4 days in the Amazon (Video)

This year was all about pushing boundaries and doing things for the first time. Reminds me of one of the previous Emirates Airlines advertising campaign messages 'When was the last time you did something for the first time'.

Insects, bugs, snakes, caimans, tarantulas, sloths- well just about anything one can find in the Amazon was not something I looked forward to by any means but when I was presented with the opportunity to go (even though it was a tad pricey), I jumped at it.

Here's a glimpse into our 4 days in the Amazon

Amazonas from Aarti Kulkarni on Vimeo.

Mama Cecilia and family

There's something to be said about people who open their homes and hearts to you and make you feel like a part of the family. I was unbelievably lucky to have someone like Jeanett in Bolivia and thought boy! those are large shoes to fill, but as always I was extremely fortunate to have been placed in another homestay with Cecilia, Lucresia, Daniel, darling little Gabriel and who can ever forget to mention the crazy pup (yeah right, he was like a horse!) Popeye.

Here's a shoutout to family Duncan for all the love

Cositas

Cositas was my initial placement while in Cusco and it was plenty admirable how that project came to be. It was started out years ago by Dutch travellers who felt they could help women in low income families to supplement the cost of living by teaching them various skills with jewellery making. Now, many years after the Dutch left and the funding ceased, the ladies have thrived and flourished into a close knit bunch of mom's who create exquisite works of art for any kind of custom jewellery requirements. 

My assignment for the initial two weeks in Cusco was to look after the children of these wonderful women and teach them English, entertain them and help them finish their homework for the day.

What a wonderful time!

Inca Rail vs. Peru Rail

For those who have travelled to Machu Picchu, you would know about this, but for the other's out there, I'd like to share some information from my recent experience. So, mostly people take the train to Ollantaytambo and then a car to Aguas Calientes (a little village/town at the base of MP) unless you're going in a car or private bus all the way from Cusco.

The two railway lines to get to Ollantaytambo are Inca Rail and Peru Rail. The latter is the more luxurious and therefore more expensive of the two and has different options with regard to levels of luxury e.g. Hiram Bingham, Expedition, Vistadome and Andean Explorer. 

While a ticket (one way) on Inca Rail will cost you something in the range of $40-50, a ticket on the basic Peru Rail (Expedition) will set you back $80+

I had the opportunity to travel by Inca Rail and Expedition and honestly cant tell any difference. In fact, I felt the seats on IR were much more comfortable and we had tables that would fold out giving us lots of room to relax. Surprisingly this option was not available on Peru Rail even though the pictures gave us a different story.

Mama Jeanett and family

Getting to Bolivia, I was mighty nervous about so many things- the city, the people, my accommodation, the work, my fellow volunteers. Pretty much every thing you can think of- I was anxious. After all, I was going across the world, to a continent that spoke a language of which I did not know a word and to do something very different from what I am used to. 

I have to and always will credit Jeanett for whatever Spanish I now know because she spoke no English and I no Spanish- it was the perfect set up not just for situational comedy but also two way learning. In the initial weeks we communicated with hand signals, as if our lives were a giant game of Charades and she was so amazingly patient with me, my attempts at understanding and speaking Spanish and always such an absolutely wonderful mama.

All credit to Mama Cecilia (Lima) and Mama Ivonne (Cusco), but Mama Jeanett was absolutely the most amazing mama's yet. She is strong, independent, hard working, absolutely caring and always went out of her way to make us feel like it was our home. She always woke up early to make sure we had everything for breakfast, always made us the most amazing Sunday lunches and was around any time we needed her for anything. 

Her daughter and son in law were absolutely wonderful too. Carolina spoke English and so was sometimes the perfect interpretor. Alejandro was always polite and soft spoken and very nice whenever we had the opportunity to spend time with him. Of course, when reminiscing about Cocha, how can I fail to mention the fabulous Muneca, the loco but sweet dog who never failed to worry, amuse and scare me.

Thank you so much for everything Mama Jeanett, Carolina and Alejandro- I hope we meet soon.

Tattoo- only 10 years later

So, I got my first tattoo when I was 20 (I think...or that's how best my memory serves me) and it was a mix between an impulse and something I'd wanted for a while. The tattoo artist was smart and told me to go with something small in a spot I wouldn't regret later and something universal that I wouldn't grow tired of 40 years later. 

Fast Forward to 2013 and I'm in Cochabamba, Bolivia with the sudden urge to get another tattoo. Now, the big question is what should I get. I harboured the idea of getting a guardian angel's back on one of my shoulder blades for the longest time. I had this weird notion of good and evil being on each side so I'd get a guardian angel on the "evil" side so I'd have more good :) Like that was the solution to being bad!

Then, finally when I did make up my mind, I figured it should be something indicative and representative of my year 2013. Something signifying new directions, positivity, chances, hope and the future. What better than a dandelion tattoo on my right hip... ooh yeah. While I can have my random spontaneous moments, I'm mostly a crazy OCD person who plans every single thing so it was amazing when my friend Marie pushed me along to go "see" the tattoo place and instead I ended up getting the tattoo. It was painless, cheap and turned out fantastic.

Thanks Marie for being there and pushing me to get the tattoo.

Cusco thus far (Video)

I've only been in Cusco for 10 days, but already have so much to share, and what better way than a short video that covers a wonderful Lima city tour in an antique Tram/Trolley and a mind-blowing visit to Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu. 

Another 3 weeks here is only going to bring more of fun, activity and adventure which I cant wait to experience and share with all of you.

Cusco from Aarti Kulkarni on Vimeo.

Glimpse of Lima (Video)

It suffices to say that this video does not encompass all of my experiences, wonderful friendships, discoveries and so much more that it difficult to capture in images, videos or even words. However, this is my attempt to compile some of the most important people I met and had the chance to know while in Lima.

Hope you enjoy this video and do leave your comments and suggestions. 

Lima- South America II from Aarti Kulkarni on Vimeo.

My time in Bolivia- (Video)

For all those who'd like a peek into my 3+ months in Bolivia, here is an amateur video that you will hopefully enjoy. Please feel free to leave me your comments and suggestions on this or any other post on my blog. 

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Machu Picchu

Ever heard of anyone come to Cusco and not visit Machu Picchu- NUNCA!

It is one of the easiest things to get there with almost every other person on the street offering some great deals for the weekend. So, Lily and I decided to go with Edgar- whose Qori Inca Travel agency is cerca Plaza San Francisco and got a 2 day/1 night deal for USD215 including the train tickets via Inca Rail and the bus.

We got into this lovely train and met two young girls from Brazil and a nice Dutch girl to entertain ourselves during the 2+ hour journey. After which, we were picked up at the train station and taken to our Hostal Las Rocas just at the thermal baths. Had a relaxing day, got a fabulous 4-in-1 massage, enjoyed a pizza and then took in an early night as we were to spend the next morning at MP.

7:30am and we were at the entrance of MP looking for our guide with the BLUE not TURQUOISE flag. Bumped into Elise and our Brazilian friends there and started our tour which was to last 2.5 hours. It is not easy to describe MP with words or images, and is a natural wonder everyone must try and visit once in a lifetime. Though, I will be partial and from the 6 wonders (of the modern world) I've visited, Petra is by far the most breathtaking.



We met some nice German guys who were in our tour group and got done around lunch time when we headed back to Aguas Calientes for a scrumptious brunch of coffee, papas fritas and omelet with veggies and cheese.. num num!

What was to follow after that deserves its very own post as it was crazy insane and a tad tragic.