What is the best time and worst time of year to visit south america?

January 14, 2012 - 9:30 pm 1 Comment

We’re thinking of doing an amazon cruise - but something more grassroot - in a small river boat, not a big cruise ship.

What is the best and worst time of year to travel? what is the weather like?

(I’m not sure what exact area we would go to as I haven’t investigated it much yet - so I’m open to your suggestions)

thank you

Hi Reiki,

since you wanna do the Amazon cruise it really doesn’t matter what time of the year you go. I am in Brazil right now and just finished the Amazon cruise. I went on one of the local boats (not a cruise ship), and it was fun, but it is also very primitive. You can either get a cabin for two people (extremely small with no windows, and pretty much only designed for sleeping, or you can sleep in a hammock (that’s what I did) with the "regular" folks. Lol.

I did the "cruise" from Tabatinga (very western part of Brazil on the border with Peru and Colombia) to Manaus, spent a few days in Mananus, and then continued to Belem, which is about 60 miles from the Atantic Coast. You can also do the trip starting in Belem and go upriver (it takes about double the time), or just do a partial trip.

Duration: Tabatinga to Manaus is 3 nights, and Manaus to Belem is 4 nights.

The cost are as follows (per person):
Tabatinga - Manaus: US$ 90.00 (hammock) incl. 3 meals a day
Tabatinga - Manaus: US$ 190.00 (cabin) incl. 3 meals a day

Manaus - Belem: US$ 140.00 (hammock) only with breakfast
Manaus - Belem: US$ 250.00 (cabin) only with breakfast

Please keep in mind that prices change from time to time.

The weather is tropical, hot and humid, however, on the boat there’s always a little breeze and you really don’t feel the heat/humidity that much. Please keep in mind that it can get a little cold at night on the river if you sleep in a hammock. You would need a little blanket or put a sweater on.

The food offered on board the ship is everyday the same. For breakfast is a piece of bread, juice and coffee. For lunch and dinner you’ll get rice, beans, spaghetti, and meat (beef or chicken).

The largest boat from Tabatinga to Manaus is the "NM Oliveira V", which holds 219 passengers, even though is very often overloaded. The largest boat from Manaus to Belem is the "NM Amazon Star", which holds 756 passengers.

The boats will make numerous stops along the Amazon to unload/load passengers and cargo.
You should brink a book since there’s really nothing to do on board the ships.

If you need any more information, please just let me know.

Have a great trip.

Cruiser board recommendations?

January 3, 2012 - 1:00 am 1 Comment

Just wondering if anyone can recommend me a board to cruise around with and chill on.
There are alot of hills near me so I don’t
know if I need a longer board to go down them. I have size 10 shoes if that matters. Oh and I would like to carve a bit. If the board is on amazon or ccs that would be really helpful as well, because the postage on other sites like muirskate is $80 for where I live.

Anything slim and large will do.

Cruiser board recommendations? ?

December 31, 2011 - 7:30 pm 1 Comment

Just wondering if anyone can recommend me a board to cruise around with and chill on.
There are alot of hills near me so I don’t
know if I need a longer board to go down them. I have size 10 shoes if that matters. Oh and I would like to carve a bit. If the board is on amazon or ccs that would be really helpful as well, because the postage on other sites like muirskate is $80 for where I live.

You could use a pintail, they are just for carving and cruising !
I know that amazon has some pintails on there, a lot actually it’s great !

You can find atom boards, most of them are made for what you want to do, and they are sold on amazon, I’m thinking of getting one myself actually !!

There’s atom pintails, the atom kicktail, drop through, boards like that :)

Hey here are some links to help you out, you will love these boadrs !! ;)

* http://www.amazon.com/ATOM-91002-Atom-Kicktail-Longboard/dp/B002FTO8OI

* http://www.amazon.com/Atom-Pintail-Super-Carver-Longboard/dp/B003LTB7WW/ref=sr_1_3?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1324944926&sr=1-3

* http://www.amazon.com/ATOM-91008-Atom-Drop-Through-Longboard/dp/B004ECGEGO/ref=sr_1_4?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1324944926&sr=1-4

What kind of longboard should I buy?

December 18, 2011 - 1:45 am 2 Comments

I’m a college student at UCLA (the campus is wide with a few hills). I would prefer a board that can cruise well and carve around people who are walking. I’d also like a cheap but very reliable board for my 4 years in college. Does anyone have good suggestions? I heard Sector 9 is a good brand.

These are the boards I’m looking at:
http://www.amazon.com/ATOM-91003-Atom-Pintail-Longboard/dp/B002KD4YRA/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1323498281&sr=1-1-fkmr0

http://stokedskateboards.com/earthwing-superglider-complete.html

http://www.amazon.com/Sector-Aperture-Sidewinder-Complete-Longboard/dp/B0044FOI28/ref=sr_1_24?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1323499189&sr=1-24

Atom is a cheap fake brand.

Earthwing is a very legitimate brand. The Superglider’s quality is one of the best.

Sector 9 is alright. Not sure where you hear they are a good brand, but most of their boards are on the lower end. They do have a few great board such as the Super Shaka, Mini Shaka, BHNC, and their Downhill Division.

Do some more research before you buy. Browse and ask around in the SilverfishLongboarding forums.
http://www.silverfishlongboarding.com/

I’m looking for a girls opinion on which watch would look better on a guy.?

December 11, 2011 - 12:18 am 2 Comments

http://www.amazon.com/TechnoMarine-109045-Cruise-Vision-Chrono/dp/B00375MICI/ref=sr_1_6?s=watches&ie=UTF8&qid=1322765595&sr=1-6

http://www.amazon.com/TechnoMarine-111030-Cruise-Sport-Watch/dp/B0053AVYIO/ref=pd_sbs_watch_18

http://www.amazon.com/Bulova-98B142-Precisionist-Champlain-Rubber/dp/B003P1MX3I/ref=sr_1_20?s=watches&ie=UTF8&qid=1322765820&sr=1-20

http://www.amazon.com/Bulova-98B117-Marine-Black-Watch/dp/B0021AEDRI/ref=sr_1_64?s=watches&ie=UTF8&qid=1322765853&sr=1-64

All of them are obnoxiously complicated sports watches that most people shouldn’t wear every day.

A very quick introduction to watches and then, below, some suggestions:

Watch lovers love mechanical watches. Mechanical watches are anachronistic; quartz watches are more accurate and less expensive. Good mechanical watches can cost tens of thousands of dollars but are intended to last decades or longer.  Patek Philippe, Rolex, and others make watches at this level.

Most people do not want such an expensive watch, and watches in the $30+ range are accurate and reliable.  (Timex makes watches at this level.)

For a bit more, you can choose a watch with better finishing details and have more options (style-wise). If you’re willing to spend up to $200 or so you can choose from innumerable styles of quartz watches that will be well-made and reliable. Watches at this level will be steel and, if you wish, gold-plated.  Seiko and many others make watches at this level.

(In between extremely good mechanical watches and $200 watches are quartz watches made by serious watch companies that also make mechanical watches. These watches are made of gold so they cost quite a bit more than $200, and their finishing detail is usually very well done. Watches in this range might cost from $1,200 to $15,000+.  Baume et Mercier and many others make watches at this level.)

For your first watch, look at Seiko, among others. They make many different styles, their quality is good, and you’ll be happy with one as your first.

All Seiko men’s watches at Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=amb_link_6986042_57?ie=UTF8&rh=n%3A377110011%2Cp_n_target_audience_browse-bin%3A379281011%2Cn%3A%21378516011%2Cp_4%3ASeiko&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=left-2&pf_rd_r=1NEHXWQZRJXSEHXXVD2Q&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1300943602&pf_rd_i=404124011

SUGGESTIONS:

Some good styles from Seiko etc.:

Round dress watches:
http://www.amazon.com/Seiko-SKP330-Dress-Black-Leather/dp/B000VCGVC8

http://www.amazon.com/Seiko-SKP332-Dress-Brown-Leather/dp/B000QY89CG

http://www.amazon.com/Bulova-97B13-Black-Tortoise-Leather/dp/B000FVC50M

http://www.amazon.com/Bulova-97B100-Strap-White-Watch/dp/B002LUEI9Q

“Tank” dress watch (styled after the Cartier Tank):
http://www.amazon.com/Seiko-SNF672-Dress-Black-Leather/dp/B000S6T0KW

Sporty stainless-steel watch (on which I’d recommend a light brown leather strap):
http://www.amazon.com/Seiko-SNE031-Solar-White-Watch/dp/B0043ZVUKC

I want to order the Burnin’ Up Tour book from Amazon..can you help!!?

December 8, 2011 - 7:02 pm 1 Comment

I want to order that book but I live in Europe. Is this a problem?
Oh and I don’t want to pay by card I want to pay when I get the parcel..how can I do this?

Thanks

You cannot pay when it arrives, people dont do that anymore. You need to find the book on another site locally. I never see much mention of international shipping on Amazon. I do not know if they are set up for that. Look on Half.com or Ebay.

can anyone give me the probability of the animals i will encounter on a tour in the amazon rainforest?

December 2, 2011 - 1:11 am 1 Comment

example:
panda - impossible
mosquito - very likely
monkey - not very likely
snake - likely

mosquito very likely

Does anyone know the names of any holiday tour operators that specalise in ecotourism holidays in the amazon ?

November 29, 2011 - 10:39 pm 1 Comment

Does any names of any ecotourism travel companies that take you on holidays in the amozan rainforest price doesn’t matter

Sure…..Eco-tourism in the Amazon………..google it………..

longboard wheels help?

November 22, 2011 - 8:31 pm 1 Comment

there are these longboard wheels that i really like but i dont know if it is qualified for the long board…but here is the information about the longboard Function: Cruising, Campus Cruising, Park
Features: Kicktail, Concave, Upturned Nose

Material: 5 Ply Bamboo
Length: 33.00"
Width: 8.5"
Wheelbase: 17"
Thickness: 7/16"
Hole Pattern: New School
Grip: Clear

and the wheels that i want :
http://www.amazon.com/Dregs-Compound-Mutha-Longboard-Wheels/dp/B003YKOF90/ref=sr_1_1331?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1321633706&sr=1-1331

Im sure they will work. It is impossible to tell based on that you gave. You have to look at the design of the longboard, or if there are wheel wells to accommodate bigger wheels. If the wheels dont fit, you can just add risers to your board to give more room between the wheel and board.

What do I need to do to my Verizon Wireless Blackberry tour before I sell it on Amazon?

November 18, 2011 - 4:14 am 2 Comments

I upgrade to a new phone, and I want to sell my phone. What steps do I need to do to my old phone to be ready be put on the market? Any ideas.

Do a security wipe

Options icon - Security Options - Security Wipe

Check the first two boxes

Type blackberry in the bottom box

Click Wipe