With a Machette in hand and hacking our way through the jungle we search for an escaped mountian lion. Senses are perked since it goes against our natural instincts to not care what lies over head as giant banana leaves containing a mass of different insects drop onto your head.
Or what deadly spider may be lerking on the fallen leaf....
The attempt of a straight path is thwarted by water to deep or vines to spikey.
The sun begins to set and the way back to camp is through ink black waist deep water guided only by the chorus of insects that guide us home in the dark.
This is an exerpt from just another regular day at the parque. With countless adventures there are many chapters to the story.
However these I will eventually write on a new blog page actually sinceI found on that is formated much better and I can easily up load pictures on it....but I will add the link to that when I finally have something on it...
Monday, March 31, 2008
Friday, March 7, 2008
I´ve been eatten...
Hello all!!
It been a bit however there are issues with the internet here. I tried writing last week had typed for over a hour when the power went out and I lost everything. So I here´s a quick hello and I haven´t been eatten by a cat....I have been eatten by mosquitos though....right now I have over 550 bites....still counting...
I am now taking care of a male Jaguar named Sama, whom I love, But more on that....honestly probley in two weeks?.....=)
xoxoxo´s
It been a bit however there are issues with the internet here. I tried writing last week had typed for over a hour when the power went out and I lost everything. So I here´s a quick hello and I haven´t been eatten by a cat....I have been eatten by mosquitos though....right now I have over 550 bites....still counting...
I am now taking care of a male Jaguar named Sama, whom I love, But more on that....honestly probley in two weeks?.....=)
xoxoxo´s
Saturday, February 23, 2008
My 3 Pumas
I´m at the park now!
Well not right now since I am writing this and we have no electicity at the park. Actually I got really lucky and every saturday we get half a day off, so I only worked for two and got half of one off.
First off, I am super happy about my decision to come here. My instincts were right and there are alot less voulunteers here and much more cats. We have 9 full grown Puma´s, 4 Jaguars, 4 oceolots, 1 lion (yes i know weird, lions dont live i south america, but he was resuced from a circus) A whole bunch of different topical birds, like Tucans and such, a taipir, pios, and others.
There are 4 monkey that live basically with us...2 grown howlers and two babys. (Ill get a full list for next week...)
First off, I am lucky enough to be working with not only one cat....but 3! I have the three sisters inti, wara, and Yassi. They are Puma triplets named after the orgainization.
Every morning we get up a little before 7 to get the food for the house animals ready....My first day I did this with a baby howler monkey behind my neck....Basically cutting fruits and veggies and doing clean up in the cages. Then we get to eat breakfast...
From there we go to our cats...Every cat should have 1-2 people with them depending on the cats...Right now its just me and another guy richard with our sisters.
The sisters are about a half an hour walk through the jungle to get to them, but of course since this is the rainy season its not as much walking through the jungle but wadding through water around knee hight. (to waist depending on what steps you take)
Every day the Cats need to be walked. But since there is so much water for parts they just swim beside you, and then can swim much faster then you can walk. ( My first day walking them will be tommorrow, since there was a inspection yesterday and today is only a half day)
Then in the evening after the walk and our lunch we feed the cats.
The are really nice cats, each with there own distinct personality. They act just like Huge house cats (besides being wild) They come to you when they want affection and will purr loudly and nuzzle you face and neck, or swat at you when it so pleases them... The only Thing you have to remember is to never turn you back to them, or they will pounce on you from behind.,....which can be tricky when there is three of them running around you....(keep in mind all playfully though)
The majority of the other voulnteers have foot fungus since your standing and walking in the water all day...Im hopeing to avoid this, but I suppose you will find out how succesful i am next saturday.
So for until one week....Im off to the water bogged jungle (even my cats cage is under water)
They have platforms and to run to and from though, so dont worry....=)
Well not right now since I am writing this and we have no electicity at the park. Actually I got really lucky and every saturday we get half a day off, so I only worked for two and got half of one off.
First off, I am super happy about my decision to come here. My instincts were right and there are alot less voulunteers here and much more cats. We have 9 full grown Puma´s, 4 Jaguars, 4 oceolots, 1 lion (yes i know weird, lions dont live i south america, but he was resuced from a circus) A whole bunch of different topical birds, like Tucans and such, a taipir, pios, and others.
There are 4 monkey that live basically with us...2 grown howlers and two babys. (Ill get a full list for next week...)
First off, I am lucky enough to be working with not only one cat....but 3! I have the three sisters inti, wara, and Yassi. They are Puma triplets named after the orgainization.
Every morning we get up a little before 7 to get the food for the house animals ready....My first day I did this with a baby howler monkey behind my neck....Basically cutting fruits and veggies and doing clean up in the cages. Then we get to eat breakfast...
From there we go to our cats...Every cat should have 1-2 people with them depending on the cats...Right now its just me and another guy richard with our sisters.
The sisters are about a half an hour walk through the jungle to get to them, but of course since this is the rainy season its not as much walking through the jungle but wadding through water around knee hight. (to waist depending on what steps you take)
Every day the Cats need to be walked. But since there is so much water for parts they just swim beside you, and then can swim much faster then you can walk. ( My first day walking them will be tommorrow, since there was a inspection yesterday and today is only a half day)
Then in the evening after the walk and our lunch we feed the cats.
The are really nice cats, each with there own distinct personality. They act just like Huge house cats (besides being wild) They come to you when they want affection and will purr loudly and nuzzle you face and neck, or swat at you when it so pleases them... The only Thing you have to remember is to never turn you back to them, or they will pounce on you from behind.,....which can be tricky when there is three of them running around you....(keep in mind all playfully though)
The majority of the other voulnteers have foot fungus since your standing and walking in the water all day...Im hopeing to avoid this, but I suppose you will find out how succesful i am next saturday.
So for until one week....Im off to the water bogged jungle (even my cats cage is under water)
They have platforms and to run to and from though, so dont worry....=)
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Links...
Well, I tried to put some pictures on here, and it didnt work...so I tried to put some onto an online photoalbum and it took FOREVER...
So here´s the link to just a couple...
www.travellingkara.myphotoalbum.com
and also, if any one want to check out where Ill be working here the link to that as well...
http://www.intiwarayassi.org/
Ill be going to the Parque Ambue.
Also if you click on the american/british flag in the top left, it will translate to English for you.
So, Ill update this again as soon as I can!
xoxoxo´s
So here´s the link to just a couple...
www.travellingkara.myphotoalbum.com
and also, if any one want to check out where Ill be working here the link to that as well...
http://www.intiwarayassi.org/
Ill be going to the Parque Ambue.
Also if you click on the american/british flag in the top left, it will translate to English for you.
So, Ill update this again as soon as I can!
xoxoxo´s
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
The oh so perfect bus trip.
Well as a continuation to my last post on how wonderful my bus trip was and all my connections worked also continued....I left the internet cafe, got a nice cabbie and we chatted to where I need to catch my bus, got my bus ticket and got on. I had wanted a window seat (since there my favorite of course) but the bus was full expect for the back seat which I didnt want. the bus left shortly after completely full expect the person who was supposed to be beside me didnt show up to I got my window seat. With my nose out the window and fresh air blowing in my hair I rememeber my dear freind Raelene´s and mine "oh so perfect gift" Day I wont go into the story but if you want to hear it ask her, Basically if it seems to good to be true....IT IS!
So our bus pulls to a stop and the bus driver says something I don´t understand and everyone starts filling off...He startes starts re-funding some of our money and the people start walking....I had heard and read about the political insatablity before I came, but I never experienced it. My teacher from before told me because of carnival the protests stop since every one is more concerned with drinking, dancing, and playing music (and throwing water) than politicals.
So I put on my back pack take in cue and start walking....I asked a local guy about it and he said oh....its just a road block and well probley have to walk maybe 3 miles....SO we walk and talk (in my bad spanish of course) We came to the first road block...with was basically a few dump trucks of rocks blocking the road. We climb over that and contiune walking for about 20 mintues. Their was also a couple from Argentina who was going to the same place so we walked together and after some time had passed; a car offering to drive us to the next blockage came. So we hoped in and saved our selves about 2Km´s. Where the next dump truck loads of rocks, gravel, and soil were across the road. So we pass this and look up the mountain ahead and all you can see is trucks and buses for miles stopped. The local drivers had strung hamocks between there semi and were sleeping. We start our accent up the hill. After about another half a K the argentine man switch back packs with me, which was a god send. Since I had al ready been walking for so long and my pack looks like a small house and it was about +25 out....So we walk, and walk, and once we got about half way up and past all the cars we stopped to rest and to try to flag down drivers to take us. However since its the people who did the barrcades no one will pick you up and take you past the blockages. So we walk more, and more, and about 4 hours later we get to the top of the mountain where the next blockage is. They talked to the people and got permission for the 4 of us to pass and we got in a car. And then began the video game worthy car ride...There wasnt any more actual blockages (expect for one that people had moved enough to pass over) All over the curving mountain road was suddenly large rocks, trees, tires, really anything that the people could find on the sides to put on the road. So after about 3 hours of hair raising driving we get to a little past where we wanted to go, and the taxi asks for 10 bs more from each of us (which isnt bad considering that we had only paid about 75cent for the 3 hours and 10 more is just over a dollar)
We were going to pay him and ask him to take us where we wanted to go gave him a 50 and thinking he was going to come back with change, him and his mother ran into the car and sprayed us with rocks as they took off. We got some food the couple went camping and I continued going...and literaly kept on going, Passing the actual village that I was going to work at, but extrenous cercumstances keep preventing me, I decided that I am going to the park that when I had looked into it i was orginally going to go.
So here I am back in the same city that I started my adventures in. The two parks I had debated between are run by the same company:Inti Wara Yassi. One, Villa Tunari, is located in an actual little town, with everything. I decided on going to that one when I landed since I didnt want to be in the jungle with nothing and the road there seemed harder.
But, after sooooo much hardship turing to get to the "easier" park, I figured I might as well go to the other one. Plus I had meet other travellers who had gone to villa tunari and who were going, but no one was going to this one, so I figured they might need the help more.
So I will spend one more day here, recovering from what I think is just some heat stroke from my walk yesterday, than I head to the jungle.
So our bus pulls to a stop and the bus driver says something I don´t understand and everyone starts filling off...He startes starts re-funding some of our money and the people start walking....I had heard and read about the political insatablity before I came, but I never experienced it. My teacher from before told me because of carnival the protests stop since every one is more concerned with drinking, dancing, and playing music (and throwing water) than politicals.
So I put on my back pack take in cue and start walking....I asked a local guy about it and he said oh....its just a road block and well probley have to walk maybe 3 miles....SO we walk and talk (in my bad spanish of course) We came to the first road block...with was basically a few dump trucks of rocks blocking the road. We climb over that and contiune walking for about 20 mintues. Their was also a couple from Argentina who was going to the same place so we walked together and after some time had passed; a car offering to drive us to the next blockage came. So we hoped in and saved our selves about 2Km´s. Where the next dump truck loads of rocks, gravel, and soil were across the road. So we pass this and look up the mountain ahead and all you can see is trucks and buses for miles stopped. The local drivers had strung hamocks between there semi and were sleeping. We start our accent up the hill. After about another half a K the argentine man switch back packs with me, which was a god send. Since I had al ready been walking for so long and my pack looks like a small house and it was about +25 out....So we walk, and walk, and once we got about half way up and past all the cars we stopped to rest and to try to flag down drivers to take us. However since its the people who did the barrcades no one will pick you up and take you past the blockages. So we walk more, and more, and about 4 hours later we get to the top of the mountain where the next blockage is. They talked to the people and got permission for the 4 of us to pass and we got in a car. And then began the video game worthy car ride...There wasnt any more actual blockages (expect for one that people had moved enough to pass over) All over the curving mountain road was suddenly large rocks, trees, tires, really anything that the people could find on the sides to put on the road. So after about 3 hours of hair raising driving we get to a little past where we wanted to go, and the taxi asks for 10 bs more from each of us (which isnt bad considering that we had only paid about 75cent for the 3 hours and 10 more is just over a dollar)
We were going to pay him and ask him to take us where we wanted to go gave him a 50 and thinking he was going to come back with change, him and his mother ran into the car and sprayed us with rocks as they took off. We got some food the couple went camping and I continued going...and literaly kept on going, Passing the actual village that I was going to work at, but extrenous cercumstances keep preventing me, I decided that I am going to the park that when I had looked into it i was orginally going to go.
So here I am back in the same city that I started my adventures in. The two parks I had debated between are run by the same company:Inti Wara Yassi. One, Villa Tunari, is located in an actual little town, with everything. I decided on going to that one when I landed since I didnt want to be in the jungle with nothing and the road there seemed harder.
But, after sooooo much hardship turing to get to the "easier" park, I figured I might as well go to the other one. Plus I had meet other travellers who had gone to villa tunari and who were going, but no one was going to this one, so I figured they might need the help more.
So I will spend one more day here, recovering from what I think is just some heat stroke from my walk yesterday, than I head to the jungle.
Monday, February 18, 2008
off to work!
Well I actually caught my bus last night...and thinking about it, I think the bus I missed was probley the ONLY bolivan bus to actually leave on time. The bus ride last night was bumpy but good. Two English guys ended up standing in the asile beside me for about 2 hours since they had stored their bags at the bus travel agency, and a little boy broke into one of their bags and stole his passport. They got it back and just wanted to leave to catch the bus but the lady was scared they were going to the police so she locked them in the room and said she called the boys mother so they could all give him trouble, mean while they filled the bus up with extra people going to villages on the way taking their actual seats. However when we had to stop to fix a flat and everyone got out they got them back.
I managed to get on a bus about an hour after I got to my connecting town which was a pleasent surprise, so instead of waiting until noon I got a bus at 5.30am got a few hours of sleep and got to Cochabama early this morning. Sooooo, im not going to stay here but head straight tò the park.
So a month later, im finally off to play with the animals!!
I managed to get on a bus about an hour after I got to my connecting town which was a pleasent surprise, so instead of waiting until noon I got a bus at 5.30am got a few hours of sleep and got to Cochabama early this morning. Sooooo, im not going to stay here but head straight tò the park.
So a month later, im finally off to play with the animals!!
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Beauty in the middle of nothing.
Well Hello!!!
I am back from a fanastic tour of southwest Boliva to the Chile border.
The bus ride here was amazing, the roads were great and since it was during the day I got to stick my nose to the window and watch the amazing mountain landscapes unfold before me. Basically our rockies, but bigger: meets our badlands, but bigger. I decided the next time I come I want to do it with my own wheels so I can stop when ever I want. (yes, i know im still here but yes im already planning on coming back)
When we got here me and sarah, an aussie girl I came with, went looking for a tour company to go with...after wandering around to some different ones be decided on one. The next morning we arrived and there was 3 other people that were supposed to be with us to, but then for some reason they seperated us and we got put on different tours.
And might I say we got sooooo, lucky. We got probley the nicest 4x4 he could drive fast over all the bumps and rocks and we didn´t feel anything. Meanwhile other were slowly bouncing along. And our driver was great, other travellers were having problems even getting theirs to stop to take pictures and when ever we would stick our camera to the window he would go ¨stop for picture¿ and just stop.
The group we ended up with was 2 other aussie couples....so 5 austrilans and moi. Nice since were all english speaking.
We started at a train graveyard. looks like it sounds, a bunch of old trains....from there we went to a little village made up of salt bricks and rusted car bumpers. The reason the villa was made of salt is because it is right at the edge of the world biggest Salar. It was once an ancient ocean but now it a vast expanse of white salt....well it if it wasn´t the rainy season it would be white: However the rain has left about 5 inchs of water all on it which made a perfect reflection of the sky. When driving on it, it actually feels and looks like your driving in the sky.
So, after eatting our Alpaca steaks, while sitting on salt chairs at a salt table we headed out for the villa we would be staying for the night.
Out of all the cars (a few dozen) Only 3 of us stayed in this one village which was great, we got hot showers and great rooms....
The next morning we awoke and continued, The rocky road took us through the mountains to many different lakes, since the flamingos are migrating right now, all of them had tonnes of the pink and white birds on them. The mountins here are different, higher, bigger, and nothing on them. We accended to over 4900 meters, and then there on the top of the mountian we´re in a red desert. Beautiful and intresting rocks left by erosion in the middle of seemingly no where.
I have some pretty pictures....you´ll see....
Where there is nothing else up here there are these wild llamas, that some how manage to live.
After driving through some more indiscribeable landscape of sand dunes, mountains, volcanos, mountain with holes in the side of them where metorites hit: we arrived to one of the national parks, right past it was a red lake, and we stayed just past here for the night.
The next morning we awoke at 4:30am to get to the gysers in time....Basically I woke up and went to mars. Weird weird landscape, the earth spraying steam out of bubbling mud holes, all surrounded by bright red mountains, ground, and rocks. We watched the sun rise here and then went to some natural hot springs for breakfast. From here we went to some more brillantly colored lakes with a huge volcano as their backdrop. The 4 others in our tour were continuing on to chile to we left them at the border switched cars and came home a different but still intrestingly and beautiful way. We stopped for lunch in a little village on the edge of where the earth is being torn apart....litterally.
And now Im back in Uyuni....I actually still shouldn´t be here, but this time at no fault of the Bolivan bus system I missed my bus last night....After eatting supper I was saying my good bye to some other freinds heading to La Paz, when with a confused look I crooked my head sideways and pointed at my bus as it drove right in frount of me, Hey thats my bus....all full expect my little window spot at the front. (Hora de salida is 19.45, not 8 kara....read your stupid ticket!)
Ha Ha, oops, So im off again tonight to Oruro where I will catch another bus to Cochabamba. But since nothing here seem to be planned right my bus gets in at 4am...you think they would just leave here later and get in at a more resonable time....
You all should google earth the south west of boliva and can see how weird yet beautiful it is.
I am back from a fanastic tour of southwest Boliva to the Chile border.
The bus ride here was amazing, the roads were great and since it was during the day I got to stick my nose to the window and watch the amazing mountain landscapes unfold before me. Basically our rockies, but bigger: meets our badlands, but bigger. I decided the next time I come I want to do it with my own wheels so I can stop when ever I want. (yes, i know im still here but yes im already planning on coming back)
When we got here me and sarah, an aussie girl I came with, went looking for a tour company to go with...after wandering around to some different ones be decided on one. The next morning we arrived and there was 3 other people that were supposed to be with us to, but then for some reason they seperated us and we got put on different tours.
And might I say we got sooooo, lucky. We got probley the nicest 4x4 he could drive fast over all the bumps and rocks and we didn´t feel anything. Meanwhile other were slowly bouncing along. And our driver was great, other travellers were having problems even getting theirs to stop to take pictures and when ever we would stick our camera to the window he would go ¨stop for picture¿ and just stop.
The group we ended up with was 2 other aussie couples....so 5 austrilans and moi. Nice since were all english speaking.
We started at a train graveyard. looks like it sounds, a bunch of old trains....from there we went to a little village made up of salt bricks and rusted car bumpers. The reason the villa was made of salt is because it is right at the edge of the world biggest Salar. It was once an ancient ocean but now it a vast expanse of white salt....well it if it wasn´t the rainy season it would be white: However the rain has left about 5 inchs of water all on it which made a perfect reflection of the sky. When driving on it, it actually feels and looks like your driving in the sky.
So, after eatting our Alpaca steaks, while sitting on salt chairs at a salt table we headed out for the villa we would be staying for the night.
Out of all the cars (a few dozen) Only 3 of us stayed in this one village which was great, we got hot showers and great rooms....
The next morning we awoke and continued, The rocky road took us through the mountains to many different lakes, since the flamingos are migrating right now, all of them had tonnes of the pink and white birds on them. The mountins here are different, higher, bigger, and nothing on them. We accended to over 4900 meters, and then there on the top of the mountian we´re in a red desert. Beautiful and intresting rocks left by erosion in the middle of seemingly no where.
I have some pretty pictures....you´ll see....
Where there is nothing else up here there are these wild llamas, that some how manage to live.
After driving through some more indiscribeable landscape of sand dunes, mountains, volcanos, mountain with holes in the side of them where metorites hit: we arrived to one of the national parks, right past it was a red lake, and we stayed just past here for the night.
The next morning we awoke at 4:30am to get to the gysers in time....Basically I woke up and went to mars. Weird weird landscape, the earth spraying steam out of bubbling mud holes, all surrounded by bright red mountains, ground, and rocks. We watched the sun rise here and then went to some natural hot springs for breakfast. From here we went to some more brillantly colored lakes with a huge volcano as their backdrop. The 4 others in our tour were continuing on to chile to we left them at the border switched cars and came home a different but still intrestingly and beautiful way. We stopped for lunch in a little village on the edge of where the earth is being torn apart....litterally.
And now Im back in Uyuni....I actually still shouldn´t be here, but this time at no fault of the Bolivan bus system I missed my bus last night....After eatting supper I was saying my good bye to some other freinds heading to La Paz, when with a confused look I crooked my head sideways and pointed at my bus as it drove right in frount of me, Hey thats my bus....all full expect my little window spot at the front. (Hora de salida is 19.45, not 8 kara....read your stupid ticket!)
Ha Ha, oops, So im off again tonight to Oruro where I will catch another bus to Cochabamba. But since nothing here seem to be planned right my bus gets in at 4am...you think they would just leave here later and get in at a more resonable time....
You all should google earth the south west of boliva and can see how weird yet beautiful it is.
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