1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #151- Machu Picchu, Peru

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #151

- Machu Picchu, Peru

 

(At last...Machu Picchu, The Lost City of the Incas - one of the 7 Wonders of the World. Seeing it for the first time as you move past the entrance gate, I get a sensation that is different from everything else I have seen..surreal, out-of-body-type experience is the word. A city built 500 years ago, sitting on a knife-edge ridge of a mountain nearly 8000ft high. Our guide for the day, Pascual, gave us all the details that made this city come alive! On a sunny morning like today, all angles are camera-friendly. But no photo can do justice to the beauty of this place, not even the video or the 180degree shot below. Only this description is adequate, "Jaw-dropping beauty!")

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #150 - Train to Machu Picchu

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #150

- Train to Machu Picchu, Urubamba, Peru

(Yes, I am off to Machu Picchu on the coolest train,Vistadome, I have ever been in - even better than the one in Norway - http://www.beatcancer10.blogspot.sg/2013/09/1001-placesexperiences-to-see-or-savour_10.html. Great views of the Urubamba river valley, and just look at that clear-glass train rooftop..what a way to travel. At certain segments, the train is literally right below over-hanging rocks! On arrival at Agues Calientes 2hr later and with a new Indiana Jones explorer hat on, I am ready for the big climb..to Machu Picchu!)

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #149 - Sacsaywayman, Cusco, Peru

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #149

- Sacsaywayman, Cusco, Peru

(With a name called Sacsaywayman, this area in the town of Cusco is sure to be remembered. At an altitude of over 3700m - which is over 12,000ft, not that much lower than Mt Kinabalu - one gets hit with altitude sickness easily, which is why the first thing they serve you at the hotel is a cup of warm water with coca leaves. Breathing gets difficult with less oxygen in the air. Cusco is a really lovely town caught in a time-web, with narrow streets of cobbled stones, dating over 500 years ago, including Qorikancha temple. Roads are wide enough only for 1 car to pass, with many being 2-way streets..kinda crazy taxi drivers too)

 

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #148 - Iguazu Falls Brazil side

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #148

- Brazilian Iguazu Falls

(With the sun shining, Iguazu gave us a different view altogether the next day. Rainbows were aplenty. And when the guide tells you that this Brazilian side of Iguazu is worth a visit on its own, you now know what he meant. Almost the entire "curtain" of waterfalls is right in front of you..unforgettable! And there's a  walkway that brings you next to the falls too..see videos below)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #147 - Riding the Iguazu Falls

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #147

- Riding the Iguazu Falls

 

(If standing near the bottom of the world's most amazing waterfall isn't enough, how about riding through it on an open-top boat? Yes, the thrill of the ride, so close to several of these "curtain of waterfalls" at Iguazu is just awesome. The video below tells it all..)