Back in Seattle!

Published by
Karen
at December 6, 2007 in life, peru/bolivia and travel. 1 Comment

Unfortunately, the arrival home - while appreciated - wasn’t quite pleasant.

Monday, my, um, digestive system started to go down hill.  After dinner, it was completely shot.  I had a 101.5 degree fever, major cramping, dehydration, swollen stomach, and a migraine that went through the roof. 

Tuesday, I laid curled in my hotel bed until 5pm.  I had 2 pieces of toast and 8 soda crackers…. and somehow managed to go to the bathroom about 10 times (only slight exaggeration).  However, in the evening, we had to make the journey from Arequipa to Lima to Houston to Seattle.  It was 20 hours of travel with 4 flight legs.  Fortunately, I had a lot of medicine in my system and an amazing boyfriend.  Still, the trip was absolutely awful.

I went to the doctor yesterday, and the good news is its not a parasite - just a good old, Montezuma’s revenge bacterial infection.  (Interestingly, I had totally forgotten about that term - but both my dad and my doctor mentioned it.)

Tonight, I’m feeling significantly better.  It think the antibiotics finally kicked in.  Still, I haven’t really ventured outside yet.

The only bright side (?) to this whole experience is that I lost 6 pounds.  Personally, I don’t think it was worth it.  :)

Anyways, pictures coming soon.  Here is one to wet your appetite:

 

Woman with Llama; Cuzco, Peru

native woman with llama; Cuzco, Peru

Mate de Coca

Published by
Karen
at December 2, 2007 in life, peru/bolivia and travel. 2 Comments

In the highlands of Peru, I´ve been drinking a lot of coca tea to help with altitude sickness. I think it has actually helped (though I was told chewing the leaves was more effective).

I´m in Cuzco airport right now waiting for a flight to Arequipa. We just flew in from the jungle, so the altitude is bothering me again. I ordered some mate de coca (this time in a tea bag and not just the leaves). The package lists the ¨properties¨of coca tea:

  • Restorative and energetic
  • Excellent for diet.
  • Digestive.
  • Anti-diarrheac action
  • Acts against fatigue and alitude sickness.
  • Relieves tiredness of voice.
  • Regulates the metabolism of carbohidrate.

Sounds like the perfect tea, no?

The Sweet Sweet Taste of Asian Blood

Published by
Karen
at December 2, 2007 in life, peru/bolivia and travel. 0 Comments

We just spent the last four nights in the Amazon jungle outside of Puerto Maldonado. It was great… but I have to say, the mosquitos were ridiculous.

Growing up in Southern California, going to school in Northern California, and now living in Seattle, I´ve never really had to deal with mosquitos. Here are some things that I´ve learned:

  1. Mosquitos can bite through clothing. Smart little buggers! On one of the nighttime walks, I got about 15 bug bites on my back…. through my shirt. Ridiculous!
  2. Deet ¨repels¨ mosquitos….. but in the loose sense of the word. I was Deet-ed, and for good measure OFF-ed as well, and the little guys just kept coming.
  3. There´s a reason why REI sells full body bug nets. Though you might look like a tool, you´re protected.

All said, i have something like 70 mosquito bites. They were easy to count since each flared up bright red like a hive. :) Thank goodness for Benadryl and Hydrocortisone.

Animals of the Jungle

Published by
Karen
at November 30, 2007 in life, peru/bolivia and travel. 0 Comments

After Machu Picchu, we descended down in to the Amazon.  We decided on Puerto Maldonado, which has some of the more untouched rainforest. 

Unfortunately, one of the catches of going to the Amazon during the rainy season is that you’re less likely to see wildlife.  (Since there’s a lot of rain, the animals don’t have to move around to get water… and likely to be spotted.)  What I really wanted to see, which we didn’t, was some funky monkeys.  :)

 

Capybara

a capybara - the largest rodent in the world.

 

Cayman

a caiman.  (here’s another where you can really peer into his eye)

 

Turtles!

turtles on a log

 

Puerto Maldonado

leafcutter ants on the move

 

Puerto Maldonado

i totally forget what this guy is called….  anyone know?

 

 Puerto Maldonado

 

Puerto Maldonado

big ant!

 

Puerto MaldonadoPuerto Maldonado

moths

Machu Picchu: Postcard Shots

Published by
Karen
at November 28, 2007 in life, peru/bolivia and travel. 0 Comments

Machu Picchu, in all its glory….

 

Machu Picchu 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Feet That Got Me There

the feet that got me there….

Inka Trail, Day 4: MACHU PICCHU

Published by
Karen
at November 28, 2007 in life, peru/bolivia and travel. 1 Comment

Arg!!  The weather on the entire Inka Trail was *perfect*…. until the very last day. 

We awoke at 4am to make our way to the Sun Gate, *the* place to see the sunrise….  We really booked it and we were the third & forth people there.  And by there… I mean a big wall of white fog.  :)

The “vista” above Machu Picchu wasn’t that much better.  Our guides kept saying that it would clear… and then around 8:30am, it finally did….

 

the llamas, also upset by the fog….
 

Look! That's where Machu Picchu is supposed to be! 

yep, that’s machu picchu.  not exactly how i envisioned it….

 

but then it started to clear! !

 

and clear even further!!

Inka Trail, Day 3

Published by
Karen
at November 27, 2007 in life, peru/bolivia and travel. 0 Comments

The third day of the Inka trail might have been my favorite.  The hiking was challenging, but not ridiculous.  And we started early enough that we were able to see many of the small ruins all by ourselves….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inka Trail, Day 2

Published by
Karen
at November 26, 2007 in life, peru/bolivia and travel. 0 Comments

Day 2 was by fair the roughest day.  We started out hiking up to Llulluchupampa.  This was a steep 3km and we were all feeling it by the time we got there. 

From there, we were heading to Dead Woman’s Pass (or Warmiwañusca).  At 4198m (13,772 ft) it is definitely up there.  The last 200m was the worst.  You pass through 3 stages:

  • Excitement - you can see the top. 
  • Exhaustion - each step takes absolute effort. 
  • Extreme exhaustion - you’re inches from the top but each step now takes 15 second.

 

 

made it to llulluchupampa!

 

you can see how far we’ve climbed already!

 

 

last 200 meters…. think i might die….

 

looks like i’m smiling.  really, i’m just covering my pain…. and my gasping.  the air is thin this high up!

 

the rolled in magically as we got to the top…

 

…and then just as quickly rolled away…

 

 2nd Camp Site

2nd night camp site

Inka Trail, Day 1

Published by
Karen
at November 25, 2007 in life, peru/bolivia and travel. 0 Comments

The first day of was pretty easy.  It was about 16km and 6 hours of walking along the Urubamba River  But we were at our lowest elevation point  of 2380m (7,808 ft), which was even lower than Cuzco.  The climb was very modest to Wayllabamba at 3100m (10,170 ft), our first camp site.

 

me, around 7am.  on the bus, en route for the trail.  photo op break.

 The Start of the Inka Trail

the start of the trail.  we were very lucky and had a very fun treking group.

 Hee HAW

friendly visitor - donkey!

 

 First Night Camp Site

our first camp site.

The Inka Trail to Machu Picchu

Published by
Karen
at November 25, 2007 in life, peru/bolivia and travel. 0 Comments

I first began wanting to go to Peru a couple years ago.  My main motivation was to do the 4 day trek to Machu Picchu.  I had heard amazing things about the Machu Picchu ruins.  And I just imagined hiking through the Andes and finally coming upon the ruins…

Well, the trail and Machu Picchu lived up to all my expectations.  It was an amazing experience.

Some basic info about the trail:

  • 33 km (22 miles) in 4 days
  • Lowest point:  2380m (7,808 ft)
  • Highest point:  4200m (13,779 ft)

 

If you’re heading out on the trail, a few thoughts for you…

  • Bring bug repellent.  Some parts of the trail are at “lower” alitutoides and there are mosquitos.  I got devoured at Machu Picchu during the 15 minutes I decided to make my convertible pants “shorts.
  • They sell wooden walking sticks at the beginning of the trail.  They’re cheaper than renting metal walking sticks… and you don’t have to lug yours from the States.  For me, having 2 walking sticks was *key*.
  • Bring lots of memory cards.  I went through about 6 GB.  :)

(I’ll add a few more points once I get through the rest of the trip’s photos.  I did a bunch of research on which agency & what to bring that I’ll share.)