I am still alive!

It’s been another crazy few weeks, since I last posted I have left Cocacabana and visited Angra dos Reis, Ilha Grande, São Paulo, Florianopolis, moved into Argentina, visited Iguazú, flew over to Buenos Aires, left South America, spent a couple of days in Singapore and flew across to Bali where I’ve been for three nights now in Kuta and am heading to Canggu today.

I feel like maybe I’m leaving these too far apart as there is way too much to cram into a tiny blog, I would commit to doing them more often, but I don’t need to go away and ‘find myself’ to know that I probably won’t and I have physically had to drag myself away on my own to a bar to write this where I won’t be distracted by £1 beers by the pool. What I will do though is give a brief review of each place.

Angra dos Reis – The strangest place I’ve ever stayed in my life. Stopped here for one night before catching a boat, after arriving at gone 12, ready for a sleep, I realised the hostel I booked was in the middle of the favelas, with no taxis at that time there was no option but to walk. After finally checking in and feeling relatively safe, we were awoken at 4am by what sounded like someone breaking into the hostel and after 20 minutes of banging the hostel alarm went off, being the only people in the hostel and accepting we were going to die we went to look. Fortunately, it was a broken door but to say I didn’t shit myself a little would be a lie. Probably wouldn’t go back in a hurry.

Ilha Grande – Beautiful, peaceful, a couples place really and although the island is well known for its beaches there actually isn’t much sand, fell asleep on the beach and a large wave covered me and all my belongings, funny looking back, not so funny at the time, lost a towel that day.

São Paulo – Lots of homeless and prostitutes, someone tried to charge me £100 for four pieces of fruit, but there is a nice park and art work. If you play Robbie Williams mega mix in the park, locals will surround you. Learnt lesson: Robbie is a language everyone understands.

Florianopolis – I think maybe my favourite place so far (where this photo was taken). Became a local at an ‘English pub’, The Black Swan, it’s a must visit, Claudia is a legend and even cornered off a section of the bar so we could watch Chelsea vs Arsenal and bought us fish and chips. Things to note: don’t forget your key and try to climb up to your apartment it will end in injury and you have a card in the pubs where you tick off what you’ve drank and pay at the end, this makes it feel like bingo and is a dangerous game for someone competitive.

Iguazú – The waterfall is crazy. Very, very wet (at this time of year). Didn’t see a Puma, disappointed.

⁃ A break here to add something I have actually learnt about myself which has come in useful numerous times (see Singapore), I am very calm in stressful situations. I decided to fly to Buenos Aires instead of another night bus, but typically, whilst at the airport at gone midnight, the flight was cancelled, they had turned the WiFi off and there was no way to book an Uber or a hotel. I saw the funny side and got sorted, nevertheless, not the ideal situation.

Buenos Aires – Mental

Singapore – Imagine getting 3 flights and travelling for 35 hours, getting to the airport and your bag being lost. ‘Do you know when it will arrive?’ ‘Nope you just have to wait’. Another moment of comedy, although I’m not sure I’ve ever smelt so bad. But taking the mature approach, I didn’t stay in and wait for my bag, but instead met some quality people who leant me some shower gel and took me to the beach. My last pair of pants were full of sand for two days, but other than that a great experience and the bag turned up eventually.

Bali (Kuta) – This place is like Bali’s Magaluf and I really should leave, I haven’t slept or been sober since I got here. Met a bunch of people on the same wavelength, not sure if this is a good or bad thing, I’ll let you know when my liver recovers (8 impulsive alcoholics are better than one?) We almost rented a pirate ship for a few days, thankfully we got too drunk talking about whether amazon prime would be able to deliver 8 pirate costumes to our hostel for the next day to remember to rent the pirate ship. That being said, I could still be convinced.

So yes, for everyone asking, I am still alive! And I have done some grown up things such as laundry, had a haircut and checked my bank balance, told myself I can’t eat out three times a day whilst travelling, ignored myself and gave myself the same lecture another two times and then checked myself into a 4* hotel for a night when I was hungover, gave myself another lecture and bandaged up someone’s foot who stood on glass (all of my injuries, doctors/hospital visits and extensive first aid kit finally being put to use). But it’s been an incredible time so far, with the downs being just as funny as the ups and I promise I’ll try not to leave it so long next time!

Chow!

Trev