Day 72 - Cusco

Friday, 24 October 2014

Today I went to the Bolivian Consulate in Cusco to apply for my visa. Before that I made a photocopy of my passport, yellow fever certificate, credit card, and I also took a passport size photograph of myself, all around the shops in the main square in Cusco. I thought I had everything I needed, and it was almost everything, except that they also needed a copy of my flight or transportation out of Bolivia, and a confirmation of the accommodation I would be staying in in Bolivia, at least for the first night. I have yet to book my accommodation in Bolivia, so I had no choice but to return to my hostel.

Before booking a hotel in Bolivia I also researched flights to Cuba because I was thinking of going there, but there are no suitable flights for the days that I am looking at, and I think I don't have enough time to go to Cuba because I have to be back in Cusco by 8 November to be able to fly to Rio, in order to catch my flight back to Malaysia. That gives me about 13 days, and I think I would spend about 10 days in Bolivia so there is very little time left for Cuba. Of course, I could always do the kiasu thing that I've been doing and compress all the sights to see into the minimum amount of days, but with the flight to and from Cuba it would still be a bit of a rush for me, so I decided against it. Besides, it gives me an excuse to go to Central America the next time around.

After deciding this, I could book my accommodation in Bolivia and that's just what I did. But after that I had to go to an Internet cafe to print the booking confirmation, and make a copy of that as well as my flight itinerary from Cusco to Rio de Janeiro. After all this, I took a cab to the Bolivian Consulate again. This time I had no problems, I just had to fill up a form, and hand in all the documents, and I got my visa! 

I returned to the main plaza where I had a late lunch. Then I decided to stroll around the main plaza and take some pictures since I had lost all my pictures previously. Here I met a very interesting man, he is from Lima and he knew all things Hindu! He said he was practicing yoga for the past 12 years, and then he realised that the life of a yogi is not for him because he had desires to have a family of his own. Among others, he told me to check my astral chart, because he is sure that in my past life I was not in this plain, and that is why I am like a tourist here in this plain, no matter how much I see or do it is never enough because I want to see and do it all and I will not be satisfied until that happens. Very interesting indeed. And after talking to him for hours, I forgot to ask his name and contact details. Sometimes it's for the best. And I have said about how I think sometimes God sends messengers in whatever shape and form, and I wonder whether this was a message for me to check out my astral chart (whatever that is) to find some of the answers I am seeking. 

I do believe in God but I'm a sceptic at heart, so I don't believe that the stars and the moon and the sun can control your destiny, or that your destiny has already been written when you are born, or if you perform certain rites your life will miraculously turn around. I remember I went with my friend Sham to India, and we were at this temple, and this man started telling things about Sham's life that according to her, were all true, and she was so intrigued by this man's knowledge of her life and her future that she cried in awe or happiness I don't know which. And as for me, whatever he said about me and my life turned out to be completely untrue. The man became uncomfortable and let it go after a while. So there you go. Ever the sceptic.

After this I walked around the main plaza, took some pictures and went back to my hostel.