Huallanca to Pucallpa
Back on the motorbike, the green side of the Andes, and mental breakdowns.
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 on the bike, twice.
About the chicken: it’s ALL they serve here. Together with rice and potatoes. Besides 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 a vegetarian diet, 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 when I ordered rice with vegetables. ✌🏻
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.
Our morning at the ruins of Chupan, Peru.
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 be mad at Peru.
August 7, 14:19
Just called Simone for two hours, YAY! So nice to talk to her again and see her face. We also loosely made a plan that she is going to pick me up somewhere in June next year to go back to The Netherlands for a while. I spoke to Mariëlle and Floor, who also want to visit me at the 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, which seems to be a smaller tourist town. So funny cause I had no idea this area was a touristy destination. I am happy about it cause that usually means there are more choices in food.
Right now, we stopped at a waterfall, and like any waterfall, they’re 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.
Waterfall in the sun at Tingo Maria, Peru
August 9, 12:17
Morning adventures! At the moment, I’m sitting on a rock in the sun, looking at a powerful waterfall surrounded by different plants moving in 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 snowcapped 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 start 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 love being in jungle areas and cloud forests much more than being in the big mountains. Good to know, right?
River in the jungle outside of Huanuco, Peru.
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 relief - it’s much more relaxed on the bike this way. It is gonna be a long-riding day tho cause we expect to arrive somewhere beginning of the evening and we left 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 ideas 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 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 on the boat at night. Departure time is at 05:00 in the morning, and I’m excited about 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.
