Worldistan

Buenos Aires, Argentina

2010-04-21T11:35:00.001+02:00

Some days in Urugay

2010-04-21T11:27:00.004+02:00

Rio de Janerio, Brazil

2010-04-19T17:00:00.002+02:00

Trinidade, Brazil

2010-04-19T16:53:00.003+02:00

Paraty, Brazil

2010-04-19T16:43:00.001+02:00

Ilha Grande, Brazil

2010-04-12T17:53:00.004+02:00

Itaipu dam, Brazil

2010-03-07T22:13:00.002+01:00

Iguazu falls, Brasilian side

2010-03-07T22:08:00.001+01:00

Iguazu falls, Argentinian side

2010-03-07T22:01:00.003+01:00

North of Salta and region of Juyjuy, Argentina

2010-03-07T21:50:00.001+01:00

North of Salta, Argentina

2010-03-07T21:46:00.002+01:00

On the road from Cafayate to Salta, Argentina

2010-02-27T23:27:00.001+01:00

On the road from Barreal to Cafayate

2010-02-27T23:19:00.002+01:00

On the road from San Juan to Barreal. Argentina

2010-02-27T23:08:00.003+01:00

Uspallata, Argentina

2010-02-27T22:59:00.003+01:00

Somewhere in the sky, above Mendoza, Argentina

2010-02-27T22:52:00.001+01:00

Bariloche and the lakes region, Argentina

2010-02-27T22:42:00.003+01:00

El Chalten, Patagonia, Argentina

2010-02-27T22:38:00.003+01:00

Perito Moreno Glacier, Patagonia, Argentina

2010-01-21T19:10:00.001+01:00

Torres del Paine NP, Patagonia ,Chile (Part I)

2010-01-21T18:50:00.000+01:00

Torres del Paine NP, Patagonia ,Chile (Part II)

2010-01-21T18:49:00.000+01:00

Atacama desert and surroundings, North Chile

2010-01-21T18:05:00.000+01:00

The Atacama region is home to a wide range of incredible views, lunar landscapes and natural formations.

To the south of the town of Atacama lies a virtually rainless plateau in South America, called the Atacama desert. It covers a 1,000 square km strip of land locked between the Pacific coast and the Andes mountains. The Atacama desert is considered the driest desert in the world.

From Atacama one can also easily reach lagunas, strange rock formations, volcanoes and other saltflats...

El Tatio Geysers, North Chile

2010-01-21T17:54:00.001+01:00

El Tatio is a geyser field located within theAndes Mountains of northern Chile at 4,200 meters above sea level.

The best time to see them is at sunrise, which explains why we woke up at 3 in the morning to drive our rented truck up the 130 km dirt road. At this point in time each geyser is surmounted by a column of steam that condenses in the bitterly cold morning air. Together with the sunrise and the altitude dizzy feeling this provides a magic touch to this incredible place.

Chuquicamata Copper Mines, Calama, North Chile

2010-01-21T17:53:00.000+01:00

Chuquicamata, or "Chuqui" as it is more familiarly known, is a large open pit mine in the North of Chile. It is more than 1km deep, 3km wide and 4.7km long. As Such it is the most important source of income in Chilenean exports.

No surprise than that it needs those huge massive trucks to operate 24h a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year. It is said that the only reason that can stop the mine to be exploited is the rain... Ok well it didn t rain there for the last three years!

Valle de la Muerte, North Chile

2010-01-21T17:52:00.000+01:00

Southwestern Bolivia (Part I)

2010-01-21T17:51:00.006+01:00

Southwestern Bolivia (Part II)

2010-01-21T17:49:00.000+01:00

Salar de Uyuni, South Bolivia

2010-01-21T17:21:00.005+01:00

From Potosi to Uyuni, with the expedicao Boa Vista - Natal , Bolivia

2009-12-14T01:28:00.005+01:00

La Cordillera de los Frailes, near Sucre, Bolivia

2009-12-14T01:21:00.003+01:00

Minas de Potosi, Bolivia

2009-12-14T01:14:00.009+01:00

Potosí is claimed to be the highest city in the world at a nominal 4,090 m. It lies beneath the Cerro de Potosí — sometimes referred to as the Cerro Rico ("rich mountain") — a mountain popularly conceived of as being "made of" silver ore, which has always dominated the city. The Cerro Rico is the reason for Potosi's historical importance, since it was the major supply of silver for the Spanish Empire.

More info on Wikipedia: Click here!

Cost of a bag of nitroglycerin in Potosi market: 15 Bs or €1.5...
We had to test it!

Rurrenabaque and the Pampa, The Amazon Bassin, Bolivia

2009-12-14T00:44:00.000+01:00

Copacabana, Lago de Titicaca, Bolivia

2009-12-14T00:43:00.004+01:00

And the new President is...

2009-12-04T21:07:00.007+01:00

Evo Morales wins with 38 percentage point lead over his closest challenger... Foreign observers have praised the election for its transparency and fairness (BBC Americas full article, Click here!)

The vote was said to be largely influenced by Indigenous support to Evo... Seen from the eyes of Al Jazeera's Reporter Teresa Bo: Click here!

LINKS:

Una noche on Isla Taquile, Lago Titicaca, Peru

2009-11-28T02:38:00.005+01:00

Valle sagrado, from Muray to Salinas de Maras, Peru

2009-11-28T02:28:00.004+01:00

Peruvian markets and Traditions

2009-11-28T02:14:00.004+01:00

Somewhere in the Andes, Peru

2009-11-28T02:01:00.004+01:00

Cusco, Peru

2009-11-28T01:58:00.001+01:00

Canyon del Colca, from Sangalle to LLahuar

2009-11-14T22:48:00.003+01:00

Canyon del Colca, From Cruz del Condor to Cabanaconde

2009-11-14T22:43:00.002+01:00

Canyon del Colca, from Chivay to Yanque

2009-11-14T22:31:00.008+01:00

Arequipa, Peru

2009-11-14T02:18:00.002+01:00

Parque nacional Paracas, Peru

2009-11-14T02:10:00.002+01:00

Islas Ballestas, Peru

2009-11-14T02:03:00.001+01:00

Lima, Peru

2009-11-14T01:58:00.004+01:00

Panama City and the Canal

2009-11-14T01:43:00.003+01:00

Bocas del Torro , Panama

2009-10-28T19:21:00.002+01:00

Isla de Ometepe , Nicaragua

2009-10-28T18:21:00.006+01:00

Island Ometepe is a true wonder of the Nature formed by two volcanoes rising from Lake Nicaragua. Its name derives from the Nahuatl words ome (two) and tepetl (mountain)...

One island thus, but two volcanoes: Concepción, the highest one and Maderas, which we climbed to reach the muddy lake formed in its creater. The two volcanoes are joined by a low isthmus to form one island in the shape of an hourglass.

For more info: Ometepe on Wikipedia

Volcan Telica , two days hike, Nicaragua

2009-10-28T18:14:00.004+01:00

For more info on how to hike volcanoes in Nicaragua, check the website of the (highly recommended) Quetzaltrekkers, an independent non-profit association run entirely by volunteers whose aim is to raise money for an organisation helping street kids.

Nicaragua, miscellaneous

2009-10-28T18:10:00.000+01:00

Volcan Cerro Negro, Nicaragua

2009-10-28T18:07:00.003+01:00

Volcano Pacaya, Guatemala

2009-10-07T22:19:00.006+02:00

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacaya

Guatemalan markets and traditions

2009-10-07T22:12:00.005+02:00

Lago de Atitlan, Guatemala

2009-10-07T22:03:00.005+02:00

"Atitlan is the most beautiful lake in the world"
(Aldous Huxley)

Judge for yourself...

Laguna Lachua Parque National, Guatemala

2009-09-26T01:21:00.008+02:00

Lanquin and Semuc Champey

2009-09-26T01:08:00.004+02:00

Tikal.. in the jungle of Guatemala

2009-09-19T05:56:00.003+02:00

Caye Caulker, Belize

2009-09-19T05:27:00.004+02:00

Great!

After about 6 weeks in Mexico we now cross the Border leading to Belize... What a contrast to land in this small country (its capital city, Belmoplan - Did anyone know about that? - is the home of about 30 000 people) where Creole has replaced Spanish in our conversasions, where Jah Jah is more important then Jesus and where the smell of Lobsters on the BBQ calls for the dinner!

Great for a long week end withinour trip...

Tulum ruins...and beach !

2009-09-19T05:21:00.005+02:00

Palenque

2009-09-19T05:18:00.001+02:00

San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico

2009-09-19T05:04:00.005+02:00

Follow our trip on the Map

2009-09-07T05:55:00.002+02:00

View Worldistan in a larger map

Pacific Coast, Puerto Escondito & Mazunte

2009-09-03T22:24:00.004+02:00

Hierve el agua

2009-09-03T22:10:00.004+02:00

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hierve_el_Agua

Oaxaca & Monte Alban

2009-09-03T22:02:00.004+02:00

Tehotihuacan

2009-09-03T21:52:00.006+02:00

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tehotihuacan

Mexico City

2009-09-03T21:13:00.006+02:00

Home to about 8 million defeños (from the Federal District of Mexico or D.F., read "De-Efe"), only in its core and 19.23 million when encompassing the Metropolitan Area, la Ciudad de México is a BIG city!

From its Art Nouveau buildings, to its vibrant central square, its numerous churches, skyscrapers, museums and parks...

From the early mornings prayers of the shamans on its main square to the street worshipping of la Santa Muerte, via the supperters craze of a Lucha Libre tournament in Mexico Arena an until the late-in-the-night running fiestas and museums, la Ciudad offers a wide range of activities for travellers like us...

NB We kindly thank the owner of IYH Mexico for inviting us to the roof top terrace bday party of his son! We told you Belgians can be costly when facing an open bar...

The choices only get harder to make!

Lucha Libre, Mexico Arena, Mexico City

2009-08-22T17:18:00.004+02:00

Ok, well, No comment...

Don t ask us how we got to attend a match of Lucha Libre (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucha_libre) , but well... It was awsome!

Second picture is El Famosooooooooooo Mystico!

Zacatecas, Mexico

2009-08-21T20:05:00.000+02:00

Barrancas del Cobre #2: Batopilas

2009-08-20T03:42:00.006+02:00

Prochain arret dans le Pacr Natioinal Barrancas del Cobre: Batopilas... Ceux qui nous suivaient plus tôt auront vu la route pour y parvenir (cf. Post precedent). Le Lonely nous previent : "les coeurs sensibles, s abstenir car route difficile"... En effet, pour y arriver : 5heures de tournants NON STOP, un camion bloque dans la boue ( "He el Belga, viene por aqui empuchar el camion!" ) quelques bons touristils, mais surtout des vues superbes pour enfin arriver, loin de tout dans ancienne ville miniere perdue au pied des Canyons.

Sur place, nous nous mettons tres vite au rythme bien tranquile du lieu. On travaille dans l unique rue du village, le trafic doit attendre. Du coup notre visite prend son temps. Au menu la jolie mission et decouverte un peu speleo de la mine d argent accompagne par un ancien mineur... tout ca accompagnes d une bande de Mexicains passant leur vacances a visiter leur propre pays (ca nous arrive pas souvent ca!).

On loge "chez Monse", un couple qui tient une jolie petite maison avec quelques chambres pour les backpackers, un petit patio de reve ou pousse les arbres fruitiers (on attend qu il tombe dans notre hammack pour se deguster une guave ou une orange) et SURTOUT, a cote du Rio batopilas que Vivian prend un malin plaisir a descendre a la nage, encore et encore, se laissant aller avec le courant (assez fort)...

En resume, bon petit "weekend" a Batopilas dont un dimanche comme on les aime: messe locale avec bon repas de midi (pas le steack frites dont on revait, mais cactus, puree de noix, beans et multitude de fruits) et apres midi "repos", ou on enchaine les parties de cartes...

Retour a Creel le lundi matin tres tot (et a nouveau touristils) accompagnes de 2 francais voyageant pour un an (les chancards), que nous esperons recroiser, car ils font a peu pres la meme route que nous...

De Creel, direction Chihuahua puis directement Zacatecas (pres de 24h de trajet et trois bus: peinard), petite ville aux airs de Cuba, au centre du Mexique.

A+

Barrancas del Cobre #1: Los Mochis - Posada Barrancas - Creel

2009-08-20T03:41:00.007+02:00

Nous voila embarques a bord du fameux train reliant Los Mochis (cote pacifique) et Chihuahua (au Nord du Mexique). Les traversees successives de canyons, tunnels, ponts a couper le souffle sont assez impressionnantes. L occasion d avoir deja un bon apercu des Barrancas del Cobre, pays des Raramuris, que nous allons apprehender cette semaine. Apres quelques heures de train en pleine nature, premier arret a Posada Barancas, petit bled de 12 maisons, ou on loge 2nuits chez la famille Diaz, dont la grand mere nous prepare de bons petits plats, bien Mexicains...

Le temps de quelques splendides ballades dans le Canyon, avec vues superbes, et d un peu "sentir" le village et ses habitants, on reprend deja la route pour Creel...

A Creel, rencontre d une famille francaise avec qui on part en excursion a la cascade de Basascheachi... On ne peut qu admirer cette cascade de 247m de haut... pas si haute que la Salto Angel du Venezuela, que certains apprecient depuis leur parapente, mais impressionante quand meme...

Nous devenons les PROS des pics nics, avec ingredients locaux : Avocats a fond, bonnes tomates, fromage sans gout, thon en conserve (super pratique), tacos/burritos/enchiladas bien piquants et bieres locales (rien a envier a la Belgique de ce point de vue).

All right in Barrancas del Cobre, Chihuahua, Mexico

2009-08-14T01:54:00.004+02:00

(Waiting for a better connexion to be able to upload our own pictures)

We are now in the Copper Canyon in North Mexico.

We plan to take a 5 hour bus journey tomorrow for Batopilas. It s going to be a lot of fun... Just look at the road we are taking! It s bringing us from about 2300 m to something like 300 m of altitude.... A lot of fun as you can imagine!

This waterfall is what we saw yesterday... It s called Basaseachi and is about 250 m high... The views were definitely worth the trek...

Our week-end in ... crazy Vegas!

2009-08-10T03:01:00.000+02:00

From the pool of a crazy hotel where sharks bassins can be crossed in a waterslide ride to the playgrounds of worldly reknown casinos our trip has been an amazing opportunity to enjoy the human Zoo of Vegas Wonderconsumptionland...

Nowhere is a place in the heart of this city where you can t consume... Drink and eat as much as you can, burgers can be found everywhere even bellow the Eiffel Tower, bet on the last horses races or the skin color of the next pope, enjoy cheap booze or just beg in the streets cause you got bust!

Just check what you prefer: take the roller coaster around New York city, enter Monte Carlo and Venetia or just spend a night at one of the hundred slots you can find under the Eiffel Tower, take a space shuttle to the pyramid of Cheops or just a limousine to Rome...

All of this can be found in Vegas! As one told us, however, you better get it in its original version, these things don t translate very well.

Death Valley and Red Rock Canyon, US

2009-08-09T04:01:00.004+02:00

Guess what we met on our way to Death Valley...

Look at the white points in the back... Hundreds of MW of wind energy capacity! Guess who was the most excited of us?

55 º C in Death Valley...

Monterey and Highway One, CA

2009-08-09T03:35:00.006+02:00

Here are some souvenirs from a wonderfull weekend in Monterey and the time we spent on the Californian coast!

Thanks a lot guys for your hospitality, we had a really good time with you. We really liked the wine tasting, the hike in Point Lobos with the dive and the BBQ at Nick`s place (by the way happy birthday man and thanks as well for the CD of your band which has been rollin our road to Vegas!).

This is our dinner at Nick s Place...

Mount Diablo, CA

2009-07-29T04:17:00.005+02:00

Walls of Mission, San Fransisco

2009-07-29T04:12:00.007+02:00

A hitchhiking experience ...from Brussels to Beijing

2009-06-28T23:54:00.005+02:00

6 months to join Beijing from Brussels, without any money for transport and a budget of 20Eur/day. The rules are "clear"!

You can find out more about this wonderful hitchhiking experience led by my brother, Diego on http://www.worldhitchhiking.blogspot.com/.

Enjoy the visit!

World Hitchhiking: "The rules are clear: joining Beijing without any money for transport and a budget of 20Eur/day."

Previous discoveries I made in Worldistan...

2009-06-27T17:36:00.015+02:00

Worldistan is a vast country spreading accross 5 continents.
The Worldistanners are incredible beings, capable of wonderfull things!

I tried to discover small parts of Worldistan prior to setting up my plan to travel to Latin America...

Enjoy the views!

North India 2007

Sultanate of Oman 2009

Egypt 2008

China 2006

Iran 2005

Discovering Worldistan

2009-06-27T16:45:00.009+02:00

The suffix -stān (spelled ـستان in the Perso-Arabic script) is Persian for "place of", a cognate to Pashto -tun, and derived from the Indo-Aryan equivalent, -sthāna (pronounced [st̪ʰaːna] (स्थान in the Devanāgarī script), a cognate Sanskrit suffix with a similar meaning. In Indo-Aryan languages, sthāna means "place", and is cognate to the Latin terms, state and status (meaning "to stand").

Welcome on Worldistan... Our brand new Travel Blog
Enjoy the visit!