Day 3 in the Desert

We were awake at 4am, so we could reach the geysers a few miles away by dawn. It was -10ºC when we left the hotel. After trying desperately to stay warm for an hour, we arrived at the geysers, where there were huge craters of boiling mud and billowing steam, and the stench of sulphur in the air. I was fascinated, but the Kiwis in our group told me to wait till I get to Rotura, in NZ, where the geysers are much more impressive.


Following the geysers, we headed to another lake to pass the time before a breakfast of pancakes and toffee sauce, which we ate next to the hot springs. At 9.30am, it was still below freezing, but Mina, Mike & Marlene and I all braved the 30º thermal springs: the water was beautiful, and after the initial pain of having to get undressed in the freezing outdoors, it warmed us through to the bones - well worth it!


Several hours driving later, we arrived at a basic homestay where we went to play basketball with the locals. Unfortunately, we couldn´t find any locals but played against each other anyway, although it was quite tough with the cold and the altitude ruining our fitness.