Ciudad Perdida

Tayrona National Park, La Ciudad Perdida, 21-26 Dec. 2007

Starting on the 21th of December, 6 days in the jungle of the Colombian Sierra Nevada. A hike to the lost city. Crossing rivers, mountains, and then finally entering the city that has only been rediscovered 30 years ago.

The first day, meeting the group, Christy from New Sealand, Keiron from Australia and Brad and Dan from the US. a trip in the Chiva, over a mud road, through the mountains brought us to the start point. Ready for the first day hike, up the mountain, getting wet feet after five minutes, slippery, mud, rocks, rivers. An amazing hike, ending up at a river, with a swimming pool. That implies a waterfall, jumping off 5 meters from a rock to get in... Simply brilliant.

The second day we got up early, being treated with a great view (pic1), followed by a visit to ´the factory´... A small place where an old man makes cocaine and shows the process of doing so to the tourists (pic2). Afterwards we started todays hike, uphill, some slippery parts, again some river crossings. The views, well, one you can see in the third pic. Later on we walked through some indian villages (pic6) before arriving to the camp, preparing for the third day, arriving to the city.

After another night of playing domino´s, we turned into bed early. Leaving for the final stage to the lost city. First along some slippery rocks, being carefull, next crossing a river in which I was in up to my waist. Then a long walk crossing rivers, enjoying waterfalls, ending up at the start of 1200 stairs (where also the waterfall of pic 5 was), leading to the first platform. It was hard, but good! The city is pure, between trees (top picture) and while arriving I shot some pictures, keeping the best for the next day.

At night it rained, a lot, even the next morning, my camera was a bit moist, though the view from the bed was amazing (pic 4). We walked around the rainy city, keeping my camera in my bag, segure. The hike bag was amazing and challenging... Crossing rivers using ropes, one using a little cart/wagon with loose planks, hanging high (20 meters) above the river, ending up at a big rock, no security, slippery. A kick, but also a bit scary to cross. (mom, you´d have freaked out)

The last two days we walked back, took our time, enjoyed the amazing views and sunshine. During X-mas it was a 4 hour walk, though we did not really celebrate it. Looking back it were an amazing six days, wicked moments, a great group of people, poor food (my stomach has been better).. The Ciudad Perdida, a brilliant hike!

Hope you guys had an amazing X-mas and already all the best for 2008!!!

Bogota-Zipaquira

Monday 4.30 am, arriving at Bogota, the capital of Colombia, a huge city, a more dangerous place. At this time I did not want to look around for the hostal, so I decided to stay another two hours in the terminal, and there also already book my bus ticket to Santa Marta.

Around 7 I checked in at the hostal Sue, two locations, one of the best hostals around in Bogota. Taking a hot shower and orienting about what to do. At that moment two people came in, one of them was also dutch (Linda) and had the same schedule in Bogota as I did, solely two days. So we just made plans together. The first day walking around, exploring, museums, etc. The second day, Zipaquira, the salt cathedral.

In Bogota we had a great time, eventhough it rained, ending the day with making something for dinner together. The next day would be a long day. Zipaquira and next a long bus trip to Santa Marta.


Zipaquira is one of the main tourist attractions, all made out of salt, amazing to walk through this mine which is made into a Cathedral. An interesting day an surely worth the visit.

San Agustin 2

This second day in San Agustin, having a great jeep ride, amazing view, landscapes, past waterfalls, more statues, just amazing around there. Here some pics...

San Agustin, horse riding and statues

Leaving Popayan, for San Agustin. All through a lovely landscape, amazing views and one of the most bumpiest roads you can imagine. After six hours it is a relief to arrive in San Agustin, but not before we travel the last five kilometers in a jeep, sitting in the back with nine people. Though the comfort zone does not extend beyond 5 persons.

The first thing I did arriving was the booking of a tour, through the hills and seeing some ancient statues, made from lava rock.. This was not just a tour, but one on a horse (Cavallo). On a horse through amazing landscapes, up, down, through mud, small streams, etc. During the trip we stopped at a small museum. Amongst the things there was figuring out my Maya birthday (sign). Very interesting!!

These statues we (me and a Swiss-Colombian guy I met on the bus here) saw during our horse ride:
It really was awesone, especially the landscape, riding in between coffee fields, suger plants, just having an amazing time!!!

After the horse ride we were dropped off at the national park. Here we walked around more amazing statues and even enjoyed some of the views better!! Along the walk there were also other sights, e.g. flowes, butterflies, small falls.

Tomorrow I will be on a jeep tour, engaging the best landscapes, waterfalls and much more. Later in the evening I will be in the bus to Bogota, arriving there Monday morning early, staying for 2-3 days before moving on to Santa Marta for the Ciudad Perdida.

Just an amazing start in Colombia

Popayan, Colombia, Diciembre 12, 2007

I just experienced a really great day. This day is a follow-up of a little story at the bottom. A woman and her daughters who frequently come to the hostel invited me to their house for a visit and lunch (the main meal of the day here). At the edge of Popayan, a small house, a living room where they live, sleep (in one bed, the three of them) and have a lot of children over to do activities with. E.g. making music, creative activities, etc.

I had a warm welcome, the kids were great, so was the family. I had lunch and was introduced in the ´real´ Colombia. How people live, in parts that are not wealthy, where life is hard on them. I was impressed, in the mean time I really enjoyed this part, the purity of life, for life. It is hard to imagine from a western European perspective how the people live their lives. Even harder to imagine with how less the people have so much joy for life, a great spirit and will.

It was an amazing day, a bit difficult since I was bound to my knowledge of Spanish, but really amazing. Since I could not do all the things I wanted. Therefore I will leave one day later for San Agustin.

ps 1.... It only seems that I have a bit of a complexion.. For real, my arms and face are darker then quite some of the locals... What can I say, South America...

ps 2.... The proceeding story:
"Money is nothing, money is everything"
´It is all about the money, the standards, the house, the car. People measure success according to salaries and financial wealth. People compare, if they want or not. Look with envy at the people that have money, dream of being rich.

A joy for life, grasping life. Seeing the joy in ones eyes, living, feeling life in the purest way. Living it with the heart and soul. That is not about money, it is within the heart. Deeply engraved. Life, love, pure joy, anyone can experience it, just let the burdens fall of, feel the purity of the sun, the wind, the rain. Step out, dance, jump, laugh, feel life! Money is nothing.

They don´t have much money. Only a big smile on their faces. There is a lot of poverty, here too. The people know they don´t have much money, a lot know they don´t need much money (some think they do need money and try to obtain it incorrectly, are they happy?). They are rich, in their hearts, in their souls, living life, loving life. Money is nothing.

A school for small children. Helping them, in their first steps in life. But it is hard, not working with the kids, but... The bank (between all the old building, poor places the only huge, big, expensive places you will find are banks), capitalists. The school will be closed in case there is not enough money. Therefore they sell art, and simple jewelry. To prevent the school for being closed, to bring joy, into the life of these children. Money is everything!

Jumping of joy, almost screaming... So much happiness, pure! A British friend of mine just gave 20 dollars (40.000 pesos) for the preservation of the school. I topped it off to 100.000 pesos (20 euros extra). For them, this is the world, the smile on their faces, the joy they experienced. No words can express that. Money, money is nothing, nevertheless, money is everything.´

The Galapagos Islands!

Yesterday evening I arrived in Quito, from my holiday. In fact that´s what it was, a holiday within my trip, eight days, enjoying nature and its wonders. It simply was an amazing experience, how amazing. It is hard to describe, an experience of a life time.

The first day I started with my flight from Guayaquil to Baltra, being the last person for the day the boat waited for me. The other eight guests were already on board of that amazing catamaran. To my surprise there was one familiar face, a Brit I already met about 5 times before. Not much after my arrival we took off for our first trip, a visit to a mangrove. Here we saw our first animals, like huge (mating) turtles, sharks, stingrays (roggen). After this first already amazing trip we called it a night and started to head for our destination for Tuesday.

As every morning during the tour we had breakfast at 7, disembarking at eight. This morning we went to Espanola. We got off the boat for a wet landing (at the beach) and we were walking in between sea lions, amazing, how peacefull and quiet these were. After watching the sea lions on land we went snorkling. The first out of five times and the snorkling was really brilliant! Several times! During this first snorkling adventure there were sea lions nearby, besides that I saw two huge stingrays at the bottom and probably a small shark.

In the afternoon we had a dry landing at a bay where we went on land and walked between lizzards and boobies, yes, boobies, there are blue footed, red footed and Nazca boobies. Especially the blue footed (we didn´t see the red footed) were amazing...

Wednesday, our third day, guess this was the most boring day on the trip, though it was quite interesting. Learning about the Galapagos history and how mankind destroyed quite a lot of its animal population and vegitation. During the afternoon we had a small rocky hike, on which I slightly hurt my anckle again, what made me decide to skip the snorkling for the day.

On the thursday we went watching giant turtles and the Darwin centre in Santa Cruz. On these places they do their best to preserve especially turtles from extinction. At the Darwin centre they have an old turtoise, which they try to get mating with a related kind. Lonesome George is the last of its kind. Here in Santa Cruz, six more people entered the boat, all Aussies, like an invasion, 15 guests, of which 10 Aussies...

This night we had a long trip ahead, to one of the western and most youngest islands (with fewer tourists, yes!!!). Isabela, Moreno point, getting of the boat, enjoying all the views, walking on the lava grounds and seeing some flamingos in clear lakes in the middle of the lava surroundings. Later on we did some snorkling. The water was not clear, but we saw some turtles. At the end of this trip my memory card was all full and I burned it to a disk. In the afternoon we went to Bahia Elisabeth, with the boat into the mangrove and seeing.... Pinguins, who usually do not live above the Equator. Wow, really.. And besides that some amazing views of colored rocks and the landscapes!

The Saturday promised to be good, it surely was, more then good. At land seeing some leguanas. A nice hike and I cannot help finding these animals ugly, though amazingly interesting. I got some amazing close ups... And we got the one in a fifteen chance of seeing a giant turtle at land. The best thing in the morning was the snorkling, at first I did not have that much faith in seeing animals.. Till I saw some beautifull coloured fish and decided to follow them. Then looking to the right within approx 50 centimeters there was a huge turtle looking straigth at me. Believe me, this is one of the best and most amazing things life can offer, that feeling, so pure! Later on I saw far more grazing and getting close, but that one, brilliant!!

In the afternoon we entered the youngest island, Fernandina, with the latest vulcano eruption last May. Walking over lava rocks the landscapes were great, pure, crabs, Iguanas, sea lions, turtles, etc. I simply do not know how often to use words like magnificent and other superlatives, the experience was worth it.

This evening we again had a long trip ahead getting to our next destination. Bartolome, known from for example master and commander, a famous rock, standard image. After a short walk we were of to snorkling again. Naturally I´m tough, so I was the only one entering the water without a wetsuit (didn´t use one the previous warmer days) since there were to few a board. Luckily I wasn´t really cold, though the others admired my courage (or being a madman) going in without. Well, during the snorkling there were loads of fish, stingrays, then I swam in between to rocka and approx a meter and a half below me I encountered a new amazing experience... There was a 2,5 meter shark, right underneath me, swimming, approx on a meter and a half.. Ok, breath in easily, and out and enjoy the moment. This really made the day!

Later on during the boat trip to Bartolome Dolphins were swimming along the boat and one even jumped up for approx 2 meters, right ahead of us. What an amazing day it was. We visited Bartolome with different vegetation, amongs which the reddish plants and returned back on board. During the evening there were some (more dangerous) sharks around the boat, we celebrated Nicole her birthday and had our goodbye party.

The last morning before departure we walked along the beach and saw some Flamingos again. Then getting of the boat and leaving for Quito.
I definitely left my footsteps on the Galapagos Islands. A holiday I will remember for the rest of my life!