Arriving on the bus in Uyuni (South West Bolivia) at around 9pm most of the gringos quickly form a gang and sort out accommodation and a 3 day tour of the salt lakes and deserts in the region, which is probably the biggest drawcard in Bolivia. It´s mixed group of Belgians, Dutch, Brazilian, French and myself strangely as the token Aussie again. The first day of the tour starts off with the train cemetary, which has loads of rusting old locomotives that were dumped roughly 35 years ago when new models were shipped in. It´s a photographers playground and we tread wearily after Mr White told me in London that a guy on their tour was held up at gun point at the edges of the cemetary.

After lunch we enter the salt flats / lakes. There´s been rain the night before and hence there is roughly 10 - 20cm of water over most of the flats. It´s an absolutely stunning landscape and definitely one of the highlights of my two months so far. Cruising in our 4 x 4 over the lakes is mesmerising with mirror images of clouds, mountains and islands. We arrive at the Isla de las Pescadores, which as expected is out of this world. It´s covered with the biggest cactii I´ve ever seen and from all around you have perfect vistas of the salt lakes. Again, a photographers paradise. Apparently there was a cactus of some 12m height here until it died two years ago. Travelling across the lake that is now 20cm deep is a unique experience and I somehow feel that we should be in a boat but nonetheless we make it to our hotel which is almost completely made of salt including the walls, columns, floor, beds and more.

The next day is again memorable as we visit numerous lakes colored by the different minerals in the ground. Flamengos flock to the lakes too leaving photographers salivating with the potential shots infront of them. It seems that after every 30min of driving the scenery changes dramatically including Star Wars-esque rock formations in the desert, smooth and stoney hills, snow capped mountains and more lakes. Not much in the way of living organisms out here except for a lone rabbit we see.

The last day is spent at a geyser field, which isn´t much compared to shooting geysers I´ve seen in other places but interesting nonetheless. Before breakfast we´re up for a dip in the local hot springs where tourists a plenty enjoy a relaxing morning. It seems there are dozens of 4 x 4 Land Cruisers speeding around the desert here. Our driver Juan is more than a capable chap and fixes several rattling noises, smoke from the dash and wobbly tyres over our three day trip. We reach the border with Chile at around 9.30am and catch a bus to San Pedro de Atacama, which is supposed to be a cool albeit touristy desert town......more to follow.