Sore and safe...for now.

I woke up around 6am this morning. What the heck!?! Ahh too early too early. Unfortunately for me though, the mattress isn’t overly comfortable and the pillows are like stone, so going back to sleep wasn’t really an option. Haha.

I received a call from reception close to 9:15am, informing me there was a call for my room! I wasn’t expecting a call, and not knowing anyone in the country is a pretty good indication that I wouldn’t be receiving any calls. Especially as, unless someone had looked on Facebook at one particular picture caption, (which has since been censored) they wouldn’t know where I was staying. PLUS it was like 1am Saturday morning, in Sydney, so a familiar voice was off the list too.  I had the call put through and hello hello! It’s the Elders! That was cool. Elder Eichelberger is the only one in the companionship who can speak English. The other is a Peruvian guy. Whilst Eichelberger is from Bountiful, he has been speaking, thinking, praying etc in Spanish for a year and a half now, so even his English wasn’t the most fluent! Haha. We had no troubles communicating, but there were times when he wouldn’t know a word, or would say things wrong/in the wrong context.
As it turns out, when I emailed mum and dad about not knowing how to contact the Mission Office or the Stake President and that I would try sometime later, they went ahead and contacted the Mission Office for me and gave them my details for them to contact me. Veryyyy convenient. For me.
The Elders said they would come over and give me a blessing; aiming to do so in about 30 minutes. Yeah, well 30 minutes turned into an hour. It didn’t really bother me, but I felt bad afterwards as they are clear over the mountain and this isn’t even their area! They couldn’t get in contact with the Elders who live closer, and look after this area, so they walked over here…bringing with them 2 copies of the Ensign in English and a pass along card, as they weren’t sure if I had any Church literature with me.

They administered a blessing, chatted for a bit, then left. Whilst we were talking, they (when I say I’m really just referring to the Utah-boy) told me of a Bishop from Canada who is here at the moment, with his family and 10 of his daughters friends. Canada. Girls. Tess? I quizzed him about the girls, but he said he hadn’t met any of them, yet thought there was a high possibility that Tess was one of them, as how many Canadian members would be over here, right? Wrong! Haha. I facebooked Tess and asked her if she’s part of this little group and she said she isn’t, but she does know the Bishop and his daughter and her friends! Still pretty crazy though hey. I have the Bishops number, so that I may call him – however I don’t know what to say! I’ll call him and be like…Uhhh hi. I’m from Sydney and I don’t know anyone, and even though you’re only here for another month… Yeah I haven’t quite figured out that conversation yet. It’s still handy to have his number nonetheless. Church this week is Stake Conference, so even though the meetinghouse (that I’ll attend) is not where these Elders usually attend, they will this Sunday. Elder Eichelberger said he’ll try and translate for me (HA!) and that they’ll be able to introduce me to other English speakers. Haha I feel retarded.
So yes, Church is under control, which is great!

Dad also did a fantastic job with contacting IFRE (the organisation I’m volunteering with). I’m pretty sure my emails are not of a very high priority to them, yet when the father gets involved, the respond very speedily and are more than willing to do anything they can to help. Haha. Suckers. So I’m able to move into my homestay/family house/I don’t know what it is exactly on Sunday. Which is also pretty great! I’m going to postpone my trek, so I’ll be able to move in to this other place on Sunday, as well as attend church. I know, right! Cool.

I am still feeling pretty sick and sore. I was going to go up to see some ruins (of the Inca civilisation) this afternoon, however I was unsure as how I would get back, after taking a taxi up there. I figure, I’ve got 2 months here, there will be plenty of time for little day trips, and I’d feel more comfortable, when I’m with IFRE and they are able to help me a little. Yeah? Yeah.  So I walked over to Plaza de Armas again, got roped into looking at this little massage parlour and then went exploring past the main plaza into the side streets. Gosh there are so many stores and stalls and people everywhere! I took many photographs, or things I found to be funny. I’m excited for you guys to see them. I like sharing what I’m experiencing, even if the only way I can do that is via the internet. Bit gay, but y’know. I had my first Peruvian meal. Lunch. Three-course. s/15. The chef could speak fantastic English and chatted with me for a while, before serving up 2 great courses, and 1 that I wasn’t so fond of. Haha. I have pictures. This chef has spent the past 15 years living in Naples, Italy. He misses it. Cuzco is QUITE different from Naples, I’m assuming (not having visited Naples). He also informed me of a little gym just up the road and suggested I join (“You look like someone who would enjoy the fitness”). I went and checked it out. It’s little, that’s for sure. And I’m pretty sure they only have 1 or 2 treadmills, no cross-trainer, no bikes (other than in the spin room…which is an additional like s/40 a month to access) and heaps of weights. I could just get massive. Everybody likes big arms, right?

By this stage, I was SORE. My back was aching and my shoulders and my head and blahhhhh I had to go back to my room…and sleep! I woke up around 6:30pm and wanted to use the Internet. So I went and got dinner at McDonald’s…just so I could use their WiFi. So bad. I don’t even like McDonald’s that much, now I’ve had it 2 days in a row…bleughhhh. I’d never been out at night before, and my gosh, the surrounding streets are so much cooler at night. A million different restaurants seem to pop up and there are street vendors cooking skewers of meat and potato. I was just like, I’m not even hungry, but I want to eat you!  I think I’ll try out this cute little wood-fired pizza place tomorrow night. It has a little door (see facebook photos to know what I’m referring to). AAAnd I’m thinking of maybe doing Chinese food at some stage. They fuse it with Peruvian cuisine quite well, or so I’ve heard. (NB: Not sure where I’ve heard this…as I don’t understand the language, but nonetheless, it is what I have heard. Haha)
Blah blah blah ate at McDonald’s. Felt gross. Used the internet for like 2hours. Haha. Not many people in Sydney use the net on a Saturday around lunch time, that’s for sure! When I went to leave it was raining! Luckily I had my outdoors jacket with zee hoooood! So up it went, and off I trudged through the puddles to get back to the hostel. I was freeeeezing. When I took my clothes off, to get changed, my gosh, my skin was like ice! Ahh! Brrrrr.

Thank you to those who are being nice and still contacting me. Haha.

Feelings of love and longing to all. 

Hola Cuzco

I’ve had my first full 24hours in Cuzco!
I’m feeling a little better today. I haven’t cried too much. Just a few tears here and there, generally associated with emails. Haha. I unfortunately am still very sick. It’s not nice. Last night was hell. I was praying so hard that I would be able to sleep; all the while thinking ‘kill me kill me’. I had a temperature, and was getting chills, but at the same time felt way too hot in what I was sleeping in. My nose was blocked/running, my throat was dry and scratchy, my head was like lead, my eyes were hot and I was coughing and writhing and groaning and just not having the most pleasant night. On top of all that I was only able to ‘sleep’ for like 2 or 3 hours, just like being on a plane. I took some Panadeine at around 4am and was knocked out cold til 12noon. So good! -- But I didn’t like the sleeping til 12 part. I woke up and was like ahhh I can’t breathe! Ha.
I also woke up to these loud loud canon/gun sounding noises. There would be about 5 or 6 of them at a time. I probably heard them around 6 times…? I have no idea where they were coming from or even the purpose of them…so if anyone can shed any light on the situation that would be great! I thought they were gun shots at first and freaked out a bit. Very dramatic conclusion to draw I realise.

I was out the door by 1pm, only after making sure that everything was locked up and I had memorised EXACTLY how I’d left everything, so that I’d be able to tell if someone had been in my room when I returned. Paranoid! I decided that given the time and how fantastic I felt, I would just walk over to the Plaza de Armas and chill out there for a while. It’s the main Plaza in Cuzco. Very touristy also. Soooo I’m on my merry way, walking and taking in everything. The overcrowded taxis, little streets, colourful buildings, funny signs, little Peruvian people and the like. I consulted my map a few times and even though I couldn’t find any of the surrounding streets on there, I was like “it’s alright, I’ll just keep walking straight and everything will be cool”. Yeah. Ok. I stopped at the corner of a street and was like…I have to find where I am on the map! So that I at least have a small idea of where I’m going. (Insert a bit of Rebekah Lavauney.) Here I am, in my high socks, back pack on, camera around my neck, backpacking headband on, with my face stuck to this map trying to find where this street was! I caught the eye of a Peruvian woman who was approaching, with (presumably) her mother and daughter, and pointed to the Plaza de Armas on the map – asking how to get there. She points in the direction I just came from. Yeahhh I’d been walking in the wrong direction! Woo I’m the best! Haha. I had noticed that these streets weren’t looking very touristy…but didn’t think too much of it. Haha. Loser.
So I started walking in the right direction and asked a few more people along the way if I was going the right way. I didn’t want to be walking AWAY from my destination again. Ha. Everything started looking like it was more tailored for tourists ie: backpack and hiking shoe stores, internet cafes, bars, hotels, souvenir stores, etc.
I finally got the Plaza aaaaaand it’s pretty cool. There’s a fountain in the middle of it and these beautiful Spanish-influenced buildings around. I think one of them was a Cathedral. They were all so cool though. There are pictures, which I will have up on Facebook (because blogger takes forever to upload them ☹…I’ll keep trying though!). As always, I don’t feel as if any of the photos do any justice to the real things at all…but unless you are going to come over and see them for yourself, this is as good as it’s going to get…(yes, that is an invitation for someone to come and join me…)

I went and sat on a park bench in the middle for a bit and was just bombarded with little children trying to sell me things. It’s really sad. They try to sell you gum and little lollies; cute finger puppets and the like. Then there are the adults who try to sell their ‘original’ artwork, beenies, pastries, handicrafts. I feel bad saying no but I can’t buy anything from them. As one picture shows, you say you’ll buy from one and then they all attack you! It breaks you heart to have the kids come up and sit next to you and put, whatever it is they are selling, on your lap and look up at you waiting for you pay them. Ahhh! Then there were the young girls who are dressed in their traditional clothing and with one of the holding a baby goat they want you to take a picture of them, and then pay for the privilege. Later, I spied the older of this one group of girls go over to the fountain with an empty water bottle, fill it up and give it to one of the younger girls to drink. AHHH KILL ME, fo’ rizzle. As I mentioned previously, it’s really sad. My heart goes out to these children and adults. I pray for better lives for them. Man! I honestly wish everyone could see it; and I believe that doing this kind of charity work would benefit so many of my friends in wonderful ways. Honestly guys.
Back to the bench: this man came and sat down and started talking to me in very broken English. I couldn’t really understand a lot of what he said, but I did find out that he has a friend that lives in Sydney, his brother is a Dr. in Texas, he lives with his mother and father, he knows of the ‘Mormon’ church and marked on my map where the meetinghouse is. I’m thinking about taking a taxi over there tomorrow. I would LOVE to just ‘bump’ into some missionaries, but that’s a bit of a big ask hey. Haha. He was quite helpful, but I wasn’t really interested in finding shelter with him when it started to rain. I walked the other way, without turning back (because I’m rude like that) and lo and behold, what do I stumble across…why…a MCDONALD’S. Ahhh yeahhh boiiii (sorry Timmy, but it was definitely an ‘ahh yeahh boiii’ moment)! There’s something nice and familiar ☺ So I went in and bought a mini-snack wrap, mcflurry, small sprite for S/10.80…which equates to about USD$3. I’m pretty sure! Cool though hey. The restaurant had sweet little Peruvian touches around the place. (I’ve taken pictures and they should be up on Facebook). ‘Twas quite cool. Then, what should catch my eye but the ‘FREE WIFI’ sign. Yes! I was ever-so-grateful that I had brought my laptop with me. I spent a couple of hours using the Maccas free internet and plan on doing so tomorrow also. Haha. Thank you McDonald’s. Whilst I’m addicted to the internet, I should take advantage of not having to pay for it, where I can! I pretty much used it til my battery ran out. (I should point out that it was raining outside for the most part, so I wasn’t being a complete internet loser nerd). After a little while, one of the loveliest girls (who let me take a picture of her in the denim on denim uniform) came out with a dessert menu for me to choose something from. Cute! She’s the best.

When I finally left and was on my way back to the hostel, I was taking a picture of these two policemen, when this Peruvian freelance photographer started talking to me. We walked around the Plaza taking pictures and chatting for a good few hours. It was cool. But at the same time, when I wanted to go, he kept delaying and was like “tonight’s my last night in Cuzco, come out with me blah blah blah”. I was like “Seriously I’m really sick and my bones feel sore and achy and I’m shaking due to being and feeling so weak, like I really just want to go back”. My body was telling me to rest, far out! I can’t even remember the amount of times I asked him to call me a taxi so I could go, but he kept delaying. Fairly annoying. I finally got a taxi close to 8:30pm and he said that he’d pay for my fare…”but if you want to come out later tonight, just give me a call on my number and we can go to a disco! Ok?” Yeah right buddy. He also told me that when I come to Lima I should give him a call and we can hang out and he’ll take photos of me in a studio and ahhhh shut up. I’m not going to email you and I’m not going to add you on msn or facebook or get in contact with you again. Sure you take some good photos with your phat Canon, and you were ok to go around the plaza with, taking pictures, but I don’t really have any interest in continuing this ‘friendship’. You’re like 30. Gracias, pero non gracias (thanks, but no thanks). Yarrrrrr. I’m not very nice.

I do miss everyone a ridiculous amount still. Especially as it’s the weekend. I think it might have something to do with my complete lack of ‘commitment’ that is making so crazy and lonely. I can’t back out or use any excuse! Noooo!! Haha
I’m also thinking of postponing my trek, which is supposed to start on Sunday. I’m not a picture of health at the moment and this trek is one of the most difficult, and goes to one of the highest points accessible. So, the lack of fitness/health and the high altitude might not be a good idea, yeah? …I will do it! Just maybe not this weekend. Seriously, I’m getting puffed and sore after just spending the afternoon outside. I’m not sure I’d do overly well on a 4-day trek.

X -- for all.

"We're going to Miami..."...wish we weren't

(Thanks, Will Smith.)

Yes, my connecting flight from LA to Miami finally arrived, after what felt like a very long 5-hours.
The flight from LA to Miami was about 5-hours, from memory. It was an older plane...not very pleasing to zee eye. However, my favour with the 'flight gods' continued and I was granted another little 2-seater to myself. 'Twas quite nice. I flew with American Airlines, and let me just say...coming straight from Qantas to AA...Qantas trumps all! haha. AND I would like to point out that AA should change their dress code for their flight attendants, as it's quite disgraceful! Hair out, looking messy, dresses or pants and blouse, circa 1980's/1990's and barely any smiles. Jess, Leia...you should totally train them!

So, we get to Miami, on time. Which is cool. Arrival at 9:45pm and anticipate leaving MIA around 11:30pm. Sweet!Once I got into the terminal I went and purchased some 'Cuban pastries' and a bottle of water.
Then it turned bad! Annoyance 1: There was no wireless internet I could access, without paying for it. And I'd already paid like $8 in LAX for internet, I totally didn't want to again.
Annoyance 2: The morning that I left was the same morning that my cold like completely attacked! I was hoping that it would have passed but no, it was and still is very much enjoying it's time infecting my body. Woo. So I was all coughy and runny-nose-y and just blahhhhh.
Anonyance 3: It was freeeeeeeezing. Brrr. I was shivering a ridiculous amount. I even had to stick my sock on! Socks and Havaiana's ohh yeahhhh.
Annoyance 4: They (I'm not sure who "they" are, but..nevertheless, THEY) were late bringin the plane over from the hanger. So our flight was originally delayed by 40minutes. Putting the departure time back til 12.10am. A few people were a bit filthy over that, but really...when you read what comes next, there was really no reason to complain. A 40minute delay would have been great...but...
Annoyance 5: They took longer than anticipated to clean the plane and get it ready for us to board. We started boarding at around 12:30am and then went and taxi'd for a while from 12:45am. After taxi-ing for AN HOUR we were told that our aircraft was not fit to fly, meaning that everyone (on the ridiculously FULL flight) had to get off. Yay.
Annoyance 5: They couldn't find a replacement plane that was ready for us. So that involved more waiting around in the colddd terminal.
NOTE: At 11pm, I took Melatonin to help me sleep on the plane, so that I wouldn't suffer from jetlag. I had to like FIGHT the Melatonin to stay awake. I was sooo sleepy that my vision was blurring and I couldn't keep my eyelids open! It was so hardddd. So let's just keep in mind that I'm fighting the Melatonin. So bad. So when we where just taxi-ing, I was already asleep and didn't understand that we hadn't actually left the airport when I was woken by everyone moving on out!! haha.
Annoyance 6: blah blah blah trying to stay awake we end up starting to board sometime around 3am and FINALLY leave the tarmac at around 3:30am. (I kept checking my watch)
Annoyance 7: Upon arriving in Lima I realised just how disadvantaged I am for not knowing the language. Ohhh man. And charades doesn't help as much as I hoped it would. haha.

Lima - Cuzco was ok. My cold was driving me insane though. Non stop runny nose. Couldn't breathe, coughing and having that sick feeling in my head and like being able to taste it. Grossssss. The plane was really nice though. Leather seats. really clean. And the flight attendants were well-presented also.

I am now in Cuzco. Sitting in the liiiittle room the motel have set up for the internet. I don't know where the light switch is, so I'm typing this using only the backlight from the computer screen. It's hurting my eyes a little. My glasses are up in my bag...and I can't be bothered to get them. I should go and get dinner soon.
Maaan Cuzco is crazy! Think Slumdog MIllionaire but change the Indians for South Americans and that's very much what it's like. I wish you could all be here to see the cobbled streets, colourful buildings, mountains, crazycrazy drivers, dirt roads, falling down fences and abandoned shacks.
I'm a bit lonely. So that could be why I want everyone over here also. I've cried way too much today. I'm like one of those middle-aged women!

I want to post photos. Buuut I have to figure out how I can do that when I don't have internet on my computer. Maybe I'll buy an internet thing? I don't know.

I hope I'm well for my trek at the end of the week.

hugs hugs kisses and love to all....although I think I need it more than you!!
wah wah wahhhh haha

Goodbye Sydney, I Love You...

I finally left.

It always seemed like one of those things that was spoken about but would never come to pass.

Well. 

It has. 

I'm currently sitting in a very average airport terminal in LAX. It's 10:30am, Tuesday 17th Feb (making it 5:30am, Wednesday 18th Feb back home). I get to have the 17th all over again. It wasn't a bad day, so I'm not overly fussed. If this time around it turns out to be bad, at least I've had one good one, right? 

Anyway, I've been in LA for about 3 1/2 hours now; and have another 2-ish hours til my flight to Miami leaves. It's rainy, cold, grey...and I'm in havainas...soooo any trip outside is kept to a maximum of 3-minutes -- otherwise my feet start to freeeeze (it's 9 degrees celcius). 

I have one or two pictures, from the two flights I've been on thus far; but I have packed my camera connector cable AND laptop charger in my baggage that was checked in. Disappointing; as I wanted to post them on here. They aren't fantastic amazing wonderful pictures that you HAVE to see...but y'know. 

I got really sad on the plane. I'm gone for what, at this stage, seems like such a long time. I almost started crying. Soft, I know. (This coming from someone who completely refrains from showing any emotion. Haha. We all crack at some stage I guess) I hope some of my friends email me. That would be nice. I miss everyone already. 

The flights were good. 

Syd-Bris was fine. I was surrounded by Japanese tourists, so that was cool. (I'm talking the rows in-front, behind and to the side) I love those people! I was thinking about it, and I think there are so many more cool asians than cool caucasians. There so are.

Bris-LA was a little long. The Qantas lady back in Sydney (Vesna, is her name) was so lovely and put me in an aisle seat right next to the kitchenette and near an exit, so there was lots of room. HOWEVER I was one of those annoying people who changed their seat/row as soon as the seatbeat sign was switched off -- I managed to get a little 2-seat-row to myself...I was too slow to get one of the 3 or 4 -seat rows, but 2-seats is better than the 1. I was able to lay in a fairly coiled up position, which provided some comfort when attempting to sleep. I also stood up for about 2 and a bit hours, so I'm hoping that has reduced my risk for deep-vein-thrombosis. I know that you can get it after only one flight, so it's lucky I stood up! (haha, I'm joking, but it is good that I stood up. It gets a little cramped otherwise). Food was fine. InFlight Entertainment was great...but I didn't really like looking at a screen that close to your face! So I didn't watch much, at all. I'm not sure how I passed the time; but somehow it happened. Sleep didn't come overly easily. As a result I'm actually feeling a little tired now. Buuuuut I have to stay awake til I get onto the Miami-Lima flight tonight, (at approx. 11:30pm) Yay. So good hey, so good. 

I'm getting restless and agitated and can't stay on this laptop any longer. 

OH:

I swear everyone here in LAX fits the stereotype that you see in like every American television show/film. The cops, custom ladies, fast-food servers, construction workers, security, etc. It's ridiculous. I want to take pictures of all of them and show you, but I'm a bit chicken. You'll just have to take my word for it. 

Ahhhh I think it's 45minute nap time :)

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