Iguazu Falls

   Another one off the bucket list and into the growing book of memories. For those of you that know me I'm sure you are well aware of my love for waterfalls so it's no surprise this place blew me away! My first sight of the falls was from a birds eye view as we flew in. The size and volume of Iguazu was unbelievable and I got goosebumps instantly. As soon as we dropped off our bags at our apartment we rented through AirBnB (a great way to have your own place for cheaper than a hotel!) we were off to explore the Brazilian side of the falls. Of course it was spectacular and we took so many pictures I thought our shutters would fall off the cameras. My favourite part was a platform that you can walk on taking you into the waterfalls with water pounding beside and under you. We all got drenched but felt so alive. 

   The next day it was Argentina's turn to show us what their version is like. They had much more infrastructure that connect 3 observation decks with a train ride. The perspective was completely different but just as breathtaking. The wildlife was also abundant and we saw thousands of butterflies in all shapes and colours, a crocodile, monkeys and even a reef shark. Unbelievable indeed.

   After such a full day we were all tiered and were surprised to find the Brazilian border deserted so we drove past without stopping. This turned out to be a BIG mistake. After saying our goodbyes to the country we headed to the airport. We checked in, went past security, but we were stopped at immigration. As our flight was boarding the officer broke the news to us. We had to go back to the border to get stamped in! Next came a need for speed taxi ride as we weaved in and out of traffic racing to get to the other country. Miraculously we were back at the airport in 23 minutes. The officer stood at check in, hustled us past security and walked us to the plain which was waiting on the runway with just two minutes to take off. Any other country this wouldn't have been possible so my thanks goes out to Brazil for showing us such a good time and then letting us out!

12-14 MAR 14

Riding Through The East Coast Of Brazil

Angra Des Reis

   After the carnival the entire family was wiped out and it was time to rejuvenate. We booked a luxurious beach apartment in a gated community just outside of Angra Des Reis, which was an excellent decision indeed! For 2 days we enjoyed the beach, the views, and each others company. Family time is awesome especially when there is slow cooked ribs involved :P

6-7 MAR 13

Ilha Grande

   The coast of Brazil is full of amazing places but this one really stood out in my mind. There are no cars on the entire island so my family ditched the rental Fiat on the inland and took the ferry across. The ride was nice, quick and cheap lasting for an hour and costing around $2.50 per person.

   We stayed at an awesome hotel Pousada Naturalia that reminded me of a beautiful rain forest. The ecolodge was stunning with a breathtaking ocean view from the hammock on our balcony. It made it hard to leave the room but with so many activities on the island there wasn't much choice.

   First thing is first, we were hungry! With so much choice we took a helpful recommendation and found a wonderful BBQ right on the beach lit up by a tree full of lanterns, which was a sight in itself. We ordered two full fish and a massive steak. All of it was finger licking good and washed down with a cold beer. I tried all the local brands and I have to vouch for Skol which is light, smooth and tasty!

   The next day we were ready to explore so we took a boat tour to see as much as possible. The boat looked like a pirate ship and operated at its speed too. The first stop was the Lagua Verde, a picturistic inlet with aqua green water. The next stop was the Botinas Islands, a group of islands so close you can snorkel around them. For the rest of the day the sun was shining, the water clear, and my family was with me. What else can a girl ask for? Paradise is always a nice place to be but add your loved ones and then it really becomes difficult to leave!

8-9 MAR 13

Paraty

   Tucked away in between São Paulo and Rio is a colourful coastal town of Paraty. I've been to many colonial towns with pebbled streets and bright coloured window frames but this one felt so unique! What made it special was the creative energy that posses the city. Art studios and boutique shops crowd the old town to give visitors hours of entertainment. To add to its charm the old city is for pedestrians only with minimal foot traffic. All four of us loved our short visit and wished we had more time here. 

10 MAR 13

The Rio Carnival

   From when I was a little girl I wanted to go to the land of gliter, feathers, and shiny thongs. Well, life finally brought me there and at a very strange time too, right after my 3 week shaman course. The sequence wasn't planned and it was a shock to me but that is how some things go. 

   The best part was that my family was joining me. I met my big brother and my parents at the airport and we were off to explore the land of samba! I have to say this experience came with a huge price tag and the only way I would be able to experience this was with my parents' sponsorship so it might not be in everyone's budget. The apartment alone, right in the center of Copacabana, cost us $3500 for our 7 day minimum stay and the official carnival tickets another $500 each. The show was fantastic though. All night impressive floats glided down the Sambadrome parade full of elaborate costumes and great butt shakes. 

   For 5 days Rio was transformed into a massive party city. Major streets were shut down and turned into blockas, the block parties. There were over 4,000 activities in Rio so we had a pretty busy agenda. We navigated as best we could through the massive crowds, drinking trollies, makeout couples (or trios) and all the party buses providing never ending music and dancing. It was clear, Rio was on fire.

   It was also no surprize that the meat in Brazil was amazing! We went to a Brazilian all you can eat meat house and by the end all four of us broke out into a meat sweat. I couldn't get enough of the tender ribs, perfect steaks and all the buffet had to offer. I also discovered one of my favourite new cuts, the hump! Doing the samba was a bit tricky after but I somehow managed with the help of the local strong drink caipirinha. 

   In between it all we did manage to do some sight seeing like watching the stunning sunset from sugarloaf mountain and beside the iconic Jesus the Redeemer. Everyday we took a dip into the amazing ocean water to make the most of our visit. The best part though was having my family. I am so thankful to have them come all the way to South America just to see me and experiencing the carnival with them is just a blessing. Thanks guys I love you so much!

Sambadrome

Sugarloaf Mountain

Petropolis

Jesus the Redeemer

a big thank you goes out to my wonderful dad for all these wonderful pictures :)

28 FEB-5 MAR 2014

My Birthday In The Peruvian Amazon

   I wanted a memorable birthday and that is exactly what I got in the middle of the Amazon on a river cruise with the best man I know, my daddy! The entire week with G Adventures flew buy much too quickly but I will treasure this experience forever. We flew into Iquitos, the largest isolated city in the world with a population of 600,000, which was much larger than I imagined. The first stop was the manatee rescue centre. These friendly giants were much more than the blobs of fat that I expected. Their skin was soft, their movement elegant and their smiles heartwarming especially when they were eating bananas out of my palm. The turtles and monkeys there seemed to be also enjoying themselves especially the black chested tamarin monkey who jumped all over us and even attempted to bite my neck with his baby teeth. 

   Next it was time to board the Queen Violeta which had the largest rooms I've ever seen in a ship. Believe it or not we even had a giant bathtub! I didn't go in it because, even though it was treated, the water was brown from the sediment of the amazon river which didn't make it to inviting. I quickly learned that when G adventures advertises comfort they sure mean it. From the cabins, to the staff and the food all of it was excellent!

   The activities is what really made the experience so special. Each day we got on the skiff and explored the wild life. We spotted many monkeys, sloths, all types of birds, iguanas, frogs, a tarantula, a bird eating spider, bullet ants, and tons of other giant insects. My favourite were the pink dolphins that circled all around us as the jungle sung us symphonies.
Our nature guides were keen to show us the animals up close and personal which resulted in an aggressive and wet battle with a sloth that came for a forced visit on to our skiff. Our tranquil night ride, illuminated with glow worms and cayman eyes also ended in a similar fashion. Again, seeing the caymans from a distance wasn't enough so one of the passengers held on to our guides ankles as he dangled off the boat and caught a baby cayman to show us. Of course none of the animals were hurt but the humans did get a few rashes and scratches. Well, other than the piranhas that we caught during our fishing trip.

   Our encounters with the humans were equally as impactful. We visited a shaman lady and learned about her plant medicines, went on a canoe ride with the locals from one of the villages, and had a delicious lunch with a local family at their home where I tried some monkey. Yes you read right, I ate monkey and it was actually really good. What was really special was visiting a school in a small village of only 120 people. The kids were so thankful for the pencils and notebooks that we brought them that they even broke out in song for us. When asked what they wanted to be when they grew up the youngest girl, who was only 3 and looked a lot like me at that age, announced she wants to be a tourist.  As she twirled in her pretty white dress I couldn't help but think of how slim her chances are to have the same opportunity as us. But even without all the shiny iPads and all the rest of the materialistic luxurious of the western world these people are rich in life. They have strong spirits, unforgettable smiles and an appreciation towards life that we can all really learn from. As I blew out my candle, signifying my 27th birthday, for the first time in my life I didn't make a wish. Instead I gave gratitude for everything I gained out of this unforgettable experience and amazing life.

The Animals

The Scenery

The People

15-22 MAR 2014

The Dance!

   I finally did it! I uploaded my first dance video on my myworldwithdance blog. Yes this is a huge accomplishment for me and I did think it would come a lot sooner. There were a few set backs that I know managed to figure out. I'm happy to report that the first dance was in front of the illimani in Bolivia on the last day of my shaman course. I chose this song because I feel like a gypsy running around the world with the backpack. Thank you to my viewers for letting me into their worlds, all my supporters for helping me find my way and of course my brother and sister from the pachamama for making this happen!

AHO!

Salt Flats of Uyuni

   This was another place on my bucket list that I've happily ticked off, the salt flats in Bolivia. I took a 3 day tour to take it all in starting in San Pedro de Atacama and ending in Uyuni. The 3 days were spent in a jeep off-roading through colourful lakes with llamas, steaming geysers bubbling mud, and rock formations and mountains that look out of this world. It was really a sight to see with nature at its finest glory.

   Of course the highlight was the salt flat near Uyuni, which is the biggest in the world. We were there for sun rise which made it even more spectacular. As the sun rose everything doubled by the reflection of the salt. Flamingoes were flying over top and cloud formations looked heavenly. We then had breakfast at the salt hotel, which as the name suggests is made entirely out of salt including the chairs and tables.

   After gaining some energy it was time to play. I couldn't leave with at least a dozen cool pictures! I then proceeded to having kung fu fights with a dinosaur, cuddling a monkey, making human formations, and conquering mountains. What a great start to Bolivia, I'm sure it has plenty more to offer!

29 JAN - 2 FEB 2014