What Scares Me - My Boogeyman

This is one for all the ladies and gentlemen travelling solo or with friends. To those who've faced their fears and pushed on.

As a solo traveller life is quite fantastic. You and you alone decide what you want to do today, where you want to go tommorow, whether or not you catch a flight out of the country on a whim or whether you just decide to lie in a hammock all day with a bar or two of chocolate and caipirinhas.

I sometimes like to consider myself an independant 20 year old. Just so that I can pretend to be an adult sometimes. Full time job, living on my own, bills paid on time, the full adulthood responsibility package. Been there, done that. Now I'm travelling for 4 months and I'm still somewhat healthy, still mostly alive, still on track with my budget. I'd say I'm doing ok so far. 

I even like to doing "fearless" adventurous adrenaline junkiesque activities. Cliff jumping in my secret hidey hole in the sticks, skydiving back home, bungee jumping in Cusco, volcano climbing in Pucon, sewing my first button ever onto my shirt by myself in Rio. 

Now you might be thinking, if you're not scared of sewing a button back onto your shirt then what are you scared of?

Could you believe it's as simple as not wanting to be lonely?

That might seen a little ridiculous seeing as how I left Vancouver with a 6 month itinerary for South America all alone. But there's quite a difference in the two words. Lonely involves feeling alone, even though you might be amongst friends. While being alone is simply being by yourself although you might be perfectly fine.

Let me give you an example of what I mean. 

I arrived in Rio de Janerio in the middle of the World Cup all alone. I had one friend in the city who was letting me couchsurf for two weeks yet we rarely saw each other because of her schedule. I explored the city, played football on the beach, hiked up Christo & Sugarloaf among quite a few other things. Mostly alone, yet never did I feel lonely. Probably because I didn't know what I was missing out on yet. 

Fast forward 4 months and I've just finished the Inca Trail and now I'm on my way to Huacachina. I've just spend the last four full days with one of the greatest group of travellers out there doing one of the most revered treks on the planet. Together we spent four days worrying over the rain, eating a mountain of chocolate between us, laughing over games of Shithead and simply just enjoying our time glamping with each other. With my new friends from all over I was lucky enough to finish and witness Machu Picchu in all of its tourist infested glory. Afterwards, again I was lucky enough to spend time with them at the hot springs at Aguas Caliente before enjoying the BEST Pisco Sour I've ever had before half the group took off. Then as my 445am alarm clock went off the following day I was fortunate enough to climb Huayna Picchu and have breakfast with the last half of the group before my own train back to Cusco. 

Several hours later and here I am, on a crap sleeper bus on the way to Huacachina. Unfortunately alone, and quite lonely as I'm now missing everybody from the trek. As well as the good times from the group in La Paz. And the group in San Pedro. And the EPIC times from Buenos Aires. And well, really most of my friends from this trip so far. Not to mention my friends and family back home. 

Quite literally I'm facing my own personal Boogeyman right now. Even though travelling alone rarely means I'm actually by myself and lonely, the times where I am are definitely the worst. But I've seen this monster several times now in this trip and I know exactly how to deal with it now. Time to turn my attention back to the present and carry on with having new adventures with new friends in new places. Hopefully one day that'll include the old friends as well. 

Cheers to the future, to the unknown and to a sense of adventure. Love and miss you all. 

Channy

Instagram - itsnathanchan

October 28, Huacachina, Peru

Into the Jungle

Lets just add bullet ants, fire ants, and cockroaches to the list of things I hate to find in the dead of night while in the Amazon. I'm back from a few days in the Amazon basin and to say that the experience was worth every penny would be selling it short.

I started this adventure by making my way to the overly crowded and somewhat disgusting Terminal de Omnibus in Cusco. After a way too hot, lights turning on at 3am, huge man snoring behind me kind of 10 hour bus ride that you can only find in South America, I finally arrived in Puerto Maldonado at the edge of the Amazon Basin here in Peru. 

I was greeted by intense humidity, mosquitoes and a lack of tour guide with my name scribbled on paper. Great start. Figuring out that my bus had actually arrived 20 minutes early, I realized that if I waited a little bit I'm sure someone would turn up for me. At least that is what I comforted myself with. Sure enough they did. Sweating profusely by this time due to the heat, we made it to the man's truck and were off to the marina. 

A few hours later, three mosquito bites and one thoroughly sore bum, we finally were pulling into the dock at the lodge I'd be staying at for the next three nights. Day 1 was spent on a jungle walk, exploring Isla de Mono and searching for caimans at night. But really that can all be summed up with a selfie with a monkey. 

Quite self explanatory 

Day 2. Sandoval lake is preserved within the Tambopata National Reserve and requires a 2km trek to reach. A short canoe paddle through dense jungle releases you into the middle of the lake which is spectacular to say the least. We were the first group to enter the reserve and to have it all to ourselves for about two hours was brilliant. Mirror calm waters, giant otters fishing next to us, monkeys flying through the trees, vampire bats clinging upside down to a trunk fast asleep, and butterflies. Ooooh the butterflies. 

Sandoval Lake

Tangent - In Buenos Aires a few of us were talking about how the German language sounds very rough and harsh to speak. Ms. Ena Lamont however spoke out defending it and showed us all how Smitelin/Butterfly in German actually sounded quite pleasant. Quickly asking the Dutch girl what butterfly was in her language (flinder) set off a chain of events that leads to present times. Just over two months later I now know how to say butterfly in 13 languages. It was 14 but I forgot how to say it in Turkish..

A night time jungle walk revealed giant tarantulas, bullet ants, fireflies and quite a few other creepy crawlies. The next day was spent canopying, ziplining, and kayaking down the river. One of the cooler things of the day was actually jumping out of the kayak and taking a swim in the river! It took a bit to get over everything I knew about what could kill/bite/maim/drown you that lived in the water but nonetheless felt quite obligated to take the opportunity. 

Big ass tarantula

Currently on my way back to Puerto Maldonado. Will be catching a quick flight back to Cusco where I'll be on my way to the Mercado de San Pedro for some late afternoon Lechon/Roasted Pig before getting my pack ready for the Inca Trail that I start tommorow! Lets just end this with another selfie with a monkey chilling on my chest. 

Me Gusta

Channy

Instagram - itsnathanchan

October 22nd, Rio Madre de Dios, Peru

Well, I've Fallen in Love

With Peru. Maybe it's the Inca culture, or possibly the amazing food, more likely it has something to do with the incredibly friendly smiles I keep getting from locals.

I've been in the country for a grand total of 7 full days. While I've only been in the country for such a short time I've already seen enough to become thoroughly infatuated with the entirety of it, love handles and all. 

Arequipa

Secound biggest city in Peru really translates into a city of less than 800,000. While the city isn't actually enormous, the backdrop of 5000 & 6000m mountains leaves you feeling oh so powerless in this city. It's quite a powerful image.. That I unfortunately didn't capture. However a beautiful plaza paired with a great indoor Market left me with handfuls of figs, cucumber melons, strawberries, grapes and passionfruits. Gooseberries, pineapples and nonis too.. Simply a fruitgasm. This was also the city where I finally got a haircut! To be able to feel one's toque against the side of one's head is simply a beautiful thing. Did I mention destroying a giant ripping hot half roasted chicken plate in about 6 minutes..? As Juan would put it "absolutely phenomenal." 

Colca Canyon

World's second deepest canyon. Two days of trekking. 28km. 3:30am start time. We started the trek with a few hours of descending into the canyon with a blistering hot sun above us and a backpack full of water. We had a fantastic guide, showing us all sorts of poisonous and medicinal plants that could burn our eyes out or cure us of all sorts of complications. Why write about anything else when I can just throw in a photo of the beautiful landscape and be done with it anyway? ;)

Day two involved waking up at 430am and starting the final three hour hike ascending 1200m. I've been feeling pretty sick since attempting Huayna Potosi and to finally have my strength back felt absolutely brilliant. Again, photo photo photo. 

Cusco

This city is gorgeous. Small enough to walk around but big enough to have a little of everything. The market here is probably even better than the one in Arequipa and has everything you might need, two dollar set lunches, roasted lechon, pretty juice ladies, ancient potato ladies slicing papas by hand and even the neccessary stray dogs for that authentic feel. The Plaza de Armas and Cathedrals are stunning while the pace of the city is tranquil enough. Did I mention I went bungee jumping here? Because that's definitely a typical Peruvian activity. 

Currently off on a night bus that will take me to the Amazon Jungle in Puerto Maldonado for a few days to see all sorts of wild things. Unfortunately there are no Pink Dolphins in this region.. (Just for you Sally) and then I come back and immediately set off for the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu!

Will be out of contact for.. Quite some time. Love you all!

Channy

Instagram - itsnathanchan

October 18, 2014 - Milhouse Hostel, Cusco, Peru 

Bolivia - Never Stop Pushing Yourself

I've only been in Bolivia for two weeks now and I'm already in love with this country. The juice ladies are genuinely happy to serve you, the food is unique and tasty if you know where to look, and overall the country is just as diverse as Canada if not more so. Jungle, mountain ranges, amazon basins, silver mining towns, and incredible topography. 

Railroads to Nowhere

I'm quite freaking in love with this country. But more so because it represents a Challenge to me than anything else. I`m that guy who looks at a mountain from the base and see it mocking me all the way up until I`m the one laughing at the top. I've completed 20 hours of Spanish lessons to help bolster my fledgling skills, a full day of cycling down Death Road including doing my first single track, and in about an hour I'm off to begin a three day climb to summit Huayna Potosi at 6088m.a.s.l. So what do I really mean by a Challenge?

Have you ever taken an intensive Spanish course? Some of you travelling would have for sure so you'll understand. Four hours a day you get drilled with dozens of new words, verbs, grammer and different rules to string it all together. All while the teacher is mostly speaking in Spanish. Because why not? One of the more frustrating things I've ever done because I struggled. Big time. Mixing up verbs, switching up conjugations, not being "imaginative" with my sentences.. Spending hours after class attempting to do homework but mostly finding ways to fill my stomach with snacks. I became utterly frustrated with the entire language. I made excuses - What a stupid decision to learn this language, this language makes absolutely no sense, should have never done this, etc. Until I finished my classes and got thrown into the real world again. All of the sudden I could understand heaps more, my sentences came out the way I actually intended them to, and people actually started to understand me. It was mentally exhausting, but it was something I set in front of myself that I'll never regret tackling. 

Spanish 101

Death Road. It used to be The World's Most Dangerous Road for simple reasons. It has blind corners, it's barely one lane, and if you go off the road and off the cliff, you'll disappear about 300m below into the jungle. Many drivers have died this way until they constructed the new road, and now many tourists have gone over cycling. Including a French lady about two weeks ago.. Rest in peace. That being said, this was one of the most intense and exciting things I have EVER done. Hurtling down a thin gravel road on a full suspension bicycle with tight corners and sheer death waiting for me at all times. I loved it.

And then I fell.

Not too badly, and into the mountain and not over the cliff. But enough to shake me up a bit. Enough so that when I was given the green light to attempt my first single track (a steep and rocky path meant for one rider at a time) I was quite hesitant. However life isn't meant to be taken through the eyes of a coward. I honestly can't remember the last time when I've genuinely been scared about my own personal safety. But I choose to nut up and go for it. I'm alive, it was epic, and I'm proud that I choose to step up to the plate instead of taking the easy way out. 

Death Corner

Huayna Potosi. I love to hike. I love to climb. And I absolutely love being outdoors. I`m also Canadian and I never get cold taking my pet penguin for sleigh rides around the neighborhood. I've done my fair share of hiking back home but what I've never attempted is trying to climb a mountain above 6000m. Lucky for me that Potosi is 6088m above sea level. The most difficult thing about climbing mountains like this is that there is barely any oxygen in the atmosphere at these heights. Meaning that even in La Paz at about 3600m, I was winded walking up a two minute hill on my first day. With about 12 hours of hiking, climbing, and scrambling ahead of me, I`m pretty damn nervous. While I'm not exactly in my peak condition, I understand how Altitude Sickness can crumble my goal of summiting with a throbbing headache and full body exhaustion. One step at a time right? After all it`s all about getting that photo anyway!

I look at most things in life as a challenge now. Not because I`m a competitive asshole, well not all the time anyway.. but a competition and a challenge are quite different anyway. But mostly because everything is brand new, difficult and well.. challenging. I visualize myself conquering something and I set myself to it. That's just how I live life though. If it's not a challenge, why am I even doing it? 

Why would I continue to ride the path of complacency when I can push myself in all disciplines and simply become a stronger person?

Always keep pushing yourself towards your goals, never stop running the race that you set before you.

Channy

Instagram & Twitter - itsnathanchan

October 8th - Wild Rover Hostel, La Paz, Bolivia

World's Largest Salt Flat - Salar de Uyuni

Well after three days, minus 15 degree winds and one bitterly strong case of altitude sickness, I'm mostly alive and have managed to make my way into Bolivia! Three days of driving in a rugged Landcruiser with simple accommodations and a lack of internet has left me with one of my new highlights of the trip. 

Three full days driving through Bolivian wilderness on the way to Uyuni was simply breathtaking. White lagoons, green lagoons, red lagoons, all sorts of lagoons. Andean flamingoes, condor flamingoes, chilean flamingoes, only three sorts of flamingoes. Small potholes, bathtub sized potholes, hidden potholes, many potholes. And salt. Miles and miles of beautiful salt. 

To say that we drove on a road would simply imply that the Bolivians had built a road to begin with. It was in fact more of a path that EVERY single jeep/landcruiser followed and took slight deviations from trying to find the least bumpy way. As I said, accommodations were simple. The first night was at about 4300m above sea level with -15 winds howling outside, zero heating and 20lbs of blankets ontop a thin bed with a concrete base. The secound night was slightly better inside of a "salt hotel." Seriously only slightly though. 

My lack of sleep through Chile decided to catch up with me all of the sudden and deliver a one-two punch on the first night. Or maybe three.. Or four? Waking up multiple times throughout the night to sweats, chills and a horrible headache I couldn't wait till morning. Yet morning came along with a raging headache, barely enough energy to run to the bathroom and a stomach that could only accept hot tea. Did I mention I could barely keep warm? I definitetly wore more than half of my clothes that day. 

Despite a hiccup throughout the secound day I was able to rally pretty hard and get all the snaps I still wanted. Waking up before sunrise the final day we departed in the complete darkness and raced off to make it to Salar de Uyuni for sunrise. Salar de Uyuni is just as epic as all the hype surrounding it makes it out to be. 

Never ending. Totally white. Completely flat. Until you reach the far side. Besides the rubber tire trails. Except for Isla de Pescado. Almost an oasis in the middle of the Salar, a great mass erupts from the Earth studded with giant cactus and an easy 15 minute hike to the top of the mound. Furthur past the Isla we stopped to take photos. The Salar is perfect for funny shots as the depth of field is completely destroyed here. 

One last adventurous stroll through the Train Cemetery on the far side of Uyuni and I was on the most eventful bus I've ever been heading deeper into Bolivia and continuing my journey north. 

Currently In Sucre, planning on bunkering down for a week or so to learn some more spanish! Ciao. 

Channy

Instagram & Twitter - itsnathanchan

September 28 - Celtic Cross Hostel, Sucre, Bolivia

Final Week in Chile - Me Gusta

Chile has been good fun. Period. With  my final hour in the country today I thought it might be a good time to catch up on what I've been up to lately instead of the tangents I like to write about. From the beginning of the week then.

Santiago

Arrived in the city only to find that I had missed my good friend Euan by a few hours.. However another friend from Ushuaia was actually there in my hostel so it was a good surprise instead. I spent my first day exploring the city by foot, discovering the city barrio by barrio. Not going to lie when I wasn't too impressed by it. Big cities all look like other big cities in my opinion. I awoke the following day to Fiesta Patrias! The 18th of september is Chile's version of Independence day. With huge parties called Fondas, everyone in the city is either at one, at a park bbqing or hawking their wares to tourists and locals alike.  I literally spent a solid two hours eating street food in Parque O'higgins, everything from mussel and fish ceviche to goat and chorizo sandwiches! Later that night I met up with Max, a friend from Valpo and had a blast late into the evening. Even ended up meeting 3 Vancouverites who lived about 15 minutes from me! Travelling eh?

Mote con Huesillo - Peach nectar, barley, rehydrated peaches

Cue the best 24 hour bus ride of my life. 

San Pedro de Atacama

A gringo town in the middle of the Atacama desert. Literally just built on the backs of restaurants, tour shops and bike rentals. I was lucky enough to spend 4 solid days in the dusty town. On my first day in the city, I actually ended up bumping into a friend that I met in Ushuaia (another one) and we immediately made plans to go sandboarding later that day! After an evening of finding sand everywhere and sweaty legs, we arrive at day two which was quite a relaxing day. Slept in, got some coffee with amigos, biked through a few canyons and had my first proper meal in about two weeks. Two more full on days of tours, good snaps and a complete overhaul of my Bolivian "itinerary" and now I'm off to Salar de Uyuni! It's been funny hanging out with new friends from different hostels these few days however I've literally not stopped to say hello to anyone in my own hostel.. Oops! 

Sunset from Valle de la Luna

Laguna Altiplanica

Anyway I'll be crossing Salar de Uyuni in a 4x4 Jeep for 3 days without internet! Expect some awesome photos from the Salar ;)

Channy

Instagram & Twitter - itsnathanchan

September 24th - Aji Verde Hostel, San Pedro de Atacama, Chile

A Few of My Favourites - South America

Well. I´ve gotten a little tired of writing. More and more throughout this trip my photography has gotten slightly better each and every day. I thought I´d like to showcase a little more of that throughout my blog. Thus here are some of my favourites so far from South America, with plenty more to come!

Iguaçu Falls - Brazil

I was lucky enough to see the falls from both Argentina and Brazil with my sister Rosalyn. We arrived in the park after a miserably long bus ride to find sunshine, a slight breeze and gorgeous rainbows. Of a full afternoon of posing, taking selfies, running through the crazy mist to the platform in the bottom right corner, this was my best shot of the day.

Rio de Janerio - Brazil

One of the few days I wasn´t baking away inside the Fifa Fan Fest, I managed to actually explore the city.  I spent the day exploring Ipanema and Copacabana beach before heading to Arpoador which is a huge rocky cliff in between the two beaches. Climbing all over I was able to take this shot of a young Brazilian debating whether to jump in or not a few hours before sunrise.

Easter Island - Chile

Ahu Tongariki. Battling the grogginess of a 6am wake up, intense patches of rain and wind, we managed to drive our 4x4 to Tongariki only find a bitter, dark and cloudy sky. However as the sun started to rise, the clouds started to evaporate. A dusty rock, my phone, and the camera strap provided a perfect tripod setup for this long exposure shot.

Easter Island - Chile

Two from Easter Island?! Obviously you need to get your ass out here then! Eating a Rapa Nui Ceviche at La Kaleta in Hanga Roa with an Aus couple, the sun was falling into a spectacular cluster of clouds. Excusing myself and getting out of the way of an American group eating dinner, I managed to snap this photo just before the mains arrived.

San Pedro de Atacama - Chile

I actually didn´t take this photo, although I did configure all the settings myself. The credit for the photo goes to Henriette my German friend who I met in Ushuaia and was lucky enough to find again in San Pedro. After a good few hours of sandboarding, we made our way over to Valle de la Luna and walking around barefoot, made my way to the end of Mirador de Kari where I was able to catch the end of a sunset.

Hope you enjoyed! Let me know if you do. Like, comment, share, retweet, follow me. You can not do me a greater compliment than by doing any of those for me!

Channy
Instagram & Twitter - itsnathanchan
September 22 - Aji Verde Hostal, San Pedro de Atacama, Chile