UROS ISLAND TITICACA LAKE

Dengan Nama Allah yang Maha Pemurah lagi Maha Mengasihani

Assalamualaikum,

Located between Bolia and Peru.  Lake Titicaca is one of the most fascinating lakes in the world. It is situated at a very high altitude. at over 3800 meters above sea level, and a tour at Titicaca is definitely an unforgettable ecprerience for any visitors.  When visiting Lake Titicaca, the town of Puno is the best place to stay, on the Peruvian side of the lake.

The town of Puno is an interesting place to visit as it is the capital of folklore of Peru. It also has a beautiful old cathedral, and it is close to many attractions of Peru like the Macchu Picchu or the town of Cusco.

Lake Titicaca is a sacred place for the Inca civilization, as the Incan mythology says that the first Inca king, Manco Capac, was born here. According to the Incan mythology, this is the place where the world was created from, when the god Viracocha came out of the lake and created the sun, the stars and the first people. You will have many places to discover on the shore of Lake Titicaca, as well as on the many islands that exist on the lake.

Puno Town view from Titicaca Lake

On the Bolivian side of the lake you will find the fascinating town of Challapampa, home of the famous labyrinth (Chinkana) Also on the Bolivian side, you can find the biggest island of the lake, Isla del Sol ( Island  of the Sun). While there are no roads on the island, making it not tourism friendly, the over 180 ruins from the Incan period are making it worth to visit.

Tanaman Bijirian

Setiap hari ada beberapa perkhidmatan bas untuk ke Puno daripada Cusco.  Salah satu yang terbaik ialah Turismo Bus yang menyediakan perjalanan secara pelancungan.  Harga tiket ialah USD45 termasuk makan tengahari tetapi tidak termasuk entrance fees.  

us akan bertolak mulai jam 0700am dan sampai di Puno jam 5pm. Persinggahan pertama ialah Andahuaylillas church satu setengah jam kemudian. Berhenti 15m bagi sesiapa yang ingin melihat "indoctrination of thBe Andean people". Perhentian kedua ialah "wiracocha Temple in Raqchi" (Main God Inca).

Jam 12.00pm berhenti untuk makan tengahari               dan  berehat lebih daripada satu jam disebuah bandar bernama Sicuani. Sebuah bandar dengan pemandangan yang cantik terletak disebuah lembah yang mengalirnya anak sungai dan bandar ini merupakan bandar pertanian dan ternakan. 

Selepas makan tengahari bas akan melintasi kawasan pergunungan yang tinggi dikenali sebagai La Raya. Pemandangan disini amat cantik dengan kiri kanan jalan ialah pergunungan dan jalanraya ditengah-tengah sejajar dengan anak sungai yang mengalir jernih. Disana sini kelihatan ribuan ternakan bebiri merumput dipadang ragut. 

La Raya 4400MSNM

La Raya.  Perhentian menakjubkan. Berada 4400msnm. Udara menjadi nipis dan pernafasan menjadi sesak. Pergunungan dikiri kanan masih diselaputi salji. Ini perhentian tercantik untuk mengambil gambar.

Masyarakat Asli Peru menjual cenderahati di Raqchi

Perhentian terahir bagi perjalanan ini ialah melawat Lytic museum of Pukara sebelum penumpang sampai didestinasi terahir Puno.

Titicaca Lake Puno

Visitors to Lake Titicaca, a boat trip to the floating islands, a unique tourist destination, is a must. These islands are made and re-made from the totora reeds which provide home, sustenance and transportation for their residents. 

About a two hour boat ride from Puno, on the Peruvian side of the lake, the largest of about 40 islands and the main destination is the ialand of Santa María. Seemap showing location of Uros and Taquila islands  off Puno, Peru.

These floating islands are the home of theUros tribe, one which pre-dates the Incan civilization. According to their legends, they existed before the sun, when the earth was still dark and cold. They were impervious to drowining or being struck by lightning. 

They lost their status as super beings when they disobeyed universal order and mixed with humans, making them susceptible to contempt. They scattered, losing their identity, language, and customs.

They became the Uro-Aymaras, and now speak Aymara. Because of their simple and precarious lifestyle, the Incas thought them worth little and accordingly taxed them very little. Yet the Uros, with their basic reed homes outlasted the mighty Incas with their huge stone temples and mountain-top enclaves.

The totora is a cattail type rush growing native in the lake. Its dense roots support the top layer, which rots and must be replaced regularly by stacking more reeds on top of the layer beneath. The islands change in size, and more are created as the need arises.

Pemandangan dalam rumah

The largest island is currently Tribuna. The surface of the islands is uneven, thin, and some liken walking on it to walking on a waterbed. The unwary might not notice a thin spot and sink a leg or more into the frigid waters of the lake.

The islands are part of the Titicaca National Reserve, created in 1978 to preserve 37 thousand hectares of marsh reeds in the south and north sectors of Lake Titicaca. The reserve is divided into two sections,Ramis, in the provinces of Huancané and Ramis; and Puno, in the province of the same name. The reserve protects over 60 species of native birds, four families of fish and 18 native amphibians species. There are three islands in the lake, Huaca Huacani, Toranipata and Santa María.

The reserve is divided into two sections,Ramis, in the provinces of Huancané and Ramis; and Puno, in the province of the same name. The reserve protects over 60 species of native birds, four families of fish and 18 native amphibians species. There are three islands in the lake, Huaca Huacani, Toranipata and Santa María.

The floating islands are protected within the Bay of Puno and are home to 2000 or so Uros, who claim to have "black blood" are consequently immune to the cold. They call themselves be kot-suña, or people of the lake, and consider themselves the owners of the lake and its waters. They continue living by fishing, weaving and now, tourism. They catch fish for themselves and to sell on the mainland. They also catch shore birds and ducks for eggs and food. Occasionaly, if the level of the lake decreases, they may plant potatoes in soil created by the decaying reeds, but as a norm, they are not agricultural. The reed boats quite often have an animal face or shape on the prow and are a favorite photographic subject.

The Uros residents of the islands create their homes from the reeds. The roofs are waterproof but not humidity resistant. Cooking fires are built on a layer of stones to protect the reeds. Residents wear layers of clothing, mostly woolen, to protect themselves from the cold, the wind, and the sun which at this altitude can burn fiercely. Many women still wear the distinctive derby type hat and full skirts.

Kepada pembaca yang ingin melawat Uros Island, perjalanan dengan boat ke destinasi cuma mengambil masa 30m. Jangan lupa sebagai tanda kenangan sila stemkan passport anda dengan Urus Stamp dengan bayaran satu Soles. 

ENJOY YOUR TRIP

MACCHU PICCHU 7WITW

Dengan Nama Allah yang Maha Pemurah lagi Maha Pengasihani

Assalamualaikum,

Macchu Picchu Peru

Satu perjalanan yang sukar dan sukar dilupakan. Satu monument yang cantik dan mengkagumkan. Tidak ramai yang berjaya sampai kepadanya.  Malah dari pertemuan dengan penduduk tempatan mereka tidak tahu dimana letaknya negara yang bernama Malaysia.

Cusco Airport

Perjalanan bermula daripada Lima dengan Flight Star Peru BAe146 selama 1J20M menuju Cusco di barat Lima. Sebuah lapangan terbang domestik yang sibuk dengan kebanjiran pelancung khususnya yang ingin melawat Macchu Picchu. 

Lima International Airport Peru

Lapangan terbang ini terletak dilembah diantara gunung ganang yang tinggi dan terletak diparas 3300MSNM. Paras dimana kita sukar untuk bernafas dan cepat     keletihan.  Perhatian kepada pembaca yang mempunyai penyakit lelah, asma dan sakit jantung, mereka tidak digalakan untuk mengambil risiko ini. 
Penerbangan kesini bergantung kepada cuaca dan sering kali tergendala sama ada dari Lima atau penerbangan keluar daripada Cusco.

Inca Monument Cusco, Peru

ZBA tiba jam 12pm satu jam lewat daripada jadual. Cuaca panas tetapi udaranya sejuk sekitar 23C disiang hari dan terpaksa memakai jacket tebal. Manakala malam cuaca akan menurun keparas sekitar 14C dan semakin sejuk diawal pagi.
Lapangan terbang Cusco berada dalam bandar dan untuk ke mana-mana hotel tambangnya tidak melebihi PER10.  
Memandangkan musim panas jalanraya Cusco dilihat berdebu      walaupun   jalanya

tarmex. Bandar Cusco teratur, bersih dan aktiviti harian berjalan seperti bandar bandar dilain-lain tempat. Hotel penginapan ZBA terletak 4km daripada lapangan terbang dan berada dilokasi pusat bandar dan kawasan tumpuan pelancung.  

Uniknya bandar ini kerana mempunyai jalan-jalan yang sempit dan nyam-ngam untuk dua buah kenderaan berselisih. Tidak ada parking ditepi jalan dan kenderaan berjalan lancar. Dimaklumkan jalan-jalan ini tidak seperti     jalan     jalan

biasa. Tidak ditarmex malah disimen.  Tetapi disusun batu-batu pejal sebagaimana kita menyusun batu bata. Cantik, kemas dan kukuh tetapi pergerakan kenderaan seolah-olah kasar dan tidak rata. Ini amat sesuai kerana penduduk Cusco membina penempatan mereka dilereng-lereng bukit yang curam.  Motosikal jarang kelihatan dan pergerakan didalam bandar amat selamat bagi pejalan kaki.

Disegi keselamatan khususnya kepada pelancung, Cusco tergolong dalam katogeri bandar yang selamat untuk dikunjungi. Manakala penduduknya yang berjumlah 0.5J terdiri daripada kaum kulit putih atau bewarna dan jarang kita lihat

Gadis Inca dengan pakaian tradisional memperagakan cenderahati

yang berkulit hitam atau dari specis kaum asli Inca. Sekiranya ada dari kaum Asli Inca mereka sekadar sebagai tarikan kepada pelancung dengan memperagakan pakaian tradisional dan menjaja barangan cenderahati.  Mereka dilihat amat mesra pelancung tetapi agak sukar untuk berkomunikasi kecuali dengan berbahasa Spanis.

 Perjalanan dengan Perurail daripada Poroy, Cusco ke Macchu Picchu

Perjalanan ke Macchu Picchu daripada Cusco mengambil masa agak lama.  Paling papular ialah dengan menaiki keretapi (Perurail) daripada Poroy sebuah bandar kecil diutara Cusco. Untuk kesana kita perlu menaiki kenderaan awam seperti bus dan teksi pada jarak lebih kurang 5km merentasi jalanraya berbukit dan curam.

Pemandangan indah dari Perurail

Perurail ialah perkhidmatan keretapi pelancungan. Harganya mahal jika dibandingkan dengan perkhidmatan keretapi lain. Jarak diantara Stesen Poroy (Cusco) ke Macchu Picchu ialah 98km dan mengambil masa 3J30M. 

Perurail menghampiri bandar Ollantaytambo

Kelajuan dicatatkan ialah antara 20-30kmj dengan tambang USD 73. Walau bagaimana pun perkhidmatan terus ulang alik   perurail amat selisa dan menjadi pilihan utama untuk ke Macchu Pichu.    

 Ollantaytambo Sky Resort

Ollantaytambo bandar kecil satu satunya perhentian bagi perkhidmatan ini untuk menurun dan mengambil penumpang.  Semua perkhidmatan bermula seawal pagi dan hanya beroperasi pada siang hari sahaja.  Tidak ketinggalan dimaklumkan bahawa dalam perjalanan ini sebelum keretapi memasuki bandar Ollantaytambo, sila perhatikan disebelah kanan ditebing sebuah bukit yang curam terdapat tiga kabin yang merupakan sebuah resort yang dinamakan "Sky Resort" tergantung diatasnya.  

Dari Poroy kita akan melintasi kawasan perumahan, bukit bukau dan pertanian . Pertanian yang diusahakan ialah tanaman kontan seperti jagung, kentang dan bijian dan sebagainya.  Juga kelihatan aktiviti ternakan lembu dan kambing bebiri.  Kita juga dapat melihat dengan jelas corak kehidupan masyarakat Cusco berdasarkan kepada perkampungan mereka.  Sepintas lalu ZBA katakan mereka berada dalam kelas pertengahan dan sederhana.

Macchu Picchu small town

45M perjalanan keretapi akan menurun keparas yang lebih rendah dan mengikut aliran sungai dari bukit-bukit yang curam. Disini pembaca akan dapat melihat satu kelainan dimana dari paras asal keretapi akan berundur dan memasuki landasan bawah dan meneruskan perjalanan. Semasa balik pula keretapi akan berundur dan memasuki landasan diatas.  Proses ini megambil masa kurang daripada 10M sebelum keretapi meneruskan perjalanan kedestinasi.

Bus to Huayna Picchu Macchu Picchu 

Bermula daripada sini pemandangan amat cantik dimana laluan keretapi berada dikanan seiring dengan sungai. Kemudian lepas Ollantaytambo laluan keretapi berada dikiri dan dikananya sungai sehinggalah diakhir destinasi Macchu Picchu station.

Macchu Picchu Train Station Peru

Dari Macchu Picchu train stesen untuk kepuncak pembaca dikehendaki menaiki bus khas yang tersedia setiap 15M sekali.  Tiket bagi perjalanan 30M ini ialah PER30 untuk perjalanan ulang alik.  Tiada perkhidmatan lain disediakan.

Machu Picchu is an Incan citadel set high in the Andes Mountains in Peru, above the Urubamba River valley. Built in the 15th century and later abandoned, it’s renowned for its sophisticated dry-stone walls that fuse huge blocks without the use of mortar, intriguing buildings that play on astronomical alignments, and panoramic views. Its exact former use remains a mystery.

Tucked away in the rocky countryside northwest of Cuzco, Peru, Machu Picchu is believed to have been a royal estate or sacred religious site for Inca leaders, whose civilization was virtually wiped out by Spanish invaders in the 16th century. For hundreds of years, until the American archaeologist Hiram Bingham stumbled upon it in 1911, the abandoned citadel’s existence was a secret known only to peasants living in the region. The site stretches over an impressive 5-mile distance, featuring more than 3,000 stone steps that link its many different levels. Today, hundreds of thousands of people tramp through Machu Picchu every year, braving crowds and landslides to see the sun set over its towering stone monuments and marvel at the mysterious splendor of one of the world’s most famous man made wonders.

Historians believe Machu Picchu was built at the height of the Inca Empire, which dominated western South America in the 15th and 16th centuries. It was abandoned an estimated 100 years after its construction, probably around the time the Spanish began their conquest of the mighty pre-Columbian civilization in the 1530s. There is no evidence that the conquistadors ever attacked or even reached the mountaintop citadel, however; for this reason, some have suggested that the residents’ desertion occurred because of a smallpox epidemic.

Many modern-day archaeologists now believe that Machu Picchu served as a royal estate for Inca emperors and nobles. Others have theorized that it was a religious site, pointing to its proximity to mountains and other geographical features that the Incas held sacred. Dozens of alternate hypotheses have cropped up in the years since Machu Picchu was first unveiled to the world, with scholars variously interpreting it as a prison, a trade hub, a station for testing new crops, a women’s retreat or a city devoted to the coronation of kings, among many examples.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983 and designated one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007, Machu Picchu is Peru’s most visited attraction and South America’s most famous ruins, welcoming hundreds of thousands of people a year. Increased tourism, the development of nearby towns and environmental degradation continue to take their toll on the site, which is also home to several endangered species. As a result, the Peruvian government has taken steps to protect the ruins and prevent erosion of the mountainside in recent years.

Dari 6/7,  7WitW yang pernah ZBA lawati, satu pun tidak dapat menandingi Macchu Picchu.  Sangat menakjubkan.

WONDERFULL AND OWESOME