Welcome to the traditional final post of the BEST AND WORST of AI CARAMBA PART 2 – 2026 !!!
It is here you will get answers to the BEST and WORST of every aspect of my trip and I will rank the 3 UN Countries and 1 Territory.
Here are the final stats on AI CARAMBA PART 2:
Total Days: 24
Total UN Countries: 5
Total new UN Countries: 2
Total Territories: 1
Total distance travelled (air & ground): 10,595km
I travelled AI CARABBINA and AI CARAMBA PART 2 in one continuous trip with these final stats:
Total Days: 87
Total UN Countries: 30
Total new UN Countries: 15
Total new Territories: 11
Total distance travelled (air & ground): 52,713km
Total length of the Equator: 40,075km
Below is a short account of my 45hr trip from my hotel in Asuncion PARAGUAY to my White House in Sydney AUSTRALIA:
3hr flight from Asuncion PARAGUAY to Santiago CHILE
Overnight in Santiago CHILE
14hr flight from Santiago CHILE to Sydney AUSTRALIA.
The clock for this long journey officially started at 8am when Dennis drove me the short 7km to Asuncion Airport. My 1120am flight to Santiago de Chile in CHILE was delayed to noon. But what a flight. Wait to you see the images below of super-fertile Argentina and the simply eye-popping Andes !!! How the heck did those Uruguayan Union Players make it across those monstrous mountains in nothing but total snow ? My 2.5hr flight landed at 230pm and I used my magical Greek Passport to enter Chile with no visa (the Ozzie Passport requires an online visa + USD50). This Greek Passport of mine is SAVING ME MONEY !!! My hostel owner, Fernando was there to pick me up and whisk me a huge 10min from the airport to what turned out to be very “homey” accommodations. The so-called “hostel” was actually an upper floor apartment with kitchen, bathroom and 3 bedrooms. I got the place to myself for AUD45. On my way here, Fernando pointed out the massive LIDEL supermarket just 700m from his hostel. I was there quicker than you can say wine, olives and cheese !!! As I walked there, I could not help but reminisce back to 2010 when I first landed in and stayed in Santiago on my to Ushuaia to visit the Antarctic that kicked of the original AI CARAMBA. I walked in a glorious summer arvo with clear skies, dry and a warm 27C. LIDEL blessed me with a hot BBQ chicken and zero sugar sorbet ice-cream – my last treat before the 14.5hr direct Qantas flight tomorrow to Sydney. Being so close to the airport there was not much going on where I was to sleep. Very industrial with gated communities that looked identical to the LA ones in California USA. I settled down at 530pm and celebrated my final night on South American soil with Chilean wine, Chilean Chicken and Chilean Ice-Cream !!!
Now back to business - Here are my Nation Rankings and why:
Here is the BEST and WORST of each main aspect of my trip:
Congratulations, once again, on surviving the gruelling heat and humidity of summertime northern and central South America. I am sure you will agree that it was well worth given the wonders you have seen. I was even more wonderful bringing it all into your living room !!!
END OF FINAL POST
END OF BLOG
END OF AI CARAMBA PART 2 - 2026
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