I lost track of my days...

The Sacred Valley

Today I had a free day with nothing to do. So I decided to head down to the Sacred Valley. It is a whole day event. It involves stopping in 3 different mountain town/Inca ruin areas. Pisac (great silver and textile market and ruins), Ollantaytambo, and Chinchero. I left at 0900 and got home at 1900. It was a long glorious day.

It really left me speechless actually. I don't think any words I write could really do it justice. It was insanely beautiful and majestic. The Andes are breathtaking. Just looking up at them, being near them, you can feel their power and energy.

I am so happy and feel so lucky to have seen what I saw today. And it wasn't just the ruins...the entire bus ride was gorgeous. There were indigenous people meandering through the hillside, making yarn, old men pulling bulls by a leash, little children playing in streams, the clouds, the sun, the rain, the patchwork fields...How many synonyms for beautiful can I come up with? Like I said...words or pictures will never do it justice. ever. come here. if you ever get a chance.

Amazon Woman

The Peruvians tell me that Natasha is the name of the woman of the Amazon..
I am going to the Amazon.Tomorrow. Here is how it all went down....

Orientation for volunteer work: teacher mentions that we can go into jungle to help with the research of medicinal herbs and plants, orchid and animal conservation, and doing medical checks and helping out at local schools. . .

Me at orientation pondering leaving this smoggy, yet beautiful city of Cuzco for the wild, all natural Amazon Jungle: I could stay here and do the medical placement, which I heard is great, but has major setbacks if you can't speak fluent Spanish as far as what you are able to do and how much you can really help. Also I heard from other students that it is fairly disorganized. I also had feelings of just wanting something totally different. When am I ever going to have the chance to go the Manu Reserve in the Amazon Jungle again??? A place you have to get permission to visit, a place where you have to tie yourself onto a rope with all your bags and hang while the pully you across the Amazon River...a place of research, discovery, nature, pure air, jungle sounds, butterflies, monkeys, anacondas, orchids.......amazing energy.

I remember watching movies about scientists deep in the jungle, searching for a cure for cancer...and Jane Goodall advocating for her ape companions. I have always dreamed of doing such amazing things...or even just being there to help in a small way...And who didn't fall in love with Jungle Book as a kid? I highly doubt I'll be finding the cure for cancer, and last time I checked Apes were in the Congo...but this may be as close as I ever get to a childhood fantasy.

Everyday, everything, every thought of my life back home is medical related. Jokes have even become funny only to people that speak the medical terminology... that understand the nuances of health care. I am sick of seeing sick people. I am even more weary of seeing people die in my Emergency Room and in my clinicals. I just want to pretend for a minute that the world is perfect and people aren't mere mortals.

How could I pass this up? I didn't. I leave tomorrow to make my own jungle book.

... Christmas in the jungle....tonight I will have visions of monkeys in my arms, waterfalls, orchids, and pure life dancing in my head. Goodnight. And Feliz Navidad.

Siddhartha

I have been wanting to read this book for a long time now. It was given to me by a friend as a gift earlier this year. I tried to read it in Escalante over Fall Break, but it I just couldn't find time or the attention span.

I almost didn't bring it with me to Peru, but something made me put it in my bag.

On my night bus ride to Puno, I read it in one sitting. I never put it down. Finished.

It's not a big book, but it requires a lot of deep thinking and processing. So it takes longer than you might expect.

I haven't had a book tug at my soul strings like that in a long while. It really resonated with me. Certain things have happened in the past couple of months that have instigated a lot of soul searching. When coupled with my whole life experience thus far, it was really powerful.

I truly believe I was meant to read it at this exact moment. If I had read it before I arrived in Peru, before I experienced certain pain and growing back home, I wouldn't have "gotten" it quite like I did... I am certain I would have really enjoyed it and I would have integrated a lot of ideas and ways of thinking from it... but not have taken it in as deeply into my heart.

So thank you person who gave me the book, who actually is a cause of a lot of the pain and spurred such soul searching (ironic isn't it). I truly believe these things are meant to find you.

And with that said, I know what my next tattoo will be. A lotus flower.

Feel the Power

This Monday night going into Tuesday day @ 0300 there is going to be a full moon, eclipse, and the solstice...and Lake Titicaca is the center of it all. This couple I met traveling were going to the Isla del Sol in Bolivia and said it is supposed to be a really powerful time in the Universe. I wish I could go. I will find a way to see it here in Cuzco. Asked Devin and Jessica if they wanted to try out a Shaman and take Ayahuasca with me. They said they were into it...so...we shall see what happens.

..Days 4-6...

A lot has happened over the past few days... a lot of really good things...(I am writing this more for me than anything else so I remember all the little things that happened that made it such a wonderful trip.)

Thursday- night bus --> Puno (all by myself) read Siddartha in one sitting...amazing book...crap sleep on a bus on top of my backpack so nobody steals anything.

Friday- morning 0400 leave bus station for Hotel Europa... sleep for 3 hrs...eat breakfast on a roof top...window watching...coca leaf tea...coca leaves and bread in my pockets...waiting area with front desk Peruvian man...giant nativity scene...he went through all the figurines and told me their names in Spanish. : ) bus to the port... Boat. Uros Islands--> everything is made out of the straw, including their homes. School kids from Puno found out I was from USA and they all wanted pictures with me. It was weird, but they were cute. One girl said, "You fooiiine" hahahaa... see TV is bad for kids. I got embarrassed and ran in the boat.

Amantani Island--home stay with natives--shared with a Mexican and Korean couple with the cutest baby in the world who was 20 months old. (been traveling all over Peru for a month with him, makes me happy it can be done) My room was very simple, blue color, with big windows, and a giant poster of Jesus. Hike to the top of the island. bought bracelets from a little girl and she kissed me on the cheek. SUNSET. Meet Jefri (Peruvian boy) which led me to meet Evan (Californian studying in Lima), Diego (Argentina), Melissa and her boyfriend Carlinho (Peru, such a cute couple), and another couple. Soccer match against locals. Dinner with host family. Quinoa soup (saw a quinoa plant before they process it) and rice. "Discoteque" live band of native boys playing great music. It was the not so typical yet typical Latin dance party. Beautiful Melissa and her boyfriend dancing...dancing Salsa with Jefrie (only 19 but going to be hot when he gets older), thoughts of getting lost down here and finding a sexy Latin boy to adopt me into his loving, dancing, fun family, and perfect my Spanish. Dressed in locals traditional clothing..children dancing.....everybody...Cusqueno beer...more dancing...happy. no electricity on island. no cars. no dogs. walk back home under the stars and moon. bathroom in dark. sleep.
"estoy cansado, estoy muriendo, estoy feliz" -Jefrie while walking up the mountain, it was very steep, 13000 ft altitude, it became the theme of the rest of our trip.

Saturday- wake up to the sounds of donkeys and roosters. 0630. Breakfast @ 0700. Potato pancakes and muna tea. Meet group at dock.

Boat ride to Tequile Island. -->Run up trail with Evan. altitude 13,000 ft, breathless, Photos with Holga, had to change the film in front of everyone and they thought seeing a film camera was so funny. I had a circle around me watching--Holga newly nicknamed "Inca Camera" because it looks so old by Diego...really funny...crystal clear water...sheeps with collars on leashes... Trout lunch...New friends on top of the boat. SUNSHINE. Jefrie putting too much sunscreen on face (Michael Jackson), Talks with Evan about travels and tattoos, Chess battles---> I won Carlinho twice and then Melissa beat me. Shanaz's Aussie card game (tried but slept on the back of the boat in the sun instead.) Wrote in diary. Carlinho tried to read, but he only kind of knows English, A lot of Spanish practice, cultural exchange of phrases and words.... boat ride to PUNO. ---->me, Shaz, Jefrie, and Evan together in Puno. crammed in tiny, tiny taxi (tuck tuck), plaza, giant Jesus, photos, Contraband Market, taxi to textile market by the port, super cheap hand knitted alpaca hats, socks, gloves, scarves....back to Plaza and Jefrie and Evan's hostel-->card game, meet Melissa, Diego, Carlinho in the Plaza, Chefa dinner (Peruvian version of Chinese food), Coca cola tastes different, wander around streets, stumble onto a giant celebration/parade for a couple that got married..IT WAS HUGE..like 100 ppl if not more in the parade playing instruments and dancing, it was surreal and beautiful, learned that they do this every time someone gets married in Puno. Figured out Shaz is on my same bus that night back to Cusco, Shaz gave Jefrie her Uni sweater from London. 0900 taxi to bus terminal with Shaz, goodbye hugs and kisses, it was sad I really really liked my new friends a lot,
Shaz checked in at the ticket counter and she magically got assigned a seat next to me by pure chance. ; ) helped a nice German couple (Munich), bus, sleep.
0400 arrive back in Cusco, catch a taxi home, help Shaz find her way home. sleep again.

Sunday- woke up late after lots of traveling, sort through pictures. wish I had my other digicams I left at home. : ( taking lots of film pictures though. email check...told mom I am still alive... got invited by my housemates to go eat 4 Sole delicious vegetarian food, I had just eaten lentil and rice for lunch but decided to go. Met Devin. Awesome girl from Vermont currently living in Oregon. Vegetarian place in San Blas was closed. Decided to wander around San Blas which is very beautiful with a lot of little ally ways, Ice cream, found some really great hippie pants, purses, boots (need to go back to purchase), stumbled upon a Christmas play in the main plaza, it was humerous, saw some roasted CUY (guinea pigs whole...with eyes....that look at you), ran into Nic, more wandering, found a killer view of the city thanks to Jessica, took it in, Devin and I split off to hike to the white Jesus even higher up, it was a very steep hike but totally worth it, great conversation (history, life, Albert and Galileo, medicine) overlooking all of Cuzco, sunshine, gorgeous weather, locals enjoying their Sunday with family, lots of perro (dogs), dog eating in a dumpster, "bitch" (strike us down), stairs, playground in the sky, sunset, Plaza de Armas, Red Barn market 2 sole earrings ($0.75), taxi, Shaz is alive! came to visit and turns out is staying right next to where I am staying. Dinner. Best cookie ever. new people are here. Signed up for Rafting for December 26th. Really want to make it to Mancora (beaches.) Pretty sure I am getting my nose pierced again down here. Found a legit tattoo/piercing shop.

Spitalian. day 3

My brain says Espanol! But my mouth speaks Spitaliano..... all of my Italian is cross firing with Spanish. I am thinking about taking Spanish lessons here for the 2 weeks I am planted. It's really cheap and I will be able to use and apply it immediately. I have to decide by Monday.

Went to the market again where they sell stolen, fake, and real goods for cheap. I found the dream pair of Asics I have been waiting for all my life. and they are REAL! real and beautiful. I don't think you understand how long I have been waiting for these shoes. When I saw them... I knew. It was love.

I also found a loyal Peruvian boy that wouldn't leave my side. At first I was annoyed but then he ended up translating a lot for me. He was very persistent...to get my email, number, practice English...and kiss my cheek. He said it's custom to kiss cheeks in Peru and it probably is, but I said, "Not in Canada it isn't". I couldn't give him the slightest bit of false hope. haha...he was harmless.

Now I am waiting for my ride to the terminale---destination Puno. Not excited for a night bus. or more travel, but it's all part of it. I am sure I will be happy after it's all over.

I have most definitely packed all the wrong things. I am the worst packer ever. I will just have to buy things here. For next time bring these things... you ratard:
1-plain hoodie
2-no name brand stuff
3-jeans
4-sneakers
5-chacos
6-more tank tops
7-swim suit (duh!)
8.)scarves
9.)fleece jacket
10)hippie pants (black, cloth, drawstring)
11) more hippie things in general

alive. day 2

Today I got a shower! and it was hot! and glorious.
Found a digicam. 12 megapixels. 5 zoom. Fuji for less than $200.
Bought a really cool poncho/hoodie from a Peruvian lady...it has black and white stripes...very cool. It was 22 Soles..so that is about $9.00.
Walked around. Got my bearings. People watched.
The people are very poor here. I don't think I have ever seen anything like it in my travels before. Maybe close in Panama or Belize... but I think this takes the cake. Something is just different.
Caught a taxi...by myself... this is the thing I have been most nervous for. These guys can take you into the hills and rob/kill you. But I was assured that during the day taxis are safe. The guy who picked me up was an older Peruvian man. He had like a total of 7 teeth. He was very nice. He asked where I was from and I told him Canada. : ) Had a pretty decent conversation in Spanish. I told him I was a nurse and going to work in the hospital here. He understood what I was saying so that was good. We kind of got lost because I am horrible with directions and in my sleep walking yesterday failed to take notice of what my home base surrounding area looks like. Once we found it I knew... but it took a minute.

So with the first solo taxi ride under my belt I am feeling better. I have a night bus ride tonight. I arrive in Puno at 0400 am. From there I go to a Hotel Europa for about 4 hours. Then I head out to the islands where I will be staying the night with the natives and hiking to Inca ruins...maybe seeing a city under the sea.... Should be interesting.

The thing I am most nervous for is catching a taxi from the bus terminale to my house again. I arrive back at 0400 am and will have to take a taxi. I read over and over you shouldn't take a taxi at night. But I was told that if they are inside the terminale you will be fine, and just to not go outside the terminale for a cheaper taxi. I am sure everything will be fine. It's just a tiny bit more scary when you are alone... and this is definitely not Europe folks...not even Eastern Europe.

I feel like I am settling in more. There is definitely a culture shock things that takes getting used to. It's exhilarating though...

I am going to run to the grocery store (Mega) to get water and look for some shoes.

It's so cheap here. I can't believe how little things cost.

yesterday... day 1

Since 0413 yesterday morning until now, my life has been a giant blur. It's probably a combination of jet lag, new crazy place, no sleep, and altitude (11,000 ft). I attempted to stay awake all night in the Lima airport...but it just wasn't happening. I sprawled out on some chairs with my carry-on bags tucked firmly under me and as soon as my head hit my travel pillow... It was over.

Side note about a travel pillow: said travel pillow was acquired in Belgium from a dear friend named Tom at the Rock Werchter music festival. He was Australian. He was cool. It was a surprise pillow. He stuffed it in my bag as we parted ways. 3 years later I am still using the pillow everywhere I go. It has traveled with me to Italy, Slovenia, Switzerland, Hungary, Greece, Latvia, Germany, Lithuania, Estonia, Costa Rica, Panama, and now Peru. It's saved my neck every time, literally, and it's a good memory of a great summer and a good place in life. End side note.

Something short of miraculous woke me up about 20 minutes before my flight was leaving. I looked at the time and had a bit of a panic. I swear I sleep walked to my gate, got yelled at in Spanish, and boarded the plane. Window seat again. Pillow. Head. Sleep. I couldn't keep my eyes open. It felt like 30 lb weights were hanging from my lids. I awoke to a bumpy landing in Cuzco...and clapping. I haven't heard clapping on a plane since Italy. I found my backpack on the luggage carousel shortly after and then luckily my ride. I literally feel like I passed out in Lima and woke up in my bed in Cuzco.

There is some kind of strike going on in the airport...something to do with water rights for Arequipa. So things went a little off plan as far as finding my ride...but a nice man helped me out.

First impressions of Cuzco.... dirty, crowded yet small, poverty, men with guns, lots of dogs, crazy drivers...all the things that make South America great. It's rugged and I like that. I haven't been scared at all. There is nothing to be scared of as long as you are smart and have your wits about you. In America, things are so easy...too easy... I like this.

I am staying in a house full of dorms basically. I am sharing a room with 2 other girls from Australia. They are volunteering as well... They are really nice. I have met mostly Australians and Americans. Which is cool. I was told I have an accent..like a twang/southern accent. It is the Heber in me. That was funny to hear.

Went to the black market today to try to find a digital camera. I have my Holga and my Droid camera and I was thinking that would be enough. However, my film had to be X rayed in Lima...which is supposedly harmful and will ruin photos. I have researched it online and read that it would take multiple passes for it to be noticeable. Which lifted my spirits because I was really looking forward to using my 120 film. Peru is such a mystical place I wanted to capture it in such a medium that really plays that up...like my Holga would. My Droid camera is amazing. However, the battery life is lucky to last a day, and that will not do on the Machu Picchu Trek or Lake Titicaca where I won't be with power for days. So tomorrow my mission in life is to find a digicam and I leave for Lake Titicaca around 6 pm. Hopping on a night bus.

I have taken it easy for most of the day. My phone doesn't text or call. of course.... so I am still trying to figure that out. I have free internet though. So Skype may have to do. I can get one here if I need to, but I like that idea of not having a phone really. I am not feeling altitude sickness really at all...I felt lightheaded and dizzy at first right off the plane, but it's barely noticeable now. I climb up to over 12,000 ft in Lake Titicaca. So we will see. I am going to gnaw on some coca leaves for sure.

Possibly going white water rafting on Sunday when I get back from Puno/Lake Titicaca with my roomie. Been talking about other sorts of adventures with the people here. I definitely don't think I am going to be bored. ever.

I am glad I am here. Ready to explore!

in PERU...transit day

18 (how many hours I have been traveling so far) + 6 (how many hours I have left to endure) = 24 hrs in a car, on a plane, or waiting in an airport. At this very moment, I am sitting in the Lima airport, inhaling sweet aromas of coffee, and thieving internet.
My brand new passport, with a much better picture of myself (I have to mention that because my other one was just so horrible--I was 16 and awkward), has been devirginated. Peru has stamped it's welcome into it's fresh, clean, crisp pages... they say I can stay for 60 days...the thought of a stint in South America is enticing and if I wasn't in nursing school I would just disappear into a new life here.
It has been good travel so far. I had window seats on both flights. Got some good shut eye in. God forbid I am speaking to soon, as I have one more flight to catch to Cusco...but I have already met some nice people. Getting into the Espanol groove of things. All luggage is accounted for. One thing that is driving me crazy because I am so superstitous, in the dumbest way possible, is my encountering of the number 666....twice...I don't even believe in the devil. So why that freaks me out I don't really know. To yin yang that out I have also seen my lucky number several times. so there.

Magic Moments thus far?
1.) sliding up the shade on my airplane window to see the sunset over the ocean high above the clouds...it was the most lovely layering of ocean, clouds, and atmosphere I have ever seen. It took my breath away.
2.)feeling totally independent as I travel alone and kick ass at it
3.)meeting nice people, lunch with Crystal from school, talking about big dreams and the future.... (she was on my first flight--on her way to Belize)
4.)the comfort of sitting in a coffee shop listening to Jazz and Motown (funny considering a conversation I had last night) in Lima airport; since the past 4 months of my life has been studying in coffee shops, this is a sweet taste of home.
5.) realizing I am halfway done with nursing school
6.) watching the shadow of my plane as it landed in Houston
7.)the nicest text messages from my mom and friends ever. I am a lucky loved girl

Bring on the adventure.

virgins

The Morning Benders - Virgins from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

The most glorious of sounds....

comes from here

Thanks Christina #2

The Walkmen - On the Water from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

I can't stop watching this.... I love it how he belts it out at the end.....

My Dad

This is an article about my Dad's business.... my Grandma called me tonight freaking out about it being on the news. pretty freaking cool.
He is making Utah a Green state, and pioneering a new way to store and conserve energy.
I am so proud of him.

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=13580725

Kid Klimax

Kid Klimax by Atlas Sound (acoustic version)....it's Bradford Cox's (Deerhunter) solo project...

I found out these little tidbits as well.

Atlas Sound is a name Cox has used since he was ten to refer to his own music, but his first full-length produced under the name was Let the Blind Lead Those Who Can See but Cannot Feel, released in 2008. Cox's method of creating music is stream-of-consciousness,
and he does not write lyrics in advance.

::risk::

The greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
To laugh is to risk appearing to be a fool. To weep is to risk appearing sentimental. To reach out for another is to risk involvement. To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self. To place your ideas, your dreams, before a crowd is to risk their loss. To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To live is to risk dying. To hope is to risk disappointment. To try is the risk failure.
But risks must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
The person who risks nothing has nothing ... and knows nothing... and is nothing.
They may avoid suffering and sorrow but they cannot lean to feel, change, grow, love, or live.
Chained by their certitudes, they are slaves; they have forfeited their freedom.
Only a person who risks is Free.

...I Go To Sleep To Think That You're Next To Me...

Mandatory Music for Mondays

Oh F*^# yeah! It's Monday.

Growing pains.

I feel like I am in a weird transition phase in my life right now....

I have been fortunate to experience some amazing things and make some incredible new friends the past couple of months. I have really been trying to open myself up ...crawling out of my oh so comfortable cave.
I can be a bit reclusive.
(okay.. a lot reclusive)

It takes a lot for me to let people in.

I have also gone through some seriously sad and difficult
things in the last 6 months too.
I'll spare the details.

I am traveling to Peru very soon....but maybe when I get home I will focus on nurturing the life/family/friends/interests I have here. I have spent a lot of my life searching.... running...traveling....so much so that I have been only skimming the surfaces...

Maybe it's time to stop. Maybe it's all here...now...

"Some people feel like they don't deserve love. They walk away quietly into empty spaces, trying to close the gaps of the past." -This is a quote from Into the Wild.... this is me. This is what I do. I run. I leave preemptively before people can leave me. I always have my wall. It's messed up.
I do it with family, friends, and everyone basically...

I know that the only constant thing in life is change...People come and go... things change...life circumstances change...seasons change...jobs change...parents get divorced...cities and places change...people breakup...people grow apart...fall in and out of love...friends change...friends move away... I change... I grow...but for once I just want something to stay still with me...there has to be some stability in life...My whole childhood and life has been adaptation to extreme change...and that's okay because it's made me a really easy going, strong person...
...but I just want something to stay the same....
..Just once..
.maybe nothing stays still because I won't let it.
.....maybe I should just stay still......