HALF OF THE YEAR HAS drifted by. Standing right in the middle of 2010, I am thinking of my New Year?s resolutions and I can?t remember what they are. I do recall wanting to visit new destinations with my South Africa traveling buddies.

Well, after months of planning by our ever-efficient Tropa Chica leader Malu Gamboa, we discovered the mysterious beauty of South America covering three countries: Peru, Brazil and Argentina.

Since Brazil and Peru do not require visas, we just needed to secure our Argentina visa. Thanks to its Consul General Miguel Realmonte, we were assisted enormously in getting all our visas on time.

Traveling to that side of the world is quite a distance. The group opted to take the route via LA so we could also shop in Target and send balikbayan boxes on the way home. The direct flight on Philippine Airlines is simply the best. After an all-nighter stressful packing, I slept throughout the flight.

With lots of Pinoys residing in LA, we were able to catch up with a few longtime friends like Oscars designer Oliver Tolentino, actress G Toengi and stylish mom Emily Siy Wong. Unfortunately, the overnight stay was too quick to enjoy nonstop tsismis.

Our South America leg started in Peru but we had to reroute our trip because Machu Picchu, one of the Seven Wonders of the World was still closed due to the massive flooding two months before.

Since it was one of the highlights of the trip, we decided to work around its opening so we could visit this ancient mystic civilization. So after a quick tour of Peru?s capital Lima including speed shopping in the Inca Market, we were taking another plane ride to Brazil for a couple of days.

With sea and sun and some sexy Brazilian bikinis in our suitcases, we headed for our next destination Argentina where we spent a third of our trip. Buenos Aires is the heart of Tango, exquisite beef and everything Evita Peron!

Considered to be the Paris of South America, the culture and people seem to be very European in look and style but with more romantic passion.

Our boutique hotel, Malabia 15555 (visit www.malabiahouse.com.ar) was once a convent and is in Palermo Soho area. Our gang of interior designers Anton Barretto, Nix Alanon and myself, Spanish-speaking architect Tina Bonoan and fashion designer Rajo Laurel felt very cozy in the area where local designers and artists converge.

First time visitors to BA, we were graciously accompanied by the Philippine Ambassador to Argentina Rey Carandang and his cousin Chita Wilcox who are relatives of Rajo. We marveled at the architecture and the incredible number of lanes on the main boulevards.

Recolete Cementery

Strangely, our first stop was a cemetery - Recolete Cementery. The unbelievable tombstones have beautiful gigantic marble sculptures of angels, saints and images of the deceased. The simple but most visited tombstone is that of former First Lady Evita Peron.

From the cemetery, we visited the Pink Palace where Evita would do her iconic speeches and raised-hand gesture.

Good thing the shopping in BA is really exciting and competitively priced. We were told to head out to Florida Street where all the locals shopped. Other areas not to miss are La Boca and San Telmo Flea Market.

In between BA, the troupe did a side trip to the most incredibly vast waterfalls I have ever seen?Iguazu Falls. As seen in the movie ?The Mission,? the falls is one of the most visited attractions in South America being bordered by Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil.

Being Easter weekend, there were more than 11,000 day visitors but everything was so organized. Our lovely guide Maria kept the group intact in spite of the Pinoys being late.

We would walk along the sides of the falls giving us splendid vistas with each step. The whole walk only took two hours but it seemed longer with Kodak moments every step of the way.

From one of God?s incredible wonders to another, we headed to the ancient civilization of Machu Picchu. But to get there from Lima, we needed to fly in Cusco where the altitude is quite high.

The gang had to really take it easy and get acclimatized to avoid altitude sickness. Thanks to coca leaves and Saroche pills, we felt better and even had a nice buzz.

Machu Picchu is in a low area so one need not worry. Our charming little hotel called the Inkaterra was a favorite. Check out their Facebook account and discover its mystic charm. Also check out Rajo?s Blog at www.stylebible.com for lots of photos of our trip.

Discovered almost by accident in 1911 by an American explorer Hiram Bingham, Machu Picchu means ancient peak in old Incan. There is so much mystery shrouding the place and this was perhaps one of the biggest reasons so many people come here.

Our guide Sophia explained significant and important facts about the place and how advanced the ancient people were that lived here.

Our whirlwind marathon across South America came to a close with a last day city tour of Lima with guide John Davis. He showed us a house of a distant relative?the Aliaga house. The home has been in the same family for 17 generations.

We were so delighted with the travel company called Aracari (visit www.aracari.com) that really made our trip to Peru sensational!

Passport renewal

With all that travelling, I?ve run out of passport pages. Although my passport is still valid until next year, I decided to renew with the digital brown version.

Expecting to wait in long lines, I was surprised at the efficiency of the renewal process. Located at its new building on Macapagal Avenue near SM Mal of Asia, getting a new passport is quite fast and easy.

The process is very organized and professional. I met the Visa Division Director Adrian Cruz who told me about the new digital machine that takes the passport photo. I had to strip my hat, earrings and false eyelashes before my session. My little Athena had an easier time.

My new passport came right on time for my trip to Australia to see ?Cats.? Andrew Lloyd Webber?s stunning masterpiece, ?Cats? will premiere in Manila soon, so I was lucky enough to be invited to a media showing in Oz.

?Cats? is one of the best-known and best-loved musicals the world has ever known. With a magnificent score composed by the legendary Webber?including the poignant hit song ?Memory???Cats? is a spectacular not to be missed.

This highly anticipated musical, featuring an international cast starring Lea Salonga and company, will be performed for a strictly limited season at the Cultural Center of the Philippines? Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo, starting July.

?Cats? was first staged in London in 1981, opened in Broadway the following year, and has been seen by over 65 million people in the ensuing 29 years. In Asia, the musical hit Hong Kong in 1994, and now, we are proud that it will debut in Manila next year.

E-mail the author at seaprincess@inquirer. com.ph