2013 is at the verge of becoming yet another “Past Year”! and 2014 is almost at the corner!. It is high time that I have to complete the narration on my journey to Lake Titicaca. From Cusco, the Inca Express passed thru Juliaca and entered the city of Puno. Puno is the capital of the Puno province in southern Peru that borders the shore line of Lake Titicaca. The Aymara and northern Andean tribe Quechua people are the two predominant ethnic groups that live here. After a nice Peruvian dinner with quinoa soup, in the Plaza de Armas we just strolled in the downtown looking at the Cathedral built in baroque style.
Next morning, our tour guide was waiting promptly at the reception to take us to the Uros or the reed island.
There are about a dozen families live in Uros. They mainly cater to the tourists to show case the lake dwellers tradition and crafts. The highlight of Uros is the trip on a reed boat in the Lake Titicaca. Apparently, the totora reed that grows in the Lake has helped the early settlers some 2500 years ago to build the reed boats to traverse around Peruvian and the Bolivian region. This tradition continues even today.
We visited the Isla Taquile, an island about 25 Kms from the shores of Lake Titicaca. From the boat station we have to climb the rugged rocky steps to reach the plaza in the middle of the island. The Aymara people are proud to say that they are the descendants of Mama Qota or the sacred mother. The plaza in the center of the island is expansive with its cobble stone paths and Spanish architecture.
In the museum, the artisans showed us the colorful weaving and the cotton textiles. The island is controlled by the elders and inspite of modernism like dish antennas and cell phones, the people are simple, kind and determined to protect the environment without allowing modern buildings or tourism hotels. After climbing the final upward slope to the restauant, we felt better to sit down and gulp the cool lemonade. Lunch tasted so good. Being hungry is important to relish the food!
Next day our tour guide came around 5:00am to go to the Juliaca airport as there was a general strike by the hospital workers. For the safety of the tourists, we had additional escort in the van. Time to say goodbye to Lake Titicaca. Sitting in the aircraft, I started reminiscing about the travels in Peru.
Every time when I complete a journey, it is always a sense of joy and a streak of wisdom to understand how our life is a speck in the realm of nature. In my inner journey of trying to find out why am I here and the real purpose, it is essential that I need to read, travel, understand the myriad cultures, beliefs, civilization, and nature. It is beautiful how everything converge and diverge from the same omnipresent creator. I bow to thee….
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
PEACE ON EARTH
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