welcoming a new year in Bonito

30 to 31 December 2004

After Pantanal, we ventured to Bonito. And just in time for the welcoming
of 2005. There was a huge street party. Large speakers with loud music.
Crowds of dancing, drinking, sweating people. Madness. Countdown. Fireworks.
And then 2005.

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Plants and feather from Pantanal.

Our legs were filled with mosquito bites from the few days in Pantanal.

It’s 2005! Happy new year!

getting to Pantanal was half the fun

25 to 29 December 2004

First, it was a long queue for the bus tickets. Then it was an awfully uncomfortable 21-hour bus ride to Campo Grande. Then a three hours plus minibus and changed to a jeep for another four more hours of bumpy and
dusty road. And we were in mosquito infested Pantanal.

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The most exciting thing that we did on Christmas was going to Pao de Acucar. And I saw people climbing a multipitch.

Our first long distance bus journey in South America. It was 21 hours of stomach churning.

It was hammock sleeping in our Pantanal ‘home’. Hot, sweaty, stuffy and swarmed with mosquitoes.

Went piranha fishing in piranha infested waters. I even caught one.
Just one.

unforgettable flying objects

20 to 24 December 2004

We went hang gliding. Took us three days to wait for the perfect wind conditions. But it was all worth it. It was 20 minutes of adrenaline pumping over Rio.

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The per kilo buffet restaurants are some of my favourite meal options in this trip.

After such a fun day, I had to make a 3D entry in my journal.

We mailed a bunch of winter wear home, not knowing that it’s going to get cold again as we travel lower into Argentina and Chile.

sweaty time in Rio de Janeiro

15 to 19 December 2004

I thought after such a long time of cold cold fingers, toes and nose, I’ll be glad to enter into warm Brazil. But Rio de Janeiro was way too humid. I always woke up in Rio on a damp pillow. And showering away the stickiness three times a day was almost an everyday occurance. I love the warmth though.

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116 days, and my first haircut. I guess that because the prices here is more reasonable than Europe.

Went on an eye-opening favela tour.

good bye Europe, ola y hola Sud America

14 December 2004

The flight to Sao Paulo on KLM was the best I’ve ever taken. There were
endless servings of food, drinks and movies. The service was extraordinary too.
Twelve hours of first class luxury in our economy seats.

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The wonderful flight recharged us for the harder leg of our trip,
South America.