My 2nd trip to S. America in this year of 2011
August 4-5-6 Fly to Lima from LA, and tour in Lima City
The cultural buildings in Lima, such as Churches in downtown are neither as grand, nor as long history comparing with those in Europe. But as Tour guide Ema said, the interest can be in the samall details that shows a little bit “naughty” or "rebelling" works by the building workers recruited from local people. To show their unwilling cooperation with the invading Spanish conqueror, they make the angels fatter and shorter, and made the poles engraved with grapes that is one of the main produce in Peru…
Museo de la Oro display gold items as well as porcelain displays mainly in sex activities. Inca tribes believe sex is open without being shy to display, because it is important in life to produce more generations. Some figures really display vivid action that is considered xxx rated. And that attracted a lot of attention from most male members of our group, and joked about it.
However,I was very touched and impressed by the peaceful and absorptive generosity of their people. I even asked the guide Carlos if, as an apparent local inca heritage, he has any indignant or even hatred about the “white” invader who controls most of the resource and power of the country, he said no, and I know he means no. There is no difference in their mind about black and white because for a long time the two races have been merged. And they respect the fact.
印加世住安地斯
文明物資自然足
無奈西強來侵殖
從此南美改歷史
如今融成祕魯地
兩族共治無嫌隙
貧坡富原有不同
戶戶共飄紅白旗
August 7 Machupicchu
The mysterious mountain village on top of mountain about 2400 Meters elevation, is now seen as remains of stone walls in different shapes. It has been recoreded as one of the 7 wonders of the world. It is really admirable for their ability to build such village in the high mountain about 500 years ago with so many huge stones without morden techniques. What impressed the world is that those Inca villagers have disappeared totally without leaving any trace of their existence, such as bones or remains. Were they really the aliens???
印加文明古今謎
世界珍奇七其一
群山圍繞不知處
早有人群在聚居
天文地理皆熟膩
上禱天神下守地
莫非外星人來居
為何頓逝無殘遺
August 8, Monday, at Cusco
For days in the 3400M elevation, we found some malfunctions of our physical systems. Some people get dizzy, some feel sick. Many bottles get a lot fuller with air inside. And I also had some feeling of some strange phenomenon…
高山行路氣吁吁
平地走步人虛虛
吃喝似乎都正常
就是尿多愛放屁…
Ema told the story that Brazil soccer team, the champion team in the region, and many times in the world cup, once got defeated 3:0 by Peruvian team because the course was set in Cusco. I guess it is a good strategy. But after the Brazilian athletes got used to the altitude problems, they revenged at 6:0. But Peruvians prefer to talk about their victory only. Another guide Carlos described the secret valley and also told us that the Inca troops defeated the invading Spaniards once before they got conquered from the modern and powerful weapons. The reasons of victory rest mainly on the thin air besides the great military advantage of the geographic position.
愛瑪善導善敘事
祕魯退敵有幾次
多虧低壓薄空氣
打敗西強和巴西
One the bus we made jokes on many issues without concern of bothering other groups. Once Daisy was repeating the Chinese lyrics of 街後, a famous Taiwanese song by 江蕙. When she read on “等待回去的時候一到, 我會讓你先走….” 為了強調女人的 "後走" 意志,我一時興起,在此接上一句
“
你若不先走, 我麼會把你淘” (毒死)….馬上引起哄然大笑. Ema 說她笑出淚來了! 到底”後走”是真為愛, 還是別有用心, 莫衷一是, 如此加註, 畫龍點睛,不言可喻, 也算是趣談.
Overall, Peruvians, the then Inca tribes, have been enjoying a country with abundant resource of Gold, Silver and great nature assets. They are not politically hostile against any one inside the country. If any, they may be in a competing mood against its neighboring country Ecuador. I feel one of the reason is Ecuador is equally specializes in the Ceviche. ( It is from my imagination. ha ha.)
印加地沃歐力強
天時地利勢難擋
難得民風愛和樂
國順民安是天堂
On the other hand, I am shamed and worried from our own situation. Without difference in face, color and culture among them, Taiwan was divided by the two camps with sharp conflict. The Blue and Green has been offsetting each other and thus pulling down the strength of the country. The conflict is totally unfounded, especially in the viewpoints of these Latin people. However, without any preference on either side, I just cannot do anything about it.
反觀台灣卻不是
同文同種爭鬧痴
本土外族掛嘴邊
若傳此地將何如?
We had a dinner in the local restaurant today as we finished the mountain trip. We saw the dance of the people in local tribal costume. This same day we also celebrated the Chinese Father’s day, the 8-8.
August 10, Wednesday Fly to Quito (基多), in transit to Quayaquil and then to Galapago Islands.
We got the chance to tour the city of Quito, capital of Ecuador. We saw a lot of better looking places and buildings ( than Lima, Peru) in the city center. Churches are quite splendid and almost everywhere in the corners. We also learn that today, August 10 is the independence day of this country from Spain.
There was a small group of people protesting in the square in front of Presidential office against the president. I got from many source that the current President is not popular with his people because he is too close to the rascal President of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez.
基多原為土部落
西強入佔原名留
百年教堂四處立
猶似台灣廟宇多
August 11/12/13, Thursday Fly to Galapago Islands for cruise trip
A lot of excursions in different islands in dry and wet landings, and we saw a lot of wild animals which are features of different islands.
We didn’t see much of sea turtle but some heads in the ocean:
大夥爭覓海龜蹤
只見數頭浮海中
今日訪看達(爾)文站
成群陸龜分多種
Lonesome George, the famous old guy may change his record book for recent behavior
百歲喬治名孤單
近年被爆追女伴
足証進化到處有
老龜性向列一般
On 8/13 we got Tsunami warning due to earthquake from Chile, (or Japan?) and all water activities were cancelled. We then went to the mountain top of Santa Cruz Island to watch the volcano.
就等下午濕上陸
卻獲通知活動除
只因鄰國有地震
海嘯警告防事故
行程臨改上高地
火山噴口夠稀奇
岩洞嶙峋步步險
老弱無事算奇蹟
Consequently we miss one more island to visit. All together we found we may just visited less than half of islands.
列島足跡未沾半
歡樂旅程己走完
臨別沙灘見紅鶴
還有海膽與海參
For the Sea Cucumber, we were so excited to see it so close. Without much caution,
I even pick them up for teammates to take photo. It even “pee out” after leaving water.
Then the guide interfered, as it is violating the regulation in these islands.
海參原貌
肥短圓軟如糞便
捏出海面噴水鞭
眾人驚奇未曾見
餐桌常列一美筵
歡樂假期轉眼過
同行共遊樂悠悠
但願有緣再來玩
再享吃喝鬧不休
The good time always come and go swiftly, so did this 11 day trip. Even though at the last day we faced some problems with plane delays and rescheduled flights, we complete a happy journey to Peru and Ecuador.
Here I want to give special thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Lee, Tom and Jenny. Without their hard work handling those communicating task, we could not have the joy. Thank you all.
Some reflections and expressions on Hugo, my ex-employee and once major partner who has become a successful constructor in luxury homes...To show his appreciation of my support, he offered to build a house for me. But do I need one when I am about to retire? Whether I accept this offer, his good will is appreciated, and this relationship will be well preserved.
