Day 7 - Puerto Iguazu & Buenos Aires, Argentina (30th Dec 12)

IGUAZU FALLS

"Iguazu Falls, Iguassu Falls, or Iguaçu Falls are waterfalls of the Iguazu River located on the border of the Brazilian State of Paraná and the Argentine Province of Misiones. The falls divide the river into the upper and lower Iguazu. The Iguazu River originates near the city of Curitiba. It flows through Brazil for most of its course. Below its confluence with the San Antonio River, the Iguazu River forms the boundary between Brazil and Argentina.

Upon seeing Iguazu, the United States' First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt reportedly exclaimed "Poor Niagara!" Iguazu is also often compared with Southern Africa's Victoria Falls which separates Zambia and Zimbabwe. Iguazu is wider, but because it is split into about 275 discrete falls and large islands, Victoria is the largest curtain of water in the world, at over 1,600 m (5,249 ft) wide and over 100 m (328 ft) in height (in low flow Victoria is split into five by islands; in high flow it can be uninterrupted). The only wider falls are extremely large rapid-like falls such as the Boyoma Falls."

I like the exclamation - "Poor Niagara!". Indeed, those people who have been to Niagara told me that it could not be compared to Iguazu. Prior to the trip, I was researching on Iguazu Falls and I was not too excited, as I have seen many waterfalls even though it is not of the same scale. I was also wondering how could anybody spend 1-2 days looking at waterfall. I was so wrong. It turned out that Iguazu Falls exceeded my expectation and I was exclaiming "Wow..wow...wow!" during my short visit. I felt like a kid seeing the world for the first time. I spent 8am-3pm at the Argentinian side and it was not enough. I missed the devil's throat as I needed to catch a flight at 6pm. =(

After the visit, I was lamenting that such a magnificent sight would be hard to match in the future. Iguazu Falls had set a new benchmark. The photo does not do it justice - this is definitely one of the places to see before you die. Highly recommend it!!!

Map

Long Exposure

Feel the force....

Beautiful.

2 layers of curtain of waterfall

The boat that we took.

(remember to wear your swimming outfit)

Curtain of water

=)

Amazing.

The Brazilian Side (which I did not visit)

Magnificent.

Sheer Power

Nice.

Still very nice.

=)

View from the boat

I was floating in the river with the view of the waterfall.

That's a priceless moment!

The peculiar thing about South America is that the cross-border flights are expensive! There is no budget airline. For example, a one-way 4-hours direct flight from Iguazu Fall (Brazilian side) to Lima, Peru costs around US$950!!! 

To save some money, we decided to fly from Iguazu Fall (Argentinian side) to Buenos Aires, Argentina to Santiago, Chile to Lima, Peru. 3 sector flights, longer distance & 15 hours, and it cost us US$650. A saving of US$300.  It really baffles me.

The LAN flight from Iguazu to Buenos Aires was delayed and we missed our connecting flight to Santiago. Fortunately, LAN was a reputable airline and made hotel arrangement & we took a direct flight to Lima the following day (skipping the transit at Santiago). We were not angry nor too nervous, as we treated it as part of the journey, which turned out to be a blessing in disguise. 

The family from Colorado, who were also stranded like us. It was difficult to communicate with the custom officers (to allow us to cut queue to catch our flight) as we don't speak Spanish.

Staying at a good hotel in the Buenos Aires - No Bed Bugs!!!

 The free Dinner was good too (Costing around US$50/person)

View from the hotel room balcony

Street of Buenos Aires at 1am.

Day 8 - Buenos Aires, Argentina & Lima, Peru (31st Dec 11)

My Original Flight Schedule (Iguazu - Buenos Aires - Santiago - Lima)

In the end, it was shortened to Iguazu - Buenos Aires - Lima (arriving at 2pm instead of 11.30am)

There was a change in the Bolivia domestic flight (a few weeks later) that I booked when I was in Singapore. I had to call Expedia in USA from Buenos Aires, Argentina to understand and acknowledge the flight changes in Sucre, Bolivia. This is indeed a globalized world.

Flight to Lima from Buenos Aires was delayed for 90mins.

LAN being a reputable airline, compensated us by offering us an option to have a US$250 discount on future flight (to be redeemed within 1 year) or a US$90 cash. We chose the latter option, but the sales office in the airport could not disburse the money, and we had to go to other sales offices. In the end, we got our money in Cusco, Peru after 2 visits to the sales office as there was no proper documentation. 

While LAN airline is one of the best airlines in South America, there is still a gap in terms of its system and services when compared to the Asian premium airlines like Singapore Airline, Cathay, Qatar etc...  

The barren highland of Bolivia

I am not sure if the white flat plain is the Uyuni Salt Plain (which I visited a 2 weeks later)

LIMA, PERU

"Lima is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers, in the central part of the country, on a desert coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. With a population approaching 9 million, Lima is the fifth largest city in Latin America, behind Mexico City,São Paulo, Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro. Lima is home to one of the largest financial hubs in Latin America.

Lima was founded by Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro on January 18, 1535, as la Ciudad de los Reyes, or "the City of Kings". It became the capital and most important city in the Spanish Viceroyalty of Peru. Following the Peruvian War of Independence, it became the capital of the Republic of Peru. Today, around one-third of the Peruvian population lives in the metropolitan area. Lima is home to one of the oldest higher learning institutions in the New World. The National University of San Marcos, founded on May 12, 1551 during Spanish colonial regime, is the oldest continuously functioning university in the Americas."

My first impression of Lima City, Peru

It definitely looks less developed than Sao Paulo, Rio De Janeiro & Buenos Aires.

Hello! Pacific Ocean!!

I got to surf at the pacific ocean again, the last time was many years ago in Santa Cruz, California. The water was cold (not freezing), so I decided not to wear a top. It was a bad decision, as I had abrasion on my chest and nipples. And I did not manage to stand on the surf-board. =(

Nevertheless, it was a good experience!

Miraflores

Lima City.

I must admit that Lima is more developed than I thought. You could find designer brands like Chanel in the shopping malls and lotsa fast-food restaurants (except KFC). I always imagine Peru as a country of Inca history and indigenous people in their traditional outfits. The good thing about traveling is that it breaks the stereotyping that we had due to our ignorance.

At the same time, Peru has distinct class differences in the society. The whites & the Mestizo (people with mixed European and Native heritage) seemed to be more affluence being the middle and upper class of the society. While the indigenous people (majority) are the working and lower class of the society. I believe that is the legacy of the colonialism. 

I also read about the invasion of the Spanish imperialist. There was huge massacre of the indigenous people and cruel religion conversion by prohibiting the practice of local religion. Non-adherents were killed. How could the Spanish invaders be so cruel and religious at the same time? What is in their mind? Isn't there inherent conflict with between Killing and the Christianity Teachings? Why adopt such a brutal religion conversion? Do they think  that they are superior just because they are more technologically advance during that time? Look at the Spanish economy now!!! 

"Rudolph J. Rummel estimates that 14 million native North and South Americans were killed by Europeans (and their American-born descendants) in democide in the conquest of the Americas. Much of this, especially in the Caribbean and South America, was driven by European Roman Catholicism."

Anyway, that was the past. But we should never forget the lesson.

Staffs of Pariwana Backpacker Hostel. (Photo taken by HY)

Had a great new year countdown at the rooftop of this hostel.

Latinos sure know how to party!!

=)

Day 9 - Lima, Peru (1st Jan 12)

The first day of 2012.

I woke up early at 6+ after 3 hours of sleep and alcohol intoxication. Surprisingly, I wasn't feeling too tired and was quite excited to explore Lima. The first stop was Plaza de Armas. Only much later, I realized that in every city, big or small, there is always a plaza at the center of the city. This is a legacy of the Spanish colonial architecture. 

Really happy to see locals parading the street on a Sunday morning.

Unfortunately, I do not know the significance of this parade and the masks.

Nice looking boots.

Had a great conversation with a Peruvian family from another city. They were really nice people - giving us orange juices as well as introducing their friend in Nazca (as we told them that we were going to Nazca after Lima). They were the middle-income family in Peru, but the surprising thing was they had never visited Machu Picchu before - citing the high cost as a reason.

Iglesia de Santo Domingo Church

Skull of Catholic Saint - Santa Rosa De Lima

"Rose of Lima, (April 20, 1586 – August 24, 1617),^[1] the first Catholic saint native to the Americas, was born in Lima, Peru."

Interesting to see the Peruvians wearing traditional costume to attend New Year Sunday Morning Mass. Only in Peru. =)

After that, we visited Monastery of San Francisco. This monastery has a catacombs (underground graveyard) that is opened for visiting (no photography allowed). This was the 2nd catacombs i visited in my life. It was not always a pleasant feeling to see skulls and bones, and breathing the stale air.

Larco Museum

"The Larco Museum is a privately owned museum of pre-Columbian art, located in thePueblo Libre District of Lima, Peru. It showcases chronological galleries that provide a thorough overview of 4,000 of Peruvian pre-Columbian history. It boasts one of the world's largest collections of pre-Columbian art including Moche, Nazca, Chimú, and Inca pieces. Additionally, the Larco Museum is well known for its gallery of pre-Columbian erotic pottery."

Taken from the Museum:

"The six regions of world where first civilizations emerged independently, uninfluenced by other societies, are known as the Cradles of Civilization. They are:

1. China

2. India

3. Mesopotamia (present day Iraq)

4. Egypt

5. Mesoamerica (Gulf of Mexico)

6. Peru"

When I read that, I was quite overwhelmed and proud that my Chinese heritage is unique and has more than 5000 years of history. 

Really beautiful drawings.

It looks so real!

Nice drawings.

Yup. I have visited many museums, but I have not seen any erotic pottery created by any other ancient civilization. Bearing in mind that these pottery were made around 100AD-500AD. That's interesting!

A dead person masturbating.

A blowjob pottery.

I went surfing at the Pacific ocean along Lima. The water was quite cold, so the surf operator offered the rash guard. Stupidly, I chose not to wear the rash guard as I saw some surfers without it as well and I thought it would be a good opportunity to get a tan. It was a big mistake. I had abrasion on my upper torso including my nipples. I did not managed to stand :( and it was getting too painful to carry on. I went back to the shore in pain, but nevertheless, I enjoyed the whole experience!

Lesson learnt - always listen to advice and try to be hero (wear a rash guard).

Hero always dies first!

I went to Taiwan 2 months later, and I wore one while I was surfing.

(Taken by HY)

(Taken by HY)

Sunset over the Pacific Ocean.

Quite happy to see this sight again, the last time I saw it was more than 7 years ago.

(Taken by HY)

Day 10 - Huacachina, Peru (2nd Jan 12)

Coastal View near Lima

Harsh Landscape (on the bus from Lima to Huacachina)

Barren land

Inca Kola is the most popular soft drink in Peru. Coca-Cola knew that it could not beat it, as it acquired it with its financial might. I thought the orange fruit was a pear, and took a bite and found out that it was another kind of fruit like passion fruit - it is sweet and has a layer of flesh over its numerous seeds. I was quite happy to discover new things. 

It is called Passiflora ligularis.

"Passiflora ligularis, commonly known as the Sweet granadilla or Grenadia is a plant species in the Passiflora genus. The epithet ligulariscomes from the plant's ligulate corollae. It is native to the Andes Mountains between Bolivia, Venezuela and Colombia. It grows as far south as northern Argentina and as far north as Mexico. Outside of its native range it grows in the tropical mountains of Africa and Australia (where they are known as passionfruit)"

I was pleasantly surprised by the service and efficiency level of the bus operator (Cruz Del Sur). The seats are comfortable and reasonably spacious, and there is an in-bus attendant serving food and drinks. =)

HUACACHINA

"Huacachina is a village in the Ica Region, in southwestern Peru. It is located in the Ica Province, near the city of Ica in theIca District. Huacachina has a population of 115 (1999). The oasis features on the back of the 50 Nuevo Sol note.

Huacachina is built around a small natural lake in the desert. Called the "oasis of America," it serves as a resort for local families from the nearby city of Ica, and increasingly as an attraction for tourists drawn by the sports of sandboarding and taking dune buggy rides on sand dunes that stretch several hundred feet high."

Look at the sand dunes in the background. It should be at least 20-30 storeys high.

Huacachina Oasis

Locals having fun in the Oasis

It was my first time swimming in an Oasis, and the water tasted quite muddy (as you can see). The water was warm at the surface and cold at the bottom. I had great time playing with the local kids, even though we couldn't communicate. For instance, I had a swimming competition with them as well as holding our breath in the water. And I caught them cheating. Haha... It was really fun. 

Yesterday, I was swimming in the cold pacific ocean, and today, I was swimming in the warm desert lake. The world is awesome!!! :)

The dune buggy ride was fun! My first time. It was as thrilling as roller-coaster rides, but more fun. =)

Gong-fu jumping shot.

Sand dunes always have a mystical element.

Sandsliding!! Gentle Slope.

Intermediate Slope!

Humongous slope. It should be at least 20 storeys high (the black dot was a person). It was really frightening and fun experience. Adrenalin rushing.

=)