Farhan´s Adventures in South America

This blog is being laid to rest...

2008-09-10T14:22:00.000-07:00

It seems that my thirst for sharing, and contributing, in the world hasn't ended - but alas, my ability to keep up with all the different streams of thought, and ideas have moved me on from my travels through Peru.

I've now moved this blog into my blog at http://life.magitam.org.uk. There you can find out the latest adventures that I've been pursuing, and also start to get an appreciation for more of me, as a being. This includes the side of me that is a little more technology oriented. In time, I will find a home for the spiritual side of me, within that voice, or perhaps a new one.. For now, all I can say, is that I've moved on from this blog, from this home, that was home, during my travels through Peru. I am most grateful, for the chance that I had to share through this medium, and platform, and look forward to sharing more with you, of my life, and adventures, at my current blog, called simply Farhan's Life. See you there!!

Thursday 21st July - She calls me closer...

2005-07-21T14:23:00.000-07:00

So since the last post.. a lot has happened...

Originally upon returning to Iquitos, I had plans to go to Brazil. On Tuesday morning, I knew exactly how I would travel, and where I would go, and Wednesday morning, I was getting ready to leave.

How naive I was... Before leaving Iquitos, I wanted to meet a person whose contact details I had been given - a Howard Lawler, a man who organises spiritual Ayhuasca journeys, as well as journeys through spiritual centres.

I was very clear that I didn't want to take part in an Ayhuasca ceremony, having met many friends along my path that had walked this path, and I declined all opportunities to participate. I had also been real sure, looking at Howards website (http://www.biopark.org/peru.html) that there wasn't any journey that I wanted to participate in, that was being organised. Besides it was too expensive, and way beyond any budget I had left.

So Tuesday afternoon, I was going to meet Howard for lunch, chat about something, but I didn't know what, and then get ready for a boat to Brasil...

Yeah right!! Like I really have a clue about this journey anymore....

After 4 and a half hours of 'talking', I was sure in the very essence of my being that I was going to spend 20 days travelling this sacred path that was part of the journeys organised from the 25th of July, till the 14th of August. This included spending ten days in the jungle working with the Ayahuasca, and ten days on a spiritual pilgrimage, culminating at something akin to "Heavens Gate".

How I would be able to afford the $3500 dollars, and how I would be able to manifest so much money, in cash, here in Peru, by Friday morning were questions that my body didn't seem to be worried about... It just knew with a certainty that this was a journey I had to take, and I was going.

I spent a day sending out emails, asking people for help, mainly friends who had said if you need money, email us, and we'll help you out... and it seemed that there was no-one there who was able to help. Eventually, everything unfolded as it needed to, and now, sitting in the Internet cafe, I'm waiting for the transaction codes for two Western Union transfers that should yield the full total amount that I need, to pay for the trip.. the shortfall made up with cash I have to hand, and access to, through the support of people who've been able to make small contributions.

Then, in half an hour, I'll meet Howard, go to Western Union, get the money, give it to him, and then it disappears into his bank account, and I'm all signed up!

Then on Monday I meet the group of people that I will share a most powerful and intense cleansing and healing spiritual process. I know that on the other side of this my physical problems with my swollen leg will be healed, and I know that my health will be at an all time high!

It's real funny, because, just as we were finishing our chat, with Howard, he mentioned he'd worked with Channel 4, and that's when I learnt that Howard was a man who I had seen on tv, in the UK, the day that I couldn't decide if I should go to Peru or Mexico. I asked the universe for a sign of where to go, and switched the tele on. Finding Extreme Celebrity Detox (http://www.ginger.tv/content/default.asp?page=s2_3_22) on E4, I saw Howard Lawler taking 4 celebs into the jungle, to take ayahuasca in Peru. Seeing that I knew that I should definitely go to Peru... I just never realised that the universe was showing me exactly where I would go, who I would go with, and what I would do there as well...

Howard's contact details were given to me by Susan Bookman, who I met during my visit to Inti Ayllu, a spiritual community in the sacred valley. And it turned out that Howard knew Don Americo Yabar really well too, and his local contact to co-ordinate activities in Cusco was Don Americo's daughter Arilu... I just knew that I had just completed another circle, closed another loop.

The fact that when Howard had spoken to me, he had described all the steps that I had known I was going to go through, before I would be 'whole', and that this journey addressed all those parts that I was consciously working with.. it was too perfect.

Now, once the money is sorted, I'll be going into some quiet space, and start preparing myself mentally, and emotionally for what will be a very pure and complete experience. Even reading http://www.biopark.org/peru/shamanrisks.html allays potential fears, and re-inforces to me the real integrity, and completeness that I would have never found if I had gone looking, but that I am ready, I am encountering.

This moment I am really keenly reminded of that old phrase 'when the student is ready, the master appears'.

I can't imagine it being any truer than now...

So July 25th, I go into the jungle, and then on August the 14th, I finish a journey, with more news...

July 10th - 17th

2005-07-19T09:17:00.000-07:00

It seems I spend too much of my time online writing my blog, and so I've decided I'm going to try to be a little more efficient for now!

That said, my journey down the Mazan was wonderful... As you can tell I've returned from the river, and as far as I can tell, I'm still travelling solo!

It seems that my journey down the river, whilst interesting, and educational, served to show me that I still wasn't ready, and that I need to spend more time removing from my perception all limitations, that lead to irritation. This was exemplified in the very real example of the mosquitos that regularly had supper using my skin as their table, and my blood as their food.

Fortuantely, I had the tent from my friend Chesman, to sleep in, and so wasn't bothered so much at night. Even whilst on the river, the insects weren't a problem. It was only when we arrived at a camp site, that the insect fests happened. And I'm pretty sure it had something to do with the way that the locals would just leave their trash everywhere that they didn't need. If before coming to Peru, I had thought the Amazon was a place that was pure, clean, and unpolluted, I was wrong.

The locals have no hesitation throwing anything and everything into the river. From plastic bags, and plastic bottles, to the plastic wrappers from crisp packets and biscuit packets, to the disposable forks and spoons. It seems people seem to think that the river is an ok place to dump things, and so I'm sure that the levels of pollution will no doubt all contribute to some huge social environmental crisis one day.

That said, in the actual forest, once we got into it, was beautiful, and the plants managed to keep a balance, that meant flies, and insects weren't a problem.

However, there was also a real absence of any animals at all, in the little bit of the forest I visited. And the only birds we spotted were hunting targets for the locals, who had convinced me to pay for the hire of a gun and ammunition.

In spite of the environmental stuff - the people we met throughout the journey were testimony to how the warmth and welcoming home can be found anywhere even in the middle of the jungle!

After using the motor (peke peke) to go upstream, and after a number of 'incidents' with our motor, on our return journey (4 days into the trip), we ended up eventually losing total use of our motor, and had no choice, but to 'float' back downstream. Apparently, floating along the river was a very normal way to travel, as we had seen people doing it downstream, as we went up. Whilst the pace was slow, and gentle, we managed to travel day and night, and had some wonderful night skies, full of stars, and the growing moon.

Eventually, after returning to Mazan, I took a quick trip to Iquitos, to get some money, to pay for the remaining balance of the motor rental, boat rental, and to pay the three locals who had accompanied me throughout the trip. Javier, Gayle and Mauro.

However, I didn't have money for the trip to Iquitos, and trusting Javier to sell the remaining gasoline we had, he ended up with enough money for the two of us to head back to Iquitos, in order for me to get more cash, from the ATM.

Upon arriving into Iquitos, we got in a motortaxi to the Plaza de Armas, and I discovered I didn't have my wallet in my pocket. Sure that I'd brought it with me, Javier, suggested we rush back to the boat, as he thought I might have dropped it on the boat we had taken. Back at the port, Javier rushed ahead of me, and tired from all the travelling, I decided to wait for him up top of the stairs. He came running back, grinning, showing me that he had successfully found my cash cards.

Telling me he had paid the captain 10 soles for thanking him, I naively believed him, and we went back to the plaza. I guess with no cash being in the wallet it wasn't of much use to most people. But it got me thinking that Javier probably knew the pickpockets there, and managed to find the one who had picked my pocket.

Anyhow, as things were to unfold... that evening, I didn't manage to make it back to Mazan, where I had paid for the night in a hotel, and having missed the boat, I came across Javier, at the port, waiting for me. He said he'd been waiting an hour, and when I asked him why he hadn't taken the last boat home, he said he'd waited for me.

Then the stories started to come out... from being told that he was 'solo' and had no family or brothers and sisters that he had any contact with, he started telling me that a woman who was like a mother to him was in the hospital, and the 50 soles I had paid him earlier that day to settle the bills he had paid in the hospital, and that he needed more money.

Clearly, he had just bought new shoes, and some CD's, and I'm guessing that the 'mom' was fictional, but not wanting to be cruel, I said sure no problem... later...

He kept wanting me to give him 300 soles so that he could pay the other two amigos who had helped out during the travel. But for some reason I didn't trust him, and said it's ok, I'll pay them myself. And I'd also bought presents for each one, that I wanted to give to them personally, and I wanted to thank them for all their hard work. Since throughout the whole journey Javier had been sleeping, or chilling with me, and Mauro, and Gayle had been doing all the work, packing and unpacking the boat each night, driving the motor, cooking the food, making the tents, and doing anything else that needed doing.

We ended up going to the house of an uncle of a friend of Javiers in Iquitos, to spend the night, after he initially had told me that we could spend the night at his house. I ended up spending 10 soles, what I would pay for a hostal, as a token of thanks to the uncle, as well as spending another 5 soles on thanking the friend, giving him 2 soles for his travel, paying another 10 soles for drinks for Javier, who had told me he didn't drink the first night I met him - and there he was drinking...

Despite spending triple what I normally spend in an evening, for room and board, in a house that I wouldn't ever have paid more than 5 soles, if I were to pay, I ended up sleeping in the room, whilst Javier took the hammock in the living room.

Then, half way through the night, I hear Javier in my room, asking me for more money. Telling me his uncle had just come, and his mom was ill, and needed more money for the hospital. He kept pleading, asking me to help his mother, how I should help him to help his mother, how he didn't like to have her suffering... After about 10 minutes or so, I decided there was no way I had a choice, and seeing it as charity, I ended up giving him 40 soles, even though he only asked for 30, and sure that he was lying.

The following morning, I found that my wallet was 200 soles lighter... the 200 soles that I was to pay the other two guys had been taken out of my wallet.. I only had one suspect in my mind. Upon telling my host, the uncle, he told me how he didn't feel that my friend was being sincere last night, and suspected that he wasn't being honest with me. Javier had apparently left at about 12 or 1 am, and was no where to be found.

On the up side, I had the nicest cooked fish in ages that morning - and even though it was the most expensive breakfast I've ever had, I was glad that it had happened. For it confirmed my suspicions, and I somehow had guessed that I was going to have trouble, and had slipped 200 soles out of my wallet, into the inside pocket of my bum bag, where I kept my passport.

It's clear there was no-one else who knew exactly where I kept what money, and only Javier had ever seen me use my wallet, including my zipped pocket in the wallet where I kept my larger notes.

Lesson learnt, when I confronted Javier back in Mazan, he claimed that he wasn't there during the night, and that it must have been someone else.

Tired of his lies, I pretended I had no more money to give, and invited Gayle to return to Iquitos with me to get some cash. Once Javier was out of the picture, and Gayle had come to meet me in my hotel room, to go to Iquitos, I confided in him, and asked him how long he had known Javier. He told me he hadn't known him long, and confirmed my suspicions, when he told me that we never paid any money for the fish that we had eaten during our journey. Even though Javier had taken 20 soles to buy fish, we had traded a flour snack for the fish, and I had seen it all.

I ended up giving Gayle 100 soles, with some extra to bring Mauro's 70 soles payment upto 90, and Gayle kindly offered to assist me to the port, regardless.

The sincerity of Gayle and Mauro, and their strong work ethic made me want to thank them more, but having lost the money I'd withdrawn from the bank, I had no flexibility in my generosity beyond what I had, and figured Javier had taken enough money to pay for everything that I wasn't going to buy his complaining whining of 'how am I going to pay for everything?'.

Leaving Mazan, I arrived in Iquitos, checked into a cheap hostal, and slept well, after visiting the uncle, who I had gotten quite fond of!

Sat 9th July - Prepping the Journey

2005-07-18T12:09:00.000-07:00

Get woken up early to speak with a man who owns a motor. Pay him 70 soles, since he needs to pay the mechanic 50 soles to get his motor back, and give him 20 soles as a deposit.

I also get introduced to an 'amigo' who will be joining us for the journey. Gayle.

After paying another 20 soles, we get a boat secured. We pay for gasoline (320 odd soles), buy supplies (70 odd soles), and by then it's already 2 or 3 in the afternoon, and Javier tells me we'll leave tomorrow, early in the morning. Happy to wait, I suggest we at least go and try out the boat and the motor, since I wanted to see what it looked like, and how big it was - and also to start getting prepared mentally. Riding to the place where the boat is docked, we get the motor onto the boat, and take it out for a spin.

The boat was tiny - with three seats, front middle and back, and as we're making our way back in, thinking of needing space for at least one more person, (my princess) I ask if we can't get a bigger boat? And as I say that the perfect sized boat floats in, and I question, can we get something like that?

Well we end up getting the very same boat that I'd spotted, and with news that we can have it from 10am the next morning, we call it a day.

Later that evening, I walk into town, and end up meeting a 'mechanic' called Chesman and his friend, who has seen me getting ready for the trip, and wants to be my 'guide' for the trip. After explaining the nature of my journey, I discover that the mechanic had seen me, and had wanted to 'connect' with me, talk with me, without quite understanding why. The more I talk, the more he understands the 'heart connection', and how there was just something about me that drew him to me.

Before leaving, he insists that I take a 'gringo' tent that he has, and Chesman promptly goes to his home, gets the tent, and then even shows me how easily it assembles, and disassembles! (doesn't take more than 5 minutes to put it up, and it only has two flexible poles that come apart), and slide into the fabric, to act as a support for the structure.

Impressed, I make my way back to the hotel clearer than ever that this is a journey that is completely guided, and everything is happening exactly as it needs to unfold!

7th,8th,9th July

2005-07-18T11:55:00.000-07:00

Evening of the 7th of July, it turns out that I spent too long on the Internet, updating my blog to be able to get out of Iquitos in the evening, and reach Mazan.

Instead I ended up finding a hotel for the night - 10 Soles, good deal.

On the morning of the 8th of July, I decided to make sure I get to Mazan - so by 2pm, I'm at the port Productores, and find a 'Lancha' - a slow boat that's going down to Mazan. 2 and a half hours later, I arrive in Mazan, and getting into a motortaxi, get taken to the 'centre'. Finding the cheaper hostel a little too cheap for my taste (what with no en suite, a single bed, and a room that had thin wooden walls that didn't reach the ceiling, but touched the floor), I decided that 10 soles was too much for so little, and moving onto the Hostal Municipal, discovered that for 2 soles extra I would be able to get an en suite (meaning shower and toilet - nothing fancy though... just a room with a loo and a sink, and a shower head with a metal rod sticking out of the wall to turn the shower on and off with..) and haggled my way into a 'Matrimonial' suite which meant a double bed too, for the same price!

That evening I fished around a little for some clues as to what to do next, and ended up finding a bakery selling wholemeal bread, after dinner in the market. Attracted by the wholemeal bread, I started to buy some, and as things go out here, I got talking with the lady of the store, telling her about my 'vision' and quest.

She ends up suggesting a fella named Javier, who get's tracked down and brought to the Bakery store, who sits down with me, looks at my map, hears my story, and agrees to be my 'guide'. Asking him straight up how much it would cost, he kindly offers to come with me 'voluntario' - which I figured meant he was happy to come along for free.

That evening, I went to bed, knowing that in the morning, once we had our transport sorted out, we'd be on our way to the point in the Mazan that my map was showing me was where I should be...

Pictures from Peru

2005-07-07T16:20:00.000-07:00

I leave you with the website of a friends(Kathleens) photo gallery, so that you may see some of the things that I have seen in Peru..

http://journeywithoutdistance.smugmug.com/gallery/589309/6

http://journeywithoutdistance.smugmug.com/gallery/589309/7

4th - 7th of July - return to Iquitos....

2005-07-07T15:58:00.000-07:00

So on the morning of the 4th, we wake up, and decide to get breakfast on the way to the federal office where we can get our visas into Brazil.

Getting lost on the way to the Federal office, we eventually, end up buying some juices, before arriving at Immigrations, where the Austrians gain their entry stamps, and I get my entry and exit at the same time!

On our way back to the hotel we find the place that Sebastian had been looking for for breakfast, and buy some of this fruit that's meant to be a real brazilian specialty. Upon buying it, it doesn't taste quite like anyone expected, and becomes a gift to whoever picked it up off the street!

Buying a coconut, from which we drink the milk out of, we get back to the restaurant where we ate the first day, and have our lunch. Then, back in the hotel, I pack, and take the guys to meet the shop owner who I bought sandals from.

As the rain starts pouring down, I rush back to get my things packed, before too much time passes, and decide I should start heading over to Peru now.

Walking all the way down to the river, I don't see the Austrians anywhere, and loathe to leave without at least saying goodbye, I decide to go back up, and see if I missed them somewhere. They end up coming out of a shop, and seeing me, make their way down to me. I suggest why don't they come over to Peru for a bit, and so we all get the taxi boat together. There, we meet our boat, that is getting ready for it's return journey, and the Austrians end up joining the crew for a game of footie (football/soccer). Watching (since I'm too tired to join in), I think back to how slowly time has passed, and yet how it seems like it's been such a long time knowing all these people, even though it's hardly been a few days. Sebastian, and Joachim, especially have faces that remind me of people that either I know, or they have faces that I might have seen before...

Anyhow, after the football, and few beers with the guys from the ship, the Austrians head back to Brazil, and I set up my hammock in the boat.

By 7-30pm, I'm ready to unpack my things, and head back to Brazil, as the Immigrations lady hasn't arrived and the boat is scheduled to leave at 8pm! Fortunately, she arrives, just as I give up all hope, and I get my entry visa, as well as a bite to eat, before the boat leaves!

The next two days and nights get lost between the books I was reading, and the conversations I had with the crew. I had become a familiar face to many of the crew, and having spent the time to talk with them on the outward journey, they weren't shy and readily came upto me, and started cnversations - felt good - more like family, than a passenger!

As it turns out, I think my spanish might have been misunderstood, or the man collecting money for the tickets felt overly kind towards me, but I ended up travelling back to Iquitos on the same ticket that I had come out on. Saving myself an extra 40 Soles. That more than made up for buying an expensive hammock on the first day!!

Today, 7th of July, at about 12am, in the morning, we docked into Iquitos. Loathe to leave, I decided I'd sleep the night in the boat, like a few others had. In the morning, I made my way into town, with express purpose of getting my Webblog upto scratch, and for some reason I wanted to phone home too...

It turns out that today, in London, some bombs went off bringing fear and some panic to the capital. From what I've been reading... the strongest most constructive response to any violence, of any kind, is to be that much clearer in the light, and in the unconditional love, and to use it to reflect back to anyone that considers harming you the choice of the path of love, or the opportunity to destroy themselves with the amplified return of their own hatred, and fear.

The moment anything is experienced, and held as an emotion, it gains power, and so I stand strongly in this moment, spreading out and reaching out with my vision of a world of peace, love and harmony, holding it more strongly, returning the light ever more brightly, to those that would try to bring anything less than into my thoughts, feelings, or consciousness.

As long as I hold myself clearly I have seen my path out here in Peru unfold so clearly and effortlessly, it's unbelieveable. And in completing this vision, I hold that possibility out to you too dear friend, and brother.

Think of nothing but peace, talk of nothing but love, and see nothing but light, and then all your thoughts, words and visions will be filled with a truth which no-one will be able to deny.

I now leave this weblog, so that I may continue my journey up the river Mazan, into the forest, to meet the woman who is waiting for me.

With her, I shall return, and share my news with you all. Till then, may your prayers be filled with nothing but positive affirmative, constructive thoughts words and deeds, and may you too see the same light of the new dawn shining out brightly from the heart that is aflame within.

In love and light to all that read this... I wish you the highest vision of self that you can see - for you are perfect, and complete, if you only knew...

3rd July - Three countries in a day!

2005-07-07T15:40:00.000-07:00

So we arrive in Santa Rosa at about 11am, and get our 'exit' visa´s for Peru. Then we get a water boat taxi to take us to Brazil - to Tabatinga. There we don't find any immigration waiting for us to enter, and so we end up, after getting a few drinks of beer and cola (them and me!) to check into a hotel that a visitor from Switzerland recommends us, as he sees us in the street.

We check in, and I end up tagging along with the 3 foreigners who I had been following since we left the boat together. They had all gone ahead of me, and I followed them, as they seemed to know where our passports had been taken, and then seemed to know how to get to Brazil. It turns out Sebastian, Florian, and Joachim were from Austria, and they had travelled the river down to Iquitos from Ecuador, and were heading to visit a friend in Brazil, in Sao Paulo, after visiting Manaous.

I had originally planned to visit Manauaos myself - but deciding the journey would take too long, I had decided against it, and was planning to return to Peru the next day. As it happens, the Austrians were more than happy to share their room with me, and so I didn't really pay for much during my time in Brazil. Especially since they seemed to have the local money, and I didn't have anything but Peruvian Soles at the time.

I decided to go and buy some sandals, and in doing so, ended up spending over two hours chatting with the store keeper, who insisted I sit, and have some refreshments, as we talked (mainly repeatedly going back to the large shoe size I had, amongst other things!)

Well, returning to the hotel, I couldn't find sight of my Austrian buddies, and so went lookign for them. I first thought they'd have headed to a local place to eat, but I didn't see em anywhere to be found. Eventually, talking with a lady who served me some cheese and potato pie, I learned that there was celebrations happening that evening in Leticia, the next town down - and me being me I thought maybe they might have gone so far as there!

Getting onto the back of a motor taxi (read motorbike, with empty passenger seat behind!), I daringly ventured into the 'festival'. Upon arriving, at the Fiesta of San Pedro (a hallucinogenic Cactus!), I learnt that I had crossed into Columbia, and that Leticia was in a different country to Tabatinga, where we had our hotel.

After looking around briefly, deciding that there's no way that they would have been able to come all this way, alone, without leaving me a note at least, I decide to return to Brazil, and when I find the Austrians, to bring them along to here. The stage seems packed, with the audiences filling all the rows, and watching the performance, I'm sure they would appreciate it.

Returning to the hotel, with the same motortaxi, I arrive back at the hotel to find the Austrians playing cards, since clearly there doesn't seem to be anything to do in Tabatinga that evening.

We all get ready, and go to the fiesta for a few hours, in Colombia, and return back to get some sleep by 12 or 1 am the following morning. It was really beautiful seeing the fiesta, because everyone was joining in. Whilst you had whole groups of people standing around, as you'd expect, there'd be spontaneous acts of dancing by old people, as well as young. But most beautiful to watch was the older people... they had a grace and style, that did justice to the festive atmosphere, and reminded me of how in latino cultures, there just isn't the age difference in the same way... The old are as agile as the young, if not even stronger spirited even!

That night I slept well, tired from the travelling, and festivities!

1st July - 3rd of July Travel to Brazil

2005-07-07T15:30:00.000-07:00

I get a taxi to take me some place to eat, after checking out at noon, and find unable to eat much - just feeling sickly from the heat.

So I get in a cab, and get to the river. There, a 'helpful' local gets me everything I need for my journey to Santa Rosa, the frontier of Peru, and ends up assisting me in buying a hammock, a lunch box, spoon, toilet paper, and water....

Turns out I discover in Brazil that the hammock was about half the price had I bought it in the market in town... but it get's balanced out in the end!

That night, the boat finally leaves, with me swinging in my hammock, unsure of what to expect. I spot a group of three foreigners travelling on the same boat, and as much as I am drawn to go upto them and start talking to them, I end up spending the bulk of my journey resting, or reading these books that I borrowed from Kathleen. ´Life and Teaching of the Masters of the Far East' by Baird T. Spalding (If you can I strongly recommend buying, and reading the 6 volumes of this set of books that were published back in the early 1900´s - I'm sure they are the truth behind books like the Celestine Prophecy!)

I also manage to arrange to have as a guide for my journey a man who hangs from a hammock beside me. We agree to meet on the same boat, on the return journey, and so I'm set for my travel upto the Rio Mazan.

Two days and two nights later, we arrive in Santa Rosa, on the afternoon of our third day... as you can tell, I've lost track of time here... According to my passport, we left Peru on the 3rd of July!

Sun 29th,30th June - Iquitos

2005-07-07T15:22:00.000-07:00

Sun 29th, flight leaves at 10.55 from Cusco. On the journey to the Airport, Cousin Willy stops at a store where I can buy a hip bag - as somewhere to keep my valuables safe.

Then, at the airport, after checking in, I go buy some breakfast, and some cheese for my journey... Returning to the airport I bump into Billie, who's on her way to Porta Maldonado, the Jungle, but in another direction. We get chatting, and I also meet her artist friend, who insists I look him up upon my return to Cusco.

We chat some more in the waiting lounge, I again share my insights, and learn of Billies, before I have to head off.

I get my flight to Lima, and then to Iquitos, and before I know it, I'm there... it's so hot!

I check into the Hotel Internacionale, and spend the night resting.

Mon 30th June The next day, I spend the better part of the day lazing around the room, watching movies in English with spanish subtitles. Deciding to get something to eat, I eventually get to the Tourist office, and get directions for local transport. I decide tomorrow I have to leave, cos the heat is sweltering hot, and it's pointless walking around Iquitos. Not least because of the noise of all the motor taxis!

That evening, I get my stuff together, and decide that in the morning I leave!

Sat Jun 27 - Sun Jun 28

2005-07-07T15:15:00.000-07:00

Sat Jun 27 - Today I end up booking my flights to Lima and Iquitos, as I've decided that I don't want to take a bus to Lima - as it would take too long... I had to travel on the 29th... dunno why... but it just seemed the date I had to travel!

In the evening, back at Kathleens, I set Kathleen up with an Addressbook on my website.
Her friend Angel, who performed her Ayuhuasca journey with her comes round to visit, and joins us for supper.
In the evening, we end up watching 'What Dreams May Come', with Robin Williams - a most timely film, if ever I could imagine a more fitting moment to see such fantasy, and adventure come to life!

That night, I sleep like a baby!

Sun June 28 - Today, I just have to get to Puma's house. It feels like it would be wrong to go to Iquitos without at least spending one night there. Intent on leaving early, I end up running errands, until it becomes 7pm, and by the time I get to the house it becomes 8-30pm. Spend a little time with everyone, including the Baby, and with Puma who returned from Canada today, and with my flight set to leave tomorrow morning, I spend a bit of time packing only things for the warm jungle weather, leaving all my other clothes at Puma's house for when I return.

Sun June 26 - Rest and Relaxation

2005-07-07T14:51:00.000-07:00

Scott comes in the morning, just as Kathleen finishes up with a friend who has given her a tarot reading. We all end up together in the kitchen talking for a while... all exchange valuable knowledge, and as Kathleens friend leaves, Scott starts my reiki session, whilst Kathleen works. Then after me, Kathleen gets her Reiki session. We have lunch, hang around talking a while, and then end up going out for some Mazamorra. (as you can tell time passes real fast!)

As we eat Mazamorra, I meet Puma's aunt, and say I'll try to go visit her tomorrow. We end up visiting a South African lady who runs the Gringo Hostal, and organises San Pedro journeys. We have a chef from Lima who prepares some food for us, and then get home tired - as usual.

Sat June 25 - cooking Indian

2005-07-07T14:29:00.000-07:00

Morning comes, we head for the bakery for some breakfast, after sorting out some things on the Internet. After a few hours of having one of those 'deep and meaningful' conversations, we head off for our errands, and bump into a friend of Kathleens, who starts telling Kathleen all sorts of Visa things she needs to know... I hang around, and end up asking about my visa, which is when I learn it's best if I leave the country to renew it, and get a 90 day visa on my return. Rosie, Kathleens friend asks if I can cook Indian food, and before I know, I'll be cooking dinner tonight, missing Barry before he leaves for his flight, I end up getting back to the house, and Kathleen goes off to get some supplies... tired, I end up resting till she returns.
After guests start arriving, and dinner is only partially cooked, Rosie lets on that she used to be a chef, and reminds me of the altitude difference, which makes cooking slower. Dinner ends up being a group effort, with the many people that Kathleen invites as all coming, and helping out. After dinner, we chill, and Kathleen shows everyone the pictures of her travels. Once everyone else leaves, Scott is left washing up in the kitchen, and we end up chatting along more spiritual lines... We leave it with Scott to return tomorrow, and provide us both with Reiki, and late into the night, get to bed!

Fri June 24 - Return to Cusco

2005-07-07T14:20:00.000-07:00

Fri 24 Jun - I get up early, say good bye to everyone, and end up getting a train to Oyllantaytambo. The lady who had stopped to give me a huge smile turned out to be 'Billie', and as she saw me at the train station, she came over to talk to me, and we just 'connected'! It was wonderful - I switched places with her friend Barbara, and we spoke for the whole journey, never once noticing the time go by. They were also returning to Cusco, and were going to pay for a taxi, so I joined them.

We first went to Inti Ayllu since I'd left a charger there - but it seems I was to miss Susan who had possession of it, locked in her room. So we got back in the cab, and went the distance to Cusco airport, where Barbara and Billie would fly to Puno. We had lunch, after checking them into the airport, and as they returned to the airport, I checked my emails. I met Kathleen on my way out of the Cybercafe, and get her keys to leave my things in her apartment, whilst she went to dinner with a friend. I return her the keys, and go off to try to find Barry who was also returning to Cusco later today. No sign of Barry at his hotel, so I leave a message and return to Kathleen's flat.

No Kathleen either. Just as I'm leaving, the lady frm the flat below, Jane, appears, and she happens to have a spare key for Kathleens place, and lets me in... Waiting in Kathleens flat, Barry calls, and we connect... We arrange to have dinner, and I leave to meet him. It appears that Kathleen returned just a short while after I left, and after a tired evening, since both Barry and I have been waking up early and sleeping late, we have a light supper, and both return to our respective beds. It was pretty late!

Thurs June 23 - Macchu Picchu

2005-07-07T14:03:00.000-07:00

Get up early in the morning, as we want to get an early bus upto Macchu Picchu, before it fills up with too many tourists. End up getting up there after the sun has risen, but it's light hasn't reached the ruins, since they're so high up. We start by walking through the ruins, towards the other mountain Wayna Picchu. We decide as a group that we'd like to go to the Temple of the Moon which is like the heart of Wayna Picchu first, and then spend time in Macchu Picchu.

The bus makes the ride upto Macchu Picchu easy - but walking from Macchu Picchu, up and around Wayna Picchu, is a real adventure (I guess I forgot to read the sign that said not to attempt the walk unless you had a good level of health!) Well after losing the rest of the group, and being supported by Vidal, who at times was my walking stick, as well as my safety rope, I managed to get about half of the way round, and decided I'd not go any further. I ended up sitting on the steps, and encouraged Vidal to go on, saying I would wait for the group to return, and would return with them.

Three or four hours later, the group starts coming past... I'd almost given up hope on them... but decided to carry on waiting. Whilst waiting, I'd met some wonderful people giving mostly smiles, and some coca leaves, to a few that seemed really to be struggling with the height.. There was one lady that even stopped to look straight at me, and shone a smile directly at me...
Eventually my group returned, and I made my way back. I had fortunately had a wonderful view straight at the back of Macchu Picchu, but I'd more importantly developed a patience whilst waiting... expectant, but not rushed for anything. On the journey back, I managed to slowly but surely get there.... last as usual! The rest of the group was returning to town, to meet Freddy, their Shaman from Chicago - but I was too tired to move, and decided I should stay a while here, and then spend a bit of time in Macchu Picchu since I wouldn't have time the next day. After spending perhaps another two or three hours in the ruins, meandering my way round, I end up leaving, getting back to the hotel, after spending over an hour talking to a lady in a spiritual new age store that happened to carry a banner of peace, as well as a Jose Arguelles Dreamspell book, and guide.

I have dinner alone, spend some time resting in the hotel, and end up getting to sleep quite late.

Tues June 21 - Wed June 22

2005-07-07T13:41:00.000-07:00

Tues June 21 - Get back to Inti Ayllu, after a long night, and ready to fall asleep.
Wake up to find that it's afternoon.
In the evening, a whole group of Americans turn up unexpected. Martin and I get moved into the same room so that everyone can be accomodated.
Go shopping for food with Barry from the group... we turn out having a lot in common.
We end up cooking the food we bought, whilst the rest of the group is in Qorikancha, in ceremony. I manage to get the fire going... though with help and guidance from Carmen.

Tomorrow the group leaves for Aguas Calientes, the entrance to Macchu Picchu, and because I want to talk with Barry more, I decide I'll go with them to the station, and if I can go, I'll go with them.

Wed June 22 - Travelling to the train station, I realise I don't have enough money to pay for everything... but I decide to 'trust' and see what happens. As the americans are queueing up for the train, I try to buy a ticket, but find it way too expensive. Ready to leave them there - I get asked how much extra do I need to come? I end up being given money from each person, and with the combined total I have enough to buy a ticket there! They get on their train, and the Peruvian guides help me buy a ticket, and then get on their train, with me travelling on the train after them. Turns out there was a group of protestors on the tracks, and I arrive in Aguas Calientes just a short while after everyone else - even though their train had left Ollantaytambo over an hour before mine! I took it as a good sign for my choice of travelling. In Aguas Calientes, I end up with a hotel room sharing with Don Juan the Q'ero Shaman, and Vidal, the local Shaman, and decide to hold off returning to Cusco for tomorrow, as planned - so that I can spend a whole day at Macchu Picchu tomorrow - and in the evening I just go to the hot water baths, where everyone in their swimming costumes gets to clean themselves, and just relax in the open air, facing a mountain range, and the river that feeds the baths we bathe in.

Mon June 20 - 21 Welcoming the new year

2005-07-07T09:36:00.000-07:00

So I took the resin/detox medicine back to Inti Ayllu, and with the requisite freshly squeezed orange juice at the ready, I took the tea with resin in one big gulp, and then downed the orange juice straight after. I'd already drunk a gooey liquid, in the form of a cactus (I think it was called Tonno, or Tunno), which reminded me of Aloe Vera, so not wanting to think about it too much, I just downed the liquid, and let the OJ wash away the taste. It seems I didn't have long to wait for the effects to take effect...
Within minutes, I was in the toilet, vomiting everything I'd had so far, and I'm sure a bit more.

Then I had to wait the 4 hours, before the diarrohea like symptoms were to set in, and start to relieve my body of anything that could be left in my digestive system. We were told we had to continue to drink hot tea, so that our insides wouldn't get messed up, and that we had to keep moving, to try to keep our bowels moving...

I tried the walking up the mountain, behind Inti Ayllu, but the thought that I may need a toilet, and the steepness of the slope made me choose the simpler path of walking along the main road.

After about an hours walking, and no significant change in my bodys willingness to give up anymore of its contents, I got back to the house, to find that Susan had eaten some food, and her body had started purging. I thought I'll try that approach... and so ate a full plate full of food. No luck. After spending an hour lying with crystals over my tummy to also help... no luck... It turns out, that by the evening, when we started to get ready to go to the temple for the all night fire, my body hadn't responded to the cleansing process.

Perhaps I had nothing left to cleanse, or perhaps I needed more resin... In any case, I decided that my body wasn't going to give me trouble, and headed with the group to the temple.

Once our 'group' had assembled outside the entrance to Oyllantaytambo, one of the guardians of this 'tourist' site, let us in, so that we could continue the sacred tradition of keeping a fire burning all night, before welcoming the sun in the new year.

After climbing up all the stairs to the top of the temple (and we stopped a few times on the way up), we began by gathering where the fire had been burnt in the past, and gave thanks to the space, before finding a new location, that we would be able to cover up, and where we would be able to hide the fact that we had burnt a fire. It seems that whilst the guardian was more than willing to allow us access to this sacred site, it was 'unofficial', and so we had to make sure that we cleared away all signs of our fire before the tourists started visiting in the morning. It felt a shame that Tourists had priority over the 'traditions' that the place had been built to maintain. It's almost like going into a mosque or a church as a tourist, whilst worshippers of that holy place have to perform their prayers in secret. Such is the way of governments that try to catch up financially with what little they have.

Anyhow, we have a wonderful evening, started by each person placing a log into the pile from which the fire will burn. Each person placing those things from the past year that they are ready to let go of, or have transformed.

Then, once the fire is lit, one of our group (a New Yorker, called Michael) is chosen to keep the fire burning. He's already familiar with the practice, having kept fires alive in the US, during native american ceremonies, and so it seems the perfect choice!

Through the evening, offerings are made, with k'intus (coca leaves) despachos (sacred bundles), and we keep tending the fire until about 3 or 4am in the morning. This is when we put a huge offering into the fire, for the Apus (the mountain spirits), from all the circle, for all of humanity. Wanting the Apus to consume the offering in private, we leave the fire, and walk away, allowing it to burn, unattended.

We then open a 'talking' circle, where everyone is invited to share anything that moved them, or touched them, or to even just talk, with the group, about their experience. We even get a few songs shared by people. Some traditional, quechua songs, some in spanish... Eventually, after everyone had shared.. people started to huddle under the blankets, and fall asleep. I had thought that it was a good time to return to the fire, as it would heat us, and as it felt like we should stay awake to honour that which we were doing. The fire, reduced to embers, was nothing more than glowing ash, but with some wood, and some fanning, we were able to bring the fire back into flames. And then kept it alive, until it was time to 'tidy up'.

Tidying up, we kept a small amount of the fire burning on a plate sized slate of rock, whilst the remaining ash, and embers were put out, and hidden behind big rocks, out of site, in the grass.

Then with our remaining fire, smoking away, we moved to a more prominent position, from where we would be able to see the sun, as it hit the first 'gateway' that had been built with the temple, to be able to see the progression of the sun through the sky.

Mon June 20 - Beginning a cleansing

2005-06-20T07:54:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, I left Cusco to make my way to a place called Inti Ayllu. I didn't know anything more about it other than it was a community, and I wanted to visit before I left for Iquitos.

Well, after a few days of getting to know the main man Hermano Vidal, and Carmen, yesterday I met a whole bunch of english speaking Americans, including one Susan Bookman, who had replied to me via email, on behalf of Vidal.

This morning I woke up feeling like this is going to be a very special day. At night, we're going to spend all night awake, keeping a sacred fire burning, up on the mountain, to welcome in the new year (being southern hemisphere, it's a month earlier than the Mayan new year). But before I get to be a part of that, I've decided to undergo a cleansing process. This involves taking an oil/resin in a tea, and then spending 5 or 6 or maybe even 8 hours eliminating everything, from above and below, until there's nothing left.

It's meant to be very powerful, and I've just bought the necessary tonics... Now I'm heading back to Inti Ayllu, to begin... I'll let you know how it goes...

Wed 15 June - Puma flies to Canada

2005-06-18T12:00:00.000-07:00

Wake up early, to find everyone awake, bustling around..

Get ready, and find it's still early in the morning, and Puma's getting ready to go to the airport... End up riding along with the rest of the family to the airport... Seems it's a bit of an occasion, and the sisters, are riding along, as well as an Aunt!

I guess not everyone gets to go in and out of airports like some of us!

At the airport, I realise just how much of a novelty escalators are, as the aunts walk up the stairs, and the kids eagerly go up and down the escalators!

After seeing Puma off, we head back to the car, and everyone piles in again... we then become a bit of a cab, dropping people off on the way to the market, before we reach home.

When we're at the market, talking with Willy, (Puma's cousin I think?), I learn that typically when Willy was working as a builder he was taking home about 500 soles each month.. the equivalent of 100 pounds! Not much to live on.. and his graduation costs about 2,000 or 3,000 soles I think. Till then, he has to wait before he can graduate in being a tour guide.... Shocking I know! Boy do we need to change the planet if ever we needed to!

Tues 14 June - Baby comes home!

2005-06-18T11:55:00.000-07:00

Today, Edy and the baby get to come home! So sometime in the afternoon, Edy and baby get picked up, and with a car load full, including grandparents, grand aunts, and yours truly stuffed in the trunk, we make the journey home!

That afternoon, Puma's room becomes a reception room for family, friends and neighbours, all eager to offer their congratulations!

That evening, I eventually get a coca leaf reading from Puma - and he clearly sees the trip to Iquitos, and it being a good thing... He also sees a whole bunch of other stuff through the coca leaves, including me meeting my 'princess' out in Peru! Another good sign, if I was ever short of them!

Mon 13 Jun - A Baby is born

2005-06-18T11:42:00.000-07:00

5 am - Puma's son was born!

When I wake up, I find out that Puma's at the hospital with Edy (Edith his wife:), and that the baby was born that morning!

Thinking back, I realised it's an interesting choice of time for the baby... since it was literally only hours after I had found my 'destination' in the jungle, and it was only two days before Puma was heading off to Canada...

And to be there the day that the baby was born was reminiscent of the words of Elisabet, of becoming the godfather...

A short while after waking up, Puma returns to the house to collect supplies, and I tag along on the ride to the hospital. Unforunately, visitors aren't allowed in, until after 1pm, and so upon leaving Edy some Caldo (A soup for people who are ill, or need to recover their strength!) I get dropped off downtown, whilst the others head back to the house.

As I wonder the streets looking for an internet cafe, I hear bollywood music playing, and upon inspecting further, I discover that it's an indian style vegetarian restaurant, fronted by a shop selling mainly indian clothes. Upon asking, they happen to also stock Bollywood music, and DVD´s. So I end up after spending close to an hour to listening to a whole bunch of cd's, buying some bollywood music, and a DVD of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, as a gift for Puma and Edy, for their new born...

Then I head off to the hospital, after a good few hours on the Internet, updating this blog...

Get to hold the little-un, and I'm reminded of my own niece Naba being born, and holding her the afternoon after she was born too... Reminds me of how special babies are...

Sometime later, perhaps even a few days later, I'm telling my story to Puma's mom, and she suggests maybe the baby wanted me to be there when he was born... I give up trying to know anything for sure anymore.. anything's possible in this crazy world huh?

After the hospital, we go to get some supplies, and I get to buy a whole bunch of outfits, and blankets for the baby... my gifts to the baby! Now I just need to find the perfect cuddly toy!

Sun 12 June - Path into the Jungle

2005-06-18T08:45:00.000-07:00

Today, for some reason I decided to dowse a map of Peru that I had bought with a quartz crystal pendulum that I happened to buy a few days ago too...

So with the map open in front of me, I started to 'set' the pendulum for the yes and no responses, by asking questions that would give clear yes and no answers... Then I started to hold the pendulum over the map, on Cuzco, and we got a clear no...

Slowly moving over the map, I eventually found myself over the north region of Loreta, and found that over Iquitos, I started to get a 'yes' from the pendulum. Wanting to make sure, I moved in closer over the map, and suddenly the yes became a no... strange I thought.. so I kept moving and all of a sudden I found a yes response over the place called 'Mazon'. Focusing on Mazon, suddenly the pendulum started to swing directly over the Rio Mazon leading out of Mazon, heading north west...

Allowing the pendulum to guide me, I kept moving it along the river, until it went past the end of the river, and came to a complete stop. It just stopped moving. No yes, no no, just stillness. I figured this was where I was meant to head to. So moving out from the map, I decided to get a more aerial perspective, and as I moved further up, the pendulum started to give me a 'yes' response, again becoming still when I moved closer into the spot.

So, trusting my intution, I shared with Puma the location on the map that I was looking to travel to, and when I asked him if he had any way of checking it out, he suggested a coca reading on Tuesday - the day that coca readings are best made. Knowing how accurate a coca reading could be, having read about how Joan Parisi Wilcox had been predicted to share the knowledge of the Q'ero´s long before she had even thought of writing a book about them, I figured it would be a good validation, as well as providing me a little solace of spirit that I wasn't going into the Jungle blindly.

Wed 8 June - Discovering another Paqo

2005-06-13T11:32:00.000-07:00

Wanted to meet with Kathleen Fimmel today - a friend of a friend who I'd gotten in touch with by email, but it seems that I woke up at 3 or 4pm. Walked into Plaza after a bit of Internet, and decided to get a falafel. Found a shoe store, where I might get a pair of shoes from, saw a kid selling a Quechua book, thought I want one! Watched Ocean's 12, got Kathleen on the phone as she was going out the door. Had pizza, went to Internet Cafe. Ended up speaking with the old man who works there (or maybe he owns it too??) Arranged to meet with his Paqo friend (Paqo being the word for a Q'ero medicine man). It seems he also knows of the old ways, and the traditions. Offers me a cactus drink for my health.

Tues 7 June - Starting a Blog...

2005-06-13T11:29:00.000-07:00

As I was waking up I felt like someone was tapping me, and that my hand was being pulled. But no-one was there. After waking up, we get an electric rickshaw style taxi to the car, had breakfast, and then drove back to Cusco. From there I spent most of the day in the Internet Cafe setting up this web blog! End up checking into the Hostal Acosta after eating half-cooked pizza and experiencing diaorrhea again. Ended up going between the hotel and Internet, until the internet stopped working. So I went into town and watched the tail end of Be Cool. Got a cab back and slept.

Mon 6 June - Flying to Americo Yabar

2005-06-13T11:20:00.000-07:00

Up at 5.30am. Get to airport, buy ticket. Decide to buy something for family. End up with Dunkin Donuts brekkie. Get flight, brekkie again. Then in Cusco, on street outside airport was the best brekkie... Warm apple juice, with quinoa, and Avocado on bread.. YUMMIEE!! Bus to town, meet Americo after 10am. End up in Pisaq for lunch with Americo. Then have some sleep @ his family home, before driving up the mountain in Calca. Most amazing ride.. We give lifts to locals, and give bread to everyone we meet on the way... Speak with the powerspot that has called me. Dinner, and then back at the house, we light a fire in the fireplace, which burns ferociously. Sleep.

Sun 5 June - Feeling better!!

2005-06-13T11:16:00.000-07:00

Much better! Woke up feeling more myself. Found Papi playing guitar downstairs. Everyone else asleep or resting somewhere. Have half a cup of brekkie, with some bread. Watch TV. Seems Papi has to go to work & there I was hoping to spend some time with the whole family.. Apparently not as much time as I wanted. Realise I'll have to take a flight tomorrow morning from Lima. Nice dinner. Watch Star Wars & Lord of the Rings. Talk with Artu (a cousin-in-law) about life, get to bed early. Early start tomorrow.

Sat 4 June - Being taken care of...

2005-06-13T11:11:00.000-07:00

Wake up feeling better. I think the Coca leaves the night before helped digest whatever it was. Still feeling fragile though. Have coca tea for brekkie, with some bread. Puma goes with uncle to help out at work. End up spending the day watching films in English with Spanish subtitles. Helps a little with vocab and phrases. For lunch a quinoa soupy sauce with rice... and salady veg - v. nice!! Rest a while, eat a while... In evening I feel better, hear Papi's guitar, put on music, start dancing salsa, merengue, hip hop... By 3am, go to sleep. Exhausted.

Fri 3 June - Day of rest...

2005-06-13T11:07:00.000-07:00

Wake up not feeling so hot. Puma has disappeared to Embassy & Papi to work, so have breakfast feeling ill. Watch TV whilst everyone else is doing their own thing. After a while of not feeling so good, I decide to lie down. Get woken up about 3pm for lunch. Eat, but then a short while after I go back to sleep. End up skipping dinner cos tummy hurts, and sleep through till the morning. Throughout night, I'm waking up to slip to loo, and back to bed... not feeling too good...

Thurs 2 June - Arriving in Lima

2005-06-13T10:59:00.000-07:00

Wake up to find that it's getting light.... (Bus trip from Cusco to Lima is 21 hours, and we left Cusco yesterday at 8pm!)
See the sun rising as we drive round the mountains. Stop for breakfast... having pacified my tummy a little with coca tea, earth breathing, and just trying to feel the spiritual balance being in harmony. End up riding through the Nasca lines area, and driving by the coast. Arrive in Lima after being entertained on the bus by some musicians, a sales man for Aloe Vera supplements, and my iPod. Arrive in the Uncles place of work, meet Aunt and Uncle. Have dinner in a chicken restaurant. Take back some food for them. Spend an hour on the Internet chatting to Bro online. Get back before Fredy, and end up talking to the Aunt and Uncle for 2 or 3 hours, talking in Spanish. Never realised I could speak in Spanish... looks like the Michel Thomas course had worked.... At 10pm, we end up going for 'kebabs', which includes intestines, and take some home for the family. End up talking till 2am.

Wed 1 June - Happy Anniversary to my folks!

2005-06-13T10:53:00.000-07:00

Wake up as Puma is ready to go to town. Alex brings me breakfast and bread in bed. So I spend some time wondering what to do. Spend a bit of time writing up my diary, and in doing so Alex is ever curious as to the diary. I end up learning the days of the week, and the months of the year from May to Sept in Spanish. Go into town to phone home and wish em Happy Anniversary. End up on Internet , finding a few more places to connect with. Back at house decide to go to Lima with Puma by Bus half an hour before Puma's about to leave. Pack my stuff, and just go to the bus station. Get assigned seat number 27, the day of my birthday, so figure it makes a good sign! I end up feeling really ill on the bus, and within 4 hours, I'm in the toilet, letting everything out... after a half hour in the toilet without water or paper, I find a queue of people waiting for the toilet. I was so lucky that I had some tissue paper in my pocket, otherwise, I don't know what I would have done... Starting to learn the local norms, which include carrying your own toilet paper!

Tues 31 May - A day in Cusco

2005-06-13T10:47:00.000-07:00

Woke up to find Puma had already gone to town. Thought I should phone Don Americo today, so I ventured into town. Edgar takes me into town by cab, and I end up finding Calle Saphi, where a volunteer program I had seen advertised is located. Go onto the Internet to discover that I have my numerology report and spend time reading that. Watch a film, the Incredibles, and then eventually get back to the house via a cab. Have a dinner of rice and soup & also when I was online I found another two contacts in Cuzco - the journey unfolds.

Mon 30 May - Back to Fredy's home...

2005-06-13T10:36:00.000-07:00

Woke up in Chinchero, had breakfast, and fruit and sugar cane. Saw a bit of weaving start. Got picked up by Fredy's cousin and driven back to the house. Was invited to stay at the house, and had lunch of fried potatoes. Slept a while in the living room area. Woke up, had dinner and watched The Medallion, with Jackie Chan. Was invited to sleep upstairs in a bed, in a room all for myself. At first, I didn't want to impose, but everyone was so insistent and generous I had to take em up on their offer.

Sun 29 May - Meeting the elders of Chinchero

2005-06-13T10:23:00.000-07:00

Got picked up in San Blas, by Fredy (Puma's Spanish name..), stopped at the house to get supplies, and the rest of the family, and then went to Chinchero. Took stuff into Fredy's in-laws house in Chinchero, and then went upto church. Took part in mass, and then got to sit with the spiritual elders of Chinchero, as they welcomed Fredy into their council as their equal. I sat with Grandpa, since Fredy told me that everyone respected him, and as long as I was with him, no-one would mind me sitting there with them. We all had lunch, which was provided by Fredy and his family, then as they all went to play football, I went back to the house and rested.
Woke up and went downstairs, to find everyone there sitting and waiting. It seems I arrived at just the perfect time. Shared dinner, after the elders had performed a blessing with bread, again with each one taking their turn to say their piece, and congratulating everyone else. Everyone took shots of Piso, and Wine, and then after dinner, the music started. Eventually most of the men were up there dancing. I had the strangest feeling that I'd definitely seen half of the men before. When I later checked the book I had read by Joan Parisi Wilcox (Keepers of the Ancient Knowledge), there was no mention of any of the Chinchero spiritual elders there. Yet I was sure I had seen them whilst reading that book...

Sat 28 May - Visiting the market

2005-06-13T10:17:00.000-07:00

Spent most of Saturday in my hotel room, pining for the love of my life, that I had yet to meet.
Meet Ella in the square around 4pm, when I finally decide to go and get something to eat.
I wanted to find supplies for sewing and got directions to the marketplace, before I left the hostal.
There I ate fish, and got cloth, a rainbow seam, and needles and thread. I got back and started to repair my clothes, in preparation for Sunday and meeting the elders at Chinchero with Puma.
Was really nice having to sew. Look forward to more of it.

Fri 27 May - My Birthday!!

2005-06-13T10:05:00.000-07:00

What a wicked birthday!!
I decide on breakfast @ Jack's Cafe and meet the travellers I met yesterday. Ends up that we're both staying in the same place too!! Arrange to meet for dinner, and then go meet Puma. He arrives, and when he learns it's my Birthday, he takes me to Sacsayhuamán, and as goes the Peruvian tradition, he showers me with confetti, to represent the flowering of a new year. I found it real interesting that I should be 'flowered' on the day that my Mayan signature turns into a Seed - the keywords of which are 'flowering targets awareness' :)

Have lunch at the vegetarian resturant. I go to a shop I had visited the day before, and from where I wanted to buy a flute, known as a Quena. When the people in the shop find out it's my brithday, they start asking me what about cake? And I end up going with a lady from the store to the cake shop. I get to blow out a candle, and get my face pushed into the cake, as I'm encouraged to take a bite directly from the cake! All good fun!!

Then in the evening, I take the friends I've met with me to Puma's home, where we enjoy a meal of king fish, and rice. Then we finish with bollywood music from my iPod, as well as some bollywood music dvd's that Puma has... it was the last place on the planet that I'd expected to find some of the 'home' culture, and yet here I was, celebrating, and dancing to music from home! Puma's mom even had her favourite song!

Thur 26 May - Returning to Cusco

2005-06-13T10:01:00.000-07:00

Took the collectivo to Cuzco. Met with a pair of travellers from Shepherds Bush, my own home turf!
Got into Cuzco. Spent 2 hours trying to find a place to saty in. End up in Inti Quilla (The Moon & Sun!!) Call and speak to Puma - arrange to meet tomorrow. Have dinner in a place that was recommended. Taco's weren't very good. End up finding a nice little store selling woven stuff. Get gloves, scarf, hat & promise to return in september to buy more as gifts before returning to UK.

Wed 25 May - Meeting another Mark...

2005-06-08T21:53:00.000-07:00

Wanted to leave Oyllantaytambo today, but didn't get up until after 12pm. By the time it was 2pm, it all felt a bit forced, and I decided to go with the flow, and stay in Oyllantaytambo for another day.

Ended up buying a bag to carry my mesa in, as well as the long overcoat that I've bought with me from England... Saw a foreigner walk out of a side street, and stand there looking around, as if he'd just woken up. Something about him, just made me want to 'connect' with him... but at the time I didn't say anything to him.... A short while later, I decided to go wondering down the street that this man had appeared from, and just started walking.. without a real reason as to why... Eventually, I came across a 'hotel/restaurant', and I decided I'll go in here for a juice, or a drink.

As I go, in looking, for someone to order from, I happen to see a couple of foreigners eating lunch, watching tv, and one of them looks like the guy I saw on the street. A lady comes rushing out, and taking my order, I discover that this place has a roof top terrace.. so I head for it... I end up having a wonderful afternoon, sitting on the roof, looking out over the town, at the sacred site, the mountains, and the sun... It seems there isn't any other rooftop terrace, and so I guess I picked a lucky spot...

Spending time up top, eventually, this foreigner makes his way up to the terrace, to smoke a cigarette, and we start chatting... turns out he's also a Mark, only this time from Seattle, in the US. He has a ticket in three weeks, but wants to stay for longer, and so that evening, he was going to Cusco, with his friends ex-girlfriend, who happened to own the hotel, and was hopefully going to sort him out with some work, so that he could stay in Latin America for longer...

Exchanging emails, I stayed up on the roof top to admire the view of the stars, as they came out at night... but the moon seemed to stay hidden from view...

Satisfied that my afternoon had worked out perfectly, I made my way back to the main square, and having finally worked out that local menus were significantly cheaper than eating tourist menus, I found myself in a local restaurant, had the 'menu' for dinner, and went to bed, intent on getting up early enough tomorrow to leave for Cuzco...

Tues 24 May - Travelling to Oyllantaytambo

2005-06-08T20:24:00.000-07:00

Got buses from Pisaq via Urubamba to Oyllantaytambo. A most beautiful sacred site. Checked into Hostel La Nusta (the name of the female Mountain spirits in Quechua). Had lunch in the market place and started buying bits and pieces for a mesa(the sacred bundle also known as a medicine bundle).
Upon being in the right place I found 3 stones to work with. I also washed them, prayed my thanks, and wrapped up my bundle with hand woven rainbow coloured ribbon.
Slept on the stones in pisaq and as I was resting there, I started to see green around the edges of the mountains.
Saw four locals go past me, and disappear somewhere. Went straight to sleep that evening.

Mon 23 May - Meeting Don Americo

2005-06-08T20:20:00.000-07:00

Met Don Americo, and his family - Gayle and Arilu, in Jacks Cafe.

Initially Americo thought I was only in Peru for 10 days. That morning he was heading off with a group to the mountains, and then to the jungle. Since it was my first time, Americo suggested going with him to the mountains, and staying there, whilst he went on to the jungle with the group. Since they'd been there before two times. However, once Americo learnt that I was in Peru for 4 months, everything changed... All of a sudden, there wasn't such a big rush, and he didn't want me to take on the unnecessary expense of paying for the petrol for another car... He said that he could see that I was working with 'Intent' as opposed to intention, and that he'd be happy to spend time with me, without charging me for anything more than the cost of the petrol. I'd already explained that I didn't know what I was doing there, or that I didn't have much money, and it seems that over the four months, when Americo had openings in his calendar, we'd co-ordinate so that I could spend time with him... Mentioning that I also knew a 'Puma', it seems that everyone knew him, and that they were all friends.

Content that the people I knew, knew each other, I figured things would unfold in their own time... For now, I had been given by Americo a list of sites in the Sacred Valley that might be worth visiting, as well as instructions on how to use the local transport system to travel from site to site without having to spend too much money!

So, with maps of the routes sketched out in my notebook, I checked out of my hotel, and went to get a Paradero(the equivalent of the local regional bus, also known as a collectivo) to Pisaq. After checking into a hospedaje. I find a local restaurant to have lunch in.

After lunch, I buy some bread, and some fruit before getting a taxi upto the top of the sacred site. I want to stay up here till nightfall - so that I can look up at the stars from atop this mountain, and arrange with the taxi driver to come and collect me at 8pm, at night... Declining all the offers of 'guides' round the site, as well as all the offers of trinkets, gifts, and souvenirs, I eventually manage to start exploring a little the site. Donning my poncho, and hat, I start very purposefully making myself towards somewhere, though I don't know where. A few minutes later, I find myself a nice quiet spot on a terrace facing inwards, to the opposing mountain, and settle myself down. Not quite knowing what I'm doing there, I find myself singing with the wind, in words of a language unknown to me, to the Apu, the mountain spirit in front of me..

After performing some ceremonies, and making offerings of bread, to the mountain, as well as to Pachamama, the spirit of the earth, I eventually find myself ready to leave.

Carefully making my way back to the top of the ridges, I decide to try to find the path that leads down to the car park, where the taxi will meet me, before settling into a meditation, or doing anything else. I figure, at the very least, once I'm at the carpark, I'll know how to make my way back, at night, in the dark...

So I slowly start to walk around the terraces, of Pisaq, since I've been told that there's a path on the other side that leads straight down to the car park. As I find the path, and start to walk down it, it starts to get more like a slope, and less and less like steps. Eventually, seeing gentler slopes in the middle of the terraces, I decide it would probably be easier to walk down the terraces themselves... Boy was I wrong!! Once I get to the other side of the terrace, where I saw the steps, I start walking down, until the steps seem to become slopes even here... scared of going down the slopes, I decide to try the middle of the terrace... the path seems a little rougher, but it seems like less of a risk. Cutting a long story short, I see the taxi waiting in the car park, and afraid that he might leave without me, even though it's still light, I decide to just slide down the slopes, and though I make it down, I do catch my fair share of the slope with me... especially the prickly plants that decided to grow right where I ended up sitting!

Making it into the car park, I ask the taxi driver, if he wouldn't mind waiting for the night to come, so that I can at least get to take a look at the stars at night... He's ok with it, and so I wait...

As it gets dark, and the starts start to come out, I start connecting myself, with filaments of light, to the stars, feeling their energies, and sending them mine...
watching in amazement at their beauty, and at just how many of them are out tonight... Slowly, words start to come to me, and I start to sing to the sky, again in a language foreign to my own...

And then, I notice a light shining out over the edge of some mountains facing Pisaq. Putting my attention there, I realise that the Moon will be rising over the shoulder of the mountain... praying in that direction, welcoming the moon into the night, and making an offering to it, I stand there, connected with the sky, as the moon begins to rise... the most magical scene I had ever scene... the moon rising, as if it were the sun... over the shoulders of the mountain... I can only acknowledge the beauty of the moon rising in the black night sky to be as amazing as the beauty of the sun rising in the blue morning. As it happens, it was also a full moon - so you can just begin to imagine how amplified and intense the energy was. Especially with chants filling my lungs, and being blown into the night.

That night I wove the most enchanted blessing with the moon as it rose from amongst the mountains, thanking the stars. It was the most amazing moon rise I've ever participated in.

On the way back into town, I could tell that the taxi driver had suddenly developed a different respect for me from before, asking me if I was a shaman, and respecting the silence following the magic that had just happened.

That night, I got out of the taxi, and made my way straight to bed, not wanting to spoil a perfect evening. The only thing that had dawned on me sometime on the taxi ride down was how the 8pm, that I had said to the taxi driver had probably been understood as 18pm, meaning 6pm - which was why he had turned up when it was still light... but I guess that little misunderstanding meant that he got to be a part of the magic that night with the moon, and I went to sleep content...

Sun 22 May - Waking up in Peru

2005-06-08T20:16:00.000-07:00

After a good nights sleep I feel ready to take a look around Cuzco. Look for breakfast - everything's closed!! After walking around the streets a little, I find a 'kooky' little cafe, where I get a sandwich, and some juice. Thought it would be a nice little spot to sit in, and learn some spanish, but it just doesn't feel like the kind of think I'd like to do...

Instead, I take my iPod with my audio course in learning spanish with Michel Thomas (http://www.michelthomas.com/), and go find a place a little more comfortable for me to sit in, and learn some of the local lingo. I eventually find a nice little spot, overlooking what looks like a park. And after about an hour, of sitting there, learning spanish, and looking at the greenery, I decide it would be nicer sitting on the grass instead of watching it... Unfortunately, as I make my way to the open front I find that there's a sign prohibiting entry, saying that it's reserved for 'tourists on a tour'... I figure.. who's gonna stop me? It seems a nice enough place, and even though all the locals are only sitting on the side, I'm sure I can make my way to a nice quiet secluded spot where no-one would see me... No sooner than I started walking onto the green do I start to hear someone blowing a whistle, and looking around, I see an old man, pointing at me, and walking towards me... Afraid to take on a local, I decide it wiser to accept my lot in life, and walk back upto the bench overlooking the park... wondering at the same time where do the locals go if they want to visit a park?? What would people in the UK do, if a park was made for only the visitors?? Strange isn't it??

Well eventually, after completing a whole CD, I decide to take a break from the intensive concentration learning Spanish takes, and take a bit of a walk... wondering along, I eventually find myself in the main square, with two big cathedrals... Or is a cathedral and a church? I don't really know the difference... Well there seem to be lots of people sitting in the main square, just chilling, not necessarily doing anything, and eventually, I decide I might as well try just sitting in the main square...

It's amazing how people are all just sitting there.. some with other people, talking. Others, just sitting there, alone, watching.... I don't know why, but for some reason I chose a bench with a 'foreign' looking guy sitting on it... Eventually, I ended up chatting with this fella.. who also turned out to be from England. His name was Mark, and he was from Cardiff - though his accent wasn't!

He was in Cusco with a group of gap year students from England, taking them around South America... and in a few days, his responsibility for them, as a group leader would be over, and he'd be travelling with a friend around south america. It seems he'd been to Cusco before, and it was real interesting hearing his story. When I told him a bit about my story so far, of being in Peru, and not quite knowing why, he seemed supportive of just letting things unfold, and trusting my instincts... which I guess was nice to hear... especially since I wasn't so sure of myself, having turned up in Cusco, with no plans, and only a few contact numbers of people I barely knew, walking the streets, without any idea of where I was going or quite why... But his support seemed to come at just the right time!! Exchanging emails, I then started to make my way back in the direction I thought was the hostal I was staying at.

On the way, I ended up finding myself buying a Poncho made of natural Llama wool, and with natural colours. I even get a hat to go with the outfit... I always like to blend in with local clothing, but everything looked so typically touristy, I ended up just trusting my instincts, at least for the practical fact of it being cold at night, and me not having a coat!

Ready to find some dinner, I decide to not return to the vegetarian restaurant, and instead start looking for something a little more 'local', or authentic. Wondering up a steep slope, I find myself just wandering, almost a little aimlessly, a little in the spirit of curiosity, and exploration. And I end up standing outside a restaurant, reading the menu, when these two ladies come up and start taking a look, they decide it's too expensive, and would rather go with the cheaper looking restaurant next to it, and before I know it, I tag along, and get invited to join them.

It turns out these girls were visiting from Canada, and had been in Peru for a while... They could speak Spanish, and had just arrived back from Macchu Picchu. It turns out of the two ladies, Christine was studying alternative medicine, and was an energy worker of sorts.. she was planning on studying acupuncture on her return, and when I shared with her and her friend the nature of my travels, they too were really supportive.... if I'd had any doubts before today about what I was doing in Peru, and whether I was really going in the right direction, it seems the universe had stuck a few comforting voices into my path that day... and I felt that much clearer that I was completely supported in this journey, in ways that I wouldn't be able to imagine, but would just have to learn to trust!

Sat 21 May - Arrival in Peru

2005-06-07T20:36:00.000-07:00

So touch down at 06:55am on this 'White Crystal Mirror' day - (reference comes from dreamspell calendar).

Typically a mirror day is all about the self reflection in the world.. whilst the Crystal day is about co-operating, and working together... an interesting 'flavour' for the day, as the events will soon spill out...

Upon arriving in Lima, not having any checked in baggage I walk out of the arrivals to see the usual sea of people, and taxi drivers ready to offer rides... Not wanting to take a cab straight away, I decided I would walk right past everyone, and then found a way back into the terminal from the other side. Once back in the Airport, I looked for a place to take a 'bus' and it seems my western eyes couldn't see the usual signs of public transportation...

My initial plan had been to take a bus all the way from Lima to Cuzco, saving my money, and meaning I could last longer... I also, by this point had the phone number for both Puma and Don Americo Yabar in Cuzco... unfortunately I didn't have any change for the telephone, and the credit card reader didn't seem to be working. After trying to get change, and trying to buy a credit card, with my english, I decided to sit for a moment, and see what felt most appropriate...

Once I started questioning my next step, it became clear to me that I wanted to just get on a plane to Cusco, and not worry too much about saving money everywhere just yet... if I could just get to Cusco, I guess I imagined things would be a whole lot easier... So I start looking to buy a ticket to Cusco.. At first, these people approach me, and ask me if I want a ticket to Cusco, and being wary of getting ripped off, I kindly decline their offer of a ticket for $86.. the price comes down to $82, but I want to check the price with the airline, and they tell me it's $78. Even though a few dollars isn't that much, on principle, I feel like I don't want to get ripped off, so I stand in line for the official sales desk, where the line of only three or four people seems to be taking a painfully long time. Eventually, a man comes to ask me where I'm headed, and seeing that the plane I want to get leaves fairly soon, he leads me out of the line, and we promptly begin to walk briskly to the travel agency upstairs. Once we get there, he starts telling the man to start making out a ticket for me, and as excited as I am to get my ticket, when I hear the price of $86, I suddenly stop the whole process... The man takes a flight coupon from the travel agent, and starts running with me downstairs, keen on helping me get the fair that I think is correct.

Cutting a long story short, I end up finding out that the official fare has changed to $82, and upon paying for that, after running around, I get a ticket, get checked in, and am ready for the flight that leaves in 30 minutes... Unfortunately, with a bit of delay in getting some money changed, and waiting in line to pay the airport tax, I end up getting through security, rushing to the departure gate, to be told that the boarding of the plane has been finished, and that I've missed the plane... Disappointed after all the running around, and with another man that turns up, just moments after me, we start to walk back to security, when a man from the airline catches up with us, and says that we can still make it. Rushing back, we get our boarding cards torn, and we're just waiting for ground staff to get a bus to take us to the plane, when the technical difficulties the plane was having appear to be resolved, and the plane starts to move away... watching helplessly for the second time, the staff are really apologetic, but at the same time, can't do anything else.

I end up leaving the security area, and as the tickets are being sorted out, the man who sold me the initial ticket, Carlos, gets summoned by the airline staff, and he promptly takes me upto the travel agency office, sits me down, and starts telling me he can get me a ticket for the 3pm flight. I've already tried at the airline desk, where they told me that the flight was fully booked, but Carlos assures me, that as long as I pay in cash, a ticket can be arranged for me. Taking my passport and leaving me there, he promptly disappears... Worried after about 10 or 15 minutes, I start asking people questions, and the old lady sitting next to me assures me that here it's normal for them to take your identity documents and disappear for anything from a few minutes, to 5 or 6 hours, whilst they are sorting out a ticket.

As I start listening to this lady, and trying as best I can to converse with what little spanish I have learnt so far, I discover a 'Japanese' connection. It seems this lady had just returned from Japan, and was waiting for a flight to be arranged for her to Buenos Aires, in Argentina, whilst I was waiting for my ticket to Cusco.

Already having spent money on a ticket to Cusco, which I'm told I can change into a ticket from Cusco to Lima, and is valid for a year, but just no longer on the journey Lima-Cusco, I'm beginning to wonder if taking a plane, with limited financial resources at my disposal was such a wise idea after all.... But now I'm kinda gonna have to, so I resign myself to the fact...

After going through security, and paying Airport Tax again, I finally arrive on the other side, with a few hours before my flight...

In the cafe on the other side, I run into a few other people that were also queueing for tickets earlier that morning, and seeing them there I decide to join them... especially after discovering that they're all travelling on the same flight.

It turns out that two of the staff were Air Canada staff, and so being on standby, they had lost their seats on the earlier flights, and so were hoping to make it to Cusco on my 3pm flight.

I finally got some change and decided to phone Americo Yabar, and Puma again. This time, though no Americo, I did get hold of Puma, to learn that he was leaving later that day for a few days, going to the glaciers.. I thought maybe I could tag along, but it was becoming clearer that for now I was on my own.

Eventually, when the time for the flight comes, it seems that there aren't enough seats for my Air Canada friends, and we end up parting company.. (part of me wonders if my ticket purchase wasn't the one that pushed them off the flight.. but then I'll never know...) Taking the details of a few youth hostels in Cusco, from the Lonely Planet guide the Air Canada guys had, I board the flight, and and hour later I'm there!

At the airport, this lady ends up taking me in a taxi to a hotel, where she says I can have a room for 20 Soles (about 6 dollars), with a private bathroom... Not having the strength to struggle anymore, I decide for now, I'll take the room, and when the chance to save money comes, I'll be able to do that... till I make contact with anyone I'd have to make do alone...

Having dinner in a vegetarian restaurant for 10 soles, tired, I end up going to sleep early, eager to meet the new morning, in my new home for the next 4 months...

Fri 20 May - the adventure begins....

2005-06-07T20:19:00.000-07:00

Flight left London Heathrow, at 08:20am, so you can imagine it was an early start!!
Fortuantely, everything took off on time, and I found myself in the air.. flying to Toronto...
It seems Air Canada is making cuts, and for them, a 7 hour flight means serving a snack for breakfast, and since we arrive in Toronto just before 12pm, it was ok for a snack instead of 'lunch'. Still, I'd bought some food at the airport, which fortunately was enough to keep me going till my arrival into Toronto.

Left the airport, found the downtown bus, and made sure I got my transfer, so that for like 2 dollars I got from the airport, through the subway to the childrens hospital my niece was in. Upon arriving at the hospital, it took a while to find the information desk, but once I had, I saw a toy store that was selling amongst other things, large stuffed teddy's. So, having agreed with my brother that it would be nice to get a teddy bigger than our niece, I promptly hunted ou the biggest teddy I could afford on our budget.

Going up to the room where my niece was, I found my sister and my Mum, with my niece. It seems the men had gone to buy lunch... which suited me just fine! During the time at the hospital, my niece was fortunate enough to have neighbours from Waterloo, (at least a two hours drive from Toronto) come visit, and also bring her gifts. Then some Muslim brothers also came round, as they were visiting all the muslim kids in the hospital - seeing as it was Friday, the equivalent of the Islamic Sunday. Upon hearing about my journey to Peru (in the briefest of details, might I add!), one of the muslim brothers told me about a beautiful mosque in Santiago, in Chile, in Bolivia, and also in Argentina... so that if I had time during my four months he strongly recommended the mosque in Chile... So I took note.. don't know why, but Bolivia and Chile had already been mentioned to me earlier that day by my brother in law for the muslim connections out there... Perhaps it'll make more sense later on in the journey... for now I just took attention....

Then the funniest of 'manifestations' happened... I had wanted to get some Sushi for the journey to Peru - seeing as the flight left Toronto at 11pm, and I wasn't expecting much in the way of food judging by the last flight.. and as fate would have it, as I was thinking of sushi, I happened to find a sushi bar right there in the hospital... I had been thinking of hunting out the sushi restaurant I had seen right next to the coach station, but it seems I didn't need to... I thought it was a little freaky how I had been craving sushi, and all of a sudden it was available... but I figured it was probably the way the universe was working with me during this journey, so I gave my thanks, bought my sushi, and after being dropped off at the airport by my brother in law, finished off that sushi.

The flight to Peru put me right in the middle of the middle row, but fortunately, the seat to my left was empty, so I slept a little more lying down, than sitting up... The whole journey pretty much just disappeared into my sleep...

Another light reaches out from Peru...

2005-06-07T13:01:00.000-07:00

So I´m going along in my little world, not knowing what I´m doing, just following the impulses from moment to moment, that leads me into the direction that I´m headed in.. Being guided... don´t know where to or what will come of it... but as long as I´m true to my heart, I know it will work out...

So I end up being a volunteer at the Be The Change conference...

Enough amazing things happened there as it is... but I won´t go into all of them, otherwise, I´ll never quite get to describing my adventures here in Peru!!

So being as summarary as possible, Don Americo Yabar walks into the entrance, with a whole group of people, and the security guard starts questioning them... I step in, and take them to a place where they can wait till time for the workshop. Chrissy, the woman who seems to be the main spokesperson for this man asks to see the room where the workshop in the evening will happen, and I take her up there... as I do, I start to ask her a bit about this guy... she starts telling me he´s from Cusco, Peru, and suddenly my ears perk up! I dunno what else I learnt about this man, but I just knew that I had to connect with him, and that it was more than just coincidence that he had happened to come along....

So I go along to the workshop, which already a few of my friends who are volunteering have decided they want to attend as well... and we all just ´join in´. The magic that happens that evening, is just incredible.

Through the course of the evening, we manage to move the energy between the individuals, in a group, and then between all the groups that were in that room.

I had already been meeting with my friends in small groups, moving the energy between us, and I had already understood that once we learn to move the energy in small circles we could start to connect with other circles moving energy, and amplify the effect synergistically, the way that two ants carry more weight together than two separate ants... I´d already started to see how as a group, we could engage more completely with a conscious energy current more easily, than if we worked alone, and I was already imaginining that it must be possible with many groups to engage the awareness or state of being even more completely... and here it was, my work being laid out in front of me, complete...

It struck home to me something, that meant I just had to know more.. and so I changed my plans for the weekend, and decided I would somehow go to the Don Americo workshop during the weekend... On my way home, I spoke with my friend about going together, and he´d already checked out train times, and was planning on going there with his partner since it was her birthday. So we planned to travel together, and the magic continued to unfold.

The whole weekend workshop was magical. The culmination of which was for me the endpoint. The whole group that was there participated in a healing that Americo worked, with everyone´s support. As heavy blocked energy was being released from my body, it was being given to the earth to transform, and the earth transformed it. For at the same time, suddenly there started to be thunder in the sky. About 5 or 6 claps of thunder, that Americo told me was the earth taking the heavy energy, and transforming it.. that was what I was releasing. And there was no sign of thunder or rain before or after the healing... It was very powerful for me... in a way that I can´t begin to describe.

After the workshop, I knew that I was going to go to Peru, I figured end of July beginning of August would be a nice 4 weeks to go to Peru, and spend some time there, learn more, connect more with this energy, learning... whatever this path was that was unfolding itself in front of me...

A day of rest, and my plans changed... I don´t know if it was the consequence of dreams that I didn´t remember, but I suddenly wanted to leave for Peru about the same time that Don Americo was leaving for Peru... the dates 22nd of May till 11th September became my travel plans, and I started to look for tickets... and money.. since I couldn´t possibly afford to travel when I knew that´s when I had to go..

So I put the word out to the Cosmos.. you want me to travel, you get me the dough... and as it happens, the universe didn´t take long to respond... before I knew it I had enough money to pay for a ticket, and a bit of money to spend as I travelled...

Only I hadn´t booked a ticket... I was for some reason putting it off... then a call came from my sister, she was going to be in Toronto, in hospital with my baby niece, and I knew what I´d been waiting for...

So my flight is booked with an 11 hour stopover in Toronto, and I know that I will be able to visit my niece in hospital, seeing, her my sister and my brother-in-law one last time, before heading to Peru...

And so the journey is set... and the adventure begins....

A filament of light stretches out from Peru....

2005-06-07T12:39:00.000-07:00

So then I know this wifey of mine to be has started her journey, but not much else...

That´s when I get invited to an evening with Elisabet Sahtouris... a little personal get together at the house of a friends, in central london. Now at the time, I didn´t know much about who was Elisabet, or what her work involved, but I knew my friend was selective on who he had round to his house, so I figured it might be a wonderful evening...

That evening appears to have been very important in setting the ground, and laying the foundations for the journey that was to come...

That evening, Elisabet mentioned a friend of hers in Peru, in Cusco... a young man by the name of Puma. When I heard that name, I just wanted to know more... Unfortunately that evening wasn´t the best place for me to start asking the questions I wanted to, and so I offered to drive Elisabet to the airport in the morning, (mainly cos I wanted to talk with her more, and get to know more about this ´Puma´).

Another connection that evening was also made, that laid another foundation... that with Ursula who was to be the organiser for the volunteers at the Be The Change conference. I´d already discounted the possibility of attending Be The Change, since it seemed prohibitively expensive for my budget, but it seems the opportunity to volunteer was right there, and I thought it´s worth seeing what might come of it. As it happens, Ursula needed a few more volunteers, and me and a few friends of mine happened to fill the role perfectly.

Going back to the trip to the airport that following morning, I spoke with Elisabet about many things, and when we did reach the subject of Puma, we were close to the airport... Just as we were pulling into the layby, Elisabet mentioned the possibility of me becoming a godfather to Puma´s son, and something really really strange happened... I had feelings all through my insides that I just had to stop the car, and ´process´... It was the kind of shiver that you get when you know something, or when you feel something that your brain just cannot know, or be able to process... almost like seeing a ghost, or hearing the future... god knows what it was... but it struck a nerve... one that was to become truer than I could imagine!

Knowing that Puma was in Cusco, in Peru, didn´t really register much more with me at the time, other than this is a person that I wanted to meet sometime in the future... So I dropped Elisabet off at the airport, and went on with life, letting it unfold itself naturally...

Connecting telepathically...

2005-06-07T12:23:00.000-07:00

Well, knowing that my ´wife´ was growing up and travelling a path similar to my own was comforting... but then it was still a while away before I would get to meet with her, and live my life, with a ´partner´.

In January of 2005, when I was flying back from Toronto, to London, having spent time with my sister, her husband, and my niece, I came to feel a sadness about being alone, a real loneliness sunk in. Feeling an intense pain around my heart, the sadness triggered something... it opened a telepathic connection directly to my wife. It was as if all of a sudden I was able to talk with her, and feel her presence, energetically, right with me.

Since then, other people have shared with me the feeling of her presence around me, at times, and sometimes she just pops right in... at just the right time... Much cheaper than texting, and more instant than email!

Well, at the end of April, I got a message through from her, load and clear.. and that was that she was leaving her home to start her journey towards me... I knew then that soon I would be starting my journey towards her.. I just didn´t know where I would go to or when I would leave... only that I would be starting my journey soon...

The dream....

2005-06-07T12:03:00.000-07:00

Before I start sharing more about the adventures that I´ve embarked upon... I feel it fitting to share with everyone some of the history to the ´now´.

It all begins with a dream that I had more than a year ago...

Before this dream, I had just had a knowing about my wife to be... The knowing was that the person that I would marry would have to be a woman who walks a spiritual path similar to my own... a woman who would have the same understanding, awareness and perception as me. I knew that it wouldn´t be easy to find such a woman.. but I knew also that you don´t ´find´ people like that... when the time is right, you meet them.. in the right place at the right time...

Well, patiently waiting for this woman, I knew that as we both reached similar places in our physical, mental, and emotional states, we would come closer and closer together, until we would be ready to meet each other.. when we were at the same place. Then our spiritual and physical journey´s would come together, and we would walk both paths together.. in partnership...

More than a year ago, a dream I had made this all the more real. In the dream I saw a little girl of 13 years old, in the jungle, in a community that was living isolated from the rest of the world. Her father stood there, and pointing to me he said to me that she has known about you since the age of 13. Since that dream, I knew with certainty that the woman that I was going to marry was born in the jungle, living in a community seperate from the rest of the world, and since then I knew about her...

Farhan in Peru

2005-06-06T07:45:00.000-07:00

Hi there...

This blog is gonna be a space where I keep a track of my travels through Peru...

Keep visiting every week, to see the latest of my adventures, as and when I get a chance to write up some of the magic that´s really happening...

love to everyone that visits, and may the blogging begin...

(my next entry is probably going to be after Wednesday, since I get to spend two whole days with Don Americo Yabar, and then when I´m back in town, I´ll get a chance to come online, and share with everyone the amazing adventures that I´ve been having... till then... sorry guys, but you´re gonna have to wait a few days longer...)