Machine Head con Sepultura

I have to say I'm pretty excited that the first band I will go to see in Chile, just so happens to be my favourite band of all time, Machine Head. Some time ago I wrote a detailed post on another blog of mine about my history of liking the band.

Fits in quite well with a project I am doing for my university course, which deals with the concept of memories themselves.

The support act are not shabby themselves, South American metal gurus Sepultura. With not all that much to contest it, I've really steered clear of the "big" shows, mainly due to financial reasons, but there will be no surprise if I go to do my "Best shows" list at the end of the year, and this show is at the top.

Should be a great experience, only a few days after we arrive. Just one month later, Parkway Drive will play there first South American shows, so I hope I can get along to that too. I was looking through some Gig Guides the other day, and things are looking pretty good for a music scene in Chile.

From today it's just twenty days until we touch down in Santiago. Not a whole lot of time remaining...

Mate!

This is an email I sent to my good friend Doug. We used to live and study together, and it is likely he will visit us in South America to attend our second wedding ceremony.

I haven't updated this blog in a while, as we have been going around Asia for about a month now and I have been concentrating too much on the road ahead. But this email outlines some of my plans for once I touchdown in Santiago, just about a month and a half from now.

Hey mate

Travels are going along ok, but I sprained my ankle on day 1 in Nepal, about 10 days ago. We are in Thailand now, and on day 1 last night Francisca came to a similar fate, but hers doesn't seem too bad.

We get back to Australia (in Melbourne) at the end of September....26th or so...we will have a while in Australia then depart on October 16th. The wedding will on November 12th in Rancagua, which is about 1.5hrs south, though most people will be heading down and back from Santiago on the day.

Machine Head are playing in Santiago on October 23rd, I am pretty excited about that, as they playing in South America because they cancelled an Australian tour, so works out good for me....

I don't really have too many plans for around the time, I have no idea what I will do really. We will be staying with Francisca's Mum, and you would be quite welcome to crash on the couch there.

My family are coming in the week before the wedding (there are about 20 plus Boyle family members coming....). Just come whenever you feel like, it would be great to have you around.

Depending on how long you're planning to stick around I'm planning on going to Venezuela for the South American Footbag Championships, they are usually on in about Mid-December. I don't really know the details for that one, but I strongly plan on going, and hopefully can do the next year's event in Chile. Seems this year will be somewhere around Dec 16th. Flights within South America (and to South America) are pretty expensive. I paid $1800 for a return ticket (return is cheaper than one way). If you can get a ticket for under $2000, I would probably just buy it.

Our friend Bron, she used to work in the hostel too, is going to come visit us for Christmas and New Years, I would say by then we'll have a place of our own...maybe a job (not too sure on that one), maybe a bit credit card debt (completely sure on that one), but if you wanted to hang out then that would be cool too. I remember you saying you had about 2 months of leave to take so there are some options over a two month period.

Hopefully by that time I will have my ankle fixed up at the moment, I guess it doesn't hurt too much but it's more of a pain in the bum than anything.

So in short, come whenever and we'll have a good time.

We go: 16/10

Wedding: 12/11

are your two main dates.

How's things with you in Australia? I'm looking forward to get down to some beaches etc in Thailand, maybe the saltwater will do good things for my injuries.

I've been making some blog posts at http://capital-eyes.blogspot.com of our trip if you want to see what we have been up to, and I have also put some photos on facebook, but not all that many.

Look forward to some Sudamerican Rockers (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NwXMDbrqA0) adventures. Let me know what your plans are, and I'll let you know as the plan develops.

Dude!

How's ya travels? Can you give me some dates for South America...I'm about to look at flights, tours etc and wanted to get an idea. Also what are your plans around your wedding...what time do you have to hang, explore? I don't wanna crash the party!

Dougie

Hostels in Chile

For the past few years I have worked in the Canberra City YHA, a backpackers hostel. I was reading a little about the drama in Valparaiso where a US exchange student fell into the street and suffered brain injuries.

I have not made a particular plan for what I will do for work once I arrive in Chile, but working in a hostel is something I would be happy to do again. It is clear though that the regulators are not keeping up with the ever expanding hostel scene and a lot of shonky operators are getting away with running unsafe places without having to do anything.

There is a big difference between things that need a slight bit of work, or dated buildings, and when railing collapse any you fall onto the street from the second story. It is also not good enough to say "in a year, the regulations will be compulsory and not voluntary", hopefully nobody else falls out onto the street in this time.

There is a little bit more on the Southern Cone Travel website.

Footbag in Chile

As with most people, my dear readers, will probably not be familiar with the sport of Footbag

Much more often known as "Hacky Sack", footbag is something that I am very passionate about, and as a matter of fact, this very week I will be defending my Australian Championship in the Routines event.

You can see some video of me here: www.youtube.com/footbagact

A search on players registered on Footbag.org shows about 8 players, but there's never a great chance of finding actual other players through there, you never know though.

I am hoping I will be able to attend the South American championships, which are likely to take place in Venezuela at the end of the year.

Rough as guts

I was meant to have a Spanish lesson tonight, but I had a long day at work, then I set off a smoke alarm making my dinner, so thoughts of learning were far from my mind.

I have decided to start flicking through my The Rough Guide to Chile. The Rough Guides that I have read about Australia I haven't been particularly impressed with. I'm not sure if that's because I think I know everything, but it's more that it's mainly written by one person, so it's all just their opinion.

This was at a heavily reduced price though (from $35 to $9.95), so it was hard not to pick it up. I will report back in some days with my findings.

Explora, Explora

We were married at the beginning of this year, but when we go to Chile we will have a new ceremony. We are already married so there's not too much point to go through the whole service again, but we will probably have some kind of ring blessing or something along those lines.

To our surprise, quite a large number of our family will be joining us for a little while in Chile. The current plan is to head down to Patagonia afterwards. Mum and Dad have a very generous plan, to pay for us to stay in a very fancy hotel, the Explora.

I'm not going to have a job for a few months, so I don't think I can say no to that one! It should be very exciting.

I think this website will be a big help for me

This is a link to a bunch of words that I may find in my adventures in Chile

http://cachandochile.wordpress.com/glossary-glosario-chilenismos/