Huacachino Sand Dunes!!

March 24 - 27th

Huacachino is an oasis located in the middle of the desert in Peru!  It is small, extremely fun, safe, has good reasonably priced food, JC got to work with the Peru Sand Board Champion and we met a family of 4 from Australia also on a year long round the world trip.  For these reasons and more combine to make this place a favourite of our family!

 This is the view from our Hotel pool.....

.....and this is the view of the dune behind our Hotel

 Tianna met and spoke french with these 3 young guys (Cyryl,Wiliam,Pierre) from France at our favourite restaurant!

On the first day Tianna hiked to the top of the highest sand dune, I made it about 1/4 of the way, then she ran down the dune and convinced me to hike to the top with her again!!  It was steep and the soft sand was sooooo deep but with her encouraging words the entire way I couldn't quit and kept going until we made it to the top, just in time for the beautiful sunset!!

Linda, another French tuitor for the kids, also from France!  We met her boarding the bus in Lima and again in Huacachino.

JC was thrilled to be back in his element coaching
the Peru Sand Board Champion, Victor Chavez!

 just workin on the Blog!

Oh yeah, we're Sandboarding Family now!

Crazy ride on the dune buggy!!!

Breakfast pool side at Hotel Curasi, even though it's the same everyday, white buns & eggs, were not complaining!

View of the town Huacachino where there are only hotels, restaurants, and sandboard & dune buggy rentals.

Victor working hard on building one of his many jumps.  He is in the process of getting funding and support from the Peru government and Olympic committee as his goal is to compete in the 2014 winter olympics in Russia!  JC may be able to help him reach his goal by being the first strength and conditioning coach of the Peruvian Snow/Sand board team!!

This is Katherine, Delmar, Darcy & Lachlan from Australia on a year long round the world trip.  It was nice to meet a family as crazy as ours!!!!

Very sad to say Good-bye to our new friends!

PERU ADVENTURES!

March 23, 2012
Today we felt like tourists but it was worth it!  


In Paracus(which means sand storm), Peru we boarded a boat along with 24 other travellers, next to a dozen other boats filled with tourists, and made our way out to the Ballestes Islands where we witnessed literally hundreds of thousands of birds which migrate here from as far away as Canada and the USA.  

While looking up to witness such a site we were warned to keep our mouths closed!  We saw turkey vultures, pelicans, and a hundred other variety of birds. 






The color of the rock mountain turned black as all the birds landed there for a rest.  When the desert meets the ocean it is a spectacular site!

On our way there we looked up into the mountain of sand and were able to see one of the remarkable Nazca lines, The Candelabra, right from our boat.  The rest of the Nazca lines can best be seen above by an expensive plane ride so we were just happy to have seen this one.




In amongst all the birds were hundreds of Sea Lions on every beach of each island we passed.  I think there were 13 females to every male, Landon thought that was great odds for the males and so unfair to him!

In the water we saw several huge jelly fish and to complete the circle of life were Penguins, big ones, little ones and cute baby penguins.

After the boat tour we boarded a bus, that wouldn't start, so we split up into two vans that took us out into the desert where 4000 years ago was all once under water and now there are fossils of ancient sea creatures such as snails, fish, and sharks.  Also, in this desert we were told that the people lived 2 meters under ground in the 1800's because of the sand storms.  

Much of Peru's landscape is desert!

The road we were driving on was made of salt which we saw was being grated for export into the US and Canada for use on our roads in the winter!  We were able to pick up pieces of salt rock off the road which the kids licked! (Tianna says "and for some reason it was really salty")  This is also the same area that was hit with a major earthquake in 2007, the ocean came 2 km into the desert after the quake.

Next was a tour of a museum which was not only very educational but also extremely interesting where we learned more about the birds, their dung (see JC's post on this) sea life, and the oxygen given off by the seaweed and the effects of the ocean's warming.

Another natural wonder we witnessed was the Red Sand Beach

Lastly on our tour was a stop at a little fishing village where there were only a few restaurants and fishing boats.  Here we spent a couple hours swimming in the cold ocean water, collected shells, and hiked to the top of a high mountain bluff with a steep cliff to the ocean below. (hard to describe, but very beautiful and powerful)

JC's report on Bird Poop!

Interesting fact that in Pisco, Peru’s #1 export was Dungie (bird dung). Yes that is correct, 80% of all exports out of Peru was bird poop!! So much so that they thought this was a natural resource that would last forever, and like most natural resources that is controlled by big business and/or government, most of the profits were captured only by the elite, causing a false economy thus raising inflation pushing the poor deeper into poverty, while the rich became richer….good thing society has learnt from the global experiences of others to not allow this to happen today!?!

During all of our travels over the last two months, to poor countries and even poorer areas within those countries, the one thing that continues to elude my brain is how prices for normal daily living needs in these areas are similar to those of North America? The answer that continues to come to me is that people work as individuals rather than joining efforts and exchanging knowledge, resources, success results of what does or does not work. I was told that “a tree does not argue within itself, therefore continues to grow in balance…." And yet in an age of technology where we think we are progressing toward a perfect world where a neighborhood, community, province/state/district, country, continent, and globe work towards the betterment of all, it seems the movement is that we are separating further and further apart, like that of the continents once did!!

In North America we seem to have this “do good” idea of Fair Trade now in our vocabulary, you know purchasing products based off of north American prices and wages, not that of a business model from a particular region in which the product was made, in order to increase the pay/share the profits with laborers (“fair trade”) of that particular country…yet what still happens is that big business/governments continue to set up factories/receive taxes or payoffs in third world countries where labor cost remain next to nil and keep profits to themselves!!

Combine that with the reciprocation from the countries in question, I believe because of the internet and increase in knowledge of world pricing, charge not only tourist North American prices, yet their fellow countrymen as well, who continue to struggle with basic daily living needs…even though some still have cell phones and T.V. with cable!!

In San Andres for example, just outside of Pisco, while walking along the main street that was hit by the regions last big earth quake and tsunami (2007) which wiped out the shore line inland over 2 km, we noticed what seemed to be a norm rather than an anomaly. There was a man, not sure if he had family or not, who was just about to sit down on his couch and watch TV in the evening while we were looking for a place for dinner. The TV of course was centered in the middle of the room, complete with side tables, things hanging on the wall with a picture of Jesus just above the television, and other home like furnishings around the make shift room. I write make shift, because this entire scene was located in a 2 and 1/2 walled house with no roof or windows. Bricks, dirt and garbage lying throughout the semi walled area all remains of the destruction of the quake over five years ago. We were amazed that someone, or a family could survive in such a location…however the location and ocean view, opposite side of the street to the crashing waves and beautiful sunset each evening was awesome and would sell for millions of dollars in N.A.!!

This trip continues to change, hopefully improve, my vision of God and His will for Peace on Earth, by lifting the vale to expose and differentiate the seen and unseen world in ways I don’t think I will even understand for weeks, months, maybe years to come. I continue to be in awe of His creation yet confused by the way we treat each other and the world!!

Lima families

"HOLA"
It is quite common in Peru for entire families to be living together.  At the Cordova home there is Michelle who is 24 and a dentist, she has an older brother whom we never met and a younger brother Kevin, who just graduated with a degree in electronic engineering.  The younger sister is Kate(Candy).  She is 20 and going to university for a degree in Business Admin.  Lucky for us she was on a break from school while we stayed with them and played the role as a perfect hostess.  

She escorted us to the mall (by bus) so we could exchange money, got a sim card for our phone, waited while our video camera battery was being charged (long story!).  She played monopoly with the kids (a few times), helped Tianna with school work, even seemed to enjoy playing race car video games with Landon and we got her hooked on watching LOST.  A wonderful girl, after 4 days together it was hard to say good-bye.  

Melissa & Rocio

Also living in the home is Melissa who works for the family as does her Aunt Rocio, they don’t speak any English but we were blessed with their delicious meals!!  We were fed so well and enjoyed trying many different foods.  2 uncles also live at the home but they have their own living quarters on the 3^rd floor.  

Michelle works very long hours as a dentist so we did not have a lot of time with her but our wish to connect with a Rotary Club came true.  Not only is Michelle a Rotary member but her entire family is, including her parents who were both out of town working while we were there.  Michelle took JC and I to her Rotary Club meeting late one evening.  A wonderful club although only 13 members in total. JC presented the group with the Silver Star Rotary club banner and also gave a speech on Vernon and area, with Michelle translating of course! 

  

Their club is currently working on a project to supply water filters to 6,000 families.  These families are extremely poor and have emigrated from the mountains to an area 50 minutes from the city of Lima.  They are living on a government owned vacant construction site that failed with nothing but dirt and some construction materials such as cement blocks and steel pipes, which they are now using to build their homes.  Once a week a private business sends a big truck to deliver water to them, which they must pay 5-7 soles per bucket (approx. $2.50).  this is very expensive.  The water filters cost $25 each with a 5 year guarantee or up to 10 years if cared for properly.  They have hard plastic shell and a ceramic insert, it makes 6 litres/day and are being used in other parts of Latin America.  

Another game of Monopoly, this time with Kevin too!!

Another delicious meal prepared by Rocio and Melissa.  We were told that heart of cow is delicious but we politely declined!!

JC presented a Kal Rotary Banner to Kevin, President of his Rotary Club (Rotarex for young adults) and Michelle is a member of this club as well.

Although Lima is so large and supposedly dangerous Michelle and her sister ride the bus to and from work and school every day for hours arriving home late in the evening. Their home is located in a district with 24hr. security.  It is in a nice neighborhood with parks in almost all the surrounding subdivisions.  The park right across the street from their house stays lighted all night, and all the houses surround it (similar to Circle Park in Vernon).

We are now staying with Elias and his family, wife Mary-Bell, daughter Katherine(Katty, 16), son Stephano(4), mom and step-dad and sister.  Also living in the 3 story home is 2 university students that pay room and board.  Elias is an amazing man and a crusader for God.  

This is Elias, our wonderful tour guide and friend!

His family is taking very good care of us....maybe too good!!!  They are always wanting to feed us and we are not used to eating big meals late at night but they do.  Our north american diet is quite different from theirs.  Large portions of rice and potatoes are the staple and eggs for every breakfast.  When we came home from church last night they cooked a big meal at 10:00 pm but our family wasn't hungry.  This confused them as much as us eating that late at night?!:-)  Adjusting to the diet and amount of food is something we are working on.

Elias has been driving and showing us all the sights in the City of Lima!  Fascinating city, rich in culture and history.

Mototaxi
(they are everywhere!)

 Tianna and I visited the market with Mary-Bell

Tianna bought some bubbles for her and Stephano 

He LOVED them!!

 This is the home of Elias and his family and the pictures below show the view from the top of his house 4 stories up!!

Elias arranged for us to meet a family who are believers and instrumental in getting local children to Elias's church, we prayed together in a room next to a small grocery store they own.

This young boy was very brave riding his skate board down a very steep hill, using his feet to brake at the bottom!!

I have MANY pictures of this young girl who loved getting her picture taken and then looking at it on the camera.

These are some homes of the children who came to meet us outside the store

Later we attended Saturday night service at Elias's church where Landon was so thrilled to be part of the worship band playing the drums!!  Their Saturday service is similar to ours at Vernon Alliance Church as it was mostly teenagers and young adults present.  After the singing we were divided into two teams and they used scripture as the base of many games like musical charades, drama, even balloon popping with a verse written on a piece of paper inside which you had to find in the bible.  It was a lot of fun and a great way to teach bible verses. JC then shared his testimony with Elias translating.

Laundry day!

Whether in Peru or Canada, some things are exactly the same

Stephano with his teacher in front of his Kindergarten

 More site seeing with Elias as our guide!

Elias sister, mom, & step-dad who graciously opened their home to our family!

 

Farewell Elias, we will miss you and your lovely family!

The 3rd family we were fortunate to stay with in Lima was Violeta, whom we met at the Rotary meeting.  She is a cousin to Michelle's Mom and like the Cordova's has an amazing family!  Her daughters Sandra(22) and Melissa(24) both speak english very well, having spent time in the USA on Rotary Exchanges.  Her husband is Carlos and son Carlos Jr. is 13.  Violeta was an angel taking care of me while I spent an entire day in bed with body aches?!?!  She fed me jello and checked on me regularly while JC & the kids did a final tour of Lima with Elias.

Violeta, Carlos, Carlos Jr., & Melissa

Laundry day on the roof top in Lima!