Archive for the ‘Adventure & Fun’ Category

Salar de Uyuni is home to the world’s largest salt flats and makes for the most amazing photo shoot backdrop. If you search around the web you can find some pretty creative shots from Salar de Uyuni, so we decided to explore the space and snap some fun pix of our own. As I’ve mentioned before, Salar de Uyuni is one of most breathtaking places I’ve ever had the opportunity of experiencing. Like Machu Picchu in Peru, Salar gives you this incredibly euphoric feeling and makes you appreciate how beautiful this world is. The only thing I can really compare it to visually is a giant frozen lake with a perfectly flat snow cover across the surface. The snow is in fact salt, which covers more than 4,000 square miles. The salt actually carves crazy hexagon-like shapes into the surface because of the freezing and thawing process that exists at …

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Okay so maybe Mars wasn’t in the cards, but the next best thing was Salar de Uyuni in Southwest Bolivia. The incredible scenery, diverse landscapes and remote surroundings make you question what planet you’re really on! Last month, Kiersten and I decided to leave the world we knew behind to venture off on a 4-day, 4×4 tour in and around the famous salt flats of Bolivia. The trip was absolutely mind blowing as we crossed rugged deserts, cut through epic volcano-lined mountain ranges and admired breathtaking multi-colored lagoons along the way. There were flamingos, llamas and more photo ops than a Victoria Secret Fashion show. I’ll give you a little information along the way, but words really don’t compare to the photos, so go ahead and come along with me on a visual ride through 4 days of Mother Nature’s greatest Bolivian creation… Salar de Uyuni! Day 1: Tupiza-To-Paradise The …

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I’m writing this post from 35,000 feet in the air on my way from Santa Cruz, Bolivia to Cancun, Mexico. As I squeeze into the middle-row seat on a 6-hour flight between 2 layovers and an overnight bus ride, nothing can push me off the feeling I have at this moment. The feeling is of complete warmth. One that rushes through your body when something you’ve been working so hard for finally comes to fruition. It’s like that sensation you get on a Friday afternoon when the sun hits your face as you leave the office. This is the feeling I crave and one that constantly drives me. Last Saturday, the BiblioWorks staff, myself and nine other volunteers put on the first ever book fair in Sucre, Bolivia and it went off without a hitch. We had 15 educational institutions participating, 11 corporate sponsors and hundreds of children and adults …

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[WATCH IN HD] To be fair, it’s technically not considered the “World’s Most Dangerous Road” anymore. Due to the construction of a new highway close by, which directs most traffic away from its path, they’ve recently upgraded the trails nickname to a much more simple, passive and inviting moniker… “The Death Road” Okay, so the name and mortality figures didn’t sit well at first, but how could I pass up the opportunity to test out its narelyness first hand? Besides, most of the people who’ve died have done so because of truck, bus and motorcycle accidents… right? Kiersten, my partner in crime for this adventure, was a lot more skeptical about the whole thing. It took some convincing to get her to stop looking at mishap reports and death road death stories, but she eventually, although reluctantly, agreed. The day started at the crack of dawn at the Madness office …

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We’re officially 10 days away from the first ever book fair here in Sucre, Bolivia and the BiblioWorks squad has been running around like crazy to ensure the event’s success. La Feria de la Lectura (the literature fair) will be held on Saturday, April 14th in downtown Sucre right next to the central market in Plazuela San Francisco. At this point we have almost every major educational institution in town participating at the fair with educational games and information, as well as 11 sponsors, including Tigo (telecom), AeroSur (airline) and Coca-Cola (you know). Over the past 2 weeks (and continuing up until the day of) we’ve been covering the streets of Sucre with posters and flyers, and announcing the big event on all the major radio and TV stations. We’ve invited every school in the district and even provided their transportation funds. Like planning any major event, there will always …

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On one of my first nights in Sucre I had dinner on the balcony of a lovely little restaurant overlooking the city’s main square. As I gazed out across the beautiful gardens and sidewalks that lined the plaza I noticed something really disturbing. A group of young college kids were hurling water balloons across the street at some unsuspecting girls walking by. The poor girls were nailed in the back and face, while the boys laughed and huddled up nonchalantly. I thought this was really messed up. To my surprise, the girls kept walking and nobody stepped in to stop the guys. They carried on with the aerial assault for the next half-hour as I watched girl after girl get soaked, only to walk it off. I didn’t understand. Every time I walked through the plaza on the following nights I witnessed the same thing, so I finally stopped and …

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After being a bit disappointed with the scarcity of eye-candy in Ecuador, I crossed the border into Peru with high expectations. Although there isn’t as much hype around Peruvian beauty like Colombians or Argentines, I was relieved to find that from Mancora down to Arequipa, the women of Peru held their ground against their sexy latina counterparts. Now as I get settled in Bolivia and start my adventure here, I leave you with my heavily researched and overly biased list of the hottest women of Peru. The list is generated from recommendations by Peruvian friends based on hotness, fame and skills. Enjoy responsibly. T2T’s Top 10 Hottest Peruvian Women 10. Alexis Amore – Porn stars are beautiful too! That’s why I’m kicking off the Top 10 hottest Peruvian list with the lovely and sensual mattress actress, Alexis Amore. Born in Lima in 1978, her award-winning work in adult entertainment has made her one of the …

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This experience would have never happened if it wasn’t for friend and fellow traveler Ayngelina from Bacon is Magic. We were having a chat one day while I was in Lima and she told me I had to visit Eco Truly Park, a Hare Krishna community outside Lima. As I began to explain that it wasn’t really my thing, she uttered the few words I can never pass up. She said, “C’mon you should do something different, it will be a very unique type of adventure.” She knew just what to say. I was sold. I left Lima 2 days later and ended up spending almost a week at the Eco Truly Park, volunteering for room and board as I learned about the Hare Krishna religion, ate like a vegetarian and entertained everyone with my terrible yoga ability. I expected to feel completely out of place when I arrived. I …

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One of the greatest things about travel is how the people you meet dictate your decisions and experiences. I strongly believe that individuals are put into your path for a reason and it’s up to you to take advantage of the opportunity and figure out why they’re there. It was Christmas Eve in Cusco and I was eating breakfast alone in the hostel, when 2 lovely ladies walked in and sat down next to me. Of course, my first thought was, a 3-some for Christmas would be great, but I quickly changed focus once we began talking. Turns out, Kiersten and Lindsay are from California and were in Cusco working with Peruvian Hearts, an organization that works to enhance the lives of orphans and other children living in poverty in Peru. I was impressed, and began to explain my literacy project plans for Bolivia. As we chatted a bit more …

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Resting high above any good night club, looking down at the shleps who fight for a spot at the bar is the VIP section. A place where the rich and beautiful pop bottles and celebrate life. Back in the day, when Machu Picchu was the most exclusive nightclub in all of the Inca Empire, I imagine Huayna Picchu would have made for the perfect VIP section. Looking down from 1,190 feet above, Huayna Picchu (or Waynapicchu or Wayna Picchu) casts a gigantic shadow over the “lost city of the Incas.” I could only imagine what Inca kings and their constituants did up there during their reign, especially considering it was the residence for the high priest and the local virgins. In this day and age Huayna Picchu still holds the same selective reputation, only allowing 400 people to enter per day. Luckily for me, I knew a guy (my tour guide) who …

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At 4:30am the alarm on my cellphone went off as I laid there staring at it. I hadn’t slept at all. I was just waiting with restless anticipation. The girls and I got dressed quick and met Juan Carlos in the lobby to set out into the darkness. It was day 4 of our trip and this was the final push to Machu Picchu. My adrenaline rushed as we passed a handful of other groups leading up to the trailhead from Aguas Calientes. Within 15 minutes into the hike I found myself alone, flying up the mountain, like I was 13 again, running down the stairs on Christmas morning. Only this time, the stairs were steep, wet, rocks that led straight up and there was over a thousand of them. Sweaty, tired and excited, I reached the main gate just before 5:40am. The doors opened at 6, so I waited impatiently as …

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This was one of those adventures that I will keep with me for my entire life. When I set out on my most recent trip to South America in October, I had no intentions of visiting Machu Picchu. My goal was to pass through Ecuador and Peru as quick as possible to get settled in Bolivia and start working with BiblioWorks. The trip developed, one stop led to the next and before I knew it I found myself in Lima contemplating holiday plans and itching to do something big. As I caught my breath from the first 2 months on the road, I realized that Cusco would be a great place to spend Christmas and that Machu Picchu would be a great distraction from being away from home for Christmas. I was hesitant at first because of all the hoopla around the famous monument. I worried it wouldn’t live up …

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