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10 Cuzco Curiosities
Like every city, Cuzco has it’s interesting and strange things that make it different from any other place. It is our last day in Cuzco today and we really enjoyed our time here.…
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Back from the Inka Trail
What an incredible experience we had! The Inka trail was unforgettable! We are completely exhausted and in need of a shower. My legs are dreading having to climb the stone stairs up to…
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Our Inca trail is starting early
The juice at the San Pedros market is so fresh! You can choose whatever fruit you want and they freshly squeeze it for you. We met up with our german friends at the…
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Regional Strike and the Inca Trail
The Inca trail winds across the Andes Mountain Range to the mysterious Machu Picchu. It is one of the world’s best known classic treks but it is much more than a great hike.…
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Walking with llamas
We did our own tour of the Inca sites around Cuzco by foot. It was physically quite draining but was also a nice, memorable walk. We used our Boleto Turistico ticket to enter…
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Toilets and Flushing in Peru
This is embarrassing and probably not something one should blog about but it’s something you should know when in Peru. We only found this out today. The toilet in our room got totally…
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Climb every Mountain in Cuzco
Day 4 in Cuzco Have you ever thought of what should happen to your body when you die? I’m not trying to make you morbid, it’s a practical question which I think you…
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Sacred Valley Tour of Cuzco
Day 3 in Cuzco – Part 2 This post is a continuation of our Sacred Valley Tour we did yesterday. All the history is quite overwhelming but knowing a bit more about it…
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Brief History of the Incas
Day 3 in Cuzco – Part 1 Today we were typical tourists! We took a tour bus to use our Boleto Turistico ticket to see some famous Inca Ruins. We toured the Sacred…
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Getting to know Cuzco
Day 2 in Cuzco It was cold and rainy in Cuzco today so we opted for indoor activities. We gave our laundry in to be washed at a laundry service.(A rainy day is…
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Day 1 in Cuzco
Day 10 Peru Day 1 in Cuzco This morning we arrived in Cuzco, the ancient capital of the Incan Empire. Alvero, from Qolqampata hostel where we are staying, picked us up at the…
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The Resurrection of the Moonbag
This post was written by Marc during the rough, overnight Cial bus trip: Moonbags, fannypacks, bumbags, whatever you may call them, they are one of the world’s lost treasures! They can be classified…
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Ica to Arequipa with Cial Bus Company
Via taxi from Huacachina we made our way to the city of Ica where we spent about 5 hours before catching our bus. We walked around for a bit, ate late lunch and…
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Adventure Activities in Huacachina
The sandboarding and dune buggying in Huacachina was awesome! The dunes are huge and in every direction you look you see more sandy hills. Our driver didn’t hold back! He drove that buggy…
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Our stay in Huacachina
It’s amazing but also funny, we are in Peru, at an oasis, in a desert we didn’t even know existed just a few days ago. It is so unusual it almost feels like…
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Aliens of Paracas
We strolled into the privately owned Paracas History Museum which is right next to our backpackers. It opened up a whole new world to us of mysteries and endless possibilities of Paracas’s alien…
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Tour to Ballestas Islands is Awesome
I have never seen so many birds in my entire life! I was absolutely amazed! This morning we went on a 2 hour speed-boat tour of Ballestas Islands. These are a group of…
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Traveling with Cruz del Sur
We travelled from Lima to Paracas with Cruz del Sur bus company. I was very impressed and will definitely use them again. When Marc got on the bus and saw our seats he…
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LP Gas Powered Cars in Peru
This post was written by Marc. In Peru (not sure of the other Southern American countries) all the taxi cabs run on LP gas! When we landed I saw the taxi we climbed…
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Our stay in Lima, Peru
Today was Day 2 in South America and Day 2 in Lima, Peru. Our Spanish has improved dramatically! Hardly anyone here speaks english. Bed and Breakfast Lima Casa Guadalupe was a good guesthouse…
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Our Sao Paulo stop-over Drama on our way to Lima
I told you we had a bit of trouble with our stop-over in Brazil. Now that we are relaxing at Quadelupe’s Casa in Peru with Quadelupe preparing breakfast for us we have forgotten…
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We are in Peru
We are in Peru! We are in Peru! I can’t believe that we are actually in Peru! The lady from the guest house, Guadelupe, picked us up at the airport. She is very…
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Flying from Africa to South America
After a hearty breakfast this morning with family we are now chilling in the Slow Lounge (thanks to FNB) waiting for our flight. They have these awesome blue cupcakes here (they call them…
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New Beginnings – Packing up everything
It’s been an intense couple of days! We have been packing our life into boxes and bags, sorting out all of our paperwork and eating lots of delicious food with special people. It’s…
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Geetha’s Mint-Peanut Chutney (Paté)
Geetha definately makes the best indian food! She spoilt us by bringing supper last night: curry, rotis, meatballs and this mint chutney with papadums for starters. Geetha gave us a cooking lesson the…
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Lionel’s Cream Curry
This is one of the first meals Marc made for me. It’s his dad’s recipe! I must say I was quite impressed! Since then Cream Curry Tortillas is one of our favourite meals.…
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Healthy Butternut Soup
This is my favourite soup to make in winter. It contains vegetables which are healthy and garlic, ginger and curry powder to keep germs (and maybe some people) away… This recipe makes about…
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Visa Requirements for South Africans traveling to South America
What visas do South African Passport holders need to travel to South America? Surprisingly, the “green mamba” (RSA passport) gets you into many South American countries without a visa! We are planning to…
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So you want to be a doctor? Advice for those considering studying medicine
Choosing your career path can be a difficult decision. Especially if you are not 100% sure of what you want to do or what your options are. If you are considering studying medicine…
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My Mathematical Frustrations with Birth Dates
I did quite a bit of maths when I worked in the government hospitals. Hardly any of the patients know their age. So when you ask “how old are you?” , the patients…
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Chicken & Bacon Wraps
I often wonder what I can make for supper. I sometimes forget about them but wraps are a good idea. My friend, Bianca, made wraps for us when they invited us over last…
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Patients ask strange questions
In general the patients I see in private practice are a bit more educated than patients in the government hospitals, but not always. I was doing a locum at a practice when a…
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Embarrassing Medical Student Story
As second year medical students we had to practice taking histories on patients. This sounds easy but it can become challenging especially when you and the patient don’t speak the same language. In…
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South African Ice Cream Pudding
My mom makes this ice-cream pudding when we go visit. It is impossible to resist! This is a simple and absolutely delicious pudding especially for someone with a sweet tooth. It sounds like…
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A Christian-Persian Wedding ceremony
I was honored to be a bridesmaid at the marriage ceremony of my lifelong friend, Donne and Babak which took place on Saturday 17th August 2013 at Lombardini Game Reserve in Jeffreys Bay.…
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Once upon a time in Egypt
Once upon a time before the hectic political problems and warnings against traveling to Egypt there was an unsuspecting intern planning her trip to see the Great Pyramids of Giza… In your internship…
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Mauritian Granadilla Shooters
We discovered a local restaurant in Mauritius with a very smooth waiter who, after much pleading on our part, revealed his secret “Granadilla Shooter” recipe to us. We’ve made it a few times…
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Trekking in Mauritius
I thought I’d write a bit about past travel vacations- it’s nice for me to reminisce and maybe I can give you ideas for where you would want to go. Sun, white sand…
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Melktertjies (Milktart shooters)
These “melktertjie” shooters are too delicious! For part of our dessert at our wedding we had these. We served the drink in a chocolate shooter glass. So when you have had enough shots…
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South America is Huge
South America sounds similar to South Africa, right? So, many people seem to think that they are more or less the same size as well. (I know the one is a continent and…
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Honey-Drizzled Chicken Breasts
Needed: Frying pan, 2 tablespoons butter, garlic salt, Cayenne pepper, Meat tenderizer, 4 chicken breasts, honey Turn stove to medium heat and allow plate to reach stable temperature before starting. Melt butter. Place…
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Channa Masala
I tasted this for the 1st time while traveling in India. I was amazed at how flavourful their vegetarian dishes are! Needed: Pot, Olive oil, 1 Onion, 3 chopped tomatoes, 2 cans chopped…
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Where do you want to get to?
Alice comes to a fork in the road and does not know which way to proceed. She sees the Cheshire Cat and asks: `Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to…
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Very Easy Chicken Pie
Need: Stove, Oven, Pot, oven-safe glass dish/tray Ingredients: Ready-made Puff Pastry 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 egg yoke 1 punnet chopped chicken breasts 250mls cream or plain yoghurt (healthier alternative) 1 Onion Knorr’s…
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Carol’s Easy Guocamole
Serves 2 really hungry people or 4 not so hungry people Needed: Square glass container ( or someting similar ) 1 can red kidney beans 1 onion Tabasco sauce 4 medium Avocados Crushed…
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Quick Paleo Fudge
This fudge is quite addictive and real easy to make. It contains no bad refined sugar. We bought the ingredients at Dischem for about R170 for everything and could make 3 batches of…
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Dogs have Emotions Too
Response to “When Animals Grieve”, July 2013 issue of Reader’s Digest. New research suggests that animals may have more complex emotions than mere primal instinct. This has always seemed obvious to me… …
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Recommendation letter for a Rock
A collegue told me, on my last day at work, that our boss will not be able to write me a letter of recommendation because I suck so much. Okay, she didn’t use…
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Remembering how to study- 10 tips
Can one forget how to study? Its slowly coming back to me, but my brain feels as if its done 1000 push-ups. I feel like I’m stu-DYING. How did I pass Med school?…
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Shebeen Nachos
Last night we were really hungry and craving something yummy fast. So we made really easy and basic “nachos”. Marcus named it Shebeen Nachos. Here’s how we did it: Put oven on grill.…
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