Half Way

We've just reached the half-way point of our trip and have put together a list of some highs and lows. We'll start with the most important thing.


Brad
Jackie


Best Beer

Cusquena Negra (Peru)

Speight's Gold Medal Ale (NZ)


Best Wine

Cousino-Macul Cab Sav (Chile), McGuigans Botrytis Semillon (Aus)

Irongate Reds (Aus)


Best Meal

Cooking a whole lamb in Torres del Paine (Chile)

Brad's fish at the campsite north of Puerto Madryn (Argentina)


Best Restaurant

El Boliche de Alberto (Bariloche - Arg)

Pura Vida (El Calafate - Arg)

Best Adrenaline Activity

Skydiving over Fox Glacier (NZ)

Best Cultural Experience

Homestay on Amantani (Lake Titicaca - Peru)

Funniest moment

Abby's comment at the Pinga Festival in Paraty. There was a guy who was always exposing himself for photo's and Abby walked up to him and said that she'll get the twins out the next time he has a photo (maybe you need to know Abby for this to be funny)

Brad slipping down the bank at Elephant Rocks in his skydiving shoes

Favourite overnight activity

Amazon Jungle Lodge (Peru)

Doubtful Sound Cruise (NZ)

Most interesting person met

Teresa, a woman in Sangolqui, Ecuador who has 3 children, runs a funeral parlour, is a hairdresser and spends a huge amount of time helping an organisation that feeds poor children in the community. She cut Jackies hair for free and was walking around her house looking for a gift for us

Our La Paz tour guide, a young guy who gave us really interesting and honest political views and a great idea of life in Bolivia

Biggest frustration

Trying to get into Bolivia on a South African passport

Travelling around South America with a certain couple

Best 1 day activity

Death Road Biking (Bolivia)

Sandboarding in Huanchaco (Peru), White Island (NZ)

Favourite animal encountered

Pink River Dolphin (Amazon - Peru)

Southern Right Whale (Puerto Madryn - Arg)

Favourite Camping Spot

The beach north of Puerto Madryn with whales passing 10m's from the shore (Arg)

Torres del Paine (Chile), Haast Beach (NZ)

Favourite Accomodation

El Calafate Hostel (Arg)

Halse Lodge (Noosa, Aus)

Favourite transport

The bus to the Colca Canyon (a child on my head and a woman sitting on my lap)

Pai, our camper in NZ

Favourite off the beaten track destination

The Bolivian Altiplano

Maitai Bay (NZ)

Country worth going back to

Argentina

Most frightening moment

Watching Jacks jump out of a plane

Skiing backwards down a slope in Bariloche

Worst guide

Our 1 day tour of Rio guide. The first thing he said to us was 'I don't know what the f@#$ is going on' while running down the bus towards us

Favourite walk

Tongariro crossing (NZ), Queen Charlotte Track (NZ)

Colca Canyon (Peru)

and last but not least,

Favourite toilet with a view

An early morning view from our first campsite on the Inca Trail

Paracas National Park