Awamaki is an organisation which connects Andean women in with international markets. It operates out of Ollantaytambo an amazing Inca village in the heart of the Sacred Valley in Peru. We had been told by someone else about this women's weaving collective, and were keen to do it - we had a spare day in Ollantaytambo and this was how we wanted to spend it. Read more about our stay in Ollantaytambo and we loved it and recommend staying … [Read more...]
Rafting the Urubamba River in the Sacred Valley
When I read the Lost City of the Inca’s, the Urubamba River was such a key element in the story of the Sacred Valley, that I set out to find a way to raft it. Some warned against ‘less than satisfactory’ safety and equipment on some trips, so we asked advice and found Apumayo.com offered a 2 hour rafting trip near Ollantaytambo. What a great trip – Luis our guide was fantastic, spoke great English, knew his plants and history. He … [Read more...]
Ollantaytambo, the best place to stay in the Sacred Valley
We arrived in Cusco, and headed directly to the Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley – the only Inca town that is still inhabited. Many people had recommended this as a way of dealing with altitude; the other benefit is that our first experience of Peru is this amazing Inca town. KB tours met us as arranged with a taxi at Cusco airport for transfer to Ollantaytambo (always a relief when an arrangement actually works!) Our driver stopped several … [Read more...]
Santiago or Quito? Quito or Guayaquil?
Santiago is crowded, smoggy, full of traffic. I enjoyed the time we spent there, and we are going back on our way home. It is great to spend two nights to recover from a flight like ours from New Zealand. However if you asked me where I would rather spend some extra time, it would be Quito in Ecuador. Quito or Guayaquil? We were on our way to the Galapagos, and our flight could go from Guayaquil or Quito. Quito was the right choice! We … [Read more...]
Where to Stay in Santiago, Chile and How to Spend a Day
Lan Airlines (now known as LATAM) flies direct from Auckland New Zealand, so a stay in Santiago is a must for those of us traveling that far, if only to recover from jetlag. However the city has over 6 million people - so where to stay in Santiago Chile? Here is my advice for where to stay and how to enjoy a day there. Be prepared for smog and traffic ... Hostel De La Barra Wonderfully central - turn left and walk for 5 minutes to … [Read more...]
The West Coast of New Zealand
Your base for exploring the South Island of New Zealand is the city of Christchurch. Although 2011 brought a devasting earthquake to the city, it is up and going, and welcoming visitors. In fact tours about the earthquake and its consequences are one of the growing trends in the city. If you head west from Christchurch, you cross rolling farm country before climbing up into the tussock lands of Arthurs Pass before climbing down into the … [Read more...]
10 Things about Bloggers…
I have just traveled 2100 kms from one end of Kerala (south west India) to the other with 30 bloggers from 21 countries. Most of them were half my age, all of them passionate about travel writing and photography, and also trying to make an income from this. We were selected from 700 applicants to be part of #KeralaBlogExpress. It was an amazing experience, and here is what I learnt about Bloggers in that process. … [Read more...]
Spice Village – an Organic Ecotourism Resort
A room key in recycled newspaper was a signal this was going to be different to the last experience on #keralablogexpress where I stayed in the presidential suite with my own infinity pool. This is an ecostay experience - no show of elephants and drums here at Spice Village. … [Read more...]
Bloggers Adrift in the Kerala Backwaters
Lakes and Lagoons are hosting the 30 bloggers on the #keralablogexpress on an overnight houseboat trip in the Kerala Backwaters in India where 900 kms of waterways link 44 rivers and 34 lakes forming a highway transporting rice and people about their daily business and of course visitors like us. Womentravel is there. … [Read more...]
Arriving in Kerala
Arriving in Kerala - a small miracle with Singapore Airlines, arriving in my first airbnb homestay Saatwika and a visit to Veli Beach - did I way it was hot? … [Read more...]
