a Polish girl on RTW trip

Back in Europe

2008-04-14T11:02:00.003Z

I'm in London. Back home. Kind of. I'll be staying at my frind's and parent's place as I don't have my own flat and, since I spent money on travelling not gonna buy a new house soon. In London everybody is busy. As usual. So don't ask me why I don't wanna stay here. But I'm happy. Happy to see you my friends (lackily a bunch of you was waitiing). Happy to having seen and experienced what I did. Happy to have learnt SO MUCH on this trip.
For a detailed story ask me later as I'm going to type my journals.
Om shanti

THE END

Himachal Pradesh

2008-04-01T10:19:00.008Z

It's been a while haven't written here. So: From Rishikesh I was going to Manali, a tourist hub in the Himalayas. On the way I stopped in Shimla (2200 m), which turned out to be a very charming town with Indian tourists walking along the main promenade which was on the top of the hill. There I met a special person: a man who can read aura, past present and future. Having met him I didn't sleep the whole night and then I left for Manali.
I stayed in the nearby village - Vashist. Still off season , the village was quiet, charming place, snow capped peaks around, hot springs in the centre of village were used as a place for bathing, doing laundry and dish washing. The whole north of India has completely different feeling than the places I've visited so far. Many Tibetans and Tibetian influence, not many beggars, cleaner, people seem to be more honest, foreigner-friendly and peaceful. From Manali I stopped in the Parvati Valley: picturesque valley in Himalayas. Gorgeous walks. Back to Shimla to meet the aura-reader for some therapy and teachings on how to be happy.

Now I'm in Dharamsala - a place where His Holiness Dalaj Lama lives.
In 8 days I fly back to Europe so it might be my last post. Probably I will tell you the rest in person. When I remember begining of my travelling in India I see how much my perception of this country has changed. Now I say: maybe I will come back here. One thing is sure: despite it was the most difficult country to travel it was here that I learned and experienced the most.

So thank you my Dear Friends for following my blog. I was always happy to know that you are with me. I will see you soon.

Rishikesh

2008-03-11T14:18:00.005Z

Rishikesh is probably not only Indian but world's capital of yoga. It became famous when the Beatles and all other famous people came here in the 60's. It's a great place: peaceful, quiet (for Indian standards of course), laying in the feet of Himalayas on both sides of Ganga river. Yoga courses, reiki, any kind of healing, ayurvedic pharmacies and food everywhere. You will see all spiritual and over-spiritual exaggerated Westerners here. There's plenty of Ashrams with old tradition reaching back the 60's. But rarely they are as strict as my ashram in Kerala.Music with mantras all over the place: hari rama and Om namashivaya aver and aver again. This is really unique place.
It looks also like a capital of sadhu's - homeless Indians wandering in search for spiritual enlightenment and realisation, which means they are everywhere along the way and on the bridge and since Rishikesh is such a peaceful place they can lead quite a peaceful life. They are also clever as when you pass them by they say "hare om" - kind of blessing - which puts you in uncomfortable situation: Am I suppose to give them money since we are all peaceful and God loving here and they great you in this blissful way or just ignore like all other people who hassle you in the streets. If give money then they are sitting next to each other so whom should I give? all 50 of them? These are dilemmas you face in India all the time.

I got cold again and actually I can't wait to see my friends back home.

Holy city of Varanasi

2008-03-05T09:35:00.003Z

Varanasi is a very special place. It's a holy city as a Ganges river is a holy river and although it is extremely dirty thousands of people have bath in the river. It is also, due to Hindu religion and believes, the best place to get buried or rather burned - cremation. So you can take a boat and watch fire in which bodies are burnt, lots of "holy" men, brahmins etc wandering on the banks of the river. There are also special ceremonies, such as Aarati, fire ceremony in the evening - really unforgettable performance. Watching the Ganges either on the sunrise or evening is unforgetable and quite unbelievable experience.

leaving the ashram

2008-03-05T09:33:00.000Z

So I left the ashram and you may get worried now that I went nuts here but...after 1 month in the ashram I feel so happy! My last week I felt like flying, not walking on the ground. You may laugh that now I gonna be one of these over-spiritual frics but I feel like yoga is my way and I'm considering yoga teacher's course in the nearest future. Already missing my ashram.

ashram to be continued

2008-02-16T05:34:00.004Z

Life is strange: I'm waking up 5.30am and...actually I enjoy morning meditation and watching the sun coming out and the day starting. Yoga, which I knew b4, is a wonderful thing although after 4 hrs per day body hurts sometimes. On our days off we going to the beach resort and I found out thet the ashram is like a shelter. Shelter from all the nocis and hassles of outside world. All these sellers on the beach are so anoying. I was...happy to be back to our hasle-free place, to silence and birds. I met some wonderful people here and i feels good to stop after 10 months of continuaous changing buses and beds.

Welcome to the ashram

2008-02-03T13:31:00.000Z

After rajastan, Carolina and me got back to Delhi. We said good bye to each other, hopefully we gonna meet one day somewhere and I took a flight to Kerala, very south of India.
I'm in sivananda yoga ashram. First days are tough - to get to a new routine:
6am - satsang: meditation and chanting, organisation matters
8am - asanas - means yoga exercise for 2 hours
10am - meal - of course indial and vegetarian
2pm - lecture
3.30pm - exercise another 2 hours
6pm - meal
8pm - satsang
10.30pm - lights off but by this time we are all dead tired already so no problem with lights off.
Well, one must be very determined in getting into yoga to be here. But the good things are that the centre is located in a national park, among palm trees and in the morning we hear lions roaring. And it is CLEAN. We all walk bare foot and no problem with it! Cleanest bathrooms I've seen in India so far!

Rajastan

2008-01-23T12:58:00.001Z

All I was told is true: India is a country of amazing colours and not necessarily pleasant smells. Cows everywhere. They are holy. Smells of spices, incenses, cows, pee. India is a county of absurd contrasts. India has thousands of years of civilisation, culture and history, stunning palaces and people are so dirty. I understand poor but does it have to go together with luck of basic hygiene?
Children in the streets calling "1 rupee, chocolate, pen!" and I thing that they even don't know that this is begging. That makes me even not mad anymore but sad. Who thought them this? Stupid tourists...
On my 2nd day in Delhi I met in my guesthouse a girl from Argentina, Carolina. She had same plans for visiting Rajastan. We decided to travel together and it works perfectly fine for us! I'm so happy I met her. We getting on really well and I enjoy travel with another girl. (Although dangerous as weinspire each other and it ends in lot of shopping done and extra laguage!)
I see that here in India travelling as a solo woman is damn difficult.
We went on camel safari staying overnight in the desert. We had dinner and story telling at the fireplace and we slept under the stars and that was great. but a camel is fun for one hour no more. Then is boring.
We were invited to a private party with indian family and neighbours. That was awesome!

Arriving in India

2008-01-10T12:37:00.001Z

I had 5 days for Singapore and I thought it's gonna be so long. Instead I got ill and I slept 3 whole days and I hardly manged to see the very centre of Singapore.
And this morning 3am I arrived in... long expected and frightening after all the stories I read/heard DELHI.
And nothing happen. At 4.30am I was already checked in and in bed. I stay in backpackers area and when I walk the narrow main bazar street all guys greet me and try to chat me up. Ups! That's gonna be trouble. I need to find a male friend otherwise walking 500m gonna takes me 1hour as Im so friendly and eventually talking to some of them (of course already have offers of private city tours from the jewellery making artist).
Let see whats gonna happen next. but i think it's cool. At least I try to be cool.

Happy New Year!

2008-01-04T16:43:00.000Z

Wow, long time since I wrote last time. Sorry guys, forgot about civilization in Thai islands.
So, it was so good to be back in Bangkok after Vietnam. Crazy ko San Road. Even if it's just backpacker's ghetto. From there I hooped on a night bus going islands: there was so amny people going south (more than 1 bus) and everybody was talking about one thing: Full Moon Party. I relaxed on a divers' island, Ko Tao, beautiful, postcard-like relaxing place, full of diving schools and great snorkeling. I got to Ko Pahangan on the day of FMP in a really bad shape. Thanks to condition air and hot BKK I got ill. Right for the FMP. Fxx! Fxx! Fxx! I pulled myself to go there anyway. It was CRAZY! Party on the beach, buckets of alcohol sold everywhere and a massive amount of people walking up and down and again and just don't know what's going on. However my expectations were higher and I have to say: Paolo, this FMP could not compete with the parties at the Brixton Academy you took me to. Although crowd dancing on the beach at sunrise was pretty impressive.
Then a long journey to the other cost - Ko Lanta. Long, white, sandy beaches, reagge bars. I went to one bar on the beach where the owner, Thai introduced me to 2 big muscles Norwegian guys and some English cool people. I didn't expected much from big muscles and to my surprise they turned out to be cool guys with big hearts. We celebrated New Year's Eve together starting with sunset on a beach but after the mix of everything you can imagine I got completely wasted - just managed to welcome New Year, not much longer.
So Happy New year to all of you guys!
Now I'm in Singapore. Good to be back to civilization. After 2 weeks in basic bungalows skytrain and underground in English. Very clean. On my way to India, which I heard going to be hardcore...

hating Vietnam

2007-12-20T04:59:00.000Z

The longer I stay in Vietnam the less I like it. Actually I started almost hating Vietnamese. They are SO rude when they realize you not gonna buy from them! I've got enough of "madame, motorbike!" and people literally walking on you with they goods. The tours and customer service is shit. I'm happy to leave tomorrow.
After 8 months nothing bad happened to me the time came. I got my camera stolen and it was in a travelers' bar. I suppose it was some other traveler.

Do you want to buy from me?

2007-12-13T10:42:00.000Z

I feel like time is flying. The first half of my travelling felt was like going uphill. Now is downhill. A very steep hill. Very fast. Vietnam is a lovely country. I spend 4 days relaxing in Mui Ne - long walks along the beach, visiting fishing ports and villages - the proof is in the pics in my photoalbum and sleeping in a hammoc overlooking the sea.
Now Im in a historic little town, Hoi An, which is a capital of tailors - they will make ANYTHING you wish tailored for you in 2 days. Of course I started from this point...
I took a bicycle and went to a pottery village. I asked a woman who was making clay pots to show me and teach me how to work on it. I always wanted to try (do you remember "Ghost" with Demi Moore and Patric?) and I loved it so much. Also my work was crap:-)
People, they seem very friendly, usually with a great sense of humour. Sometimes they are friendly indeed. Sometimes you relise that they are friendly only as long as you BUY. As soon as they relize you just watching and bothering them with questiones they become rude.

The longer I travel the more do I start to appraciate our European honesty and stright forward attitude(some people call it "rude"). Am I getting nostalgic and homesick and that's why I idealise Europe or just I start discovering that the promised paradise, faraway land we dream about is nothing better than our own home?

So that's it. Just to let you know I'm fine. Lots of kisses for all who follow my trip here.xx

Mekong Delta and Sajgon

2007-12-01T10:33:00.000Z

Now I have too much to write about so just very shortly.
From Cambodia I crossed to Vietnam by boat on the Mekong river and all together it took me 3 days as we were stopping in different places on the Mekong Delta. It was amazing trip to see how people live in the floating houses and the main mean of transport there is a boat. It was like in the picture. Slowly, sunny, children greeted us from the river banks. The highlight was visiting the biggest floating market where big boats buy and sell from small boats - wholesale. Sometimes it takes several days to them to arrive at the market, sailing on the river and stopping and trading in the villages they pass on the way. They cook, sleep and relax on their boat.
Sajgon - now the name refers only to the old centre, tourist area - the whole city is called Ho Chi Min City. For the Polish speakers it is all true to say "jak w Sajgonie" (like in Sajgon)- traffic here is horrific, no laws, or maybe one: law of the jungle. There are 21 million motorbikes in Vietnam.
Despite this Vietnam, and HCMC, is still a charming place. Nice architecture, traditional dresses, bikes, cyclos. You see lots of Chineese influence, tranquility and smiles that come from buddism.

Cambodia's capital

2007-11-16T05:04:00.000Z

I'm in Phnom Penh, Cambodia's capital. It is crazy here. Number of motorbikes and traffic is unbelievable. It's a contrast of beautiful French colonial architecture and, just few blocks away, extremely stinking and dirty streets and smelly markets. Asia. You're asking me if I like it here and I don't know what to say. There is no one answer.
Guys, you must be aware that travelling is not only taking beautiful pictures of mysterious temples and green rice fields. Think, that in all these exotic stilt houses there are people living in extreme poverty, with no drinking water, no bathroom, no education. That everyday I see children and disabled begging in the streets and there's 30-40 degrees at 9am. It's hard to say "yes, I love it". Sometimes it's too much...

Siem Reap and it's temples

2007-11-11T06:05:00.000Z

Crossing border to Cambodia was interesting and gave us sort of feeling what to expect (e.g. at the immigration you need to pay couple of extra dollars that everybody knows going to the packet of the officials).
Siem Reap has EVERYTHING on offer for tourist. It caters not only for backpackers but mainly for package and upmarket tourist, often pensioners who visit temples by coach for whom this is a big trip to Cambodia and they are ready to spoil themselves and get the best. You can't imagine the number and high standard of beautiful hotels around, restaurants, craft markets, spa's, shows, etc. There is one street called "bar Street" and another bar street alley - as the name says - excellent restaurants and stylish bars that believe me you would love to have back home.
Cambodian people are very nice, friendly, smiling. Here in SR and around the temples it gets too much as they are VERY pushy to sell you anything and especially kids and people at the temples are just unbearable. That's hard annoying side of this kind of places that makes you screaming "leave me fxx alone!!!".
Temples, the famous Ankor Wat, and all others are great but... after 2.5 day I've got enough of temples and ruins for the rest of my life.
There is lots of international help and aid. You can see projects supporting and helping poor families, street kids, disabled, mine and war victims everywhere. It looks that all is going towards right direction, projects mean to teach people art craft, lots of silk making (you can buy beautiful silk and art craft, visit workshops etc.) Also the temples are restored by Cambodian and Japanese, Indian, Chineese projects.

Sunrise-sunset island

2007-11-11T05:53:00.001Z

As soon as I arrived in Don Det - a small island in the very south of Laos - and I saw the bungalows all of them very basic and each of them with own hammock on the terrace over the sunrise or sun set side I understood why Dear Curro you liked it so much here.
Time seemed to stop there. Such a peaceful and relaxed place. The whole atmosphere made every backpacker feel the same. Riding bicycle around island to lye in the hammock for another 2 days and reading books.

Lao disco

2007-11-02T08:53:00.000Z

In Luang Prabang I sateyed longer than I thought just doing nothing. I made freinds with people at teh neighbouring guesthouse - 2 guys travelling in Asia by old laud russian motorbikes which usually attracted attention of local Lao people. We were going to Lao disco by bikes (sometimes 3 people on 1 bike)and a noodle soup after that. Lots of fun. I made "spacial" friends with one guy but eventually always have to take another bus - inevitable part of travelling...
Vang Vieng is a backpackers ghetto - impossible to immagine if you never been there: a little place with bars ALL OF THEM showing Friends from breakfast till night, just different episodes. Everybody laying around on pillows, sipping beer or opium tea. Now Im in Vientiane, a capital, nothing special.

Luang Namtha and Lunag Prabang

2007-10-26T07:18:00.000Z

Luang Namtha is a developing destination for trekking. Bigger than the previous place, yet very quiet and relaxing. Took a bicycle and rode to the surrounding villages. It's amazing how people are surprised and kids happy when a farang (foreigner) say hello in Lao (I learnt 2 basic words) to them and they answer so glad and smiling!

Luang Prabang is the UNESCO world heritage. It's charming, full of nice, comfortable guesthouses and temples.

There is a big emphesise on creating eco freindly and consious tourism, support local communities and I really like the attitude. Wanna say to the Lao people and organisations: guys keep going this way! Dont get commercialised and do not sell your lovely country to tourists!

hill tribes in Laos

2007-10-26T06:45:00.000Z

Lots to write about and too lazy to do it. I will definitively type my diary.
1.Eventually I overcame cultural shock and got more relaxed about Asia. Leaving for Laos I met a couple who told me one name to go for trekking in Laos to the hill tribes, assuring real, experience. Vieng Phoukan. As soon as I crossed the border to Lao (a short boat ride on the Mekong river)I felt: I like Laos. It's so relaxing and people are so unspoiled by tourism. Just themselves. Calm and friendly. I met a bunch of cool backpackers crossing the border but the day after I took the bus Vieng Phukan with a french couple and the rest went opposite direction.
When we arrived in Vieng Phukan we couldn't believe the place like this still exist. We were the only tourists in the village. Everybody was watching us, children were quite shy but followed us. When we started taking pics of them and showing on a digital camera they were very happy to see it and we had the whole bunch of kids and mothers and babies following us! Only some houses had electricity by generator and shower with bucket of cold water. And that was only beginning of our adventure.
3 days trekking through the jungle. Beautiful but sometimes the hit and humidity were really hard to bare. We ate with our hands, sharing food - 3 days the same things and Lao food is not as good as Thai which i can keep on and on. We bath in the rivers. Saw buffaloes, huge butterflies and lots of strange insects. The worst was danger of getting bitten by leeches.
For a night we stayed at the Akha (hill tribe from China) village. Life the is very basic. At the beginning children were simply scared of us, little ones were crying and escaping! We felt like a green creates coming by UFO! We were under constant observation. Kids were walking around our house, everything was new Ahka people: cameras, our underwear drying outside, glasses and my contact lenses, brushing our teeth. Everything.
To start communication we started drawing to them. Soon a big circle around us: kids and their parents. David, the french guy was explaining them in french and looked like the French language was very amusing - they were laughing.
I got up very early bcs of roasters and all the animals in the village. I took a piece of paper to write for my diary; I had a group of teen guys who were helping organise our stay and food around me waiting. So I started drawing for them: skyscrapers, cars, people, trains etc. Before leaving the village we visited the house of the chief and we were offered Akha whisky and a melon shape and size - cucumber (traditional way of hospitality in the villages here so we couldn't refuse even if it was 9-10 am)
Next night we stayed in another village accommodated for the night at the people's houses. People were happy to have us around, especially kids. Where more open for farangs (foreigners).
On the way back we got bitten and sucked by leeches - disgusting! At the end we visited the cave and then the car was waiting for us, visited 2 other villages and got back to VP.

learning about Buddhism

2007-10-17T15:30:00.001Z

I went for 2 days retreat to a Buddhist university - away from the town beautiful centre made on purpose to teach people about Buddhism and meditation. Stayed overnight. There was something wiered about it as we were given white dresses and woken up at 5am by the gong but interesting experience and great opportunity to talk to young monks who were absolutely open and honest in answering our questions about Buddhism and Thai culture.

trekking in chiang mai

2007-10-17T15:20:00.000Z

I'm just back from the National Geographic adventure. Lots to talk about so the details you could read once I'm back and type the diary I keep writing. In brief: trekking in the jungle, staying at the hill tribe village, where we slept in the "bamboo hotel" as all the houses made of bamboo in the jungle, elephant trekking, trip on the bamboo raft along the river. Once I get it, I will email you a film that one guy took while I was attacked by a baby elephant. What's more? buffaloes swimming in the river, we getting completely wet and dirty, shower using a bucket and cold water, people in the village smoking opium.
It was a great feeling of real adventure and peace of nature and simplicity.

Too hot

2007-10-08T15:18:00.000Z

It's still hot. Together with pollution is really hard to bear. Even the contact lenses get steemed. Tomorrow I'm off to Chiang Mai.
Temples and buddhas everywhere. Good pics but can't upload on this computer. Some Thai speak English but usually it is almost impossible to underestand them. No point to take a guide anywhere. Better read the guide book. Too hot understand the book.
White old men with beautiful Thai girls holding their hands, walking in the centre.

Welcome to Thailand

2007-10-05T12:50:00.000Z

So finally I arrived in long awaited Thailand, Bangkok. So lots of temples and Buddhas everywhere. I think I really like in here. It's bit hard for it's SO hot and humid. You take shower I don't know how many times per day and just after you feel overwhelming humidity again. Food is great. Everything is cheap. Actually the first thing I did even b4 seeing the main sightseeings was... shopping. Having got rid of my winter alpaca stuff my backpack become empty again. Not for long though. Oh yes a women in me took over common sense this time and I know it's not the end.
The only problem I see is the language as it really limits perception and possibilities of getting know the country. People seem kind and friendly, shame it's hard to communicate and also make me feel handicapped when I cant read the letters. They don't remind you anything so public transport is a real problem: tuk-tuk or taxi?
I went for the real Thai massage and hey guys, it's got nothing to do with the traditional massage we know and... the best amazing massage I ever had and could imagine!
Bangkok - kosan road- travelers mecca, life is so easy here: everything for backpackers.

East Coast is not a paradise

2007-09-23T01:43:00.000Z

Sorry guys, haven't wrote for a long time but I'm literally rushing through Australia from one adventure trip to another, from one camping or sailing trip to another so the highlights:
- Whitsunday Islands sailing trip - see the pics of Whitheaven Beach - it looks like a paradise, snorkeling in Great Beerier Reef, sleeping on the boat, whales watching, sunbathing on the deck, sunsets and watching the stairs above the Ocean - what more one could ask for?
- Fraser Island - driving 4W on the beach and camping on the beach, great idea but my team except 2 other people was booooring. I missed my team from Inka trail so much, It could have been such a good fun. good pics though.
- Noosa - canyoning trip in the lake& river and camping in the National park.
- Brisbane - with river,fashionable caffees and clubs, modern architecture and palm trees is a pretty town, reminds me of london very much. They have Southbank with modern Art galleries, theaters and performance centers and river is overlooking on the City, sky rising modern business buildings - all like a little copy of London. Don't feel like learning a new city map and new transport system again(don't fxx understand how it works here!)though. Missing lazy Sundays and long walks along Thames, afraid.

All together I have to say despite these highlights I don't like Australia. At least not the East Coast, which I was warned against to. OK. it's a beautiful country but... which one is not? I saw better beaches in Brasil. It was worth to make all teh way here to see The Great Berrier Reef, that's true. To be in an animation about Nemo and marsmaids for few minutes. But then...
They make you believe that you are in a backpackers paradise but it's not true. Probably the only reason for this opinion is that it's full of kids who for the first time are away from home and from their mummy so they feel free and they think it's a paradise. Wrong. It's as expensive as in the UK here - think how long you could travel for in the Uk with no job?- and the service is not best at all. Bcs it's expensive people stay in the hostels and drink a lot of cheap made of fish and egg wine there. not much fun... The hostels, even those with the best ratings, are full of "must" and "musn't" (what kind of freedom is that?) have bunk beds and you need to pay deposit for everything: from your room key to... cuttlery set! Australians try to be SO cool that they cross the line and become just arrogant.

Me personally, I reached the stage where I'm bored, physically tired and miss my friends and family. If i met these travellers back home i would be so excited to ask them 100 questions but now I can't be bothered to ask and answer the same questions "where yo've been so far and where you going next?" over and over again. Especially that the kids have not much idea about the world. When I met 2 sweet blondies in basketball cups who had no idea that half of Canada speaks French and "i'm from Quebec" need additional explanation "Quebec is a city in Canada", i said that's too much and I went to bed, or the sleeping bag actually as it was on a camping trip. Sorry guys but can you imagine me with 2 basketball cups?
I feel lonely as staying 1-2 nights in once place does not help to meet right people and I just don't participate in boring conversations with kids. Miss you my friends.
All together I preferred South America much more. And it's not only my opinion.
So that's pretty critical...

great barrier reef

2007-09-03T08:30:00.000Z

I'm in Australia. Started from Cairns to see the world wonder which is great Barrier Reef. Just back from the trip. I've done first in my life introductory scuba diving. It was amazing! Considering that I'm panicky scared of deep water it was a big thing to me but the life down there, under water and the reef is SO SO AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL that I forgot to be scared of whatsoever. Really enjoyed. So that's 2 big first time diving in 2 weeks time. How does it sound? Great isn't?
I sat on the deck and I couldn't believe I'm here and I'm seeing what I'm seeing. And I felt SO far from everyday life in Poland or London.
I thought that east coast of Australia is just about surfing and diving and non of those I thought is my thing (at least till today:-)) so I thought that 1 month is enough for me. What's a mistake. There's plenty to do and see. I went to the travel agency as they had this great super saver deal, the whole package: 3 days Whitsunday Island sailing, 3 days Fraser Island, 3 days Noosa canoeing + kayaking among dolphins and making your own boomerang. The lady started putting everything on the paper making a calendar for me. First I got scared: what?! having everything booked and planned in advance? Where is the space for challenge and surprises? But then I said ok. This time I will just get my prepaid vouchers and bookings and calendar and then sit down and relax. And I think that was a good decision. No worries. Of course Australia is expensive comparing to the rest of countries I did or going to visit but still think got a good package.
Tonight there is a mad Monday party - bars crawling from my hostel and then I'm off to Magnetic Island. I love the name of it. Looking forward for snorkeling there.

The green land of adventure

2007-08-26T07:00:00.001Z

More about NZ. So when i was booking my ticket and after that everybody was assuring me that it's gonna be winter in NZ in August. That's why I scheduled only 2 weeks as I don't like when it's freezing cold. Apparently NZ, at least the North Island, is the greenest country I ever seen. It is beautiful. The ocean, lakes and rivers all have a deep turquoise colour. Exactly like in the travel magazines. You feel that the population of this country is not the biggest one, which I enjoy. It's very clean, well organized, feels very safe and just relaxed. Lots of free space and air. I'm not sure what about living for a long time with all this free space around but and one thing I'm sure the place I gonna live will have lots of space. (desert?)
Although I think that maybe NZ has not more beauty itself but it's just not destroyed and transformed by a human as the other countries are. It's natural as it's been created and this is what we found so amazing.
I saw dolphins in the ocean. In Whitianga there is a beach where with a low tide you can find hot water springs, dig a whole which fill with a hot natural spring water and simply stay in your own spa for ca. 2 hours, which we did (7am so sunrise as an extra to it!.
Auckland is a very pretty city. Harbour that is full of bars and safe to be there which is not usual for an harbour area.
Within one week I met 2 Polish guys here! One tourist guide and the other skydiving instructor.

I found out about the earthquake in Peru, Pisco (which I visited some 2 months ago. Here are the pics:
http://s20133.gridserver.com/peruenemergencia/index.html

TANDEM SKY DIVING

2007-08-26T06:37:00.000Z

As soon as I arrived in Taupo - world capital of bungee jumping and skydiving - I checked in the hostel and the girl at teh reception said "if you wanna jump (which I always knew I wanted despite of being tremendously scared)do it today as the weather is great and today you can see both sides of the island". So did I. 5 minutes after i was on the van taking us to the airport. Which probabely was the best option: no time to think.
And I did it. I meant to jump from 12 000 feet which is 3000m eventually I decided to take 15 000 feet - 4500 m. first 65 sec is a freefall. That means you just fall with no parachute whatsever with 200 km / hour. that means 3km in 65 sec untill you reach 1500m when your instructor opens the parachute. The speed is amazing. You're in shock. I can't describe the speed and pressure of air and wind. I thought my cloths are falling apart and the wind is blowing the skin out of my face.
And then is gliding. That's the part I love.
The whole experience is unbelievable. And I have to say I love gliding as I did love hang gliding but free fall is too much adrenaline for me. I'm happy I did it. It's like crossing another line for me. There are less and less things I'm afraid of. Almost nothing.

A dla tych ktorzy nie czytaja po angielsku napisz po polsku: skoczylam z samolotu. Oczywiscie w tandemie z instruktorem. Z samolotu z wysokosci 4.5 km gdzie pierwsze 3 km to swobodne opadanie. bez spadochronu. 200 km/godz. Mocne wrazenie. Jestem szczesliwa, ze tego sprobowalam.

Santiago

2007-08-13T14:34:00.001Z

I'm in Santiago de Chile. It's winter here, we saw Andes covered with snow during the bus ride and at the moment Santiago - Mendoza region is a popular destination for the winter sports.
I was told that Santiago is just a capital, big city, nothing special. Actually I found it to be a pretty city. The colonial, neoclassic architecture next to the highrising modern buildings. The city is very clean, well organized, really civilized, green, looks rich. I walked a lot today to see as much as possible and mostly I saw the parks and banks and business districts. Santiago is a second face of Chile comparing to SPA - I haven't seen any hippies. Just suits and ties, ties and suits.

I have 3 days left in Sth America and I have to say I'm looking forward to the new continent and new adventure. At the moment I sound like an old traveller saying that I've been for 4 months on the road and I've got enough of Inkas, ruins, lagunas, museums and artisany...

Argentina

2007-08-12T12:39:00.000Z

From San Pedro to Salta in Argentina was only 12 hours bus ride so I decided to cross there as I heard a lot good about province of Salta. Argentina - very European, people very friendly and very relaxed, especially about timing. Long siestas so between about 1 and 6pm the streets are empty, even in the town of Salta size the only people at that hours are tourists. I made few trips to the surrounding villages where the time stopped and you can see a lot of folklore and artisany. The whole bus ride allows you to watch the amazingly beautiful landscapes: so many colors of the earth and vegetation, including cerro de 7 colores - mountains of 7 colours and in fact they are of 7 colours.

Then I went to Cafayate - little town famous for its wines where you can visit bodega (winery). You are explained about the production of wine, some wine testing and all is free. I also tried ice cream made of wine, not such a great thing though, prefer creamy ones.
Then from Cafayate I took 3 buses stopping in la Rioja, eventually arriving in Mendoza after 2 days. Just knocked. I have to mention that surprisingly a European girl travelling on her own is a stranger and more surprising thing in Argentina than in Bolivia or Peru.
Then, asking for a vegetarian sandwich in Argentina is asking for too much...

Mendoza is a very pretty town. Again, so relaxed, with several plazas and stalls selling lots of nice and this time - original stuff. I was sorry that at the moment I can't fit anything more into my backpack.
I stayed in this posh hostel where for the first time in 4 months there was...central heating! I couldn't believe it. Gosh, I forgot to write that when I arrived in Chile I found 2 taps: 1 for cold and 1 for HOT water and the showers are always very hot, 24 hours! Wow wow wow!
More botegas as in the region there are - as far as I remember - more than 700 wineries. More wine testing. I also have to say that understanding Spanish really helps as I can visit on my own places where the guide or explanations are exclusively in Spanish. Then I can talk to Argentinians and have to admit they are very friendly, helpful and fun. Looks that they know how to have a lot of fun with no much effort. Dancing and singing. Some live music (everything starts after midnight and with 1 ours delay).

Valle de la Muerte and Velle de la Luna

2007-08-01T22:45:00.000Z

I need to say the landscape here is amazing! Yesterday I walked in the canyon among the cactuses, had bath in natural hot pool and in the afternoon I went for this trip to the so called Death Valley and the Moon Valley. We walked through the desert and it was an awesome axperience. Today I just went for a ride on the bicycle - the roads are like empty and eventually you ride among the red rocks. The place is so relaxing, everybody seems to be friendly. You can walk and look and around and nobody pushes you and convinces into bying anything. Just smiles. I think I like Chilean people.
Unfortunately the internet is so slow Im not even trying to upload the pics.

Geysers

2007-07-30T21:30:00.000Z

Unfortunately the internet is very very poor here in SPA and dont even try to upload the pictures so you have to wait to see this wonderful landscape - just taken form science fiction film. I havent thought that im a geyser fun but this was impressive. The whole trip was little bit tough: wake up at 4am, 2 hours drive on the bumpy road and -8 C degree at 7am - don't know what was at 4am. The reason was that in the morning at 7am the geysers are most active and the best time to observe them.
The whole landscape and the whole way back was beautiful. Similar to the Bolivian side but no way its too much. When you see all this space and so much fresh air and silence and colours you just dont believe in the beauty of the world. Im so happy to be again on the road.

Hurrraaah! new country new adventure!

2007-07-29T21:11:00.000Z

After total 17 hours of journey by bus I arrived in San Pedro de Atacama in Chile. San Pedro welcomed me with an incredible silence It´s a little, quiet, relaxing place. Full of tourists but the atmosphere is completely different to Peru: nobody´s attacking you in the street with the menus, no beggars, no children in the streets. You can just hang around and nobody bothers you. Although I was very sorry to leave my kids, my college and my friends in Arequipa, and I have to say I got so many cards to say good bye and thank you (about 100 from my kids and they are so so sweet!) and so many blessings like never in my life and I was really moved to get all this kindness and people saying that "I made a difference".
My Peruvian family made a dinner for me and I got a few gifts to remember. All the blessings I received must be enough for the rest of my trip! definitively. Yet I feel happy to have left Peru. I was tired of this country: so crowded, so many beggars and so pushy.

what´s new in Arequipa

2007-07-25T02:19:00.000Z

My time in Arequipa is close to end and tomorrow I´m leaving Peru. Next stop: Chile.
My volunteering passed so quickly. Unfortunately I lost one week due to the strike in Peru: no transport - stones were thrown on those who dared to move the car. Many shops and businesses were closed. All the tourists got stuck as it wasn´t possible to travel from one town to another and even they closed Machu Pichu! One thing is sure: Peru as a country needs a LOT of time to develop and get anywhere. People´s mentality must change. So except I´m really sorry to leave my kids - I got the cards saying "thank you for you work, you are in our hearts and come back soon, we´re waiting for you" - i´m quite happy to move forward. There´s a lot to say about my experience with volunteering, teaching, kids. I can´t explain the conditions they live and how much they need love and attention, and how much they can move one´s heart and make you think what really matters.

Apart volunteering I went to the Colca Canyon last weekend. Eventually was only me and Fabrizio on our own. He´s not a great adventurer, actually he´s got no idea about trekking, travelling or whatever and I got really pissed off as I felt like I have to be a guide on this trip. trekking was pretty hard. The last 3 hours climbing the canyon was probably the hardest trekking I ever done. The walls of canyon are so high that you can´t really take the picture of it. Then, they make a lot of advertisement about condors which you can see at the Cruz de Condor. OK, we saw 5 condors. Big birds and so what? Not such a big deal. Just to get more tourists. Looks that tourism is the only industry in Peru...

Sorting out gifts and sweets for the kids - my last day.

Lost virginity

2007-07-06T20:09:00.001Z

Just to say that on Monday I got my first tatoo. Love it!!!
Then I´m very busy with the college: looking for ideas for Arts and English classes which I mainly do. I showed some techinques I remember from my elementary school and kids loved it! They got so involved and enthusiastic about it - we were doing cards for their teachers as today there´s a teacher day in Peru. Apart that I wanna do some advertising for donations of books for a school library and clothes for the kids.
This school is the first school where at the end of the day kids don´t run to go home. Some of them need to be forced to leave school and go home...

I´m lucky

2007-06-29T23:34:00.000Z

Once again I got confirmation that I´m lucky. Or, that I´m such a good person that all the good forces look after me well. Immagine that my friend from London, Sergio (my ex-flatmate, some of you met him) who is origianlly from Arequipa proposed that I stay in the house of his family, gave me contact to his brother, I met the brother and now I live here with his family. They just invited me and said "our house is your house". I wanted to rent, pay etc. and they said "no way". I got my own room with private bathroom (and very hot water!), the keys and... 3 brothers who are looking after me really well! So I was taken around Arequipa, visited all the miradores, language exchange, yestarday we went out and we have many plans what to do together. For me it´s still hard to believe it.
When it comes to my school, it is very involving. I work on lesson plans, materials I could use and ideas. On Thusday we took 50 kids to the field for horseriding. That was an adventure for everybody: a touristic bus coming to school, lecture on horses given by the guide and then one after another mounting the horse. Try to immagine how happy and excited the kids were! And we, organisers maybe even more.

Arequipa

2007-06-26T17:51:00.000Z

On Sunday I arrived in Arequipa, the 2nd biggest city of Peru (also nice and charming and full of young people so should be good to stay here). I gonna stop here for 1 month to volunteer. The project is to help at school in the suburbs of Arequipa, the district is very very poor, there is hardly any water and electricity installations there. The school is also very basic. Please check the website to know more about it:
http://www.travellernottourist.com/

I visited the school yesterday. You wouldn´t believe how warm welcome the kids give to the volunteers! It looks that they really need love and attention and they are lovely. The project is relatively new but it looks very interesting, promising and honest. We don´t pay any money: just the staff that is needed for the school and any materials we wanna use for the lessons. There´re 4 English girls volunteering here at the moment. In the afternoon we had a meeting with the teachers to discuss the best ways to cooperate. The teachers work for some little salary and they are devoted to school only bcs of their ideas and hearts not bcs of money. That´s why looks it should be a good experience and cooperation. Especially the head mistress is a person of great heart. She welcomed me very warmly. After we went to buy the paints as we gonna paint some walls and make some designs together with kids.
Today I was already in "delegation" to the municipality of the district to get permission to take kids outside of school for one day as we organise 1 day horse riding for the biggest kids, as there´s a local guy - owner of horse riding services - involved. We spent long hours in the office bcs you need few signatures and also bcs the clerks have lots of time to chat. So we chatted to the ladies there. It was also kind of advertisement for our organisation, and maybe municipality will want to use us as a publicity for them. just some politics. Discussions with the clerks however gave me a great idea about views, opinions and politics of Peru and that was great!
(Yes, I understand lots of Spanish and somehow I can make a discussion! Even if I more listen than speak I must have such an intelligent and full of understanding face that they are convinced I understand everything;-) I don´t know how but people think I speak Spanish!;-) which is great for me, just the English girls behave bit strange sort of "how come you coming here and you are in easier position understanding and communicating while our perfect English is not enough?!").
Somehow I cannot upload the pics from Cordilliera Blanca etc as usb is not working in Arequipa...

Cordiliera Blanca

2007-06-21T00:12:00.000Z

I stopped for 2 and half day in Lima, the capital of Peru. Nothing to write about. Just a capital. Moved to Huaraz - base for trekkers, quiet little town in the mountains. It felt so good with nobody bothering you in the street "señora compra" (niech pani kupi) and attaking you with the menus from the restaurants in teh middleof the street just bcs you passing there. Although a single european girl arises some interenst among locals. Local people are curious about the world. They ask me about my country: what is the currency and how strong it is, what is our typical food, if we have black people, if we have cows and horses, weather, snow, winter, summer, language. They all know however that the Poland is a country of the Pope and they all loved him.

Just back from another trek. 4-days Santa Cruz trek in Cordiliera Blanka. Blanca means White, bcs there are geourgous white, snow-capped picks of altitude above 5 and 6,000 m asl there. This time was only 3 of us plus our guide plus 2 donkeys and their guide/owner joining us for the night as here it´s more usual to hire donkeys to carry your tents and food than porters. I can say only one thing: fantastic landscapes! just wait for the pics.
Donkeys, cows, horses, (walking among the animals shit but you get used to it after a while), flowers, silence and georgous montains above all.

Inka Trail to Machu Pichu

2007-06-12T21:21:00.000Z

So the Inka Trail to Machu Pichu for which I waited so much is...done. I´m back. i´ve seen these world famous misterious ruins. (For those who don´t know what Machu Pichu is: it´s a lost town of Inkas in the middle of Andes.) As b4 I´ve seen all the ruins around Cusco and I felt like I´ve got enough of ruins for a while eventually , as I suspected I think I enjoyed the trek itself more than the Machu Pichu. Of course it is very spiritual and magical place and also what was good it´s so big that we didnt´feel like among all these tourist - I was told that it´s so crowded but we still could find a place for a solitary contemplation, which was great. The trek 4 days a group of 16 people, nice young, international yet English speaking bunch - we all became friends and had great fun. It felt like a big family, everybody knew who suffered from altitude (few people did)or from stomach problems. Everybody took care of everybody and that was so great. There was these group of 5 South Africans (first Sth Af. I met during my trip) and I have to say they were very cool and very friendly people. Our tour operator provided excellent service. It wasn´t cheap but we hadn´t expected 3-courses meal twice a day +you wouldn´t believe...tea and coffe brought to our tents for a good wake up!
Then on day 4th wake up at 4am to get to the Sun Gate -view point to see sun rising over the Machu Pichu. We were not hikking, we were running for it. And then waiting all together ready with our cameras. This was magic.

Cusco

2007-06-05T19:55:00.000Z

Just very shortly to let you know that Im in Cusco. Shortly bcs Cusco is so great and there´s so much to do that got no much time for writing. Cusco was a capital of Inkas empire so there´s much more ruins than Machu Pichu to be visited. Actually, I visited most of them already and I think Ive got enough of ruins for a good while.
Cusco is a charming city where you can just stroll the coblestoned streets stopping in the art galleries and artisanian shops in the qauntity I´ve never seen before. There`s more bars, restaurants and toiur operators than tourists and believe me there´s plenty of tourists. There bars/clubs around the main plaza compete who gonna offer beter promotions to attract tourists: they just hand you free passes in the street: happy hours often last 24 hours! So all are full of Europeans and actually with English music it feels like at home which is good for a while after Bolivia.
I met here the Canadian guy with a motorcycle - but now without his motorcycle as he had to many problems with authorities everywhere and sold it.
On Friday I start my days trek to Machu Pichu.
Kisses for everyone xx

Lake Titikaka

2007-05-31T21:46:00.000Z

Once arrived from trek to La Paz I took the micro to La Paz. I got used to the local transport more or less: your backpack end up on the roof fixed together with other bags of potatos and who knows what else with ropes and covered with tilt (getting ready for India;-)). They shout to you "mochilas! mochilas!" the word that I always find funny and means just "plecaki". (When the first time I had to get on a local bus I got terrified whether we gonna arrive to our destination and that they gonna lose our mochilas).
Copacabana is a small town where you can see local people dressed in folk style and everything is for tourists. Much reacher that the rest of Bolivia we saw. It´s a port to Islas (islands). I took the boat to Isla del Sol (Sun Island). Tourists only, we visited rouins wich are related to local legends and beginings of Inkas, 3 hrs trek. In the islad, peole live preserving local culture and way of living, some good restaurants and hotels but most is very basic. Locals are very kind and friendly to the tourists as they see a way to sell anything to us. Even kids when seeing you try to sell you accomodation, asking for money etc. Quite disturbing. I stayed for a night on the Island and I really enjoyed a silence, nature, sunrise, and local, unusual life.
Once back I took a bus to Puno (together with a Spanish couple I met on the Island)- a town on the other side of the Lake in Peru. There we visited Floating Island: these are islands made by people. The way they live there is amazing. Just see the pics. Again: the islanders live out of tourism, they even make a show to present how they live! Somebody said "zoo". Although we have to apraciate they preserve local uniqe culture.

Choro Trek

2007-05-31T21:32:00.001Z

From La Paz I took the Choro Trek: 3 days in Cordilliera Yunga. Our group consisted of 2 Israeli couples, me, our guide/cook and a porter. Sleeping in tents and cooking from what the porter had in the bag. We started at the altitude of 4900 m asl descending all the way to our first camping at 2800m. The first night was fxx extremely cold and I really envied the couples. Socond day we walked all together almost 9 hours, first half descending on the wet and slippery stones. At the end of the day our calves were killing us and I wondered: "am I stupid or what? paying for getting fxx tired. and Machu Pichu is waiting, scary". Socnd night was much better. But of course all together the trek was absolutelly beautiful! It gave us chance to get away from tourist. We met very few trekkers on our way, many llamas and mules or donkeys (don´t know what`s the difference) and few solitary settlements and few solitary houses build of stone and hay. I still can´t stop wondering how this people live in the middle of nowhere with very little signs and help of civilisations. I will upload the pics soon so you can see the beauty of mountains. Wiciu, jak tak szlam to przypomnialo mi sie jak chodzilismy po polskich gorach. W deszczu i jak pilismy wino - oczywiscie najlepsze na swiecie z rodzynek. Teraz to juz bym sie nie bala stromych gor!

La Paz

2007-05-22T18:46:00.001Z

Now Im in La Paz - the capital of Bolivia which is by the way the highest capital in the world. However, since Potosi is the highest town in the world and after my last trip, Im fine and dont suffer anymore from altitude.
We splited with Curro as he has 2 weeks of traveling left and had to rush ahead to Lake Tikitaca and Cusco.
La Paz is extremely touristic place: everything for tourists, incredible amount of shops with artisan crafts. But its ok. a bit of easy life. And it feels like a capital. People are more up to date would say.
There is an incredible amount of travellers from Israel. Dont know why. But even there is lots of signs in hebrew. By the way there is more internet caffes and AMT machines in Bolivia than anything else. Then its so easy to eat in the street what I do sometimes, we tried all the local markets with Curro and no stomach problems or whatsever. Now Im laughing at all the advices and paranoias I read about before departure.

Salar de Ulyuni

2007-05-22T01:49:00.001Z

We are back from Salar de Uyuni. 3 days/2 nights tour to famous salt desert, lagunas and deserts of south Bolivia, driving in a jeep (the only kind of vehicle to cope with the conditions as very often you crossing the desert or rocks and there are no roads)south to Chilean border. Fantastic adventure and amazing landscapes! Absolutely beautiful! I never thought then desert can be any interesting, but this one was changing all the time and it was. Ula you asking me whether Im not bored with landscapes and I have to say that I just realised that during my one month travelling I changed the landscapes and climat from humid hot beaches of Rio to dry and cold deserts at about 5000 meters asl. It´s amazing!
We slept in the middle of nowhere in the hotel where everything was made of salt: walls, floors, tables, even beds - very comfortable. Me, Curro and another couple went to the desert to see the sunset, couple of beers and splits. In the night we lay on the ground looking at the stars, which in Bolivia you can see so clear as there is no industry and no pollution and the sky is extremely clean.
Apart that it was freezing what else you can ask for. exclamation mark - cant find on this keyboard.
I took 250 pics from this 3 day trip.

Crossing to Bolivia

2007-05-17T01:34:00.000Z

Eventually i left to Corumba with 3 guys from Israel and 1 Spanish guy, all from my hostel. From Corumba, which is on Brazilian side we crossed to Bolivia to a little "town" the name of which I don't remember, and stayed for a night in a "hotel" just opposite the train station. Apparntly we were advised to quee for the tickets at 5-6am. Once crossed the border I realized immediatelly: Bolivia is a VERY poor country. A lot to say about the border town. I was shocked with favellas but Bolivian towns ,appart the main square, which nornmally is charming, touristic and looked after, usually look like a big favela. It is scary but if you take it easy then you can have a lot of fun. Which we had. Eventually we got liking with the Spanish guy - Curro - and now we travel together. Once we crossed the border he got weeds and sometimes we smoke together.
On our way to Sucre by night bus i met a French girl (using the fields instead of toilet bcs toilets were so disguting) and... can you immagine? When, after 10 minutes I asked if she knows the hostel, she invited us to stay at her place with her boyfriend as they rent a big house (volunteering in Sucre). So we accepted their invitation and had good time together.
Sucre is a charming town at 2700 m asl and is on a UNESCO world heritage list.
Now we are in Potosi. 4090 m above the see level and I got a very bad headache. You fxx feel the altitute. It's so cold during the night that we decided to take matrimonial bed to keep us warm. I don`t remember when was it last time or if it ever happend that I could sleep with a guy in one bed without any silly or uncomforatble situations. Potosi is really charming town, also on a UNESCO list. It is pretty touristic although customer service in Bolivia is fucked up. Non existent.
People are so strange. Usually they dont answer your questions or answer something different or say 'no hay`- nie ma. I keep staring at the local women bcs in everyday life they wear dresses like in the pictures from the guide books and touristic adverts.
The roads are basicly non existent neither. Travelling by bus is really painful. Anybody who complains about bad roads in Poland should come to Bolivia.
From Potosi we got a bus to ulyuni. It was a real local bus (which we didn¡t know when buying the ticket). Our backpacks got on the roof of the bus and they squized as many local people, everybody with 5 bags, as possible. Eventually we arrived to Ulyuni. So FXX COLD!!!

Bonito

2007-05-11T15:04:00.000Z

Just short: Bonito is the gate to Pantanal - natural forest, ecological tourism, caves and snorkelling in rivers with extremelly crystal water and fish. that´s what I did yesterday. Beautiful. Unfortunaltelly dont have with me the cd to upload pics on the website. Horse riding in the afternoon. tomorrow Im leaving to Corumba, crossing the border to Bolivia. 17-20 hours by train called death train bcs it´s so boring.
I can´t say more that I enjoy every moment here. Suddenly I got a loat of courage to do anything. It´s not even a month since I travel and you wouldn´t recognize me. I´m already a different person. I chat everybody and quite funny - everybody knows my name and remembers me.

Foz do Iguacu- Waterfalls

2007-05-07T14:38:00.000Z

Czyli slynne wodospady Iguacu. Actually im in Argentina.
Have a look on the internet about it if you don`t know. These are 275 WATERFALLS on the border between Argentiná - Bolivia and Brazil.
I crossed from Brazil to Argentina (by local buses)as I heard from other people on the road that the Argenitinian side of the falls is the biggest and most beautiful and the hostel there is realy super. In fact, I will post the pic of the hostel - you would never guess this is a hostel: swimming pool, barbecues at night, bar with Spanish or Argentinian music by the pool, all great. The hostel is big and famous among travellers and yu hear about it in Buebnos Aires and in Rio. Many people from everywhere. I met the Canadian guy on his motorbike here (cant make emotion ikons as Im writing on a Spanish keyboard and its all fxxxing annoying different).

Coming back to waterfalls they are BEAUTIFUL!!! there are no words to give a justice to their beautity. You experience the power of nature and you realize how small a single man is. We are so small and nature is all mighty. You gotta admire it but never stand against. Dont fight and dont play. I took 200 pictures to chose from the best. Already deleated some and 80 is left. Will upload some on the web but they dont have USB in this great hostel so sorry you need to wait as you can`t underestand what im talking about until you see the pisc. The park is nicely preserved and looked after, good organisation, the staff is helpfull and rubish bins everywhere. We saw monkeys, tucan, and some other animal, i dont know whats that. Butterflies are everywhere, flying like anoying flies. They are boadt trip, you get very close to Garganta del diavolo. After you are complatelly wet so all you need is bikini. I spent 2 days in the park. On the socond day I met... 2 French guys. It looks that French guys like me and like taking pics together. haha. And I like them. Charming guys. I also met a couple of Irish girls and from my experice as far, the Irish are really cool and friendly people.

Anyway that`s one more picture that I wanna keep in my mind for later, when Im sad, angry or depressed I wanna close my eyes and think about flying in Rio and Waterfalls.

ps. Just wanted to say that I`m the only Polish as far and everybody is really surprise to meet a Polish girl travelling alone. And everybody´s very positive about it. Sort of `wow`. And Brazilians or here Argentinans react very nicely to me saying Polonia or Polones. Have to say: like the feeling, Im not a waitress among thousands of emigrants in London anymore.
Today is pouring down. It looks the rain folows me - awerywhere I go it rains after 2 days.

Heading south

2007-05-03T19:22:00.000Z

Eventually, I left for Ilha Bella with a Canadian girl, Kim. When we arrived there it was raining and the town looked deserted. Nobody there. It felt really akward and miserable. The island was charming but not as much as the previous one. Then I went to Florianopolis - about 12 hrs night trip 1100 km from Rio. On the bus I met a girl whom I met before in Paraty - so the stories that people follow each other and just bump into each other were true;-) I heard it´s amazing beautiful place but I have to say... it´s just ok. And it´s more Europe-like. The thing is that the south of Brazil is more like Europe than Brazil. So I wish I stayed longer in Rio and Ilha Grande which I loved but there´s no point in regreting it now. I met some interesting people in the hostel. Actually you mainly meet interetsting people: an American nice guy on exchange program in Brazil, an American girl travelling aftter she got divorced, a Colombian guy recovering after cancer treatment, a nice Canadian guy ridng South America on his motorbike. I bet I will bump into him lateron as we heading the same direction and places.
Tonight I go to Foz do Iguacu - famous waterfalls, 950 km from where I am now. It´s gonna be a night ride on a bus but buses are very comfortable here with bed-like seats so gonna be perfect.

Heading South from Rio

2007-04-27T13:52:00.000Z

I left Rio and went to Ilha Grande - Big Island. Not big at all: 6 thousand inhabitants living mainly form tourism. Island is GORGEOUS!!! Beautiful beaches, boat trips to lagoons - blue lagoon, green lagoon, some isolated beaches. On the first day I took a trek together with one Brazilian girl I met in a hostel. It was 10 km one day, last hour was pretty difficult as the path run through rich vegetation and we were not sure whether we are on a right way but it was worth an effort. Just see the pisc. I was amazed. Next day a boat trip to lagoons and tried snorkeling - beautiful! There´s nothing but restaurants and pousadas - guest houses, but what an architecture! everything covered in green and flowers! - life on island is completely relaxed and it´s easy to know people. Everybody is so friendly. They all say what´s a beautiful life, what else can you ask for. I know some of you would love it!
I felt like enjoying every second of my staying there. Like no past no future.

Now I´m in Paraty - it´s famous bcs of charming well preserved historic centre but not much apart so taking bus to another island. Although a bit nervous as it is a holiday in Brazil and I don´t have accommodation booked.

The most beautiful thing

2007-04-22T21:34:00.000Z

Today I did tandem hang-gliding. It was THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THING I'VE EVER DONE AND ONE OF THE MOST - or maybe THE MOST BEAUTIFUL MOMENT OF MY LIFE!
Kochani rodzice, to napisze specjalnie dla Was po polsku zebym byla pewna ze zrozumieliscie: dzis skoczylam na lotni (razem z instruktorem w tandemie oczywiscie!)i byl to jeden z najpiekniejszych z moze NAJPIEKNIEKSZY MOMENT MOJEGO ZYCIA. Nie da sie tego opisac jak to jest leciec w powietrzu zupelnie wolnym!!!
I CAN'T FIND WORDS TO EXPRESS THE FEELING AND THE SILLY FREE LIKE A BIRD IS THE ONLY that comes to my mind.
You will see in my album. First we drove with the instructor by very stapy road to the top. Unfortunatelly it was raining just b4 I arrived to the place and the was fog on the high so everybody was waiting till the fog goes away. You try with your instructor a short run together bcs you need to run very fast to gain speed and that's very important. I even wasn't scarry. I just new now is no way back and the only thing I can do is to trust my instructor. Then he was excellent - brilliant guy. He new how to gain my trust and make my jump. Is was like throwing yourself into en empty space. First I was out of breath. Just few seconds and then you relexed and I couldn't stop laughing as you can see - I was SO happy, flying complatelly free. When we were approaching land I didn't want to land. I wanted to stay there! Can you imagine the best orgazm you ever had in your life to last for I think 15 minutes? that's how it feels. All the stress of last times and all the tensions I had left, dissapeared. I felt so light and so relaxed.
I gonna do it again. I know in Lima (Peru) they do handgliding and I definitavelly gonna jump there even if this pleasure is bit pricy - $100 for a jump I wouldn't hesitate to pay it again.
Actually somewhere in the future I will go for a course.

few more notes on life in Rio

2007-04-21T13:01:00.000Z

Just few comments and notes on life in Rio. It's hot in here. There are fruit bars on literally each corner. They make beautiful juices from fresh fruit. Funny the most of it even don't have translation so I'm experimenting and chosing one I don't know. But the most jummy thing is acai: something extra fruity, extra frozen, extra thick and extra yammy! smth between smoothie and frappucino. Then I have to say that staying in the country is the only way to learn the language. Im so glad I learned smoe Spanish. At lest I can guess what people say and they underestand Spanish more or less so Im getting by. After these few days I already remember few words and expressions. I bet once in spanish speaking country I will learn it quickly.
Ather interesting thing - normal in sth america - is that when you use the toilet you dont put used paper in the toilet but... in the bin next to the toilet. the plumbing systems are very poor in here.
Today we going to see plaine show. Wil try to get a pics.

Kiniu wszystkiego najlepszego z okazji urodzin, oczywiscie sie spozniam ale caluje mocno z tej okazji! cmok cmok.
Iza dla ciebie tez happy birthday! 100 lat
Diane happy birthday for you!

born to travel

2007-04-20T23:04:00.000Z

I feel as if I was born to be a traveler! Guys I can't explain the feeling. Last night we all went to a samba club - but no for tourists or no! that was real club. I have to say: Brazilian women are gorgeous but men... just leave it. We all came back sort of 5am don't know exactly and in the morning everybody was suffering from a hangover (Irish group) and so on. I'm dead tired. Oh yes traveling makes you exhausted...
So i've got an idea what the life as a backpacker is like. The hostel, since it's hot, has a lot of open space, bar, the standart is not high but in this sunny weather it's ok. You get used 2 quickly. It doesn't feel like European hostels. Then believe it or not but me single since I don't know when - ages for sure - got a boyfriend. His carioca, very nice guy, don't ask how old is he pls!But I realized already one thing: this is gonna be an intensive course in detachment. Mainly detachment from people. Yes, Nick, that's what you were saying. I know i gonna meet many people I get liking to and... have to go in 2 days...
I hope u got an idea on favelas. I still cannot get over it.
thanks for emails and im glad you like the pics. of course later im not gonna take another 100 pics of sea and views but as far as now im just so exhilarated and excited that i need to use my new toy.
I could say many things Im seeing. brazilian life is so specific.
Copacabana by night is beautiful!
Viva Rio!

Rio is great!!!

2007-04-20T00:29:00.000Z

So I'm still alive. Nobody mugged me yet or killed. There's plenty of police at copacabana and it looks that you need to use a common sense as everywhere else.
There's so much going on and to say I don't know where to start! Rio is great!!! Already love it!

So the first thing after arrival I talked to a Czech guy in a hostel and he gave me some advices what to see appart the obvious things. Then I went to see an icon of Rio: Cristo Redentor. See the pics. Then famous Compacabana. To be honest there beach is not hing special and you cannot take swim bcs of polution. i thing that's a promenade along the sea and the night life that is so special.

But the best thing that happend to me was that I booked this hostel - it's small and bcs now it's autumn and low season in Brasil there is no many people. So after 2 days I knew almost everybody! It's amazing! I heard it's normal and easy to meet people in hostels but I didn't expected is SO easy! Or Im just such a friendly and easy going person... I really dounbted in London but fuck! I am! And staff is briliant. They are so friendly! They really help us to organise time be safe and have fun.
So in the evening we all having drinks together. Yesterday we went to a brazilian bar with live music. I was dancing to the rythm of samba with carioca - a guy sort of working in our hostel and I couldn't believe it. It's so BEAUTIFUL!
I met 2 Irish girs for 3 years away. A canadin guy for 3 months in Brazil. Braszilian guys from Manau - Amazonian region. It's gr8 I can speak to Brazilians and locals here - I can find out about life in brazil.

I booked Rio for 3 night as it was suppose to be so dangerous and not worthy to stay. From one day to the other I was saying one more day. I know I gonna stay here a week.
Today we went to famous favelas - slamsy po polsku. Like in the city of God for these who seen the film. I didn't expected what we really saw. See the pics. I would need more time to explain you this experience. Just that to go to favelas of course you not going on yr own. you need a guide who knows people. We were accompanied by another guy from favela. Kids were saying 'hi' to us and at the end we gave them sweets. And we had a beer over there...

Now we going to a brazilian - but local - club with music again.

So just try to imagine the feeling when you don't have to go anywhere and you stay as long as you want in the place. yes yes yes!!!

Airport

2007-04-20T00:22:00.001Z

Actually my trip started well already in the airport. The officer at check in looked through my ticket: "so round the world?" and he asked me twice is it all you checking in? he couldn't believe. "well, you packing light...". that was a good thing bcs most of all I was afraid Im not gonna pack.
Then on the plane I sat next to a Brazilian man and as long as his English allowed he gave me few advices. First of all he crossed out on my map where it's not safe to go and where it is safe.
Kasiu i Paulina, dzieki za odprowadzenie na lotnisko. To naprawde przemilo byc odprowadzanym. Z~a to nie uwierzycie, ze zostalam zaproszona do zeskanowania sie...

2007-04-09T22:29:00.000Z

- So where you going?
- Everywhere. Round the World
- Wow, around the world in 80 days?
- No, in 365 days! :-)
- Wow, with whom you going?
- On my own
-??? well... And what are you going to do when you're back? where you coming back to? London? Poland?
-??? I don't know. I haven't left yet and I've got 365 days to enjoy and take most of it. Maybe I'll fell in love with one place and I'll stay there... Not sure if coming back

Kochani, mam nadzieje, ze zrozumiecie, ze pisanie caly czas w dwoch jezykach byloby czasochlonne i uciazliwe i poradzicie sobie z angielskim... Zreszta nie bedzie to literatura piekna - ma to byc prosta i zwiezla relacja z podrozy,zadnych faktow historycznych czy geograficznych - te znajdziecie sami na necie jesli bedziecie chcieli. Pisze dla Was zebyscie wiedzieli, ze zyje ;-) i ze o Was pamietam i czekam na maile od Was!

First I wanted to say THANK YOU for all the farewell drinks, nice words and making me feel so special. Thank you to all who helped me with moving out. Thank you my friends for your support. Your finger crossed and guards - Ula I will carry them with me, Nick i cut them out as you told me - will make my trip safe and wonderful.
This blog is meant to be a sort of collective email to keep you posted. I'm not going to give you history or overview of the countries I will visit - these you can find on the Internet or whenever I you're interested in. Just to let you know I'm alive and waiting for emails from you!