TravelStream™ news feed for member homersim on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/homersim en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Sat, 18 Apr 2009 17:32:14 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/homersim/1/1240089120/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/homersim/1/1240089120/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/homersim/1/1240089120/tpod.html Sat, 18 Apr 2009 17:32:14 -0400 The Americas

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Bogota, Colombia

Well, I'm flying back to the US tomorrow, and although I'm looking forward to seeing friends and family, now that the day is almost here, I don't want to leave.  Eight months seemed like a long time to travel when I was thinking about it a month ago, but now, I want to keep going.  I am going to check out Miami first, then fly to LA to visit my sisters, so it's not like I'm jumping right back into work.  Maybe I'll win $10,000 on a scratch ticket and come right back and continue through C. America.  I haven't figured out what to do with my life, though I certainly wasn't expecting to.I am looking forward to being around libraries again.  I also want to eat at Taco Bell (feel free to laugh), and find a huge salad bar.  Also, I'm looking forward to good beer again, although there is a microbrewery with six locations here in Bogota.Bogota is pretty nice and a good temperature, I believe it's about 8,500 ft. above sea level.  It is also considerably safer than years past as I don't think there are car bombings anymore.  Muggings are still fairly common, but I believe that's probably the case in any city with 8 million inhabitants.  Colombia ended up being my favorite country in SA, and my guess is in about 5-10 years it will be the most popular destination with backpackers.I had one problem with SA, and it's with a type of music called reggaeton.  It's basically a cross between reggae and hip hop, which are sometimes okay on their own, but in combination are a crime against humanity.  The originators of this abomination should be immediately sent to The Hague.  Honestly, this music poses a much bigger threat to the US than the drug cartels, and should be addressed by President Obama at the Summit of the Americas.Hopefully, there was a little insight into my trip on these posts, as well as a few laughs.  I'll see you all when I get back.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/homersim/1/1239750600/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/homersim/1/1239750600/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/homersim/1/1239750600/tpod.html Thu, 16 Apr 2009 19:16:53 -0400 The Americas

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Villa de Leyva, Colombia

This little town was great, and is actually a national monument.  Founded in the late sixteenth century, there really are hardly any modern buildings.  In fact, I've realized that if I owned the red ceramic roof tile and white paint factories in Colombia, I'd be using $100 bills as toilet paper.The hostel was a great place to relax and was out in the countryside about 1 km from town.  I easily could've spent a month there, but must continue moving right now.Most famous resident of the town: Jesus in a poncho.  Too bad I lost my camera.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/homersim/1/1239564540/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/homersim/1/1239564540/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/homersim/1/1239564540/tpod.html Sun, 12 Apr 2009 15:33:38 -0400 The Americas

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San Gil, Colombia

San Gil is a small town north of Bogota that has become an adventure sports destination.  However, I haven´t been able to join a rafting trip yet.Yesterday, I made a day trip to nearby Barichara, which is a little agricultural community composed entirely of Spanish colonial buildings.  The town was pretty busy, as it´s a popular tourist destination with Colombians, who come in droves during Easter.  Relaxing place.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/homersim/1/1239155460/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/homersim/1/1239155460/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/homersim/1/1239155460/tpod.html Tue, 07 Apr 2009 21:54:39 -0400 The Americas

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Bucaramanga, Colombia

Well, Cartagena was very charming in the old city.  Great colonial buildings and clean.  However, the rest of the city was pretty dirty, which surprised me as Colombia had been pretty clean until my last stop.  Also, it was just too hot for me to hang out for too long.  Now I´m in Bucaramanga, where there´s not much to do, but I don´t really care.  I may head south and get some rafting in, as it´s not too expensive.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/homersim/1/1238648280/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/homersim/1/1238648280/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/homersim/1/1238648280/tpod.html Thu, 02 Apr 2009 01:09:19 -0400 The Americas

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Medellin, Colombia

Colombia is actually quite a bit cleaner than any other SA country I´ve been to.  Also, the roads are in good shape, and things seem to be in quite good order right now.  I know a little about Uribe, but will have to learn more, as I believe he must be doing an outstanding job considering what he was given to begin with.  His approval rating is somewhere near 80%.I watched some of the Colombia-Venezuela soccer match at a bar in Cali, but unfortunately, Venezuela won.  Nothing against the people of Venezuela, but it´s very easy to root against Chavez.  They really take this game seriously down here, and I could feel the wind get knocked out of the crowd after Ven. went up 2-0.Also, a word of advice for the ladies, do not bring your husband/boyfriend to Cali.  Seriously.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/homersim/1/1238199600/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/homersim/1/1238199600/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/homersim/1/1238199600/tpod.html Fri, 27 Mar 2009 20:29:22 -0400 The Americas

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Pasto, Colombia

Well, I wouldn´t have guessed that my quickest and smoothest border crossing would be from Ecuador into Colombia, but that´s what happened.  It only took about twenty minutes, and I didn´t spend extra money.  The drive from the border to Pasto reminded me very much of Nepal.  I nice river, big canyons, and very green.Quito was really nice, maybe my favorite city in SA, right up there with Cuzco.  Awesome colonial architecture right in the middle of mountains.  Out at the actual equator, I observed an egg balancing on the head of a nail.  I couldn´t do it and gave up pretty quick, but kids love trying that thing.  Also got to see water drain in opposite directions just a few feet from the equator.  People say the Coriolis effect doesn´t affect small bodies of water, but I witnessed it.  Also on display, shrunken heads.  Oh, and I´m pretty good with a blow gun.  Watch out monkeys!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/homersim/1/1237837680/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/homersim/1/1237837680/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/homersim/1/1237837680/tpod.html Mon, 23 Mar 2009 16:04:13 -0400 The Americas

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Quito, Ecuador

I made a quick stop at Mancora, a Peruvian beach town before heading into Ecuador.  The town was pretty crappy and dusty, but the beach was clean and uncrowded.  I didn´t bother surfing, as I´ve become increasingly lazy.  But it was nice to watch, and there were some pretty big waves.The border crossing into Ecuador was pretty shady, it´s considered the worst one in SA, with lots of thieves and probably drug runners roaming about I would guess.  As usual at border crossings, I got screwed out of some money.  However, Ecuador itself is very beautiful.  I stopped in Cuenca, a nice little city with a lot of great colonial architecture and good food, including authentic Mexican food.  Recently, I was in Banos, which is at the base of a huge volcano.  Nice little town with hot springs and a large waterfall.  They also had what I call ¨poor man´s bungee jumping.¨ Basically, you jump off a bridge with just normal ropes attached.  It did look pretty fun, but I just watched others do it.Now I´m in Quito for a day or two of site-seeing.  I´ll probably head out to the equator museum tomorrow, even though I don´t have my camera anymore.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/homersim/1/1237139160/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/homersim/1/1237139160/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/homersim/1/1237139160/tpod.html Sun, 15 Mar 2009 13:57:40 -0400 The Americas

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Lima, Peru

I´ve been relating American influence abroad, which is usually humorous.&nbsp; Unfortunately, there is a dark side as well.&nbsp; On my bus ride to Lima, towards the end we were treated to <i>Cinderella Story starring Hilary Duff.&nbsp; It gets worse, the access door to the driver is locked from the inside, which made it impossible for me to do the humane thing and steer the bus off the nearest cliff.&nbsp; On a side note, does anyone know if a sequel is forthcoming, because my friend wants to know if Hilary and that guy are still together.First big disappointment of my trip.&nbsp; My camera fell out of my pocket today.&nbsp; I had meant to switch memory cards yesterday, but didn´t.&nbsp; Now I really wish I had as all of my photos from India onward are now gone forever.&nbsp; Plus, no more pictures the rest of the way.&nbsp; I´m not a great photographer, but I had a few winners in there.&nbsp; Better than losing my passport or money&nbsp;I guess.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/homersim/1/1236909540/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/homersim/1/1236909540/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/homersim/1/1236909540/tpod.html Thu, 12 Mar 2009 22:11:22 -0400 The Americas

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Machu Picchu, Sacred Valley, Peru

From Arequipa I headed to Puno, which is on the shores of Lake Titicaca.&nbsp; About a 45 minute boat ride out on the lake, there are about 45 floating islands composed of reeds.&nbsp; Six to eight families live on each island, and it's quite unlike anything I've ever seen.From there it was on to Cusco, which is about the altitude of Leadville, CO.&nbsp; Very pretty town, with good colonial architecture and a lot of traveler action.&nbsp; A day trip to Machu Picchu can be done from Cusco at the cost of about $200.&nbsp; Instead, I took the back door route using local transportation and arrived on the scene for about $10.&nbsp; Take that Peruvian tour operators!&nbsp; Fellow tourists, your trip may have cost roughly twenty times as much as mine, but my incessant gloating is gratis.Anyways, the ruins are nice.&nbsp; But the setting might be some of the prettiest scenery in the world.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/homersim/1/1236007920/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/homersim/1/1236007920/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/homersim/1/1236007920/tpod.html Sun, 08 Mar 2009 12:51:56 -0400 The Americas

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Caldera, Chile

Sorry for the lack of updates, I´m getting lazy.&nbsp; I stopped over in Tokyo for a week to see my friend Isom.&nbsp; He´s been teaching English and studying Japanese for the past four years.&nbsp; The efficiency of Japanese society is amazing.Argentina´s natural beauty is pretty impressive, specifically Bariloche, as well as the beauty of the women.&nbsp; I wished I would have paid more attention in Spanish class.&nbsp; After all, that´s the only reason any guy takes a foreign language, to talk to foreign girls.&nbsp; Perhaps my Spanish is more rusty than I thought, as my approach to women has resulted in a fairly&nbsp;high percentage of getting slapped.&nbsp; I stopped by Mendoza and visited a few vineyards, then came over to Chile to start heading north.The food in Chile is pretty bad overall, I already miss all the exotic fruits from SEA.&nbsp; My favorite were the mangosteens.&nbsp; Most disappointing was the dragon fruit.&nbsp; It looks pretty good, but has almost no substance or flavor (it´s the Sarah Palin of tropical fruits).&nbsp; Today I´m in a little coastal town, so hopefully I can find some&nbsp;decent seafood as there are supposed to be good local scallops.
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