SOUTH AMERICA - Part 2 - Iguazu Falls

IGUAZU FALLS
Monday 03 March 2008 - Brazilian side

Spectacular, breathtaking, majestic, awesome! There's no better description of the torrents of water cascading down Iguazu Falls, one of the largest and most impressive falls in the world. The name Iguazu (also Iguassu) comes from the Guarnani Indian word meaning "great water." The Falls are a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site.

Situated on the border of Brazil and Argentina, the 275 falls plunge over a precipice more than a mile and a half wide with an average drop of 300 feet to the Iguazu River below. Every second, 450,000 gallons of water come tumbling down.

Seventy percent of the falls are actually in Argentina, but much can be seen from the Brazilian side. Each year, millions of visitors gaze at the falls, which are 60 feet higher than Niagara Falls and about one and half times as wide.

The Brazilian side of the Falls has the spectacular panoramic view while the Argentine side has the best and most varied close-up views of the Iguazu Falls.

On Monday 3 March 2008, we flew into Iguazu from Rio de Janeiro and immediately after check-in at the 5* Bourbon Hotel, we headed for the Iguazu Falls on the Brazilian side...

The panoramic Brazilian side of the Iguazu Falls can be seen from this photograph.

In this photograph are from left Ngoh, Nancy, PK Seah and Anna against the spectacular curtain of the cascading waters of the Iguazu Falls. Can you spot the rainbow behind PK and Anna? Rainbows which are common occurences in the Iguazu Falls are formed from the strong sunlight and the misty sprays of waters.

Another view of the spectacular Falls with Khin and Tiang in the foreground.

The zig-zag wooden plank walkway with metal railings leading to the tower in the background and the "curtain" falls on the right. The four Singaporean beauties are from left : Baby Hsiao Yun with Mum Khin, Aunty Brenda and Aunty Ngoh.

Another panoramic view of the Iguazu Falls from the Brazilian side.

A close up of the Falls from the Brazilian side. The focus is on the Falls so never mind if the faces of the beauties are in the shadow.

Wow, one can sense and feel the power and height of the falls even from a still picture like this one!

Another picture to demonstrate the might and power of the cascading waters of the falls from the great height...

A picture to show the edge of the Falls from the Brazilian side...

Khin posing against the railing that overlooks the edge of the falls.

Another picture taken from the same angle...

The edge of the cascading falls is just behind Ngoh ...

Tuesday 4 March 2008 - Argentine side of Iguazu Falls

In the open air truck that took us to the boarding area for the exciting boat trip into the Iguazu Falls on the Argentine side. The guide was explaining to us the flora and fauna of the Iguazu region...

Close up of the 4 (out of the 9 )heroes/heroines who took the challenge of taking the boat ride - from front - PK Seah, Anna, Tom and Nancy.

The other 4 heroines in the open air truck are from the front - Khin, Hsiao Yun, Yvonne and Tiang. Hey who and where is the 9th heroine? You guess!

This was the "pontoon" (floating platform with an overhead roof) where we changed into our wet gear before boarding the boat to go to the base of the falls.

A pose before we reached the pontoon... Now your answer to the missing 9th heroine is in this picture. Sorry , no prize for the correct answer...

All set in the boat wearing our life jackets and protecting our cameras and other prized possessions in the plastic bags provided.

We were still smiling, not knowing what to expect from the boat ride into or under the falls. However once the propellers started to move and as the captain moved the boat in the direction of the falls, the thrills and excitement began. We screamed and shouted as the waters splashed all over us. The boat "crashed" into the waters not once, but three times and we were all soaked wet but happy after the experience. Later we bought a video of our boat ride under or into the Iguazu Falls experience taken by the professional photographer.

After the boat ride, we walked up from the "beach" to the higher level and along the way, took more pictures of the smaller falls. Here Ngoh with her hair all drenched, posed for a picture...

Hsiao Yun also had a jolly good time from the boat trip as can be seen from her expression in this picture.

A group photograph taken with our handsome and macho looking tour guide for Iguazu - Renato. Standing next to him are Anna, Nancy, Tom; Front row from left: Ngoh, Khin, Hsiao Yun and Yvonne. Do you notice Renato holding Ngoh's hands? Hmm

Now for another picture - Tiang, PK, Tom, Anna, Nancy and Yvonne. In the background, Hsiao Yun - looking for gold?

The Argentine side of the falls also has some nice panoramic views of the falls, albeit not so imposing as the Brazilian side.

The Bosetti Falls is one the Falls that we saw along the way

A close up of a Fall with mother and daughter in the foreground.

There is a number of catwalks and hiking paths on the Argentine side. Here we are seen walking along the longest walkway over the river.

A close up of Hsiao Yun, Khin and Ngoh along the walkway. In the background is a destroyed walkway as a result of flooding in the area in the past - which gives us an idea of how powerful the waters can be...

The long walkway leads us to a fantastic sight ... which we can see in the distance...

Approaching, approaching, approaching...

Lo and behold - here it is - what I regard as the the highlight of our visit to Iguazu Falls - the well known and impressive Devil's Throat, or Gargantua del Diablo with its perpetual spray high over the falls.
Devil’s Throat is a 70-meter-deep pot where several branches of the Iguazu river converge causing a violent water fall. A balcony set up at the border allows tourists to enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime experience. The incessant roar of the falls is deafening while the continuous sprays of water showered us all over.

Of all many tall cascades that collectively make up Iguazu Falls, the semi-circular Devil's Throat is by far the most awesome. It is the world's mightiest single water fall (in terms of water-flow volume)

We enjoyed the sound, sight and feelings at the Devil's Throat and we were reluctant to leave although there was a slight drizzle during our visit.

Ngoh is also enjoying getting herself wet although she has a raincoat on..

All three sisters loved the experience at the Devil's Throat... "sir bu te li kai" in Mandarin which means - "reluctant to leave".

The ride onboard the Ecological Jungle Train which took us to and from the Visitor's Centre to the Walkway leading to the Devil's Throat Balcony. .

Along the way in the open train we saw a variety of ferns, orchids, begonias, birds and butterflies...

Look here Brenda and Khin - pose for a picture please...

PK Seah with two pretty ladies in pink - Ngoh and Hsiao Yun - in the train.

A pose with the Iguazu National Park, Argentina - signboard - proof that we visited this place.

Now it's Ngoh and Tiang's turn to pose at this important signboard...

We had a buffet lunch at Jortin Restaurant in the National Park.

Khin and daughter posing for a shot before taking their lunch.

End of posting on our Visit to Iguazu Falls. Now for my amateur video

on the astonishing and powerful Devil's Throat, Iguazu Falls

SOUTH AMERICA - Part 1d Rio de Janeiro

1d Visit to the City of Petropolis - the Imperial City
Petropolis which means the "city of Pedro", is located 60 km away from Rio and it was an imperial city since the time of Emperor Pedro II when he bought a large property there in 1830. He liked the beauty, charm and climate of this mountain resort. Pedro I and Pedro II were the ony two Emperors of Brazil. Settled by the Germans, Petropolis preserves the history of Brazil through its buildings and charming streets.

On our way up to the mountain resort which is about 800 meters (2600 ft) above sea level, we stopped at these roadside stalls selling bananas and some local handicrafts.

Many of the houses were built along the hill slopes covered with luxuriant vegetation. We saw some interesting trees - with pretty yellow or purple flowers.

A scene taken from the coach along the way - the low clouds give the impression that the place had snow all over. It was drizzling that morning on 1 March 2008. The guide told us that March 1 was Rio de Janeiro's birthday. Rio was founded by the Portugese in 1565 and Brazil became a Republic in 1889.

This was the view from the Chocolate shop that we visited. Our coach is on the right.

Inside the Chocolate shop. Nothing fantastic but helpful as a toilet stop.

Inside the Catedral de São Pedro de Alcântara built in French Neogothic style, which dates from 1939. The 70 meter (230 foot) building houses the Imperial Chapel, which contains the remains of Dom Pedro II, his wife Dona Teresa Cristina, his daughter Princess Isabel and her husband Conde D´Eu.

The church with its distinctively Gothic architecture with its many arches and stained glass windows has character.

Crystal Palace - built in France and mounted in Brazil in 1879 - was a gift from Princess Isabell for her German husband. There are no more crystals now but just a glass building used for concerts, exhibitions and other events now.

Besides these places of interest, we also visited the Imperial Museum which used to be the Royal Palace and the summer residence of the emperor D Pedro II. The exhibits included furniture, paintings and other precious items such as the crown of gold, pearls and diamonds worn by D. Pedro I and D. Pedro II. Photography was not allowed inside the museum.


Lunch at Lago Sul Churrascaria in Petropolis

The interior of the restaurant before we were seated.

BBQ meats served on skewers, Brazilian style.

Ngoh and Hsiao Yun enjoying their lunch. Notice Ngoh holding the bottle of XO chilly sauce made by Melinda, that came all the way from Hong Kong to South America.

Hsiao Yun had a second helping of the beef...

Even without taking the beef, my plate was full...

A can of the local Brazilian soft drink - Guarana - which tasted like 7-up. We liked this drink.


The beautiful scenery outside the restaurant

In the background, the impressive building called Palácio Quitandinha. once contained the largest casino in Latin America, but it operated for only two years (gambling was banned in Brazil in 1946). Today, it is a convention center.

The lake, plants, trees plus the rounded hill in the distant made for an interesting composition for this photograph.

Another angle of the beautiful surroundings...

This photograph as well as the others outside the Lago Sul restaurant were taken after our sumptuous lunch.

Verdict - Petropolis is a charming city with a nice cool climate - very much like Cameron or Genting Highlands. It is worth a visit if one has the time.