I am Wyatt Wang.Com

This can hardly be the million-dollar question but which country that has Tango, lots of barbeques, a famous waterfall and the end of the world? Perhaps it will be good to start this long blog (it has 7 parts) by explaining why I decided to do a 1-month backpacking trip to Argentina, half-a-world away and all on my own. It all started with Happy Together, a movie directed by Wong Kar Wai (my favourite director!) about a stormy relationship between a gay expatriate couple in Buenos Aires. While I would like to quantify that I am not homosexual (though I did attempt to establish if I was one), the settings, story, music and cinematography of the movie just swept me off my feet. The impact was so large that it made me do a journey to a destination that lies on the other side of the world. One might call this "The Happy Together" pilgrimage but I personally think it is otherwise. Although the places I been (Buenos Aires, Iguazu, Ushuaia) were all mentioned in the movie, this trip has a larger significance than just a been-there-done-that trip on Argentina. The dream for a "sabbatical" (a 1-month trip is probably too short to be considered as one but nevertheless it is still lengthy based on Sillyporean standards) was conceived long ago (before I turned into a corporate rat) and my days in Bangalore only served to solidify plans. But what I really wanted was to find my very own mirage where I truly can be happy. Well, maybe I may just get lucky in South America. As I stepped out from the Ezeiza Airport in Buenos Aires not knowing even a single phrase of Spanish, uncertainty loomed like never before. To be frank, I was not even thinking where my mirage is. I was more bothered on how am I going to survive (with a backpack, an Ipod and my outdated copy of Lonely Planet from the library) the coming month while I am on the road!

		Flags had always been one of my favourite photography subjects and the weather was kind enough today to help take a good photo of the Argentina flag. - Impressions of Plaza de la Republica, Buenos Aires, Argentina
		Comprising of 6 lanes in each direction, Avenue 9 de Juilo (the name honours Argentina Independence day which falls on 9 Jul 1816) can be considered as the world broadest motorway in a capital city. p.s.: Photo was taken on a late Monday morning and cars filled up all 6 lanes at a traffic junction.
		The sizzling asado (or barbeque grill) in Galauno Parrilla (a traditional parrilla or steak house) along Lavalle (a busy shopping street in Buenos Aires). I would go into details later but I had a Bife de Costilla (T-bone) for AR$14 or S$6.67 (inclusive of AR$3 for condiments). Thought that the steak was great but I was still hungry.
		I almost got a shock when I saw this but thought that it was pretty creative to leave half a mannequin up on the tree. - Impressions of Plaza Libertador General San Martin (this used to be a slave market), Buenos Aires
		The soldier was motionless as he stood guard at the Islas Malvinas (the British calls it the Falkland Islands) monument in Buenos Aires. Not sure if it was coincidental but the monument was directly opposite the Torre de los Ingleses (a clock tower donated by the city's British community).
		Just thought that this was a good picture taken in Buenos Aires; I was at the junction of San Martin and Dr Rojas.
		Another one of the pictures I like; a silhouette of the Torre de los Ingleses (donated in 1916) and the Retiro Train Station (built in 1915).
		Doing a Quilmes (Argentina most famous beer, AR$4 or S$1.90 for 500ml) in Retiro Train Station. p.s.: A liter of beer can cost as cheap as AR$3 or S$1.50. Now that sounds like what beer should cost!
		Passengers waiting for their buses in the modern Retiro bus station. Almost all of the long distance buses leaves from here.
		Just another picture of the Retiro bus station. Took this on a Monday afternoon.
		Pg 2 >>