The Last
Tuesday, November 11th, 2008
Chloe Writes: After leaving the paradise of Playa Blanca we made our way to another beach, Tagenga. A tiny fishing village set in the hills with lovely views and cheap diving. We stayed here for a few days so that Pete can do his advanced course. Deciding not to hang around we made our way back to Cartagena for a trip to the mud volcano. Not quite what i was expecting, it was tiny (not the kind of size you would think caters for bus loads of tourists a day), along with a very small pool of mud at the top… Yuck yuck yuck!!! the feel of the mud was disgusting and it smelled really bad, i was trying my hardest to keep my hands out. It is the strangest feeling (a bit like being in the dead sea) as you cant stand up, you just seem to float at the top. Good for the skin though.. It was then back to Playa Blanca for a few days (my favorite beach in the whole world, so far!) then off to Bogota to catch a flight to England.
Pete Writes: So we headed to Tagenga and i managed to do my Diving course which was great, especially the night dive where all you can see is where the torch beam shines, and if you turn the light off and wave your hands you can see all of the plankton light up which is a really eerie feeling. I manged to borrow a camera whilst I dived so there are a few shots for you to look at, I really like the octopus hiding under the coral. After Tagenga we headed back to the relaxing beach of Playa Blanca via the mud volcano which I thought was lots of fun, especially as you can´t really control your body so I ended up with a face full of mud several times. Playa Blanca was not quite how we left it as there were storms most days which bought some big waves YEY!! So I hired a rubber inner tube and entertained allot of the locals with my wave surfing. We finally said our farewells and headed to the Capital for our final leg of our journey HOME!!!
A Little Reflection
Pete Writes: I am so happy that I have been lucky enough to visit so many Countries with such a vast number of cultures and foods. I know that we have had some rough times, long bus journeys, challenging times but it has all been so worth while. I feel that I now have a better understanding of the world in which I live in, and I feel that I have changed (not loads) as a person and would recommend an extended trip abroad to anyone!! DO IT, expand your mind.
Chloe Writes: I can´t believe our travels have come to end. I can´t say i´m not gutted but we have had the most amazing time. I’m going to miss the freedom of doing what I like and when, having to make important decisions such as what to eat for lunch and where to visit next. I’m going to miss trying the most amazing food, good and bad and so different from what we eat at home. I’m going to miss experiencing the different cultures, even when we have had a bit of a shock such as landing in the heart of Delhi or getting of the bus at the Bolivian border. i´m going to miss meeting new people from all over the world, travelers and natives and using sound effects and actions to get your point across when words have little meaning. I’m going to miss seeing the most spectacular sites such as the sun rise on poon hill in the Himalayas, the glacier in Argentina and the stars in Australia and all the amazing wildlife, such as the elephants in Nepal, the penguins in New Zealand and live coral in Thailand. I’m going to miss living out of a bag (yes i have got used to this and love not having to spend hours choosing what to wear or getting ready). I’m going to miss reading the guide book and getting excited about the next place. Speaking Spanish, although still very basic i hope i can keep it up and not forget and I’m going to miss having the time to read tons of books, play cards or just spend hours chatting to people.
I’m not going to miss getting ripped off and scammed, sleeping on a 50 year old mattress with bed bugs and minging sheets. I’m not going to miss wanting to cry for and take home every starving and miss-treated animal i see on the streets, or the shocking displays of poverty in places like India. I’m not going to miss overnight bus journeys (except maybe the ones in Argentina), feeling travel sick or desperately needing the toilet after half an hour of getting on the bus. I’m not going to miss being starred at in Asia or being called a gringo in SA or the times (although few) when i have been so bored I have wanted to scream.
I have on the other-hand missed you all and cant wait to catch up.
See you soon,
Lots of love,
Chloe xxxxxxxxx
Page Gallery
View of Tagenga
Taganga by night, from our balcony
Sunset in Tagenga… the last one for our sunsets and boats publication
Our friend Pete gets harrassed by lots of kids for Halloween…. he did have the sweets though!
Pete in all his diving finery
Shawl and coral
Trumpet fish
Fish
And another
Coral
Box fish
Octopus
Mud Volcano
Us in the Mud
Pete loving the mud
Trying hard to de-mud
Pete catches a wave… a real one this time!
Chloe enjoying the last of the hammock time…… until England (yup we brought one!)
Pete and Mirlanda
Chloe, Mirlanda and perro
Riz and Kiarra
Pepe in Petes now former hat
Our friend Edgar
Chloe and her friend the Cow
