A land like no other...San Pedro De Atacama - Uyuni

Definitely the most unusual landscape and environment I have been in during my trip in South America.

The 3 day tour from San Pedro de Atacama in Chile to Uyuni in Bolivia, passed through many extreme varieties of land, climate, existence and altitude.  In the first day climbing from 2,400m up to 4,800m and spending the night at 4,200m, severe headaches were felt, but I got away lightly, un-like others.  Putting the altitude sickness in the back of my mine, we had to experience every second of this incredible almost untouched environment.  Tourism has still yet to fully make its foot print on the vast land, partly because its sheer remoteness but also due to it being Bolivia and behind the times and sheer lack of money.   

Little can survive in these conditions, apart from the bizarre rabbits, foxes and various breeds of Flamingos which stand like figurines in the acid waters without moving an inch from the extreme winds.  An amazing 3 days exploring this barren land so beautiful photos do not quite capture the pureness of what was experienced.

San Pedro De Atacama - Chile - To the moon...

A landscape like the moon, with such contrasting colours that blind the eyes.  San Pedro De Atacama sits 2,407m above sea level in Northern Chile.  It is believed to be the best place for star gazing in the clear cold night skies.  Hardly ever seeing rain, however of course it rained the night I arrived on the night bus into the tiny little village now over-run by tourists, but still staying true to its cultural heritage.  After an extremely long 23 hr bus ride from Santiago to San Pedro de Atacama, the pure air was a refreshing wake up call before settling into the small make shift hostel for a good nights sleep.  The following day the tour was booked to cross over into Bolivia on a 3 day route finishing in Uyuni, leaving the next morning, depending on the weather of course.  I also booked myself onto a ´Valle de la Luna´ afternoon tour visiting the ´Luna´valley and its various stopping points before the final sunset on the cliff top.  A landscape so vast and bizarre, no life seemed to exist and could almost imagine you were on the moon!  Natural forms in one of their finest ways.

Santiago - Chile and around - Christmas/New Year 2011

Two weeks exploring Santiago and the countryside, coastline and mountains over Christmas and New Year.  Bush camping in the mountains on New Years Day/ my birthday...something different, a one-off special occasion.  

Wine district Southern Chile - Dragoman tour final thoughts.

First big waterfall to be seen on my trip, but nothing compared to what I will see later along on my adventure!  Never  the less a nice little cooling shower from the spray after a very long hot days drive and the last night camping on the Dragoman tour before arriving in Santiago on the 22nd of December 2011.

Had an amazing 23 days travelling from the far south of South America, all the way up in and out of the Chilean and Argentinian border.  Some breath taking places and activities done in some of the worlds most amazing landscape, some intense long drives and random bush camping.  Met some fantastic people from across the globe, trekking, playing various games, drinking champagne whilst swimming in lakes, taking far too many photos, sitting on the truck roof  whilst driving along a dirt road in the middle of no-where, hydro-speeding down a river...the list goes on.  Things can change your life and it is important to open your eyes to everything and everyone out there and appreciate every second you have been given to experience these times.

Chaiten Chile - Natural Disaster

May 2008 was a devastating month for all that lived in the town of Chaiten, Chile which sits on the edge of the Carretera Austral, Patagonia.  The Chaiten Volcano erupted and the ash river destroyed the town.  When first  arriving in Chaiten I did not know what to expect...a ghost town, few people on the streets and lots of stray dogs, one which insisted on following us around for an hour while we explored the empty streets and ash covered beach.  Eerie darkness loomed over the town, mountains and water around.  Ash still covered everything that it hit over three years ago.  Parts of houses sunk into the ash sand and home objects scattered around randomly untouched and un-wanted, rusting away and becoming part of the new landscape.  Constant reminders  for the few remaining locals that decided to stick around to try to re-build their town again of how destructive mother nature can be in just one day.