Prior to my trip to Brazil last winter, I made a quick stop to the Travel Clinic to get important shots for Yellow Fever, Typhoid and Hepatitis A. The doctor also recommended I take Malaria pills since I was spending 6 days in the Brazilian Amazon. There are several types of Malaria pills: Mefloquine, Malarone, Doxycycline and Fansidar. My doctor recommended the Malarone pills, which I believe are the most ...

I came across another Wavin' Flag (K'naan) video but this time, the theme was the Brazil World Cup 2014. I couldn't help myself but post it. I know we've all heard this song far too much in the last few months but the video really reminded me of my last backpacking trip in Brazil so I just had to! [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DmLMd41VJI&feature=related] ...

[caption id="attachment_1491" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="View of Rio"][/caption] The story behind the name "Rio de Janeiro" Rio de Janeiro stands for the January river. When sailors found the Bay (where Rio de Janeiro is now located) on January 1, 1502, they believed it to be the end of the river.  In honor of the King of Portugal, the name of Sao Sabastiao do Rio de Janeiro was born. Most Fam ...

When traveling in Brazil a few months ago, I made a quick 6-day stop in the Amazon. Although there were many highlights of the week I spent there, I'd like to emphasize my experience in a particular amazon village. Wooden houses, fruit plants, soccer fields were all common things one would encounter while walking through the it. But the one thing that really caught my attention were the kids living in that ...

On my first night in Rio, I met 5 friendly Brazilian girls from Porto Alegre in my dorm at the hostel. After chatting for a while, they asked me to join them that night. They were going to Carioca da Gema, a famous Samba club in Lapa (Rio). And so, after meeting up with my friend Eric who I had met in Manaus the previous week, we went to go meet up the girls! Check out the vibe in Carioca da Gema. I suggest ...

Rio de Janeiro is a city filled with places to see and things to do: ride on the cable car of Pão de Açúcar, watch the sunset from Arpoador, bike-ride around the lagoa, hop on a tram in Santa Teresa, visit the National Park of Tijuca, party in Lapa and of course, sunbathe on the famous beaches of Copacabana, Leme, Ipanema and Leblon. But what better way to experience Rio than from a bird-eye view?  This bei ...

If you are thinking about going to the Brazilian Amazon or heading to Manaus to begin your Amazon excursion, consider Gero Tour as your tour operator! I found Gero in my Rough Guide to Brazil while planning my trip to Brazil. As flying to the Amazon is expensive, I wanted to make sure to select the best tour operator in the region to ensure 100% happiness! A Gero guide came to pick me up at the airport when ...

Cortejo Afro was among the cultural groups who participated at the parade on July 2, 1998 the date of independance of Bahia. The art of the Cortejo Afro parade lies within the sounds, rythms and vivid Bahian colors. By watching this video, you will notice how the choreography is rich in movement and how they affirm their ethnical background by wearing vibrant colors. A night with Cortejo Afro garantees a ni ...

I don't even know where to begin! The last 3 weeks (yes, my trip is unfortunately coming to an end) have been beyond incredible. The best decision I've made so far was to go backpacking alone. I met wonderful people and now have more places to travel to! I know I haven't been writing so much but I've been so busy! When I arrived in Salvador last Saturday (don't ask me for the time or date because I'm lost r ...

So to my surprise, I woke up with a sore throat yesterday and after visiting the doctor today, I apparently have pharyngitis as well as high fever. Unable to move and only a few days until I depart for my big trip, I am freaking out! Anyhow, let's just hope that I'll be feeling better by Sat... So far, I still don't have my internal flights in Brazil and I didn't book anything in Bahia- which, honestly, I'm ...