Wednesday, 3 September 2014
Then we sat in the boat again to go to another island, the Amantani Island where we will spend the night. Here we were taken to our respective host families, mine was a woman named Olga, she has 2 children and a set of grandparents live with them as well. The house is really small and basic, but comfortable. I'm sharing the room with 2 girls originally from Taiwan but who grew up in the United States, Jenni and Allison. We had to walk uphill for about 1/2 hour just to reach the house, at about 3,800 m above sea level, it's no joke. Step aside marathons, walking here is the real challenge!
The Amantani island is the largest island on Lake Titicaca with an area of approximately 24 square km. the hillsides are terraced, mostly worked by hand and planted with wheat, quinoa, potatoes and other vegetables. Livestock such as sheep, alpacas and donkeys graze the slopes. It is really a beautiful sight, peace and quiet.
Olga cooked us lunch, consisting of quinoa and potato soup, potatoes, oka (a type of sweet potato), tomato, cucumbers and fried cheese, and munya (not sure of spelling) tea which is apparently good for the altitude. The people on this island speak Quechua, which is the language of the Incas, but they do understand Spanish as well. There is no electricity here, although some families, including mine, has solar panel.
After lunch we walked uphill again, in the high altitude, to the highest point of the island, Pachatata (Father Earth). There is also another high point, Pachamama (Mother Earth) but we didn't go there today. Both these places had ancient Inca ruins at the top dating back to 500 AD. The ancient Peruvians believed in a God named Wira Kocha, who had 4 children representing the 4 main elements in the world - earth (Pachamama), water (Mama Kocha), fire (represented by the sun, Inti) and wind (Wayra - not sure of spelling). The belief is that Wira Kocha told the people that they are to be good to his children, and his children will be good to them. Hence the building of temples in their honour, and they also frequently gave offerings. In fact, the Peruvian currency used to be known as Inti, but was then changed to soles I don't know why.
The Pachatata temple was situated at 4,200m above sea level and it was a difficult climb for me, I was feeling out of breath after walking for 5 minutes! But it was worth it in the end, the view of the sunset from the top was breathtaking, I couldn't stop taking pictures. From the top one could see Taquille Island (where I am going to tomorrow), and also the islands in Bolivia. However, it was freezing cold as usual! I really am looking forward to warm weather, I can't take this much longer!
After this we came back to our family, on the way we bought some eggs for them because the guide told us instead of tipping them with money, it would be better to give them stuff they could use. It started raining and we sat in the kitchen while Olga prepared our meal, surrounded by her entire family. Although they don't have much, they have each other and I think they are happy. Who wouldn't be? Work together, stay together, play together. For dinner we had vegetable soup, rice with a mixed vegetable gravy thing and an egg. I enjoyed it very much.
We were then supposed to go out at 8 pm to meet the rest for traditional songs and dances, but the weather was just too cold so we called it a night and went to bed at about 8 pm. I went to bed fully clothed because it was just too cold.
Then we sat in the boat again to go to another island, the Amantani Island where we will spend the night. Here we were taken to our respective host families, mine was a woman named Olga, she has 2 children and a set of grandparents live with them as well. The house is really small and basic, but comfortable. I'm sharing the room with 2 girls originally from Taiwan but who grew up in the United States, Jenni and Allison. We had to walk uphill for about 1/2 hour just to reach the house, at about 3,800 m above sea level, it's no joke. Step aside marathons, walking here is the real challenge!
The Amantani island is the largest island on Lake Titicaca with an area of approximately 24 square km. the hillsides are terraced, mostly worked by hand and planted with wheat, quinoa, potatoes and other vegetables. Livestock such as sheep, alpacas and donkeys graze the slopes. It is really a beautiful sight, peace and quiet.
Olga cooked us lunch, consisting of quinoa and potato soup, potatoes, oka (a type of sweet potato), tomato, cucumbers and fried cheese, and munya (not sure of spelling) tea which is apparently good for the altitude. The people on this island speak Quechua, which is the language of the Incas, but they do understand Spanish as well. There is no electricity here, although some families, including mine, has solar panel.
After lunch we walked uphill again, in the high altitude, to the highest point of the island, Pachatata (Father Earth). There is also another high point, Pachamama (Mother Earth) but we didn't go there today. Both these places had ancient Inca ruins at the top dating back to 500 AD. The ancient Peruvians believed in a God named Wira Kocha, who had 4 children representing the 4 main elements in the world - earth (Pachamama), water (Mama Kocha), fire (represented by the sun, Inti) and wind (Wayra - not sure of spelling). The belief is that Wira Kocha told the people that they are to be good to his children, and his children will be good to them. Hence the building of temples in their honour, and they also frequently gave offerings. In fact, the Peruvian currency used to be known as Inti, but was then changed to soles I don't know why.
The Pachatata temple was situated at 4,200m above sea level and it was a difficult climb for me, I was feeling out of breath after walking for 5 minutes! But it was worth it in the end, the view of the sunset from the top was breathtaking, I couldn't stop taking pictures. From the top one could see Taquille Island (where I am going to tomorrow), and also the islands in Bolivia. However, it was freezing cold as usual! I really am looking forward to warm weather, I can't take this much longer!
After this we came back to our family, on the way we bought some eggs for them because the guide told us instead of tipping them with money, it would be better to give them stuff they could use. It started raining and we sat in the kitchen while Olga prepared our meal, surrounded by her entire family. Although they don't have much, they have each other and I think they are happy. Who wouldn't be? Work together, stay together, play together. For dinner we had vegetable soup, rice with a mixed vegetable gravy thing and an egg. I enjoyed it very much.
We were then supposed to go out at 8 pm to meet the rest for traditional songs and dances, but the weather was just too cold so we called it a night and went to bed at about 8 pm. I went to bed fully clothed because it was just too cold.
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