Sea Lions & Lava Ecuador! Where did Sash ever go? Well things have become somewhat more leisurely since finding out that my trip has been extended by 4 months. I hadn't planned to visit the Galapagos Islands, but am I ever going to be in Ecuador again to be able to do it? I teamed up with Max, another English lad, in northern Peru as we were both headed in the same direction. He was a 19 year old gap year student and I am not sure how we managed to tolerate...

Gay Flags & Guinea Pigs Just had my first solo breakfast for a while listening to a loud American next to me complain that her college fees were $53000 per year for her 6 year medical course. I chuckled. Had a superb couple of days on Isla del Sol in Lake Titicaca before I left Bolivia. A gorgeous small island that was good to trek around and soak up some rays. Nice mix of backpackers and locals from the small villages on the island. Strange being on...

Cakes and Coca The Bolivian idea of a zebra crossing is to dress a young boy in a zebra costume and direct traffic at junctions. Brilliant. It was good to get back on the road after the prolonged stay in Mendoza. Another easy 18 hour trip aboard a hotel on wheels that is Argentina's bus service. My last stop in Argentina was Salta and disappointed me somehow, not sure how, maybe overhyped. Very much more indigenous up in this corner of the country. It...

Steaks and SierrasMullets as far as the eye can see! Why does every Argie have a mullet with an optional rat tail hanging from his head? And so to South America, 9 hours on the plane from south Africa seemed like nothing compared to some of the bus journeys I've had so it was somewhat of a culture shock to suddenly arrive in Buenos Aires. After so many dire cities in Africa, bar Cape Town, it was a great change to be in a city with such a European feel to it. Re...

Blackcabs and Beaches And so I arrived into Polokwane, South Africa on my wonky bus from Zimbabwe. I was aware of the problems with crime in South Africa so I picked Polokwane as my first destination to ease my way into S Africa. In the guidebook it warned that the only danger was getting wet from the sprinklers from the middle class suburban gardens! However when I checked in at the guesthouse the receptionist warned NOT to go out at night as it was very danger...