4.Argentina

 All my life I have dreamed of going to South America and especially the Amazon. There is just something about jungles and wilderness that stirs the insides of man. I went on this adventure with my Chilean-South African friend, George. When I told him about my idea of going to Latin America in December 2009, he did not need any convincing to go with. It would be both of ours first visit to the continent with the beautiful women and wild jungles.. or is it wild women and beautiful jungles..hmm. The trip was quite impulsive and we got everything together in a month before leaving South Africa.

 The weekends are vibrant here! We spent our time in Buenos Aires watching couple's doing the Tango in the awe of the spectators. We danced Salsa with locals in the street while they beat their drums and tambourines, visited a famous cemetery, socialized with locals and indulged ourselves in the local foods. This famous cemetery for the rich and famous people like Eva Peron, the "Diana" of South America feels like you walk down a street with houses. There are huge family grave buildings and some with large statues. Some of these "houses" are two stories underground.

La Recoleta Cemetery

We left the vibrant city hitting the roads by bus and by thumb to Bariloche in the West of Argentina. The changing landscapes from East to West felt exactly like when we drove from Pretoria to George in the Western Cape in South Africa. You pass the farmlands, areas like the semi-desert region like the Karoo and the mountains. We arrived in the town called San Carlos de Bariloche (mostly known as Bariloche) at the foothills of the Andes in the most beautiful Patagonia! Bariloche is located in Nahuel Huapi National Park and is a picturesque little town, which made international headlines as haven for Nazi SS war criminals like 'Hauptsturmfuhrer Erich Priebke'. There are some "boers" that were exiled to Patagonia in the war against the English in South Africa.

Patagonia

From Bariloche we traveled with a dodgy bus on a winding road to a very small town in the Seven Lakes region called San Martin de los Andes! The road was mostly gravel road in overgrown woods with spectacular views of the lakes and mountains we passed. San Martin feels like a place from the movies- quiet streets, everyone greets each other, cozy little houses, and the town is surrounded by mountains and forest.

houses in San Martin

We made friends from San Martin the previous year while shark cage diving in Mosselbay, South Africa, and they invited us to visit them! And before they could finish their sentence we were on the plane to them! We must build these friendships and meet as diverse people as possible, for this prevents tunnel-vision and an understanding of others. As a friend said it, "Do not foster co-dependance or independence, but interdependence." Everyone has something to teach you, you must just ask the right questions and be open to learn! Pride is when you cant be taught. 

Tom and his wife in San Martin!

Tom preparing thick steaks

After a few days of eating thick steaks and late nights in front of the fire place, we were on the road again. A friend of Tom dropped us off at a place where we could camp that was on the way to Chile, so we can easily catch a ride from there.. Or so we thought..The campsite was unbelievable! The lake had fresh water, no filters or purification tablets needed! We had a view of a large volcano and were surrounded by mountains and forests.

Lake next to our camp

Fresh water lake

View from our tent

Once you start unpacking your backpack you see the miracle of how much you actually squeezed in there! During the day you feel like chucking out half your bag, but in the evening when you have everything from a comfy bed to a cup of coffee, you are thankful you carried the load! Our character is so often tested by privileges. We show who we are when things are under our control and when its out of control! For everything in-between we are uncertain, yet too safe to become conscious of what is needed to feel alive.

Our overfull tent

Camp and coffee

The lesson we learn't the hard way is that people do not pick you up if you are close to or crossing the border. They are scared you are trading in inlicit drugs and wont risk being caught with you. So we walked to the freaking Chilean border! Fortunately everyone at the borders are very "gringo"(Spanish for foreigner) friendly.  After we cleared through customs, the custom officials spoke to the locals and organized us a lift to the next town. I believe life is 10% what happens to you, 30% what you know, 40% what value you put on time and 20% how you react to the situation!

Hitching a ride with friendly locals

Long walk to Chilian border

Its easy to become caricature when you take yourself too serious. So, never stop dreaming, its your anchor in Reality.