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13-06-09
Bus to Cafayate from Amaicha (16 per person) = 32
Bus tips = 3
Rusty-K Hostel in Cafayate, Argentina - (25 per person) = 50
Shop = 16
Bar = 20
Total = 121 (101 under budget)
14-06-09
Hostel = 50
Shop = 22
Wine = 17
Hair conditioner = 5
Lunch = 12
Other = 4.5
Total = 110.5 (111.5 under budget)
15-06-09
Hostel = 50
Bus to Gaganta del Diablo (17 per person) = 34
Drinks = 4.50
Bikes rent (35 per bike) = 70
Vegetables = 1.50
Rolls = 8
Fags = 9
This was a day when when we put rented bikes on a bus and went 50 kms out of Cafayate and rode back into town stopping to see weird ravines and rock formations. I got back to find my beer in the fridge was gone. I found a load of empties and brought them to the shop and got 3 free beers. It turned out a friend nickd the beer but he made up for it by giving ne some gear.
Total = 177 (45 under budget)
16-06-09
Bus to Salta (35 per person) = 70
Fags and food = 12
Tips = 2
Terra Occulta Hostel in Salta (30 per person) = 60
Restaurant lunch = 24
Supermarket = 30
Late night beer = 8
Ice cream = 3
Total = 209 (13 under budget)
17-06-09
Hostel = 60
Empanadas = 18
Fags = 10
Ice cream = 3
Supermarket = 25
The recent spate of ice creams are because it was my wife´s birthday. We went to a Guacho parade this day. Lots of horse shit.
Total = 116 (106 under budget)
18-06-09
Bus to Tilcara (35 per person) = 70
Croissants = 1.50
Tips = 2
La Albahaca Hostel in Tilcara (20 per person) = 40
Lunch = 15
Bar = 20
Total = 148.5 (73.5 under budget)
19-06-09
Hostel = 40
Shopping = 8
Entrance to Pucara ruins (10 per person) = 20
Shopping = 35
Total = 103 (119 under budget)
20-06-09
Hostel = 40
Returned beer bottles = plus 10
fags = 10
biscuits = 2.50
Meat = 6
Supermarket = 3
Lunch = 7
Beer = 5
Snacks = 3
Total = 66.5 (155.5 under budget)
21-06-09
Bus to Pumacara (2.5 per person) = 5
Bus from Pumacara to Humahuaca (8 per person) = 16
Humahuacha Hostel 25 per person) = 50
Restaurant = 20
Shop and 2 sandwiches = 12
Fags = 10
We went to Pumacara to stay th night but the cheapest place to stay eas 40 pesos. So fuck that. We got a bus to Humahuaca. The following day we caught a buses to Bolivia.
Total = 113 (109 under budget)
Running Totals
Budget from 27-05-09 to 21-06-09 = 5,772 Argentine Pesos
Actually Spent = 3,992.45
Difference = 1,779.55 ($481)
These are the daily expenditure lists from 4th June to 13th June. The biggest expense, a roof over our heads and a bed has fallen since leaving the bigger cities and deviating from the Lonely Planet route. We managed one night camping in the mountains of northern Argentina, but it was freezing. We checked into a hostel the next night.
04-06-09
Cordoba Backpackers (33 per person) = 66
Bus to Alta Gracia (4.75 per person) = 9.50
Entry to Jesuit Monastry = 8
Supermarket = 11.50
Entry to Che Guavara House (5 per person) = 10
Bus back to Cordoba = 9.50
Supermarket = 19
Total = 133.5 (88.5 under budget)
05-06-09
Bus to Tucuman (96 per person) = 192
Taxi from Tucuman coach station to Tucuman Hostel = 6
Tucuman Hostel (33 per person) = 66
Supermarket = 18
Coke cola = 5
Total = 287 (over budget 65)
06-06-09
Tucuman Hostel = 66
Los Lenos Restaurant = 35
Supermarket = 38.5
Total = 139.5 (82.5 under budget)
07-06-09
Bus to Tafi Del Valle (18 per person) = 36
Camping for night (10 per person) = 20
Sandwiches = 9
Fags = 4
Supermarket = 19.50
Total = 88.5 (133.5 under budget)
08-06-09
Nomade Hostel (30 per person) = 60
Lunch in El Mellor = 17
Supermarket = 18.5
Found 100 peso in street
Total = Spent 95.5 and found 100 = -0.5 (222.5 under budget)
09-06-09
Nomade Hostel = 60
Supermarket = 12
Supermarket = 11.25
1 beer in hostel = 6
Total = 89.25 (132.75 under budget)
10-06-09
Bus to Amaicha del Valle (13 per person) = 26
Supermarket = 8.50
Cuty Pacha Hostel (20 per person) = 40
Lunch in Los Amigos Restaurant = 17
Dinner in hostel (15 per person) = 30
Fags (2) = 9
Wine = 5
Total = 135.5 (86.5 under budget)
11-06-09
Hostel = 40
Bus to Quilmes junction (8 per person) = 16
Lift from Quilmes junction to Quilmes Ruins = 11
Entrance fee to Quilmes Ruins (10 per person) = 20
2 empanadas = 3
Lunch in a restaurant in Amaicha = 30
Pachamama Museum entrance fees (10 per person) = 20
Postcards = 6
Supermarket = 14
Fags = 5
Total = 165 (57 under budget)
12-06-09
Hostel = 40
Lunch in Los Amigos Restaurant = 30
Fags (2) = 10
Local shop = 8
Total = 88 (134 under budget)
Running Totals:
Budget Allowance for 17 days = 3,774 Argentine Pesos
Actually Spent = 2,827.95
Difference = We´ve saved 946.05 pesos
The hostels have been getting better. From having to covertly smoke 1 skins on the roof in Cordoba, we could openly smoke it up in Tucuman and Amaicha. Sadly the gear ran out on the 12th. Probably for the best because our bus to Quilmes was stopped by the police and people with rucksacks were searched. However, the search was quick and they didn´t have a dog.
Another drug fact: the history of Tango is connected with cocaine. When it was invented in 1918 cocaine was legal. It was originally a dance between 2 men. Eventually the scene moved up to men and prostitutes dancing while of course still doing the coke. And today the real hardcore tango is men, women and prostitutes dancing with clandestine coke. Listening to the edgy vocals and seeing the jerky movements in the dance steps it now makes more sense with the coke background.
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Below are the lists for daily expenditure in Argentina dating from 27th May to 3rd June. Argentina is a clean and well organised country. The tap water is safe to drink. The long distance buses are luxurious. The hostels well organised and safe. Naturally the big but is the price. However, by buying food in the supermarkets and not indulging in more than a few beers in the bars we´ve stuck pretty much in budget.
The budget being 30 US dollars each a day. We changed at Buenos Aires airport (only $100) for the disappointing rate of 3.2 peso to the US$. The same day we changed again at the American Express Office in the centre of Buenos Aires for the much better rate of 3.7 pesos to the $US. So 60 US dollars makes the magic number of 222 pesos.
Just as a footnote, Argentinian money has a hypothetical quality to it, like quantum physics. Because of prices for kilos and the necessity for fractions the label often claims something costs for example 3.14 pesos. There are 0.10, 0.25, 0.50 coins but no 0.01 or 0.05 coins so 3.14 is just wild shooting. They just round it up or down depending on the money the customer has. This is the main problem. Few places will break a 100 note and 100 notes are all that the banks and exchange houses will give you. I can imagine the scenario of a hungry beggar stealing a wallet full of 100 peso notes and not being able to find a place that can break a note and sell him some food.
27-05-09
Taxi from Buenos Aires airport to Lime House Hostel = 115 (ripped off here. Should be more like 70)
Lime House (6 bed dorm) 38 per person = 76 (2 people)
bottled Water = 4
empanada = 8
supermarket = 28
alcohol in hostel = 30
Total = 261 (39 over budget)
28-05-09
LIme House (12 bed dorm) 28 per person = 56
water = 2
MacDonalds (feel guilty about this but needed a piss) = 7
donation to H.I.V at Necropolis in BA = 10
lunch in Law University cafe = 9
supermarket = 21 peso
washing machine = 2
Pizza = 12.5
2 beers in Lime House (Quilmes medium size) = 20
Total = 139.5 (82.5 under budget)
29-05-09
Lime House = 56
supermarket = 33
Malaria medicine (6 boxs of Doxycycline) = 90
cigarette papers = 2.5
gear (5g) = 75
beer = 30
Total = 286.5 (64.5 over budget)
30-05-09
Taxi to bus station = 14
Bus to Rosario (58 per person) = 116 The journey was with Empressa Argentina and took 4 hours.
Bus from coach station to centre of Rosario = 3.2
Tips = 4
Rosario Inn (35 per person for 6 bed dorm) = 70
supermarket = 35
fags = 5
Total = 247.2 (25.2 over budget)
31-05-09
Rosario Inn = 70
Supermarket = 28
Fleece in street market = 42
Supermarket = 22
Total = 162 (60 under budget)
01-06-09
Rosario Inn = 70
2 sandwiches from street vendor = 10
crisps = 5
Supermarket = 22.5
Total = 107.5 (114.5 under budget)
02-06-09
Taxi to bus station = 10
Tips = 3
Coach ticket to Cordoba (66 per person) = 132 The journey fro Rosario to Cordoba takes 6 hours and stops at lots of places. This was with Chevelier.
2 rolls = 16.5
fags = 4
supermarket = 22
Cordoba Backpackers (6 bed dorm for 33 per person) = 66
1 litre Quilmes in hostel = 8
Total = 261.5 (39.5 over budget)
03-06-09
Cordoba Backpackers = 66
hat for me = 12
gloves for me = 12
supermarket = 10
fags and smoking papers (times 5) = 12
supermarket = 29
Total = 141 (81 under budget)
Totals -- Budget = 1,776 Argentine Pesos
Actually spent = 1,606.2
Difference = 169.8
These numbers basically show that if we travel more than 4 hours by coach we go over budget.
Demo in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Law University, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Parana River, Rosario, Argentina
Che Guavara childhood home, Rosario, Argentina
dancer for money at the lights
For more thoughts, details and phots from our journey go to
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Henry David Thoreau - the world's first hippy
Perhaps the first ever hippy was Henry David Thoreau (1817 1862). Just like a hippy he liked hanging out in nature, not working and bitching about the government. And just like most hippies he didnt like to stray too far from the benefits of civilization (Walden Pond was only 1.5 miles from his family home). And just like a middle-class hippy, his protests were financed by his family (his aunt paid for his release when he was incarcerated for tax evasion). However, for all his inconsistencies he did write
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Life's a Beach
It never ceases to amaze and depress me that people constantly say, Its not the real world, is it? The supposed real world must always be a grim urban environment where people work eight hours a day and struggle to pay the bills. Apparently when youre studying or travelling or just relaxing on a beach its not real. Reality has to be mundane to be believed. Well from my point of view the opposite is true. A place that doesnt inspire is lacking in life and therefore reality. Months can go by at work without anything memorable happening. Memories make a place and an event real for us. If a life is monotonous without troughs and peeks surely there is little to remember? Whereas who can forget a lonely mountain pinnacle or an empty beach next to the jungle? Who can forget that night on mushrooms in Indonesia when the drums and stars melded into a merry dance of creation? The more beautiful the place and moment the more memorable, and hence real it becomes. And of all my memories (that Ive been lucky enough to gather) one of the most out-standing has got to be the 16 months I lived on a tropical beach. Life was a beach back then, leaving it to put on a shirt and make money was a bitch
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Strange things are afoot...
As Ted most famously said to Bill, Strange things are afoot at the circle K. And indeed its not just the Circle K but also 7-11, Lawson, Minimart and the other lesser known brands of convenience stores up and down the breadth of Japan that something amiss seems to be going on.
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English archers flicked the Vs at the French to show they could still use their bows
The French author Jose-Alain Fralon described the English as our most dear enemies. My suspicion is that this fond animosity is reciprocated by the average thinking Anglo. In an age where we have to guard against bigotry, racial hatred, religious intolerance and xenophobia, the English and French seemed to have struck an unspoken agreement that its perfectly acceptable to poke fun at each other. Whereas the Frenchies get in hot water for sinking the Rainbow Warrior in Auckland Harbour and get vilified by the Americans for not being enthusiastic about the war on terror, they know they can always have a go at the English; and instead of boycotting their products and sulking we will sling some choice stereotypes right back at them. At this point Id just like to mention that some of my best friends have spoken to French people and I have no problem with that. Id also like to point out to the reader that an autopsy of Napoleon revealed that the great generals little general was a staggeringly small 1.25 inches in length. It might also be of some interest to the reader to learn that 40% of French men and 25% of French women dont change their underwear daily. As a curious footnote since Im on the topic of underwear, the French have a peculiar fondness for suppositories managing to stuff 235 tones of pharmaceuticals up their derrieres annually, which is more than the combined total of the rest of Europe
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Had Tony moved to Krakow?
The white man invented classical music to mirror his hopes for the universe he wanted order, regularity, predictability, and a touch of the sublime if possible. It was a tyranny of the writer. Every performance should be as the writer intended the performer could only stamp his or her personality onto a piece in the smallest ways by being allowed a few centimeters of slack over interpretation, ornamentation and accompaniment. And then the black man turned up and got funky with the white mans ordered universe. The result was jazz: impossible to define and yet instantly recognizable; a living, growing medium that sought to break the monopoly of the writer and slice up the rules of the ordered universe with improvisation, syncopation, swung notes, blue notes and polyrhythm. Those early jazz pioneers took the products of the powdered wigs of Austria and threw in some inspired leftfield monkey wrenches into the works
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The unlucky Poles went from Nazi occupation to Soviet occupation
War movies often dredge up the tired old cliché of a generational debt of gratitude. It is the notion that the heroism and extraordinary sacrifice of an earlier generation has allowed future generations to live in peace and freedom. It is undeniably true, but it is also true that viewed from the perspective of history no amount of suffering has every been enough despite brief respites, the killing, torture, genocide and people displacement goes on, and it shows no sign of abatement.
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This bloke had a theory about hitching in Europe
As everyone knows Isaac Newton came up with the idea of gravity after seeing an apple fall from a tree (my, what an exciting life he must have lead); but who knows the story of how Einstein got the inspiration for his theory of relativity. I propose the possibility that the paradigm shifting theory occurred to Einstein while hitching in Europe. He obviously experienced how the minutes, hours and days seemed to drag out while unsuccessfully attempting to procure a ride from a Frenchman and how in Poland, Czechoslovakia and Hungary the days would fly by in a merry carousel of lifts, cheap camp sites and boozy nights on local hooch
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Comment by Green Island
on Life is a Beach Part One
Trippy Traveller