July Favourites

Another month gone! We’re now well into the second half of the year. Let’s talk about some favourites I’ve had over the past month.

Movies

 

Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back

This month, I finally watched the original trilogy of Star Wars. I kept saying I would get around to it for ages, and this month, we sat down and watched each one. I liked A New Hope, but Empire Strikes Back was insanely good! All the iconic moments and lines are in this one, which confused me, as I was left wondering what was in the third movie (which isn’t that good compared to the first two in my opinion). I got really pulled into the story, and I was worried what would happen to the characters. Always a good sign when a movie can pull you in like that. If you haven’t seen the original Star Wars, make sure you watch this one at least!

Kingsman: The Secret Service

I kept meaning to watch this movie forever! But I kept forgetting, and then eventually we finally remembered and watched it last week. I had no expectations going into it, but it was so much fun! I can’t remember enjoying an action movie this much. This is based off a Mark Millar comic, which is in the same genre as Kick Ass and Sin City, so it’s graphic and violent at times. But in like a comic book way. Also watching Colin Firth fight and kill people (well) was just a good time. If you’ve seen this movie, then you guys will know what I mean. The church scene anyone? (If you’re not into violence, maybe don’t watch).

I’m pretty excited that a sequel is coming out soon.

Music

Bad Liar – Selena Gomez

Damn it Selena, you and your catchy songs. From the first time I heard this, I could not get it out of my head. I still can’t. It’s definitely an ear worm, I blame that bass line. I can’t help but to sing (and dance) along with it every time it comes on.

Sweatpants – Childish Gambino

I recently got into Childish Gambino again. By that I mean, I wound up on Community clipson Youtube, and through related videos, I fell down a hole of Childish Gambino songs. I listened to 3005, Sober, Redbone and Sweatpants on repeat. I find myself listening to this one in particular over and over though, and I can’t pinpoint why. I just can’t skip it when it comes on. Also, this video is trippy.

Books

I only read one book this month. After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid.

After reading a lot of non-fiction books lately, I just wanted some light reading. I found this through my Goodreads recommendation and thought it sounded interesting. Basically, it starts after the happy every after part. Which sounded different to the normal meet-cute books I like to read.

When Lauren and Ryan’s marriage reaches the breaking point, they come up with an unconventional plan. They decide to take a year off in the hopes of finding a way to fall in love again. One year apart, and only one rule: they cannot contact each other. Aside from that, anything goes.

I liked it more than I thought I would. It was easy to read on and off for the past month. I hope to read at least two books next month though.

Games

Kindergarten

I watched a few Let’s Players on YouTube play some of this. The art style was cute, so I looked into getting it myself. The fun thing about this game, is that while it looks cute and friendly, you die in pretty vicious ways, and the storyline has a dark sense of humour. I got stabbed in the head by the cute little blonde with pigtails at the bottom cause I couldn’t give her a dollar. I’m still making my way through this game, it’s pretty fun!

Something New

I couldn’t decided between the two biggest things that happened this month. Both ended up happening last weekend. I officially went self-hosted, and Rory and I are officially homeowners!

That’s it for this month! What’s some of your favourites from this month?

Past Favourites

• June Favourites
• May Favourites
• April Favourites
• March Favourites

Angela.

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Weekend Review #12

3 months of weekend sharing! Woohoo! Here comes another one.

Saturday

I had a really good sleep! 9 hours! Which is rare, as normally my brain wakes me up after 7 or 8 telling me to get ready for work. But not today, I woke up at 8.30. Eventually got out of bed and had a super long hot shower cause it’s freezing. Then came out to a living area that was warmed thanks to our  trusty heater. To keep the good times rolling, we decided on waffles for breakfast. I also made us some hot drinks.

Waffles for him

Waffles for her

Drinks for all

We set off laundry, and it was actually not raining for a change so we could put laundry outside. There is however an Antarctic wind blowing around. Chills you to the bone kind of breeze. We call it Southerlies. And what’s south of New Zealand? That’s right, Antarctica. Southerlies are always freezing and make you want to curl up in bed again. But we persevered.

Don’t let the sun fool you. It’s freezing.

Eventually it was 11.30. I really wanted to checkout the thrift stores in town one more time to get the last two items on the Thrift List. Namely overalls and a lace up top. We also had to get groceries done. We decided to tackle both at once. Rory did the groceries (and took a photo at my request!), and I thrift shopped.

Blurry Car Selfie

I did manage to find some overalls! Recycled Boutique came through once again with one pair of overalls. This time in size 8. The denim was stretchy and it fit me really well! So now I have overalls ticked off! But try as I might, I could not find a lace up top. I found lots of button up tops, and tops made out of lace, but no lace up top could be seen. I checked a few stores, but after an hour, I called defeat. I still did way better on the list than I thought possible though! I’m planning a full post about all my finds in a few days! I’m excited to see how Kali has done too!

Rory and I met up and were surprised to realise that it was now 1.30. We headed home and Rory made pumpkin soup for lunch. He surprised me by saying that he had been taking photos of the process. Guess me and my blogging/photo habits are starting to rub off on him 😀 So, look out for that post in the future!

Then I started taking photos for future blog posts, including the Thrift List. I still find outfit photos a bit more unusual than other photos (like travel or food), it’s just a lot harder to co-ordinate. I know some of you guys would ask someone to take the photos, but I like trying to do it myself (control freak possibly?), and also, last time when I asked dear Rory, the photos come out blurry (I told him this and he just laughed). He takes amazing candid shots of me, but we just always dissolve into giggles when I ask him to take outfit photos.

Sneaky Peek

Anyway, this carried on till 7, when we finally realized that maybe we should organise dinner. We had Pork Curry with veges, then we both went back to blogging or playing games. At around 10 we went to bed where we both read for a bit before calling it a day.

Sunday

Woke up at 8am. For breakfast we had scrambled eggs on toast. We both hung around as usual in the morning. I took more photos for future posts, wrote a little, then I tracked down my kindle to find my latest book to read. I’ve agreed to read The Handmaid’s Tale alongside a few blogging friends! I dressed in heaps of layers today, cause again, it’s freezing.

By 11.30 I was ready to head out. I was meeting my friend Sarah for lunch at Sweet Mother’s Kitchen. She’s been in China the past four months so we haven’t actually seen each other since early this year.

Sweet Mother’s Eclectic Style

The food there was yummy as always. I like to go for the sweets, so I grabbed a key lime pie, and we also had curly fries to share. To drink, I grabbed a ‘Salty Dawg’, which is a salted caramel shake. On a random note, I seriously love their key lime pie.

Fun note, when you’ve finished your food, they bring you your check on a little tea plate with a bonus friend.

Afterwards, we walked back to my place where we proceeded to talk, hang out, show pictures of past adventures and just catch up for the next few hours. It was really good to catch up with her again! We had so much to talk about and it was nice to see her in person instead of on the computer through Skype! Rory eventually headed off to catch up with friends too.

By now it was 4pm and I felt like a nap. But then I started writing more blog posts, and you know how I end up going for hours on those. At around 6.30 I had leftover pumpkin soup for dinner. Then I blogged a little, read a little, sang and danced a bit, messaged some people..then from Facebook Messenger, I got a notice saying I had a video call from Mum. I thought it might be a misdial, but I hit answer anyway. I said hi a lot of times while Mum looked confused, then pulled her tablet to her ear and sounded surprised to hear me. We talked for a bit in this fashion which was both strange and nice 😀

I blogged some more, wrote in my five-year journal, did the dishes, and went to bed at 10.

To-Do List

• Groceries – yes, and you can thank Rory for the photo of the weekly shop, as I was at thrift stores!
• Laundry
• Driver’s License Name Change Application – haha, nope
• Complete Passport Application – just gotta send it now
• Finish Thrift List – as much as I could
• Write and schedule posts for following week
• Take photos for future posts
• Finish current book, and start on The Handmaid’s tale
• Catch up with Sarah on Sunday
• Baking – nope
• A little cleaning – nope again, although we did wash bedsheets so that’s something.

That’s all for my weekend!

Angela.

Have You Met Natalie Vinh?

Let’s get into another introduction!

Haaaaaaaaave you met Natalie?

Natalie blogs over at Natalie Vinh (her full name). She is based in Northern California over in the US, is 16 years old and is studying independently. She blogs about beauty, food, travel, food, fashion, and life in general.

Here’s her words (from her About page) about her blog:

I started this blog in February of 2017 after I started studying independently and wanted something to fill my extra time. I’ve been writing posts on fashion, food, beauty and travel ever since, all of which have been met with the utmost kindness and unbelievable support of my readers. I’ve poured my heart and soul into this little website, and I am thankful for those who give me the encouragement and support to do so.

I love that last statement she makes. We do put a lot of ourselves into our blog, and it’s really amazing how encouraging and supportive this community is!

Natalie is another blogger who I’ve known for a while (back since March!!). I didn’t actually know her age for a few months (a personal choice of hers, she didn’t share it till she went self hosted 🙂 ), and thought she was around my age! I always enjoyed talking to her, and seeing what blogs she posted!

Speaking of, here are a few of my favourite posts of hers:

• Comparison Kills

An oldie, but a goodie. Natalie talks of how she compares herself to others and how difficult it can be. We all do it, and we all try to be better. It’s a trap that we fall in, but every now and then it’s good to remind ourselves to be proud of what we’ve accomplished. Be confident in yourself, practice self love and appreciation. It’s hard, and it’s trying, but it’s worth it!

• Killer Chocolate Chip Cookies

Another classic! This was one of the first baking posts I came across in my early blogging days, and made me think, I could do this too! I have since done many more baking posts and found many more blogs that are inspiring in this domain! But I hold a special place in my heart for Natalie’s post about this classic cookie 😀

• If We Were Having Coffee

This post has been around a few times, but I love the set up of it. It’s a great way to see what is on someone’s mind. I look forward to reading these kinds of posts from Natalie, as it’s like having a conversation, or a coffee catch up! Plus Natalie normally always grabs an iced coffee, which is also my go-to choice.

• San Francisco Travel Diary

I absolutely love travel posts of any kind! It gives me a chance to see another part of the world through another pair of eyes which is always so much fun! Natalie recently visited San Francisco, she originally wasn’t going to do a post about it, but decided in the end she wanted to share her trip with us! She was also lucky enough to see Hamilton (which I will forever be jealous of!), as well as walking around town, and seeing Pier 39!

• Fun in the Sun(dress)

First of all, isn’t that the best title?? Natalie shares in this post, her go-to summer dress, alongside gorgeous photos of the best wall ever.

• Sunsets

Natalie recently went on a trip to Dillon Beach with some family and friends and daily posted while she was there! I’m super proud of Natalie for daily blogging while on holiday, cause us those of us who daily blog know, it ain’t easy! My favourites of these were Day 3, where she and Bryan got some amazing shots of the sunset! Her little cousin has a gift with photography!

Before we wrap up, be sure to say hi to Natalie on Instagram as well!

So, Natalie, first off, thanks for being such an amazing blogging friend! You’re always so friendly and sweet, I’m always curious to see what you’ll share with us next! You write really well, and you have a knack for coming up with some awesome titles 😀

So, have you guys checked out Natalie yet??

Angela.

If We Were Having Coffee #3

Welcome to another round of monthly coffee catch ups. Its still cold here, but I am loving this Jelly Tip frappucino, so I will get this again.

Here we go.

If we were having coffee, I would tell you guys how excited I am once again that we have a house! It still doesn’t feel real yet, so we constantly remind ourselves about it. We have bought a house (nearly, we’re still sorting out the rest of the finance things)! We can do whatever we want with it, decorating wise. We can paint things, buy furniture, get a washer and dryer. So many things that are equal parts boring and exciting!!

If we were having coffee, I would say that I’m getting a travel itch. I want to go somewhere that’s not home. We’ve fully settled back into regular life since returning to Fiji back in April, and part of me is already wanting another adventure. At the same time, I’m aware of our financial situation (see the previous point), so I have to rein in that feeling. But! We are heading up to Auckland and Waiheke island for a week in October for my sister’s wedding. So that should help the itch for a bit.

If we were having coffee, I would tell you that I’m so happy to have gone self-hosted! I would also say that a small voice in my head likes to tell me that my stats aren’t as high as they previously were, and that my follower rate has slowed down significantly since moving over. I have to keep telling that voice to hush. Technically my site is new, it’s still working out hiccups and finding it’s feet, but I still have my previous followers and community, so it’s not like I’m starting from scratch. I am planning on reposting some more of my older favourite posts over  the next few weeks though. I’m so proud of them, and I’d like to give  them a second chance to shine.

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that I went for a proper run for 20 minutes the other day. That may not sound long to some of you, but it was more than enough for me. I live in a hilly place, and my run consisted of one big up hill to run. I ran it the first lap, jogged slowly up it the first time, then walked it the last time. I feel like I did decently. I got a stitch, so I slowed to a jog and eventually it passed which was nice. However, the next few days it’s been pouring with rain so I haven’t wanted to go for another run.

If we were having coffee, I would tell you that I am over winter. A few weeks ago I wrote a post about What I Like About Winter, but I take that all back. Right now, I’m so sick of the cold. I wake up and it’s cold. I come home, it’s cold. I walk to work in the cold. I look outside and it looks cold. The wind is always cold and galey and icy. The rain is tiny drops from the frozen depths of hell. Please leave me alone. Thanks.

If we were having coffee, I would try stop glaring at the cold for a second to ask you how your month has been.

Angela.

Have You Met Azra?

Welcome back to another weekend of Have You Met goodness! I originally wanted to do them last week, but what with self hosting and all, I couldn’t do them in time. So, let’s get back into these. Would you believe I still have bloggers I want to talk about till October at this point? 😀

Anyway.

Haaaaaaaaave you met Azra?

Azra blogs over at Simple Serenity. She is based in Bosnia and Herzegovina, is 23 years old and is currently at university, studying chemical engineering, as well as working. She blogs about primarily beauty, but also fashion and lifestyle.

Azra started her blog last year in 2016, but started posting more frequently this year. She often does reviews and impressions on makeup and beauty products. She also shares tips and tricks on beauty and makeup, as well as on blogging itself. Her tagline on her blog is “There’s beauty in simplicity”.

She explains why she started her blog in a Q’n’A post back in April.

This is going to be super long answer. I always wanted to have my own blog, I though that’s really cool. But to be honest I was scared to start it, because people can be really judgy. Thankfully I started this blog last year and I’m loving it so much. I wasn’t really posting a lot last year, which is such a shame. I don’t know why but I just wasn’t that much into it. But now I’m on track with keeping enough of new content, hopefully it’s interesting and helpful. Why I started blogging? Usually girls would ask me which products I use and which products I recommend so that’s how it started. Also I started to be really good at makeup, so I would usually do makeup on my friends, it was something I really enjoyed so I started blog so I can share my passion with people who feel the same way.

Isn’t that wonderful? 🙂

Azra is another of the bloggers who I found very early on. I found her through another blog, and even though I wasn’t very interested (at the time) in beauty bloggers or makeup posts, I was taken in by hers. Her photos are stunning, and the way she talks about the products and routines grabbed me. Now, I follow a whole bunch of beauty bloggers, I love them all to bits and will sometimes try out the tips you all share. So I have a soft spot for Azra, who opened up the floodgate of beauty blogging for me 😀

Also, she’s just the sweetest!

Here are a few of my favourite posts of hers:

• Day in My Life

I think I’ve said this a lot, but I love Day in the Life posts! It fascinates me to see what people get up to on a regular day. Azra shares with us a typical Saturday, which consists of spending time with friends and family, doing some work for her blog/uni/job, and on occasion, ending the day with going out or clubbing. It was really cool to get a glimpse into Azra’s daily life 😀

• How I Take My Blogging Photos

Azra currently has a series about blogging tips and tricks. She’s an amazing beauty blogger (one of the best!), and has over 1000 followers, so it’s great that she shares tips and tricks with us all! One of the highlights of Azra’s blog are her photos. They are always professional and stunning, and also take a lot of work. I think we can all agree that the end result is nothing less than perfect! ❤ Definitely check out this post!

• 15 Beauty Hacks I Swear By

The title explains it all really. Azra shares tried and tested beauty hacks with us all. As someone who still has no clue about most beauty things (and is too lazy to find out more on her own), these kinds of posts are fascinating and so very helpful.

• Simple Night Time Smoky Eye Makeup Look

As well as reviews of beauty products, tips and tricks, Azra frequently shows make up looks. She has done quite a few, but as a fan of more neutral colours and lots of eye detail, this one is one of my top favourites! She looks super dramatic, and the kind of girl that I would try to subtly stare at (in awe) if I saw her around.

• What’s In My Everyday Makeup Bag

Azra shares with us what’s in her makeup bag currently. She’s done a review on a fair few of them. I love seeing what products she uses, as I trust her judgement that these would be good products. Also, we both use Garnier BB cream foundation which cheers me up, as I feel like it’s validation that I’m using a good BB cream ?

• Make Up Basics – Make Up Starter Kit

In this post, Azra shares her picks on what everyone should have in their makeup collection. For each item, she mentions whether it’s just personal preference, something that is important and a must, or would just be fun to have.

Make sure to check out Azra on Instagram as well!

Azra, you are amazing at what you do! Your posts are always so well written and presented, and I love seeing what you’ll write about next. You’re such a supportive and lovely person, and I’m so happy to have met you online!

So, have you guys checked out Azra yet??

Angela.

Angela’s Bucket List

So, I first published this on May 17.  2 months later, I wanted to repost this as I can cross two things off! Numbers 19(!) and 73 😀

Hello all!

So I’ve been wanting to make a bucket list for aaages. I liked the idea of coming up with 100 things, but that turned out to be a lot harder than I thought XD

I’ve been writing this since I started blogging, and I’ve only just finished it! I’ve included things I’ve wanted to do since I was younger, so I’m already able to start crossing things off. I’ll try to come back to this every now and then and see if I can cross more things off!

These are in no particular order, but go ahead and have a read!

1. Go overseas
2. Fly in a plane
3. Fly first class in a plane
4. Graduate university
5. Move out of home
6. Fall in love
7. Get married
8. Celebrate 25th wedding anniversary
9. Celebrate 50th wedding anniversary
10. Do a flip on a trampoline
11. Sing karaoke in public
12. Play a game of paintball
13. Play a game of laser tag
14. Pull an all-nighter
15. Go for a romantic picnic on a hill
16. Get fitter, and work out more
17. Go to a yoga class
18. Go to a pole dancing class (it looks fun, I’m not too flexible though)
19. Buy a house
20. Do DIY in said house
21. Make a house of cards
22. Complete a scrapbook
23. Finish a colouring book
24. Fill up all the notebooks I keep buying
25. Do a Road Trip around the North Island
26. Do a Road Trip around the South Island
27. See more of Australia
28. Visit all the Pacific Islands
29. Visit Harry Potter World in Orlando
30. Visit Scotland and the places Harry Potter was filmed in
31. Visit Europe in General
32. Visit Canada
33. Visit Iceland
34. Visit Japan
35. Visit Germany
36. Return to the Philippines
37. Visit a Disneyland, any Disneyland
38. See the seven wonders of the world
39. Go snorkelling
40. Go scuba diving
41. Experience zero gravity
42. See a Broadway Show
43. Go to a concert
44. See a musical live
45. Go to a wax museum
46. Go to a ballet
47. Have kids (max 2)
48. Have a pet dog or cat
49. Complete a fun run/marathon
50. Do a colour run
51. Do all the Great Walks around New Zealand
52. Solve a Rubix cube
53. Gain my full driver’s license
54. Own a car
55. Learn how to take care of a car (oil, change a tyre, jumpstart, etc)
56. Ride a bike
57. Do a wheelie on a bike
58. Ride a Segway
59. Ride a hoverboard
60. Complete a Masters in Education
61. Make a dress
62. Make a blouse
63. Own a really good camera
64. Make everything from a recipe book (preferably a baking one)
65. Write a book
66. Spend time in a float pod
67. Bathe in milk
68. Have a massage
69. Have a spa day
70. Learn to read sheet music
71. Learn how to play the ukulele properly
72. Relearn how to play the piano again
73. Watch all the Star Wars movies
74. Watch all the movies that won an Oscar
75. Ride in a horse and carriage
76. Go horse riding
77. Witness an eclipse
78. Go to a drive in movie
79. Dye my hair (any colour)
80. Master a couple of hairstyles, outside of ponytail and half up half down
81. Get a tattoo
82. Get a henna tattoo
83. Get a temporary tattoo
84. Get multiple ear piercings
85. Have a white christmas
86. Donate blood
87. Become fluent in another language
88. Relearn Tagalog
89. Learn Sign Language
90. Take a photography course
91. Stay in an ice hotel
92. Learn a magic trick
93. Learn to knit
94. Go for a helicopter ride
95. Fly in a hot air balloon
96. Memorize the periodic table of elements
97. Visit a psychic
98. Make a time capsule
99. Have a food fight
100. Meet a celebrity

So hey, here’s my bucket list! A lot are doable, a lot are a bit more difficult, and some will just take time. But I hope you enjoyed reading this list!!

Angela.

Peru Adventures – Iquitos

The last chapter of our Peru Adventures. It was an amazing experience altogether! I’m so glad I did it, I have so many stories from it! I hope you enjoy this final chapter and entry on my trip to Peru!

After our Amazon adventure, we spent our last few days in Peru mostly relaxing at the hostel. We stayed at Golondrinas Hostel, which was lovely, as it had a pool. As we were winding down and getting ready to come back home, we didn’t do as much the three days we were there. We visited the Plaza de Armas as we always do, and took a look around the local neighbourhood.

We did visit Pilpintuwasi, which is a nature and wildlife conservation park. Entry tickets were only 10 soles ($4 NZD) for students. Getting to the park itself was a bit trickier. You have to take a boat there, and arriving at the dock, you will be bombarded with many people offring to take you there. Sarah and I pushed our way through and went with an English speaking gentleman who took us over in a little boat. He was under the impression that I was a local taking Sarah around. He was surprised when I said I was also from New Zealand. We made it to the park in no time and went off to explore.

We saw lots of animals again. Toucans, parrots, butterflies…Orcilla, Sloths, capuchin and uakari monkeys, and more. These were all rescue animals and being looked after by mostly volunteers. We really enjoyed having a look at the butterfly farm too.

All in all, this month long adventure was an amazing experience. I saw and did so much that I would never have done if I didn’t join Sarah on this trip. The pictures and videos I took are all safely stored so I can peruse them as much as I want. Relieving them through this blog again has been a blast! We did stop by Tahiti for a few days on the way back, but I’ll save that for another day 😉

Angela.

Peru Adventures – Amazon Rainforest

So, we’ve nearly come to the end of me reliving the best parts of my Peru trip I took with Sarah a few summers back! I hope you’ve been enjoying these, as reading them all over again has been quite special for me 🙂

Iquitos was our last stop in this month long Peru Trip. We arrived at the airport and were immediately picked up to go to our lodge in the Rainforest. We spent five days in the Amazon Rainforest, getting amazing catered meals, going out on tour everyday, seeing an amazing range of animals and sights, and constantly battling mosquitos.

We took a boat ride down the river for around 3 hours before arriving at Muyuna Lodge. We went with the Majestic River package, which was for five days. Once we arrived, we quickly got settled in. The lodge was beautiful. Just sitting in our room, it was nice to sit and listen to all the new noises around us. Then we went out on our first of many boat rides. We saw sloths, vultures, birds, monkeys. At one point our guide, Edson, was explaining about catfish, then just pulled one out of the water for us to have a closer look.

We went back to the lodge for dinner ,then we were off again to have a look at some nocturnal animals. We went by and had a look at some young caiman. Again, Edson gently scooped one up so we could have a closer look. It was very relaxed as we had a good look at it. The food at the lodge is amazing, it’s all catered, and there’s a wide selection.

On our second day, we went for a walk into the rainforest. We saw monkeys, snakes, insects.

We also heard this crazy noise, we thought it was some ferocious animal, turned out to be a howler monkey. I didn’t get a video of the sound they made, but here’s a video I found on youtube. They’re small, but so loud.

So afterwards we had lunch then went piranha fishing. I managed to catch only one teeny one, I have no fishing skills. It was still exciting when I felt the reel wriggle though.

After dinner, we went for a stroll nearby. This time we saw frogs, another snake, and a tarantula. The last one was a bit of a shock. Edson pointed in a direction and said there was a tarantula. I couldn’t see it and kept looking around then realized it was sitting on a tree branch near my face. My freaked out reaction amused the rest of the group.

The third day was meant to be a longer hike, a few hours worth, but me, Sarah and the Canadian couple with us on the tour pulled out after 45 minutes. The mosquitos are very intense in the forest. We were covered from head to toe and douses in strong insect repellant and we still got stung. Also whenever you moved you were just covered in a cloud of mosquitos, they know when someone warm-blooded is around. So instead, we visited a nearby village, which was nice.

We had our boat ride after dinner again. This time we found some glass frogs. They’re very small, and the unique thing about them is you can see some of their insides. Their abdominal skin is translucent, so by shining our lights on them, you could see their internal organs. It was so weird and fascinating. I held it on a leaf and looked at it for ages, luckily it didn’t seem too mind and was happy for me to stare.  Sorry for the blurry picture, but in our excitement we didn’t check the quality of them until once we were back in the lodge.

The fourth day woke us up with pouring rain. When it cleared, we rode to another part of the river. We saw pink dolphins! I didn’t get a good picture of them as they were too fast, but they’re a light pinkish colour. We were offered a chance to go swimming in the river, but I declined as I’m not a confident enough swimmer, but Sarah dove in.

After lunch we took a canoe ride. Sarah, Edson and I didn’t really have a destination in mind, we just let the river take us  downstream and chatted a little. At one point the rain came back, but as it was warm rain we didn’t mind. We just kept rowing and chatting. Then five minutes later, the rain just stopped and it became sunny again. We also got to get clsoe to a baby sloth who was hanging out on a lower branch. We opted to relax in our lodge after dinner and to start packing as our time in the rainforest was coming to an end.

We took one last boat ride around the next morning. Then we said good bye to everyone and took the three hour long ride back to Iquitos.

Muyuna Lodge was a fantastic stay. Edson was an amazing guide, the food at the lodge was amazing and the staff were so friendly. They made our Amazon Rainforest experience amazing. If you’re planning a trip to the Amazon, go with Muyuna Lodge, they’ll take great care of you.

Next up and final stop on our Peru Travels, Iquitos.

Angela.

Peru Adventures – Ica (and Huacachina)

Ica threw us into the desert part of Peru. It was also my introduction to how I don’t cope well in 30 degrees heat. I get very cranky and I’m constantly aware of how sweaty I feel. That may also have been related to me being sick during this leg of the trip. But we soldiered on, determined to soak in as much as we can, including spending a night in Huacachina, a neat little oasis just next to Ica.

After an uncomfortable bus ride from Cusco to Ica, where I was still feeling sick from the final days of the trek, we arrived in Ica. The hostel we stayed at was Ica Wasi Hospedaje. We had a great stay here. The owners were lovely and chatty, and helped me explain my cough related sickness at the pharmacy. A few days on meds and I was back to normal. I was so grateful.

I will now again talk (complain) about how hot it was. It was humid all the time, sleeping was hard. Even with no blankets and minimal layers, it’s still too hot. Purifying tap water meant drinking clean, warm water. What I’m trying to say is, I like warm weather, not hot weather.

We took mototaxis everywhere in Ica. Boy are they fun/scary. But walking around in the heat was just too much for us. We went to the regional museum of Ica, where they had a mini version of the Nazca Lines out back which was neat, as we weren’t able to see the real ones.

Later on, we checked out local shops and cafes. It was also recommended to us to try a Pisco Sour, a well known-Peruvian cocktail. Again, I don’t really drink, I have never really liked the taste of alcohol. It looked really nice, but I could only drink half, and I didn’t think much of it. I’m sure someone else would have loved it.

Huacachina was a blast. The hostel we stayed at was Banana’s Adventure. I got the same vibe from the hostel we stayed at in Cusco. It was very social, youth-oriented and as a bonus, had great food. We also walked around the whole town and had a blast.

We went for a dune buggy ride along the nearby sand dunes. It was a lot of fun, and we even got to try sandboarding down the dunes. We went through Nazca Flights as they offered touring around Ica. The price was 65 soles ($28 NZD), but it didn’t include the entry fee of 3.5 soles. It’s definitely worth it for a run afternoon of zooming around the sand dunes.

Can you see how much I was sweating in the above photo? We just couldn’t escape the heat.

That evening (when it was cooler and we felt much more social), we hung out in the hostel talking with some other travellers.

Next stop, Paracas.

Angela.