Been in S.America for 4 days now and, so far, well and truely surpassed my expectations! Santiago is such a great city - very modern, clean and dynamic - although I'm wishing I'd paid a little bit more attention in my Spanish lessons now - I'm struggling with the language thing!

Staying in a lovely hostel called Casa Roja where I've met some fantastic people - my friend from NZ who I'll be travelling with for the next few weeks arrives today and then tomorrow we are heading through North Chile on a hop on hop off bus run by the hostel which I'm really looking forward too...the hostel is proving great for organising and helping sort things for future parts of the trip.

After much consideration have decided not to do the GAP tour from La Paz to Lima - have spoken to so so so many people who have said how easy it is to get around etc - I may regret this choice but as I've got Ashley (the girl from NZ) to travel with untill the 11th April I hope we will be able to muddle through the language issue! If I've made the wrong choice then I can always do the GAP tour on my next trip over here!

Weather is so beautiful here - think I'm going to be in for a bit of a shock when I hit Bolivia as it is apparently freezing there and very wet..! Went and invested in a gortex raincoat before I left NZ though - couldn't believe I was paying so much money for something I would never normally wear but it's got a life time guarentee and after borrowing someone's rain coat in the bay of Island's (Northern NZ - it rained so so much!) and it leaked I decided it was worth going all out for the gortex! (Can't believe I've just spent a whole paragraph talking about a raincoat...!)

Hoping that the rain clears up in Bolvia by Wednesday otherwise plans to visit the jungle may have to be cancelled as no vehicles can make it over there if it's raining....

North Island of NZ was brilliant - did some great things from driving East with some Aussies to experience true Maori culture (indigneous people of NZ) at a homestay (was so nice to have homecooked food and a proper dinner table to sit round!) and happened to be there when they were rehersing for the big haka dance competition so got to witness authentic Haka dance of the Maori - very unique experience which was amazing.

DId the Tongariro crossing in Taupo which was FANTASTIC! its a 7 hour hike but theres an option to climb mount Doom *from LOTR*. Its advised that you don't do this as its pretty dangerous and only a few people do it 0 however I'd set myself the challenge and at the foot of the volcano me and my travelling companion at the time, an Irish guy called Paddy, got together a random group of 5 people and did the 2 hour scramble to the top of the volcano - I was terrifed - definitely the scariest thing I've ever done but the proudest as well...I was on such a high when I got down - even after I realised I still had the majoirty of the tongariro crossing to walk(/run - as a result of doing the mountain we had very little time left to make it back for the last buses that leave the national park!).

Did white water rafting in Roturua which was also brilliant and hilarious - got some funny stories of ridiculous comments I made throughout the raft such as will we get wet in our wetsuits?! I think it was nerves about doing a grade 5 waterfall which includes a 7ft drop - the pictures are so funny as in every one I am clinging on for dear life!

Trip up to Bay of Islands was really fun - beautiful place - a shame that had really bad weather for 2 of the 4 days but at least I got to see it in beautiful sunshine some of the time - was with the same group for pretty much the whole of the Norht island which made for lots of banter and great nights out - was sad to leave everyone behinda s we all went our seperate ways...

Last 2 days in Auckland were spent sorting stuff for S .America - was randomly sharing a dorm with girl who'd lived 2 doors down from me in Manchestet so had lots in common and was a nice change talking about uni stuff etc...

Right getting evils from people behind me who want to use internet so will have to depart for a spot of sunbathing (sorry to rub it in!)

Hopefully these tasters of info will keep you all satisfied until I return!

Will update as soon as poss again!

Much Lovexxxxxxxxxx