Puerto Varas to Puerto Montt, Day Trip 11/04/08

Woke up this morning and thought, since I was so close to Puerto Montt I should probably go have a look and see if can get my ticket to get to Chiloe today. It was a pretty easy exercise getting from Puerto Varas to Puerto Montt a half an hour bus ride. There was a lot of construction on the way there though.

The bus stop was on the coast and it was in a run down shack type building, which wasn't that tidy but it served it's purpose. There was a board walk type of thing, going around the coast to the town centre. I walked this the entire way to the end. It was quite a picturesque town I have to say. There is a number of statues or head figures with the various Chilean heros on it. There was also a number of old train locos. I thought it was actually quite a wonderful way of a type of open air museum if you will.. It was actually quite a fresh idea on the old funny smelling buildings we usually associate with Museums and that only old people and stupid tourists that visit them.

The town wasn't really anything special I have to say. It was just a simple town with a main street, the lonely planet does have a point I guess it's a place where you don't want to spend too much time in if you have the choice.

There is a very cool guy across the road from where the bus stop is selling grilled meat.. He's the best when it comes to grilled meat I have to say. It's the best thing you'll ever have.. There's also a market a little way out of town but there wasn't much for me there given that it's mostly touristy stuff.. I didn't find it very interesting but I guess that's just me.

Went back to Puerto Varas and had some nibbles with Andrea and then we parted as she left on the bus and I stayed an extra night. Going to Ancud tomorrow..

Pucon to Puerto Varas 10/04/09

Today me and Andrea caught the bus from Pucón to Puerto Varas, it was an exciting ride on the bus for sure. When we got on the bus we were both pretty sleepy still as it was an early morning bus. The company Jac Buses was known as the OK buses that shouldn't be too much of a hassle to deal with, from what we've both heard. Well here's were it gets interesting.

Just before we reached Villarrica which is about 20 minutes into the journey, the bus started to billow smoke from the back seats. The bus attendant came to check on what was happening and simply just opened the top hatch of the bus. We were then off and going again, again the smoke started billowing from beneath the seats and a number of the other passengers were worried about what might be on fire. They eventually turned off the heating system and we continued our journey. Luckily for us, at Villarrica they changed the bus to a newer bus which wasn't catching on fire anymore.

We got to Puerto Varas at around 2 pm. It was pleasant little town. We had to walk for quite awhile from the bus station at the top of the hill down to the bottom of the hill where the town is. Then we had to find a hostel and this job was left in the capable hands of Andrea, whom got us a room in a really nice hostel near the lake. It was quite cozy I have to say, with a lovely kitchen, complimentary breakfast and free internet. Abate the heating in the house wasn't working, still it was a wonderful place.


We explored the town a little with the guidance of the Lonely Planet, we found a little restaurant called Cafe Danes recommended by it to try their German food. I thought this would be a wonderful idea, given that I've been missing my sour grout fix for nearly 3 years. Also because Andrea is German.


I have to say that the German food in Puerto Varas, is probably the best German food i've had outside of Germany. Andrea got me to try and drink called lemon stones. Apparently it's a girly drink but I quite liked it, its like alco pop drinks but different in a good way. Anyways that was the end of the night for me, way too tired to do anything else.


Although I somewhat remember that we went out for one last drink before going home. I'm not entirely sure.

Pucon 09/04/08

Today I woke up quite early for some reason.. I met a Andrea over breakfast, she wanted to do some hiking around the national park which is quite close to Pucon and I said i'd join her for the walk given that the weather was looking quite good.

We got on a bus that took us to Parque Nacional Huerquehue, which was only about 45 minutes away. When we got there we had to pay a fee to enter the park and then we walked according to the map around a circuit, which took us up to a view point for the lakes and waterfalls. It was actually quite amazingly beautiful, it reminds me of Milford Sound at home. All in all it was a wonderful days walking in the woods, even if it was raining like no tomorrow on our way down the mountain.

Pucon 08/04/08

Woke up this morning and thought it'd be a nice day to go for a walk and also to see a little bit more of the surrounding area.. It's quite nice.. Nature, forests, lakes and stuff. It does happen to be the lakes district of Chile.

I went off to a place called Lago Carburga which is about 30 minutes by bus away it was quite interesting.. There wasn't anyone around though as it was the off season. Never the less the people were really quite nice and there was quite a bit of scenery. I walked along the edge of the lake and had a look around before catching the bus back to the town.


I decided to do some shopping for food and other things. The only way I have been able to get vegetables as part of my daily diet is to buy ready made salads as I'm unable to consume an entire lettuce or cabbage in one go.. But the wonderful thing is theres this little old lady in town that sells ready made salads, she's a wonderful old lady. I once didn't have enough money on me to pay for the bag, so I told her I would bring back some money in 15 minutes. She said it was fine and seriously didn't expect me to come back with the money. She was so surprised when I came back a few minutes later with the rest of her change. For the entire time I was in Pucón I bought 1 bag of vegetables a day for around CHP600.

I met a couple at the hostel today, we decided to go get something to eat from the local restaurant like a take-out place and this is what we ended up with it's wonderful.. It was a chicken burger.. "Hamburguesa de pollo" Umm.. Yum...

Pucon 07/04/08

Ok today I woke up and the weather was actually quite rubbish outside, it was raining and cold. There was a lot of conversation and stuff going on around the hostel. I made breakfast and sat around near the fire on the hammock.. It was quite good.. There wasn't much to do so I just had a little walk around town and sorted out what I wanted to do during the day.





The girls at the hostel recommended me to go see the hot springs near pucon. They said that they were pretty and nice and warm on a crap day like this it would make for a welcome change so that's what I did.

The springs wasn't really similar to Rotorua.. But it was still pretty cool for a cold and rainy day..
A photo of me and the host "Emma"

Santiago to Pucon 05/04/08 - 06/04/08

Ok.. Finally I'm actually in the town of Pucon.. Towards the south of Santiago, it's a town that is set beside a lake it's actually quite picturisque. The hostel I'm staying in is a little bleak but thats fine..

There was a casino right beside this place but a couple of months ago the casino was burnt to the ground and the people that owned it, instead of fixing it just built an entirely new casino right next to it.. So I guess that's how cheap land is here... It's quite nice though..

What's more interesting is not the town but rather the bus ride to get here.. The buses in Chile are quite nice and new, not as I imagined, you know how you get images of broken down buses from the 1960s well no not exactly.. The bus was maybe only 3 years old at most. The seats reclined but not that much simmilar to the ones found of an airplane, but whats amazing is actually the service from the crew. They serve you breakfast and coffee just before you get off. It's such a wonderful thing. All in all I think it was the best bus journey I've had.

What was more annoying is the fact that I forgot to print out my reservation for the hostel the night before. I had to try and find it but couldn't and it started to rain, so I found the nearest one and asked on the odd chance that it was the right hostel. I'd already settled in when I found out that it wasn't the right hostel.. I had to move about 3 blocks away which was a pain, but the people who were running to hostel was so nice to me I decided to come back the next night. It was a refuge from the harsh weather outside. The hostel's name was "El Refugeo" It was amazing and Lotta and Emma were such wonderful hosts I decided to stay.

Santiago Day 2 04/04/08

Awoke to a major hangover.. Can't believe how much beer I drank actually.. It was insane they don't have beer that was less than a liter in volume.

After a lot of contemplating I made my way out the door and went for a walk around the city. Went to try and find the place I had lunch yesterday but couldn't find it for the life of me. I quite liked the architecture of the city it was quite majestic I thought.. Especially "Universidad Católica".

Although one very interesting thing I came across was a water cannon in the middle of the city near the parliament. I think they're preparing for a march or some sort of protest.

The other interesting and amazing thing I found was an alley that was full of shops, not just any shops though. It contained every kind of shop you can imagined catered to the interests of people who love blending. It was just quite crazy or 'loco' in spanish I guess.. it filled both sides of the alley..


I also witnessed something quite unusual the performance of a family. They looked like the nutcrackers from the fairy tales but they were actually performing for the general public.. They have the most coordination I have ever seen feet hands everything..

Santiago de Chile 03/04/08

My first full day on the trip is coming to an end. Although in another sense it's just beginning as we're about to get drunk and get loud and "loco" Chilean style. Anyways.. Distracted from my previous thought..

Today I woke up at quite the right time around 9 am.. Had breakfast and decided that it'd be a good idea to go out and see what the city of Santiago was like.. I enlisted the help of a fellow traveller at the hostel. She helped me get to grips with the city. We walked to a place called Santa Lucia which started out life as a hermitage and then turned into a convent and then finally a military installation. Today I am visiting it as I have been told that the fountains and curving staircases are quite interesting.



Following our walk up the hill we walked to the district containing the parliament buildings for the Chilian government these building were quite interesting in terms of architecture. They looked similar to the ones I had seen in europe. They must have been heavily influenced by the Spanish I guess..

At about lunch time we stopped by a restaurant that didn't look like much just a shop on the corner with not many people eating. The inside looked like an old 80's style diner from the US. I was told about the traditional drink from Chile called a Pisco Sour.. This to my surprise was actually an alcoholic drink which the Chilean's drink as part of their meals. It was actually very tasty and I enjoyed it. The meal I ordered was chicken "pollo" isn't that cool I'm already learning spanish.. I was also told to try the salsa that accompanied the breads. Wow this part was water in your mouth amazing, it was just tasty enough to give the taste of salsa but it didn't over crowd the taste of the bread itself..



By midday the place was completely packed.. I guess we stumbled upon a local favorite. It was hard to tell why.. The man outside the restaurant was dress in a tux just to greet the customers as they walked in and also when we ordered one drink he made too much and gave us the rest of what he made.. I swear he must have put half a bottle of Pisco in it.. Amazing lunch it was though.. Not bad for the first day..

I got back to the hostel around 4 pm and it was already starting to get dark, we went to get some drinks and 2 swedes turned up and an american. We started talking and drinking and then all of a sudden, it sorta got a little out of hand and I started doing stupid things.. But I guess when you're in Chile do want the Chileans do..


Update you guys tomorrow about whats happening..

Auckland to Santiago (Leg 1) 2/4/08

Caught the flight from Auckland to Santiago today.
It was some what emotional with saying goodbye to my parents and embarking on this epic journey around the world in 1 year.


I don't know what it's going to be like. It's actually quite unnerving not knowing what is awaiting for me when I get to Santiago.
I don't know a word of spanish if my life depended on it. Although I have to admit that the phrase book I bought before I came on the trip did help somewhat.

I was at least able to ask the steward if she could recommend me which meal I should take. I'm on a LAN Chile flight which would take 13 hours from Auckland to Santiago de Chile. The capital of Chile..

I'm very excited.. Can't wait..

Chile Day 1 02/04/08

Arrival into Santiago was quite a breeze actually I didn't imagine clearing customs would be quite this easy in a language I don't know.

So after completing customs, I went to get a bus to the hostel which is in the suburb of Bellavista. It looks quite nice from what I can see outside not much going on but still very nice.. The room I'm in is quite cramp but it's good enough for the short stay I planned.


Anyways I think sleeping is a good idea given I didn't actually sleep at all on the plane.


I was watching all the cool movies and episodes of the simpsons in spanish.. But in saying that its starting to dawn on me that I have no idea how I'm supposed to survive the entire year without my parents and my friends given that, I haven't been away from home for more than 3 months before and that was with my relatives in Hong Kong. No matter I don't think I can stand anymore as I'm totally exausted. Night..