Peru – Independent Travel Tips on Where to Go and Visit

Independent travel advice for Peru

IF you are travelling over land from Ecuador in to Peru you will probably arrive first in Piura a fairly uninteresting border town. From here it is a further 4 – 6 hours to Chicalayo which has a few half decent places to stay (try www.hoteltumbasreales.com). From here you can travel on to Huanchaco – a beach side resort where you can watch the local fishermen bring in the catch on their straw boats. There are some good restaurants along the sea front and good hostels here. Near Hunachaco is the town of Trujillo with some interesting architecture and also the Chan Chan ruins (very reminiscent of star wars).

Lima is the capital and transport hub for the country so difficult to avoid. The capital doesn’t offer much to stick around for but if you’ve been backpacking on a shoestring for a bit and want some creature comforts – head to Mina Flores for some decent accomodation, bars & restaurants. Most of the hostels are on this modern island with in the city but you will find significantly cheaper prices in the old part of the city.

Peru is a great country from which to explore the Amazon. You can fly direct from Lima to Iquitous in the centre of the Amazon – this rainforest town is only accessible by air or water. You will be swamped with taxi drivers offering you their recommendations for accomodations and tour companies so be prepared to defend your personal space upon exiting the terminal. Shop around and negotiate when choosing the tour company to go with – local guides will offer you authentic experiences in isolated villages (often involving all night ferry journeys down the Amazon river accompanied by all kinds of animals, livestock, fish & produce) …. a fantastic experience but be prepared to rough it – no running water or electricity! Alternatively there are lots of luxury options available which may be don’t provide the authentic Amazon experience, & the treat of getting to know the locals, but are perhaps more suitable for the squeamish (expect to be getting up close & personal with all things that creep and slither)! Remember to bring tons and tons of very strong deet insect repellent with you – the mosquitos are every where, love the blood of a ‘gringo’ & are strong enough to bite through clothing … even jeans!

Highlights of the Amazon include fishing for Piranhas in little wooden canoes with your fishing rod / twig & string – these canoes are very flimsy so don’t rock the boat! For the very brave a swim in the Amazon is an amazing experience and if you’re with the locals expect some mud slinging matches – if you’re very lucky you will get up close to the famous pink dolphins, but unlike their salt water cousins this rare breed are pretty shy. Obviously the Amazon offers many an encounter with wildlife of all shapes & sizes – snakes, spiders, toucans, monkeys are some of the most common spots. On our trip we actually camped a night under the stars in the heart of the Amazon jungle with nothing for protection but banana leaves under our sleeping bags – with the fireflies for nightlights it was truly spectacular but definitely not an experience for the faint hearted!

The Inca trail is undoubtedly a highlight of any visit to South America and is certainly the jewel in the crown of any backpackers visit to Peru. While it is certainly hard work it is entirely possible for any one of average fitness and doesn’t demand any specific training – just take your time, pace yourself and if you’re worried about altitude sickness invest in some pills before you depart Cusco. The trail is very peaceful – walkers are limited to only 200 people a day so you can walk for quite long distances with out seeing any other tourists. It is an amazing feeling to tread the path of the Incas, witness some of the most incredible views on this earth and almost feel alone while doing so. The access limitations do mean that you need to book your place on the trail well in advance however. Tours differ in price from the very basic ‘carry your own backpack’ (only for the very fit) to the norm of basic food & accomodation with porters to carry all camping, food and personal luggage, all the way up to the very luxurious camping and food options. We took our tour with the midrange option – Gap Adventures, enjoyed every second and would highly recommend them. Day 2 is the hardest of the 4 – the ascent of ?dead womans pass` – but the views at the top are well worth it and you will feel a great sense of achievement once you reach them. The porters are an integral part of the Inca Trail experience, there are a total of c. 300 of them per day on top of the 200 walkers .. we had 12 porters for 6 of us in our group. Each porter carries about 25 kilos on their backs and they lug this up literally vertical slopes and then back down again … at a run and in flip flops!! It?s unbelievable to see … apparantly one of the porters actually managed to complete the whole Inca trail (with out any weight on his back though) in 3 hours 45 minutes … this is a trail which takes all the tourists 4 days! The porters run ahead of the walkers and then set up camp for lunch, then go ahead again to set up camp for dinner and tents for the night. When we walked it there were porters as old as 58 in our group and apparantly there were 70 year old porters still working the trail! Having a very knowledgable guide who speaks good english makes a big difference to the experience so do your research when picking a tour company. The last stretch of the trail is begun at 4am on the 4th morning to ensure you’ll arrive at the sun gate in time to see the sun rise and mist roll off the valley to reveal Machu Picchu.
East of Cusco on the border with Bolivia is Lake Titicaca – the highest navigable lake in the world. Take a boat tour out on to the lake to visit the amazing floating reed islands of the Uros people. The community here have been making their homes from the reeds of the lakes and living upon them since pre incan times. Walking on the islands as they bob up and down is a very strange experience but the reeds are layered up very thick as the islanders simply add a layer every time they feel concern over sinking! It is also possible to stay in home stays on some of the bigger non reed islands of the lake – very basic accomodation with no running water or electricity but a real chance to witness the local way of life which has remained unaltered for generations.

The History of Public Transport in Vietnam

Until the end of 19th century, mandarins were carried in hammocks, officials rode in palanquins, horses were only used by postmen, and most common people were only able to travel by foot. I have read an article of Do Hung who traces the history of public transport in Vietnam?

Saigon-Colon was the first urban area to take shape, in 1862, with the arrival of French colonists. More than twenty years later, in 1884, it was Hanoi’s turn when both gravel and asphalt roads with a proper drainage system replaced old footpaths. Urban transport was born then, too. Those early years saw the appearance of caliches (coaches driven by two horses) which belonged to colonial civil and military officials. Others used a coachmen came from the French colonies in Africa.

In 1885, there was only one of each of these types in Hanoi; a macabre belonging to Bishop Purifier who built Hanoi’s St Joseph’s Cathedral, and a rattan caliches owned by Lieutenant Colonel Henri Riviera. Things were different in Saigon, however, where there were 84 Melbas in 1868 and 449 of them by 1900. The Malabar was known by Saigonese as “the glass coach” (it had two large windows) and by the more popular name, “matchbox coach” due to its rectangular shape. Later on, a smaller but simpler coach appeared called the gig (or buggy) which could transport ten passengers and cargo on the roof at the same time, rapidly becoming the main means of transport in the city and between southern provinces.

After the Second World War, carts mushroomed in Saigon with thousands of them parking in the crowded market areas of Cau Muoi, Binh Tien and Cholon. Cart trading and repairing became a good business. Typical was Gay Freres’ establishment. He set up in 1879 at 34b and 36 Ls Grandiere road (now Ly Tu Trong Street).

The first so-called public transportation, a tramway pulled by three mules, was introduced to Hanoi in 1885. Not until 1912 did Hanoi get a real tramway running on rails and powered by electricity. The old tramway was powered by steam for years before this, and was in existence far longer than in the southern city. It ran right throughout the war. To make up for its slow speed, the tramway could carry bulky goods and costs little, which was suitable for small traders who accounted for a rather large proportion of the city’s population at that time. The clang sound of the tramway disappeared in 1985, leaving only nostalgia for the past for many city dwellers.

The rickshaw made its appearance in the late 19th century. Two were imported from Japan by Hanoi’s Mayor, Bonal, but the number had only increased to six by the time 395 of them were operating in Saigon. The average income of a coachman was one piaster per day, which was equal to the salary of a skilled worker. The rickshaw soon spread to almost all urban areas and was commonly used until the end of Second World War in 1945.
HEY! CYCLO!

No one know who invented the country’s unique vehicle, in Saigon in the 1830s, it was called cyclo-push, a bicycle accompanied by a person carrying goods or passengers. Though simply designed, it could transport astonishing loads of goods and people to distance destinations. The cyclo-push gradually disappeared in urban areas, paving the way for the birth of the present pedicab, the cyclo.

After taking some time to establish itself in Hanoi, it quickly becomes widespread in the country’s cities. The cyclo had the advantage of being able to transport heavy and cumber some items and was very energy efficient. Between the 1950s and 1980s, it was the main means of transportation in Hanoi and Saigon.” Everyday, I would take my goods to market by cyclo, “says Mrs. Hoa, a 60 year old trader at An Dong market. According to Mr. Chu who has lived in Tran Quoc Thao Street, District 3, HCM City for about 70 years, cyclos were used to make leisurely trips around the city during Tet holiday.

It’s interesting that the cyclo design varies with locations. While Saigon’s cyclo is narrower and higher, the Hanoi version is lower and wider and carries two people comfortably. Hue’s version is a combination of the two, narrow and low, whereas the vehicle in Haiphong is longer and curvy, resembling a boat.

The invasion of power-driven vehicles started by 1930 with the introduction of the first car in Saigon. Rapid urbanization and the development of modern vehicles put the cyclo under threat. Today it is being banned from more and more streets, especially during rush hour. Its slowness and cumbersome shape obstructs traffic in city streets which are narrow and have high population density. Gradually. motorbikes and busses are replacing the cyclo.

Less in demand by commuters, cyclos have now become tourist attractions and a means of transport to a wedding. The sight of five cyclos following one another, each carrying an old and a young woman and a big red wooden box on their way to the bride’s house for the betrothal ceremony can still be seen during the wedding season. But the most important function of cyclos in Hanoi is as vehicles for tourists around the capital’s old quarter. Cyclo groups can be found outside many famous hotels and travel agents in the downtown area.

This unique three-wheel vehicle has had its day, and is now just a reminder of the rudimentary transport of the city’s past. It is indeed a living museum, still in working order and vivid on display.

www.luxurytravelvietnam.com

Luggage – How and What to Pack

Luggage – How and What to Pack?

Everyone knows traveling can be a great learning experience which can broaden ones horizons and at the same time can be quite entertaining too. Planning is an integral part of any and trip should be so planned that you can enjoy each and every part of your trip. Managing your luggage during the trip is also a very important aspect which has to be planned when on a trip. The possibility of losing your luggage during your trip is always there, other than that there are chances that your luggage can be broken into, be broken, or stolen. To avoid all these possibilities there are some precautionary tips that should be taken when traveling.

The first step is the quality of the luggage that you have to carry. Your luggage should be sturdy and durable. Everyone wants to travel light, but it does not mean that the luggage should also be very light. The luggage should withstand moving from one place to another in parts of journey and the handlers always do not handle your luggage with care. Another important aspect is packing. You should never over pack. There are quite a few chances that if you over pack the zipper of the bag will not be able to stand it or probably the seam will break down. However a protective belt around the bag will protect the bag. Folding the clothes properly and packing accessories properly in layers allow more items to be packed and also makes it easier to take out things.

The next step is to mark your luggage properly. Label your suitcases or bags so that it is easily made out. Always mark your initials not your full name so that if you are a woman traveling alone not everyone should know your name. The address on the label should have post office code so as no one is able to follow you to your address. A great tip is to tie some sort of colored ribbon on the luggage. It will make your bags easily identifiable where there are chances of having similar bags. Weight consideration should be taken while packing your bag so that it is not it is not overweight. Make sure the weight allowances that apply to you in your particular airlines. There are services that will pick up and deliver your baggage to your destination, make use of them.

Identification papers should not be kept in your baggage as if your baggage is lost then you will also be in danger of identification theft. Check your TSA guidelines before packing the bag so that TSA screening goes without hurdle. The carry on bag is very handy and can be easily managed. The items you will need en route should be kept in that. Items like medicines, entertainment items like books etc., bus ticket and other item needed during the journey should be kept in this bag. Your toothbrush and soap or wipes are must for this bag. In the end don’t forget to label this bag too so that is not mixed up with any person having same bag.

Packing for any trip need not become a challenging ordeal. Have a check-list of things you would require for a trip and pack accordingly. With a little foresight and organization, all the items you need can be packed without having too many things to carry. Pack carefully and enjoy your trip!

Delhi Travel Information Guide

You have reached Delhi. The months of planning and curiosity up, you’re actually in the India Gate, Every experience, every sound, each smell shouts that you have arrived somewhere magical. Somewhere special. It is here that the love depths of one man for one woman created the Taj Mahal, where the king of kings ruled, where the sacred Ganges flows past cities holy, where the Himalayas stand silent and magnificent; where 5000 years of culture waiting to be absorbed. The capital city of India, Delhi is the second widely used entry point into the country, being in the path of most airlines importantes. As well linked by rail, air and road to all parts of the country.
Sights:
RED FORT:
Red Fort in Delhi is beside the Yamuna River (today the river has amended) is an irregular octagon, surrounded by a wall of about 2.4 km and is built with red sandstone, hence the name – in Agra there is a strong red Shah Jahan, the Mughal emperor, changed the capital from Agra to Delhi and finished strong built in 1648. The fort has two main entrances, the Delhi Gate and Porte de Lahore (Lahore Gate) which is across from the famous market called Chandni Chowk.
Qutab Minar:
The Qutan Minar is the minaret or tower is 72.5 meters high and a mosque at its base. Brick structure is the highest world and the oldest Islamic monument in India is considered world heritage. This fabulous structure that located in the south of the capital was built by a Muslim king, Qutub-ud-din Aibak in 1199 D. C.
The India Gate
This is basically a triumphal arch is a memorial. Designed by Lutyens, this structure 42 feet high is a monument to the fallen in WWI and Afghan wars in 1919. It has an eternal flame called Amar Jawan Jyoti to honor the unknown soldier, is a colonial monument built in 1921, was founded on a statue of George V that disappeared when they reached India its independence. Holidays to himalayas in India
The Jama Masjid
Also called the Friday Mosque is one of the largest mosques in India. It is the main center of worship for Muslims Delhi, located opposite the Red Fort, the mosque was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan between 1644 and 1658. The building occupies a total area of 1,200 m?. It is said that more than 500 artisans in their construction but the main architect was Ostad Khalil. The mosque contains some relics of the Prophet Muhammad: a hair, a sandal and the imprint of his footprint.
The House of Parliament
Call Sansad Bhavan is a circular building designed by English architect Herbert Baker in 1912. The roof rests on circular 257 granite columns.
Presidential Palace:
Rashtrapati Bhavan This building was formerly the Viceroy’s house, is the most remarkable aspect of New Delhi of Lutyens (architect English who designed the monuments of New Delhi). Was completed in 1929. Located in an area of 130 hectares, the palace has 340 rooms. At one time, 2,000 men were needed for building maintenance and housekeeping for the family the Viceroy. The house also has an impressive garden called the Mughal Garden, which the public can visit only twice a year.
Birla Temple, or Temple of Laxmi.
Laximinarayan Temple was built in honor of Laxmi, the goddess of fortune and his consort, Vishnu, the preserver of the Hindu trilogy. This temple was built in 1622 and renovated in 1973, the Birla family since 1938 has been responsible for its preservation, from where they take this another name. Make my trip
Humayun Tomb
This tomb was constructed in 1562 by the wife of Emperor Humayun, who was the second Mughal emperor, took eight years constructed. Begai Begum, the wife of the emperor was buried here and is the only structure that is at the center of a well planned garden. The combination of white marble and sandstone formed the influence of Mughal architecture that followed. Generally, you considered as a prototype of the famous Taj Mahal in Agra.
Raj Ghat
Th royal courtyard is a memorial in remembrance of the Hindu leader Mahatma Gandhi. This is a simple black marble slab that marks the place where Gandhi was cremated on January 31, 1948. The monument is open and has an eternal flame at one end. Situated on the banks of the river Yamuna. Nearby are the Raj Ghat cremation elsewhere other Indian leaders. The One Jawaharlal Nehru is located to the north and is known as Shantivan which means “forest of peace” A red monolith marks the spot which incinerated the body of Indira Gandhi, and is called Shakti Sthal (Place of power) Her son Rajiv was cremated at the Veer Bhumi (Land of bravery)
Chandni Chownk
The Old and bustling market in Old Delhi. The area has historic significance and focus here monuments and temples where there is an important religious and genuine cultural harmony. In this market include Indian sweets and traditional foods, silks, clothes, shoes, leather goods, handcrafts, all of them between outrageous crowd torrents.
Sikh Temple
The Sis Ganj Gurdwara Sahib is a Sikh faith temple is built in the area of Chandni Chownk, Old Delhi in the place where the Guru Tegh Bahadur, was beheaded by order of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in the year 1675 for refusing to convert to Islamism.
Lotus Temple
Beautiful temple of one of the youngest independent religions, the Bahai Faith.