round-the-world trip : Peru (2005.03.11-2005.03.22)
你溫暖了我旳流年
% In Lima, Staying in Miraflores is better than staying in central Lima.
% Witches House is a basic but cheap hostel in Lima. One of the staff is an Israli who has been to every country in South America and would like to share his experience with travelers.
% Euro is welcome in Peru. It´s difficult to encash Euro Traveler Check in Lima, but it is easy in some other places. However, Euro is not welcome in Guatemala, the exchange rate is really bad. In Peru, it´s OK to change money with people who wear special vests on the street. All of them are licensed. The exchange rate is even better.
% There are so many bus companies in Peru. Try CIAL. It´s a new and cheap one.
% I did not get any any bedbug bites in Guatemala, but got more than 60 bedbug mites in Pisco, Peru.
% Bird-island is good.
% If you want to take an early flight to visit Nazca Lines, don´t have your breakfast in advance. A lot of people felt dizzy or have stomach problem.
% The local tours in Nazca are not that interesting.
% Ica is not very interesting except playing sandboard.
% Arequipa is nice. Its market is very interesting both in day time and night time, but watch your back. I stayed in Hostel Santa Catalina, cheap and clean. The rooftop has a terrace with great view. Heading to the north from Hostel Santa Catalina, there are some beautiful parks. Some cute animals can be seen there, including alpaca.
% Canon del Colca is nice. The local tour will arrange a visit to hot spring. If you don´t want to take a hot spring bath, you can also trek there. The scenery is very beautiful. It´s an easy trek. You can trek as long as you want. I did it for 1.5 hours. Fantastic!
% From Puno to Copacabana, Bolivia, the border is closed at 8pm. Tourist Information Center is helpful in Puno.
% I talked to Peruvian 3 times in different places, all of them asked me the same question : do you like Peruvian food? They are really proud of Peruvian food!
% People say that only Peruvian celebrate Semana Santa in South America.
% Witches House is a basic but cheap hostel in Lima. One of the staff is an Israli who has been to every country in South America and would like to share his experience with travelers.
% Euro is welcome in Peru. It´s difficult to encash Euro Traveler Check in Lima, but it is easy in some other places. However, Euro is not welcome in Guatemala, the exchange rate is really bad. In Peru, it´s OK to change money with people who wear special vests on the street. All of them are licensed. The exchange rate is even better.
% There are so many bus companies in Peru. Try CIAL. It´s a new and cheap one.
% I did not get any any bedbug bites in Guatemala, but got more than 60 bedbug mites in Pisco, Peru.
% Bird-island is good.
% If you want to take an early flight to visit Nazca Lines, don´t have your breakfast in advance. A lot of people felt dizzy or have stomach problem.
% The local tours in Nazca are not that interesting.
% Ica is not very interesting except playing sandboard.
% Arequipa is nice. Its market is very interesting both in day time and night time, but watch your back. I stayed in Hostel Santa Catalina, cheap and clean. The rooftop has a terrace with great view. Heading to the north from Hostel Santa Catalina, there are some beautiful parks. Some cute animals can be seen there, including alpaca.
% Canon del Colca is nice. The local tour will arrange a visit to hot spring. If you don´t want to take a hot spring bath, you can also trek there. The scenery is very beautiful. It´s an easy trek. You can trek as long as you want. I did it for 1.5 hours. Fantastic!
% From Puno to Copacabana, Bolivia, the border is closed at 8pm. Tourist Information Center is helpful in Puno.
% I talked to Peruvian 3 times in different places, all of them asked me the same question : do you like Peruvian food? They are really proud of Peruvian food!
% People say that only Peruvian celebrate Semana Santa in South America.
孤獨伴我終老
I love Peruvian food. Ceviche, yum yum!!
國民大帥哥
Coming back to Peru from Bolivia (2005.04.20 - 2005.04.26)
% It's possible to book a ticket from La Paz to Cusco/Lima. The bus trip is La Paz -> Copacabana -> Puno -> Cusco. You can stop in Copacabana/Puno as many days as you want. However, i don't know whether i should recommend this kind of ticket or not. Because sometimes the situation is in a mess. It depends on your luck. But don't worry about it too much, it's not that bad.
% Cusco : this is a beautiful city. Visiting Cusco is quite expansive. For example, the combined ticket costs about NT$700. If you want to visit these sites by joining a group in travel agency, it might cost US$50 more. i would recommend 'horse back riding' tour (about NT$250 for 4 hours). It is not that comfortable but more fun, and the scenery and the atmosphere are really good. The entrance fee of Machupicchu is about NT$770.
% 3 methods to visit Machupicchu :
a. one-day trip by train (about 4 hours in Machupicchu)
b. four-day trip by trekking along the Inca Trail
c. 3-day trip -- take a mini bus from Cusco to Ollantaytambo (departure time is at about 16:40, it takes about 2 hours to get there. The last stop is the train station. NT$50), then take a train from there to Aquas Calientes (departure time is 8:00pm, arrival time is 9:40pm, US$20, MUST pay in US cash). Stay in Aquas Calientes for 1 night. Next day in the morning, take a bus to Machupicchu (30 minutes, US$6). Stay in Aquas Calientes for the second night. The 3rd day in the early morning, take a train (departure time is 5:45AM) back to Cusco.
The information Center in Cusco is helpful.
% i arrived at Cusco at 2005.04.21, it was in low season. If i want to trek along the Inca Trail, i had to wait for one week to get a space. It means that even in low season, it's still not easy to get a space. If you really want to do it, book your trip in advance is a MUST. Finally, i chose method-c to visit Machupicchu.
% In Machupicchu, there is a short trail to 'Inca Bridge'. It takes about 20 minutes. It is a really, really nice trail. i bet that trekking along the Inca Trail must be fantastic.
% Purchasing flight ticket in Cusco could be more convenient than in La Paz because travel agencies gather together in Cusco. i don't think it's more expansive to buy the flight ticket in Cusco.
% The flight ticket price :
Lima -> Bogota; Bogota -> Miami is US$650
Lima -> Caracas; Caracas -> Miami is US$265.
So, i decided to visit Venezuela on 2005.04.27.
% It's possible to book a ticket from La Paz to Cusco/Lima. The bus trip is La Paz -> Copacabana -> Puno -> Cusco. You can stop in Copacabana/Puno as many days as you want. However, i don't know whether i should recommend this kind of ticket or not. Because sometimes the situation is in a mess. It depends on your luck. But don't worry about it too much, it's not that bad.
% Cusco : this is a beautiful city. Visiting Cusco is quite expansive. For example, the combined ticket costs about NT$700. If you want to visit these sites by joining a group in travel agency, it might cost US$50 more. i would recommend 'horse back riding' tour (about NT$250 for 4 hours). It is not that comfortable but more fun, and the scenery and the atmosphere are really good. The entrance fee of Machupicchu is about NT$770.
% 3 methods to visit Machupicchu :
a. one-day trip by train (about 4 hours in Machupicchu)
b. four-day trip by trekking along the Inca Trail
c. 3-day trip -- take a mini bus from Cusco to Ollantaytambo (departure time is at about 16:40, it takes about 2 hours to get there. The last stop is the train station. NT$50), then take a train from there to Aquas Calientes (departure time is 8:00pm, arrival time is 9:40pm, US$20, MUST pay in US cash). Stay in Aquas Calientes for 1 night. Next day in the morning, take a bus to Machupicchu (30 minutes, US$6). Stay in Aquas Calientes for the second night. The 3rd day in the early morning, take a train (departure time is 5:45AM) back to Cusco.
The information Center in Cusco is helpful.
% i arrived at Cusco at 2005.04.21, it was in low season. If i want to trek along the Inca Trail, i had to wait for one week to get a space. It means that even in low season, it's still not easy to get a space. If you really want to do it, book your trip in advance is a MUST. Finally, i chose method-c to visit Machupicchu.
% In Machupicchu, there is a short trail to 'Inca Bridge'. It takes about 20 minutes. It is a really, really nice trail. i bet that trekking along the Inca Trail must be fantastic.
% Purchasing flight ticket in Cusco could be more convenient than in La Paz because travel agencies gather together in Cusco. i don't think it's more expansive to buy the flight ticket in Cusco.
% The flight ticket price :
Lima -> Bogota; Bogota -> Miami is US$650
Lima -> Caracas; Caracas -> Miami is US$265.
So, i decided to visit Venezuela on 2005.04.27.
漸行漸遠漸無聲
Miraflores=觀光區, 規劃較好, 外國人多, 費用較高
Centro de Lima=市中心, 較雜亂, 費用較低
祕魯菜算是滿有特色的, 到哪裡都有當地的獨特食物, 我喜歡Pollo a la Braza(烤雞)及Papa Rellena(包餡馬鈴薯).
祕魯應該也要去Cuzco及Puno(Titicaca湖)
Centro de Lima=市中心, 較雜亂, 費用較低
祕魯菜算是滿有特色的, 到哪裡都有當地的獨特食物, 我喜歡Pollo a la Braza(烤雞)及Papa Rellena(包餡馬鈴薯).
祕魯應該也要去Cuzco及Puno(Titicaca湖)