THE LAST POST

Hi Everyone - just letting you know that this is probably my last post here -
Because the plan for this blog was photos primarily, I was finding it rather labourious to slowly upload one photo at a time. Hence, I've now set up a site with flickr. You can find my photos at www.flickr.com/photos/kerrimuir

Cheers, Kerri

And the winner is . . .

Thanks to all correct respondents to ´just hanging out´ post - and thanks to incorrect ones too - I got a laugh! Congratulations to the first correct respondent, Ross - the llama is officially yours (please allow approx 9 months for delivery). Hunnah and Graz were both so close too that you guys can have llamas too. Yes, I got my ears pierced - which lead to cultural tip of the day . . . female babies here have there ears pierced within hours of birth. This is quite handy for avoiding gender mistakes when admiring people´s babies. So, seeing as people would ask me why mine weren´t pierced . . . and I didn´t have any good reason . . .and it´s dirt-cheap to get done and to buy earrings here . . . .

On the Road to Sucre 2

On the Road to Sucre

This is the missionary van which we travelled in convoy with - the road is two-way, and mighty narrow!

Once again, I´m using this blog mainly for photos, so if you would like more detail, email me and I´ll put you on my email list.

Just hangin´out . . .

Creek is a bit low for kayaking - but reminicient of tassie none the less!

Notice anything different about me . . .? first one to reply correctly (comment here or email) will be the proud owner of the rather small fake llama also pictured . . .

Mmmmm. . . .

Nice, hey. This is a national park near Cochabamba the day before I left for Sucre

Glory to God in the highest??? . . .

The obligatory photo of me in front of (apparently) the highest statue of Christ in the world, Cochabamba, 2,800m above sea level

Standard of living

The division between rich and poor is very obvious. It´s not at all uncommon to have 2 houses like the ones pictured, basically next door to each other.

Los Padilla

The Padilla family (my hosts)
Back - Me, Jafia, Moico, Veronica, Salem
Front - Usai, Naiot

More Carnival

Many elaborate costumes.

with permission . . .

Ok this one wasn´t a discreet photo (see previous post) but I did ask permission - and then buy the popcorn she is holding. A lot of Quechua folk object strongly to photos - tied up with their religious beliefs

Quechua lady

I took the opportunity at the parade for Carnival to take some discreet shots of locals - this is a very typical Quechua (Inca indian descent) lady complete with bowler hat and K´epi (coloured cloth on back) which is used for anything from carrying groceries to babies

Carnival!

The biggest annual parade/event in Bolivia

What do you reckon about swing-dancing in these skirts!?

Kerri the vegetarian??? Look closely!

Check it out!

Hibiscus flower. The plants and flowers here are amazingly tropical-like, even at altitude. And smell fantastic. Everything is especially lush at the moment because of more rain than usual this rainy season. After the next couple of weeks it's not expected to rain (at all!) until november!

el micro

oops sorry forgot to rotate this - you´ll just have to look like a fool while looking at it. This was taken out the back of the ´micro´ going up the autopista to the altiplano. I´ll be writing more detail in emails so if you´d like more info, email me to get yourself on my list.

La Paz

Wow La Paz is an amazing city. Houses cling to steep escarpments I´m not sure how while huge mountains surround

¡buen vista!

The amazing view coming over mountains from Chile to Bolivia. A great flight with 2 brief stops in coastal Chile which meant low altitude and amazing views

Santiago with new friend

This is me with Ester - a lovely Christian argentinian lady, in Santiago airport. Plenty of spanish practice for me!