My Trip To Machu Picchu!

If you're looking to get some inspiration or tips for hiking up Machu Picchu, then I'm afraid this post is going to be a big disappointment. I conquered Machu Picchu in the laziest way possible. Seriously, if an alpaca was available to hire, I would have paid an exorbitant amount of money to have one of those furry things carry me on their back while walking around Machu. That's how tired I was.

If you've been following my blog, I'm hoping you'll understand why the prospect of hiking one of the wonders of the world after just finishing the Ayahuasca retreat was more daunting to me than exciting. My energy was drained, my stomach was empty (I lost about 3 kilograms from pooping and purging) and all I really wanted to do was lie down and let my bed consume me.

BUT. I really am not one to let an opportunity pass, so exhausted as I was, I managed to book a day trip just to SEE Machu Picchu at least, and take the obligatory photos.

See, ordinarily, people take the Jungle Trail or the Inca Trail -- which are 4 - 5 day hikes that end up in Machu... I hear it's supposed to be fun and beautiful and blah blah blah... And I'm sure it is... But then to be completely honest, even if I didn't do Ayahuasca previously, I wouldn't have booked any of those tours either. I just feel like I'm all hiked out this year, you know? After hiking all the villages of the Cinque Terre in one day, I think I did enough hiking than I am capable of in a lifetime.

Besides, I've done a few more smaller hikes here and there throughout the year, and I just lost the will to subject my legs to any more climbing if I don't have to. I'm tiiiired!

ANYWAY... so... What I did was book a bus from my hostel in Cusco to Pisac, took a Train from Pisac to Aguas Calientes, took a bus up to Machu Picchu from there, and voila! I was greeted by the guide (which was included in the booking) took me and my new tour group in and around Machu Picchu for a few hours, I stayed for about a half an hour more after the tour, and I left! (Tip: Don't forget to get your passport stamped once you enter the gates. It's free, and the stamp looks so cute on your passport!)

** TRIVIA... Did you guys know that the famous photos we see of Machu Picchu - isn't ACTUALLY Machu Picchu, but a mountain called Wayna Picchu? You are taking the photo FROM Machu Picchu - but you're looking AT Wayna Picchu. (Photo above is an example)
Oh and the mountain is shaped like a face! Facing up! Do you see it?
Mind blown. O_O

I then took the bus from Machu back down to Aguas Calientes, took the train from there down to Ollantaytambo, and took a collectivo (sort of like a posher version of a bus) back down to Cusco!
I started my day at 6 am and got back to the hostel at around 8:30pm! All of this, including transportation and entrance fee's, cost me around $230 USD.

It's EXPENSIVE, but there's no way around it. The trains to Machu are costly... and the entrance fee alone costs more than $50 USD... Foreigners have to pay almost twice as much as the locals do too, so the prices really add up.

However, when one is in Peru, one really must not pass up the opportunity to visit the 5th Wonder of the World, so no matter what the cost - I think I would have gone anyway. This would have made me visit 4 out of the 7 wonders this travel year alone (Petra in Jordan, Colloseum in Rome and Christ the Redeemer in Rio are the other 3)! Busy year! Amaaazing year! :)

Machu Picchu is beautiful... It looks and feels exactly like you would expect it to from the photos. It is unfortunate that I didn't meet any alpacas or llamas though, but I did have a good time all the same. And because I have nothing further to say on the topic... Here are the obligatory photos :)

Out Of LLI And Onto Ayahuasca

I Hate Goodbye's...

On Tuesday, I wrapped up my month long stint at The Light and Leadership Initiative in Huaycan. I had a really busy last few days of working there because we had a Martial Arts and Ballet Workshop for the children on Saturday and Sunday, and I was asked to take the lead on the Martial Arts training by teaching the kids Boxing and Muay Thai.

It was such a huge success, the kids were *so* into it... It broke my heart when they asked if we could do it every weekend. I wanted to say *YES* and stay there forever... but I couldn't.
 :( It was a great feeling though, knowing they appreciated the workshop, and that they had fun.

On Monday and Tuesday, I taught my classes for the last time... Gave my little kids some galletas and gaseosas as a little farewell present, and they, in turn, gave me the biggest hugs and kisses! I toootally got the better end of the deal. :)

As I said goodbye to my friends when I left, I couldn't help but cry my ugly cry. Karen was a little surprised... she said I've had to say goodbye SO many times on this trip already, I should have been so used to it... And she was right. I SHOULD be used to it, and I SHOULD be a little numb to it by now... But I couldn't help it. Volunteering with The Light and Leadership was the best job I ever had this year... I got to be a teacher again! And I made a difference to kids who needed the gifts I could share! I felt like I rediscovered my old passion for teaching, and realized that it is always something I would and could do, with or without a classroom. And so I cried because I was grateful for everything I experienced... and because I was going to miss them. All of them. :)

On my last night, we had a little pizza party at the rooftop
under the full moon :)

The encounter with Sophie in Greece, the girl who recommended LLI to me wasn't chance or coincidence. I honestly and truthfully believe that it was meant to happen... that it was all part of a bigger plan for me. I don't believe in coincidences anymore... not when things like this keep happening. :)

Speaking of... 

AYAHUASCA

Another BIG thing I'm about to do because of repeated "chance encounters" is the Ayahuasca Retreat.

I mentioned this briefly on my other post about a month ago. Just to give a brief review, here's what I wrote about it:

It's basically a psychedelic brew of the Amazon region, known for its hallucinogenic properties. People go on Ayahuasca Retreats (Shamanism) to drink the brew in the hopes of curing their drug addiction, alcoholism or depression. People like me who do not fall under any of those categories, go for a more Spiritual purpose. It has been said that when you take the Ayahuasca brew, you undergo some sort of mind-altering/spiritual experience. Some call it "seeing God", some encounter the divinity within themselves, and some say they just see things clearly... like everything just makes sense.

Ever since I got to South America, I kept randomly meeting people who bring it up in conversation. By the third time that it happened, I got *really* curious and did more research about it. I was intrigued, but I honestly didn't even consider doing it. The more people I spoke to however, the more I got convinced that it may be worth a shot since I was going to be in Peru anyway! Ayahuasca is most popular in a place called Iquitos near the Jungle here in Peru. 

CHALLENGES

I had a few concerns about it though. First of all - it's very expensive. There are a LOT of retreat centers and private Shamans that could perform the ritual for you, but I was told to be *very* careful because there have been horror stories about "private" shamans molesting their female clients while they were in the hallucinogenic state. They said the shaman will make all the difference in your experience... Well, I suppose the shaman, AND your attitude will make all the difference. I decided that because of those warnings, I was going to have to choose the location based on safety... and it had to be highly recommended by someone I know. 

It was really all down to the cost. 7 day retreats in Iquitos cost about 1000 USD, and I was already going to spend so much money flying to Iquitos, PLUS flying to Cusco for Machu Picchu too! I honestly didn't know if I was going to be able to afford it.

And then.... ENTER Daniella. An Italian Angel of Ayahuasca. I randomly met this girl at the rooftop of the hostel we were staying at in Lima while Karen and I were celebrating our birthdays. We were just chatting and having a drink, and she mentioned that she had just done the Ayahuasca retreat IN CUSCO a few weeks prior. She said she had such a positive experience, she felt completely safe, everyone was so nice and friendly, and the shaman was amazing... She *highly* recommended it.

Oh. My. God.

I took it as a sign. A 3 day Ayahuasca retreat in CUSCO... which meant I could do both Ayahuasca and Machu Picchu while I was there! Done and Done. 

WHY?

Why am I doing this? I'm not sure. Maybe because I can? Maybe because I feel like I've been guided to do it? Because... why not?
I am at a really good place in my life right now, but nobody's perfect. I could do with a little clarity... a little more courage in certain aspects of my life. As I am ending this year of travel, maybe this will help me figure out my next move... Maybe provide some inspiration? Or a different perspective on things?

I don't really know what to expect from all this. The people I've spoken to, said that they felt pure love.. they felt connected to their god... some said they felt the energy and love of their departed loved ones, some "saw" things in their life that they needed to fix...

It all sounds like such a positive experience to me... and if I go into it with an open mind and an open heart, I'm sure I will have a similar experience too. (I hope) The way I see it, I have nothing to lose. I mean who wouldn't want to feel and experience "pure love"? To feel connected to the divine... to Mother Earth?Worst case scenario, I come out of it exactly the same - and that ain't bad! 
To me, it seems like a perfect way to close out my year... to prepare me for the next adventure. 

So wish me luck, friends! The retreat is on Sunday for 3 days 2 nights at this place called ETNIKAS. I won't be bringing my laptop with me, so my next post - which will be all about the experience, will be on Sunday instead of the usual Thursdays. Send me a good thought when you get the chance, and I'll talk to you guys soon --- Hopefully with a new and improved zest and outlook on life!

Hasta luego!

Greetings From Peru!

Photo by Robert Mooney

Hola a todos! Estoy en Peru!!!

Oh. My. God. After almost a year of traveling, I have arrived at the LAST country on my agenda. I almost can't believe it. I don't want to believe it. I don't want it to end :(

OK no. No drama. Not time for that yet.

PERU! 

Let's talk about Peru!

My main purpose for visiting this country was Machu Picchu. It's one of those things I felt like I HAD to visit. I mean, wouldn't you want to?
So... having both Machu Picchu and Carnival in mind as I was planning my South American leg, I tried to figure out what I could do and where I could stay in Peru, Brazil, and all the other countries in between.

With my godmother, Amy :)

It's lucky that my high school chemistry teacher (who also happens to be my godmother), lives in Lima. I contacted her, asked if I could crash with her while I was in Peru, and all was set!

May I just say that with what I've seen so far in the week I've been here --- I feel like I'm back in The Philippines. EVERYTHING here reminds me of my country. I even LOOK Peruvian. South America in general reminds me so much of home, but Peru out of all the countries I've visited is the most similar to The Philippines. It's great!!! I fit right in!

Oh... and one more thing.

The food is AMAAAAAZING!!! Totally underrated. Sooo good. SOOO good.

Dunno what this is called but it was SOOO good!

THE LIGHT AND LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE

While I was traveling through Greece, I had a chance encounter with this great girl, Sophie, who upon learning that I had a teaching background and that I volunteer a lot while I travel, suggested that I apply for this organization called The Light and Leadership Initiative (LLI) in Peru. She volunteered there herself, swears by it, and said I would have the best, most rewarding experience over there. I was intrigued, so I checked it out!

LLI is a non profit organization whose mission is to improve the quality of education in Huaycan, Peru, for the benefit of the women and children who reside there.

"Through workshops and classes, women are empowered to better care for themselves and their families by improving both their physical and emotional well being, as well as advancing their skills in the workforce. Children are offered similar opportunities and learn the value of education and respect for one's community."
The organization hires interns and accepts volunteers all year round, and the main task, really, is to teach the children English after school. They do tutoring as well, teach art, as well as physical education.

Teaching English to kids really appealed to me... I guess because I missed being in the classroom. I worked as a trainer for 10 years and I always enjoyed the classroom aspect of it. Plus I really believed in the organization's cause, and admired the founders for their passion for helping Huaycan. I applied for the volunteer position... and after a couple months of figuring out the schedule, it was decided that I was going to help teach English for a month, from March 17 to April 17. AND HERE I AM NOW!!!

(*Photos were taken from the LLI webpage)

I start leading a class tomorrow, so there's really not much to report about it yet... But after having been here for a few days, I can already tell I'm going to enjoy it! I am sharing a house with about 8 other volunteers and interns, and they are honestly the nicest and kindest do-gooders you'll ever meet in your life. I suppose this kind of work attracts a certain kind of people... and I'm grateful for them, because I'm staying here for a month... and it would be amazing to just be surrounded by positivity and good vibes the whole time :) I'll have more to report on this next week.

The LLI Crew :)

AYAHUASCA

One other thing that I plan to do here in Peru is the Ayahuasca Retreat.

Aya-whatta?

Ayahuasca.

It's basically a psychedelic brew of the Amazon region, known for its hallucinogenic properties. People go on Ayahuasca Retreats (Shamanism) to drink the brew in the hopes of curing their drug addiction, alcoholism or depression. People like me who do not fall under any of those categories, go for a more Spiritual purpose. It has been said that when you take the Ayahuasca brew, you undergo some sort of mind-altering/spiritual experience. Some call it "seeing God", some encounter the divinity within themselves, and some say they just see things clearly... like everything just makes sense.

I don't know exactly what I want to achieve from this... but I just feel like ever since I got to South America, I kept encountering people who bring it up in conversation... and I've NEVER heard of this before I got here. They say Peru is where it is mostly done --- and it just so happens that my last stop on this trip is Peru... So I feel like maybe the Universe is trying to give me signs. I don't believe in coincidences anymore... so this HAS to mean something, right?
I'm definitely intrigued, and I'm doing a ton of research on it. I am in the process of finding a Shaman who can perform this ritual for me --- and if you guys know anyone, please let me know! I will talk more about this in detail on a separate post. :)

Teaching English to Kids, Machu Picchu, Ayahuasca. This is definitely going to be an interesting month. ;)