If the girl on the left is you, it looks like your backpack is several inches too big for your torso.  The shoulder straps aren't fitting properly because they're so high up, and your chest strap is way too low.  Did you have your torso measured before you picked out the right backpack for your body type?  I highly recommend this informative video from REI to ensure a proper fit, or go into a store to have an employee help you out personally.  That's what I did before I went out on my backpacking trip.  I would've been in so much pain without that advice.

Isn't that quite dangerous for two girls?

@methodElevated@xanga - That's just a random picture, but thanks for the advice! I definitely don't want to lug around a backpack that doesn't fit properly.
@nattata@xanga - From what I've heard so far, South/Central America is a lot safer for women traveling alone than Europe or other places.
@tigerdauphin@xanga - I want to go to Asia so bad! Especially Nepal, but I'll save that for another trip. :]

I highly recommend Peru - starting from Lima, to Urubamba Valley at Cuzco, to Machu Picchu.  There is a "backpacker train" connects from between the Cuzco to Machu Picchu, and *lots* of hostels by the foot of the mountain at Machu Picchu. I would say no planning ahead needed, since everything is cheap, just hop on the train and find a hostel. Lonely Planet travel guide will tell you how to take local buses for 30 cents.

I heard that locals will rent out rooms at their houses in Easter Island. They'll hang around the airport and bus stations and ask foreigners if they want rooms, since hotel is scares. This info might be old, maybe there are more options now.

I don't know about the safety issue in doing that at Easter Island, but these 3 places in Peru felt really safe  and the locals at the Urubama Valley were very friendly (probably due to curiosity) to the outsiders in the most innocent way (as oppose to wanting something from you or wanting to sell you things kind of way, like I experienced every single day for 2 weeks in Egypt).

http://machupicchuperu.xanga.com/ 

@reckless_eagle@xanga - How big of a threat is malaria in South America?

i just came back from buenos aries, as there are alot of bus tours you can take.  the biggest thing there is purchasing leather goods, but that may not be alignment with backpacking.

i say look at where south american tours are going and kinda follow that route.

and learn some spanish beforehand!

and get vaccinations, esp yellow fever.

Do it ladies.!!!!!I just back packed alone for 3 and half months in south america.2 months in colombia,one month in argentina and the remaining in uruguay and chile.Colombia is the best!!!!!!! and very safe.Don't miss this treasure of a country.Most ppl skip it their loss.Shhhhh!!!!! Colombia is the best kept secret in all of latin america that i have travelled. I have been to many other countries in s. a,erica also.Don't believe all the negative things ppl assume about colombia.It is a different place now than it was b4.I had no friends, contacts etc.... it is cheap and a lot to see and do.Don't miss this one ladies......Excellent hostels average cost for dorm is about $10 canadian.All the countries are great.But Colombia...WOW!!!!!