The city of Cusco was once an ancient Inca city. Cituated at a high altitude of 3400m (11250ft) just east of the Andes. Upon arrival you can feel the thinness of the air and draw heavier breaths. The Spanish Conquistadors took over the city around 1535. Looking around you'll see buildings built upon the stone remnants of the Incan empire. There are many Inca ruins within the city limits to see.
Category Archives: Destination
Walking Mirafloras Area Lima to Coastline
Miraflores is a rather upscale district of Lima. Cosmoplitan, chic and safe to walk. It's south of downtown Lima and safe to walk. I went for a walk using the straightest path to the coast which led me to the Larcomar mall which I couldn’t resist checking out. It’ right along the cliffs where a long pedestrian and bike path runs up/down the coast. The cliffs run high and for miles.
Arrival Lima, Peru and Selina Miraflores Hotel
Selina Miraflores is hotel/hostel located in the heart of the Miraflores area of Lima. A quote from their website. “Selina provides guests with beautiful places to stay, travel, and work abroad indefinitely. Plus, we use our in-depth local knowledge to create thousands of authentic activities and experiences in over 145 destinations worldwide” .The prices are low, accommodations modest, and services are exemplary. I got a private room for $39 USD/night. I chose this place for the location to a few places I had bookmarked, the good reviews, and the pricing.
Playa Del Carmen- Quinta Avenida
Playa Del Carmen is a highly touristic place. However it is quite lively with many restaurants, shopping, bars, nightlife and enterainment. On the adventurous side you have many scuba diving sites on the reefs/cenotes, parasailing, skydiving, adventure parks and much more. To get to Playa Del Carmen you need to fly into Cancun then find a shuttle over.
Hanoi City- Old Quarter
The first thing you notice about Hanoi, the capitol of Vietnam, is how much cooler it is from Ho Chi Minh. Though it’s about 1500km (under a 1000miles) to the north the temperature dropped about 20degF (12degC). Unlike Ho Chi Minh the Hanoi sky was rather cloudy the whole time. Being the Capitol and more political I encountered many restricted areas as I wandered out of the Old Quarter to explore some of the sites.
Ho Chi Minh City Stop
I arrive in Vietnam Ho Chi Minh City from Singapore. With Only a few days in this city, I had researched the internet for the perfect hostel to relax and leisurely wander this city. My decision for a hostel was The Common Room Project in District 5. Now all I had to do was get there from the airport.
A Few Days in Singapore- ringing in the Chinese new year
As we approach Singapore in a Qantas flight I’m watching an eerily space-like image from the plane’s tail cam view. Remembering 10 years ago I visited Singapore briefly and I told myself I need to return someday. Back then, after a Tibet/Nepal Everest trip me and a fellow traveler had a long stopover in Singapore. We met up with my old friend and colleague who lives there to give us a tour. We had a delicious salt and pepper crab dinner and a night out. Such a fascinatingly modern and clean city I’m looking forward to exploring Singapore further.
Auckland Part 1 and 2- Ringing in the New Year
New Year's Eve 2020 I arrive in Auckland from Sydney Australia. Checking into the Verandahs Backpackers hostel, I had plenty of time to settle and get ready for a party at Fhloston Paradise just across the street from Verandahs. Fhloston Paradise was the name of the vacation-cruise planet from The Fifth Element SciFi movie.
Queenstown- New Zealand

I arrive at the Queenstown airport via Air New Zealand from Auckland just after 2pm. Exiting the plane was via the rear ramp onto the tarmac. I see this jagged mountain ridge line with just a bit of snow still remaining at the top peak. I already feel this place is going to be awesome!