Days 12 – 14 – A tale of two bungees (RIP Samsung Galaxy)

The day after we got back from the Inca Trek we were due to join forces with another group from now until Santiago, Chile. Before all that though, I’d booked my first ever bungee jump for today, no relaxing for me, I was up and out (and very scared).

I made my way to the office and waited for my car, I decided to buy the video even though it was from above as no GoPro cameras were allowed (annoyingly). I got in the taxi and made my way to the bungee site. As soon as I arrived he could tell I was terrified and it didn’t help that first thing I had to do was to read some disclaimer and agree to it, but it was all standard stuff to be fair. Then my nerves took a dip when I not only had to sign a form, but give a fingerprint too! After all that rigmarole they then got me to do three laps of a small track to relax me, fine in normal circumstances but after a 4 day trek the legs didn’t really fancy it!

Anyway, after going through their boot camp (including ten different stretches), I then saw. the big bungee rope being rolled out and the mouth started to dry! He got me in all the harnesses and then laid me down for the rope to be attached. Once I was all in and standing up, it was time for me to enter the cage!

Up we went to 122m (400ft) in a cage dangling in the middle of a valley. I had instructor and a photographer in the cage with me. The instructor was going through what I needed to do and advised me not to look down (advice I heeded). The camera man randomly kept asking me to say certain sentences and asking me random questions for the video, all of which I wanted to answer f***k o** or I don’t give a s**t but proceeded to answer anyway. Then we went through a last run through of how I had to lean out and push off with my legs after 3 and it was time. He asked if I was ready and I replied ‘I think so’ to which he then said ‘I need to you tell me you’re ready’, have to make sure we get that one final if I die it’s my fault clause in.

I did as he said and lied to say I was ready and I shuffled to the edge of the cage, at this point he was still holding me. How I managed to go first time I know but I murmured ‘One Arsene Wenger’ through my dry crusty lips before what I thought was a big push and leap. Not sure how to describe the feeling but I was nuts, after I bounced the first time I just kept saying ‘I can’t believe I’ve just done that’ over and over again. After bouncing and dangling a few times and the blood rushing to my head, it felt pretty incredible I’d finally done a bungee.

Once they got me down, we watched the video and then took me back to my starting point. I hadn’t eaten in the morning due to the nerves so I was feeling a bit wobbly and the restaurant I wanted to go back to (my favourite so far) wasn’t open for another half hour, so I headed back to the hotel. Denise (one of the original group from Bromley) was there and my legs had a bit of a wobble when I got up to see our itinerary for tomorrow. 12:30 on the dot I want and got myself my favourite Lomo Saltado and some serious sugary drinks to sort me out. Bungee conquered and now time to watch Utd and Liverpool which would hopefully end in 8-8 10 reds and countless injuries.

I made my way to the Irish Bar after craving some cider and met Jamie there. The game was complete pathetic 0-0 affair but the Weston’s was going down nicely, even if it was a tenner. I met some cool Palace fans and randomly a Liverpool fan from my mate’s class in school (Rhyl). I had to jet back for a meeting but had polished some serious cider by them so arranged to meet back out shortly after.

After dashing back already on my way to being pissed, the meeting had actually been moved. So I asked to be excused from the later meeting dinner and headed back out with Karl from North Wales (now of London).

When we got back to the Irish bar, they only then decided to inform me that Llama cider was available for less than half the price. It was amazing fair play so was polishing that off. We met some guys from England who were particularly interesting who had decided to just up sticks and move to Peru almost 8 years ago, ignoring the visa process etc and just taking the plunge. To be fair, a lot of it was Whiskey fuelled on their part but interesting nonetheless as I always rule things out due to research on the processes etc.

Well well well on my way now, the tour leader and my new roommate Victor rocked up at the Irish Bar after the official dinner. We parted ways from our new insightful acquaintances and headed to another bar. We were polishing off some cocktails and it was quickly descending into a state. It ended up just being Manny (tour leader) and I and headed to this shady club called ‘Mama Africas’ where more vodka red bulls etc were sunk. At no point did we consider the early start and 8 hour bus ride in the morning and stumbled in at 3:30am.

A nice 5:30am wake up call was really what I fancied, still drunk, I bundled my stuff together and dragged myself to the foyer, no time for a shower. Thankfully, the coach was proper luxury but unfortunately, the first time I was meeting the rest of the new group was when I was buzzing of stale booze, unable to open my eyes, hanging out of my arse.

The 8 hour coach ride as actually ok and I think I managed to actually sleep. The only time I came close to chundering was the coach station but I managed to battle through it, no rash for me woo hoo!

When we arrived in Puno, Peru we didn’t have much turnaround time so was straight out to dinner after an orientation walk. Karl joined us for a few drinks after dinner, I had a great steak and blackberry sauce but wasn’t really feeling top notch. Afterwards, we went for a couple of cocktails but mine weren’t going down very well at all, so it was a pretty tame, early night for everybody after a long bus trip.

The next morning we had a whole day planned for Lake Titicaca. We got picked up by some cool little bike cart things, and they took us down to the bus station. They were like little Tuc Tucs but not motorised.

First stop was the unreal Uros islands. This island in the middle of lake titicaca is made up of reeds and the families that live on the, maintain them and their reed houses. The women weave and the men make souvenirs and go and get food etc. We stopped in the island and had a demonstration how the islands are formed, how the houses are built and how their daily lives work. We had loads of photos and the families invited us into their homes to dress up in traditional clothing etc. I also bought a small handmade reed dragon boat, which is rather ironic (and depressing).

We had the opportunity to re-board our ferry or take the Uros families reed boat to the next island, naturally most took the reed boat. As we were leaving, the family all stood by the side waving and singing a song in their native language. I videoed the affair on camera and then sit it in my lap by my fleece.

As we set off on the great reed boat, I was sat at the top on the platform with many others and two of the group were lying in the two canoe like structures at the bottom with a gap in between. Am Udos island young girl joined us up the top and I shuffled up to make room, as I did this I heard a bang and then a plop. As I glanced down at the two canoe like structures, I saw a white strap disappear into the 4m deep highest altitude lake in the world. There went my photos of Lima and the Shanty Town, my evidence of me ever doing the Inca trail and Machu Picchu, I was absolutely gutted! It wasn’t just my pain either, as Jamie’s wife had gone back in day 2 of trek (with their camera), his evidence had also plunged to the bottom of Lake Titcaca. I kept thinking of individual class photos I had lost but tried to keep telling myself it’s the experience and not the photos that count.

Our next stop with much camera banter flying was Taquile, a ‘proper’ island (no reeds) where we pranced around and had some more demonstrations on how the islanders live. We had a lunch of trout from titicaca and then pottered about before heading black on the boat for a long trip back to Puno. It was a cool trip back chatting to the British girls, and when we arrived back at the port we got a bus back.

For our last night in Peru, we headed out to a restaurant called Mozul. I was a bit late going out and I stumbled into this bizarre but very cool procession, where 100s of young Peruvians were singing dancing with bells and all sorts of instruments through the streets of Puno. Like I always say, the best things while travelling are the things you stumble upon that you don’t expect. The food at the restaurant was very good, especially the trout skewers for starter and we headed for some quiet final drinks at Rock n Reggae. It’s a shame it was a quiet night because the bar was cool, but early night for us all as new country tomorrow… Bolivia!

Overall, I have absolutely loved Peru, it’s one of those countries I found it easy to fall in love with. Let’s hope Bolivia is as good as Peru, if is then this tour will be epic!

 

** this post is dedicated to the memory of my Samsung Galaxy Camera who has loyally followed me throughout my tips over the last 5 years or so