Baby alpacas in dresses and guinea pigs for dinner - Cusco Peru

The reason some of us travel is to open  eyes to see how other cultures live and how they differ from what we are used to.

Baby alpaca in dresses and bonnets do look very cute if you're into that kind of thing, and it's certainly not something you see everyday. This seems to be the way the Quechuas woman make a living, posing for pictures in their dresses, with an alpaca in their arms. It does make for a lovely holiday picture, but don't forget to give them some money.

As for seeing Guinea Pig as one of the main meats on the menu, I'm not sure I will ever get used to that and not cringe (I don't eat meat). I asked the driver who picked me up from the airport. He said that that is the way it has always been, they have never kept them as pets, they have always been bred for meat. I mean, how much meat is there on a Guinea Pig...ok, not thinking about it.

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My visit to Delhi

When you tell people that you are going to India they often ask Why?    I think a lot of people are nervous of the crowds, the dirt, the smells, of something so different to what we are used to in North America and Europe that it scares them.     But to me that is part of the attraction, the charm, the fascination.

However, I was a little nervous flying in Delhi for the first time myself.    As I boarded the plane for the 14-hour flight I was saying in my head why, why can’t you just go and sit on a beach like other people?   Why do you get these ideas of going on an adventure?   But the answer is, I want to experience the culture and the people for myself.

Landing in Delhi airport was quite disappointing, it looked like any other international airport, nothing different at all, even leaving the airport to get the taxi to the hotel was less intense than I had anticipated.  I had expected hoards of people, kind of like in the movie ‘Eat, Pray, Love’, but it was quite normal really, except that the lines on the highway and the traffic lights are more for decoration than rules to be obeyed.

Touring Old Delhi with our amazing guide was fascinating, an assault on the senses, absolute chaos, from every sort of mode of transport, going in every direction, to the chaotic maze of electrical wiring above your head, to the smells of spices, incense and food.

We were fortunate to visit the Salaam Baalak Trust, a non-profit organization which provides shelter to street kids.   We were shown around by a young 16 year old man who had been kidnapped as a 6 year old and taken to Delhi to beg on the streets.  Fortunately, he was able to get away from his captives, but then found him self alone, with no knowledge of where he came from and no way to get back.    He was helped and sheltered by the Trust and now gives back by giving tours and educating people about it.  It really gives you a different perspective on life.

http://www.salaambaalaktrust.com/

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Visit markets when you travel!

I always find a visit to a market in a different country an experience for all the senses. The colours, the smells, different music playing in the back ground and this one was no exception.

Mercado San Pedro is the central market in Cusco is a hub of bustling vendors. From everything you can possible make from alpaca wool, to various strange meats which of course I avoided.

A wonderful experience and I would recommend anyone visiting a city in a different country to seek out the local market.

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Maui - a lovely suprise!

As a world traveller, I’m not sure why Maui/Hawaii was never on my bucket list, but I had the opportunity to visit and was very pleasantly surprised.

For the cost of going to a 5 star resort in the Caribbean I was able to fly to this remote group of islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.   A group of islands with nothing to the north or south until you reach the artic/Antarctic regions.  A group of islands at the edge of the International date line where today becomes tomorrow.

I went with an open mind,  being part of the US I thought that it may be similar to going to other US states like Florida,  but Maui has managed to keep its cultural identity far more that I had thought it would.

Hawaii became the 50^th state only as recently as 1959,  but the history of Hawaii goes back over 1500 years when the Polynesians first arrived.   500 years later, settlers from Tahiti came bringing their beliefs and social hierarchy.   In 1778, Captain James Cook ‘discovered’ the islands opening them up to the West.

All the beaches,   of which there are many,  are open to the public; ‘they belong to no one and everyone’  Developers are required to provide public access and parking to residential/hotel areas which is a lovely idea and gives you the ability to visit some superb stretches of coastline.

In an 8 day visit,   I was able to take a helicopter flight over West Maui to the island of Molokai, rent a car to explore the whole island,   go whale watching,  drive up to the top of a 10,000 feet mountain to watch the sunset, hike through bamboo forests to see watherfalls,  snorkel,  watch Sea turtles come up onto the beach to sleep and wonder at the surfers as they ride the waves.   Or  I could have sat on a beach in the Caribbean – guess it depends on the type of vacation you are looking for.

Check out all my pics on https://www.instagram.com/littletravelco/   

Also, check out my pics from the trip - if only to watch the video of the whale encounter!!  It was fabulous. 
https://photos.app.goo.gl/yeLCChEyTG2dn9pl2  

Zanzibar!!!

Ok, I know, I’m reach stretching the ‘well I’m in the neighbourhood’ scenario, but really,  I am!!  I’ve climbed a mountain, I’ve gone on camping safari, I really need some R&R and what better place than a gorgeous palm tree strewn island. 

Zanzibar, also known as Spice Island, is a beautiful island on Africa’s east coast.  It’s a fabulous place to explore with rich history dating back to the nineteenth century when the island was an important trading centre for the Indian Ocean region.   Apparently, no visit is complete without a trip to a spice planation where your senses will be dazzle by clove, nutmeg, cinnamon and pepper to name but a few. 

Stone town is the main city on the island and is reputedly the only functioning ancient town in East Africa where little has changed in over 200 years.    There is a labyrinth of walled streets and winding alleys, where you find mosques and wonderful Arab architecture.   There are shops, bazaars and wonderful seafood restaurants.    This is also where Freddie Mercury of Queen was born, so I will definitely be searching out his house if I don’t get lost. 

There are different beach areas on the island, the larger hotels tend to be on the west side, and the isolated beaches are to the north and east.  I will take some time to explore and report back!

In the meantime check out my pics on Instagram as I probably won’t blog until I’m home – why waste the beach time 😊       https://www.instagram.com/littletravelco/

Happy Valentines Day

I saw all these beautiful hearts that people had made from shells while on a beach in Maui.    

Maui is full or wonderful beaches,  this one was Little Beach, at Makena State Park, Maui, HI.   All the beaches,   of which there are many,  are open to the public; ‘they belong to no one and everyone’  Developers are required to provide public access and parking to residential/hotel areas which is a lovely idea and gives you the ability to visit some superb stretches of coastline.

Makena State Park, 

The jungle is very hot...obvious, but has to be said.

While in Peru and after hiking the Inca Trail, I decided to visit the Amazon jungle - not sure if it was a wise choice as I am terrified of spiders.

The bus journey to the river port was a lot better than I thought but still very long,  about 6 or 7 hours on dirt roads.  Not for the feint of heart as the roads were on the side of very steep hills that dropped away to nothing. We stopped often to view Inca sites, had breakfast in a lovely little town, visited a museum and learned more about the Amazon area of Peru.  We ended the first day high in the Cloud Forest at a modest lodge. The views were wonderful.

The trip down the river on a large covered canoe was interesting and long! The driver was very experienced at navigating the rapids, and our guide pointed out numerous birds and wild life along the way.  Having to stop along the way for a bathroom was another interesting experience!

We spent 2 nights at a remote lodge in the middle of the Manu park (pictured above), surrounded by the sights and sounds of the jungle. The Howler Monkeys were an amazing wake up call. We made a number of hikes into the jungle to observe the wildlife and fauna, including a couple of night hikes - which was more scary than you can ever imagine.  I was so glad when it was over.   Our guide was excellent at explaining how all the jungle species worked together and pointing out many fascinating things. We were very fortunate to have a young jaguar run out onto the trail in front of us, a site I will never forget - however when the guide said 'lets follow it!' I was a tad nervous.   After that going to the bathroom at night took on a whole new way of risking my life - but maybe thats just me!

The trip back up the river took a lot longer due to the fast current downstream, but we were able to break the journey at a wonderful thermal spring.  We kept getting stuck on the upstream commute and the young man on the front had to pry us off the every moving sediment of the river. 

Another once in a lifetime experience in Peru, however, if you don't cope well with heat and high humidity you may not enjoy it.   Having experienced the jungle I'm glad I did it,  but it won't be something I care to do again.  

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