Archive for the ‘Experiential Education’ Category
04/09/2009
Blowing into a Zampoña at 11,000 feet can have dizzying affects
By Randy Richards
Making Zampoñas - Cusco
On our recent Peru’09 Program participants had the opportunity to learn how to make Zampoñas and how to play them. Facilitator Guillermo Seminaro first helped participants adjust and shave down bamboo tubes, then put them together to make the Zampoña. That day, (and for the rest of the trip) he taught them some traditional Peruvian folklore songs.
Tuckered out!
All loved the experienced. S Smith really got into, not only the zampoña, but the charango as well. Here he is, at left, shown after the results of high altitude zampoña playing. Beginners have a hard enough time not getting dizzy at sea level. Here you can see the thin Cusco air, and the zampoña got the better of him. He recovered just fine, without incident. As you can see there’s a smile on his face.
Tags:Cusco, Experiential Education, Making Peruvian instruments, Making Zampoña
Posted in Experiential Education, Music, Peru, South America, Traveling | 2 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 »
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 »
17/08/2009
By Amanda Richards
Eva and I met while we were both studying at Copenhagen University about 5 years ago. We were both sad when we said our good-byes because neither of us had any idea when we would see each other again as she was heading home to Germany and I was returning to Australia. Yet, now here we are in South America!
Eva is traveling with Sebastien and they arrived here in Peru intent on cycling and hoping to explore `a strange new world, its countryside, people, cultures and languages for 2.5 months…´ Their adventures began in Lima and they first headed down south to Nazca (a desert area) and then up to Cusco.
On the way to Nazca
They have both been surprised at just how many other cyclists there are on the road – their expectation was that they would be almost the only ones on this big adventure!
After the chaos of Cairo (where they are both currently working) they are particularly enjoying the times when they are higher up in the mountains (sometimes above 4,000m) where there are fewer people.
Up up up and down down down
Eva and Sebastien are at Machu Picchu today and will continue with their cycle tour when they return to Cusco tomorrow. Once again Eva and I will sadly say our good-byes and who knows when or where we will meet again. Somewhere fun!
Tags:Copenhagen University, Cycling through Peru, Eva and Sebastien, Machu Picchu, Mountain Spirit, Peru, Peru by Bicycle, Travel by Bike
Posted in Animals, Archeology, Books, Environment, Experiential Education, Health, Inspirational People, Mountain People, Peru, Power of Place, South America, Traveling | Leave a Comment »
06/08/2009
Corn, Peru Style
Tomorrow, Amanda and I head back for Anna’s place in Ollantaytambo. I was just there a few weeks ago with our participants. I look forward to our second visit this year. A few weeks ago, we spent an afternoon getting tutored by Anna on how she grows amazing varieties of corn. She took us down to her fields in the Sacred Valley, just a stone’s throw from her home, and showed us the different sorts of corn, and how she plants them. She explained that these are not mono-species. Most of the corn cross-breed every season creating a multitude of colors and styles of corn, used for everything from Chicha to toasting corn. She explained that most times every row will have a mix colors, which in fact makes them stronger against disease and drought. She also explained how all the other neighbors work together to share various tasks such as irrigation and maintaining the fields.
Anna giving a lecture on planting corn
Unlike Monsanto corn, these varieties reproduce and are carried down through generations. Not to say there weren’t problems. Some twenty years ago, there were serious health issues with the villages due to pesticide use in the fields. Cancer rates were high and people were really being affected. Now though, things are mostly if not totally organic. Most of Anna’s corn goes to feed her family and chickens, and doesn’t reach the local market. She also grows grains to feed her guinea pigs which she sells to neighbors and other villagers. We’ll keep you posted on what we learn next at Anna’s.
Tags:Anna, cancer rates and pesticides, Monsanto, Mountain Spirit, non-hybrid corn, Ollantaytambo, organic farming, Peru, Varieties of Corn
Posted in Experiential Education, Health, Inspirational People, Mountain People, Peru, South America, Sustainable Living/Communities, Traveling | 1 Comment »
04/08/2009
By Randall Richards
Kate J. at Willoc circa 1980's
The first time I visited the small mountain village of Willoc, near Ollantaytambo was about 12 years ago. Coincidently, my cousin Kate Jones spent a semester from the Lakeside School in Ollantaytambo and spent some time with a family in Willoc about twenty or thirty years before I showed up. This was before I knew where Peru was. She sent a photo of her with her host family in Willoc, which I had on my desk for a number of years. Then when I finally went Willoc, and recognized the local dress, I wondered if Willoc might be the place that Katy ended up. I called her from Peru to solve the issue, and yes it was. Another year in Willoc, I tracked down her family. I’m headed there again in a few days, and will take a copy of the picture with me again to give to them.
Shearing & Drop Spindle, Willoc
On our Peru’09 program we again visited Willoc, and were shown a demonstration from start to finish of how the weaving is done – from shearing the wool to drop-spindle making the yarn, to dying the wool and finally the back-strap loom weaving.
While there we also were treated to a traditional meal and were shown the varieties of corn that are grown on the surrounding hillsides. The diffierent types are used for the fermented Chicha drink, toasting, cornmeal and other specialties.
As in other places in Peru, visitors are occasionally brought to small mountain villages. Mountain Spirit Institute limits our group size to a maximum of eight participants. Sustainable Travel International has guidelines on how to visit such communities as Willoc.
Learning about varieties of corn, Willoc
We feel at this point, there is a benefit to both the visitors and the villages for such visits, but they must be organized and done with care. One example, I always brief my particpants at the program start, and remind them of low-impact travel techniques, such as respectful use of the camera, matching voice volumes to that of local inhabitants, and follow cues from our hosts.
Our good friend, Anna Sequeros, a former president of the woman’s organization in the region has really worked wonders in bringing equality to village women in the area. More on that in another entry.
Tags:Dexter Richards, drop spindle, Kate Jones, Lakeside School, Mountain Spirit, Ollantaytambo, Peru, Randall Richards, shearing wool, Sustainable Living/Communities, weaving, Willoc
Posted in Experiential Education, Fair Trade, Holistic Living, Mountain People, Peru, South America, Sustainable Living/Communities, Traveling | Leave a Comment »
02/08/2009
By R. Richards
In the next few weeks I’ll be journaling the Peru 2009 Cultural Immersion program which lasted 14 days. I won’t chronicle every day but the most important highlights of our experience.
We had 7 participants: Sally R. and her husband Scott S., Gail and Hal B. of Sunapee NH, newlyweds Tim Y. and Amy G. and Betsy S. of Grantham NH. Most were teachers which made for good dynamics. On our first day in Cusco, we hiked up to Sacsayhuaman ruins. After walking the great walls, we had a little meeting as the sun set, setting the tone for open communication and willing to stretch outside of one’s comfort zone. The group all agreed they’d give it their best shot. That night we had dinner at the Retama where Guillermo is the music director of his band Chimu’s/Chimu Inka and plays there almost nightly.
Guillermo plays "Quena" flute at Moray
After a night in Tika Wasi in Cusco, we headed for the Chinchero and the fascinating agricultural terraces of Moray. Here, Guillermo took out his flute and played, setting a surreal tone in the ruins. You could hear the music echo through the terraces below. Then there was a hair-raising ride (not so much much for me, I’m used to the heights) to the Inka salt pans just before the sun set, then off to Anna’s pension. Many thanks goes to Julio of Personal Travel Service for setting up our ride with Ernesto and the Mercedes bus plus all tickets and other logistics in the Sacred Valley.
Anna's Family, Guillermo & Ernesto
It had been a few years since I’d seen Anna when I stayed at her pension for night. It was good to see Anna again, her daughter Katey and her other daughter who had been in Italy for four years, who I’d not yet met. Anyway, we all settled in nicely, the participants heading off to stay in nearby homes, down the street. We’d all met up for dinner at Anna’s though. Although it was a bit of a switch from the four star Hotel Antigua in Lima, everyone adjusted well to Anna’s where we’d be basing ourselves over the next few days. Below is a short clip as we arrived at Anna’s. Ernesto our knowledgeable driver, Anna, her godchild, daughter, and Guillermo are featured.
Tags:1- Video Posts, Anna Sequeros, cultural immersion, Dexter Randall Richards, ecospiritual psychology, espiritiential education, Experiential Education, Guillermo Seminario, Holistic Living, Julio Aquila, Mountain Spirit, mtnspirit.org, Ollantaytambo, Personal Travel Service, Peru, Spiritual, Sunapee, Sustainability
Posted in 1- Video Posts, Experiential Education, Mountain People, Peru, South America, Spiritual, Sustainable Living/Communities, Traveling | Leave a Comment »
26/07/2009
The Enigma of the Nazca Lines
By Amanda Richards
Trapezoid Designs
Peru is an incredibly beautiful, diverse and historically rich country. The Peruvian people are an upbeat, warm and friendly culture, with a sense of optimism. The country is a magical place, considered the spiritual center of the Americas. Cusco, the outlying Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu all have a special feeling to which no picture can do justice, not to mention the physical beauty of the land and the warmth of its people.
The Mountain Spirit Peru ’09 program is in its 11th day and the group are in Ica, having spent the day at the famous Nazca Lines. The Nazca Lines are an enigma. No one has proof who built them or why.
I came across a great article by Holly Hayes on her website
Sacred-Destinations.
Writes Hayes, “The Nazca Lines are giant sketches drawn in the desert of western Peru by ancient peoples. The drawings were created on such a large scale is such that the shapes can be readily discerned only from the air, leading to a variety of theories about their purpose.”
“Since their discovery, the Nazca Lines have inspired fantastic explanations from ancient gods, a landing strip for returning aliens, a celestial calendar created by the ancient Nazca civilization — putting the creation of the lines between 200 BC and 600 AD, used for rituals probably related to astronomy, to confirm the ayllus or clans who made up the population and to determine through ritual their economic functions held up by reciprocity and redistribution, or a map of underground water supplies. To read the rest of this article on Hayes’s website click here.
Posted in Animals, Books, Experiential Education, Peru, Power of Place, South America, Traveling | 3 Comments »
16/07/2009
By Amanda Richards
Machu Picchu
The Mountain Spirit Peru 2009 cultural immersion trip is already into Day 4 of the exciting program. The group of 7 clients with Randy Richards and Guillermo Seminario as their facilitators, are currently at Ollantaytambo, staying with Anna Sequiros and her family. Today is a day to learn more about local customs, sustainable agriculture, women’s issues and visit the local school. The group will also help prepare their own meal, which for some will include preparing and eating guinea pig – a national dish of Peru. Tomorrow they will set off for Machu Picchu and discover more about the richness of the Inca Empire. An excellent book to learn more about the ruins is by Peter Frost, ‘Exploring Cusco’.
I am here in Cusco, my fourth day in Peru. Randy has always spoken so fondly of the Peruvian people and I am experiencing what he means.The people are so open and gentle and kind, its a delight to be here. The group will be back in Cusco on Saturday and we will spend some time with the very special Chimu Inkas – Guillermo, Mario and Wach
i.
Posted in Books, Conservation, Environment, Experiential Education, Fair Trade, Holistic Living, Peru, Power of Place, South America | Leave a Comment »
20/06/2009
One Boy’s Passion for Wilderness Survival Skills
Marco & Jelena Wells
One never knows when an inspirational person will cross one’s path. Today, for me, it came in the form of Marco Wells, all of 12 years, who visited us in Piha, with his sister Jelena, mother and father Tina and Steve and grandmother Helen from the former republic of Yugoslavia, (who recently attended our wedding a few weeks ago.) From the start, it’s a bit hard to determine who’s the biggest inspiration in this family, whether it’s Helen for starting her journey to New Zealand from eastern Europe years ago, or Marco’s dad who fosters his son’s love of the outdoors and wilderness survival. Then there’s his mother, who gets just as excited as her son, when we got the compass out and starting shooting bearings off the nearby peaks. It could also be his wonderful sister who’s eyes lit up during our day hike, when she looked over the edge of the windy cliff, which dropped a few hundred metres down to the Tasman sea. But this story leads me back to Marco.
A few weeks ago at our wedding, “Grandmother Helen” (we’ve also adopted her as our own), told us about her grandson who “is interested in the out-of-doors”. Well, when I started talking to Marco today at our home, “interested” was an understatement. Marco is passionate about wilderness skills, wild edibles, feeling the wind, and even a bit of climbing and just being out there. He’s got it in his blood.
Today's Hiking Buddies
My wife and I later wondered aloud, after they had left back for the Auckland area, what makes one boy passionate about the outdoors and the next, not. I was that boy which started with my romping and winter camping trips around the John F Gile Memorial Forest and Morgan Pond in New Hamsphire. Marco, his dad and I talked about “nature deficit disorder” and, stating the obvious, I mentioned the threat of video games, technology and kid’s lack of nature time.
(Image: L-R:Randy & Amanda Richards, Grandmother Helen, Marco, Yelena, Tina and Steven Wells)
Kare Kare Beach from our Hike Today
Not Marco! He’s out back building different types of fires, constructing snares and assembling survival kits in a can. OK, I’m sure he puts his own time on the computer too, but he sure knows quite a few native plants and is working on lots of survival skills. On our walk today he was naming a number of plants and their their uses. He taught me a number of things today, but one stuck in my mind. When collecting and using silver ferns for a emergency shelter, be sure to turn the ferns belly up, otherwise, the tiny seeds, adhered to the bottom sides of the fern, will drop off on you during the night causing irritation and itching. He showed me the tiny seeds. Marco, just so you know, I’ll not forget that. (more…)
Tags:Desert Solitare, Edward Abby, Edward Whymper, John F Gile Memorial Forest, Journal of A Trapper, Kare Kare, Kurt Hahn, Last Child in the Woods, Marco Wells, Morgan Pond, My side of the mountain, Nature Deficit disorder, NH, Osborne Russell, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Randy and Amanda Richards, Richard Louve, Scrambles Amongst the Alps, Sir Edmund Hillary, Tasman Sea, The wilderness world of John Muir, Utah
Posted in Books, Climb/Ski/Mntneering, Experiential Education, Inspirational People, Mountain People, New Zealand, Power of Place | Leave a Comment »
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