March 17th, 2011 
World Traveller Just sitting here working in Santigo Chile, and felt the building move. I have never been in an earthquake before, and although I only just noticed it, and looked up to see the cutlery shaking it is very unsettling.
Just checked quake-maps.com and found out it was actually a Magnitude 5.3 in VALPARAISO, CHILE.
After witnessing all the damage in Japan. I hope that is all the earthquakes we experience while here.
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January 17th, 2011 World Traveller I enjoyed the pampas days, I loved the selva (jungle) days. So varied, so few tourists and lots of walking. It sounds silly but it was more authentic wildlife viewing for me, less seemingly manufactured for the hoards.
We set off on the morning of the 9th up the Rio Beni that eventually split with the Rio Tuichi – this was the one we headed up for a couple of hours. A strong, powerful river with caiman, piranha, turtles and the like but very hard to see simply because of its size. The landscape either side of the river was super – very idyllic. All was going well until we got out at the Madidi National Park office to pay our entrance fees (there were 5 of us in the group but 4 of them left after one night so I had 24 hours to myself with the guide) and …
January 1st, 2011 World Traveller Everyone knows that five dollars in your pocket in New York has a vastly differing real value compared to if you were in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The value of a dollar varies impressively throughout world economies, and has a powerful effect on entire continents.
The value of a currency is a powerful representation of the inequality and disparities in purchasing power across the world. It not only highlights the abstract notion of money itself through its huge variability in value but also underlines the struggle for developing countries with weak currencies to receive imports essential for development and growth.
One of the most illuminating sectors to look at in terms of economic disparities, is technology. A mobile phone or laptop has the same essential utility, be it to a hot shot banker in the US or to a local business in Latin America in terms of how it can assist …
March 15th, 2010 World Traveller To many foreigners, Colombia (or Locombia, the ‘crazy land’) was – and still is – the land of drug cartels and armed insurgents. But to dwell on these fading memories is like giving up on love because you once got turned down at the school dance. Colombia is a stunning and safe destination, ripe for exploration.
This wild and sprawling nation has everything: jungles, heritage, cuisine and a long Caribbean coastline, much of which has remained caught in a magical timewarp.
The country’s principal novelist, Gabriel García Márquez, captures this magic perfectly in Love in the Time of Cholera when describing the city of Cartagena – “Cartagena stood unchanging at the edge of time… where flowers rusted and salt corroded, where nothing had happened for four centuries except a slow ageing among withered laurels”.
If I have a single defining memory of Colombia, it’s the intense warmth of its people, …
December 29th, 2009 World Traveller
The Carnival is Rio Janeiro Brazil’s chief event which happens at the height of the summer in Brazil. Each year, several thousands of tourists join the local citizens in festivities which spread over four days. The carnival starts on a Saturday and ends on Fat Tuesday, the day prior to Ash Wednesday which marks the start of the period of Lent for Christians. Some tourists make sure that their Rio de Janeiro Brazil travel is planned is such a way that it coincides with the Carnival.
The samba Parade or the Sambodromo is considered the highlight of the carnival in Rio Janeiro Brazil. It is aired in all the Brazilian states as well as in many other countries. It is also considered to be the best show in the whole world. The Sambodromo a strip about 700 meters long which has luxury boxes and spectator stands on either side. The …
December 24th, 2009 World Traveller
Iguassu falls hold one of most beautiful picture of Brazil and also nature. The Frontier of Brazil , Argentina and Paraguay brings to you a spectacular view of waterfalls. The diversity of flora and fauna, the giant Itaipu Hydroelectric, O parque das aves (The park of birds), the Eco museum and the Zoo Bosque Guarani. Iguassu falls receive people from all over the world and it has esculent hotels for your comfort.
As well as the grandiose cataracts, one of the natural wonders of the world, with their 275 waterfalls, the visitor will also get to know the Iguaçu National Park, one of the most beautiful Ecological Reserves in the world with an area of 185 thousand hectares (over 460 thousand acres) and now registered by UNESCO as a world Natural Heritage site. The Iguassu National Park is between the border of Brazil and Argentina and is the second biggest …
December 17th, 2009 World Traveller
Places to stay in Rio de Janeiro:
1. Caesar Park Hotel – One of Rio de Janeiro’s most luxurious and expensive hotels, the Caesar Park boasts a fabulous location on the famous stretch of the Ipanema beach. All the hotel’s rooms are spacious and look great after a very recent renovation. They are equipped with bathtubs, a suit rack, and a well-lit workspace. The standard rooms are those from the 5th to 10th floor, looking out over the side street. The superior rooms also face the side but are located from the 11th floor up. The exquisite deluxe rooms provide a full ocean view which is breathtaking.
2. Excelsior Copacabana Hotel – A member of the famous Windsor Hotels chain, the very pleasant Excelsior is situated on a wide corner which offers excellent and unique ocean views. Rooms either have a side view superior) or a full ocean view. All …
December 8th, 2009 World Traveller …
A nation that is rich in sights and attractions, Brazil is one of the best destination choices when you fly south of America. Brazil is the 5th largest and 5th most populous country in the world. Its territory spans from the Atlantic Ocean to the central and east of South America, dwarfing the neighboring countries of Argentina, Uraguay, and Paraguay in the south, Bolivia and Peru in the east, and Columbia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana in the north.10 Most Popular Brazil destinations:Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro,Corcovado, Rio de Janeiro,Museu de Arte de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo,Ipanema Beach, Rio de Janeiro,Tijuca National Park, Rio de Janeiro,Iguacu Falls, Foz de Iguacu, ParanaPantanal Wetlands, Pantanal, Mato GrossoTeatro Municipal, Rio de Janeiro,Sugar Loaf Mountain (Pao de Acucar), Rio de JaneiroPelourinho, Salvador, BahiaIf you plan to travel to any of these places or plan take Brazil experience elsewhere, here are some of the
November 29th, 2009 World Traveller …
Don’t judge a book by its cover, as the saying goes, and if Brazil were a book its cover would surely feature the city of Rio de Janeiro and girls dressed in feathered carnival costumes. However Brazil is far more diverse than just the beautiful city of Rio on which its reputation is built. There is, literally, something for everyone here and often on a mighty scale. The colossal Amazon rainforest is a nature-lovers paradise and the largest tropical forest in the world, the central western savannah area is home to the Pantanal, the largest wetland area in the world and the best area for wildlife viewing while Brazil also boasts 4,300 miles of white sandy beaches fringed with palm trees. As you can gather, it excels at more than just football.My recent trip was to take me to historical Salvador, a vibrant city, alive and kicking with the strong
November 22nd, 2009 World Traveller …
The most important point of entry, Rio de Janeiro brims over with charm and beauty. Few cities in the world have such beautiful scenery. Situated between the mountains and the sea , the “Wonderful City” welcomes visitors with open arms. Copacabana, one of Brazil’s most famous beaches, is the scene of the greats New Year celebration in the world. Ipanema and Leblon are permanent attraction during the day and also receive many habitués at night. Barra da Tijuca, Prainha and Grumari are all excellent for surfing, windsurfing and body boarding.Rio de Janeiro is without a doubt one of the most popularly visited spots worldwide. If you think about it, it really has it all—the mountains, beaches, Arts, museums, sophisticated and bargain shopping facilities of all kinds, historical sites, red hot night life, and the list goes on forever. And all this you´ll just discover being in Rio de Janeiro, so,
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