Author: biggingeradventures

Had a nice relaxing morning and layin which was a treat. We then went for a special lunch -Pachamanca.

This meal is all cooked under ground. Normally after the rainy season which is Dec- Feb. It tends to be for a special occasion and a big group of people. Tends to be more in the Anders where they will cook anything but normally is beef, chicken and pork.

Everyone is included in getting this meal ready from digging the hole, killing and preparing the meat, heating the rocks, etc. Tends to feed 30 + people.

To prepare, they put a bed of heated rocks, then potato, corn, cheese, beans and on top is meat. Cover with herbs or banana leafs. Then a blanket and lastly covered in earth.

For our lunch for 17 people, it took 2.5 hours cooking and they would have started early, to dig the hole.

Every dish here starts with onions, garlic and chilies

Before we dug up the good we did a little ritual, a girl (in this case Sofia) chooses the best 3 coco leaves from a pot. A man (in this case Brad) drinks alittle bit of the prepared juice and makes a cross on earth to show we are thankful for food and earth.

Pachamanca – name of the lunch and means earth. It was yummy!

I’m the afternoon we went to the Nazca Tower and a couple of the lines can be seen from this view point.

With the lizard one the government said they didn’t see it and put the road straight though the middle of it lol

Some of the group went on a plane ride and saw about 11 of the nazca lines, I was happy with the 3 from the tower!

We also stopped at a small pottery shop and the owner showed us why Nazca is famous for pottery. Was really interesting, he had a magic stone that when he used it on the clay it made it smooth.

Lastly in Nazca we went to Chauchilla Cemetery, where they have prehispanic mummified human remains. They were so intact due to the weather here and their hair doesn’t stop growing!!

I had opted in to go to on the boat to Ballestas Islands to the Penguins and sea lions, only got to the see 1 Penguin, they said it is too warm at the moment for them so they will go south. Quite a few sea lions asleep on rocks and beach. We did see one dead one which the tour guide tired to say its sleeping but I think that was for the kid on board lol

We then as a full group went to the Pisco Winery, which was really nice and we got our first taste of sunshine really since we have been here (the dune buggies was only sunset and not alot of it). So sunglasses on and of course tasting! We tired 5 Piscos, 2 were wines, very sweet but nice, third we had pisco itself which to me is similar to tequila – bloody strong as it is 42% proof! Lastly was two favoured pisco mixes and of course my two worst favours of Coconut and Coffee, so I had shots of previous ones instead.
We then had dinner there and OMG the plate was huge, it was a traditional pork dish with a potato sauce and pasta, I ate as much as I could but it looked like I had only eaten a bit whereas alot of people finished theirs lol

It was then time to sleep on the bus to take take us to Nazca to sleep!

Joined my first tour and have the best group! Everyone is really friendly and such a laugh, as expected I am the oldest and biggest, but noone is making me feel that way and there are some over 30’s too which helps lol.

We all started making fast friends and went for a drink even before the intro briefing, the group has english, irish, austrian, german, swiss and canadian! Kirsten, who is our youngest member of 19 is actually from Thatcham! What a small world!

Next morning we jump on a bus along the cost to the oasis of Huacachina, here we got to go on Sunset Sandboarding & Dune Buggies. I did not do the sandboarding as many of you might expect but I surprised myself with the dune buggie, especially after our tour guide described it like a rollercoaster and you know how much I hate those. He wasn’t wrong, alot of the screaming I was not filming but holding on for dear life lol I was fun but I was glad when it ended! Nearly lost my hat twice even though it was pretty tight on my head lol lucky my big hair stopped it lol

It was a long day travelling so was an early night for me!

The night before my tour started I had organised a Dinner, Dance show & Peruvian Paso horse. I was picked up from my hotel and taken to this busy show, meet a couple of lovely older ladies from the UK that were enjoying Peru as well so had people to talk to. They showed 6 traditional Peruvian dances from all over the country and then we went outside to see a few that included the horses.

Today I had booked a walking tour to see more of Lima with Haku, via Viator. Really enjoyed the tour and was joined by a family with 5 kids so that made it more interesting counting there was always 5 lol

We started in Plaza San Martin and the monument above is of him Jose de San Martin, he liberated the country to independence, and he was Argentinian. They were getting ready in the square for their independence day on 28th July. The square is also used for debates where people come to share their ideas!

The architecture in Lima is all of the place, taking inspiration from many different countries. Due to earthquakes some of these buildings have been rebuilt, though majority of the area we were in yesterday is now UNESCO so they cannot change any of the buildings only restore them. The building on the left was the first morticians in Lima.

Due to 2 small groups of protesters the main square in front of the Presidential Palace (Palacio de Gobierno) was closed off, we did manage to walk round abit of it to get some photos. They sounded really loud these groups but as we passed them it was 2 groups, no more then 20 people but twice as many police. They were protesting about losing their jobs since covid. The photos are of the palace and the cathedral.

We also visited Museo Convento San Francisco y Catacumbas and took a few sneeky photos. People believed to be buried under the church was a sure way to heaven and so they sold a private unmarked graves, but the church saw they could make money and and after 5 years they would move the bones and resell the plot.

For dinner I took my guides recommendation for a seafood meal, a trio of fish. Didn’t realise Peru is the 2nd biggest provider of seafood to the world! and of course had to try Inca Kola, which tastes like bubblegum! Another thing I found out of the night before is they love their carbs here, alot of meals are served with rice and then Chips or potatoes as well lol

Nearly forgot on the tour we go to try the Peruvian Churros, which were super yummy with carmel in the middle, covered in sugar.

Who knew Heathrow Terminal 5 Security gates don’t open till 4.30am, I sure didn’t when I booked my taxi in lol No 2 hours before your flight if your on the first one!
I had treated myself on the first flights to premium economy (or business on the London to Madrid flight). Noone next to me on the first one and had breakfast with maybe the best scrambled eggs I have ever had, along with a glass of champagne!
2nd flight was the 12 hour one and even though I had 1 glass of wine and multiple fruit juices and my water I didn’t leave my seat for the loo. To be fair with the ones in front reclined and the bits inbetween me and the guy next to me I am not sure I could have got out even if I wanted too lol

It was nice that I arrived at the hotel about 8pm so was able to go straight to bed so no jet jag.

Today I have had a nice chilled day and walked along the Miraflores broadwalk which over looks the sea! Not only did I find a lighthouse but also Paddington Bear in a kids playground!

First hotel I am staying at before I start my tours is nice, though getting my head around the toilet side is fun. I have a western toilet so that is a win, however no toilet paper is allowed to go down the toilet at all. There is a special bin in front of you for that. Suppose I should just be grateful its not a squat one lol

With only 30 days left to go I’ve packed and repacked about 5 times now and I am there will be a couple more before launch date! Starting to really feel the stress now it is becoming so real, stress with finishing work and knowing I won’t be there for 6 months. Leaving my friends and family and being half way round the world, but of course on the flip I’m so excited will be seeing new places, cultures and learning about myself! I hope to come back calmer, happier and thiner!!

Changed my mind on a couple of things to take. Did buy Merrel trainers but they were too heavy so gone for sketchers which are my favourite. Did buy sandles but it would mean over packing. So they are not coming. I can buy these enroute. I have purposely not packed anything sentimental so I can add and remove as I go along. I hope I’ve got the right mix of clothes. Only time will tell.

Next weekend I have my birthday party and leaving party, think it will really hit me after this that I’m leaving for 5 & 1/2 months on a once in a lifetime adventure.

I need to stop stress eating, hoping this heat will help with that, keep at the gym and take deep breathes lol

Decided to remove Laos from my trip. I am down to 14 countries for my trip, I know still loads! Reason I made this decision was I didn’t have a tour booked and was getting a little stressed on the logistics of getting into Laos from Thailand and then to Vietnam. I did find a tour that worked but after booking they said it was a minimum of 2 people or pay double!
Instead I will be spending more time in Chiang Mai in Thailand, of which I am now booked on a overnight stay at a Elephant Jungle Sanctuary and a couple of day trips, followed by more time in Hanoi in Vietnam. When I planned this trip last time I had booked myself on a cruise on Halong Bay, I was going to cut this due to timing but now it is all booked!!
I am really glad I have made these changes and not sufficed any of the things I want to see, this is a trip of a lifetime and I need to ensure it has everything packed in!
I have been using Booking.Com alot for my flights as I have found them cheaper than most of the airlines directly but really surprised at Hotels.com, found some amazing deals yesterday for hotels in Thailand and Cambodia!
Still a few bits to sort but I am nearly there now and can turn my worries to diet, exercise and what I am (or not) packing!
Just got back from visiting my family in Czech this week and took my new bags as a tester. It did highlight some things for me, 1. they are crazy strict on liquids! though I was under the 100ml limit I had too many and had to throw some bits away so need to be mindful not to over pack. Secondly on the way home British Airways forced me to check in my ‘new’ backpack, I was not prepared for this as it was within the 2 bags I was allowed and as many of you know me the anxiety of this was crazy for me, though did teach me I do need to be prepared for that and I need to make my bag more me! Thinking maybe patches or my name, as currently it is just another bag and how do I describe it when everyone will have backpacks! So lessons have been learnt, even if it did make it a stressful trip home.

As I will be living out of these bags for nearly 6 months it’s been super important to find the right one. The first backpack I brought back in 2019 was actually too big. Now I’ve confirmed I’m doing the whole trip only on hand luggage the biggest bag you can have is 40 litres. The original one was 68 litres lucky for me I managed to sell this on ebay at near enough the price I paid, still had all the tags on.

Second bag I brought was a more knee jerk decision and though it was still Osprey and purple it and only 34 litres it was a pack in the top bag. It had been playing on my mind that everything I wanted something I’d have to unpack and repack each time.

I had looked at the Osprey Fairview 40 litre ones which are a clam shell, so open more like a suitcase but they didn’t have stock…but again lucky me I checked while at Donna’s and managed to find one in stock!

So now I’m going with an Osprey Fairview 40 and Osprey Daypack (think it’s 18-20 litre) clearly this one is to go under the seat in front of me.

Going to Czech next week and will be taking my backpack as a test run!!!

with 108 days until I embark on my trip I am setting up my blog site and will start sharing some of my plans and thoughts as we get closer to the 12th July 2023! I have added on the home page where I am off to so check that out!