Hi Mike,
Yes I've tried the coca tea. It's not really "my cup of tea" though. It is
supposed to help in the altitude, but it did nothing for me. Maybe I didn't
drink enough.
Yes, the altiplano is perfectly clear, except when you're driving behind
something stirring up dust.
As far as safety concerns, I don't worry too much. I see it as you do. The
biggest problem is how to politely avoid some of the food and drink they
offer you in the remote places. And I never eat food from the street
vendors, well, almost never. Actually I've been quite lucky and have had
very little problems with diaherra or upset stomach, but some of my
travelling companions have had it really bad.
For a camera bag you can see here what I carry. I'm the third picture down
on the right, standing by the little short door.
http://personal.nbnet.nb.ca/waynecul/gallery/falsuribolivia.html
It is a bag I bought down there, and all the camera gear I take has to go in
there, wrapped in spare socks or an extra sweater, along with a water
bottle. Also I usually have a 35RC on a belt pouch. I wouldn't want to take
anything very expensive, or too cumbersome, because as you say, you are
married to whatever you take, and the chances of it being stolen are very
high. But again I've been lucky, and not lost anything personal. We usually
have wiper blades and tail lights stolen in the cities. In the remote places
it is not so bad. Again, others with us have lost some things, but it is
usually due to their own inattention or carelessness.
The Zuiko 21/3.5 they've been recommending would be nice, but it is too
expensive for me to take down there for the few times I'd need it. I have to
be comfortable risking it being stolen, or surviving the grit and dust.
Something like the vivitar 17mm is more what I'm looking for, but there
don't seem to be any floating around.
Wayne
----- Original Message -----
From: Mike <watershed@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <olympus-digest@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, January 31, 2003 11:51 PM
Subject: Re: [OM] Altitude/okay, maybe OT now
> > At 15,000 feet and above, I can talk, or walk slowly, or chew food, but
no
> > two of them at the same time. I also get headaches the first couple
days.
> > Like eating, you can always breathe when you get home.
> >
> > Wayne
> >
> Have you tried the coca tea? It either cures soroche or you don't care
> about it anymore, not sure which:>)
> Seriously, drink _lots_ of liquids of the non alcoholic kind.
>
> Yes, the cities are polluted but once out in the countryside I've never
> seen such crystal clear air. No haze, (that is up on the altiplano, the
> jungle is another story). At least that's how it seemed to me living
> down here in this brown soup we call air where on some days you can't
> tell where the air ends and the water begins.
>
> There are safety concerns but mostly petty crime, pickpockets and such.
> I was pickpocketed in a very remote train station by a team of
> professionals. A non conspicuous bag for your camera is good and it must
> never leave your person or it _will_ disappear. This is one reason I
> take a minimalist kit as I'm going to be married to it for the duration.
> This is another argument for the cheaper more common Zuik's. If the grit
> or thieves get them it's not as bad as that 18 or shift.
>
> mike
>
>
>
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