Why you should never go paragliding when there isn't wind, despite what the guides may tell you (crafty bastardos). Our group, and especially my friend, learned a valuable lesson that day. This is a few hours from Bariloche in Argentina.

Note: Nobody was harmed by this crash. Perhaps a few egos, some hopes and ambitions, and a parachute.

I've taken a temporary hiaetus from Lima and have embarked on a familiar journey around the southern cities of Peru for a couple weeks.

It's the exact same loop I did 4 months ago (a bit eerie to be back to all the same spots), except with a non-touristy twist this time. It's all "work" related (I use " since it's really a volunteering gig, ie: no pay) so I'm going around visiting various projects by Ashoka fellows in Peru in remote villages and "pueblos." It's an incredible experience learning and experiencing these projects up close that I normally would never even hear about. And don't worry, I'll highlight all the good stuff here along the way. All you need to know now is that I could use a cup of real coffee soon...NON instant please.

If you have a Peru map handy...here's my current route:
Lima - Ica - Arequipa (currently here now) - Ayaviri - Cusco - Lima.

Future trips of this similar nature:
Huancayo (highlands)
Tambopato (jungle)
Puerto Maldonado (also jungle)

There's no beaten path where this vagabond is heading...at least I haven't seen one yet.

I wish monkeys were involved, they make every experience exponentially greater. This is a video of a zipline in Ecuador at an ecological reserve project called Tucanopy in the Cloud Forest (they're always accepting volunteers...just saying...)

These kids are freaking adorable. This is in Ecuador from the school, El Mundo Feliz, where the group volunteered.

This is quite possibly the coolest concert I've ever been to. It's called "La Bomba del Tiempo" and goes on every Monday night in Buenos Aires, Argentina. If you're ever there, I HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommend making it there - it's quite the experience.
Here's a taste of it...



Here's a clip of the finale rock out session. It was intense and the crowd was going nuts!

Comments are back online for those interested in sharing their thoughts...

This video is taken while on a bus trip from the northern beaches down to Lima, Peru.  The trip should take 18 hours however about 11 hours into it I drowsily woke up to this scene.  We were eventually stuck in this 'middle of nowhere' spot for 9 hours (!!). This is just a few of the ridiculousness that went on. Eventually a road was built in the sand made of rocks and trash (from a trash truck that happened to be stuck).

Note: How close our bus is to the crash site. Scary...