Archive for August, 2009
30/08/2009
How chicha is made
A local Cuscanian, Ernesto, explains how the fermented corn drink, Chicha is made, as guide Guillermo Seminario and the owner of a Chicha rest stop in the Sacred Valley look on.
Chicha is a traditional Andean corn beer that is shared during communal gatherings and festivals, and fosters a sense community. Chicha is most commonly made in small batches in the family kitchen.
Chicha is made from dried corn kernals, which have been soaked and allowed to ferment. They are then mashed and slow cooked in large a ceramic pot over a wood fire. The fermented kernals are sprouted, water is added, then sugar and spices to taste, and the strained liquid is stored for two to four days which allows further fermentation.. Ummm!
Watch out though, it’s never done my stomach right, and it’s known to wreak havoc with locals’ digestion as well.
Want to learn how to make your own Chicha? Click here.
Tags:Chicha, Fermented Corn Drink, Guillermo Seminario, How to make chicha, Peru, Sacred Valley
Posted in Peru | Leave a Comment »
26/08/2009
Inca ruins get 'The Treatment'
By Amanda Richards
Peruvian authorities in charge of archaeological sites seem to have a voracious appetite to ‘rebuild’ the Inca ruins. They seem to think that the ruins need to be ‘reconstructed’ in order for them to become worth something more – ‘puesta en valor’ as the signs tell us. The ruins in themselves are just not enough.
As we explored the ruins,we realized just how much had been ‘reconstructed’ and continues to be. At Macchu Pichu for example, you can’t even see the ‘most beautiful wall in the world’ (as described by Hiram Bingham) as it is currently under ‘reconstruction’ and the area is only open to workers carrying bags of cement. It felt strange to watch the ‘ruins’ being rebuilt and made to look ‘tidy and new’.
Building a 'new' Inca wall
Peter Frost raises this issue in his book ‘ Exploring Cusco’ hoping to ignite some discussion as he argues that there has never been a debate in Peru about this. No one has ever questioned the authorities. And so the rebuilding of the old ruins – ‘The Treatment’ as Frost describes it, continues unimpeded.
I have to admit that on one hand there is something nice about seeing the ruins ‘new and rebuilt’ like the beautiful, big terraces at Moray for example. However, I agree with Frost that this theme park approach takes away the ‘mystery, allure and enchantment’ that only our own imaginations can add to the experience of being there at these intriguing and mystical ruins.
Posted in Archeology, Books, Conservation, Environment, Peru, Quotes, South America, Sustainable Travel | 4 Comments »
24/08/2009
Chimu Inka bandmember Wachi Taype recently celebrated his 30th birthday here in Cusco. Wachi visited the USA with Guillermo Seminario and Mario Montalvo to teach and perform traditional folklore music for universities, high schools and communities.
He experienced a novel birthday when the candles wouldn’t go out o his cake. Onlookers are Guillermo, Mario, Mario’s daughter Auerlie, Amanda Richards and Wachi’s mother.
Tags:Chimu Inka, Guillermo Seminario, Mario Montalvo, Mountain Spirit, Peruvian Music, wahci Taype
Posted in 1- Video Posts, Focus on MSI People, Peru | 4 Comments »
24/08/2009
Getting the lowdown from Anna Sequieros on washing
By Randall Richards
S. Smith was recently a participant on our Peru Cultural Immersion program. He did an excellent job of stretching his comfort zones, and on many occasions really sought out learnings. For someone who had never been to South America, he was a great traveler, and even got to work washing some of his clothes. T. Young also got in on the act, as did I, and we had an official clothes washing session. I’m fairly used to washing my own clothes in a basin, and hanging them to dry, but wasn’t sure about my compadres. Our host, Anna gave us some pointers regardless of our experience and comfort levels.
Abran with his kite
Abran, who was a bit shy at the time this photo was taken at right, also has a simple approach. He made a kite out of local reeds and some plastic. Granted, if he had the chance, he might prefer a store-bought kite that has Spiderman or some colors, but because of necessity, I think Abran is more ingenious than his counterparts in the USA.
(He later warmed up in front of the camera a few days later). See a previous (our first) video post, where Abran gave us wave.
Tags:home-made kites, Simplicity, washing clothes
Posted in Conservation, Environment, Experiential Education, Holistic Living, Peru, South America, Sustainable Living/Communities, Traveling | Leave a Comment »
24/08/2009
Buy this product!
By Randall Richards
We have been using the Pristine Water Bottle with filter in Peru for about two months now, and we’re ready to endorse this product with no reservations. We have cut our plastic bottle footprint by 95%. We still buy the occasional bottle water con gas, as a treat, but even then we’re about ready to stop that practice.
Another benefit of using this product is, I’ve never had a healthier stay in Peru. I have heard of bottled water sometimes having tampered caps, and this is the first time I’ve not had some sort of stomach upset. I am pulling water right out of the tap here in Cusco, and it’s working well.
Although I like the Katadyn external water filter that I’ve had for years, which works well for high altitude and fail-safe longer trips, I have to say their water bottle filter is too heavy and takes up too much room (within the bottle for any water) for my liking.
This thing works. SteriPen Classic
Another product we’re using, which although is new for us, but is working well, is the SteriPen UV water purifier. It too has been easy to use and working without a hitch, also to purify drinking water from the tap. We recommend the Classic model as it takes standard Lithium or NiMH batteries.
Buy these products, cut out the plastic bottles, whether in South America or anywhere in the world.
Tags:clean water, Environment, garbage, Mountain Spirit, Peru, Plastic water bottle, Pristine Water bottle and filter, reduce, reduce plastic bottles, staying healthy in south America, SteriPen Classic, Sustainability, UV for water Purifying, Water Filters, water purification
Posted in Conservation, Environment, Health, Peru, Sustainable Living/Communities, Traveling | 1 Comment »
20/08/2009
“Putpockets” Give a Little Extra Cash
by Luke Baker
Put-Pocketing
Visitors to London always have to be on the look out for pickpockets, but now there’s another, more positive phenomenon on the loose — putpockets.
Aware that people are suffering in the economic crisis, 20 former pickpockets have turned over a new leaf and are now trawling London’s tourist sites slipping money back into unsuspecting pockets.
Read the rest of this Reuters story
Tags:Donating, giving, ideas for altruism, Putpockets
Posted in Inspirational People, Leadership | Leave a Comment »
20/08/2009
Japanese Travelers Top the List in Expedia’s Annual Global Best Tourist Survey
Good Tourists
Americans Considered Noisy and Not the Best Dressers, but Earn Points for Trying Local Cuisine and Making an Effort to Speak the Language
Expedia, the world’s leading online travel company, today released the findings of a global survey seeking to crown the world’s best tourists and measure travelers based on their best and worst travel traits and habits. More than 4,000 hoteliers from
across the globe provided opinions on the best overall travelers, as well as
10 specific categories grading popularity, behavior, manners, willingness to
learn the language and try local cuisine, generosity, tidiness, volume, fashion sense and propensity to complain. The Japanese won top prize and are considered by hoteliers across the globe as overall the best tourists. German and British tourists tied for second place, followed by the Canadians and Swiss. American tourists came in at number 11 overall.
American Tourists Score High and Low: (more…)
Tags:Expedia.com Best Tourist index, good tourism, Sustainable toursicm, Sustainable Travel, Traveling lightly
Posted in Traveling | Leave a Comment »
20/08/2009
Building block of life found on comet
By Steve Gorman
Composite Image of Comet Wild 2 by Stardust's Camera
The amino acid glycine, a fundamental building block of proteins, has been found in a comet for the first time, bolstering the theory that raw ingredients of life arrived on Earth from outer space, scientists said on Monday.
Microscopic traces of glycine were discovered in a sample of particles retrieved from the tail of comet Wild 2 by the NASA spacecraft Stardust deep in the solar system some 242 million miles (390 million km) from Earth, in January 2004.
Read the rest of this Reuters story
Tags:Amino acid on comet, Comet Wild 2, extraterrestial life, glycine, life in outer space
Posted in Environment | Leave a Comment »
20/08/2009
We stumbled upon Maribel Torres Leon’s Museum of Biodiversity in Ollantaytambo, Peru, when we walking on a side street one afternoon. The motto on her business card states, “Trade rightly, Sustainable Tourism, Cultural Identity”. Check out the video, and if you like it, please support Maribel’s work by either visiting the museum (see address and telephone number below), spreading the word about her good work, and/or making a donation. Well done Maribel!
Museum of Biodiversity
Maribel Torres Leon, Director & Founder
Calle La Convencion
Ollantaytambo, Peru
Tel: 51-84-984-962607 or 984-934263
Email: info@biomuseo.org
Tags:Alternative Tourism, Biodiversity, Cultural Identity, Experiential Education in Peru, Fair Trade, Maribel Torres Leon, Mountain Spirit, Museum of Biodiveristy, Ollantaytambo, Randall Richards, Sustainable Travel
Posted in 1- Video Posts, Conservation, Experiential Education, Fair Trade, Holistic Living, Inspirational People, Peru, Service, Spiritual, Sustainable Living/Communities | Leave a Comment »
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