(Photo credit: this picture was taken using my teammate's camera.)
15 May 2014 (Changi - Doha transit)
Took the mrt to T3 after final premoving packing at home. The security screening officer was not in good mood so we just did our best so that he wont have chance to vent steam on us. I went into the gate together with sk.
Boarded the Qatar Airways' 787 dreamliner from gate A12. I shared another row with a gentleman, with a empty seat as buffer in between. Perfect. Ameneties bag was given to each passenger same like sq. There were so many shows to watch on the big screen! I watched the episodes of The Big Bang Theory followed by watching my neighbours show - Tiger. Karen Mok and Simon Yam were starring in the show. Hardly slept in the 7.5 hour flight. First meal was good, the chicken sandwich just before landing was crap. Beverages serving was ok, perhaps not as frequent as sq's. I was thirsty most of the time.
We landed in the old Doha Airport. The bus ferried us to the transit terminal. We had to go through security screening before heading to the lounge. The Oryx Lounge was spacious and full of food. The dry dates they served were tasty. I took a shower before going to sleep. The warm water from the tap was a reminder that one was in the desert. Lounge was quiet if not for the screaming baby and a loud talking old man.
I had many dreams and thought I sleep for a long time. it was only 3.15am local time, I barely slept for 2 hours. Chatted with Yh. By about 4ish sun already came out slowly. We took some sunrise shot from the lounge.
The lounge went abuzz at about 5ish as most passengers woke up to use the toilets and had their breakfasts. Sc has to search for bathroom to bathe. We checked out of lounge at 630am and proceed to gate 32. By about 7am, based on what I managed to decipher and by looking at the body language of qatar airways counter staff, a change of gate looked imminent. Gate 31? It was finally decided that 19 was the number. The 6 of us took the queue and walked to gate 19 ahead of flight display and became the first 6 in the queue. The ground staff of 19 were puzzled at first but as soon as the Sao Paulo ground crew came over, we knew we made the right move. Always good to ask. Long queue started to form around gate 19, full flight it seemed. Once the children checked in, we had our turn. Took the bus and up the plane we went. The flight finally started being taxied away at 827am (instead of the scheduled 8am) and will start its 14-hour journey from Doha to Sao Paolo, a distance of 12071km. In total we took 10 flights, that segment was our second flight.
Still two persons occupying a 3-seat row but the only difference is : the seat that I chose was faulty and the gentleman who sat at the centre slept at the centre throughout and didnt create a buffer between us. I did asked him nicely but didnt look like he understood me. The airstewardess actually asked me a few times to sit upright even though I explained to them that the inclination of the seat was faulty. Instead of apologising for the faulty seat, the fault became mine that I didn't sit upright during take off. Not helping that the passenger at the back tot I was trying to be funny and kept rocking the chair. I brought my barang barang and move to the other seat still next to this guy who was asleep throughout. Did I tell you the stewardess poured some tea on my pants accidentally? 23 was supposed to be my lucky number I thought :/
Watched a few episodes of Nine Nine Brooklyn to laff away the long journey. After that I watched Agent S.H.I.E.L.D. After the slight turbulence was over, a very surreal romantic blue purplish theme lighting was turned on for the cabin. The crew started to serve us snacks yay! Either icecream or sandwiches. I chose chicken sandwich yum yum. The sterwardess that served me was a Thai. Rare to meet someone so close to Singapore on a flight to Sao Paulo.
16 May 2014 (Sao Paulo)
Finally reached Sao Paolo GRU Airport T1 at 440pm. There was passenger loading bridge. Only few immigration counters were opened to foreigners. After retrieving our bags, the guys went to change for brazil currencies (reais). We walked to T2 to take the free shuttle bus to Ibis. Made a new friend Philip on the bus. He spoke English so he became our translator. He told us the bus will first go to Ibis followed by Mercure. He is a Brazilian and he came to stay in this hotel since he was meeting some airline people to promote the his company's product: ground power unit (gpu)
After some jam on the highway we reached Ibis. We got 3 adjacent rooms. The rooms were clean. Sk and I went to the nearby newstand to get mineral water while yh and sc went to have dinner in the hotel restaurant. Once I had my shower I went straight to sleep and had close to 5 hours of much needed peaceful sleep. Only woke up to pee. Didnt even snore according to sk.
17 May 2014 (Sao Paulo - Lima transit - Cuzco)
At 1230, woke up to shower. Drizzling outside. We took cabs to T2. Many people already queuing at the LAN counter. We had a meal at the airport restaurant area. McD not cheap here. I had chicken nuggets with beans. I was dead hungry after the flight last night but sleep took priority. Now was the time to replenish food. We went through immigration and security to reach gate 20. The officer stamped yesterday's date in sk's passport by mistake.
A320 bound for Lima already waiting for us at the gate. The flight was again quite full. Took off punctually.
Seen a beautiful lightning in a cloud tower and wanted to capture it but didnt have the skill. Took some video clips instead. Purplish light shining within the clouds. Very beautiful against dark sky. Once the sun started to rise the scenery outside became more and more interesting. Think we passed by Lake Titicaca. The boy behind me even pointed me the moon hung on top our plane. I somehow had a good feeling that this was a good flight compared to my initial choice of 740pm the previous day. Everything would then be in the dark, sharply reducing photographic opportunity.
Lake Titicaca?
Lake Titicaca?
Not sure which snowy peaks we flew near.
Clouds
Lima in the morning.
Currency conversion at the time of travel: 1 USD = 276 Peruvian Soles or 1 SGD = 220 Peruvian Soles
We had barely enough time for the activities between the flight reaching Lima and the flight departing for Cuzco:
1. Disembarking a near full flight.
2. long queue for passport control.
3. retrieve baggage. No luggage tag through from Sao Paulo to Cuzco via Lima.
4. pass luggage through xray machine upon exiting to arrival hall.
5. queue for cuzco flight check in counter to deposit luggage. must exit building from one door then reenter the same building.
6. security checking.
7. queue at gate 10. the snaky queue was deceiving. one line is for rows 1-14 while the other is for rows 15-29.
8. boarded the plane.
By the time we finished the security checking, long queue already formed at the gate. Everywhere was full of people. Welcome to Lima.
It was good weather on top of the clouds and we could see good view of the mountains in the Andes and the canyons and small villages that dotted the landscape.
Valley with settlements
Highland lakes
Highland lake
Town with airstrip
Zig-zag roads on the mountain
About to land in Cuzco
Reached Cuzco and we felt what was thought to be the building air conditioning. We were wrong. It was the cold due to altitide. We immediately layered up. Our driver Louis was a young guy and drove us to our hotel in town. Eric, the friendly receptionist in Ninos 2, requested the cafeteria to serve us coca teas while we were waiting for our rooms to be done up. Coca leaves are the ingredients for making cocaine. Coca tea is believed to be able to relieve symptoms due to high mountain sickness.
Ninos is a hotel for child charity cause and is full of character. We fell in love with the place immediately. Must praise Yh for such excellent choice.
Inside the cafeteria
Spending the afternoon in the hotel courtyard
The room
Once settled down, we went to the office of Alpaca Expedition (our Inca Trail organising company) to pay for the remaining package fee. After that we went to Chi Cha, a restaurant recommended by Alpaca (abbreviation for Alpaca Expedition) for a good lunch. We were impressed by the food. I like the purple corn juice popular in Peru, also known as chicha (same name as the restaurant lol). Very refreshing.
Pl and Sc went back to hotel to rest while the four of us continue to wander near the town square. Exchange rate offered by money changer in Cuzco was slightly better than the one offered in Lima Airport.
Bird spotted
We concussed on our bed and the next thing we know it was already 730pm. We were supposed to meet Gr, a fellow Singaporean who was travelling round the world and had just came back from MP. We quickly went out and met Gr at the town square. Lucky he carried a phone and I was able to reach him by the payphone inside the hotel.
The moon hung so low. There was a wedding couple doing photo shooting near the fountain in the town square.
Gr was waiting in front of the church. We went to have chinese food in La China as the buffet restaurant next to it was too noisy. He was doing a one-month solo travel using Star Alliance round-the-world ticket, alone. 16 sectors, or 20k miles, at about 7k plus sgd cost, in one direction only. His last destination would be SF, to visit his son there. We had a good meal and a good chat.
18 May 2014 (Sacred Valley)
The sacred valley tour started early at 7.30am. Isaac (nicknamed llama laugh for his distinct imitation of laughing sound made by llama) was our tour guide for that day. First we went to see llamas and alpacas. We were introduced to the traditional weaving using dyes from natural ingredients. The colouring were extracted from the plants, including the fungi that grows on cactus. Different artistic pieces and clothings can be spun out using the coloured threads from alpaca.
We went to Pisac to see some inca ruins. We paid 70 soles per person as entrance fee for all the 4 sites that we will be visiting today. Had our buffet lunch at Incalicious. The pineapple juice was good.
Urubumba River
This hole is for?
Through the window.
After lunch we went to Ollantaytambo. Very impressive inca ruins we saw.
Can you see the face on the mountain?
The stones of the wall are precisely fit so as to withstand earthquake. Peru is a country on fault lines and earth quakes are usual. The interlocking stones were fitted to withstand the frequent earthquakes. Question here, how did they cut the stones so precisely? :)
Unfinished Inca cross. If not for the Spanish, they might have finished it.
After that we went to see the church in Chinchero.
"...These ceramic bulls are also thought to ensure good luck, by protecting the house itself and by bringing health and abundance to the family inside. They’re called toritos de Pucar, “bulls of Pucara,” because authentic luck-bearing bulls come only from Pucara, a region just outside Cusco. They are always placed on the roof, where they can view the apus, the mountain gods of the ancient Incas. These gods are believed to be the most powerful of the natural spirits, protecting the local people of the highlands. The ceramic bulls help garner these protective spirits, bringing even more positive energy into the home..."
Guines pigs raised to become food.
The whole tour ended at around 5pm. On the way back, we saw a double rainbow on the sky. I climbed the stairs to see the rainbow from the church at the hill top. It lasted only 10 minutes or so.
Panting when climbing the stairs...
City of Cuzco...sunset
At 6pm, our Inca classic trek tour guide Herlin came to our hotel to give us our duffle bags and briefing for the trek. He advised us to have pma throughout the trek. pma: positive mental attitude.
We had pizza for dinner after the briefing and went back for packing. Alpaca Expedition (Alpaca in short) will pick us up at 430am the next day. Frantically charging every electronic gadgets that we need before we went to sleep, however short the sleep was.
18 May 2014 (km82 starting point - first camp site Ayapata 3300m on Inca Trail)
Woke up at 4am. I made myself a cup of noodle and a cup of milo. There was a hotel receptionist who was there to help us store our luggage that we will miss for the next few days.
Punctually at 5am, Herlin and Isaac came. Each of them will guide a group of 6, and all twelve of us shared the same van to Ollantaytambo. Most of us slept in the van, only Isaac chatting with the driver and Herlin during the 3-hour journey.
Train crossing near km82. km82 referred to the starting point of the trek, which was the 82th km along the railway track to Agua Calientes, alongside Urubumba River.
We reached km82, the starting point, at around 8am. The alpaca porters were already there to prepare breakfast for us. We had very wide spread for our breakfasts. I like the scramble egg for that morning. Milo was there too. Alpaca was out to impressed. We had a truly good time pampered by the crew.
Breakfast at starting point. They have milo :)
Herlin suggested that we name our team Pumas. Pumas, Condors and snakes are three sacred animals of the Inca civilisation. We will called our crew chaskis, instead of referring to them as porters. Chaskis were agile and highly trained runners that delivered messages, royal delicacies such as fish and other objects throughout the Inca Empire. Our crew have to carry heavy weight (sleeping bags, tents, our duffle bags, cooking utensils, uncooked food etc etc) and always race ahead of us, so chaskis are a name that described them well.
Herlin reminded us to always look around after every stop point to see if we left anything behind. We will soon find this an useful advice tomorrow.
Inca Trail map.
Inca Trail map that shows all the camping sites as well as the Inca ruins along the way, on the Alpaca Expedition website.
Start point of Inca Trail: km82, elevation 2720m.
Day 1 camp site: Ayapata, 3300m.
Day 2 camp site: Chaqulcocha, 3600m.
Day 3 camp site: near Winay Wayna ruins, 2680m.
Day 4 Visiting Sun Gate and Machu Picchu. Bus ride from Machu Picchu to Agua Calientes, followed by one-way train ride from Agua Calientes back to Ollantaytambo, then by bus to Cuzco.
Names of the ruins we will be seeing along the way.
Our backpacks and duffle bags. Green duffle bags will be carried by the chaskis.
After the breakfast, we started our trek at 930am proper. Herlin taught us the word: Bamos! (Let's go!)
We crossed the first inca trail check point and got our passports stamped.
Train station near starting point.
Porters (chaskis) queuing through the Inca Trail pass office, meant for them.
The bridge just next to the pass office meant for trekkers - the beginning of it all.
Train running along Urubumba River. Landslide can happen during the rainy season in the summer.
Today we were supposed to cover 14km of moderate difficulty. Not that much uphill today.
Was quenching my thirst at the drink selling store.
Inca ruins seen
Mint tea served during lunch.
Passing showers after lunch. Double rainbow seen.
We reached our camp site Ayapata (elevation 3300m) at about 530pm just before the sun set. Herlin introduced us to all the crew. Marco was our cook for the next few days. He was an amazing cook who spun so many wonderful dishes out of a small kitchen.
I could feel the cold inside the tent. The night sky was magical. We saw the southern cross. Wanted to conserve battery so didn't do any night sky shooting this round.
20 May 2014 (Ayapata at 3400m to Chaquicocha at 3600m, via Dead Woman's pass at 4200m)
Woke up at 5am in the cold. The chaskis knocked on our tent with warm coca tea as wake-me-up. Warm water and towel were prepared for us to wash up.
We could hear Pl's snores throughout the night from our tents lol. We departed at 645am after breakfast.
In view of Yh's condition yesterday, Herlin offered to carry his dslr for him so that he has less load to grapple with. There was a viewing point where one can see the valley below and some llamas. It was here that sc forgot to take his camera with him. He only realised after he left the viewing point. He started backtracking to ask the Chaskis and fellow trekkers whether they saw his camera. Finally sc met Herlin who was trekking up and was holding his camera. Herlin saved the day.
Uphill all the way till Dead woman's pass at 4200m.
The chaskis were already waiting for us at the pass to serve us hot tea and cheese and hamburger. Werent they lovely??? Slowly one by one our group members reached the pass. We took a group photo. Two Canadian ladies changed to shorts and made the chaskis heads turned. We will talk more about these two ladies later.
After the dead woman's pass, it was downhill from here on. The drizzle made the downhill walk on uneven gravel track extremely dangerous. I fell once and pl fell 3 -4 times. We finally reached our lunch site at around 12ish. As usual lunch was fantastic.
Food art by Marco.
After the lunch, we started walking up again to cross another lower pass but the drizzle turned into rain so we hid in a cave to wait for the rain to subside. it did stop after a long while. We continue walking and saw another inca ruin.
We continue to go up somemore till we reach the second pass today. There was a lake near the pass. Supposedly deers will come drink water at the lake at certain times but we didnt see any.
We walked down carefully and saw a beautiful blue bird.
There was a misty lake below. Not long after we reach the cloud forest. On a rare clear day you can see an inca ruin from the viewing point but the constant onslaught of clouds means that one has to be extremely patient in order to have a clear view of the ruin. It started to drizzle again which means poncho times. We walked up to the ruin. Herlin told us most people will skip this ruin cos they would have been tired by now after a long gruesome trek.
Misty lake.
Ruins mystified by the passing stream of clouds.
at the ruin itself.
Smaller ruin
After this visit we trekked down another 20 minutes to reach our camp site Chaquicocha (3600m) for the night. We reached just before the sunset. The snowy peaks were toasted to a golden yellow as viewed from the camp site. We were surprised to learn that Llama laugh's group didnt make it to this camp site. In fact the slowest walker of his group reached our lunch spot only at 3pm. This means their group will have to spend the night at the lunch spot and walked longer hours the next day to make up lost ground. Our camp site today would have been their lunch venue tomorrow, till we equalise our pace again at the end of day 3, the day before we reach Machu Picchu.
There was a public toilet near the camp site for all to use. Cleanliness wise....lets just say it was another option from our potable loo set up by the chaskis.
Dinner was again impressive. Our cook Marcos even made dancing fire dessert for the night - fried banana. We were totally impressed by the food art. Yh didnt join us for dinner tonight.
21 May 2014 (Chaquicocha at 3600m to campsite near Winay Wayna at 2680m)
Chaskis knocked on our tents with hot coca tea as us usual. Woken up to an impressive snow peak views. Quinoa porridge for breakfast was nutritious and delicuous. Quinoa is prolly the most nutritious food you can find on earth. Even the astranauts brought this food with them to the moon, thats how the price got more expensive as its fame spread.
After some 10 minutes of walking uphill, we can see the snowy Salkantay Mountain. We passed through some rock tunnels as well. Herlin took the chance to scare us by hiding inside the tunnel.
Looking back at the campsite, and the ruin that was covered by the cloud yesterday. This morning all clear.
Peak of Salkantay
Chaskis from another company (Llama Path) in red shirt trekking past.
We finally saw Agua Clientes town from a vantage point - which means our end point was near. It was very sunny so all the roofs of Agua Clientes shimmered in the bright afternoon sunlight. If only tomorrow's weather were like this.
Finally saw Agua Calientes town and Urubumba River.
Zoom into the town...as seen in the picture below.
A further camp site from Machu Picchu. We were camping nearer to Machu Picchu.
Another ruin near this camp site.
Llamas moving away from me.
Coca leaves - are used to make morphine. Chewing of coca leaves are legal in some countries here.
Water drainage/filtering system.
Ruins perched on the cliff, seen from far.
We reunited with Urubumba River that we trekked along on Day 1.
We managed to reach camp site at 2pm for late lunch. Alpaca crew was really good. They made hot shower for us to motivate us for tomorrow. After not able to get shower for the last two days, this was clearly a welcome relief. The crew set up a temporary tank system in the public toilet nearby and let us have hot shower.
After that we went to another inca ruins - Winay Wayna, to pray for good weather tomorrow.
Sunset facing campsite
Winay Wayna was impressive by itself. Herlin made a heart shape using the two types of flowers and started praying with us. Hopefully Panchamama (mother nature) will listen to us and grant us clear weather tomorrow. On the way back, we saw some group members led by Isaac. They have finally caught up with us.
We went back to tent to have afternoon tea. We were served popcorns and fried tapioca. You have no idea how Marcos pampered us throughout the few days. How the hell did he spun out pop corns in this wilderness? ??
After some chit chat and stories, dinner was served. We handed Marcos and the crew their well deserved gratuities. Ri and sc thanked the crew on the behalf of the group. We then shook hands with all the crew members.
The night sky was clear. Herlin brought sk and I to the roof top of the defunct cafe and showed us southern cross.
22 May 2014 (Machu Picchu - Agua Calientes - Cuzco)
Rain started shortly after sk and I went to the potable loo at 2ish. We woke up at 3ish and quickly organised ourselves. The rain has abated temporarily. The chaskis need to dismantle the camps and race to the train station at Agua Clientes to catch the train at 530am meant for all the porters.
We went to the checkpoint at 4am in the morning and found that the seats in the waiting shelter were all filled up. Not helping that the rain has started again. We had to stand inside the shelter and wait till 530am when the checkpoint open. The rain grew heavier and our heart sank deeper. We trekked for an hour or so and reached Temple of Sun and were treated to the first view of Machu Picchu.
Drizzle has stopped and the clouds lifted briefly so everyone quickly snapping away. After 10 minutes or so the drizzle resumed. We continue to trek in poncho to the Temple of Pachamama to seek shelter. From where we stood we can hear the echo of Urubamba River as reflected by the wall of this Inca site.
After awhile the rain stopped again. The cloud lifted and we were treated to the fantastic view of Machu Picchu. Everybody started to snap away.
We saw people being rescued out using stretchers. Herlin explained that those on stretchers were probably injured while trekking to the Sungate.
We continue to trek further to the entrance of Machu Picchu to take the postcard pictures of Machu Picchu and the mountains behind, which resemble the face of an Inca people lying down.
Panorama:
Video of Machu Picchu:
After we took some nice pics, the rain started again. We went out to the check point to get our passports stamped. Herlin then brought us around to explain to us the different quarters in Machu Picchu, in the rain.
The walking stick can go through the hole. Guess whats the use of the hole?
Sun dial.
After our whole body got soaked, we went to queue for the bus to Agua Clientes. After about half an hour of quieing in the rain, we got onto the bus. The bus winded its way through the narrow roads to the town. We reached Agua Clientes at around 12pm. I had a hot shower in a nearby hostel before taking my meal.
Train slowly pass through Agua Calientes town. Agua Calientes = hot water in spanish. Guess why the town has this name?
We then walked to the train station at 2pm to take the train - Expedition 83 from Agua Calientes to Ollantaytambo. Train is the only way connecting the two towns beside the Inca Trail. No road transport available. Foreigners and locals waiting for the same train in different rooms and will take different coaches in the same train. We boarded coach A. Sk has an enviable seat 29 with 3 ladies, two of them were the Canadians ladies we met the other day. Sk chatted with them from the start till the end of the journey.
We bought beers and made merry on board. Bottle cap of the beer shows picture of Machu Picchu!
After that the train stewards started to sell the Sol Alpaca merchandise. Pl and I bought something. In less than 2 hours we reached Ollantaytambo. A journey on land that took us 3 days to trek omg!!
The journey by bus from Ollantaytambo to our hotel took about 3 hours. A broken truck broke down in the narrow one lane street in Ollantaytambo created a gridlock that added to our delay. Herlin went down with some others to push the truck out of the way.
Concussed in the hotel after sending the dirty laundry for washing. I skipped dinner. Too exhausted and too cold.
23 May 2014 (Cuzco)
Woke up in the morning, checked the news. Realised that Thailand just had a coup. Barely few days without news and the world has changed...a bit.
Today was shopping day. Sk bought a very beautiful woven wall hanging from the shop Andean Treasure that cost a bomb. We also did some shopping at Sol Alpaca, the brand of clothings made from alpaca that was offered on Peru Rail yesterday. After that we went to Peru Rail to reprint the train ticket that we handed over to the train stewards yesterday. Finally we went to post office to post the postcards.
We went back to Orion, the supermarket opposite our hotel to buy simple ready cooked lunch. A quarter chicken plus fries and fried rice at 7 soles. We ordered some drinks from the hotel cafeteria and ate our lunches there.
In the evening we went back to Sol Alpaca to do some last minute shopping. This is followed by dinner at an unknown restaurant to had mixed grill. The pork chop was too salty. I didnt quite like it. Sk treated us to the dinner.
This is the last night we were spending in Peru. We will be flying to Iguazu via Lima tomorrow. Phase 1 of our South America adventure has come to a pause.
During our camping days on Inca trail, we have chatted with Herlin. These are some of the stories that Herlin shared with us at night during dinner time.
1. He was once guiding Anthony Bourdain on a private trip on inca trail. He didnt know he was a famous chef till the private guide hired by Anthony in Lima told Herlin. Anthony went to try his hand in the kitchen during the trek.
2. A trekker suffered from acute mountain sickness on day one. He collapsed into the tent on the first night and didnt come out for dinner. Herlin and crew went to check on him and his realised that his fingers had turned purple, a clear sign of ams. Resting on 20 minute interval, Herlin and the gang organised themselves to send him down to the clinic at km82, a race against time in absolute darkness. Since this is a big group, the group was briefed of the urgency for the crew to send this guy down and will only be back by about 5am in the morning. If the crew couldn't make it back in time in the morning, the group shall leave the camp as it is and proceed to dead woman's pass. The crew will dismantle the camps once they are back and catch up with the trekkers. The guy survived and the crew made it back in time for the next day's hike.
Herlin carried with him a pulse measuring gadget which can give you your pulse rate. If your pulserate was too high, your body is not coping well with the altitude. Take diamox if you have been prescribed this medicine by the doctor.
3. There was a final stage cancer patient who was in one of Herlin's trekking group. He wished to see condors. It was rare to see condors in Inca Trail unlike Colca Canyon further south. Despite his condition he managed to complete the trail.
Six months later someone booked Herlin to be his inca trail tour guide. This gentleman specifically requested Herlin to be his guide on the Inca trail. On the actual day, the gentleman asked to see Herlin's pass to make sure it was really Herlin that received him. He revealed that he was the old man's son and the man had passef away. It was the man's wish that his urn be left in the dead woman's pass so that he can see the condors all the time. Herlin fulfilled his last wish.
4. A very big size lady joined Herlin's group for the Inca Trail. She had a very difficult time catching up with others even on the first day. At the end of first day, Herlin offered her to return to km82 but she pleaded to continue with the group. She told Herlin woke her up at 4am if needed, she will persist and continue.
On the second day, She was on her way up to the dead woman's pass and couldn't do the uphill part. She asked Herlin to push her backsides so that she can continue. She finally reached the dead woman's pass at 5pm. She couldn't continue anymore and demand to camp here for the night. Herlin explained to her that without any tents and food, it was impossible to camp there. Plus there were wild animals that might be roaming around. Herlin asked her to stay where she was, raced down to the lunch spot downhill to gather crew with stretchers to carry her down. The rest of the members who were waiting at the lunch spot cheered when they saw Herlin racing down, but was bewildered to see the lady missing. Herlin wasted no time to explain further but to race uphill again with the crew to bring her down before the last daylight faded away.
I asked Herlin why she was insistent in doing it even when she was not physically ready. Herlin asked her the same question. She confessed to Herlin that her mum passed away a few years ago. Recently her daughter passed away too. She was doing it for herself. To find her some inner peace.
5. A lady went to the potable loo in the camp site under full moon. After she finished her business and wanted to return to her tent, the clouds covered the moon and it was absolutely pitched dark. She didnt bring her headlamp. She tried her best to find her way back to the tent but got lost. She met a skunk and it peed on her. She was so frightened she screamed for Herlin. At first Herlin thought the crew was playing a fool with him and asked the guys not to disturb his sleep. The crew said they didnt call his name and the sound came from somewhere else. Herlin jumped out of his tent and organised a search party for this lost trekker. They found her and she was absolutely stinky. Thry sent her back to her tent and she started scolding her partner for not even trying to rescue her when she was in danger, unlike the crew. Herlin has no interest to get into their squabble and just zip their tent up, went back to sleep.
6. A couple came and the lady found the porter extremely good looking. A supposedly honeymoon turned out to be an ugly scene.
7. Herlin used to be a receptionist in Ninos 1 and had some strange paranormal encounter there. Lucky we were staying in Ninos 2.
Thank you for reading, hope you enjoyed the stories.
Please click this link to read part 2, our journey to Argentina and Brazil.
You can also click the picture below to go there and see more pictures.
