Into the Wild

Hi guys sorry it took so long to get this posted - it's been a super busy week here in the rainforest!
So after I uploaded my last post on Wednesday morning it was back to work in the medicinal herb garden. It was nice to be there just weeding away but the heat was pretty crazy making it impossible to work for too long. We didn't even try to keep going after lunch.
Instead we hung out for a while and I got the chance to get to know some of my fellow volunteers. We actually decided, because of the heat, that we would go for a couple of drinks after dinner so around 8.30pm a group of about 15 of us piled into the pickup and set off for town. We only stayed for a couple of hours but it was nice to check out the town a bit.
We also spent some time with one of the tourists called Isabel. She was in a fairly celebratory mood since she just been found after spending two days (and one night) lost in the rainforest! It seems like she accidentally got off the trail and couldn't find her way back. Luckily she knew to find the river so the searchers eventually found her just before nightfall of the second day.

On Thursday it was back to the garden for the morning but we kept having to stop digging to move frogs out of the way.
After lunch a few of us decided to walk into the town (Pilcopata) about 1.5km away. Some of the group topped up on snacks for a long hike they were going to do and the rest of us picked a couple of odds and ends.
I had planned on having an early night and had already gone to bed when one of the guys showed up and asked if we wanted to go to the town fiesta. Part of Pilcopata was celebrating its 100 or 150 birthday (I never figured out which) so there was going to be local singing and dancing and things like that. It partly turned out to be more like some bizzare talent show but we stuck around for an hour or so before I walked back with a few others in the group.

Friday went a bit differently to the rest of the week as I got asked to help with a different project. One of the guys here has been doing community outreach work with the schools and asked if I wanted to help set up a couple of weather stations in two of the schools. So we spent the morning setting this up then spent the afternoon back out trying to encourage the schools to compost - not an easy task it seems!
Some of the other volunteers went out after dinner but I decided to stay in and have an early night.

On Saturday anyone without set plans was asked to help one of the researchers with her project. She's been working on producing bio-char to use to aid plant growth and improve soil fertilisation. Our job was to plant up a field of Plantain which was all sectioned off to test different combinations of bio-char and compost. It was pretty hard going because it was raining so hard and a few of us kept falling in the mud but we eventually treated and planted up 360 plants just in time for lunch.
After lunch it was off to San Pedro which is normally about an hour or so away by motorbike. Unfortunately the bike wasn't so keen on making the trip - the chain slipped off more than once and then we ran out of petrol (so happy bikes have a reserve tank). We eventually made it up there just to find that the guy we were going to speak to had left the previous day and wouldn't be back until Sunday - typical! So back to Villa Carmen we went. By this time it was dark, raining, and there was lightening flashing across the sky but it was still fun to go along the windy roads on the bike.
We got back just in time to get some food before bed.

Sunday was a very different kind of day - a group of five of us decided we were going to hike one of the trails up to this really cool waterfall. We set off into the rainforest just after breakfast and after using this kind of hand-operated cable car to cross the river we walked for around three and a half hours to the waterfall. On the way we spent a lot of time ducking under and climbing over fallen bamboo and trees, avoiding ants, wading through streams and fighting off thorny plants but we did see some sort of monkey (species yet to be determined), loads of cool butterflies and by the time we got there it was so worth it. We all cooled down swimming below the waterfall and ate lunch there. Once I'd finished sewing up my trousers (which had ripped across the knee on the way) we set off and made the return journey in three hours. Out of the group I was definitely the least fit but the encouragement throughout the group and the thought of fresh juice back at camp kept us all going. There was definitely a cheer when we made it back to the cable car and upon return to camp.

Yesterday (Monday) saw us back in the schools checking in on the weather stations. Patria school seem to be all ready to go now at least. In the afternoon we went up to Huacaria (I have no idea how to spell that one, sorry!). There's a small community there that live a much more traditional lifestyle, tracking, living self sustainably for the most part and making jewelry out of bamboo and other natural materials. We went to get some photos of an area they're hoping to built on and to discuss some matters with the chief, although it turns out we actually ended up talking to the shaman instead...I think.
After a quick cool down in the river it was back home to Villa Carmen just in time for dinner - pasta with tomato sauce and stir-fry - yum!

So I think that's a pretty good round-up for the week. Now just to post this then see where we're going today!

On the Buses

Hi guys,
this isn't going to be a long post cause I'm writing just before bed in the hope I can post in the morning - internet connection depending.

So I finally made it to the volunteer project! I arrived a day late but I made it on Monday night.
The plan had been to leave Cusco by minivan around 5-6am Sunday (they made it so early because of their elections taking place the same day). However after I finally left the hostel by taxi (it was late) I made it to the area where I was to meet the van....except I couldn't find the van. It was getting on a bit so I decided to take the public bus. But despite me triple checking where the bus was going it still went to the wrong place - Colquepata, instead of Pilcopata! After a long wait in Colquepata the bus finally got going back and after a wasted morning I ended up returning to the hostel!

Monday morning came with a chance to try again. This time I found the stop but apparently the bus was full. Eventually I got the afternoon bus and after some rough driving we got in around 11pm and I went straight to my assigned bed.

Tuesday morning was interesting. I woke up around 5am to the sound of the crickets and birds outside my window. Before breakfast I got to go out and help with some water sampling down at the river checking oxygen levels and things like that.
After breakfast one of the other volunteers showed me around then we got to work weeding the herb garden until 12.30pm. For lunch it was rice, lentils, broccoli in sauce and salad. Once that was done it was back to work in the garden. I'm hoping to do more animal based stuff in general but as a volunteer it mostly depends on where you're needed.
We stopped around 3pm cause it was too hot to keep going. Apparently it's been the hottest day in quite a while - typical  - and it never rained.
The rest of the afternoon I spent getting to know some of the volunteers, reading, and hanging out by the small turtle enclosure here.
After dinner - rice, aubergine and salad - some of the others wanted to play cards. I joined in but as it was a game I'd never played before I was pretty hopeless. It mostly ended up being Rachel, the volunteer who showed me around, and one of the students from the School for Field Studies (there's a whole group of them staying for a month or so) who battled it out in the end.

Now I just need to see if this will post! Can't add any pictures as my tablet's decided not to notice the camera cable but will hopefully have some soon.
Bye :)

Welcome to Peru!

Hi guys,
I did promise you a post from Cuzco at least and since I might be leaving tomorrow I'd better get on with it! However I've not been feeling great the last couple of days so it might be a short one.

After I finished writing my last post Pedro thought it would be nice to take me and Mac (the other volunteer) out to the desert before we left. It took us about 45 minutes to get to the Bardenas Reales but it was definitely worth the trip. Although Spain, even Europe doesn't technically have any absolute deserts its one of only a few semi-desert areas in Europe. We drove through and stayed about an hour spotting vultures, checking out rock formations and Mac even did a bit of climbing!

The following day Martin and Pedro took us along to Leurga (spelling uncertain) to a wine festival. We arrived and for 1,50€ you get a glass which you can use to try out all the local wines from a wide variety of bodegas (where they make the wine). The rest of the day was spent chilling out around the hostel and checking we didn't need any last minute stuff before we left.

Monday was mostly spent washing clothes and willing the laundry to dry in time but in the evening Marianne and Sam showed up. They're the new helpers taking over from us so we spent quite some time chatting about what to expect and past travels, as is almost compulsory when you meet another traveller on the road. I also got to Skype the other half for the last time before leaving Spain too which was great.

Tuesday. leaving day. I spent about 6 hours on buses to Barcelona with nothing particularly excitable during the trip - literally the only note I made on it regarded it being warm enough that the woman next to me was snoring louder and louder as the trip  progressed.
Tuesday night was spent in the airport, where some guy spent over an hour silently hinting at me to surrender the only visible plug - not likely.

On Wednesday I flew out from Barcelona airport to Miami - approximately a 10 hour flight then trekked through that airport to find my next gate. I got lost somewhere in the middle after some dodgey signing but thanks to a nice member of staff I got back on track - although he did come out with one of the worst 'lines' ever in the process: something about if my eyes came with that shirt or something like that - no idea haha.
Anyway - Miami to Lima was about 6 hours and after watching a Morgan Freeman narrated documentary on the back of the seat in front I decided to get some kip.
I arrived in Lima airport around 10.30 pm local time and after getting a little turned around again (they really should fix these signs) I found the entrance to departures.... where I had to wait until around 3.30am before I could go through.
I grabbed some food from - I'm ashamed to say - a certain well known fast food place but it was then that I started to feel not so great - must have been the food right?

I finally flew into Cuzco around 6am local time which worked brilliantly as the sun was coming up as we flew over the Andes - a very impressive view! I caught a local bus to somewhere near the main plaza then walked up to the hostel - rather out of breath in the end which isn't surprising considering the altitude. As it was so early I actually managed to get an hours kip and still made it to breakfast - yay!

I met a few other folk staying at the hostel including my dorm mates - two girls from England who've just finished uni. We decided to join up and together went on a walking tour around the town. We got to see the Christo Blanco ( like Rio's Christ the Redeemer but way smaller) and got taken into a woven goods shop where we got a little talk about the dyeing process before they tried pressuring us into buying stuff. We also went to see and listen to some local music but I had another 'not well' moment so figured it would be safer to stay outside - guess it wasn't the food.
After everyone else had a taste of Pisco Sours (the local drink) we finished the tour. It wasn't bad and it was free but maybe room from a little improvement...
The three of us then headed to the local market where they have a sort of canteen set up. Although I ended up with plain rice (just in case) it was nice just sitting at benches with the locals in the market. However by this point I was really flagging so we headed back to the hostel and I spent all afternoon in bed with a quick trip to grab food (soup from a little local place and crackers) before bedding down for the night.

I felt a bit better today but still didn't want to push it so I visited the Inca museum which was rather interesting although it was quite funny to see how much pottery they had on display - think there were at least 3 dedicated rooms. They also had a lot on the history of weaving, and mummies...
Next I visited the Natural History museum. It wasn't great but it did have a few interesting specimens. Unfortunately the lady in charge didn't seem to know about the animals then kicked me out after 20so she could close for lunch.
I ate in another little local place which was interesting. You generally go for the 'menu' option here so I ended up with a bowl of green soup with a chunk of potato, followed by chicken, rice and another chunk of potato and for desert son sort of jelly ( I skipped that last bit). Nice enough food and for just over a pound you can't complain. Since then I've just been hanging out at the hostel.

OK, so the next part of the trip will be off to the project in the Amazon. I can't wait b I don't know what internet will be like. Will hopefully be able to blog - if not I'll think up a plan B.
Hopefully speak to you again soon!

A not so busy week

Hi guys,
In case you've been wondering why I've been so quiet this week it's mostly just because it's been a pretty quiet week. Except for the odd panic moment life here at Casa Pedro is fairly tame - and I mean that in the best possible way!

The main project of the week has been to freshen up the little apartment where Linda's dad used to stay. We moved everything out and before we knew it Muhammad - the husband of Fatna who's worked here for years - had the place painted. Unfortunately, while his speed painting was fairly impressive, it was also pretty messy. The last couple of days have been spent trying the chip, sand and scrub excess paint off of wooden beams, wooden furniture and tile floors. At least now its finished and the place is looking shiny and new ready for it's next inhabitants.

Although we never got round to buying any new plants I did spend some time preparing plant pots and flower beds just in case. Although weeding perhaps isn't the most exciting job but when its gloriously sunny and warmer than any Orkney summer it's great to have an excuse to be outside.

One of my specific jobs here last year had been looking after the donkey - feeding him, taking him out and cleaning out the pen. This year I got to keep the job - mostly I think cause the other helper, Mac, is just a little scared of the big guy. Normally Donkey is the perfect example of a good friendly donkey, but typically, the one day I decide to show Mac bow nice he is, he decided to act out.  After a good headbutt to the face and kick to the hand I finally got him tied up before he tried anything else but I think Mac will continue to keep his distance - oh well. Thankfully Donkey's aim wasn't great so he didn't do any damage to my hand but I have been left with a black eye that's now starting to look like very badly applied eye makeup.

Other than that there hasn't been too much going on here - I've had plenty of time to catch up on some emails and even spent a while yesterday just chilling out by the pool!
I had a chance to Skype the other half a couple of days ago which was nice since it's the first time I'm away myself for about a year.
Linda's son Dani arrived last night for a visit, having just arrived from Sweden. I think he's leaving again today but it's been nice to have a little catch up.
It's also been quite how people seem to have remembered me from last year - even the two mechanics who worked on the car last year remembered me!

Pictured below is my good friend Donkey...

Well I can't think of anything else to say so I guess I'll go find something useful to do.
Next time you hear from me I'll probably be either in Barcelona airport or CUZCO, PERU!! :D
Speak to you soon!

Sunny, sunny Spain!

Well I made it successfully through the next leg of the journey.
After a but uneventful trip I made it from Edinburgh to San Martin to rejoin Linda and Pedro at the hostel. For any new readers I spent about a month here last summer working in the the garden and had such a great time that I promised to return as soon as I would. So here I am.

The flight from Edinburgh was pretty smooth and apart from two screeching kids sitting opposite me it was a decent flight. At least the grandmother apologised about the noise...once she realised I was actually British and could understand her...
I spent the night in the airport and after a kind cleaning lady pointed out where the divider-less seats were I actually got a couple of hours sleep.
First thing in the morning I gt a bus into the city and the the direction of another kind local I made it to the bus station with plenty of time to spare!
Two buses later and I was in Olite - the nearest town to San Martin for the bus where Linda met me to take me 'home'.

The rest of the day was spent quietly pottering about, catching up with everyone and getting to know Linda's latest helper - Mac.

Friday came and it was like I'd never left. I grabbed some breakfast before getting to work checking up on the donkey, surveying what to do in the garden and reorganising my bag after it'd exploded over the room.

We also spent some time cleaning up a couple of disused rooms in preparation for an English immersion course that'll be running here soon.
Linda ran Mac and I into Olite for a couple of hours as they're having their fiestas at the moment so we hung out and listened to the music for a bit before heading back for lunch - couscous with vegetables - yum.

The afternoon was pretty quiet with us mostly chilling out for the siesta time but in the evening we got changed into out fiesta clothes - the traditional red and white - and headed back to Olite. They had the young bullocks out in the street getting them excited for the bull run. It was a bit confusing to be honest since they would bring one animal out for 5 minutes to win it up then stick it back inside and get another one. After about an hour of this they finally got them all out to run through the street but it was quite a bit smaller then Tafalla. One the plus side - by not bringing them into the ring and taunting them hat way the animals did seem a bit calmer in general.
Next came the dancing. Everybody and by everybody I mean lots of the girls and the occasional boy plus a few older couples - gathered together under the pavilion to dance to some traditional music. From our spot on top of one of the bull-barriers it looked pretty impressive. The kids are obviously taught the dances at  young age and everybody was keeping time and moving together - laughing and joking as they went.
By the time this had finished it was around 10p and the people were disappearing - obviously heading off to find food. We took that as our cue to leave and after a quick call to linda it was home to bed.

This morning has been a semi-productive one at least. I did some research into what plants to get for the garden again (since last years ones died) and I cleared the dead plants out of the pots so they'll be ready for the next attempt at growing in them...see how long they last this time!
Linda's grandson is staying at the moment which is nice since they don't get to see him often. He's about 2 now so it's kinda cool seeing him try to learn new words, though he did decide this morning that it would be fun to throw the calculator around outside - oops.

The photo is of me, Pedro, Linda and Rex just before I left last year

Well that's another post done. I'm off to grab a coffee then it's back to work in the garden!
Speak to you all again soon! :)

Back on the road

Hi everyone!
So for those of you who don't already know that's me already on the road.

I got the ferry down from Orkney on Friday night and arrived in Edinburgh Saturday morning to meet Courtney.

On Saturday we mostly hung out at her apartment while some guys from Sky came to sort her TV then went in search of food. After wandering about for  a while we finally decided on a local Indian place with proper Indian food - not that British-Indian stuff you normally get! We had a quite night after that after a long day.

Sunday got off to a slow start but once we finally got going we headed over to her uni so Courtney could get a head start on coursework while I scrounged some internet time.  By the time w'd finished it was getting on so we headed back into town. I needed to pick up a couple of last minute things for Peru so we ticked a couple of other things off my to do list there before dinner. we headed for a place called La Favorita over the road from Courtney's flat. The food was amazing; we both got a small pasta starter each followed by a split pizza and a caramel fudge sundae - so good!

On Monday Courtney had to go to uni so I hung out in the apartment for the morning before heading in to town. I didn't get much done to be honest but I did have a nice time sitting in Waterstones for a while reading with tea and a fruit scone until the rain passed.
Courtney and I met up again, along with her flatmate Ellie, and we went out for dinner with their friends to a Japanese place across town - the food was pretty good but couldn't quite beat the Italian from the night before.

Yesterday was spent up any loose ends before my flight today so I was sorting things like money exchange as well as seeing some different parts of the city. I met up with another best mate - Rhona - who'd come across from Stirling for the evening. We had dinner and happened to end up in Tron, a bar that does karaoke on Tuesday's . With that offer we got Courtney to come out and we had a good time chilling. They both got a bit of singing in while I played cameraman - which suited me fine!

So my flight is today which means I've spent the morning milling about watching TV and getting packed up again. Now to finish up and grab some food before thinking about heading to the airport!
Speak to you all again from Spain! :)

The return of the Gipsy

Welcome back everyone!!!
And hi to any new readers!

So it's been quite some time since I last posted anything to this blog - a whole year in fact - but that's because I've not been on the road much. However as of Friday I'll be off on another new adventure.

I'm going to be making a couple of stops in Edinburgh and Spain but my big trip will see me flying out to Peru at the start of October. Now for those of you who don't know, Peru has always been that on country that I've always dreamed of visiting - even back as a scrawny little kid in combats - so the fact I have the opportunity to make this trip is just amazing and I can't wait to get out there and see the place in real life.
And to top it off, while I'm there are I'm mostly going to be working at a Biological research center right out in the Amazon rainforest - dream come true!

I'm going to be away about 4 months so of course I'll also be sure to go across to Machu Picchu and hopefully a couple of other important sites over there - so let me know if you have any 'must see' suggestions!

In the mean time I've pretty much got most of my paper work printed and I've already checked into my flight from Edinburgh to Barcelona, so I guess I'd better get started on packing!!

Speak to you all soon - and don't worry - I'll hopefully be showing you some amazing travel photos very, very soon!