"Lake Titicaca is a lake located in the Andes on the border of Peru and Bolivia. At 3,811 m (12,500 ft) above sea level, the lake is on record as the highest commercially navigable lake in the world.[2] By volume of water, it is also the largest lake in South America[3][4] Lake Maracaibo while having a larger surface area is less regarded due to a direct connection with the sea."
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We had a long discussion on the route. We had a few constraints - HY needs to arrive in LaPaz (Bolivia) to catch his flight, the border between Peru & Bolivia closes at 6.30pm, there was no return boat ride directly from Amantani Island to Puno (bus ride to Border town takes 3 hrs) etc... Well, that's part of backpacking. The plan always change.
UROS of the Floating Islands
"The Uros are a pre-Incan people who live on forty-two self-fashioned floating islands in Lake Titicaca Puno, Peru and Bolivia. They form three main groups: Uru-Chipayas, Uru-Muratos and the Uru-Iruitos. The latter are still located on the Bolivian side of Lake Titicaca and Desaguadero River. The Uros use bundles of dried totora reeds to make reed boats (balsas mats), and to make the islands themselves.[1]
The Uros islands at 3810 meters above sea level are just five kilometers west from Puno port.[2] Around 2,000 descendants of the Uros were counted in the 1997 census,[3] although only a few hundred still live on and maintain the islands; most have moved to the mainland. The Uros also bury their dead on the mainland in special cemeteries."
Tourism seems to be the main revenue source for them.
Local kid growing up in the midst of tourists.
The leader led the rest of the kids to perform singing on the boat and solicit money from the tourists.
All the kids need to surrender the money into a collective pool.
And then, the money was distributed among themselves.
The straw boat that we took.
After all the tourists alighted, they got a power-boat to push it.
Haha.... At least, they were working hard rowing the boat while we were on it.
Bazaar
Phone booth on the floating island.
Cool!!
Aquaculture.
Seven days Adventist Church.
I was surprised to see this Church in the floating islands, as most Peruvians are Catholic.
More floating islands
Creativity at work.
Spacious!!!
So wonderful.
This is a huge lake not a sea.
Chatting with a Columbian (based in Spain) and a Chilean Editor.
We talked about the media in Chile, economy in Columbia and Chile, drugs in Columbia, Peru and Chile conflicts, South America etc... as well as Tiger Balm (The Columbian dude came to Singapore and bought a lot of Tiger Balm as it was really expensive in Spain). =)
Even though I have never been to Columbia and Chile, I got to know more about these countries by chatting with other travelers. I love backpacking!!!
"
Amantaní is another small island on Lake Titicaca populated by Quechua speakers. About 4,000 people live in ten communities on the roughly circular 15 square kilometres (6 sq mi) island. There are two mountain peaks, called Pachatata (Father Earth) and Pachamama (Mother Earth), and ancient ruins on the top of both peaks. The hillsides that rise up from the lake are terraced and planted with wheat, potatoes, and vegetables. Most of the small fields are worked by hand. Long stone fences divide the fields, and cattle and sheep graze on the hillsides.
There are no cars on the island and no hotels. Since machines are not allowed on the island, all agriculture is done by hand. A few small stores sell basic goods, and there is a health clinic and 6 schools. Electricity was produced by a generator and provided limited power a couple of hours each day, but with the rising price of the petroleum, they no longer use the generator. Most families use candles or flashlights powered by batteries or hand-cranks. Small solar panels have recently been installed on some homes.
Some of the families on Amantaní open their homes to tourists for overnight stays and provide cooked meals, arranged through tour guides. The families who do so are required to have a special room set aside for the tourists and must fit a code by the tourist companies that help them. Guests typically take food staples (cooking oil, rice, sugar) as a gift or school supplies for the children on the island. They hold nightly traditional dance shows for the tourists where they offer to dress them up in their traditional clothes and participate."
Our hosts.
Love the color contrast.
Farming on the Island.
View from my room
=)
Grandchild of our host.
(Taken by HY)
I showed the kids videos of the outside world. They were clearly enjoying themselves, but I am not sure if it is a cruel act, as these kids may not even have the opportunity to go the nearest small town called Puno.
Kitchen
Lunch
Sunset
Short trek in the island
We were lost.
All the houses are the same and there are no numbers.
Innovative Recycling.
Addressing up in the local traditional outfit for party.
Our hosts
(Taken by HY)
Our host told us that he visits Puno only twice a year as it was expensive for him (10 soles, S$5, US$4 for each trip). He said that the inhabitants in the island who take turns to host the tourist, and he only get to host tourist once every few months. Otherwise, he would be farming most of the time. I felt really sad when I heard that.
We also saw that the old granny has cataract. I was assuming that she did not seek treatment as it was too expensive. Before we left, we passed him some money to thank his kindness and hope it would be useful for him.
Dancing... sort of.
(Taken by HY)
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