Gyeongju
Gyeongju is less than a couple of hours from Busan, but its atmosphere feels much further removed. There is more of a small-town feel, not rural, but a laid-back sort of vibe. We had taken the slow train, and it wasn’t a long walk to the Nahbi Guest House. This hostel is very well-run, clean […]
Dynamic Busan
As their campaign promises, the city of Busan is indeed dynamic, with a free WiFi program, helpful volunteers in the stations, friendly citizens, shopping, dining (fine and otherwise), beaches, mountains, temples and a casino. Haeundae Beach and Gwangalli Beach are just a few subway stops away from one another, but have very different atmospheres. Haeundae […]
Kyoto Yes, Kyoto Noh
An early start helped us beat the crowds to a special spot called Fushimi Inari. The shrines were originally dedicated to the gods of rice and sake, and later expanded to include prosperity in business. Along with a number of pretty shrines and countless statues of foxes (messenger of Inari), the area provides a peaceful […]
Moray and Chinchero
Concentric Circle Ruins at Moray The concentric circles at Moray were different from anything we´d seen so far. The most widely-accepted theory is that these terraced circles were used as an agricultural laboratory, to experiment with what crops (wheat, quinoa, other grains, potatoes, etc.) would grow best at different temperatures and under different conditions. It has […]
Tambomachay to Saqsaywaman
While Cuzco is an amazing city to explore, there’s so much more to see once you get out of town. Surrounded by the Andes, Cuzco was the heart of the Inca Empire. Even before the arrival of the Inca, the Killke culture dominated this region from about 900-1200 AD. There are countless ruins in the […]
Machu Picchu
The train ride from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes (aka Machu Picchu Pueblo) was like entering the jungle. Everything got more and more lush, green and wet. There was less agriculture, and more wild. Aguas Calientes itself (named for thermal springs on the edge of town) was another kind of jungle, the tourist kind. Obviously this […]
Taquile
Our next stop was the island of Taquile. It was a rainy, steep climb, but we were rewarded with views to Bolivia from the main square. We spent some time looking around, and saw a photo exhibition of pictures taken by local residents that was amazing. We learned about the local dress, similar but markedly […]
Exploring Amantani Island, Peru
Amantani Island Amantani Island is in the big part of Lake Titicaca, about three hours by boat from Puno. We organized our trip with a local operator recommended by our hotel, and set out early. After a stop and a look around the Uros Islands, we motored on toward Amantani Island. The first thing we […]
Nazca Lines
The world famous Nazca Lines are said to have been created by the Nazca and maybe by the earlier Paracas people between 200 BC and 700 AD. No one knows exactly why they were drawn, but there are many theories. Maria Reiche, the German mathematician, and others proposed that they were an astronomical calendar. Others […]
Verano Negro
We arrived in Chincha just in time for Verano Negro (Black Summer), an annual eventsort of like carnaval, celebrating Afro Peruvian culture, history and traditions. Here and nearby Carmen are the cradle of Afro Peruvian culture, evident in the music, dance and in the people themselves. There isn´t much tourism here otherwise, and the region is clearly […]