Images: Island of Uros

Alrighty, here are more images. I love the colors on this island.

CARE

I first saw this in class.
"She has the power to change the world, you have the power to help her do it."
how powerful.

Why do these kinds of videos get me so emotional?

Touch My Hand

So, yesterday I discovered a new song that I really like and I thoroughly enjoy the lyrics of it. "Touch My Hand" by David Archuleta. It is kind of fun to look through pictures with this song. I know its sappy but I brings back lots of moments and feelings while looking through pictures and listening to this song. The lyrics are so meaningful. Many times, I forget about what is said in this song. It reminds why I should be so grateful to be alive. It makes a sad day when things go all wrong so much better. This song really makes me think twice about my life.

Here are a few lines of the song that I think are quite meaningful and stuck out to me:

Can't let the music stop
Can't let this feeling end
'Cause if I do, it'll all be over
I'll never see you again

Can't let the music stop
Until I touch your hand
'Cause if I do, it'll all be over
I'll never get the chance again
I'll never get the chance again
I'll never get the chance again

Here is link to the song on youtube: Click

Images from the Colca Canyon

Images all from the trip through the mountainous area of the Colca Canyon. As you can see, I'm loving the animals in the area.

Pictures: Last Few Days in Peru

I'm listening to "Touch My Hand" by David Achuleta and looking through photos from the trip. I think I'm having a motivating and empowering moment. haha. Well, here are some pictures I promised to upload from Peru. It'll come slowly but steadily.






Most of these pictures are from the last couple days of the trip in Pisco and the Sacred Valley.
1. Rosa (our tour guide) and my father. Serving up a platter of delicious seafood appetizers with clams, ceviche and calamari. At the Rosa Nautica on the last night.
2. Kids at the beach near Pisco. Yeah, sorry I'm kind of creepy.
3. Sea Pelican (I'm not quite sure the actual name of the bird) There were so many bird by the beach.
4. Beautiful blooms at the hotel at Rio Sangrado.
5.Familia at Ollantaytambo overlooking the site. One of very few pictures that my father is smiling.
6. Market at the Sacred Valley. Lovin' the colors!

Hart of Dixie

I'm very excited for this show to premiere on Sept. 26. Interestingly enough it is actually medical drama. Wouldn't have guessed it with the ads and promos until you watch the trailer. (Fine, I guess whats shes holding gives a hint but I totally didn't catch that) The creators of Gossip Girl made it and Rachel Bilson from The O.C. is one it. Also, Scott Porter who plays Jason Street from FNL is going to be starring on it. The plot is slightly cliche but very cute!

Nazca Lines: Success? Um

So, I'm finally getting a chance to fill in the last day of my Peru trip which ended almost a week ago now. We got to take a jet plane to fly down to see the Nazca lines. The Nazca line are basically lines that are carved into the ground/mountain and they are at least 50 km long so it can only be seen from aerial point. So, the only way to see it is by flying over it and that is exactly what we did. Until today, no one really knows what the Nazca lines were used for or why they were drawn though some claim that these pictures are connected to each other by lines because of astrology that that has not been confirmed either. Regardless, before we even got to the mini airport, I was extremely excited to see this. I mean who doesn't want to go onto a jet plane and look at historical pictures? Well, I guess my excitement came too soon. I was slightly disappointed with the trip. I saw probably only half (or even less) or the pictures and I almost threw my breakfast out while doing it. My breakfast was hurling in the stomach because the pilot probably didn't do a very good job at turning or adjusting the pressure. Everyone was just not feeling it and trying to concentrate to look down at pictures which are pretty much disguised with color of the ground and landscape is actually an extremely difficult task. I even had a map of the shapes with me and I could not even spot it. Its literally like hide and seek with the ground. Though I did manage to hold my breakfast it but I could almost taste it, these pictures are extremely hard to see. But, I have to admit the few that I saw, I was pretty impressed with them. I mean, how deep and wide do you have to carve that you barely see it ( and a huge possibility that you'd miss it like most people)? I guess these are questions still to be figured out.

Like always, pictures...well before people hurled and got sick.
1. Look at everyone's excitement before we took off. Not really the case when we were actually in the air and looking at the lines.
2. Pilot and the plane.
3. The one thing I found easily...the trapezoid though it clearly wasn't a signifcant one.
4. My failed and missed attempt to take a picture of the whale though almost everyone could not find it and it was one of the first ones.
5. Theres the parrot. That took some spotting and if you look closely you'll see it in the middle of the picture.
6. Thats the group after the flight with the pilot. Ok? Thank you! (That is what the pilot kept saying after everyone picture he introduced though I couldn't even see it. lol)

The excitement kind of turned into an slight uneventual matter.

That night we got to experience a meal at a Chinese restaurant-Chifa and the interesting thing is that not one person working there is Chinese. The owner is Chinese but he wasn't there that day.

I guess that ends my accounts of the trip but there will be more pictures and mini reflection/bits to come soon!

School just started and things are just about to get a bit busy.

Checklist: the 7 wonders of the world

Ceviche for dinner and nothing better to go with it than pisco sour!

So here are the new 7 wonders of the world:
Chichen Itza in Yucatan, Mexico
Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Colosseum in Rome, Italy Great Wall of China in Beijing, China (earlier and March, 2009) Machu Picchu in Cuzco Region, Peru (Summer 2011)
Petra in Ma'an Governorate, Jordan
Taj Mahal in Agra, India
honorable mention: Giza Pyramids in Giza, Egypt. (1997)

I guess the list of 7 wonders of the world is quite ambiguous and debatable considering there are so many different lists/categories it. There are categories like 7 wonders of the ancient world, the 7 wonders of the natural world or even the 7 wonders of the underworld. So, sometimes I am not quite sure which to consider but I picked the most recent one chosen in 2006. Regardless, I've visited 3 of the 7 listed which is nearly half of the list. I'm quite grateful that I have had the opportunity to actually accomplish this feet.

The 7 wonders of the Medieval World
Stonehenge
Colosseum
Catahombs of Kom el Shoqafa
Great Wall of China (1996?, March 2009)
Porcelain Towers of Nanjing China
Hagia Sophia (Summer 2010)
Leaning Tower of Piza

Wonders of the Ancient World

Great Pyramid of Giza
Hanging Gardens of Babylon
Statue of Zeus of Olympia
Temple of Artemis of Ephesus (Kind of got close to it but ended up not going because my mom was sick)
Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
Colossus of Rhodes
Lighthouse of Alexandria

As boring as historical sites could be boring to me, I would actually want to make it a goal of mines to see as many of these places as possible. I am actually very keen on completing everything on the new 7 wonders of the world. Though the list of wonder of the ancient world may seem less appealing to me as monuments generally don't really interest me, I think it is good to see these major historical accomplishments created by ancient civilizations to learn from the past and help us for the future.

Anyways, the next wonder I really wont to visit...Taj Mahal.

Yeah, I really want to go to India really soon. My Indian sistah has finally inspired me to go to India. My new travel destination is India or Africa to go on a safari. Either one works.

Anyways, here are some pictures from my previous trip. Sorry, I didn't really get a chance to seriously edit them.1. Morning at the Rio Sangrado by the river. Beautiful.
2. Cantuas, the Inca flower or the Peruvian national flower.
3. thats me with a pelican? I'm not quite sure what bird it is. by the beach in Pisco just outside of Lima
4. Group picture at Pisca. Another hike in an Inca community.
5.Markets at the Sacred Valley. Kind of like a tourist chopper because the prices are so jacked up. The stuff sold there, I got much cheaper on the mountains on the road trip through the colca canyon.
6. Again, Inca amazement. Terracing. So vast everywhere!

Ok, I got pictures of the Nazca lines (well, parts of it) but I'll have to save that for a seperate post.

Why is posting so hard when I'm back? Weird.

It'll be real soon!
Until then,
j

Don't be afraid to make mistakes but have the guts to fix those mistakes.

Back to the "Slums"

Let me first explain where "slums" came about. When I was at Choate, I often referred to school as "slums" because living at school did not compare to the actual home where I came from. Since then, it has been a running joke between some of my friends. "slums" means school in this case. Now, I often don't think of school as "slums" anymore but I still refer to it that way.

Anyways, I'm back to the bay and school is about to start in a couple of days. I'm honestly not quite sure whether to be happy or sad about this. Sad that my journey to Peru is over and happy that it happened? Or happy that I'm back to reality but sad that its over at the same time. I'm confused about this issue. At times, reality seem somewhat daunting to me, especially last year but not quite so much lately. Now, I'm just taking each day at a time and hoping that something good comes out of it.

I don't want this to sound too much like a cliche but the trip to Peru really taught me about the world and how much I should appreciate the life that is given to me. Peru seems like a different world from the history to its culture. Just driving from place to place in Peru, I realized that there are a lot more underprivileged people living there. I guess in this guess it is not necessarily a bad thing because the way of life works for the people. They're happy with what I would say as primitive living. Imagining life without computer, internet and TV or even electricity in many cases seem quite out there nowadays but there are actually many people who live like that in Peru. The interesting thing is that it doesn't quite bother them that those things don't exist in their world. Who knew people eat clay for minerals and nutrition? Nowadays you don't find children taking a clump of clay from art class and melting it to eat. Well, it seems to be part of a normal meal for those in Peru especially those that live outside of the side. Though life may be harsh and primitive, they still have the passion and faith to move on. Something that I should learn from, amidst the hustle and bustle of things.

Like I usually say, enough sappiness for now.

Its time to get organized because a new semester is about to start and I'm determined to keep the goodness in my life

Before I leave, I leave you with two pictures from the Islands of Uros.
1. Me jumping off the reed boat onto the island. I was slightly confused because I was landing on a mattress like foundation and I was expecting concrete or something. lol
2. On a reed boat! All built by hand by the people on the island.

More picture updates to come. Just got back today and have been pretty exhausted all day to do any editing and updating. It'll come soon!

Delay: Pisac

Sorry for the delay but I'll have to postpone my update on today. We went to another site in the Sacred Valley. Another Incan civiilzation: Pisac. Obviously not as interesting after we visited Machu Picchu. But, hiking was definitely good. Then back to Lima.

Leaving tomorrow night for the bay but seeing the Nazca lines tomorrow!

More updates and photos about the trip to come! I promise.

Bon Voyage, Mumzie!

Thats my mumzie with her hamster. She loves me as much as she loves hamsters!

Another friend, my mumzie, who we all usually know as Hang, is also leaving for Asia for the semester. Why is everyone going to study abroad this semester?!

I don't know if you actually read this ( but at least xuemin can tell you about it since I think she reads this). Anyways...
Have safe flight to Korea! I'll be back in a next couple of days but I don't know if I'll be able to catch you before you leave! Have an amazing time! I know that you've been looking forward to this for so long! I know you'll have the time of your life. I'll miss you so much! No one to whine to anymore. No one to save me when meanies attack me :( Keep us updated about your travels!

I can die happy now: Machu Picchu and Ollantaytambo

Thats Machu Picchu in the morning. Beautiful skies. I know I've a million pictures overlooking the site but hey, you're at one of the 7 wonders of the world who doesn't want that many pictures of it!

The internet has be really slow here in Peru. But hopefully, I'll get this update in before it cuts on me again.
Anyways, we rose early at 5:30am to get into Machu Picchu to avoid the crowds coming in later that day. There are already many people in line to get in at 6:15am.

We hiked to the Sun Gate which is where the Inca Trail meets Machu Picchu. We got to see part of the Inca Trail. Definitely going to attempt doing the Inca Trail if I have the opportunity to return in the future. It is a 4 day hiking/camping trip to Machu Picchu. Its either by foot or by rail to get to Machu Picchu.

The morning air and weather make Machu Picchu look really nice. It was such a nice feeling to get to the top. You really get a good view of the lost city along the way. The smell of fresh air is just so great.

We made it up to the top in an hour so we decided to check out the Inca Bridge as well.
Its is a bridge constructed by pieces of log with a trail and steps made of stones. You can another nice view of the mountains. The hike was really breezy which make it better.

After lunch, we took the train to Ollantaytambo which is where the Sacred Valley is located. It is another Inca site that is a must-see. The stone walls and constructions are really what amazes me. Also, terracing for agriculture is also something very fascinating about the Incas.

What an interesting civilization it is.

Anyways here are the pictures as always:
1. Thats me at the top of the mountain at the Sun gate overlooking the site! What a beautiful morning.
2. My father and I by the Inca bridge on another hike. The cobblestone steps are so nicely preserved after so many years. I wonder if that bridge is historical or not. lol oh and the posterized effect on my camera was turned on.
3.Another picture of me looking over Machu Picchu. I can't keep track of where I took it from. I think this one was right at the bottom of the trail. lol
4. At Ollantaytambo. The terraces are just so fascinating.
5. Aquaduct at Ollantaytambo. Amazing that water still runs after so many years.
6. My father walking down the steps at Ollantaytambo. lol
7. Super vivid setting on my camera. Again, Machu Picchu. I mean how many pictures of Machu Picchu do you need?! lol
8. The sun shining on the mountains early in the morning at Machu Picchu. Lovin' the lighting.
9. Boys will be boys...except my father ain't a boy.
10. By an aquaduct. I was confused as to why everyone was laughing while my father tried to take a picture of me. Now I know... but I can't tell whether he actually did it on purpose to photo bomb my picture or he actually wanted to take a picture up there and he was just waiting lol either way. hilarious.
11. Another amazing hotel in Peru. Rio Sagrado. Excuse the mess. lol
12. Feeding alpacas with coca leaves! clearly the white one didnt' like me. I wish I could bring one of these cutesy things home!

Anways, thats that.

One last visit to another Inca civilization tomorrow before heading back to Lima. The journey is about to end.

Toodles,
j