South America

[memorylane]

Thanks so much everyone for their replies!

Understand that crime there is a concern - not just from everyone here, but also many of my friends. How do you carry your cameras with you then? Other valuables like passport, money etc I have experience in dealing with. But big fat DSLRs and their lens are kinda difficult to hold discreetly.

How did you all do it?

Many thanks!

simple. keep cam at home. buy postcards.

 

[Expat yorkshire]

One thing when travelling in South America is to have a heighted state of paranoia about your bag . Most crime is the snatch and run so keep an eye on your bag , if you go to a cafe and sit down tie the strap around the chair and dont leave it on the floor.

As for passports money,cards i used a leg wallet that fits around your calf , when you are wearing jeans you cant tell you have it on .

Dont wear an expensive watch when walking aorund and take your old mobile phone just in case. Keep your camera ina back pack when not using it.

That said I never had any problems but I was on my guard.

EPY

Thanks so much everyone for their replies!

Understand that crime there is a concern - not just from everyone here, but also many of my friends. How do you carry your cameras with you then? Other valuables like passport, money etc I have experience in dealing with. But big fat DSLRs and their lens are kinda difficult to hold discreetly.

How did you all do it?

Many thanks!

 

[euterpe]

Will be in SA(Chile and Argentina) for 7 weeks from Nov to Dec.

After that, I should be back in SG on the 20th Dec so if you all want to meet up and chit chat as well as see the shots, I'm down for that.

Will love to do that!! Anyone else game?

simple. keep cam at home. buy postcards.

Erm, unfortunately outside the scope of my question - which is how to take care of your camera that you actually travel with.

Look, I get the point about being careful with your belongings and using your common sense - I have travelled independently before in countries like India, Cambodia, Vietnam etc etc. However, if you poke around the forums and the blogs, there has been A LOT of concern raised about the crime rate in South Amercia, far more than the norm for other countries it appears. It is therefore not unreasonable that I am asking how travellers to South America take care of their belongings.

One thing when travelling in South America is to have a heighted state of paranoia about your bag . Most crime is the snatch and run so keep an eye on your bag , if you go to a cafe and sit down tie the strap around the chair and dont leave it on the floor.

As for passports money,cards i used a leg wallet that fits around your calf , when you are wearing jeans you cant tell you have it on .

Dont wear an expensive watch when walking aorund and take your old mobile phone just in case. Keep your camera ina back pack when not using it.

That said I never had any problems but I was on my guard.

EPY

Thanks EPY - very useful advice. :thumbsup: One question - were you there by yourself or did you travel with friends? Thanks!

 

[marcdn]

Yo, I am keen on South America as well, but can't commit for a long trip till 2011...
It is certainly a photographic/writing mecca and well worth the pilgrimage
A good trip will take a long time to plan, and I hope to start plotting my course next year...

There's something to be said about travelling alone, it does free one from the burdens of ensuring the group's needs are met and that everyone is on the same page, particularly if you're travelling with normal (boring) non-photographers.
However, downsides are that you would tend to start talking to yourself,
making strange cuisine choices
and generally have nobody to share the stunning sunsets with.

 

[MettaLife]

(1) Yes there are a lot of pickpockets in Buenos Aires and probably other places, too.
(2) If going to Brazil, you may need or want to get a yellow fever shot.
(3) Consider flying to South America with a One World partner. This allows you the opportunity to purchase a Visit South America pass. LAN is a decent carrier in South America.
(4) You can consider taking buses, but the distances are far. Thus, see (3).
(5) If you go an see Iguazu Falls, try to see both sides. We actually liked the Brazil side.
(6) If you are in Buenos Aires you can take a ferry to Uruguay. Booking the ferry online is a little difficult (it is in Spanish), but is doable. There is a small town called Colonia del Sacramento. Very charming place.
(7) Dinner in Buenos Aires starts around 10pm. They continue until the early hours in the morning.

Best of luck and enjoy your trip.

South America a beautiful place- I got some elderly friends who has stayed there for a few decades, now went back to Indonesia. People there very friendly, but crime there is rampant. Yap, disease is also rampant. And, get a small dictionary of portuguese and Spanish.

 

[Expat yorkshire]

Thanks EPY - very useful advice. :thumbsup: One question - were you there by yourself or did you travel with friends? Thanks!

I went by myself , just got a flight to Lima with absolutely nothing booked at all not even the first night in the hotel . Got talking to some people on the flight over and shared a taxi with them down town and stayed at hotel they had found in the Lonely Planet.

Then just everywhere by local bus or coach for longer distances.

 

[agape01]

continuing on this old post...

I´m in Valpariso, Chile now and one thing that I have realised is that it is essential to know Spanish. I would highly suggest to take Spanish classes for a year before coming otherwise you´re going to struggle with the culture language and food choices on a daily basis.

Tomorrow, I should be heading to Santiago, Chile.

 

[Expat yorkshire]

Leanring Spanish is pretty important but when i first went there i couldnt speak spanish . You just need people to help you who can speak Spanish and English .

The michel thomas cd spanish course is really excellent and you can pick up all the basic Spanish you need by listening to these cds

 

[goon]

Not all of latin America is unsafe.
Argentina n Chile is very safe for me esp Chile. It's the 'Singapore of South America' in terms of it's economy -very efficient,safe ,rich and it's geographically diverse from the driest deserts up north to the stunning Patagonia down south plus of course the easter Islands.

Peru is quite Ok too but the big cities in Venezuela and Brazil are a big no no if u r not that street wise.

Bolivia is quite possibly the most intriguing country though I missed out on it due to visa n lack of time when I was around the region. Heard good things about Colombia too .

Anyway for South America,one need at least 3 months even if u zip past everything n head for the regional highlights! Plus the cost of getting there is too much just to spend too short a time there hehe.I think the cheapest place for us ( from S;pore) is to take Turkish Air via Istanbul to Sao Paolo which cost slightly above S$2K during special promotions.But Sao paolo has not much of interest for travellers cept the F1. If not a flight on KLM via Amsterdam to Lima,Peru will be $S3.5K !!!!!

Just sharing my short experiences in S. America .

 

[euterpe]

Ah got it about the Spanish classes - thanks. And yes, I am planning for a three month trip at least ... someone suggested that I try flying to Santiago through NZ... haven't really worked out the cost yet though...

 

[bobafett]

Anyone been to Cuba?

I'm planning to backpack between Feb till April'2010 to selective major cities in South America and longing to go Cuba, Havana to be exact since I'm visiting that region of the world.

Getting a Cuban Visa for Singaporean is quite a challenge itself, since there is no Cuban Embassy / Consulate in Singapore :sweat:. Base on my search on the web, I came across 2 indonesian friends base in Singapore applying through the Cuban Embassy in Jakarta personally, back in 2006. Links to their ordeal http://www.indrani.net/2006/09/cuban_visa

Anyone else have better luck in Visa application to Cuba since then? Please share your valuable experience... Many thanks in advance.

Meanwhile, have to crash learn Spanish too:bsmilie: Anyone have a good recommendation where to buy materials in learning through Audio aid?

 

[joeypctan]

Went to South America for 5 weeks last year. It was one of the best trip that I have done in my life in terms of activities, soaking up the culture/language, landscape and meeting people.

My itinerary
Cusco (3 days to acclimatise for Inca Trails) - Inca Trails (4 days) - Lake Titicaca (2 days - you can do homestay) - Bolivia Dessert Crossing (12 days) - Chille (1 day) - Argentina (9 days)

PM me if you need info

My pictures :
http://joeypctan.multiply.com/photos/album/41/Cusco
http://joeypctan.multiply.com/photos/album/43/Machu_Picchu
http://joeypctan.multiply.com/photos/album/36/Bolivia
http://joeypctan.multiply.com/photos/album/37/Iguazu_Falls
http://joeypctan.multiply.com/photos/album/38/Buenos_Aires_Argentina