4 people became one grop having a good time in Ayacucho

2008年3月25日 星期二

Day 5: 3/23 in Ayacucho (4 people)

You may wonder why is 4? Mei and I are just 2 people, aren´t we?

The new friends are Daniel and Jacqui who are peruvians work and study here. We met them in a restaurant around lunch time. Mei and I found their dishes looked very delicious when we were researching what we can order. Then we started our conversation after Daniel introduced the meal to us.

After some talk, Daniel recommended us to visit one place in the mountain, and he said" Mei, Jess, he and she (Jacqui is his younger sister), we four, a group, can go together". For the invitation, in one hand, we felt good to visit one place recommended by local people. In the other hand, my brother said " Don´t go out with strangers." Go or not to go, we are in a dilemma.

However, with Daniel´s passion and Jacqui´s sweet smile. We GO!!!!

No doubt. It was a fantastic afternoon. We went to the mountain. We wandered along the river. We had cafe together for dinner (Daniel: it is lunch!!!!). It was really fun to be with them all the time. That was full of laugh and happiness.

Daniel is such crazy and fun person. He loves music. He loves laugh. And loves FLASH (for photo). Of course, he is going to swin to Taiwan from Lima through Pacific Ocean. Yes!!!

Jacqui is sexy definitely. Although we can´t speak Spanish, we do understand all the converation. (Jacqui, you know that..)

We are so happy to meet them in Ayacucho, or we won´t know so much about Ayacucho. It is such pretty and warm place. We know Daniel will say it is also glad to meet you girls or he will just stay in his room for this afternoon. But Daniel, trust us, we got more from you and Jacqui during the time. Life is so wonderful and marvelous. Who knows we would meet in Kevin´s chicken restaurant especially after we had asked so many restautants to get the food. That´s fate!!!!

It is pity that we couldn´t have more time together. But we will meet, right? Nothing is impossible. We will wait for you in the coast way of Taiwan.

(Daniel, you have to translate all to Jacqui!!! That´s your job. We are princesses, you know that!!!!)

Note: The other good thing is Jess got most of men in Ayacucho on her hand (By Daniel).

To be continued...

(Read more...)

We are happy now. (Such easy people ya...)

2008年3月23日 星期日

Day 4 3/22 Lima - Ayacucho

Ayacucho is a town famous by the holy week festival. That´s why we came here.

It was a 10 hour bus journey with incredible scenery from Lima.

We met a lovely young girl and her family (her mother and older brother) on the bus. The mother was very kind to ask her friend to take us to a hotel while we arrived in Ayacucho around 8:00 pm. Her friend is a truck driver, looks kind as well.




He drove us to a hotel near the main square and with very pretty colonial style. He also helped us to talk with the counter about the fee. However, everything went different when we wanted to take a photo with the driver as a memory.


We couldn´t find Jess´ camera any more.

She was taking photos on the truck. It is just a 1 min walk after getting off the truck to the hotel reception. We walked back and forth to check the road and check the truck again and again, even the bag as well. However, it is just gone. And we have no idea what it was happened. It does just not be there!!!!!!!

Most of our photos are gone. At the same time, we regret so much about our carelessness and we didn´t backup the photos which we should do one day ago.

Upset.

Upset.
.
.
.
.
.

Only upset.

However, just right after I was back to the room, Jess said the camera is in her bag, but in a very invisible area.

Ha. No more upset. We are happy again. :D

I came back to the lobby immediately to tell the guard ( a handsome guy) that we got the camera as he was helping us to find the camera. The guard was happy to hear that and the owner gave me a big hug as a celebration. Ha.

However, we should keep this in mind that we need to pack and organisally put our stuff in the bag, in order to find the goods easily. Also, to backup our photos everyday. It is very important!!!!!

Lots of fireworks outside. but Shit. Jess and I felt very uncomfortable now. We asked for two cups of coca tea. And hope we will be fully receovered soon with our happiness.










Accommodation: Hotel Santa Rosa http://www.hotel-santarosa.com/ twin bed with private bath
130 soles per night per room include breakfast

Travel: From Lima to Ayacucho -- by Cruz del Sur http://www.cruzdelsur.com.pe/inicio.php
50 soles per person for economic seat. (departs at 9:30am and arrive around 20:00, they also provide night bus, departs at 22:00 and arrive at 7:00 am next day)

To be continued..... (Read more...)

Lima is out of our expectation.-- people

2008年3月22日 星期六

Day 3 : 3/21 we are in Lima, Peru.

Today is an amazing day because of the people here.

From many people's point of view, Lima is not so worthy to stay, just only for transit. That was our plan as well, however, because of my luggage and the bus schedule, we stayed in Lima for one more night, and got the change to have a look at the city.


We thought we would wake up late this morning due to the long journey, but we didn't. We got up around 7:00 am and had plenty of time to use the day. The owner of this hostel is very nice. He remembers all people's names even though ours are difficult to pronounce for him. He gave us very detailed information about the city, what we can do, what we can eat, where we can go. He said a lot, but I totally forgot after he said we could travel to the city with a couple (Sorry, Francis). He is very considerable. He tried to find someone who can speak Spanish to go with us as he knows we have almost no knowledge about spanish.

The weather is dame hot and humid in Lima. I thought of the days in Paris. That was killing me. We took the cab by a guy's help to National museum when we were in Lima downtown. He is a jourlist coming for holy week activities. We were lucky. He could speak English. However, the museum is in constuction. We changed to the beach in Miraflores.

Travel book says Peru is one of the dangerous countries in S. America. However, people we met in Lima are very very friendly,no matter they speak english or not. We took the bus to the downdown again after the beach. The Mr.Bus kept reminding us to watch our stuff. While on the way to taking bus home, two tourist police officers came to us and walked with us to the bus stop, and made sure we were on the right bus, told the bus driver where we should get off. The bus driver and the passengers always kept their eyes on us to make sure we were ok and notified us the house number we should go while getting off the bus.

They are just too kind to us. hopefully we can be so lucky until the end of this trip.





















To be continued...

Ps. My baggage is still no news so far. (Read more...)

We finally got Lima in Peru after a long flight

2008年3月21日 星期五

Hi, everybody:

After 35 hrs flight, we finally arrive Lima in Peru. The flight and transit periods were really tiring and wasting time. Mei and I tried to find best position and posture to sleep, however, we felt more tired after some tries.

Anyway, we feel "energic" now, as Mei's luggage was lost in flight transit, we need to get it back and also find out alternative solution to spend the following two days in the most efficient way.

Current plan:
3.21 Lima, Peru
3.22 day time ~ 3.23 Ayacucho
3.24 ~ 3.28 Cusco
3.29 ~ 4.1 Inca Trail
4.2 Cusco to Lima and Lima to Santiago, Chile




Accommodation in Lima: Miraflores House http://www.alberguemirafloreshouse.com/

• -- 11 usd per person for twin bed room with shared bathroom
• -- 10 usd per person for 4 bed shared room with shared bathroom
  
  
  To be continued...

(Read more...)

收起好行囊，我們出發了！We are setting off

2008年3月19日 星期三

今晚我們終於要出發了，忙了好久，一堆瑣碎的事，每天好像都在忙旅行的事，但也不知怎麼都忙不完...

今天在捷運復興站跟 BJ 見面拿完東西，我衝上捷運要趕去土城探望我重要的家人時，BJ 遲遲沒走一直站在外面看著我跟我揮手，那一刻，我忽然意識到今晚我即將展開 71 天的長途旅行，說長不長，說短不短，那一刻，我心中忽然湧起一股不捨，忽然忘了自己此次旅行的目的，忽然不知為何要跟這麼多親愛的家人朋友分離這麼久，忽然在思考，為何親情與友情在自己身邊時，似乎感覺飄飄渺渺，但在出發時，卻倍覺意遠深長。


前陣子，買了許多東西，但每天都為了怎麼要帶這麼多東西出門感到煩惱。我不禁思索我在怕什麼？擔心當地缺東缺西無法讓我溫飽自足、舒適的生活嗎？那這趟旅行我到底是想體驗當地，還是只是想有過一趟虛有其表的壯遊。？

於是我思考著一種儉樸的旅行，就像 Mei 說的，她想要過著一段沒有電腦的日子，所以 No Laptop, No MP3, No PDA, 手機備而不用，用傻瓜相機而非單眼，帶著兩三支畫筆、一本筆記本，一切只是為了讓這趟旅程簡單而深入當地一點。

想聽音樂時，就聆聽當下的聲音，想要寫遊記時，打開筆記本，用手寫、用手畫，覺得這個意境相當美時，用小巧的傻瓜拍下初始的感動，不需任何雕琢，不需思考光圈多大、快門要多快，是否要用遮光鏡或濾鏡...，旅程中，少上網、靠嘴問、依眼看，憑著腦袋裡的智慧作判斷 (希望我們兩足夠聰明到可以應付各式狀況)，想要讓朋友知道我們在哪時，寄明信片、稍個問候、想念與報平安。

我想，旅行並非把現在的生活 pack 在包包裡移居到另一地使用，而是應該把簡單的自己放在當地，用那裏的資源來生活。

南美浪遊的作者說過，足夠的裝備就是把你認為應該帶的東西去掉一半放進背包。沒錯，現在就開始把東西往背包外丟吧！

幸福對某些人來說，為何總是不易感受？是否就是被許多"看似重要"的身外之物給遮蓋住了...

離開的此刻，千頭萬緒，但更澎湃的聲音是我們終於克服萬難要出發了 ...

By Jess (Read more...)

南美，我們來了~

這是一個很奇妙的時刻，在我嚷著要去南美的多年以後。

再過幾個小時，我跟Jess 就要搭上飛往南美的班機，老實說，即便到現在，仍還是有那麼一點的不真實性，看似準備好的我們，似乎又好像什麼也沒準備。臨出門總還是打包不完，資料印不完。

想要去南美的理由有1，有2，有3，不過最重要的那個，絕對是當時在紛擾的火車上我跟Jess開懷的笑容。


我很高興Jess 是這段旅程的搭檔，因為他這幾個月來的堅持以及專注，所以我現在真的要去南美了~~~

感謝宗憲&娟的大背包，Paul&馮小雯 的台積電股友贈品，Kay、Candy、Amy、Erica、Beatrice、June、April、Nicole、五美、Alice & Chris、DC 飯團、Liyen、Pchome組合 等等等(好多人呀) 的關心與協助。

還有不會忘的Alie、大真&石兄、以及黃哥哥等人那背後的好多雙手。

當然，還要謝謝我老媽終於願意成全我，還有老弟&老婆的鼎力相助，以及我爸的默默支持，和小弟的關心。

我背起我那15/16公斤的大後背包，跟一個5公斤的小背包，外加一根登山仗。

各位，我們兩個月後見。:D

By M.

ps. 總統選舉要投對人喔~~
(Read more...)

秘魯新遺址 比印加更古老 Ruins of Ancient Temple Found in Peru

2008年3月17日 星期一

沒想到在要出發前，祕魯發現新遺址，不知此次是否有機會目睹其風采。


秘魯新遺址 比印加更古老
【聯合報╱編譯王先棠╱報導】
2008.03.15 02:17 am

秘魯考古學家13日表示，他們在秘魯東南部一處古柯樹叢林中發現了包含神殿、車用道路與灌溉系統的古文化遺址，年代很可能比13世紀興起的印加帝國更為久遠。

庫斯科「國家文化研究所」的學者說，研究團隊從去年6月開始對靠近印加帝國古城庫斯科的地區進行考掘。最新發現的神殿遺址，位於薩克塞瓦曼考古園區的外圍地帶，其中包含11個房間，當初的用途應該是收藏木乃伊與神像。


這個遺址由石塊與泥磚構成，神殿面積約76坪，與另一個印加帝國遺跡「馬丘比丘」同樣位於秘魯南部考古文物非常豐富的區域。

學者強調，這個遺址的建築融合了印加帝國與比印加帝國更早出現的前印加文化。其結構原本比較簡單樸素，但印加人後來修改了神殿的外型，擴大了神殿的規模。
學者指出，遺址的灌溉系統，也應該屬於西元900年到1200年之間活躍的阿亞馬卡人，直到印加帝國時期，印加人才用這個系統把水送往庫斯科城。

不過，研究人員也說，要等碳14放射性同位素定年檢測的結果出爐，才能確定這個遺址真正屬於哪個年代。根據考察，將近100年前，遺址附近一座採石場曾經引爆炸藥，把一部分的遺址摧毀，他們現在還能挖出這座古老神殿的遺跡，實在非常幸運。
【2008/03/15 聯合報】


Ruins of Ancient Temple Found in Peru
By ANDREW WHALEN,AP [AOL News]
Posted: 2008-03-14 13:10:29

LIMA, Peru (March 14) - Archaeologists in Peru have discovered the ruins of an ancient temple, roadway and irrigation systems at a famed fortress overlooking the Inca capital of Cuzco, officials involved with the dig said Thursday.

The temple on the periphery the Sacsayhuaman fortress includes 11 rooms thought to have held mummies and idols, lead archaeologist Oscar Rodriguez told The Associated Press.

The team of archaeologists that made the discoveries believe the structures predated the Inca empire but were then significantly developed and expanded.

"It's from both the Inca and pre-Inca cultures, it has a sequence," Washington Camacho, director of the Sacsayhuaman Archaeological Park, told the AP. "The Incas entered and changed the form of the temple, as it initially had a more rustic architecture.

"Archaeologists are still waiting for carbon dating tests, but Camacho said their calculations about the facilities' age are supported by historical references such as ceramics and construction style.

The Inca empire, based in the ancient city of Cuzco, flourished along the western edge of South America during the 1400s, prior to the arrival of the Spanish in the next century.

Today, Cuzco is Peru's main tourism hub and a launching point for visitors to the jungle-shrouded ruins of Machu Picchu, 60 kilometers (40 miles) northwest.

The temple lies some 1,500 meters (a little under a mile) from zigzagging walls of the Sacsayhuaman fortress, alongside an enormous rock formation believed to be one of the fortress' burial mounds.

(Sacsayhuaman, Cuzco Photo from The Wondering Eye)

"The temple is one of the most important in the Sacsayhuaman site," Camacho said.

Part of the structure was destroyed by dynamite blasts in the early 20th century, when the site was used as a stone quarry.

The roadway, buried for hundreds of years under a meter (a yard) of soil, is believed to have formed part of a network connecting Sacsayhuaman's buildings, according to Camacho.

Archaeologists are also busy unearthing an advanced hydraulic system, which may have been used to supply water to Cuzco during the Inca empire.

The team believes the irrigation system was built by the Ayarmaca, who occupied the region from 900 to 1200. Remnants of Ayarmaca ceramics are scattered throughout the site.

The new excavations, directed by Cuzco's National Culture Institute, began in June 2007 and will continue for another five years, Camacho said.Associated Press writer Fernando Zora-Carvajal contributed to this report from Cuzco. (Read more...)