我們回來了 Back home from South America

2008年7月17日 星期四

2008 年 7 月 16 日晚上 8 點 30 左右，當華航 CI 005 順利的降落於桃園機場時，Mei 與我對於這樣安靜又無波灡的心情感到很奇妙
這一切似乎只是我們又剛抵達南美某個國家某個城市
好像等下領完行李、背起大背包，我們又要開始展開另一段旅行

等出了飛機走在機場裡，看到每個都看得懂的中文字，發覺兩人不必再慌張或很無知的東張西望、發現兩人不需再用很破爛的西班牙文東問西問交通與住宿資訊時
我們終於有了回家的感覺


一切原來都是這麼的熟悉，熟悉到每個毛細孔都很自在的張弛，每條神經都很舒適的惝徉，每個腦細胞都很明確的知道等下的目的地在哪

一起旅行了四個月的夥伴，這中間我們從來不需說再見，但這次我們在機場擁抱道別
Mei 說“兩天後見，好好睡一覺再說！”
我說 “Keep in touch！”四個月後的第一次，我與身邊的夥伴說了這句話
那一刻的心情喜悅多於難過與不捨，因為我們都知道很快的我們仍會見面
但那些一路上我們揮手、擁別、道再見的朋友
我們只知道我們曾經相遇、卻不知何時再見、更難以預約聚首之日
只能期待上天給我們更多的緣分..................................................................................相逢

PS. 回到家，終於可以用中文寫網誌了，我們將會努力在接下來的日子把相關網誌一一整理 Po 上來，感謝大家的支持！ ^__^

J. (Read more...)

超越巔峰系列一「Santa Cruz」The highest mountain we trekked so far

2008年6月25日 星期三

We joined a 3D2N (16-18 June, 2008) trekking tour in Huascaran National park in Huaraz, Peru some days ago.

Under our smiles, our feet have some water bubbles after the 3-day trekking... but it finally got the return !!

We achieved the highest point of mountains in our life so far. (4750 M. S. M. N)

(And with serious cold....)

wrote on Friday, 20 June, 2008 11:18 AM

話說，這次的超越巔峰是一個美麗的錯誤，原本，這時的我們 supposed 是在 Iquito 的，無奈何 6/13 日前往 Lima 機場準備搭機前進亞馬遜河流域時，Arecondor airline 竟告知我們這條航線已於幾日前決定長期取消，讓我們兩顆雀躍已久的心頓時冷了下來，搞什麼啊！當時心裡真的是叉圈勾的來回無數次。

在了解此重大決策是在基於全球油價不斷飆漲、造成營運虧損後不得已採行的方案後，我們大大釋懷，畢竟之前才看到一個報導，國際航空運輸協會六月初曾預估，油價如果維持在 135 美元的高價，將導致全球航空業今年虧損達 61 億美元的歷史新高。眼前幫我們處理機票退費的這群票務人員，一邊要面對客戶不滿的臉，又要擔憂自己的頭路隨時不保，心情估計也好不到哪裡去，所以將心比心囉！而我們隨即面臨的問題轉變為此時該何去何從呢？

也許你們會說，為何不換搭其他航空？很抱歉，當日 Lima 與 Iquito 起大霧，每家航空每個航班都取消，鑑於此，我們擔心就算明日過得去，也未必可以於 18 of June 順利飛回 Lima ，再搭國際班機至 Bogota，所以，陸路交通可以回來的地方變成我們的首選。

好不容易認真的在機場免稅店翻了祕魯風情相關書籍、去 Tourist information center 洽詢，再刪除了很想去但距離太遠(單趟車程約 20-50 hrs)，不想去但巴士 6 個多小時就可以快速抵達等地方，終於 8 小時以上 by bus 即可抵達且名列世界遺產的 Huascaran national park 脫穎而出，在此之前，我們連聽都沒聽過此地呢！

Huascaran national park 位於秘魯北方，於 1975 年 7 月 1 日建立，佔地 340,000 公頃，長 160 KM, 寬 20 KM，是南美洲安地斯山脈上第二個最高的公園 (最高峰 6768 M)，也是世界上最高的熱帶山脈的中心。擁有豐富的植匹與動物群 (超過779 種植物與 112 種鳥類)，高處可見高原、峽谷、冰河和眾多海拔 6000M 以上的山峰 (663 個冰河、296 個湖泊與 3 個主要河流的 41 個支流)，景色壯闊秀麗、生機盎然。 此地也成為秘魯戶外活動最興盛之處，舉凡登山、健行、攀岩、滑雪、泛舟、騎馬、飛行傘、滑翔翼等應有盡有。若想超越巔峰者，務必要預留兩週在此才有足夠的時間一一攻克群山。

在欣賞了些許美麗的圖片與研讀相關介紹後，我們抱著既期待又怕受傷害的心情抵達離此最近的城市 Huaraz 。由於時間有限，我們選擇了最熱門的健行步道 Santa Cruz 為我們此次攻堅的路線。3 天 2 夜說長不長、說短不短， 迄今已旅行將近 3 個月的我們，其實體力大不如前，我們選擇跟團，因為有 dunky driver 趕小毛驢幫我們載個人裝備、帳篷與糧食、有嚮導兼廚師幫我們準備三餐，這時候真的不是逞強的時刻，我們承認我們是弱者。

在看似已卸下無數重擔且路況多為平坦或下坡的狀況下 (僅第二天攻頂日為持續上坡約 1000 M，其餘兩日均堪稱易走路段)，我倆還是耗盡氣力，腳底板磨到長水泡，手指過度乾燥而裂傷，發燒咳嗽到呼吸調節困難、胸口劇痛，極度累到連我們自己都無法理解，一路上似乎只有時不時擦肩而過的帥哥可以撫慰疲憊的心。

然而頂著烈日、迎著寒風、忍受身體的不適，我們還是攻上了此行最高峰 4750 M，成功的喜悅淹沒了所有的艱辛。我們仰望群山、我們揮舞登山杖，此時，我們不得不替自己感到驕傲，臉上堆滿的笑容是因為我們辦到了，我們抵達了！ 雖然最終仍是沒有任何帥哥沿路相隨...:P

Modify on Wednesday, 23 July, 2008 06:54 AM

◎ Santa Cruz 小檔案
1) Distance: 62KM
2) Duration: 3 - 4 days
3) Altitude: 2,900-4,750M
4) Rating: Moderate to Difficult (depends on from which side you start to walk)
5) Fee: US$70 -100 depends on days and services
‧US$70: include food, transportation, guide, cook, tent, you can request free hiking stick, sleeping bag and rain coat.Without dunky driver around US $30 and national park entrance fee: US $20 and another special fee: US$5
‧US$100: include dunky driver, food, transportation, guide, cook, tent, you can request free hiking stick, sleeping bag and rain coat. Without national park entrance fee: US $20 and another special fee: US$5

(Read more...)

¨I finally knew you are the shittest person¨

2008年6月24日 星期二

One night in Huaraz, I was told as title by a local on the street

And that was my worst night during this trip ...........................

M. (Read more...)

Everyone asks us:

2008年5月9日 星期五

50 days passed.

People we met from locals to the travellers around the world. They all like to ask us some questions as below. Maybe you can help us to come out some good answers. :D

1) Where are you from?
Are you from Japan? Korea? China? USA? (....)

2) Is your language same with Japanese? Korean? Chinese?

3) Do you speak Japanese? Korean? Chinese?


4) What is your name?

5) Is Taiwan independent? Is Taiwan a country?

6) Is Taiwan a small island?

7) Does Taiwan belong to China?

8) How big is Taiwan?

9) How many population in Taiwan?

10) How long is it from the northest to the southest in Taiwan ?
How long does it take from the northest to the southest by bus?

11) How about from the eastest to the westest?

12) Do you live in Taipei? How big is Taipei? How many population?

13) If we go to Taiwan, what we can see? what we can do?

14) Are many travellers in Taiwan?

15) Do you like Taiwan / Taipei?

16) Do you like to eat Sushi?

17) Do you hope Taiwan to be independent or be with China?

18) What is the relationship between Taiwan and China?

19) Do you have same food with China?

20) How to write my name in Chinese?

21) How long have you been travelling?

22) How long will you travel?

23) Where have you been in South America?

24) What is your next destination?
Where (or which countries) are you going later?

25) You need visa to Bolivia? to Aregenita? any other countries?

26) Are you students or you work in Taiwan?

27) Is it easy to find a job after you are back to Taiwan?

28) How to say ¨ Hi¨ ¨Good morning¨ ¨Good Night¨ ¨Thank you¨?

29) Do you drink Tea?

30) Do you eat bread?

31) Do you like Peru, Chile and Aregentina?

32) Does ¨Aligado¨ mean thank you? (.....)

33) Is Taiwan richer than China?

34) Do you have any brothers or sisters? (People who asked this question think Taiwanese also can only have one child)

35) Do you speak Spanish?

36) How you travel S. America without speaking Spanish?







37) Are you a couple? (..................#$%...) (Read more...)

Goodbye, Bariloche

2008年4月14日 星期一

4/10 - 4/13 Bariloche

Bariloche is a beautiful town surrounding with mountains and lakes. We stayed here for four days and visited seven lakes, El Bolson nearby city llao llao etc.

We enjoyed the sceneries indeed, but the weather was very cold here. The average temperature was below 10C, so we always worn a lots of clothes going out. We didnt know why the season changed so fast, as the weather was very hot around above 20C in Mendoza, like summer. However when we took 16 hrs bus from Mendoza to Bariloche and got off, o...f... freezing...in particullar, the wind blew into our face and bodies from the neck... Summer became to winnter merely cost 16hrs...


We tried to smile in the freezing days with sunshine (The sun is just for decoration... no any warm.), See us...

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Have you got my mail from Valparaiso

2008年4月6日 星期日

Day 17-18 4/4 Santiago --> Valparaiso - 4/5 Valparaiso

A French who is our group member of the Inca Trail trekking said ¨Valparaiso is not very clean city and there are many dogs (actually, we saw more cats and birds), but it is very typical, he likes it indeed¨ When we walked around the city in these 2 days, we found it was full of the smell of urine. One American guy said "it seems people like to go to pee in the street, it is why the smell is everywhere".

Our initial impression for Valparaiso was that it is a harbor city. There should be lots of people staying in the beach and enjoying the sunshine. Even though it is part of truth, the surprising thing for us in visiting the city is that we saw plenty of paintings on the wall or outside of houses. At that time, as if we were wandering in the public art gallery and seeing the various cretivities created by different artists.

Here below you can see the drawings by many unknown people.

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Cusco = Shopping

2008年4月5日 星期六

Day 8-10: 3/26 - 3/28 Cusco

Most of people in Cusco are divided into two types only: Vendor and Purchaser. Walking on Cusco´s street, lots of vendors come to you and introduce food, tours, accommodations and even souvenirs. Everything looks so great and attractive. You just take money out from your pocket and you can get everything.

We are also the purchasers in Cusco, but not really for foods, tours, etc. My baggage had no news and we had a 4-day Inca trail trek in the corner. The most urgent thing is to get my clothes, equipments done.


We first went to Topy top to get some clothes. Topy top is kind of like Net in Taiwan. You can get everything here, shoes, pants, tops, bags, hats with low price and there is a brand called Hang Tang here as well. But it is totally different with what we have in Taiwan. Also, you can get some Sport clothes, Adidas, Nike here as well.

Then, the next stuff is my underware. We went to a shop owned by a elder woman. Of course, she doesn´t speak English. Her assistant, a young girl, doesn´t speak as well. There was a male customer in the shop. He was the only one to help us translate most of things........ @@ I have no any secrets in Cusco since then...

I am a contact-lens heavy user. However, my contact-lens are in my big backpack and travel to somewhere. I thought the compensation would include this. So we walked into a glasses store. It is kind of traditional stores. Although there are lots stores around, it is always packed by customers.

The contact-lens is cheap in Taiwan, but it is incredible expensive in Peru. Of course, here no too many people use it, that´s why the price higher. I understand that, but you know, just still can´t angry at my lost baggage.

After a long confirmation with poor Spanish and poor English, we finally got the price that the 120ML liquid is 35 pesos, 14 days contact-lens is 95 pesos. The most unbelievable stuff is the plastic box for putting contact-lens, it costs me 7 soles. Come on! it should be free. Totally drove me crazy. (But at that time, I thought I would get the compensation. That´s why I just paid for it.)

I also had a test for my eye degree. It is very similar with the way in Taiwan. So I was feeling similar expect the lovely female doctor was speaking in Spanish. The last one test is to read the alphabets on the wall. The dear doctor kept asking me to read the same line. Although I could see them clearly, I couldn´t help to think : they are just 5 alphabets. Are they really sure the test is accurate?? But anyway, in the end, I got my contact lens. Happy.

To anticipate Inca trail, we have to stay in the tent for 3 days, of course, there is no power for charging cameras. So I definitely need a charger for my camera in case not to lose the landscape during the trekking.

The battery I am using is for Panasonic FX-7, and suitable for Fuji´s some models. So I tried to ask the charger for these two models. However, it seems Panasonic and Fuji are small portortion in Cusco. Some shops only sell Sony cameras. Some shops are only for Canon, Sony, Nikon. (But I saw many tourists use panasonic´s, well, they might not have the problems in losing baggage). After lots of enquiries, I finally got one in Nishiyama. It costs me USD 130 in cash and usd 145 in credit card. Please note, the price is different in different shops with same store name.

We found out in Cusco there are so many shops that you can rent or buy equipments for trekking or amazon. And the price is cheaper than the agency provides and the euipments is maybe better as well. If I knew this in advance, I wouldn´t carry a sleeping bag and a walking stick with me, and now both of them are nowhere as well.

I have to say thank TACA and LA airport to give us such different and interesting experience in Cusco. So that we could close to the local life and see various stuff here in Cusco.

Deeply appreciate it.

(A brand new Mei from inside to outside with a green new backpack. )

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