kjp

Am in Lima now. Got in very late last night (Saturday). Not much is open at all on Sunday mornings here - it's before 9am still. Not much sleep last night (jet lag?). Efficient airport at Lima. Too much time waiting at Santiago airport - boring without internet!. Flight to Santiago was wierd a bit - they served dinner just out of Auckland, then slept, then it was midday for breakfast. Lima - seems to be many different beeps for different cars (overtaking,move out of my way, do you want a ride?), etc. Need to meet up with group yet though. Scheduled to go to Pisco later today. Not sure if I did something wrong, but this morning I found a ATM, and back to the hotel for breakfast. It was 15 Soles. Paid with 50 S note. Got back 3 x 5S coins, plus 20 x 1S coins. !!??? anyhow.

For the record, Boeing to Auckland, Airbus to Santiago, Boeing to Lima...

If nothing else, - notes for me - 1AUD approx 2.5 Soles.

This keyboard is hard to use - all non letters, non number characters are different shift plus key assignment.... annoying.

Waiting in Auckland - free internet. Flight here was ok, nothing to report. Had to laugh a bit when the first thing that I heard in the terminal here in NZ was "Flight 66 to...". Anyhow. Simple things amuse simple minds, or so I'm told!. Flight to Santiago has been delayed by an hour or so; but this is ok, as I had/have a long wait in Santiago anyway before my flight to Lima. Anyhow, it's pretty green and overcast outside. This keyboard is pretty cool as well, three languages on it (well, particles, I think they're called).

This is a test photo. It's a actually taken from the balcony.

So I'm ready for my trip: I fly out tomorrow morning. Pretty excited, a bit nervous. But it should be good.

My pack is a bit funny shaped - it's a good pack, just that the contents + tight compression straps = a bit odd. Taking more clothes than I took to China (I'll be away from any possibility for cleaning clothes for several days). But still plenty of space to pack some souvenirs in. It will be interesting to see how I go - it's going to take a lot longer to get to Lima (longer legs, stop overs at Auckland and Santiago), than my trip to China. But, it does take a little while to get around to the other side of the world.

R. from work suggested swapping memory cards every day. That way, if one card dies / is lost, then you don't loose a block of photos (ie: all of a country), but every other day, and so you'll still get some of the photos. Need to be disciplined and swap cards each day.

Just need to test putting a photo to this site, then it's off to bed.

... really. I haven't felt like fixing it up and posting it properly.

Some things:
The art gallery (American Impressionism) on Friday evening was pretty good. There’s a lot in it though – full on. The Green Car, Tyrolese something (people having lunch) were my favourites. Dinner beforehand was good fun.

I think that I’m fighting a bug or something (there’s been a bit of it around, plus there’s a bit of stress at the moment). Saturday’s jog around the river was more difficult than usual.

South America stuff:
I did a shop yesterday for things. Some cord, camera memory card and spare battery, etc. There’s just two main things left to get – buy some US dollars, and sort out a water bottle and purification. I was looking at the conversion rate between AUD, USD, and the three currencies of Bolivia, Chile and Peru. It seems that AUD  Chilean Peso (for example), gives the same rate as AUD  USD  Chilean Peso. Presumably each country (Australia, for example), only trades currencies with some currencies (not all). Those that we don’t directly trade with, then it’s just the conversion to and from another major currency? Anyhow.

I’m borrowing a camera for the trip. It’s effectively one model down from what I would have bought (sort of) – but the difference being 1 megapixel that is not relevant for me. Ie: ideal to borrow for the trip. I’m happy with the arrangements if it gets nicked, or damaged or something.

Dream.
So on Thursday night I had a crazy dream. Very rare for me to even remember any dreams.

Plans. – two tours. See jungle. Bit more $$$. Less Lima, more La Paz (good). Not inca, but different walk (a bit annoying, but ok).