PERU, Machu Picchu {One of 7 Wonders of World}

Friday May 25, 2007

Stayed in a hostel in Aguas Calientes last night. We left at around 5 am and arrived at Machu Picchu at 6:10 am, hours before the tourist buses get there. To walk, you must climb 1000 steps straight up the mountain. A task hard enough by itself but leaving my water at the breakfast table made it a bit more difficult. The view was spectacular especially since we were the only ones there at the beginning. Just us and the llamas. About 7:30 the clouds rolled in and Machu Picchu essentially disappeared for about 2 hours. About 10 am it cleared up again. I walked to the Sun Gate and the Inka bridge which both are an additional 1 hr walk each. After lunch I walked down the 1000 steps {all to save $3}, caught the train to Ollantaytambo and then switched to the bus to Cuzco. We got back about 7:30 pm. Later that night I met up with all of the group at the Irish Pub and we closed it down. Great day.

PERU, Salkantay Trek, Machu Picchu

MONDAY, MAY 21, 2007

DAY 1

Left at 4:30 am to go to Molepata to start our 5 days hike through the Salkantay Trail to Machu Picchu. In our group were 2 English, 1 from Netherlands, 1 Scottish, 1 Irish and me. Deirdre {Irish} and Sam {Scottish} are married and have traveled all around the world. I loved listening to some of their travels. The first day we climbed to 3900 meters. It was cold that night and there may have been a bear roaming around the tents. The Salkantay Mountain was beautiful.

TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2007

DAY 2

Woke up at 5 am and left at 6:15 am. Today was very hard, almost straight up. We finally reached the Salkantay Pass which is 4653 meters. Then we walked down to 2900 meters. I forgot suntan lotion and my face is starting to burn.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 23, 2007

DAY 3

We had to get up early to catch the bus at 12 pm. {so we thought} Found out later it was just so the guides and porters could all meet up and play soccer at the village at noon. After we finally got to eat , we got in the back of the bus and rode on a very narrow road along some very steep cliffs. Later that evening we all went to the hot springs to get a well deserved rest.

THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2007

DAY 4

Today we had to cross a river using cables and a pulley chair. We then walked along the railroad tracks all the way into Aguas Calientes. Diedre had some great interaction with the local school children. It was one of those special moments which we unfortunately do not get to be a part of often enough.

FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2007

DAY 5

Stayed in a hostel in Aguas Calientes last night. We left at around 5 am and arrived at Machu Picchu at 6:10 am,  before the tourist buses get there. To walk, you must climb 1000 steps straight up the mountain. A task hard enough by itself but leaving my water at the breakfast table made it a bit more difficult. The view was spectacular especially since we were the only ones there at the beginning. Just us and the llamas. About 7:30 the clouds rolled in and Machu Picchu essentially disappeared for about 2 hours. About 10 am it cleared up again. I walked to the Sun Gate and the Inka bridge which both are an additional 1 hr walk each. After lunch I walked down the 1000 steps {all to save $3}, caught the train to Ollantaytambo and then switched to the bus to Cuzco. We got back about 7:30 pm. Later that night I met up with all of the group at the Irish Pub and we closed it down. Great day.

PERU, Sacred Valley

Sunday May 20, 2007

The Sacred Valley was beautiful. Went to Ollantaytambo which is the best preserved Inca site.

We also went to the Sunday market in one of the small towns. The terraces on the side of the mountains were almost unreal. How the farmers work on these steep terraces is a wonder.

PERU, Cusco City Tour

Saturday May 19, 2007

I took the city tour to see the Temple of the Sun and Sacsayhuaman. I was the only one on the tour bus that did not speak Spanish, so it was a little embarrassing that the guide had to repeat everything just for me. Later that evening I found a little pizza place with only two tables, a wood oven and just locals. Even though I spoke no Spanish and they spoke no English we seemed to communicate just fine.

PERU, Cusco

May 18, 2007

Checked into my hostel and headed for the Plaza de Armas, the center of activity for Cuzco. I checked out several local travel agents for prices for the Salkantay 5 day/4 night hike to Machu Picchu. I found one which included cooks, porters, guides, entrance fee to Machu Picchu, accommodations for one night in Aguas Calientes and the train ride back to Cuzco for only $166.00.

NEPAL, Royal Chitwan National Park, Island Resort

April 7, 2007

The Island Resort in the Royal Chitwan National Park was very nice. I stayed there for 5 days and 4 nights. There were usually about 50-60 people there but a few days there were only 5 of us. Usually a big group would show up. We bathed elephants, went on elephant safaris, walked through the jungle looking for tigers and rhinos and watched local tribes do custom ritual dances. You have to be ferried in a boat across the river to the island. It was a nice way to wind down after trekking through the Himilayas for 16 days.

NEPAL, Royal Chitwan National Park, elephants

April 6, 2007

Elephants have a big role at the Island Resort. The visitors are allowed to bathe the elephants every afternoon and in the morning the elephants are used in a safari in search of the rhino and tiger.

NEPAL, Royal Chitwan National Park, rhino

April 5, 2007

The Royal Chitwan National Park is 360 square miles in size and once was the private hunting land for the King of Nepal. Of the hundred breeding tigers left in Nepal about 50 are in Chitwan. I went on a special trip with my own guide one day in search of the elusive Bengal Tiger but only came up with a fresh paw print from earlier in the day. The rhinos are most impressive and you are given instruction on what to do if they charge and you are on foot. It actually happened to one group while I was there. By the way, you zigzag as you run as they do not change direction well. Also do not wear bright colored clothing. This safari is no way comparative to Africa but was nice for a couple of days rest. But your wildlife viewing will be mostly rhinos, birds and a few monkeys along with the elephants that you ride.