South/Cental/North America #17 - Venezela > USA

Photos: USA
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1. Caracas
2. Denver
3. Monarch
4. Durango
5. Mesa Verde NP
6. Arches & Canyonlands NP
7. Bryce, Zion NP & Antelope Slot Canyon
8. Grand Canyon
9. Sequia & Kings Canyon NP
10. Yosemite & San Francisco
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Well I guess this could be the last of the emails to you all as I have finally ended the journey that I originally set out to achieve, it changed numerious times (just ask Lan Chile my airline) took untold twists but on the whole was one great adventure.

I hope that all is well where ever this may find you.

Grab a coffee and get comfortable. Well I left for el capital of Ven. and had no worries leaving almost straight away. I was sad to say goodbye to my adopted continent, but yes I vow to return somwday soon. I know that I am lucky to spend a year here but believe it or not there are still so many places to explore and now so many friends to visit..don't worry I will give you some warning before turning up.

So onto the USA, and in one year nothing stolen..until I arrived in Dallas airport and someone slashed open my bag and took my mobile and some other things that AA will replace...crazy no?

Met Mum and Dad at the airport, great to see them again after 1 year. Jumped in the rent a car and took off for a view of the very different and I have to say sterile Denver. Set off up into the rockies and onto Monarch, a small ski resort where I had a perfect days skiing.

Next up off on the Durango - Silverton steam train, something my father had been wanting to do for 20 years, he was like a kid in a candy store. Great ride up the narrow canyon, how they built these things I never know, still huge sections of snow and a lot of fun.

We then drove over to fasinating cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde and on to Arches NP where the camera got a good work out as sunset lit up strange the red rock formations. Very beautiful. Out to Canyonlands NP, great to see the canyons from above, especially Dead Horse creek lookout.

Drove through some great desert and canyon regions, past plenty of crazy American towns that everyone just seems to collect old cars and leave them in their yards and onto Bryce Canyon. Snow was falling and though we missed sunset it was nice to see the fresh snow fall on the "Hoodoos" or rock pillars that Bryce is famous for. I woke early the next day for sunrise that was spectacular, cold as it was (-10) but worth to see the light changing through the valley. Dad and I hiked down into the canyon for a nice walk amoungst the hoodoos and then joined Mum for the valley rim lookouts, most of which Mum could not see over as the snow was too thick.

Out to the amazingly huge Zion NP with the massive valley walls and crashing waterfalls. I draged Dad up the Angels Landing a walk that has you cross a 2m wide rock ledge with 400m drop on either side and then up a knife edge to a great view back down the valley. The old fella still can hike with the best of them.

Off next to Antelop slot canyon, an extremely tight canyon with light only filtering through around midday, absolutely beautiful. That afternoon we drove to Grand Canyon and enjoyed the views from the South Rim and a spectacular sunset. Work the next morning and dispite the numerous warning decided to hike the canyon in a day, an amazing walk down through the canyon, past the countless rock layer changes, spires of ancient rock and finally at the bottom the colarado river the water way that created it all. The hike out up a different trail was great, long but worth it, then off to watch the sun play its daily show on the rock formations.

Made our way over to Secquia NP and sat back and admired the huge 2500 year old trees, the largest living things on the planet. I went for a walk in the snow, got lost and fell over an embankment but a great day out. The trees are so huge and the largest grows up to the weight of a 20m tree per year.

We took off again to Yosemite, one of the best valleys in the world. a place that everyone should see in there life. Dad and I hiked up to the top of Yosemite Falls, I was looking to find a mountain lion Dad just trying to catch his breath as we ascented the 800 vertical metre cliff.

Off to San Francisco where I met up with my good friends Mark and Julia, I am staying at their place for the next three weeks. I have missed my good friends so much and count down the days when I can see them all again. Sad to say farewell to Mum and Dad again as they are off to Hong Kong to visit my brother Andrew.

So what now you all ask? I do not know, in fact I have no idea, so ask me about the past and not the future.

I hope that you have all enjoyed my little jaunt through South America and one day we will meet again. If any one is travelling through these places and wants some ideas feel free to ask. Hopefully hear or even better see you all soon...

Roland

South/Cental America #16 - Columbia > Venezuela

Photos: Columbia | Venezuela

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1. The Lost City
2. Coro
3. Caracas
4. Puerto La Cruz
5. Cumana - Araya
6. Rio Caribe
7. Cumana
8. Carupano
9. Salto Angel
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The weary traveller is back again with another tale to get you out of the office chairs and into that Qantas jet to see the world and experince some things that are totally different...

After leaving Cartagena, we moved along to Santa Marta and booked ourselves into the Lost City tour, for the reason of Cam having to catch a flight we convinced the guide to let us squish 6 days into 4. So we set off into the highlands of Columbia, yes we know this is the trail that the 10 tourists where kidnapped on 2 years ago and it is full of FARC, paramilitaries and all of the other groups that love to create havoc in Columbia but we were promised a safe journey. On the way up we almost went off the edge of a cliff in the jeep, walked and walked for the first day passing numerous villages with the local Tayrona people who´s ancestors built the city. Second day up and over mountains, down into muddy valleys and finally after 7 hrs, 8 river crossings and then literally out of the river a set of 1000 year old stairs going directly up the mountain, 3000 in total and yes we were very tired but also enthralled by the city.

Set a top a mountain ridge the city sprawls out across a couple of round terraces with the main plaza totally cleared. Other terraces are still yet to be uncovered from the thick jungle. In my limited knowledge you can see the Mayan influence in the buildings (these are 500 years before the Incan Empire). A great view across the valley and beside the mosquitos that I decided have been left there to protect the place it is amazing. I calcualted that only 30,000 people have ever been to this place, makes it really special. A long hike back down to the camp and after Alberto operated on a guy with a machette wound we rested. Next morning...

MUM SKIP THIS
We took off to a operating cocain factory, yes that is right for only $10 we were shown from start to finish how to make cocain, in fact see the photo for final proof. But no I did not try and after you see what goes into it - diseal fuel, construction lime, sulphic acid and the stuff they use to clean blood from abatoir floors (this is the 95% pure stuff by the way, what you buy in NY,
London etc is far worse) - I never want to hear anyone trying it.

We felt safe here, but check first as there are problems.

A sad, sad farewell to Alberto, in 2 months he has become a very close friend, a great travelling companion and I will surely miss him (somewhere sometime we will meet again). Cam and I took off for Venezuela and found oursleves after a long day, crossing the border saw us getting checked for our passports 15 times in two hours and two complete bag searches, anyone would think that we had been to a cocain factory or something =) We arrived late but found a good hotel in Coro, next day wandered out to the sand dunes, searched long and hard to change some money and did some shopping. Next off to Caracas were we wandered around, not a great deal to see. Cam left from here, yes very sad to see my brother depart, he really wanted to stay and by the sounds of things will be back within 6 months.

So back by myself again and I took off for Puerto La Cruz with the dream of sailing for the next month around the Caribean. Searched for a boat but no one leaving so I visited some close islands with some locals, nice beaches and great clear water. Then left for Santa Fe a great little seaside town with 4 pousadas right on the sand. I spent the next 4 days chilling out, making some more buddies (another Swiss guy from Zurich of course and some German girls). Stefan and I took off to Cumana and spent the day at the salt mines and the nearby beach of Araya that I loved, white white sand and a beautiful fort sitting above, a great spot to chill out.

Then moved on to Rio caribe and the famous beaches of Medina and Pui-Pui that though difficult to get to they certainly were worth it. Had a typical Venezuelan day at the beach in Medina, brandy on the truck ride in, whiskey on the beach and beers on the way home. But the guys I met were fantastic, fed me food and invited me to stay with them in Carupano for carnival.

I went back to Cumana to see some friends and then off to Carupano for Carnival. Well not quite on the scale of Rio it was a good bit of fun, dancing in the streets to trucks with sound systems larger then the Empire State, it was a great time. The floats were a bit disappointing and I have never seen so many transexuals. very strange how accepted thy are in theis macho society.

I left for there for a hell ride across the country to the jumping off point for Angel Falls. Arrived late at night and immediately a tourist guide knocked on the door and at 6am I was off. Flew into a small village Canaima, situated on a lagoon with 4 thunderous waterfalls dumping into it, amazing location. Spent the afternoon visiting the local falls, some you could walk behind. Then in the morning took a 4 hour canoe ride up the river, a great journey through the Tepuis (flat top mountains) seeing great rainforest, amazing bizzare mountains and countless huge waterfalls. But of course nothing compares to Angel Fall, 983m vertical drop and we were lucky at this time of year as normally there is very little water. Run up to the lookout and sat in awe of the dispaly in front of us.

I am now chilling out and back up at the beaches and bying time until I meet up with Mum and dad in Denver on the 25th Feb. I may head on up to Miami for a few days depending on a friend that is there.

Miss you all and let me know how you have been....it has been 351 days since I left.

Roland

South/Cental America #15 - Costa Rica > Panama > Columbia

Photos: Costa Rica | Panama | Columbia

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1. La Fortuna
2. Monteverde
3. San Jose
4. Puerto Viejo
5. Isla Bastimento
6. Panama City
7. Colon
8. San Blas Islands
9. Cartagena
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Merry Christmas to all and a Happy New Years.

I certainly have had a different year this year and I definately had a different Christmas and New Years but more of that in a little while. First and foremost a big congratulations to some of my best friends Glenn and Katie on their engagement. wish I was there to help celebrate.

Me, well another couple of countries have found their way into my passport and the legs keep on trudging along, 10 months or 300 days days have passed since I left my beloved shores of Sydney but I have hardly suffered.

After leaving school we crossed the border in Costa Rica and immediately felt the change of the people, economy and the influx of tourists, we took off for La Fortuna to glimpse one of the worlds most active volcanos, but only saw cloud. So we went to see a cloud forest near Monteverde, and only saw cloud, oh and rain. So no volcanos and no pristine forest, and after meeting an American girl Tanya it was not hard for her to convince us to go to the beach, 5 hours later we were sitting on the Pacific beaches of Costa Rica, long cresent baeches with palms supporting our hammocks and pina coladas watching sunset and I think we made the right move. Alberto was eager to talk to three Italian ladies we met and we all went horse riding through the jungle and finally along the beach at full pace with the sun setting on another day, loved it.

We then had to go and meet Cam (my brother) in San Jose, great to see him again and I am sure that we will be having some funny adventures over the next 5 weeks. We had one day in San Jose and managed to meet up with a local girl who in the space of 12 hours, bought us a coffee each, invited us around to dinner (we all cooked) and then took us out to some great clubs in San Jose...we came within a whisker of getting her to drive us the 5 hours to the next location, Puerto Viejo. San Jose I think has more Americans than most of the US, it was crazy how many of them have moved down there.

PV is a great town on the Carribean coast (yes we can not get enough of the beaches), great culture of the Garifuna people (rastas) and some great surf. The only problem is that the rain was bucking down and we had to wait it out....the three brothers (Alberto, Cameron and I) were joined by Ti from Sacremento and Marjolein from Holland so the waiting was not too bad. One of the best days in ages was spent cycling along the coast, we saw a lot of monkeys, some sloths (had been searching for them for ages) and went for a great body surf in some almost perfect waves.

Next up we took a bus, taxi, boat, boat combination to some amazing islands on the Carribean coast of Panama. Staying on a small island certainly has some advantages, no roads, beaches to only yourself and your buddies, invitations to multiple Christmas parties. Days on the beach after walking 15 minutes through the hills covred in lush forest with mud up too your shins and then appearing before a great break in the warm Carribean waters. Christmas Eve we went out to the bigger of the islands....and did not return until 4am.

So Christmas was a little shaky to begin with and then add in the island traditions and it was cornflakes a coffee and then the first of many rum and cokes thrown into our hands. The rest of the day was spent walking from house to house requesting food and trying to not accept more rum and cokes. It was a Christmas that was certainly different.

I got to celebrate 300 days on the road with a 10 hr bus ride across Panama (I hope that is the last big bus trip) and arrived in Panama City and immediately wished I was back on the islands. we asked around for some work through the canal, but none to be had so we visted the locks, really cool to see one of the modern wonders of the world as two super tankers passed through. Moved onto Colon, which is really a huge getto, one of the few places that I was worried walking down the streets during the day. We asked and asked again for a boat ride across to Columbia but ended up having to pay this crazy Swedish guy to take us over...

Well drama after drama unfolded on our little boat, changed plains, lost communication channels and well a great deal of fun. We finally set off and stayed the night in Portobella, arriving after a beautiful sunset and slept the night in a secluded bay. Woke early the next day and sailed for 25 hours straight, big waves and always into the wind made the going slow and somewhat upsetting to the stomach, Alberto turned a little green and slept most of the day. Yes folks this was New Years eve and at the stroke of midnight 2005 I was at the wheel of a 40´ boat sailing directly into the moonlight as my brother and great friend slept below, but it is a NY that I will never forget, very beautiful.

We arrived at the islands of San Blas and they are amazing, a chain of 360 islands scattered along the coast of Panama, some only big enough for two palm trees (prefect for the hammock). We sailed through to a safe caye (Holondaise), spent the day swimming, snorkling and collecting cocnuts. We planned on leaving the next morning but the winds had increase so we waited out the day by more snorkling and laying around in paradise...Hasse the captain refused to put the dingy in the water so we had to swim everwhere (remind you of anything Rob and Glenn). We waited another day and with the reports of continued winds of 60km/hr and 4 metre waves we gave up and fly back to Panama City and then within the hr we were on a plane bound for Columbia.

I never thought that this country would be so beautiful, so safe and the people so friendly. The place is great, I feel safer here that 80% of the other places I have been. The old town of Cartagena is amazing and we have been out and about checking out the sights and visiting the night spots to all hours of the morning. The women here are also challenging the Argentinians at the worlds most beautiful women competition...Cam has whiplash from walking down the street.

As they say in Costa Rica ¨Pura Vida¨ or The Pure Life, this is certainly summing up my time at the moment and I do not forget that I am exremely fortunate to have this chance in life.

Photos attached ::

Roland

& Los tres hermanos de pura vida - The three brothers of the pure life