But the time has finally come for me to start recounting, belly chocolate full, I need to go all the way back to the Iguacu falls in Argentina.

I remember being astounded at the natural beauty of the falls on the Brazilian side, and then being told by absolutely everyone that it was better on the Argentinian side. It was hard to believe, and I set off that baking hot day full of expectations of grandure and also expecting to be let down, but what I actually experienced has to be one of the most impressing things I have seen to this date. At the end of a day walking around the picturesque and astounding falls, getting soaked jet boating under them, hiking amongst them and swimming in the water getting eaten by the fishes, you walk out accross the river on a long metal walk way ending up standing right beside the Devils Throat...,

Once on the ground in Rio, I decided to head straight up north, and bought myself a plane ticket immediately to Salvador de Bahia. Wow, what a temperature shift! Above 30 degrees celcius every day. One day on the beach it was so hot, I ´had´ to sit under an umbrella or I think I would have literally fried crispy. Salvador has a much larger black population as it is in the north, and their influence is everywhere, in the music, food, attitudes, art... etc. I went to a concert by the drumming group Oludum, and they were fantastic. Inside the concert a group of dancers were doing some moves together, one would lead and then everyone else would follow, and they would take turns, they were great dancers and it made me a little excited about carnival coming up.

My experience in Salvador de Bahia was unfortunately tainted. On the same evening as the concert there was a street party in Pelorinho, music and people partying everywhere, and in one of the throngs I got mugged...

Walking down Nazca's streets busy with cars, buses and taxis, all beeping and honking at everyone - this is how they solicit there passengers - it is goddamned annoying. I suppose the locals are used to it, but after, the shops blaring music, street sellers yelling at the top of their lungs, buses with sound systems pumped up to distortion with odd latin music or spanish dubbed videos, kids annoying you to buy something, and traffic incessantly beeping or passing in a cloud of fumes, the 'noise' started to wear through my nerves. So, after I arrived in Pisco, which was admittedly slightly quieter in the beep department, but, was grey, misty, cold, and smelled of fishmeal, I decided I needed a change of scenery, climate and country.

Well, indeed it is. The country is in a bit of turmoil as there are strikes by the teachers, farmers, judiciary system, and the hospitals are threatening. The biggest protest is from the teachers and my first experience of this was in my first Peruvian port of call, Arequipa. It might´ve actually have been sooner, but for the fact that crossing the border from Chile to Peru, I got up quite early and headed out to the taxi station with a traveller friend, so that we could at least get to Arequipa in one day. The border crossing was fairly exciting for me being my first one.

Arghhhhhh… just getting a little bit scared and anxious now, excitement taking a back seat till I wake up tomorrow and it is real. Having been surrounded by family and friends for the last 2 ½ months in NZ, I'm having a few issues about going off on my own, by myself, all on my lonesome… yeah, yeah, I know, I will be fine…

I think maybe I have been blessed. You wouldn't believe it unless you were here, but in the 1 & a 1/2 months that I have been in NZ it has only rained for 2 and 1/2 days!!! Wow it has been absolutely glorious sunny, cloudless sky days most of the time, and even if it thinks it is going to be overcast, by the time the day sets in for real - the sun comes out in force again. I have acquired a decent tan without even trying :o) Queenstown which can be quite cold, was exceptionally good, and after previously planning only to spend 4 days there, ended up staying a week instead.

I stayed with my good friend Vicky, who runs the horse and carriage business in Queenstown, (which by the way she has on the market, so if you know anyone who might be interested - let me know). Relaxing during the day, and keeping Vic company as she worked in the evening, we managed to go out a couple of times and rark up the town. I got my sister Emmeline a doozy...

Well the secret is out. Pretty much everyone I wanted to surprise by my visit back to NZ now knows I'm in the country. It has been wonderful seeing everyone's expressions, and very rewarding too. My sister Emme is the last one to surprise and I will be going down to Queenstown this Thursday to do just that. I'm currently staying with my other sister from Mum's side of the family in Riccarton, Christchurch, where she is flatting with her boyfriend and 3 other students. Weird being back in a student flat, beer paraphenalia all over the place...

I've been in New Zealand for three days now and it's a whirlwind of pleasure, tiredness, emotion, laughs, sun, surf, sand and simple pleasures; like the sounds of the cicadas every hot day, or the pounding surf on the beach, or a smile and 'hi' from the stranger walking past you.

Arrived in fine form (considering the mad last London day I had) from my first ever Business Class flight, oh the luxury (mind you I did get stung £105 for excess baggage and have had to re-assess the whole packing situation. However upon arrival in the terminal at Bangkok there is a whoosh of heat and the smell of dust and fumes in the heat infiltrates your senses. Chinese New Year, so immigration was flooded with Asians on holiday, but at least I didn’t get any awkward questions at the desk. God my bag really is a monster. Accosted by a taxi scout while withdrawing cash (mental note - you are now a backpacker - not a business woman - luxury is unaffordable) One hour later and £10 lighter I’m at my much boasted about 5* hotel (yeah well their wall plaque says 4*’s). And as soon as I am in my room I switch on the TV just for noise because I have all of a sudden had an overwhelming sense of loneliness come over me, and while I’m down in the dining room alone writing this (don’t want to just sit there and stare out the window) I realise why you can’t travel around on your own in posh hotels, you don’t meet the right people, you hardly meet people at all (unless they are trying to pick you up - NO, NO ONE DID).

Dec. 10, 02 - Jingle bells, jingle bells, 'tis the season to be jolly. Nothing jolly about the whether in London at the mo, unless you count red noses. Although there have been sightings of the odd snowflake around today I hear, and that always makes me excited still, no matter how cold it is. ((And it is COLD!!)) Have still been managing to fill my days, although with more mundane stuff like housework, and today I made Apple Tarts: how bloody domesticated!!

I've been able to join Mark's gym for free for 12 days, so I making the most of that, it is a real flash'un. With big flat screens up and on all the exercise machines you can plug in your headphones and listen to one of the tv channels or music while you sweat. Has a pool and aerobics and yoga classes etc, plus salon and beauty clinic…