Way to Machu Picchu, Machu Picchu, Peru, April 29, 2018
Here I came to Machu Picchu, where everyone seems to have their profile photos replaced. To get to Cusco, I drove from Puno for about 7 hours and I was already amazed by the scenery of mountains and plains that didn’t even have names. So I was wondering whether Machu Picchu could actually beat the unnamed scenery. Since I do not consider myself a vacation traveler, when I am in a highly touristy place, I feel as if I came to a too much fancy store...
Way to Machu Picchu, Peru, April 28, 2018
Way to the famous Machu Picchu. Not much description is necessary. Enjoy the experience! @Machu Picchu, Peru, April 28, 2018
somewhere 3 hours from Puno, Peru, April 25, 2018
The section from Arequipa to Puno already called my attention weeks ago. Within about an hour of driving, the maximum elevation gain is over 2,000 meters, from around 2,300m to 4,500m. The lack of power of the car, which I experienced in Ecuador, had concerned me about getting ultimately stranded somewhere. But I finally faced the roads today, now armed with a new EGR valve, a bottle of transmission additive, and newly practiced skills on how to use manual gears to minimize stress on the gearbox....
Ceviche, Lima, Perú, April 20, 2018
I am staying in the Miraflores neighborhood in Lima. While things are well organized and fancy, it was hard to find a restaurant specializing in Ceviche(cevicheria) with a local vibe and more generous portions. When I found myself in a less fancy neighborhood while installing a security film on the windshield, I took a break and visited a nearby Cevicheria. This was my second day of trying to have ceviche everyday in Peru. You can choose the spiciness of the ceviche itself, but the accompanying red...
unnamed valley, Ecuador, April 13, 2018
I do not know the name of this valley. I don’t even know whether it has a name. I just stopped to pee while headed for Cuenca from Riobamba, Ecuador.The drive was not easy – not only because it was curvy and hilly, but because it was so scenic that I wanted to pull over twice an hour. “You are a lucky country, Ecuador,” I repeated in my head. Overlanding can be tiring because you are driving 100% of the distance, but having to experience the...
Fanesca, Quito, Ecuador, April 7th, 2018
Fanesca is a traditional soup in Ecuador usually consumed during the Holy Week, or Semana Santa. It is not too visible in pictures but there were lots of beans at the bottom of the bowl, and they say they use 12 different kinds of beans, representing the twelve apostles of Jesus. And one of the side dishes contains salted cod, or bacalao, symbolizing the Jesus. As hinted by the appearance, it was thick and creamy. They say the recipe varies a lot regionally, so I’m happy...
Emotional sauna, Quito, Ecuador, April 6, 2018
Today is my 4th day in Quito, but I haven’t explored the city much, well, at least in the touristy sense. The day I crossed the 4,000 meter-high mountain range to arrive in Quito, I saw my car struggling to go uphill – the speed was comparable to the human walking speed. Although I knew that there were only about 60% of oxygen at that altitude compared to the sea level, I thought something was definitely not correct. So I meant to thoroughly review the exhaust...
Cerro Morro, Popayán, Colombia, march 31, 2018
I knew I was going to get to Popayan one day, because it is on the road to Ecuador. Over the past weeks though, my interest level went up, after hearing about what it was like to grow up in the town from my new Colombian friend in Medellin. Also, I read that Popayan is one of the most underestimated towns in Colombia where tourism is expected to grow. The colonial-era style city planning and architecture definitely had its charm – it reminded me of...
This website chronicles Leebong’s journey around the world for 2+ years, for the time being. To find out more, see The Travel & The Why.
To catch me, see Itinerary.
Impressions Series
