Hai bai travel

Traveling together for the next year. Posting our adventures/daily thrills- those that make me say hai, and those that make me say bai.

[haibaitravel]

[haibaitravel]

[haibaitravel]

Late post but updating with some oldies!!

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First night of camping begins! #camping #vanlife #vwbus #westfalia #galveston #galvestonbeach #texasbus #texasvw #texascamping #springbreak #vanoldschool #vintagecamping #vw #vwcampervan #vwlifestyle #vwcommunity #vwlove #vwcampervan #vwbus #vwvortex #vwmafia #travel #wanderlust #wanderlusttribe #travelpics #goexplore (at Galveston County, Texas)

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Uros Floating Island!

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1.29.18

Monday- Rainbow Mountain

Hai

- Today was an early one. We had a tour this morning at 3am. Welllll it was supposed to be at 3:00am but our tour guide was a whole hour late- so we get into the jammed tour bus- sardine style. Luckily there were just enough seats  so we could all sit together in the back. The bus is cold, snuggle in trio it’s gonna be a long ride. 3 hours later and we arrive for “breakfast”- which was a piece of bread with butter. The sad excuse was downplayed by my starvation and nervousness for the altitude we are going to encounter. Another 45 minutes and we are at the base. The backpack trio decided since this mountain was up the highest in altitude any of us had ever been, and a 4 hour hike, that we would be safe and take the horses the way up. Cop out? Yes, but non of us had been on a horse in a while so it was like a long horse ride. We use this as an excuse to lessen the cop outness. It was freezing. A grueling 2 hours later, and after we had been through every season- hot, rainy, sleeting, snowing….. We finally make it to where you have to climb up (they don’t let the horses go all the way to try and preserve the colors). And it’s a trek. It was cloudy and snowing but still beautiful. Benjamin scaled the top solo while I went back down to meet Morgs. He got some great shots!

So the lady that was helping shepherd my horse…. I didn’t see this until the way down that in her pack on her back......contained a baby. A CHILD. I feel like a total wuss now. I decide to ditch the horse on the way down but the altitude is still tough. But I’m making it. Midway through, she slings her baby around and starts to breastfeed. While walking. In sandals. I ask in my broken Spanish if she needs a minute and she says in her broken English “no thank you, dis normal”. DIS NORMAL? Um no ma’am not for me. It was truly a beautiful moment. That had to have been one of the best behaved babies ever. He just did a little whining, but when I talked to him in English he piped down. It was a nice hike down.

Bai- So we were originally pretty pissed the tour was an hour late being we got up at 2:30am to be ready- but it was actually a blessing. So when looking at the weather for Rainbow mountain, we saw a little of everything. The day before we saw people in shorts and a tank- so originally we were wayyy underdressed. The extra of gave us the chance to research more and bundle up. Score! Also to see the lack of regulation on such a beautiful place was a little discouraging- hoping they get that together soon to preserve the beautiful landmark. It was so pretty.

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Machu Picchu 

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1.27.18- Candid shot of Benjamin while camped out at a balcony in the square sippin’ some hot cocoa!!!!

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1.28.18

Sunday- Cusco, Peru Llama town

Hai- Gary finally has an appetite! Yas. We find a great little brunch spot and start the walking. She is feeling much better today which is great considering we decided to rainbow mountain (via horse) but it’s much higher up that Cusco. Get to our brunch place, sit and wow this menu is poppin’. Eat like queens. 

So while we have been here, they have these street llama keychains- they are adorable. And colorful. And plentiful. We need them all. Over the past few days we have acquired more than I’m willing to admit but somehow we still think we need more. So here it goes. On our way back to the hotel, leftovers in tow for Benjamin, we stop and find a treasure hole of llamas. And dump them out in the street, while sitting indian style, and sift through them- for about 30 minutes. Success. Go back to the room, chill for a bit and venture out again. Find more llamas. Eat more food. Drop off laundry.

Rainbow Mountian to come- Uhhhhh Necesito un caballo.

Bai- so during our stay they have these traditional girls dressed up nicely with llamas for photo opps- we have been swindled once before-- annddddd we get swindled again. We ask specifically before how much and they say “up to you” then after giving them all we had, they demand more and chase us down saying “misssss missss” uhhh we gave you all of our monies I promise!! Morgan still got a cute pic.

**Update- the not so mystery mystery fruit? Currants...

[haibaitravel]

1.27.18

Saturday- Cusco, Peru

Hai- So with Morgan still not adjusted to the altitude we decided to be safe and go to the local clinico- well for those of you who don’t know- I absolutely. fucking. hate hospitals. Clinicos are included in this as well. But gotta support my best friend so here goes nothing. We grab a cab and get to it! The hospital is really nice- we head to the tourist floor with English speakers. We are shown into a room with a surprisingly cute, young doctor. Haiiiiii. I’m having a heart palpitation of about 300 from being in this hospital- or maybe the cute doctor?  Still thinking to myself “sirrr can I get some of thoseeeeee anxiety meds?! Okay thanks”

Morgan tells her ailments. And then they want her to shit in a cup the size of a shot glass- no ma’am…… we opt for the blood test. During our wait, its “lunch time”- they bring us food which is comprised of ALL yellow items, and a HOT gooty liquid. Pass. We moved around the food to make it look half eaten. Want to make sure we are respectful.

4 meds later and telling her she has salmonella, brusenella-----allllllll the nellas. It is def from that street empanada. YEP. Cab it home and off to the market where Benjamin meets us. Walk around and it’s a whole new world in this market. Got what I thought were grapes but they had huge seeds in them. Still not sure. The group consensus was currants.

For dinner we were pretty tired so we opt to hit the grocery and get our trusted…..cup o’ noods. Come back, get some water boiled and chill. Tried to watch our show married at first sight- it took us an hour to watch 13 minutes. Blazing hot wifi.

Bai- it was touch and go anxiety for me at the hospital today but made it through- just glad my Gary isn’t gonna die on us.

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1.26.18

Friday- Cusco, Peru

Hai- Recovery day- need a day of rest. Slept in and headed back to the Bagel café again. Bring Morgan some leftovers. And breakthrough- we decided on a wedding venue! YASSSS. Morgan was a huge help. Thanks Momo.

Went to the market fro the first time- San Jose Market- and it is even more extensive than the Guatemalan Super Target- MEATS EVERYWHERE. Settled on some whole pecans and some dried fruits. This place was insane. Will be back. A cute little place called Papa Chos again for happy hour! Got Swindled by some ladies from the cute llama picture- for many dollas. Good picture though. Chill day.

Bai- Morgan still not feeling okay- hope she gets feeling better!

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[haibaitravel]

1.25.18

Thursday- Machu Picchu!

Hai- Meet our tour guide at 6:30am to catch another bus which leads us to the plaza. We get in line and ease our way through. They have a ton of busses shuttling people by the loads. This road was tiny and winding- thse bus driver knew what they were doing- it was a tight fit. In Machu Picchu, the total limit of visitors is 2600 people a day in the cidadel and only 400 per day on the hike we are scheduled for. Huanapicchu- phew.

We get there and our tour guide is boss! He takes us some back road ways, avoiding the huge amount of crowds…. which is great for us. This place is even more magical than I thought. Then he guides us to the base of the mountain- the hike awaits us…

The hike kicked my booty! We make it though- at one point there are stairs deemed “death stairs”- original stairs carved from the bedrock- luckily at this point they have these terraces which worked like resting terraces so it lets the faster bunnies ahead. Almost there. I think. Nope. More stairs. After another what seems likes eternity we get to the top- so worth it. Now after a couple photo opps we have to shimmy and squeeze through a cave that is for the size of a 6 year old. No warning of this- we sausage through. Phew. Now for the descent down. Cake walk. We head home. Success. This was by far the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. Brought me to tears.

Get home and have pizza for dinner- yassss.

Bai- No bais today…

[haibaitravel]

1.24.18

Wednesday Cusco, Peru> Machu Picchu Pueblo

Hai- Today we got picked up for our Machu Picchu Tour! Our guide came at 10:00am to snag us- we started on a private bus tour- this was fancy! We unknowingly booked a private tour which ended up being fabulous and only a few extra than the cluster f**k tours. Only us three on the whole bus! Then made it to the train station. We booked this and did not know that it was Morgna’s first train ride. Yassss. We had about an hour and a half train ride up to the Pueblo. The train ride was amazing- great scenery the whole way. The town when we arrived was quaint and beautiful. Got to our hotel which was a huge room. Had creepy dolls on the bed- we immediately take these off. Also rose petals hearts- cute but also remove. Eat dinner and off to bed early for our tour tomorrow. 

Bai- Sooo I finally get my street empanada- and it’s sketchy. And I think it gives 2 out of 3 of us........the street stomachs. I am unaffected. Starts to rain when we arrive and it’s chilly! Worried about the hike…

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1.23.18

Tuesday- Cusco, Peru

Hai- Sleep in and feel much refreshed! We first head over to the travel agency at Llama Path to finalize our Machu Picchu tour. This travel agency is legit! The lady is so nice and they give…times! (Unlike our Galapagos tour agency). We finish up and head to lunch- it starts to rain pretty bad on our way so we find shelter among some of the street doggos too. Find a place, park it, and enjoy. Then back to the room to check on our laundry.

For dinner Morgan wasn’t feeling too hot so Benjamin and I decided to venture out and bring her back something. I have been wanting an empanada this entire trip...I search empanada and think I find a place. We get there only to find no empanadas- buuutt it was delish Peruvian food. Benjamin had the trout and an oreo shake- haha. I had a veggie dish with a traditional Peruvian curry- it wasn’t sweet, and almost tasted like cheese. I brought Morgs back the leftovers. 

At each hotel, we have noticed oxygen tanks for the strugglers- being that we are all struggling at 11,000ft up we decided to ask about it- whoooooo- 5 minutes on the tank and I’m feeling much better. Morgan too. We will update tomorrow. Planning on having another puff before we depart for Picchu.

Bai- Altitude is a struggle here- we are worried about the Picchu. Luckily Morgan picked up an inhaler in Guatemala so while we were seeking shelter from the afternoon showers we all snuck a puff- it seemed to help a little. We are hydrating! Also, the blast of oxygen helped us tonight too.

**Photo Note- Even though we have wifi, posting photos is nearly impossible- I promise we took some. I will edit each post when the sauce is strong…stay tuned

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Our last day in the Galapagos! Rancho Primicias and Bay Tour!