This week's Tale comes to us from Bolivia. My brother, Kaya, is in the middle of a South American backpacking journey.
I have not written in a while so I will send some
highlights... While reading these, please
select some theme music. The house recommends "Jump" by either Van Halen or The
Pointer Sisters... not, I repeat, NOT by House of Pain or
Kriss Kross.... well, okay Kriss Kross IF and only IF
you are totally krossed out.
Okay, some highlights...uh I can't find the colon key
on this Spanish keyboard... I can't begin my list
until I find it...oh, here it is:
- Before we left Cusco, Peru, I went
river rafting. It was fun, with some pretty strong rapids. We
rafted in the Urubamba river. Did I mention that all
the areas in Peru were named by Jabba the Hut...
"Urubamba, Ollayantambo, Han Solo, ha, ha, ha!"
- On the bus to Puno, Peru many people came on board to
sell items such as bread, jello-ish desserts, etc. One
man read a poem and passed out candy for money. It
was great... I mean the idea, I don't have a clue to
what he said, something about full figured women, I
think.
- Things in Bolivia are even less
expensive than Peru. Our hotel room is about $4.50 a
person... and we have four beds, which is good because
we can push them all together and sleep longways,
which, if you are in the Southern Hemisphere is better
for your back, because you are actually sleeping the
correct way... did I mention the high altitude here?
- I am beginning to really enjoy the differences in
culture. For example, when we were close in having
enough money at a store, they said to not worry about
it. I am even getting more comfortable and better at
bargaining... yet no one seems to be willing to lower
prices for my "magic finger massage".
- We next took a beautiful ride (the clouds just hung in
the sky like a backdrop at Olan Mills Studio) to
Amantani Island. Here, Brandon and I stayed a night
with a family. Wow, what a humbling experience.
These people's lives have been almost the same since
2500 BC. Eating for life and not for pleasure, for
example, is remarkable.
- At night on the island we went to a candlelit dance (no electricity).
It was a pretty loose interpretation of the word "dance."
I held hands with 4 little girls as we swung our
arms vigorously back and forth, and then back and
forth again. (?) I asked the band if they knew any
Quiet Riot, to get the party going, but they mostly
knew "local tunes.
- And for those of you with the "Kaya's Bowel's Advent
Calendar," after 14 days, I became regular again. Got
to love South America.
-kaya
check out Kaya's first email from his travels.
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