OS_Gecko

Gwangjin Gu

evan_pritchard — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 18:48:00 GMT

14 hours after leaving Brisbane and I am at the subway, no Mike. All good though, after 1/2 hr wait I get a phone card, call and we missed each other by 20 mtrs. Meet up, drop gear and out for a beer with Ray. Really cool guy. Almost no-one here speaks english, is great. Friday walked suburb I am in. High density population but nice area. Night subway to out area, cab at 6am home. Baseball game Sunday afternoon, great fun except the abnoxious drinking american tough guy!! Back home then out for dinner and beers. Lost Mike but found my way home, all good. Now rainy day so just learning the language at unit! That is all so far.

On the go again!

evan_pritchard — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Well, 4.5 weeks back in AUSTRALIA was tough after South America. Is definately time to leave again. Down to 60 litres and about 15 kgs of travel gear and I am ready to head to Seoul to start a new leg.

Will be great to catch up with my good mate Mike and get to see another culture. Country 12 I think. Still getting the nerves. Do they ever stop before a trip? Is good anyway. Hopefully there I may find out where/what I am supposed to be doing? Wish me luck.

Fancy a wine while you bike ride?

evan_pritchard — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 17:30:00 GMT

Mendoza. The Barossa valley of Argentina. After a great 14 hour semicama bus ride (seasoned with good food, beers and a couple of glasses of bubbly from our fit hostess Giselle) we got out at the metropolis of Mendoza at 8am. Quick taxi to the Hostel, checkin/s/s/s, we walked town to the bus stop - tripped to wine country and got out at Mr Hugo's bike rental. 5 mins later and we (Mike and I) were pedalling the 9 kms of (Autumn?) tree lined streets to the farther most vineyard. Spectacular backdrop of the Andes, yellowing vines and glorious sunshine. A fine sample of local reds/whites and then time to ride. Another 2 of these before we got to Familia De Tomassen winery. A marvellous lunch served with the most exceptional Sydrah (cider) I have ever tasted was the prelude to the tasting. I was sold - ordered 2 boxes of Sydrah delivered to our hostel and we were off again.

2 more wineries took us to Tempus Alba, a very tidy, well designed establishment. We headed straight to the deck in the afternoon sun, ordered the 3 wine sample and sat back for the afternoon. Plento was the wine of the day, being enjoyed another 4 times. Chatted with 3 groups of travellers, got decidedly pickled and finally got back on the bikes. Half hour late to Hugo's we resigned our licences and walked to the bus. 40 mins later and back to the Hostel for another s/s/s and off to dinner. Quiet pizza early, sound checked for 3 young lads playing later that night then out to find a bar.

Of course when in Argentina, the Irish bar! Ordered 2 beers and spotted 2 lasses we saw on the ride. Alberde and Mette engaged us for about 4 hours, all of us adding to our days tally of drinks. By 1am Mike was hammered and asked to leave. On the walk back the Police had a chat to us - I allayed their concerns and charged Mike back to the hostel. A hasty return to the Irish bar and chatted to 3 locals outtside, ending up drinking with 1 till 8am at a little hole in the wall. Trundled back in for 3 hours sleep, woken up by....Alberde/Mette/Mike, hard time! Quick pack, taxi to the bus station and 14 hours return trip. All not lost, met up with an American lass who just finished WOOF'ing AND 2 cases of SYDRAH!!!!

All in all a great 2 day trip! Crazy.

BA to Uruguay

evan_pritchard — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 21:30:00 GMT

16th my fellow companions and I took the 50 min ferry to Colonia. Hard trip on 2 hrs sleep after a normal night out in BA. Colonia was ok. Small, 10 mins of investigating and then a few ales in the nearest establishment. Next day travelled to Montevideo. Fortunately we mostly celebrated Harry's b'day as the highlight was an Irish bar and cocktails. Bit of history but seen so much architecture so did not enjoy MV.

5.5 hrs on the bus took us north east to Punta del Diablo. Dropped off on roadside, quick chat to a local, $150 pesos and we were in the back of his ute on the way to the coast. Amazing fishing coastal town that goes off in Summer, we had the place almost to ourselves and the locals.

Great beach line, a promontery with lighthouse and a beachside bar/resto. 2 Nights spent there then back to the cabin/townhouse then to the beach for a bonfire. The sporadic nude swim in 5 degree surf cut through the Ron Denavagante in that was in ample supply. Amazing starscape and good friends. Great time - must do (I will do again sometime).

Alas, 7.5 hours connecting buses, then 50 min ferry back to homebase, the best shower and toilet in the last 6 days and a well deserved sleep brought this chapter to a close. Well, maybe just a deferment for now. See you soon PdDiablo.

Mar Del Plata

evan_pritchard — Mon, 4 May 2009 17:00:00 GMT

Not a long trip this one. 5 - 6 hour semi-cama bus ride to Mar Del Plata - the beach holiday destination for Portenos. Stepped of the coach at 11.15 approx into cool wind and quiet city streets. No idea where we were going. A quick consult with the lonely planet and we found our destination. A decent hostel - more like a very low budget hotel actually. Mike, Nikki and I settled in, then embarked on a food run. So glad Argentina run 3-4 hours later than Australia. Found a good little restaurant - had a hamburgesa and 1L beer, walked back and crashed.

Following morning we explored MDP heading to the centre/square/church/beachside. We followed the coastline for 7 kms to the Marina. Fortunately we had a tour guide - a stray dog leading/following/diverting to meet other local guides. Nice walk. Heavy seas. Way back we cross-citied and had a bit of a pub crawl. Back to the hostel, S/S/S then off to the BrewHouse. A great pub/restaurant where we tried a 8 beer taster. Came in little schooners approx 50 mls each. Tried all their tap beers!!! Then walked around looking for entertainment. Ended up in a local club in the Burbs watching a band in a really dodgey place with pretty much just local supporters of the band. Stayed there for about 3 hours enjoying the beers and listening to the band - pretty ok actually. The best fun was watching the locals jumping around singing the obviously well known songs played. Next day quiet, then out to the Marina for a fish dinner - excellent meal - had wreck fish!?? Got there at 9.30pm - first to arrive. Argentina. Next day semi-cama back and into porteno style again.

Goooaallll !!!!!

evan_pritchard — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 06:08:00 GMT

Don't let the spit shower and the infrequent urine bomb put you off the game. La Boca V River Plate at La Boca Stadium is a MUST SEE!!!!!! If you are lucky like we were (or unlucky depending on your threshold) you will be in the local la boca fan stand level 2 below the river plate fans on level 3, shirt off and on head (spit shower protection) and chanting along with. Yes!!!!

The 20 min bus trip in was amazing. Standing room only, La Boca fans breaking into song, chanting, bouncing like an african tribe, outsinging neighbouring buses. Just crazy.

Then the crowded line up, riot police, pat downs, security checks. Near stampede when the riot police shot in the air and pushed the mob back. Was starting to reconsider. Finally in and then the concrete tunnel and stairs covered in urine emptying out into sunshine over a green filed and 65,000 crazed fans partying.

Players come out and the place goes off. Paper rolls, ripped up paper, smoke canisters belching out tons of yellow smoke 4 mtrs from us. When it finally cleared the pitch was awash, obviously common and a team of workers cleared most of it.

Kick off and the chants began. By half time (0-0) we were hooked. Everyone just sat down, no room but it worked. Then the rivally started. Amidst the rain of paper rolls (500 grms!) from 15 mtrs a guy about 6 people back and to our left got hit with a coke cup full of urine. Covered - unbelievable. We decided to move the 4 mtrs to the fence and just in time. A delightful River fans pissed through their fence down on the crowd missing us by a foot. After a while of dodging bombs the players came out.

The place erupted and a cascade of unravelling paper rolls poured overhead. The clearing and game on. La Boca 15 mins in scored a scoring goal right in front of us and the crowd went beyond anything I have ever seen. We (Jazzman (Mike) Young Harry and I) were swept up and we found ourselves cheering and bouncing. The stands were literally swaying heavily and my fear factor went up threefold but incomparable to the excitement level.

10 mins later and River scored, the crowd dulled heavily bar the stand above us. 10 mins later and it was done. Unfortunately for us being amongst the local folk waited 35 mins before being let out. Top stand and then bottom stand poured out first, strategically to get the bombers out dropping the violence probability.

A Ar$30 peso rip off taxi ride back completed this once in a lifetime experience (if I can help it). Loved it but once is enough but once is a must.

Get over here and do it! Words cannot explain but I tried.

Palermo-ite

evan_pritchard — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 09:46:00 GMT

Buenos Aires is definately on my recommend you go list. Moved from Recoleta (nice place) to Palermo (go-outy area) yesterday. On top floor - got a great deck and an asado (bbq) and look out over the tops of the city area. Had a huge departmento-warming party yesterday night. Beers (1 litre bottles - yes)and caprioscas. 5am finish. Got up at 5.30pm today. Ha. Already checked out touristy spots before, zoo, gardens, etc. Qualified TEFL teacher now and got a few leads for work so prob start in a week. So easy here but so different. Got to learn spanish this week. Well maybe just most of it. Learn the rest next week. Have renamed all my mates here, Trip, Jazz, Young Harry and Blue. Good group - average 14 yrs younger than me but we all get on well. Love the way people interact here. Love the travelling around. Just had ribs off the bbq and enjoying the first beer of the evening. Yarn soon.

Change of Direction

evan_pritchard — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 14:41:00 GMT

Well,sice arriving a lot has changed. Have commenced a TEFL course and hopefully start working in about 4 weeks. Was living a 40 min train ride and 2 subway rides to get to course (1.5 hr trip) but now with course mates and looking for own place. Spanish still bad but other focus right now. Big cities the same. Empanadas and the beers are nice though. Hope to have more to say on the next visit. E. Beso.

First week

evan_pritchard — Tue, 3 Mar 2009 00:26:00 GMT

All of the spanish practice has counted for little. I have learnt more in 2 days staying with someone with v limited english than 2 months of books. Love it here. The sounds, the people, walking, subways, buses, mini buses, train-ing it, ordering food - the lot. Is great. Not intimidated by it at all. My hosts are too kind and the way people greet one another is touching to see and be a part of. Must be difficult when they come to Australia with the personal space restrictions and attitudes. Off to explore some more and see what happens next. Luego.

Delivery

evan_pritchard — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 23:24:00 GMT

Finally arrived. Dream run out bed Sydney to friend of my friend´s place near the heart of Buenos Aires. I have just rediscovered that knowing phrases and being able to hear them are totally unrelated. Time to adventure out into the city. I love this feeling. Lluego, later.

Pre delivery

evan_pritchard — Fri, 6 Feb 2009 16:59:00 GMT

Well, I think I am almost ready. I have my pack cut down to 30 ltrs, got almost all my shots/medicines and paid all my pre departure costs. Good news is I now have a pick up in Buenos Airies when I fly in and a place to stay for a couple of nights! What a bonus - gracias a Gaby y ella amigas!!! 2 weeks with my dog and family - 1 week in Sydney with more family and friends - then off I go. Look out!