Overnight Bus to Trujillo

I have since managed to change my flight details and have an extra 2 weeks to do the Southern Cone Route of South America (Santiago to Buenos Aires to Rio De Janeiro)... I have 9 weeks to travel this route which will provide me with a lot more flexibility. I'm loving the travelling and have no burning desire to return to Australia at this time. Returning mid-year was the best thing I could've done. I'm determined to make the most of my remaining leave and just ache at the thought of having to end this amazing experience of travelling RTW. It's been the best decision of my life to take a career break at this time...

Another scenic shot

Last night, we caught an overnight bus from Mencora to Trujillo... 8 hours all up. I'm getting better at travelling sitting up and managed to get several hours sleep. The most terrifying moment was when the bus swerved quite violently enroute... a few gasps, we all held on for pure life. Sitting in the middle and at the back is safest... if there is to be an accident, we have a much better chance of surviving (sorry mum... I know you must be gasping at this but I'm still ok, so no need to worry). My leader, Julio mentioned that he has been involved in 3 bus accidents... 2 roll overs and 1 slide (no deaths though) over the last 5 years. He also told me that several buses have gone over cliffs... one of which is on my next route! To say the least, I'm quite nervous but excited about travelling through this continent. I didn't really want to hear this. Bus regulations have since been improved and bus crashes have declined signficantly since introducing a 6 hour driving limit on drivers, reduced from the previous un-regulated 12 hours. The car fatality is less here than in Australia... only averaging 1 person per day in Lima... not bad given they've got a city of 9 million.

Beach volleyball... the team I was on.

Trujillo is nothing special but houses the Temple of Sun and Moon which we visited today. We had a beautiful lunch of seafood mixed with rice and lemon meringue food. Like Australia, the food is very multicultural here. There is, however, lots of Mexican food which I'm loving.

My Spanish is improving everyday... but I have so much more to learn. It will take me years to become conversant. Like China, hardly anyone speaks English here and you have no choice but to use Spanish to get what you want.

We are going to the Chan Chan ruins tomorrow... a lot of history and culture to learn here in Peru.

I head to Lima on Wednesday, for 2 nights, where I hope to hit the town and meet up with some locals. In some ways, I feel as though I've returned to Asia... a lot of similarities.

Jemma and I trying to look pleased on the bus

Lone van amongst the stunning scenery

Overview of the Temple of the Moon... or sun?

Sasha trying to look interested in the talk

Sunset at Mancora, Peru

The other ... losing... team

The Temple of the Sun and Moon in Trujillo

Travelling on local transport in Peru