August 5, 22:00

This was a hard day. During lunch I had a mental breakdown over chicken fried rice and in the evening we fell with the bike, twice.

About the chicken: it’s ALL they serve here. Together with rice and potatoes. Besides from the occasional two pieces of broccoli, I haven’t seen any vegetables on my plate since we arrived in Peru. And I am sick of it. I want to eat vegetarian and I want to eat healthy and feel good. But all they serve is fucking chicken. Chicken and rice and potatoes. So I cried when I had pieces of chicken mixed with my rice. ✌🏻

And we fell, on a slippery mountain road, in the dark, twice in five minutes. This didn’t even really bother me, I felt worse for Mike, cause he still had to drive us for two more hours until we reached a city with accommodation options. Luckily it wasn’t as cold as yesterday. But still, not easy.

August 6, 12:13

I went outside and it was a mistake. It smells and people yell at you and all the cars and tuktuks honk all the time. It’s too warm and I can’t seem to find a decent restaurant. All I want is some food that I enjoy. No. fucking. chicken. But it’s Sunday and things are closed. I am going back to the hotel and sit in their restaurant at the darkest corner table, to do nothing but being mad at Peru.

August 7, 14:19

Just called with Simone for two hours, YAY! So nice to talk to her again and see her face. We also kinda made the plan that she is going to pick me up somewhere in June next year, to go back to The Netherlands for a while. And I spoke to Mariëlle and Floor, who also want to visit me beginning of next year. What a life! I am still tired of Peru, but this made me feel a lot better.

August 8, 16:49

On the way to Tingo Maria, what seems to be a smaller tourist town. So funny cause I had no idea this area was a touristy destination. Which I am actually happy with cause that usually means there is more choices in food. Right now we stopped at a waterfall and like any waterfall it’s just so nice and calming. A big blue butterfly is keeping us company while I am munching on all the different fruits we bought for just 5 soles. Life is good again.

August 9, 12:17

Morning adventures! At the moment sitting on a rock in the sun looking at a powerful waterfall surrounded by different plants, moved by the wind. It is so nice to be back in green nature where everything is so much more alive! I mean, I loved the impressive views of the enormous Andes and all the snowcap mountains. But being in a cloud forest where everything is alive makes me feel so much better. The sounds of all the birds are just so calming. I even started to like all the bugs. I just love it here. Even the Peruvians are nicer. Or maybe I am just in a better mood and that reflects in other people. That’s probably it. Anyhow, now I know I actually love being in jungle area and cloud forests much more than being in the big mountains. Good to know right.

August 10, 13:19

We stopped at a waterfall on the way to Pucallpa. Always a good idea. The roads here are, for the first time since Ecuador, actually good! What a relieve, it’s much more relaxed. It is gonna be a long riding day tho cause we expect to arrive somewhere beginning of the evening and we started around 10:00 this morning. I am excited to arrive there and start the next ‘chapter’ of this travel: the Amazon boat trip. I have no idea what to expect. Well, I do have some idea but I hope it’s gonna be better than that. Cause what I heard was that it’s gonna be dirty, with too many people, chaotic, slow and boring. Now that I think about it, I don’t really know why we want to do this haha. I guess for the sake of adventure.

August 11, 12:26

We found our boat and it’s already leaving tomorrow! That’s great, cause I can’t wait to just get moving. Mike maybe wanted to have a little more time in the Pucallpa, but the next boat was leaving on Wednesday and we thought that might be a little too late. So we’re placing our newly bought hammocks on the boat to secure a spot and then we’re going back to the city to do some shopping and chilling in the AC, before embarking the boat at night, cause departure time is at 05:00. I’m really excited for this next thing! We traveled the mountains of Peru for about 4 weeks so I am ready to see and explore a new area of nature.