Bolivia, Salar de Uyuni

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This 3-day tour across the world's largest salt flat brought about mixed emotions. The anniversary of my brother's death fell in the middle of the trip so I was feeling pretty down. Being in such close quarters with strangers all day and night plus not being able to contact home didn't help. We also got ripped off as had paid to do a longer journey with one company but ended up squished in a jeep with 6 other people on the standard route with the cheapest outfit in town. That was after we were initially herded onto the food wagon and left to struggle under copious quantities of bread. But the scenery was magnificent and so unique it was hard to stay peed off for long. Jewel coloured lakes in pink, green and opal glistened in the high altitude sun. Flamingos and llamas dotted the horizon. Geysers bubbled and spurted mud and steam. Erratic rock formations jutted out from desert landscape. Giant cacti stood to attention. The eerie white expanse of the salt flat stretched as far as the eye could see. And to end it all off, there was a train graveyard to play in. Pretty cool despite the hiccups. [Clare]