I have arrived, here in Rio de Janeiro where the locals say that God created the world in six days, the seventh he dedicated to Rio de Janeiro. From what I have heard from friends and other bloggers is that Rio is one of the most amazing places - so the bar was set very high with my expectations, will the coming days meet or exceed those expectations I wonder.

I arrived at the airport very early in the morning at about 6am, so naturally after all the horror stories of safety etc, I decided to have a coffee at the Airport, do some more research on Rio and then head to the Hostel when it was a bit lighter outside. The journey from the Airport to the Hostel (Che Lagarto) in Ipanema was a 30 minute 60Real (Brazilian Currency is Real).

Rio itself on first impressions was a city in chaos, the taxi driver thought he was Arton Senna, we passed a number of Favelas and I didn't exactly feel safe. Keeping an open mind and likening my journey to those tourists in London who get a taxi from Heathrow through the likes of Hounslow, I decided to check in and see what this 'apparently' beautiful city has to offer.

So I arrived at Che Lagarto Hostel in Ipanema (staying here for three nights) quite early and certainly before check-in time...so I just relaxed on the sofa in reception - watching the hostel residents come down for breakfast, most looking bleary eyed from the night before partying. There was this guy sitting opposite on the other sofa, a long-haired guy, quite skinny...little did I know at the time, this Argentinean "Nacho" was to become a good friend in a short period of time that I had in Rio. I'm still not quite sure why he is called "Nacho".

Managed to check-in after a while and was apprehensive about the state of the first dorm that I'll stay in...to my surprise it was actually alright. There were 3 bunk-beds lined up with about 1 metre between each bunk and at the end was a balcony. The bathroom was basic but the water was warm, certainly not hot but not cold. To finish off there were some large lockers for your backpacks...pretty standard really. As me and Lee were the first ones in this particular dorm, we had the choice of beds, Lee took top bunk and I had bottom...not sure why I'm writing that or that it even matters - maybe I'm hoping that later on in this blog I'll be writing some funny stories about Lee pissing the bed and it seeping through the mattress...we'll see.

So first day in Rio, what to do...easy lets hit the beach to check-out some hot Brazilians girls in thong bikinis! So that's what we did, Ipanema beach Poste 9 here we come. A little bit about "The Postes"...so what I have been told and have now been able to confirm, Poste 9 is the cool place that all the Brazilians and tourists like to hang out, Poste 10 is close to the Hostel and much quieter and has a lot of beach volleyball going on, Poste 8 is your gay/lesbian part of the beach...do not enter if you are wearing speedos!! Ipanema beach is amazing, looking out towards the sea, to the right there is amazing limestone like cliffs with greenery and to the left is beach as far as the eye can see. The beach is lined with people playing volleyball, volley football, keepy-uppy - it's not hard to see why the Brazilian football team have technique and the touch that most countries would so desire.

The second day and Che Lagarto Hostel is treating us well, I still haven't been robbed and I'm getting much more at ease with our surroundings. In fact Ipanema and the Leblon district seen very safe, the tourist police roam this area and it really does feel like any European city in terms of safety. The Brazilian breakfast is pretty basic, fruit, toast and weirdly chocolate and coconut cake...some very strong coffee and weird tasting orange squash...I tuck in. The staff have been very helpful especially the English speaking Vinnie.

Got picked up at about 12:00 midday for the Hang-Gliding adventure over Rio, can't wait I'm so excited and a little nervous. I kept on telling myself it is just like the skydive I did but with the gliding gear already deployed - so what can go wrong. So I myself, Lee and Nacho head up to the top of a mountain, have a 2 minute explanation of what to do and pretty much jump off the mountain! Rewinding slightly, the safety briefing was pretty much "run when I run", "jump when I jump" and "never ever ever stop running until we are in the air". So it was my time, I'm on the edge of the mountain and at this point s***ting myself but keeping calm...I run and run then before I knew it I was in the air gliding above Rio de Janeiro and what a sight that was. It was certainly the best way to see Rio. After about 15 minutes gliding I landed safely on a nearby beach, I felt pretty relieved to be honest but it hit home again what this trip is all about...it's about doing things that you only normally do once in a lifetime, it's about pushing yourself and enjoying every minute, I certainly did today.

Back at the dorms, we have a new neighbour...who can it be? Well it was a 50 something Brazilian guy named Dennis...not much else to say really, disappointed.

I think it is about time I touch on the language barriers, it is really difficult other than the hostel no one really speaks English at all or at least doesn't want to. I have been pretty lucky so far in meeting Nacho who can translate for us but I realise I need to get some revision done on how to speak basic Portuguese and brush up on my Spanish.

I sampled my first Churrascaria in Brazil tonight with a Chilean called Francico, a Kiwi called Mel, Lee and I. Oh my god...amazing - all the beef you can eat buffet. Found out that Chicken hearts are a delicacy, mehh why not - so I tried one...not bad but certainly not good. Note to self...that now goes on the list of never eat again along with frogs womb soup, durian, chicken feet, jellyfish, fermented eggs and tofu.

Final day in Rio, I have booked a city tour to see Christ the Redeemer, Santa Teresa, Lapa, Cathedral and Sugar Loaf Mountain. Myself, Lee, Nacho, Mel & Francisco all did this tour and we also met a lovely German girl (who could speak English) called Charlene. The city tour was amazing, I can't really do it justice in writing, so check out the photos in the photo section. After the tour, went to Copacabana beach for twilight, it was lovely but I would have to say that I prefer Ipanema beach.

So back to the dorms, we have another new neighbour......b******s, a 47 year old woman. Hold on a minute, have I been put in the over 30's dorm? After checking with Nacho, who is in a dorm of 10 people and has had about 12 girls & guys all about 20-28 arrive and leave in the last two days, I think I am indeed in the over 30's dorm...arrrr the shame of being an old f***er!

On the evening of the final day I met up with Andy from work and his soon to be wife. Che Lagarto were doing a drink as much as you like deal then headed to Nuth Nightclub. Messy night!

After my first dorm experience in Brazil, I have come up with a few rules:

1. When doing a number two, poo then flush, no leaving it to fester!

2. If someone in the dorm is having drunken sex, yes it is okay to sneak a little peak!! Unless of course it is the two oldies in my dorm!

3. Nudity...is it allowed? Yes if an all girls dorm but not if it's all guys or mixed.

4. Despite most thinking otherwise it's ok to eat food in the dorm at 5am...however puuking it up straight afterwards is not.

So there we have it, Rio in a nutshell. Next stop Salvador.