http://benbonetti.com/WordPress Mon, 27 Oct 2008 17:22:32 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en After some time in the steamy pacific coast we set our sights north again to the cool mountains.  Johan had a friend in Medellin, Colombia's second largest city, that said we could stay with him, and we were  both looking forward to a few lazy days and nights out.  Johan ... http://benbonetti.com/WordPress/?p=40 Most travelers I'd met on the way north didn't have very good things to say about Cali.  The city of plastic and glitz was known for its nightlife, but not much else.  Others had quickly passed through on their way from Bogota or Medellin on their way to Ecuador, but ... http://benbonetti.com/WordPress/?p=39 Talking with other backpackers I'd met in Ecuador I got similar responses regarding Colombia. Everyone agreed that the people there are some of the friendliest they have met in South America, its safer than they would have believed, and its sure to soon be a popular travel destination. I've been ... http://benbonetti.com/WordPress/?p=38 So far since leaving Quito my legs have been surprisingly active.  Mountain climbing, trekking, biking, and rafting all in the past week.  The trips have taken me around the villages of the Quilotoa loop, through the towns of Banos, Puyo, and Tena, and down the mighty Jondachi and Napo rivers.  ... http://benbonetti.com/WordPress/?p=37 Mountaineering has got to be one of the dumbest sports to get into, and one of the hardest to pull yourself away from once you've started.  It's expensive and not particularly fun; most of your time is spent in horribly cold and windy conditions, walking for miles uphill, on ice, ... http://benbonetti.com/WordPress/?p=36 So another week has passed, and life is going pretty well in Quito.  Most of my day is taken up with some new pursuits, and my accommodations are the best I've had in a while.  I've got myself set up in Quito's Old Town in a place called Casa Bambu, ... http://benbonetti.com/WordPress/?p=35 As most of you know I've been taking a little break from traveling the last few weeks.  After visiting Nepal for a couple months I made a marathon push through India (30hrs on busses, 30hrs on a train, followed by a 20hr flight) to make it home in time ... http://benbonetti.com/WordPress/?p=34 When taking a trip to any destination, one of the most difficult questions is always, "What to pack?"  It rates right up there with "Where am I going?" and "How in the hell am i going to pay for all this?"  On a long-term backpacking trip the question becomes even more difficult.  Each ... http://benbonetti.com/WordPress/?p=33 So, even though I haven't actually gotten around to getting a new post up for over 4 months now, you're still around right?  You haven't quite given up on me and are willing to give me a second chance?  I've got good reasons.  Trust me, I always have plenty of excuses.  ... http://benbonetti.com/WordPress/?p=32 So even though I havent been doing to well on the entries front (talking a laptop to South America to fix that), I've gotten plenty of pictures up.  Take a look at me in front of cool stuff in the following places: Singapore - Singapore Indonesia - Bukit Luwang, Medan, Paulu Weh, Lake ... http://benbonetti.com/WordPress/?p=30