around the world

Local Knowledge

12Apr10

A while ago, me and two friend’s, from Cusco went ought walking to “Cristi Blanco”, a white Jesus statue on a hill/mountain outside Cusco. We started 5 a.m in the morning, to go and see the sunrise over Cusco and to avoid paying entrance. To arrive there before the guards come. We was not the only one doing so. Moor locals was there, to walk in the aria and some used the mountain slope and steps for running/training. But, I was the only “gringo” there. Locals commenting about me in Quechua, the language spoken here before the Spanish colonization.

We walked around the Inca ruins, walking thru caves with a torch. Seeing the place, how a “Cuscanian” (person from Cusco) sees it. Before the tourists come and take over the place.

Then we decided to continue to other ruins further away, a one hour walk. Quite soon, the only people we met was locals, living on the hills outside Cusco. We was now the only ones from the city.

I would never walked there alone. Not because of a risk from being robbed. Rather, I wouldn’t know were to go, what to find and see, how do I get back and were is it ok to walk. Having knowledge about the aria.

We got to the ruins, but they was blocked of, with blue tape, telling us to not enter. So we went in, or rather crossed the blocked of aria. We found a few caves, some of them looked dangerous, but one of them looked fine so we entered. There was a snakes cut-ought in the cave, done by the Incas. The snakes heads was gone and I was told that it was the spanish who destroyed it. Looking at how intact the snakes body was, after many, many years. Someone has to have used a lot of force to destroy the snakes head.

After that we continued to the top of the hill/mountain that was located next to and is a part of the Inca ruins. Having a short rest and beautiful view before walking back.

We walked a different way when going back to Cusco, stopping at a monkey statue. The body of the monkey are still intact, but the head is missing…

I had a really good morning, seeing things I would never have seen if i walked alone, or with an other tourist. The value of local knowledge.

Filed under: Peru, Photos, South America, Travel, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment
Tags: Cusco, knowledge, Latin America, local, local knowledge, South America, turist, turists

Unplanned Activity

29Mar10

I was walking to the bus station, that are located next to the stadium here in Cusco. My plan was to go to Pisac for the sunday market and the ruins there.

I saw a lot of polices around the stadium and someone tried to sell me a ticket. So, I got curious, what is going on? I walked over to the stadiums entrance to ask? It’s football, Cusco – Arequipa are playing today.

It’s kind of a derby, it still not really close, but Arequipa is the next big city from Cusco.

I talked a bit with the men who was checking the ticket’s at the entrance. They wanted to convince me to go to the game, so I could go in to see the stadium. It looked good and, I actually wanted to go to a football game in south america, so I decided to watch the game. There was still awhile until the game was starting, so first lunch. I walked out, talked a bit moor to the men at the entrance. Where do I by the ticket?

I could go for a lunch and, then come back, but it wasn’t necessary to by a ticket…

So I went for lunch, then returned and walk in to the stadium. I saw other that tried to come in without a ticket and two persons trying to go in with one ticket. But they was turned down and had to by ticket’s…

I’t wasn’t a lot of money that I saved, to me the important thing was: For once, I didn’t have to pay extra for something because I’m a gringo/tourist.

More tourists arrived later. But at that point, I was the only one that was a gringo, making a it a different experience.

The game ended 1-1. There was a self-score by Cusco, many missed chances and a red card for one Arequipa player. It should have ended with a better result for Cusco, who deserved to win.

There was some fights in and outside of the arena close to the end of the game. But it started to rain just when the game was finished. I think it helped cooling down some emotions… making the fights smaller.

I had a good time at the game, talking to the locals and seeing the game with them.

A good change of planes… and Pisac is still there…

Filed under: English, Peru, Photos, South America, Travel | Leave a Comment
Tags: activity, Arequipa, Cusco, football, Latin America, Peru, pictures, rain, South America, turist, turists, unplanned, unplanned activity

Will Asia Rise?

07Mar10

In the video you can see Hans Rosling predicting when it’s going to happen.

My view of India, from my 9 month as an volunteer in Tamil Nadu, is partly contradicting to the one seen in the presentation above. I’m glad to get an more positive picture of India presented to me. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t see India in an negative way. Most of my time was in a rural aria giving another perspective or/and point of view. I think it is very interesting that Kerala (state in India) has longer life expectancy then Washington DC.

Looking at the development of the world today, the question is rather, when will Asia rise?

Filed under: English, India, Politics, Society, Thoughts, Video | Leave a Comment
Tags: Asia, Gapminder.org, Hans Rosling, India, information, preconceptions

Mind the Gap

21Feb10

Gapminder.org is a really interesting project and website. Giving you access to statistics in an understandable way. Actually, Hans Rosling’s presentations are both fun and interesting to listen to. Giving you an opportunity to rethink your own preconceptions about the world. How fact based are your world view? Watch this video and see for your self.

Outdated information, guessing or just accepting other people ides and mindsets with out questioning are the core for creating preconceptions. The world are changing fairly fast right now and it’s not going to slow down, so please stay up to date.

Filed under: English, Environment, Links, NGO's, Politics, Society, Thoughts, Video | Leave a Comment
Tags: Gapminder.org, Hans Rosling, link, preconceptions, statistics

San Blas Festival

17Feb10

Definitely a different a take on a church festival then I’m use to from Europe. A mix of culture from pre colonization and different take on catholic christianity then in Europe.

People gather in front of the church to watch dans performance, fireworks, eat food, drink beer then dance to live music. An interesting mix of happenings. In a festival in Europe or US, the prices on food and beer would go up, not here. The food and beer are cheep, and the beer bottles are gigantic, holding 1,1 liter. A lot of beer would mean that there would bee fights in a festival in Europe. But here there are a calm and pleasant atmosphere.

People from all ages attend the festival, from 6 month to 80 years. The fireworks are put on big wooden stand and then fired in sequence, serenely spectacular. After that the live music and dance starts… the festival is celebrated during three days and nights…