From 4ft deep white snow in the south to an openess of brwon, arid desert soil in the north; the contrast is extraordinary. To know that I am still in the same country is mind-boggling! A 23-hour bus journey took me from Santiago and landed me in San Pedro de Attacama; a samll town placed randomly in the World's second driest desert. Seven hours into the journey I already noticed the changes in vegetation - bushy grasses and cacti beacme a lot more frequent. As ...

¡Buenos Dias! ¿Como estan? Yo soy estudiante del curso de español de la Escuela Bellavista por una semana. Hay cinco otras en mi classe; Phoebe, Rebecca, Monika, Oliver y Miguel. Yo tengo dos profesors. Uno hombre y una mujer. El se llama Boris y ella se llama Maria-Christina. Boris es viejo y muy aburrido pero Maris-Christina es juven y muy, muy divertia. Mi prefiero Maria-Christina a Boris. Me gusta el classe y yo apprendo un poquito. Aveces el ejercicos ...

Valparaiso, literally in spanish, Valle Paraiso (Paradise Valley), is a major coastal city in Chile. I took a day trip here; just two hours west of Santiago on the most amazing bus ever - the buses in South America have a good reputation - the bus had an attendant, pillows and reclining seats - and that´s just ´Classico´. I am very much looking forward to my 24-hour bus journey next week in the class above. Following over 24-hours of non-stop rain, the weathe...

The Pachamama Bus Tour began and with our driver Sergio, five of us headed away from Santiago, south, towards our first stop Pichilemu. I was sad to leave the comfort of Casa Newen as now, for the next seven nights, I will be staying in hostels and their dorms. After a four hour drive, and the Andes travelling alongside us, we had arrived. Pichilemu is a coastal town and is famous for it´s huge waves and so, in summer, attracts many surfers. Unexpectedly, the ...

Although more than happy to be leaving New Zealand, I can´t help but feel a little anxious as I know that with it, I will be leaving the comforts of a westernised world. In contrast, the beauty of travelling around developing countries before returning home, means that I will appreciate the little things so much more. I am excited though, not just at the afore mentioned prospect, but also for feeling emotions other than boredom. And so, Aotearoa (the land of th...