Stuck in Peru

A few days ago, when I got stuck in Peru, I posted an emergency message on a forum and some Peruvian people have reached out their hands in order to help me.

One of these guys was Paulo. He offered me to stay in his hostel for free.. which is very noble and kind of him!

Meanwhile, as my dear old friend Kitty has sent me some money through Western Onion, I can pay it now. I’m — above of all — not used to get things for free. Even while couchsurfing, I always prefer to do something in return.

So here we go, something about Paulo’s place:

Kokopelli backpackers hostel

Together with his partner Rutger, Paulo runs a hostel in the heart of Lima. The place is called: Kokopelli backpackers hostel and it’s brand new and modern. The hostel is located at Miraflores, Ca. Berlin 259, just at the corner of Kennedy Park. Very clean and cool Bed & Breakfast place, run by very cool people. Breakfasts times are flexible (’till 13.00h PM) and get served in a “Restaurant/Café Z”, which is just around the corner. Those breakfasts are what you’d usually get in a restaurant, thus delicious! And Kokopelli has decent bar, wireless internet - and hot showers too! :)

I’d suggest you go and pay them a visit some day. Naturally, there are plenty of other cheap, as well as expensive hotels & hostels in Lima, but this place is affordable and you’ll get far more for your money then in any other backpackers hostel around!

The bar of Kokopelli backpackers hostel, Miraflores, the heart of Lima, Peru.

Western Onion

However, getting my money (that Kitty sent me), didn’t go that easy. First it took the Western Onion/DHL guy almost an hour to serve 3 people. When it finally was my turn, the lady who just finished her business at the locket, started to b*tch about the coffee machine in the room, but as I was sick of waiting (these people are sweet - but they talk WAY TOO MUCH while handling their business), I cut her off - so she couldn’t talk to the Onion guy anymore.

So, I gave this Onion guy my Western Onion MTCN number and then he wanted also to see my passport (when getting the money through Western Onion, it’s all about the code that receiver needs to know.. so the MTCN code is enough! That’s the clue..I was sending money through Western Onion for years.. so, I know. Also, when people lose their passports - what often happens - all they need is this MTCN number!). Fine with me, I gave him my passport.. but then he went checking and checking and checking… until I finally asked him:

Me: Is there anything wrong with my passport?
Onion guy: Eughm... no, I don't think so.
Me: Then please... hurry up a little, will ya! I'm hungry.
Onion guy: Sir, are you Dutch?
Me: Yes I am, why?
Onion guy: Your second name... is it Croatian?
Me: No, it's not. It's Serbian. Why?
Onion guy: It's a bit confusing. Then what nationality does your name belong to?
Me: To none. It belongs to me. And my passport says I'm Dutch, right?
Onion guy: Yes it does.
Me: Did you also check if my passport is valid?
Onion guy: Yes I did, your passport seem to be alright... sir.
Me: Is also the Western Onion MTCN number I gave you correct?
Onion guy: Yes, it’s correct sir.
Me: Then my family name is none of your business. Now, cut off that crap and give me my money,
or I otherwise might consider calling your boss for some assistance here.. and we don’t want
that, do we?!
Onion guy: Oh, no, we don’t. You’re right sir, Your right. That would be 573 US Dollar.
Me: Don’t you have Euro’s… the money is sent in Euro’s right?!
Onion guy: No sir, we have no Euro’s. It’s standard procedure we pay out in Dollars.
Me: Whatever. Hurry up now will ya.
Onion guy: Yes, you’re right sir, you’re right.

So, he gave me my money and then I thought it would be fun now to kick his little bi*chy a$$ a little. So, I started counting… and counting.. and counting… over and over again.

Onion guy: Sir...?
Me: Shut up! I'm counting, I need to concentrate.
Onion guy: Yes, your right sir, you're right.

Then I lifted the money up, towards the light to check the watermarks.

Onion guy: But sir...?
Me: Don't BUT me.. you were just unnecessarily checking on me - and now I'm gonna check you
little sucker!
Onion guy: Yes sir, you're right sir...
Me:  Oh, give me a break will ya, I'm just kiddin'.
Onion guy: Eughm.... (*  he feels very uneasy by now *) well, oh.. yes sir...
Me: Well... "kiddin'" means, "it's a joke" alright. *smile*
Onion guy: Yes sir a joke haha.
Me: Jesus Christ... Yes -- a joke! Good bye and have a nice day.

F*ck, I’m stuck!

My friend Kitty

Anywayz.. please meet my good old friend Kitty. We’ve been friends for ages, like 15 years or so.. probably (also) because we never let each other down! Thank you sweety!!! seE u SooN!

My friend Kitty thus …I took this picture back in 2005, during one of her last gigs with her former band “Kitstone”..

Uyuui yuuii iiii. ;-)