COLOMBIA: 40 Shades of Cartagena - A Visual Love Letter

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Not all journeys are designed to be reflected upon in written form. On particularly rare occasions - quite like this one - a simple (40) photograph shall do. I`m therefore keeping this one short, my friends, for there are certain places in this world words have yet to be invented to even remotely describe their beauty, harmony and sophistication.  
Well then. Welcome to my visual love letter dedicated to one of the Caribbean`s finest pearls.
Cartagena - each and every smile captured in and provoked by this post, is dedicated to you. 

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BARRANCO: A Short Guide to Lima`s Most Underrated, Bohemian District

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Welcome back dear readers, fellow travellers, friends and foes, welcome back.

We have already made it through a quarter of the new year (freaked out yet?), which made me realise how long it has been since I last pestered you with one of my reports from across the world. After having been cut off from decent wifi for a solid four weeks (thanks Cuba), I figured it was about time to tune in and to resume where I`d left off. Whilst I invited you guys to join me on a short, sandy trip to Latin America`s only natural oasis in my previous post, I`m now determined to take you to Peru`s capital, where I`ll introduce you to some of the hippest bars, museums, fairs and street art the country has to offer.

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"KK, let`s say I decide to visit Lima, where should I stay?"

Before I let you in on the actual good stuff, there are a few things I must insist on clarifying: Unlike the urban landscape of Western or European cities, Latin American metropoles thrive off their outskirts that are often considered safer than the city centres. Lima is no exception here. With an estimated population of 10 million people spread across 43 districts the capital is not only humongous in size but also comprises of areas that are best avoided. Unfortunately, and depending on the neighbourhood you find yourself in, it is common practice to get scammed, harassed or robbed at gun-, or knifepoint in plain daylight. As such, reading up on Lima`s districts that are safe and accessible to tourists should be a primary concern of your trip planning and should thus influence your choice of location and accommodation.

HUACACHINA: Five Reasons Why You Should Visit South America`s Only Oasis at Least Once in Your Life

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Once upon a time, beautiful native princess Huacay China retired to the remotest place on earth to mourn her lover`s death. Far from her kingdom and her father`s palace, her grief was interrupted by the sudden appearance of her deceased beloved. Terrified by the illusion, she undressed and threw herself into the pool of her own tears. The folds of her golden gown are rumoured to have formed the sand dunes the lagoon is girded with. As for the princess herself, she is believed to have been living as a mermaid guarding the oasis ever since. 

THE ANDES: 20 Latin Songs to Get You Across One of The World`s Largest Mountain Ranges

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Hey there, how`s life been treating you ?

I originally planned on meticulously chronicling my three-week adventure across the Andes in a lengthy, detailed post for you but have decided to cut it short(er) this time. The web is so overly saturated with advice, info, pack lists and itineraries that I figured you wouldn`t need another one of those bloggers explaining to you what sort of hiking boots to get and what kind of thermal underwear to pack. Nah. I fully trust your wit and ability to investigate should you need any guidance on visiting Latin America`s incomparable mountains. Whatever you choose and wherever you`re deciding on going - be it the Rainbow Mountains, the Inca Trail or Lares Trek, Machu Picchu, the Maras Salt-flats or the Colca Canyon - Google`s got you covered, belive me. What I`ll be sharing with you instead is something neither Google nor any travel blogger has managed to thus far (???), and that`s a fiery up-to-date latin playlist to ensure you`re actually gonna make it all the way to them snowy mountain tops. Like don`t get me wrong, I`m 98% positive that you`ll enjoy your experience up there, but I also haven`t met a single traveller - myself included - who didn`t hit a rough patch at least once during their Andean trip, which is why I`ve compiled a list of 20 songs that will give you the necessary amount of fuego to conquer any kind of boredom, fear, cold, exhaustion, altitude and potential food poisoning. See it as the circumstantial soundtrack to my own experience if you like and thank me later: There`s nothing more therapeutic than pushing yourself to your own limits somewhere in the middle of bloody nowhere between 4-5000m above sea level to the beat of a vibrant Latin song that is kicking your a*s truuust. 

    So I guess that`s it for today - enjoy the browsing, enjoy the music and hasta luego. 

Much love,

HF

LAKE TITICACA: Between Bolivia and Peru, Where Time Is Standing Still

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Welcome (back) to my page dear friends, strangers, travellers and other kinds of human beings. I must admit that I was left quite surprised by your enthusiastic comments in regards to my previous blogpost where I discussed 10 of La Paz` most curious quirks and perks. For someone who is inclined to criticise her own writing relentlessly, reading your encouraging words truly means a great deal to me, so thanks for that.

Well. By the time you read this piece I`ll have long crossed the border that separates Bolivia from Peru. On board of a tiny, white ferry I`ll have glided across the azure waves of Lake Titicaca - South America`s largest freshwater lake and the world`s highest navigable waterbody situated at an altitude of 3800m above sea level. I`ll have maundered along its shores that are home to crumbling ruins of pre-Incan civilisations and I`ll have climbed the surrounding Andean peaks and soft, rolling hills marked by farmland, fields and vast, desolate stretches of rocky altiplano. 

LA PAZ: 10 Curiosities Only Bolivia`s Second Capital Could Pull Off

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Welcome to La Paz, a swirling carnival of colours and cultures, pedestrians and honking cars, native rituals and Western architecture, street markets, food stands and more official languages than you can count. Inimitable in its mixture of modern capitalism and ancient indigenous traditions, Bolivia`s second capital city surely is a metropolis unlike any other. Impossible to ignore, each and every street pulses with the memory of its tumultuous - if not violent - history. La Paz is there, and it`s very much in your face, so here are my top picks of its quirks and twists that are not only unapologetically Latin America, but also quintessentially Bolivian:

SEVEN DAYS IN THE FAR EAST

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Well hello there,

it`s been a while, hasn`t it. After months of exams, dissertation and semi-ridiculous attempts to get a decent bachelor`s degree, I`ve finally managed to keep my word by writing up a little something about my time in the Far East. Hong Kong had been on my bucket list for quite some time, so the excitement was - correspondingly - super real when I finally boarded that plane that carried me for eleven dead-boring hours to the other side of the globe. Despite my desperate efforts to get some rest, I didn`t sleep for a single minute, quite in contrast to my mother who missed departure, landing and everything in between. Staying awake paid off though; the first glimpse I caught of the former British colony was a city bathed in golden evening light as the sun was about to set below its horizon. Mesmerised by the picturesque spectacle, I could not but wonder what kinds of adventures were waiting for me over the course of the following seven days.

A SHORT ODYSSEY

Medusa once had Charms; to gain her Love

A rival Crowd of envious Lovers strove.

They, who have seen her, own, they ne'er did trace

More moving Features in a sweeter Face.

Yet above all, her Length of Hair, they own,

In golden Ringlets wav'd, and graceful shone.

Her Neptune saw, and with such Beauties fir'd,

Resolv'd to compass, what his Soul desir'd.

In chaste Minerva's Fane, he, lustful, stay'd,

And seiz'd, and rifled the young, blushing Maid.

The bashful Goddess turn'd her Eyes away,

Nor durst such bold Impurity survey;

But on the ravish'd Virgin Vengeance takes,

Her shining Hair is chang'd to hissing Snakes.

These in her Aegis Pallas joys to bear,

The hissing Snakes her Foes more sure ensnare,

Than they did Lovers once, when shining Hair.

-Ovid, Metamorphoses, 800 CE

Thousands of years have passed since Medusa`s myth was brought to life. Crossing a myriad of stormy seas and desolate deserts, there is not a single corner of the world her story has not touched. Described as one of the most treacherous and venomous creatures in Greek mythology, her countenance gradually became the paragon of female maleficence, repulsion and seduction as time took its course. It was not until 1978 that Medusa`s mystical beauty and golden ringlets were restored. Inspired by the ancient legends and ruins of his homeland, Gianni Versace not only chose her as the face of his brand, but also sent her conquering the world with a new message: Epitomising strength, magnificence, power and splendour today, she may not be turning men into stone anymore, but enchants those who cross her path and dare to meet her glance. 

FOR ONE OF THOSE DAYS

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We all know them, we all have them and - let`s face it: we all hate them; The sun could be shining in all of its splendour, the radio could be playing our favourite song...we could have even just bought a new pair of shoes, but all of this doesn`t matter, because it is one of those days when we are literally just not feeling it. Our energy levels are low despite our good night`s sleep, our coffees are spilled the moment we touch the cup, and our toast keeps burning on both sides, no matter how often and hard we try. 
This all wouldn`t be a big deal had we not lectures and meetings to attend, errands to run and expectations to meet. Having to leave the house and being forced to face 8 million Londoners and a bunch of lost tourists on a day like this is probably the last thing we`d like to do, but we know that there`s no way we could just curl up in bed and pretend life isn`t happening. It is, and it`s very much breathing down our neck.