El Misti, Hardest thing I did in my life!

Hola Chicos!

Sitting in the same Internet cafe again. But only a really short update this time. About the hike I told u in last post.

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1) El Misti, Vulcano geant!
So, we (Lin, Chris and I) got picked up yesterdaymorning at 8 to go on a 2 day 1 night hike on the Arequipa vulcano El Misti (5825 meters). After about 1,5 hour ride we got on the foot of El Misti (3200 meters) at about 10 AM. From there on it was into the wild with a backpack of about 15 kilo (Lin a bit lighter since I had the tent). Luckely there was also 5 kilo water in that back, so that would get liter (but we didn´t finish the bottles, so on the way back it was still heavy). Anyway, we hiked for about 4 hours to base camp at 4500 meters. Here we had dinner and spent the night (to get used to the hight). But it was freezing, so we didn´t sleep much. And at 1 AM we had to get up again: breakfast and at 2 we left for the top. This time only with a daypack of about 5 to 6 kilos. Took us about 6 hours and it was HARD!! Rough terrain, rock climbing and even some snow to tackle in the end. But we saw a sunrise and a awesome shadow off El Misti about 2 hours from the top! But again: freezing! I had my pygama, a jean, 3 pair socks, 4 T-shirts, a sweater, my Inca Apaca (ponsjo), hat and gloves on and still my fingers and toes were freezing off! :S :( SO the last bit I just run up because there was sunshine on the top. And there I literally fell down and couldn`t move any more. When the others (Lin and another girl) got up, we went along to the crator, which was smoking. Lin and the girl were too sick of the hight, so they only sat down. And after about half an hour on almost 6000 meters, we did the descend. First 2 hours gliding down rock and sand, was fun but my legs were hurting. Then lunch and another 2 hours down (with the big backpack again). And the jeep ride back... well we slept!

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2) The Route

This was my trip:
- 22/01/09 I flew to Aruba to visit and pick up Linda;
- 03/02/09 We went to Washington DC and visited Mariska;
- 06/02/09 We took take the bus to New York and slept in our first hostel;
- 10/02/09 We had a flight to Orlando and did 2 days Disney World
- 13/02/09 Drove to Miami were we did Miami city and the Keys;
- 17/02/09 Flew to Bogota (Colombia);
- 23/02/09 Cartagena;
- 24/02/09 Santa Marta and la Ciudad Perdida (6 day hike in the jungle);
- 02/03/09 Taganga (rest!);
- 04/03/09 Medillin;
- 05/03/09 Salento (Zona Cafetera, between Perreira and Armenia);
- 08/03/09 We took the bus to Ipiales (border) and left Colombia behind us;
- 09/03/09 Quito;
- 13/03/09 Galapagos (8 day cruise and 2 days on Santa Cruz for diving);
- 22/03/09 Guayaquil;
- 25/03/09 Lima;
- 28/03/09 Huarachina (Sandboarding);
- 29/03/09 Nazca lines;
- 30/03/09 Cuzco;
- 01/04/09 Aguas Calientes, Machu Picchu and Wayna Picchu (hot springs and ruins);
- 04/04/09 Cuzco again;
- 07/04/09 Bustrip to Canyon Country;
- 08/04/09 Cabanaconde and the canyon itself (3 day hike);
- 11/04/09 Arequipa and El Misti vulcano;

And then what we planned (hopefully we’ll make it )
- 15/04/09 Puno and/or Copacabana(crossing to Bolivia, lake Titicaca)
- 16/04/09 A short visit to Bolivia will bring us to La Paz, maybe some jungle and some salt desert;
- 20/04/09 We will continue to go south, but only go to Arica in Chile and in Argentinia we only go to the waterfalls at border of Urugay/Brazil and Buenos Aires;
- 05/05/09 Brasil (Rio, Brasilia, Pantagan or Amazone Jungle);
- 26/05/09 I hope to fly to the states again (:S) to visit Joanna in Saint Louis and then Chicago at the same time. However, depends on my money.
- 04/06/09 B-day of Ta
As you can see, tight schedule. So everyone that wants to go to South America: 4 months isn’t enough!!!

Roughly my trip after North and South America will look like this:
- 07/09 (or 06/09) Australia (working and traveling 1 year, maybe with Katie);
- 05/10 (or 06/10) Asia (Indonesia, Philipijnen, Maleisia, Thailand, Vietnam, India, China, Korea and Japan, maybe with Isabel for a while);
- 11/10 Trans-siberian Railway Peking Express through among others Peking (China), Mongolia, Jarkoetsk (Rusland), Onsk (Rusland), Moskou (Rusland) for 18 days (maybe with Robbert);
- 12/10 Home sweet home, Wingman back in the Netherlands.

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3) My to do list

In one of the first messages I wrote, I said that you could let me do certain things in exchange for money. Here is the status quo:

- Get (naked) on national tele in the USA: Waiting if were on, being taped for Comedy Central and MTV’s the Fashion Show ~ REWARD: € 100,- by Ruud and Youri;
*** (nearly) ACCOMPLISHED ***
- Find a famous place/square and be a street artist: I forgot my jiggling balls every time I went into Paris or other cities, but I had some audience in Zipaquire. ~ REWARD: € 100,- by Ruud and Youri;
- Enjoy your trip: I will! ~ REWARD: € 25,- by Hans (Thank you Hans!!)
*** ACCOMPLISHED ***
- Shave your head bold: since my mum shaved me twice I'm almost hairless now. :S ~ REWARD: € 3,50 by Sarah H;
*** ACCOMPLISHED ***
- Come to the Luna-Tik Switch: since I'm in Maastricht now (and bored) and waiting till 10h, I think I'll manage. ~ REWARD: free entrance as per Erik;
*** ACCOMPLISHED ***
- Carry Mickey around the world and take pictures in famous places: I WILL! ~ REWARD: A cool photo collection, as per me!;
- Get married in Las Vegas in an Elvis Suite and stay married for at least 6 months: Linda s not interested ~ REWARD: € 450,- as per Erik;
*** FAILED ***
- Carry the hand cups around that I ‘won’ with the Saint Nicolas Surprise: they are still on my back, but people looked weird when I took them into the jungle ~ REWARD: ??? told by Jule;

Did I forget one, do you want to add one?? Let me know!!
Do you want to add some?? Let me know!!

NOTE!! I’m running out of quests, please give me some more!!!

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4) Games

A little game for all:

Each person that posts, must repeat the sentence 'I will go on holiday and take with me:', repeat the items of previous persons and add one item of his own.

This is where we left of and since nobody played last post, we’ll stop with this one:

*I'll go on holiday and take with me: my backpack (Inge, afblijven!), my hand cups, Inge's prom dress, Mickey Mouse, a snorkel, juggling balls, 1 under pens, a passport, mama's toothbrush, Linda!, a winter jacket, snow boats, my MP3 player, mama’s bracelet, some dollars to buy breakfast, everybody’s notes with the best wishes on them (there actually at my parents Erik) and my lonely planet.

Here’s a new one:

Each post must say a number (in sequence from one till 50). The one who is number 50, will receive a little reward. And there will be a secret number reward as well!

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Okay, for the people that weren`t on the last 2 days, I posted something else 2 days ago. U`ll find it at the left. Pictures of both stories will follow when there is wifi in a hostel again.
Now, Im gonna relax. We already celebrated our victory of the vulcano with chocolat pie, but tomorrow we´ll chill as well. And then we´ll head to Copacabana and will relax there for a while as well.

And Paul (and others), check which numbers are already taken!!!

Kisses, great love and more from the one and only Wingman aka Ralf and a hug from Mickey!!!!

PS. Who has some more quests for me!?!?