BOGOTA . . . COLOMBIA . . .

Immediately as we landed in the Colombian capital Bogota the vibe changed; smiles all round, laughter, happy faces and big big big Colombian culitos (butts). We quickly exchanged some money and had a good time with the little ladies as they laughed at Jyes lack of Spanish and his devilish good looks.
We were greeted by 2 of our good friends from Australia Javier Coca (who was was born and raised in Bogota) and none other then Sir Camaron Sparkecito who may as well have been born and raised in Colombia. It was a collision of worlds with one of my best homies from Barcelona another Colomiano Papayo and his Algerian born girlfriend Sarah who is extremely linguistically gifted, fluently speaking 6 languages, none of which are English.
We stayed in Javiers family home and were treated like utter kings. Never in my life/travels have I ever been treated with such hospitality. Breakfast, lunch and dinner (often with cakes, exotic fruits, snacks, smoothies, juices in between) were always a full blown feast with a full spread covering the table and Javis charming mother running around trying to put more on our plates and asking us funny little questions. My favorite was when we got back at the end of the trip and she asked us if we hooked up with Colombian girls, when some of us answered yes, with a cheeky laugh and a mischievous smile she asked "y por el culo tambien?". Ruthcita if u read this we all send our love and hope to see you down in Australia in 2014!!!!
We skated around town and were amazed, Bogota could be summed up as a latino version of frisco. Lots of hill bombs and amazing rough spots. The people were not as menacing as the stories you hear although one nigh we got chased for about 1km by a mariachi trying to sell us weed.      

GYPSY LIFE 2. 'BUBBLER CHRONICLES' PART 2 By yours truly.

GYPSY LIFE 2. 'The Bubbler Chronicles'. PART 2. from Skateboard.com.au on Vimeo.

QUITO . . . ECUADOR . . .

Jye Gordito was feeling a whole lot better so we hit it out to the famous Quito skatepark for a few days before we set off for Colombia. It was extremely difficult to skate in the high altitude and the hangovers were even harder. Ecuador seriously chewed us up like a coca leaf and has now spat us out over the border to Colombia. Change of luck is well in order.  

THE ANDES.

PLEASE WATCH!!! By Baumi Baumsen!!!

Holystoked NEXT GENERATION!!! from Bauminski on Vimeo.

CHUGCHILAN . . . ECUADOR . . .2

My poor mate Jye was dead in bed with a severe case of salmonella poisoning. I thought it would be a good idea to embark on a little day hike in the serene mountains surrounding our hostel and leave poor Jye to rest as he was at risk of being over mothered by yours truly.
The Andes are a beautiful but unforgiving place. As i slowly hauled myself up the steep mountainside gasping for air i found myself surrounded by wild dogs as i was shooting one of these photos you see bellow. Luckily i had a few rocks in my pocket and started throwing them towards the snarling dogs as they slowly began to encircle me. After a few throws i slowly retreated and to my relief with my arms and legs intact, but this would not be my last dog encounter of the day.
As I climbed higher it became harder to do any given task as the air was much thinner making the simplest task like taking a single step a nightmare. I reached the summit of the largest mountain range i could see giving me surreal views, free blue berries but this to would be short lived as a massive front of fog flowed over the mountains from the seaside of the great Andean Mountain range. Visibility robbed from me within minutes, only being able to see about 5 meters ahead of me i blindly tramped down through the now wet, slippery grass. I kept my calm and within 15 mins i reached a little cottage, as i entered the front gate a mangy black German Shepard took charge with all teeth expelled searching for some pre siesta gringo rump. With no rocks i though i was gone backing off i cartoon speed proportions legs frailing and sweat pouring from my forehead, but once i stumbled past the gate the dog haulted in its tracks at the edge of its masters property. Some hours later i finally found myself back in the safety of the dog free hostel and the kind ladies working there invited me for a potato feast.
Jye was even worst then when I had left him, he had been throwing up and shitting 2 times an hour for close to 48hours (96 shit/spews) and luckily enough the next day a doctor from Quito would be passing through town on his fortnightly visit and immediately insisted Jye go on a drip. Being terrified of needles this was an ordeal and poor Jye shat his pants and ended up fainting while they trip do administer aid. That afternoon he was feeling better and we decided to make a split back to Quito with a hostel worker who was embarking on the 4 hours drive to pick up supplies. The hostel worker, a complete lunatic from Texas, now living in Chile who had boasted about having Malaria and Salmonella poisoning at the same time while traveling in Eastern Africa took the barricade-less corners at breakneck speed. How we didnt tumble off or throw ourselves out of the window to our death having to hear this old fruit loop Australian music teacher babble on has got me beat to this very day.        

CHUGCHILAN . . . ECUADOR

Next stop was even higher up in the Ecuadorian Andes. on our way out of Quilotoa we saw a drunken man drift of into the Andes draped lifelessly over a donkey surrounded by his laughing children. The following morning we decided on going on a horse ride up into the high Andes and to visit a rainforest over the other side. Jye somehow forgot he was allergic to horses and as a result his eyes swelled up and to top it of fell terribly ill, poisoned salmonella style by some rotten eggs. Ive never seen anyone so sick, he must have lost 10 kilos in 2 days and had to go on a drip, shitting his pants and throwing up anything he put down his throat for 48 hours. It was a splendid ride though.....