Harald Baldr - 2019 - Inside Peru Home Cusco

4x68 - I had a Cup of Tea

July 13, 2019

SRI LANKA, ELLA: Sri Lanka is a land of opportunities. Yet, despite actually doing my utmost to meet local entrepreneurs and established business owners I found it incredibly difficult do just that. But whilst on a long drive though the mountains and tea plantations of Ella I finally stumbled upon one by pure accident. What he told me was a mighty impressive story of how he'd taken the leap to open his own little tea shop at the age of 26. Is this man Sri Lanka's next Ceylon tea millionaire? This called for a full-scale Harald investigates!

4x69 - Sri Lanka's Famous Ella Train

July 14, 2019

SRI LANKA, ELLA: As much as enjoy touring a country by motorbike it does come with one major downside. You only meet people for a few minutes every time you stop for food or petrol and then you're on your way. You really do miss out on a more wholesome experience. For that there's nothing better than traveling by train. Preferably in third class. People there are always in a an exalted mood and eager to socialize. I don't know if it's the sound of the railway joints colliding with the steel wheels or the fact that people all know we're gonna be stuck together in this confined space for hours ahead. So that was my plan for the day. Park the bike at my hotel and travel by train, on what has been deemed the best railway journey in the world, starting in Ella. But that was just the beginning...

4x70 - This man won't leave you alone!

July 14, 2019

SRI LANKA, HAPUTALE: After unsuccessfully trying to find something that looked edible and unlikely to make for a troublesome return bus journey to Ella, I opted for the safety of a Snickers and Mars bar. With my newfound sugar high it was time to check out the local Haputale market. Perched high on a cliff side adjacent to the train station, this market offers stunningly high views and correspondingly low prices. A rare combination. So just how cheap is this market and what do they sell here? Why is the Yes Man of Haputale following me? And did I manage to escape the Yes Man of Sri Lanka in the end?

4x71 - Sri Lanka's Bargain Market of Bandarawela

July 17, 2019

SRI LANKA, BANDARAWELA: After the rock bottom prices at the Haputale market shopping spree I knew it was impossible to find cheaper goods in the city of Bandarawela. But after the street barber rejected me for a shave I had some time to spare before my bus back to Ella. So I decided to go for yet another mega bargain hunt trip at the largest market in this part of Sri Lanka: Bandarawela Market. As usual I met quite a few characters. None as wild as the now legendary 'Yes Man of Haputale', but one did come close: The Bandarawela Market Playah, who proudly (and unapologetically) was parading around with what others described as: NOT his wife!

4x72 - Ultra Luxury Tent Sri Lanka

July 17, 2019

SRI LANKA, YALA NATIONAL PARK: In Sri Lanka there are five star hotels and then there is the Wild Coast Tented Lodge. An ultra luxurious all inclusive resort located inside the boundaries of Yala's National Park. This one of a kind hotel is unrivaled, not only in terms of scenic beauty but in price. At a night, your hotel room is actually not even a room but a tent. Given this price and Sri Lanka's current tourism 'situation', you may be thinking they're struggling to rent these rooms out. You'd be very wrong. I had to wait two days before I was able to get a room here. But was it a wait worthwhile? Is it worth the money? And what does this ultra luxury hotel room look like? Join me on a luxury version of Harald Investigates as I tour my hotel room, check out all its features in great detail and live through my first ever all inclusive resort experience.

4x73 - Luxury Tent: Snake Hunting

July 18, 2019

SRI LANKA, YALA NATIONAL PARK: As the sun set on Sri Lanka’s ultra luxury resort in Yala’s national park my day was by no means over. Determined to make the utmost of this incredibly expensive stay I ventured out to my private swimming pool with the flashlight and sat there in silence searching for wildlife. Lucky for men it turns out that the hotel’s staff and the rangers were far more adept at that than me. The next day I go for my second ever five star hotel dining experience before embarking on an elephant safari.

4x74 - Climbing Sri Lanka's Sigiriya Castle Ruins

July 21, 2019

SRI LANKA, SIGIRIYA: After locating the entrance and bypassing the Japanese tour group I was ready for a brief climb to see the famous 1600 year of frescos and scale the summit of the Sigiriya rock. Initially I thought it would be a brisk 10 ascent. I was wrong....

4x75 - I Rented a Historic Palazzo in Venice Italy

July 21, 2019

ITALY, VENICE: Sometimes it’s ok to splurge. Or at at least that’s what I told myself before I rented a Venetian Palazzo on Airbnb for myself and 8 friends whilst in Italy for the weekend. Given the outrageously expensive price tag it should come as no surprise that it was also incredibly spacious and lavishly furnished. So just how luxurious was this fabulous one of a kind Italian apartment?

4x76 - Italy Street Food: Florence Pork

July 22, 2019

ITALY, FLORENCE: Florence is famous for her beef but the Florentines also love a good pork chop. So do I! So come along as I wander the streets of Tuscany's capital in search of Italy's finest pork sandwich.

4x77 - Money & Travel: Your Questions Answered

July 25, 2019

You guys have requested a Q&A video for years. So I finally caved. If there are any questions you'd want me to answer in future Q&A's please let me hear it in the comment section.

4x78 - Italy Street Food: Lisa's Lampredotto

July 27, 2019

ITALY, FLORENCE: Ever since I arrived in Florence people have been telling me to please try the famous dish named lampredotto. Often sold as fast food from vans on the streets of Florence this dish have a rather exotic ingredient: the 4th stomach of a cow! Not one to shy away from an Italian street food challenge, THIS was something I had to try!

4x79 - Brunelleschi's Dome

July 29, 2019

ITALY, FLORENCE: Of all the great achievements of Renaissance Italy, one reigns supreme. The construction of an epic brick dome by Brunelleschi in the middle of the 15th century. This architectural masterpiece has stood the test of time and you can still walk on top as well as inside it in the year 2019. So that's exactly what I did whilst giving you guys a little tip on how to enjoy history to the max on your travels.

4x80 - 1.6kg Steak Challenge - Bistecca Alla Fiorentina

July 30, 2019

ITALY, FLORENCE: Tuscany's capital is world famous for its Bistecca Alla Fiorentina. A type of beef that isn't necessarily slayed locally but instead derived from a special breed of bull and prepared in a specific manner which dates back to the middle ages. Traditionally they are served extremely rare! As a huge connoisseur of beef, this was naturally something I had to try and film for you guys. I therefore started sampling various restaurants across Florence over two weeks ago in search of the finest T-bone cut in he city. In all honesty I've yet to run into a bad steak anywhere in this city. But there is one restaurant I keep coming back to that offers the best value in terms of price and quality: Trattoria Dall'Oste. Hence why I choose this restaurant to showcase Florence's greatest dish. So did I defeat the mighty 1.6kg T-bone steak put in front of me? And were I able to walk afterwards?

4x81 - Surprise For Italian Entrepreneur

July 31, 2019

4x82 - I was an Italian Master Chef

September 3, 2019

ITALY, FLORENCE: The most challenging meal I've indulged in thus far in Florence, wasn't the 1.6 kg T-bone steak but Lisa's Lampredotto. It's not that the sandwich wasn't good. It really was quite tasty! It was more about having the knowledge of what I was eating and somehow muster the willpower to keep munching down on it despite my better judgement. Having seen my Lampredotto video, Martina, Florence's greatest tour guide, challenged me to sample some even more exotic ancient meals of Florence. So down to the 130 year old street food market known locally as Mercato di San Lorenzo I went. Objective: devour the most daring meals the city has got to offer. But first I was lured into taking the job as an Italian street food master chef! My first order, Panino con l'arrosto (whatever that is).

4x83 - Rare Italy Street Food: Cow Muff

September 4, 2019

ITALY, FLORENCE: In Mercato di San Lorenzo, Florence's 130 year old Italian street food market, not a single part of the cow goes to waste. The cow's stomach are all local delicacies. The tongue is also devoured and so are the cheeks, liver, heart and everything else. One thing I didn't expect to eat though was the very spring of life itself as one food vendor put it.....

4x84 - Horse Sandwich Catania - Sicily Street Food

September 13, 2019

CATANIA, SICILY: Arriving in Catania by bus from Palermo, we drove past the railway station on the way to the hotel. It looked like a lively little eating area with lots of Sicilian street food options for the intriguing tongue. The next evening after an unfortunate meal at the hotel during my first evening in the city, I was ready to try the local Sicily street food delicacy: the mighty horse meat sandwich. Having previously devoured this animal at a restaurant in Serbia, and thinking it too dry to consume regularly, I was curious as to whether horse meat in Catania would have the same texture....

4x85 - Europe's Most Active Volcano

September 14, 2019

CATANIA, SICILY: Europe's most aggressive volcano, Mount Etna, is located on the Italian island of Sicily. You'd think that given her frequent hissy fits, the latest one which was yesterday, this volcano would be off limits to the general public. But that isn't the case. Mount Etna is Catania's biggest tourist attraction and a mighty entertaining one I must add. I didn't know quite what to expect as I jumped into the funicular taking me half way up the mountain but I knew I was in for an adventure. And Mount Etna didn't disappoint.

4x86 - Oceanfront AirBnb Sicily

September 18, 2019

CEFALU, SICILY: There's some great deals to be had on Airbnb around the world but not in Italy. If you're hunting for bargain accommodations in this country the B&B's are your best option. Most of them can be found on Booking.com or by simply wandering the streets of the city you just arrived in. Airbnb in Italy is great for expensive apartments in prime locations though. Almost always more expensive than a hotel in the same street, the apartments I've found for rent across this country come with only one major advantage: space. Case in point, this 300 Euro 4 story beachfront apartment in Cefalu Sicily.

4x87 - Pork in Bangkok Street Food Market

September 25, 2019

THAILAND, BANGKOK: As the world plunges ever deeper into climate cris is, I've made a solemn food vow! To stop eating beef, pork, horse, dogs, cobra snakes and humans and get all my protein from one abundant climate neutral source: bugs and insects! Easier said than done though. As i wandered around Bangkok's famous night market in Ratchada I ran into one tasty temptuous Thai street food delicacy after the other. From seafood to juicy pork chops and spare ribs, this market had it all. And to make it extra hard to resist, roughly 80% of the market stalls were staffed by hotties! What's a man to do... As I started asking for directions to the bug street vendors I had a bright idea! But would Greta approve?

4x88 - Scorpion Dinner Thailand

September 25, 2019

THAILAND, BANGKOK: Bugs are highly rich in protein. But there's a catch. They look somewhat unappetizing. They're also quite weird to chew down on. But can our aversion to putting these creepy crawlies in our mouth be over come by seasoning, spices and a crowd cheering you on? I went to find out in Bangkok's famous Ratchada Rot Fai market where I tried every bug, incest and Scorpion on the menu. But did I manage to keep it all down..... ?

4x89 - Vietnam Boutique Hotel Hanoi

September 27, 2019

HANOI, VIETNAM: Vietnam's capital is fast catching up to the other mega cities of South-East Asia like Bangkok, Manilla and Saigon in when it comes to economic growth. Case in point, the city's skyline is now littered with flashy new hotels sporting roof top terraces giving international tourists a taste of the high-life few of them could afford back home. (Myself included!) Only having been modestly satisfied with the hotel I stayed in the last time I was in Hanoi, I decided to pay a little extra to see what you'd get in the 4 star hotel range. Did O'Gallery Classy hotel & Spa downtown Hanoi live up to her promise? And how well do the locals speak English in Hanoi these days? That and more in this first video from Vietnam.

4x90 - Vietnam Street Shave Hanoi

September 28, 2019

HANOI, VIETNAM: As I was making a street tea video in the centre of Hanoi I stumbled upon an old temptation of mine which made me reminisce about India: a street barber. Not just that, this barber was female! Something I've never seen this before as this is a heavily male dominated profession. The only problem was I don't want to cut my hair and I also didn't even have a 2 day beard to shave! The only thing the barber could go to work on would be my treasured precious goatee!!!! So what was a straight white male to do?

4x91 - Wild Railroad Track Market Vietnam

September 29, 2019

HANOI, VIETNAM: After having the conversations from the shave video translated by you guys I realized that the awesome woman who was selling those postcards was even more awesome than I'd initially thought. She thus warranted a Harald Investigates! The only problem was she wasn't selling the postcards at the same location next to the barber. Dismayed I decided to cross the road for some of Hanoi's finest Noodles known as Fo (probably not the proper spelling), as I didn't want to have travelled across town for nothing. As soon as I'd crossed, I heard a familiar voice say Hello....

4x92 - Vietnam's Most Dangerous Cafe!

September 29, 2019

HANOI, VIETNAM: During my first visit to the famous train street in Vietnam's capitol Hanoi, I thought given the amount of cafes there, that it would be an even livelier area at night. So after a visit to the gym and a well deserved (and mucho mucho needed) shower, I went back to see if I could not only catch a train hurtling by, but some entertaining beverages as well. . . Before I started filing a spent roughly an hour and a half here. It really is the coolest place to meet locals as well as other Asian tourists in possibly the whole city. Elsewhere people can be less talkative and groups of people somewhat hard to break in to. Not here...

4x93 - Vietnam Capsule Hotel II

September 30, 2019

HANOI, VIETNAM: One of the most unique hotels I've ever slept in was the newly opened Capsule hotel in Hanoi. When I stayed there back in May I was one of their first customers. Knowing there was nothing about this hotel on Youtube I decided to Vlog the whole check-in process and stay. As I now find myself back in Hanoi one of you guys wrote that the hotel really liked my video and that they're looping it in the reception 24/7. This I had to investigate....

4x94 - Pork Party - Vietnam Street Food

September 30, 2019

HANOI, VIETNAM: When it's pork o'clock it's important to dress to impress. You don't want to be the odd one out at the pork party. That's why I decided to sport my Hugo Boss blazer and shirt as I sampled some of Hanoi's unique Vietnamese street food. After the pork had been secured, I continued a little tour of this downtown food market before withdrawing to my private quarters to sample the greatest delicacy known to man: pork cake!

4x95 - Village Adventures North Vietnam

October 1, 2019

HONG HA, VIETNAM: Just because you're traveling in a country where you don't speak the local language doesn't mean you can't stop for a laugh with the locals. Case in point, my current roadtrip through Northern Vietnam. Whenever I see something interesting I stop to investigate. Here's a collection of chance encounters I had with random strangers today in the North of Vietnam.

4x96 - Mystery Dish Vietnam Street Food

October 2, 2019

HONG HA, VIETNAM: After 2 hours of sleep it was time to hit the road for a Vietnamese breakfast. The only problem was, I don't know anything about what people eat in the morning. I was curious to find out though. So after a brief stop at a gas station I scouted out 3 little Mom & Pop roadside restaurants, all preparing for a morning rush of hungry customers. Eager to experiment, I chose the most exotic looking dish on offer.... does anyone know the name of it?

4x97 - Vietnam Peace Pipe Fail

October 3, 2019

BAO HA, VIETNAM: I felt like I'd been on the road for a week, yet it had barely been a couple of hours. Little did I know the today's journey had just begun. Up until 10AM riding around the villages and hills of Northern Vietnam is a cool leisurely experience. That changes abruptly once the sun truly gets going. Luckily there are a ridiculous amount of things to see and keep your mind off of the heat along the roads. For every time you stop, you must of course indulge in the peace pipe ritual the locals are so fond of with their unquenchable thirst for the strong tobacco known as thuốc lào...

4x98 - Vietnam's Border With China

October 4, 2019

LAO CAI, VIETNAM: After over 13 hours of riding on the most horrific of roads, albeit with countless stops along the way, I'd finally arrived in the Northern Vietnamese city of Lao Cai. From here you can look across a tiny river straight over to China. If you have a visa for china you can also cross over here by foot. Sadly I don't have one. A journey I thought would be merely a time consuming monotonous ride along endless rice fields had actually turned out to be one of the more entertaining rides of my YouTube career due to the many welcoming people i met along the way. But just a few hours short of the border I ran into a guy who turned out to be the friendliest of all....

4x99 - Hilltribe Market Vietnam Bargain Shopping

October 6, 2019

HAI PHONG, VIETNAM: My main motivation to explore Vietnam's northern most regions, other than mountains with tiered rice fields, was to go shopping in a Hill Tribe market. Now these colorful hill tribe markets are harder to find than you'd think. Many are only once per week, often on Saturday, and are staged in far flung mountainous locations. After a little research I did discover one that was open everyday and only a 90 minute drive from Lao Cai. Seeing as it only required a 60 minute detour from the direction I would otherwise have driven in, I decided to go for it.

4x100 - Insane Mountains of Vietnam

October 6, 2019

LUNG PHIN, VIETNAM: I've always wanted to see the terrace rice fields in the mountains of Vietnam. We've all seen photos of these stunning testaments to mankind's most formidable invention; agriculture, but what are they like in real life? Do they live up to the hype and how easy are they to find? Not knowing what to expect I set out east, trailing along Vietnam's northern most border with China in search of the most stunning mountain range I could find.

4x101 - Vietnam Mountain Man's Basement

October 7, 2019

4x102 - Vietnam's Mountain Paradise

October 9, 2019

VIETNAM: After struggling to get out of a mountain city with the most confusing road system I've ever encountered (I drove through the city 3 times) I finally emerged into a valley. Upon closer inspection looked like a beautiful river was running through it. This called for a Harald Investigates! So down into the valley I went until I reached a shoddy looking bridge....

4x103 - I was a Rice Farmer in Vietnam

October 11, 2019

VIETNAM: After a VERY long but extremely successful day riding through mountains of Northern Vietnam, I faced a somewhat serious dilemma. The sun was a bout to set and Google Maps said I was still hours away from my final destination. Not that I truly had one as I was winging it taking random roads this day but I had a tentative goal where I at least knew there were hotels. Reaching that city now seemed impossible. I thus decided to stop at a cafe overlooking some incredible rice fields. This set of a chain reaction of curious events...

4x104 - Bolivia Nut Market

October 17, 2019

BOLIVIA, LA PAZ: After a heavy session at the gym I was mighty hungry for some fresh nuts. Thinking my Spanish would be what it once were (semi-functional), I wandered off to a street that is known for being full of nuts. As I approached the first nut vendor though, I realized to my great dismay... that I don't speak any Spanish at all . . .

4x105 - Shopping for Llamas in Bolivia

October 17, 2019

BOLIVIA, LA PAZ: The Llama is Bolivia's national animal. They bring good luck and is thus greatly revered amongst the populace. It may this seem strange that Llama corpses are sold in the streets of La Paz. Naturally this was something I had to investigate... by buying my very own Llama to take home as a good luck charm. But can I bring it to Europe? And would Bald allow it in the hotel room?

4x106 - Shopping with Dead Pet Llama Jeff

October 18, 2019

BOLIVIA, EL ALTO: Above the valley that hosts Bolivia's metropolis La Paz, sits a vast plain which houses Latin America's largest market by square meters: El Alto Market. Rumor has it this is also the country's cheapest market by far. . So what better place to bring my new pet Llama, young Jeff Gundlach, for an afternoon of bargain shopping in the freezing Bolivian rain.

4x107 - Peru isn't what I expected

October 19, 2019

PERU, CUSCO; After Bolivia I wasn't quite sure what to expect from Peru. But given the high rates for hotels I did suspect Peru to be far more developed and better at setting their cities up for tourism. Once I got past a ridiculously inefficient immigration system, my initial thoughts were confirmed. Peru, or at least Cusco, is lightyears ahead when it comes to development of its tourism sector compared to her neighbor to the east. Given the proximity of this city to one of the world's most sought after tourist attractions, Machu Pichu, that should come as no surprise but still I didn't expect Peruvians and the architecture of Cusco to be as pleasant as they both are. So after finding a taxi and something to eat it was time to check-in to my hotel. Even hostels were quite pricey when I checked on Booking.com so I knew that a hotel room even in the + category wouldn't mean much. I therefore opted for a boutique hotel at just under . But was it worth it?

4x108 - Peru Market Cusco

October 25, 2019

PERU, CUSCO; In Bolivia many market vendors do not want to sell what's in their store to you. So what about Peru? Things couldn't be more different. Whilst many Peruvians also don't speak the Queen's english, they do their utmost to make you feel welcome in their stores and explain the meaning behind their native statues, knitted Llama shirts and all the other goods they specialize in. Shopping at Cusco's native market in the center of the city was therefore and incredibly pleasant experience. But what about the prices? Can you get some bargains here? And what goods do they sell? And what about the quality? Join me on this bargain market tour of my first Peruvian shopping experience. . .

4x109 - Machu Picchu Train Peru

November 7, 2019

4x110 - Peru Market Machu Picchu: Silver and Ponchos

November 8, 2019

MACHU PICCHU, PERU: When people hear Machu Picchu, they probably don't think of shopping, but there is nevertheless a market there as soon as you get off the train and start wandering towards either the ruins or your hotel. So naturally I felt compelled to go and check out what was on sale plus gauge the prices there vis-a-vis other markets in Cusco and Bolivia. To say that the prices shocked me would be understatement of the year.... this is by far the priciest market I've visited in South America but they did indeed have some nice things for sale. Bargains though, they were not, as many vendors would not budge even one Soles. That made for a pretty entertaining back and forths...

4x111 - Secrets of Machu Picchu: Inca Empire Under Spanish Rule

November 9, 2019

4x112 - Avoid the Saqsaywaman Scam Peru

November 11, 2019

4x114 - Guinea Pig for Dinner Peru

November 13, 2019

PERU, CUSCO: There's local cuisine and then there's ultra local cuisine. In Peru you can't get anything more quintessential local than grilled Guinea Pig, or Cuy as they call it. Always up for an exotic meal I decided to take Cyrus up on his offer to show me his favorite restaurant for indulging in this questionable Peruvan delicacy..... Don't worry, it tasted even better than chicken he kept saying! So off we went. I've had Cobra heart and Scorpion claws I thought so how bad could this Cuy be?

4x115 - Surprise for Peruvian Father

November 14, 2019

PERU, CUSCO: Every city I visit, regardless of which country, the vast majority of my time is spent trying to find entrepreneurs I can help. Not just with an incentive to continue on the path they are on (i.e. a financial contribution) but through the publicity they may gain (and subsequent boost) from local media attention. In Cusco, nobody fit the criteria better than Cyrus!

4x116 - Venezuelan Haircut in Peru

November 14, 2019

PERU, CUSCO: There are few things I dislike more in life than sitting still for 30 minutes whilst getting an incredibly mediocre and horrendously overpriced haircut. Hence why I've been cutting my own hair for the past 2 decades. However as soon as I find myself traveling to a new country my aversion to barbers is not as strong. For abroad the prices are low and the people who work as barbers generally make for some entertaining conversations. So seeing as I find myself in Peru, and many of you guys for reasons unbeknownst to me enjoy watching me either get a shave or my hair cut, I decided to check out a local barber in Cusco.

4x117 - San Pedro Market Peru

November 15, 2019

PERU, CUSCO: I'm often asked what I do with all the things I buy on my market shopping sprees in foreign lands. Socks and boxers I keep until I lose them (which is frequent). The rest I either send to friends or give away to people who work at the hotel I stay in. This San Pedro Market Cusco shopping spree however is different. I'm going to send everything I buy to you guys. Exactly how I haven't figured out yet but follow my Instagram: Heraldo Baldieri and we'll figure out the parameters in a livestream there. I'm thinking we can find a way to reward 5 of you with a little souvenir from this market.

4x118 - Superb Hike Inca Ruins Pisac

November 16, 2019

PERU, PISAC: Whilst no mountain filled with historical ruins I've ever encountered could rival the sheer aesthetic beauty of Machu Picchu, said site does come with two major drawbacks: 1. There will be thousands of other people there during YOUR visit which somewhat puts a dampener on your ability to enjoy the site 2. Huge parts of it are off bounds to tourists which puts a mega dampener on your ability to enjoy the Inca ruins. At the Inca ruins of Pisac, which for the record encompasses a site which is 4 times larger than Macchu Picchu, you will not encounter any of these issues. I was the only one there for the first 2 hours of my hike. But the main advantage of Pisac's Inca Ruins is that the hike itself is more scenic and interesting that any hike you can do on your day visit to Macchu Picchu. Don't believe me? Well, let me hear what you think after having seen the superb hiking trails I traversed up this morning starting at 05:55 AM at Pisac central market.

4x119 - Free Pisco Shot Party Peru

November 17, 2019

PERU, PISAC: When the Spanish conquered the Inca empire they quickly set about planting vineyards in areas where the soil permitted. The first grapes were imported soon after the take over and a drink called Pisco, named after either the city or the bottles it was stored in, commenced. It has since become one of the most popular drinks in the country. Naturally this was something I had to try. So I did upon arrival in Cusco 3 weeks ago. The glass I had however was so strong I promised to never have another Pisco ever again..... until I in the market of a city called Pisac saw a sign outside a shop advertising free Pisco inside! Was this a sign from Rati? His holiness the Muffsiah of Burundi, was compelled to investigate!

4x120 - Sacred Valley Luxury Cabin Peru

November 18, 2019

PERU, SACRED VALLEY: In a region famed for her abundance of Inca ruins, the Sacred Valley of Cusco, the last thing I expected was to uncover one of the best hotels I have ever stayed at plus have said premises all to myself. Yet that is exactly what happened at Sacred Lodge Luxury hotel. Upon arrival the receptionist wasn't even there. So what then makes this hotel such great value for money? And why were there no other guests there if this is the case? Why is there a cat in my room? And why on earth did I swim in that wild river? That and more in today's episode from Peru's sacred valley. . .

4x121 - Dinner with Peru Cat Jeffaldo

November 19, 2019

PERU, SACRED VALLEY: Given the impressive state of the sacred Lodge Hotel, by far the best hotel I've stayed at in Peru, I was quite intrigued to dine at their restaurant. But I wasn't to psyched about eating alone. Luckily as soon as I'd sat down in the restaurant Jeffaldo, Peru's friendliest non-binary cat, showed up. So I decided to invite him to sit and wine and dine at my table. Great success I thought until I saw the table manners (or lack thereof) Jeffaldo brought to my court.....

4x122 - Lost Inca City: Ollantaytambo Peru

November 20, 2019

PERU, SACRED VALLEY: Ollantaytambo was an important gateway city to Machu Picchu even 600 years ago. Today tourists pass through this town either by rail or road to the world famous Inca ruins. But this city have some pretty impressive ruins dating back to the heyday of the Inca empire as well. Due to her strategic significance the city contained a fort which along with some agricultural terraces can be seen up close even today. Naturally this was something I had to investigate.

4x123 - Peru Street Food: BBQ Pork Sacred Valley

November 20, 2019

PERU, SACRED VALLEY: As I was making my way through Peru's famed Sacred valley, after the city of Urubamba, I started heading over the mountains towards Cusco. Having not had any breakfast as usual (because hotel breakfasts ALWAYS suck) I had decided to put my food intake on a hold until I'd reached my final destination. Those plans however flew out the window as I spotted a delicious juicy pork being roasted on the street as I came around a bend. After 3 weeks in the country it was finally time for a genuine Peru street food experience and my first pork o'clock!

4x124 - Don't Eat That in Peru

November 21, 2019

PERU, SACRED VALLEY: The second last thing I expected to see driving through Peru's Sacred Valley were markets selling sweaters and other local products popular amongst tourists. But seeing as I did come across two, I decided to stop at them both and see what good they were peddling. At the second market, I came across a group of women who at first weren't overly eager to interact with me, but after a minute insinuated that the nuts they were cutting was for human consumption. So I decided to give them a go....

4x125 - Last Day Cusco

November 22, 2019

PERU, CUSCO: Before I head to Lima for the Copa Libertadores final tomorrow, I had some things to do in Cusco. I started the day with the Livestream giveaway on Instagram which was chaotic to say the least but highly entertaining. If you missed it don't worry. We can make this a monthly event. After finding a winner from Philippines, India and Ireland I went to the Cusco post office with Cyrus to ship the goods to the respective winners. Only the costs weren't exactly as expected.... After the headache of the Cusco post office I headed off to the gym before I gave you guys a tour of my hotel room and headed off to the market to do some last minute shopping.

4x126 - Peru's Worst Pizza

November 23, 2019

PERU, CUSCO: Having had nothing but poor overpriced meals (with two possible exceptions) in restaurants throughout Peru my expectations weren't exactly sky high as I ordered a pizza from the hotel I'd just arrived at in Lima. In fact I'd promised myself to not eat at a restaurant again whilst here. But three things made me change my mind. First, I had not had time breakfast in Cusco before my flight to Lima, and was hence starving. Second, the boutique hotel I'd just checked into was so ridicilously pricey that I thought, surely they can cook a decent meal. Third, and most importantly, the restaurant menu was dominated by Western fast food option. In other words, my kind of menu! So I decided to give pizza in Peru yet another go! Needless to say, that's something I shouldn't have done. . . for nothing could have prepared me for the disaster that showed up when room service came knocking at my door! This was hands down the worst pizza I've ever had!

4x127 - Copa Libertadores Final Sucked!

November 24, 2019

PERU, CUSCO: Having been to Brazil during the World Cup in 2014 and thus knowing that football in this part of the world mean one hell of a party outside the stadium before the game, hopes were sky high as I broke into my Federal Reserves to secure myself a ticket for the Copa Libertadores final in Lima Between Argentina's River Plate and Brazil's Flamengo. This was essentially like a national team match between Brazil vs. Argentina seeing a Peru's capital was full of people who'd flown in to support their team from two said nations. There was only one problem. I had to go an pick up the ticket at a designated area before I could make my way to the match. And this little footnote , plus the organizers misinformation about what personal items were allowed into the stadium, pretty much ruined the whole Copa Libertadores final experience for me...

4x128 - Tacos Mexico City Street Food

November 26, 2019

MEXICO CITY: I've always rated Mexican food up there along with Italian (and recently Indian) as my favorite food. But seeing as I'd never been to Mexico before I'd never tried the world famous Mexican Taco on its home turf. That changed today after my plans of spending 7 hours at the international airport in Mexico City fell through. Seeing how poorly it was run I decided to head downtown for a little food excursion. That was a decision I did not regret as it lead to the discovery of the best tasting greatest bargain meal of all time!!

4x129 - American Hero in Nepal

December 6, 2019

4x130 - Nepal Haircut

December 8, 2019

NEPAL, KATHMANDU: One of the first things I saw when I arrived downtown Kathmandu was a run down barber shop. From 7 in the morning til at least 8 at night (which is the latest I've walked by) this family of barbers work seven days a week. Usually I prefer the sitting on a chair on the street type of haircut experiences but I figured I'd give this barber a go for a change. It turned out to be quite an entertaining haircut to say the least....

4x63 - Luxury Hotel's Breakfast - Sri Lankan Jungle

4x64 - The Wine Man of Ukuwala

4x65 - Avocados Sri Lanka

4x66 - Dangerous Forest Fire Sri Lanka

4x67 - .30 Fresh Roadside Juice Sri Lanka