FuFu Exploring Chile - Part One

This bus journey to Santiago from Mendoza is one of the best scenic trip by bus ever. Aalong the way, i saw many magnificent dances from the clouds, adm also vineyards.

FuFu Exploring Latin America
Chile - Part One | 31st Dec 2010 - 6th Jan 2011


I didn't expect to see snow on top of a mountain! Because it is summer here! But anyway it is above sea level 2000++m.

Andes, Chile.

1:22pm - 31/12/2010 - 20°C


The sky ponny!

Andes (ASL >2500m), Chile.

1:28pm - 31/12/2010 - 20°C


At the International Police border (Argentina and Chile). The sun is very bright!

Andes (ASL >2500m), Chile.

1:45pm - 31/12/2010 - 20°C

Little FuFu is happy to see the snowy mountain!

Andes, Chile.

1:48pm - 31/12/2010 - 20°C

FuFu at Chile, finally!!

Andes (ASL >2500m), Chile.

1:50pm - 31/12/2010 - 20°C

Majestic view!!

Andes (ASL >2500m), Chile.

1:58pm - 31/12/2010 - 20°C

Snack time!

Los Andes, Chile.

2:47pm - 31/12/2010 - 28°C

1096m, took this picture after the bus had reached a small town after all the ups and downs from the border of Argentina and Chile. After the border, Chilean road descended abruptly with 26 switchbacks all crawling with trucks, and the bus was moving very slow. The meeting time with my host is 6pm. Kept praying i wouldnt be late.

Los Andes, Chile.

2:53pm - 31/12/2010 - 34°C

Arrived Santiago safely. Met up my host at Metro Station Line 1 - Universidad Catolica, Louis (couchsurfing.com). We went to a supermarket, bought the ingredient for the dinner and tomorrow´s breakfast. Grilled Chicken, avocado, chocolate milk, puddings, etc.

Neighbourhood of Universidad Catolica, Santiago, Chile.

6:13pm - 31/12/2010 - 31°C


The view from the apartment of Louis, 10th floor.

Neighbourhood of Universidad Catolica, Santiago, Chile.

6:51pm - 31/12/2010 - 31°C


I asked if Louis wanna go out for the countdown, his expression showed me a big NO. He hates crowd. And he suggested to see the fireworks on the rooftop of his apartment. He brought me there and tried to convince me. And well, i managed to see the sunset!!!

Neighbourhood of Universidad Catolica, Santiago, Chile.

8:49pm - 31/12/2010 - 28°C


My host, Louis, is from Colombia, but have been working in Santiago since 7years ago. He doesnt speak good English, instead teaching me Spanish. I am learning fast as i have no choice but LEARN. LOL Anyway i found uot later, he was teaching me vulgar language. :(

Neighbourhood of Universidad Catolica, Santiago, Chile.

9:03pm - 31/12/2010 - 28°C

It was cold at night. And i told Louis i have I ♥ Malaysia t-shirt, he asked me to wear it because he has his own couchsurfing project. Recording video of every couchsurfer he is hosting. Anyway Happy New Year from FuFu and little FuFu.

Neighbourhood of Universidad Catolica, Santiago, Chile.

0:38am - 01/01/2011 - 25°C

Tres, dos, uno... (Three, two, one) Feliz Año Nuevo (Happy New Year)! Hey guys have a blast in 2011, from Santiago, Chile.

Neighbourhood of Universidad Catolica, Santiago, Chile.

0:04am - 01/01/2011 - 25°C


My second couch!!! This couch is relatively good! I have a big LCD screen in front of me, and the living room is nicely decorated.

Neighbourhood of Universidad Catolica, Santiago, Chile.

9:26am - 01/01/2011 - 29°C


Samsung LCD flat screen!

Neighbourhood of Universidad Catolica, Santiago, Chile.

9:32am - 01/01/2011 - 29°C

Part of Santiago seen from the neighbourhood of Unversidad Catolica.

Fiest Impression - Santiago is one interesting city to study!!! Personally i like Santiago, much better than Buenos Aires in Argentina (the capital city is over rated). This Chilean city is very well organised, neat and the public transortation is properly provided to the citizens. Many parks located here and there. Most importantly the traffic is not that heavy. Air is good. Not very hot. Tap water is yummy. Gonna explore more!

Neighbourhood of Universidad Catolica, Santiago, Chile.

12:23pm - 01/01/2011 - 29°C

Louis, my host, couldnt host me for more than a night. That is strange. Anyway, at least, the first day i was properly taken care of. We walked to the hostel from his apartment. But he didnt know where exactly the hostel is located. Before leaving the apartment, i told him to double check, but he said he knew it. His sense of direction is bad, i have only been in the city for not more than 24hrs, yet i know where is it. Erm, i am thinking of not to couchsurf anymore, because i need more freedom moving here and there and not brought/shown by any local who would at the end piss me off and i cant really complain because he actually was trying to help. Well, he is nice but i gotta wait till he woke up and got his stuff done then only we could go out. Wasting a lot of time!!!! Would rather spend more since time cant be bought!

Neighbourhood of Universidad Catolica, Santiago, Chile.

12:31pm - 01/01/2011 - 29°C

I also saw many graffiti on the wall of the shops, restaurants, residential buildings here in Santiago.

Centro, Santiago, Chile.

12:58pm - 01/01/2011 - 29°C

On the way to Centro, i spotted a nice opster written 2011. Hohohoho, happy 2011 from Santiago.

Centro, Santiago, Chile.

1:14pm - 01/01/2011 - 29°C

Finally arrived my hostel. It costs Argentina Peso 7000 (RM 48= US$14). One of the nicest hostel i have ever seen, as if a 3star hotel. Very spacious! Huge living room with comfy couch! And the lobby also very grand.

Centro, Santiago, Chile.

5:23pm - 01/01/2011 - 27°C

It is 01/01/2011. The city is very beautiful and still neat, it is not dirty, just yesterday was new year eve, and today is public holiday, i am sure they will clean up the city tomorrow!

Centro, Santiago, Chile.

6:12pm - 01/01/2011 - 27°C


Historical buildings could mungle well with modern high rise buildings. Come to Santiago and you will see how harmony they live together in the city!!! ♥

Centro, Santiago, Chile.

6:39pm - 01/01/2011 - 27°C

FuFu at a pocket park in Santiago!

Centro, Santiago, Chile.

6:01pm - 01/01/2011 - 27°C

01/01/01 - Public Holiday. All shops and restaurants closed! Luckily, we still have Burger King and Mc Donald, and also the supermarket owned by the Chinese. LOL

Centro, Santiago, Chile.

7:27pm - 01/01/2011 - 27°C


FuFu and Little FuFu, in front of Chile President House.

Centro, Santiago, Chile.

8:18pm - 01/01/2011 - 24°C


Sitting in front of Chile Presidential House for the light up. Chilly but worth it.

Centro, Santiago, Chile.

8:57pm - 01/01/2011 - 24°C

At te bathroom of the hostel (Happy Huse Hostel). Ready to go out!

Las Heroes, Santiago, Chile.

9:15am - 02/01/2011 - 26°C

The living room that i mentioned before! The hostel has 4 big living room! Guess it may have been transformed as hostel from 2 star hotel.

Las Heroes, Santiago, Chile.

9:21am - 02/01/2011 - 26°C

Santiago, in fact has pretty much colourful and beautiful colonial buildings that worth to see. Personally thinking, Barrio Brasil (Brazilian neihgbourhood) is much better than the San Telmo in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Barrio Brasil, Santiago, Chile.

10:04am - 02/01/2011 - 26°C

Peking roasted duck! :p

Barrio Brasil, Santiago, Chile.

10:04am - 02/01/2011 - 26°C


Mona Lisa has a new hairstyle here in Santiago!

Barrio Brasil, Santiago, Chile.

10:54am - 02/01/2011 - 26°C


After Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina, i saw our national flower again here in Santiago, Chile!!! But only can be found in the residential area. Lucky i walked round, so i could make a collection of the hibiscus i have been seeing here in Latin America!

Barrio Brasil, Santiago, Chile.

11:08am - 02/01/2011 - 26°C


Having rest and quick snack time at Plaza de Brasil.

Barrio Brasil, Santiago, Chile.

11:47am - 02/01/2011 - 26°C

After exploring Barrio Brasil, i was sitting at the bus stop, observing the movement of the buses. No timetable for the all buses. But the frequency is pretty high. Roughly every 10-15mins, there is a same bus coming to the bus stop. You have to wave your hand so the bus would stop and you hop on. All buses are handicapped-friendly. The bus stop indicates the number of buses stop there, origin and final destination. But the stops in between are not shown.

La Moneda, Santiago, Chile.

12:18pm - 02/01/2011 - 28°C

At the Cultural Museum, just below the Presidential Palace.

La Moneda, Santiago, Chile.

1:04pm - 02/01/2011 - 28°C


Santa Lucia is a small hill in the centre of Santiago. On top of the hill, you can see the 360 view of the city and the Andes mountain range. The backdrop of this picture is the magic fountain that your wish will come true if you make the wish sincerely there. What i had wished? Definitely health, travel and money. lol

Cerro Santa Lucía, Santiago, Chile.

2:13pm - 02/01/2011 - 28°C

Part of the 360 view seen from Santa Luica hill.

Cerro Santa Lucía, Santiago, Chile.

2:49pm - 02/01/2011 - 28°C

You can simply see many awesome grafitti here in Santiago. But i will only take picture of those i like. So here is the grafiti i like the best. Actually this is the entrance of an apartment and a mini market. Really wish we have such nice painting in Malaysia! Make the fasade of our buildings more lively!

Centro, Santiago, Chile.

4:37pm - 02/01/2011 - 28°C


Armas Square has several historical buildings and also one of the most popular squares people will gather there. Hence you see little FuFu and i there observing the movement of the everything - birds, people, etc.

Plaza de Armas, Santiago, Chile.

5:23pm - 02/01/2011 - 28°C


Battery of my camera was going to run out! Did not actually take ictures of the buildings, but i will do so later since i am going to another hostel few blocks away from there tomorrow morning.

Plaza de Armas, Santiago, Chile.

5:51pm - 02/01/2011 - 28°C


Always like to kill my time watching how the local actually do at the square. Simple life. Music makes everyone happier because you can really forget everything but dancing together witl friends or strangers. I pretty like this type of interaction in the centre of a city!

Plaza de Armas, Santiago, Chile.

6:43pm - 02/01/2011 - 26°C


20steps further down, i saw a couple dancing tranditional Chilean dance with the custom. We seriously need this kind of performance at Bukit Bintang, KLCC, etc for the tourists since our culture is so colourful!

Plaza de Armas, Santiago, Chile.

7:06pm - 02/01/2011 - 26°C


The lobby of my hostel. Pretty gorgeous right? No wonder the rate of a dormitory room with 6beds is so expensive. Anyway i am moving to another cheaper hostel at the centre of the city!

Happy House Hostel, Las Heroes, Santiago, Chile.

9:28pm - 02/01/2011 - 23°C


FuFu at the loby of Happy House Hostel. Cozy.

Happy House Hostel, Las Heroes, Santiago, Chile.

9:30pm - 02/01/2011 - 23°C