Tour in Patagonia 2018

Trip Inception

It's so amazing to generate the idea of this trip.  Well, triggers could be -

1)  My friends Maggie and Ching paid a visit to Patagonia some 8 years ago and I put this destination in my long wish list.

2)  It's been around one and a half year since my trip to Belize & Guatemala as my pa and mom got admitted into hospital few times for treatment.  They become stable these days that "may be" I could take a leave outside HK for a while.

3)  Emirate launched a promotion programme to Santiago/Chile at HK$9,xxx, which was quite attractive.  Further on, it's found that Air Canada offered HK$7,600 to have flights to Santiago/Chile.  This gave me a strong push for it!  On my day of departure, there were another three HK people enjoying the same offer on the same flight to Santiago.  On my day getting back, I spotted at least one HK lady on the same fight from Santiago back to Toronto. There should be more than just me thinking I am the only one observed and being attracted by this great offer.

Flight to Patagonia

1)  The 1st thing about the destination came up to my mind was Patagonia.  I needed to reserve a flight to Punta Arenas (PUQ), the southernmost city in Chile with airport.  In high seasons, there are a few flights a day to PUQ.  I first booked a flight in the afternoon to allow sufficient time for transfer.

2)  Few weeks later, I received an email from LATAM telling that my flight was cancelled and I was moved to a flight departed at 11:00 a.m.  This bothered me much as it allowed only 2 hours for transfer - go through immigration, customs and check-in.  I wondered how I could pack light to carry only a backpack with me, to save up time to wait for baggage collection upon arrival at Santiago.  This seemed not practical as any "liquid-like" stuff could not be brought with me!

3)  Two weeks before my departure, another email from LATAM was received telling that the 11:00 flight was also cancelled and I was moved ahead to 6:00 a.m. flight which definitely not fitting me as my flight to Santiago will be landed at 8:30 a.m., 2.5 hours later!  This time, I needed to log into their official website (in Spanish) and arrange for flight re-routing.  Finally, I managed to get a seat on the flight at 7:15 p.m.  That means I will have nearly 10 hours staying at the Santiago airport.

4)  Right before my departure, I came across a promotion of lounge service in the airport.  With US$35, I could enjoy meal/beverage and shower service.  This is really a lust to me after some-30-hour air travel with another 10 hours staying in the airport.

5)  I also needed to inform the hotel at which I will spend the night that I will arrive and check in late.  They were so friendly and offered to have taxi pick up at CLP10,000 (i.e. ~USD15)

"Bad luck" in the Trip

1.  The outgoing flight from HK to Beijing delayed that we (total 4 persons) could make to board on the onward flight to Toronto (through restricted channel).  However, our luggage could not follow and could only arrive Santiago the following day.  As I flew to Punta Arenas that day and transferred to Puerto Natales the next day and entered Torres del Paine on the day after.  I could only get back my luggage when I finished the trek, some 6 days after arriving Santiago.  I then needed to buy all the stuff equipping for my trekking tour in a few hours.  Fortunately I could claim the compensation from the travel insurance.

2.  Got to know that my pa got admitted to hospital for treatment with his swelling feet.  My mom blamed that each time I was away, something bad would happen to my pa : (
He stayed in hospital for 2 nights and it's learnt that his kidneys failed and functioned badly (due to old age), needs to be medicated to help excrete excess water.

3.  My right knee sore after 2 days' hike that I needed to tune-down my pace and cut the trek distance considerably.

4.  My suitcase lock failed to open during my stay in El Calafate, tried many times and got the lock "certified" at ~ 9:00 p.m.  I was nervous but calmed down soon to take a brief shower and go to bed, ready for a glacier tour on the next day.  After the tour I went back to my hostel early and brought the suitcase to the front desk to ask for help.  The staff was so nice to offer great help to break the lock.  I spent ~HK$100 to buy a 3-digit lock which is ~60% more expensive than in HK!

5.  It took me 16 hours for flying from Toronto back to HK, and everything was ok.  I spent 2 hours taking rest and other time watching movies.  When preparing for landing, about half an hour before the schedule time, I felt that the plane whirled, may be due to heavy traffic queuing for landing.  Dizziness and nausea hit me and I threw up a few times before landing and that embarrassed me.  Passenger sitting next help to pass me plastic bag and tissues.  I went to toilet after landing to clean myself and felt better.  However, I felt unwell again after the short train travel connecting the gates.  The travel-sickness did not leave me even after claiming of luggage.  I struggled but at last, I asked for help in the baggage reclaiming area.  A Jardine staff was very nice and he took me on a wheelchair and my luggage to the clinic in the airport.  After treatment, I could walk myself to the bus stop and took an A10 back home.  With an 11-hour jet-lag. this sickness could not be cast away in the following week.  I slept at least 10 hours each day to get recovered.

Links to share

After getting back, I surf in the net want to know what I've missed in Torres del Paine as I cut down the trekking, and I found this, prepared by a professional photographer, Henry Chen and his wife who did the "O" trek -
http://www.onlyadayaway.com/torres-del-paine-o-circuit-trek-tips/