Imagine the Academy Awards, New Year's Eve and World Cup Soccer, all rolled into the most important day of the year. It’s Carnival, and the Caribbean Island of Trinidad claims to have invented it in the new world. This is serious business, with contests, royalty (kings and queens of music), costumes, and newspaper articles offering everything from editorials (has Carnival in … [Read more...]
Sandboarding Atacama Desert in Chile – from Alex’s Adventure Diaries
My thighs burn as I trudge up the steep sand dune and squint into the blaring sun. Mimicking Mads, I hold my board across my shoulders and focus on stepping on the almost invisible path. Looking toward the crest of the hill, I mechanically order my legs to move forward one leg at a time. How the hell do people run up these in movies? Reaching the top, I take a moment to bury … [Read more...]
Paso de Jama, Chilean Border Crossing to Argentina – from Alex’s Adventure Diaries
The barren border crossing building at Paso de Jama, between Chile and Argentina in the Andes, has a distinct lack of noise as travellers slowly shuffle their dusty backpacks forward in a semblance of lines. I stare out the open window where a yawning blue sky meets the dry desert. Voices come in like muted echoes and I work my jaw to no avail. My left eardrum is … [Read more...]
Mountain Biking Death Road, Bolivia – from Alex’s Adventure Diaries
What Did I Get Myself Into!?! I see a few rocks falling down the mountainside towards me and my heart rate picks up speed. I could actually die here. Working my bike through the mudslide, I understand why the van that was supposed to follow us for emergencies, had to go back and meet us at the end. I flex my ice-cold wet fingers as best as I can and alternate taking them … [Read more...]
