We’ve had one or two of our Explorers make it to Machu Picchu and it is now the turn of Young Fit and Adventurous Jane.

The struggle of an early start, we’re talking 4:30am (I mean that’s still night, right?), was eased by cheering porters as Jane arrived at the bus that would take her on to the trek. In fact it seems the porters made something of an impression, especially the chef,

“The chef was especially amazing […], an average meal was: starter, soup, selection of some six to eight regional dishes presented buffet style, and dessert. The last day we even had sculptures of birds made out of vegetables. And this was all from ingredients carried up and down hills for four days.”

Over those 4 days Jane made it through Dead Woman’s Pass, drank a whole lot of coca tea, enjoyed spectacular moonlight and crowned all this with Machu Picchu itself,

“It was every bit as beautiful as it’s rumoured to be and we chilled out at the top of the hill for a while before descending down to the lost city. It is really high up, perched at the top of this hill, even though we were even higher up. We could even see little clouds drifting below us which was kind of cool.”

Jane has made it to Peru and has already done her Inca trek, though is yet to update us with how that went. For now we must be satisfied with what she’s been up to in the city of Cusco.

Cusco was allegedly built in the shape of a Puma. Something our Young Fit and Adventurous STA Explorer concurred with,

“When the Incas built Cusco, they designed it to be in the shape of a puma. I read this in my guidebook before I arrived and scoffed, imagining it to look as much like a puma as boat mountain looked like a boat in Cambodia. But it really does look like a puma, it’s amazing really.”

Now this seems pretty cool… though my belief that it actually looks like a Puma is thrown into doubt by Jane’s musings,

“Admittedly the first night I thought the head was at one end and the next night realised it was at the other, but it’s still impressive.”

Been to Cusco? Does it look like a Puma? Please let us know and be sure to visit Jane’s blog.

It was Peru that first inspired Jane to pick up a pair of well heeled tramping boots, book her tickets and experience travelling abroad – and since arriving in the quaint town of Arequipa, she hasn’t been let down.

“I love it here. It´s so pretty, has a fascinating history and the people are interesting. The towns I’ve been to so far have been an odd mix of ancient Inca buildings and grandiose Spanish architecture, with perfectly laid out, tree-lined plaza da armas.”

But it’s not just the scenery that is appealing, and across on her blog she elucidates on all the different elements of the town that have led her to describing the locale as ‘cute’. One is not so sure whether that description encompasses the local wildlife though, especially when it comes to those curious creatures known as Alpacas. I’ll leave the descriptions up to Jane…

“They also have loads of these animals called alpacas, which are the most stupid looking creatures I´ve ever seen, resembling something like a cross between a sheep and a giraffe, with a very gormless expression.”

Charming!

Currently in Chile our adventurous Jane is heading to Peru tomorrow, and is by all accounts looking forward to the change. She’s been promised excitement…

“People have told me the craziness factor will be upped. Chile is too normal. I feel more at home in crazy places seeing as I’m crazy myself ”

Although she gives details of her plans for Peru, which include the spectacular Machu Picchu, Jane tells of what ‘normal’ stuff she’s been up to in Chile. This has included learning the Spanish for moon and mountain while having conversations based around nodding and smiling lots on buses. On a grander scale though, there has been some spectacular imagery,

“We also had the best sunset I’ve ever seen, the sky turned all manner of colours and it lasted for ages. You see a lot of sunsets whilst travelling, I don’t remember noticing all that many back home. I’ve also waited for the sunset on a number of occasions, which I don’t think I’ve ever done before.”

To read more of what Jane will be doing in Peru and what she did in Chile read her full post here.

Our STA Explorer Jane is feeling a lot better after a bout of food poisoning. She attributes some of the improved physical state to the mild and damp weather she’s currently experiencing in Auckland New Zealand.

This initially involved Sky Tower, Mt. Eden and taking in some bungee jump action from Harbour Bridge, something Jane contemplates,

“I kind of feel like I had enough off chucking myself off high things into water in Vang Vieng, and I’m not really sure it’s something I enjoy. I kind of get into mid-air and then think “oh, f***, why did I think this was a good idea, oh my god I’m going to die I’m going to die, oh I’m alive but that really hurt and I’ve lost my bikini top””

The following day Jane took in the scenery at Taupo where she was impressed by NZ rainbow, by her account a more vibrant and richer beast than the colourful arches we are treated to on our own misty shores,

“You see kiddie pictures with rainbows and leprechauns and things and the rainbow goes all the way up and over in a perfect arch, and you think “yeah, rainbows so don’t look like that in real life?” Well, they do here!”

For more rainbow assessment and detail on Jane’s experience of New Zealand so far leap through.

Sadly Jane’s STA Explorer name is once again ironically inaccurate as she has been hit by another bout of food poisoning. As she points out, this basically necessitates her ‘generally lying around’ with time to ponder her past experiences.

This led to her sharing the end of her time in India which, as she tried collecting her bag from the hotel before catching her plane, resulted in a close brush with the country’s film industry. A man chased her down the street and when he caught up with her asked if she’d like to feature as an extra in a Bollywood movie.

““Oh, sorry, I’m leaving tonight”, I said reluctantly. Damn! I would have loved to do that. It’s quite common in Colaba for the film people to scout out random westerners to appear in the background of Bollywood films, just my luck I got asked on the way out!”

Don’t worry Jane, when one door closes and all that… On the plus side if you want to know the best way of getting talent spotted while travelling you know who to ask.

Her latest post includes more on her time in India along with her stopover in Sydney and facing the forms on arrival in NZ that come with ‘swine flu panic’. So what to expect next? In her own words it is time to,

“stop lolling and find a piece of New Zealand to inspire me!”

Go Jane!

As Jane continues her inexorable trail across Asia, it seems that luck has befallen her. Along with a bevy of photos – she has happened across a really rather special place.

“So I am now in Udaipur. I really like this city. I thought it wouldn’t be as nice as Jaisalmer, to be honest, but I think this is my favourite place so far.”

And it seems she’s been having a wonderful time, from indulging in rather terrifying horse riding experiences, to an in depth discussion about Hannah Montana. Most of all though, it seems she has really hit it off with the gentlemen of the region, with conversation ranging…

“from in-depth conversations about the difference between our cultures in terms of religion and family, to being told by a 13 year old that I’m sexy, a million ‘hello sweetheart’s’, and being invited for chai at a 16 year old’s house, where ‘nobody else home’”

Crumbs!