Hotel Los Conquistadores Merida

... Not that the bus was a problem though, it was our stomachs... It appears we may have swallowed some river water during the rafting and the bugs just didn't agree with us. After a while it became apparent to both of us that Maracay was still a distant dream and we needed to make a plan, Quick. Luckily there was a toilet on board. Unluckily it was out of service with no running water, paper or lights. After several extended visits from ...

... holding onto trees or anything else.. I survived the trip with some rope burn which got badly infected, and a bruised ankle because I jumped into the water and hit my foot on a submerged rock. You´d think growing up along a river would drill it into my head not to jump into water that you can´t see the bottom of.. but no.. not me. A few days afterwards we all went on the Los Llanos tour. Our guide was a Barbados dude who acted like Steve Irwin.. he jumped off the ...

... means we don't have to suffer a night bus back to Caracas the day before we fly down to Argentina. In addition to the problems organising Angel Falls we have had other issues to contend with too, particularly around money. Venezuela has a black market for changing cash. The rate you get on the black market is around 75%+ higher than what you would get with the national exchange rate, i.e. from a bank/cash machine (official rate for 1US to 2.5BF whereas on the black ...

... the harbour where the hippy community sell lots of bracelets and necklaces. There were cars sitting with their boots open pumping out loud Regatone Latino music and boy racers cruising about in their old bangers with a beer in hand! This was one thing that just wouldn't happen at home. The Police went past and didn't batter an eyelid. Venezuela´s been cool but we´re now ready for some altitude! And an escape from the mozzies.................. Next stop Ecuador.

... as one of the main individual regenerators of the ozone layer in the planet because it produces a approximate one of 1.176.000 atmospheric electrical unloadings." *** WORLD CHANGE STARTS WITH EDUCATED CHILDREN! Give a girl the life long gift of education! Support my appeal 100 GIRLS BACK TO SCHOOL! Donate at: www.justgiving.com/100GirlsBackToSchool Your money goes directly to ROOM TO READ (www.roomtoread.org)! Hugs & Kisses, Vik

... is running low and I´m worrying that I´m breaking my promised not to bore everyone with essay-proportioned blogs, so that will do for today. There´s so much to talk about, I now feel a bit harsh for my critisms of "KT and Al". Hope everything is good at home and in London. Also, I know this is mean, but I hope its raining. There! I said it! love you all lots and BBBB to dad. And to boysie, I can smell you from Venezuela. Penny xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

... had a quick breakfast and headed out across the road, where the start of it is. It was opened in 1958 but then shut down because it kept breaking. Re opened a decade ago for tourists again luckily. We rugged up as at 5km up the air will get very thin and cold. Alot of people get strong altitude sickness from such heights. The cable system consisted of about 4 small stops to change carts along the way. As we rose, the vegetation slowely changed and ...

... it (boy was that a bad idea). I'm writing this days blog just before catching the long bus trip (on a double decker bus apparently) because I don't know when the next chance to upload it will be. Until the 16th I will be somewhere in the jungle wow'ing at the Angel Falls. The plan after the falls is to head south through the Amazonian jungle and into Brazil where I'll be doing some jungle trips and a boat ride north on the Amazon. After that its going to be a mad dash to get to Rio for 30th January.

... The woman returns after a couple of minutes and approaches kev. "We are going to put you up in a hotel for the evening, but you will have to get your own way there and back tomorrow"? What? Rachel is ready to kill someone, the woman wanders off again, she comes back and this time explains that this man will take us to our hotel, and collect us tomorrow evening at 6.30pm to bring us back for our flight. The company will pay for it all. Before we could ask about ...

... is common, and wide spaces are cleared by locals to plant bananas and other fruits. Venezuelans do not get education about littering, so it is also quite common to see garbage on the paths. I can´t express the pain that shoots through my heart when I see someone dump bottles and wrappers into the most beautiful, pristine mountain stream. But in spite of all the challenges it faces, the park is still breathtakingly beautiful and ...