To the Other Side -- El Calafate

After spending 3 days in Chile's side of the Patagonia, we drove across to Argentina. A 6 hours drive took us to the Argentina's side to El Calafate. In the southern most part of Argentina, we got to see the Glacier Moreno. One of the biggest glaciers in the region. I know, we got the weather. Unfortunately, we didn't get to walk on the glacier (which was the part I was most looking forward to).

On the first day in Calafate, we spent the day on a boat. The boat took us around the Los Glaciares National Park where we saw three glaciers- Upsala, Onelli and Glacier Moreno. Glacier Moreno was the biggest one of the three. Though the sky was dark in the morning and there was rain, we still managed to get good shots of the landscapes. There were many glaciers along the way. The boat took us pretty close to the glaciers and we managed to see bits of the glacier falling at times.

 Glacier Onelli. 2nd stop on the boat ride.

 Sorry, my father doesn't really like to take photos. haha

Glacier Moreno from the lake. 

Chile- Patagonia (Puerto Natales)

After spending time in the blazing heat, we travelled down to the very tip of the country to Puerto Natales. Puerto Natales is the heart of the Patagonia in Chile. We spent three days at an all inclusive hotel (my mom calls this an adult hostel). The hotel provided a guide for the three days and all three meals, which was extremely convenient. Since it was winter in South America, there were not too many people near the tip of SA.

Much of what is to enjoy in the Patagonia is the landscapes and scenary. We went on several hikes (since my dad refuses to horseback ride or ride a bike). Torres Del Paine, the Patagonia national park of Chile, was beautiful. Because it was so windy at the park, much of the trip was a car trip. Wind speeds in Puerto Natales and its surrounding area could go up to over 100 mph. At night, I could hear the wind guzzling from my room.

The weather wasn't the greatest during out stay there. On the first day, our guide took us on a trail which started at the devil's chair to the milodon's cave. A mildon is an extinct giant sloth that lived in the Patagonia around 10,000 years ago. They lived the beginning of civilization in south America. Our hike took around 4-5 hours and it was pouring that day of. I was completely drenched from head to toe within a few hours. Because of the rain, we were extremely cold. I thought my toes would fall off.

We visited Torres Del Paine on the second day. Torres Del Paine is basically three giant pieces of vertical rock. Because of the strong winds, we didn't do as much hiking as we would like.

On the third day, we took the eagles cliff trail. We climbed atop a limestone cliff where we saw the eagles very closely.

Here are some pictures-

 Torres Del Paine.

Eagles eating roadkill. My father insisted that we capture this moment.

 

 The Devil's Chair Hike. It was raining badly.

  

An eagle.

  

  

 

 Guanacos. They are part of the Llamas/Vicuna family.

 

 It was so windy that even trees were bending.

 About to fly off the balcony.

 Giant trees along the trail.

At the peak of the eagles cliff.

Atacama - Part 2

"Two golden hours somewhere between sunrise and sunset. Both are set with 60 diamond minutes. No reward is offered. They are gone forever." -Horace Mann

Another interesting (and probably most famous) part of San Pedro is the geysers in El Tatio. A geyser is a spring that discharges water sporadically. It basically rocks with holes on the floor which randomly spews really hot water out. It is actually really cool. I haven't seen something like this before. It like watching water overboiling underground. What is interesting about geysers is that it only discharges water in the morning. They come in all shapes and sizes. So, we all got up at 5am and hopped into a car, drove 2 hours and got to the geysers field which is among the Andes range (I cannot repeat enough what awesome I think the Andes range is). These spewing springs are located among the many mountains in the Andes which makes it extra beautiful and pretty. Since it is winter, it was pretty cold in the morning.

 

(I forgot my sunglasses and I have small eyes.)

Chile: Atacama Desert

I recently just returned from a 3 week vacation in South America. My father decided that we go on a graduation trip. We visited two countries in South American-- Chile and Argentina. Though it was no necessarily the right time to visit these places (its winter in the southern hemisphere), it was still a really good and fun experience.


First stop, the Atacama desert in Chile. It is in the northern part of a very long country. Of the many place we went to on this trip, it is probably the warmest. It was not burning hot or freezing cold which made it perfect whether for hiking. Just like many deserts, it was covered with red sand. What makes this region interesting is the mountain range within the desert.

On the first day, we took a walk among the sand dunes. A relatively easy hike, we stepped down the sand dunes. I took of my shoes so my shoes wouldn't be covered in sand. But, my shoes were covered with sand when I got back anyways. ha.

Since I'm still working on my photographs, here is a snip bit of the first day.

More to come. Trying to get an update in a day. 

Spring Break Cabo: 2013

Hello!

It has certainly been awhile. I rarely update nowadays because I haven't been taking as many photos as before. I promise though, I'll have more time to take photos as soon as I'm done with school (and as long as my computer doesn't die on me). My creative spirit has kind of side tracked but it will be picked up again really soon.

Anyways, I got a chance to take a break for a week (though I wasn't sure whether I should have since I actually have pages of my thesis to write). My friends and I decided to go to cabo, I have always wanted to go there since I first watched Laguna beach (which it is probably a really dumb idea to go there). But, sunshine and beaches, oh..and margaritas...count me in.

I had my fair (or great) share of margaritas, tacos, tan, tequila shots, chilli mango, chilli pineapples and hot tubing. I got to try all sorts of tacos--fish, carnitas, chorizo, chicken.

We went to Medano Beach, the Arch, Lover's beach. We went on a booze cruise (ITS SHOWTIME DJ) and snorkelling. Ms. Zhong was brave enough to join us in the big bad ocean to see the little fishys. Unfortunately, there were no fishes (really there wasn't. it was all murkey sea water).

The night life was also very poppin' El Squid Roe was definitely a place to check out. It has a good mix of music and a good crowd.

Definitely crossed off Cabo on my vacation list. 

For my favorite part... 

The infamous arch.

 

Mango Deck at Medano Beach at night

Booze Cruise

 Showtime DJ! The failed congo line on the snorkeling cruise.

 My cabo headband

 At Lover's Beach

Probably the most and only memorable landmark in Cabo.

 I don't think its a sun burn, its the asian glow. Unlimited booze on the cruise