Oasis for the world

Trip Start Oct 17, 2004
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Trip End Ongoing


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Flag of Peru  ,
Monday, November 8, 2004

I have now moved on to Huachachina, a tiny village, 150 people, surrounding an oasis in the middle of the desert. Itīs entire economy is based on tourism, and the amount of money gringos will pay to be driven recklessly through the sand in buggies before falling down steep 250 foot sand dunes with wooden boards strapped to their feet. Quite a lot ($12) apparently. When I remember to a) bring my camera and b) remember my journal, I`ll put in some film footage of my rollercoaster ride there, as well as a sneak peak into my journal entry for the day, as it is much better than this will be.
The hostel, Casa de Arena, is amazing. Incredibly relaxed backpackers haunt, with hammock, paint dissolving swimming pool, bar and even it's own parrot. Back dropped against this are the mountainous sand dunes towering over us, the golden sand contrasting so elegantly with the perfect blue sky. It does play tricks with the mind however, when lying in a shady hammock, sipping Cuba Libras (rum, coke and lime) waiting for the tropical midday sun to cool enough to venture into the healing waters of the oasis, (jealous pangs anyone...?) because it looks just like a beach, yet set a good 75 meters in the air and at an angle. Beautiful none the less.
Went out with a group from my hostel for a nice meal in the nearby city Ica, and when one girl broke the top of the toilet, had my second real test of Spanish, having to understand what the manager was arguing about and how to calm him down. It turned out our 2 options were to go back with to the hostel and get passports or he'd go to the police. After much debating and money waving (which he didn't accept) we headed back, and it was only there that he insisted not just on a passport number but someone's passport itself for a guarantee. I think not. Anyway he left promising the divine retribution of the entire Peruvian police force, which has so far failed to materialise! The whole thing as very funny, especially as I wasn't directly involved in breaking the toilet, and the girl who did it, didn't seem to mind. An additional note to this story, a week later I was looking in my guide book at the entry for this particular restaurant: nice, friendly, good toilets! Not surprising he reacted the way he did...
Anyway, my stay here has been wonderfully, so peaceful and relaxing. As they say it is an oasis from the world. And by golly, it is.
Ica hotels

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