before coming back to sit for the examination, which i fortunately managed to pass..

view of the village from the top

my dive school, highly recommended..

setting off for my first confined water lesson (no swimming pool so i did mine in the sea)

briefing..

preparing..

hi

resting near one of the dive sites

our boat..

back from the dive..

dinner time..

 

shall wear a hood in my next dive

streamline

turtle!

stingray?

Florencia

The second part of my Colombia travel was with Felipe, starting from this amazonian city of Florencia, his hometown. We took a 7 hour (or more) bus from Bogota. This city is my favourite because of the climate, fruits and felipe’s family. Felipe’s parents owned a hotel, and the family live in a super big house (situated in the most expensive area of the city), yet they are modest, generous and never ever flaunt their wealth. Alot of pictures taken at the pool or river were with another camera (water and shock resistant), so i hope the following (from my camera) would do just fine. 

taken from inside the bus..

city of florencia

singapore grass!

streets..

love the fruits!

horses and carts, the main transportation mode for goods..

green parrot on my hand..

i think this is the river we swam in..

sebastian (pipe's little bro), felipe and me

living by the river..

road blocks by the military, guard against the guerrillas

at the farm of felipe's girlfriend

in my typical hall 12 attire..

stuck in the mud

the pool we swam in..

group picture..

Bogota 2

More pictures in Bogota..

 

THE symbolic brand of colombian coffee

cheap mexican food..

i hate to drink..

the siblings (Juan Pablo and Valentino)

hard to get everyone to focus on the camera..

transmilenio (BRT, bus rapid transit) system, equivalent to our MRT..

Gold Museum, really world class..

gold museum, souvenir shop

chilean exhibit..

Fernando Botero (remember this name) museum

botero's art piece

botero's mona lisa

exhibit hall..

Maloka Science Museum (never too old for that)..

3 little boys in an experiment lesson..

me and station master, playing with high voltage..

Bogota

Bogota. I was so relieved to arrive here from Lima, and glad to see familiar faces. In my first week here in Colombia, i stayed in Alejandro’s house (or alejo in short). He introduced me to all of his closed friends (all stayed either in the same block or just a street away). They are a wacky and sincere group of people, whom i really feel happy to make friends with. Alejo and his friends come from families that are considered upper middle class. In bogota, you pay tax according to the status of your housing estate, 6 being the most expensive and 1 being the least (the poorest of the poor). And my friends belong to status 4. In this one week, we lived life like a real tourist (poor alejo and juanpablo had to spend alot of money), visiting and eating expensively. At the same time they make sure i experience the real colombian life by attending house party, drink, drink and drink.. Somehow i felt relieved (i mean i enjoyed bogota) to leave bogota as my finances were going downhill. As for alejo, he got himself an internship with this petroleum company called Occi something, and everyone felt happy for him. Really a good organisation, and i hope he manages to get himself a permanent contract.

 

alejandro and me..

with oscar..

can't rem the names, but they are good..

cathedral..

a reminiscence of cusco?

a guard outside the presidential palace..

presidential palace on the right..

president's window..

can't rem the name of this historic building (will find out..)

sculptures of ghosts that were believed to be seen at that particular spot (so for this, somebody claim to see this phantom or ghost walking on the roof..)

well err, guys, not the real thing, but hope it satisfies your cravings..

with ale's close friends in a nice dessert restaurant..very nice people..

 

Cheq’tisOut

:)

 

you have been great..

 

Adios Peruuuuuu…Colombiaaaaaa!!!

Mount Pisco

Disappointingly, due to bad weather (low visibility from snowing), we had to turn back about 150-200m  from the peak of mount pisco (5752m). What i saw yesterday (no horizon nor clouds, only snow and more snow) was totally different from what i see on the internet (spectacular range of snow capped mountains). Despite it being one of the easier peaks here in huascaran national park, I still found mt. pisco freaking grueling (yea having sore butt, quads and calves now). But overall it was still quite a good experience since it’s the first time i used a climbing ice axe, wore snow boots with crampons, and other mountaineering equipments. And the most memorable moments were when i had to tackle the glaciers and ice slopes, and jump over this deep 1-2 m wide crevasses (narrow cracks or splits in glaciers), which i don’t even dare to look down (imagine slipping off and dangling halfway between ice walls). Of course, i fell countless times, and there was once i had to frantically stab the axe into the ice but just couldn’t get a good grip because the ice was soft.  And when i finally got a firm stab, i couldn’t pull it out (haha). Luckily the guide helped me up by pulling the rope. All in all, my first climb (probably the last as well) would have been perfect if not for the weather..

In the meanwhile, i am anxiously keeping my fingers crossed that DHL live up to their reputation and duly deliver my passport (please please..) by wednesday or thursday. I will leave for Lima tomorrow night.

Mt. Huascaran at 6768m (Highest in Peru)

llanganuco lake

donkey trying to get close to me as i was eating my buscuit..

Mt. Huandoy (6395m) behind me..

pisco..

my guide..

the other climber in my group..

the peak that eluded me..

low visibility..

me having a snack (beef jerky)

another group of climbers..

random pic..

group picture..

my guide again..

no idea what this lake is..

random pic..

close up..

Upcoming – Mt. Pisco

Finally i’m going to climb a peak! I’ve signed up for a 3-day mount pisco climb (starting saturday) with my hostel. It’s one of the easier peaks out there in huaraz but i’m still nervous because i am going with an experienced climber (who’s gonna take this as an acclimatisation climb before another much higher peak) and a guide. Really hope that i will not be a liability.

My hostel also threw in a free downhill mountain bike package today. But instead of doing the full thing, i only did a bit of downhill riding, visited a ruin (wilcahuain), before getting a combi to transport me and the bike back to huaraz. Why? Because there were too many wild dogs and i was on my own! They will chase and bark at you whenever you ride past the houses! I don’t want to get bitten and be infected by some diseases. The guy from the hostel had earlier on warned me about it, and advised that i should pretend to pick up a stone from the ground (and the dogs will back off). I tried, but failed miserably (the dog was already a meter away even before i get off the bike).