Neil and Karen

2009-03-30T13:02:00.000-07:00

Back in the States after a lengthy flight plan back to Portland Oregon.
Working on some new and interesting images, etc; Decompressing from the journey
in Bend Oregon.
Processing photos and video to post, stay tuned for more South American
blog materialz..

-Neil and Karen

The BORA Dance

2009-03-30T11:26:00.000-07:00

Iguazu Falls, Stomping Grounds of Indiana Jones

2009-02-23T16:03:00.000-08:00

Beautiful big water .. as featured in Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull .. from the Argentinian side.

Neil took the gorgeous panorama and I was able to capture the rainbow in the spray from the Falls.

-Karen

Hairless Peruvian Brand

2009-02-09T13:58:00.000-08:00

PERU, DOWN BY THE SEA..

2009-01-28T11:51:00.000-08:00

Tiwanaku Stoned Heads

2009-01-24T15:37:00.000-08:00

Tiahuanaco and Its Ancient Technology

2009-01-24T14:44:00.000-08:00

This is what is written about Tiahuanaco in Bolivia: Now almost entirely in ruins, Tiahuanaco is to South America what the Great Pyramid is to Egypt and Avebury stone ring is to England. Twelve miles from the coast of sacred Lake Titicaca, Tiahuanaco was the source of the creation myths, the social order, and the extraordinary preoccupation with astronomy that underwrote thousands of years of Andean culture. Yet, for all its importance, Tiahuanaco remains an enigma. This is not because the ruins have not been excavated or studied. Rather, the reason for the enduring mystery of Tiahuanaco derives from some of its structures - and the astronomical alignments of those structures - that indicate a probable construction period far more ancient than any other monumental archaeological site in all of South America.

It is also said that the site was once an ancient seaport when the land must have been at sea level, though today the land is 13,300 feet above sea level. The temples of this site, now in ruins, have been covered for eons in mud and silt, likely from a long past flood event.

There are many interesting finds here including two monolithic stones that have holes carved near the top of the stone in the shape of the human inner ear. These carved holes serve to amplify sound either spoken into the hole or heard through the hole by placing one's ear to it. Our guide stood about 30 feet from this acoustic instrument and spoke to us in a normal voice and we could hear her perfectly with our ear to the stone. When she spoke through the hole at normal volume, the sound was amplified as if connected to a PA system. Modern civilization is just beginning to understand the value of sound wave technology - but it seems these ancient beings not only understood the technology but made use of it for some unknown reason. To facilitate healing or possibly for levitation of the 150 ton stones? -Karen

Shopping at the Witches Market

2009-01-22T10:48:00.000-08:00

While visiting the famed 'witches' market (Mercado de Hechiceri) in La Paz, we encountered baskets filled with llama fetuses - yes - dead unborn llamas. Not only can you buy potions to remedy any illness or to protect, you can buy the llama fetus to bury under your house to ensure a harmonious home. You'll see these 'llama' charms in the basket at the left of the photo and also hanging at the top of this vendor's booth. You also see on sale a wide variety of herb and folk remedies, and talismans believed necessary to satisfy 'good' and 'evil' spirits that populate the Andes. The Andean Aymara culture believes that these amulets and talismans should be scattered at or near the front door of every house for proper balance of good luck and a happy home. I like Feng Shui better .. so I won't be packing a llama fetus in my luggage. -Karen

2009-01-17T15:56:00.000-08:00

The Market

2009-01-11T18:24:00.000-08:00

Styling Salons in Cusco

2009-01-10T06:51:00.001-08:00

Styling Salons in Cusco

Don't Be Crazy

2009-01-06T00:14:00.000-08:00

Here is a warning sign of public service. It translates as 'Don't Be Crazy'. So, is that slogan for the high speed drivers or the pedestrians that get hit and fly through the air? In this wacky country, who knows?

PERU - THINGS TO EAT

2009-01-04T18:33:00.001-08:00

FORCUSRAMERS ONLY

2009-01-01T15:14:00.000-08:00

OK then, at this Peruvian market, the bathroom is for cusramers only. Perhaps if you want to use the facilities, you should buy 'SOMETING'.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009 FROM THE AMAZON

2008-12-31T15:49:00.000-08:00

Before and After

2008-12-26T12:40:00.000-08:00

Well now, a posting only for the fine fellows of the 'Wheezer Society', all others, pretend you didn't see this...

..Har har!

2008-12-24T13:00:00.000-08:00

HOLA! From Peru!!! Hope all is (s)Well and Merry xmas to All!!

Love...

Neil and Karen

2008-12-22T16:16:00.000-08:00

Hola Snowmen and Snowwomen of Porkland Oreo, It is damn warm here and humid. Sadly, the ice cubes for beverages are not safe. Please send ice, I hear you have plenty of it...

Hoping xmas will be safe and warm for all of you.. kind of doubt it though from what info I received. Thanks for all of your positive comments on 'Peru: Land of the Absurd', for you, another bonus comic... Have a 'har har' Christmas!!

Rocking out

2008-12-20T15:40:00.000-08:00

While exploring the back streets of Ollantaytambo, Jimi Hendrix beckoned me to this scene with one my favorite songs .. If 6 was 9! And just around the corner was a large Incan stone with an amazing view of the mountainside ruins. What fun to sit in Peru on an ancient Incan stone and rock out to Jimi. And just as our new friend in Pisac, Christer, said .. there´s no-thing like a comfortable rock .. indeed! -Karen

Ancient Peruvian Robots

2008-12-20T15:36:00.000-08:00

Here´s the proof on film .. look at these ancient Peruvian carved stones .. robot graven images for sure! Found on a back street in the town of Ollantaytambo, a town built on top of an intact Incan city and very near to Machu Picchu. -Karen

PURROO - LAND OF THE ABSURD

2008-12-20T11:17:00.000-08:00

Goose Stepping Self Important Military Clownz

2008-12-19T16:58:00.000-08:00

Say, looks like Peru just won the WAR! Much to our surprise and ultimate dee-light (the groove is in the heart) the square in Pisaq was hosting a military muscle flexing parade with marching bands and tubas, plus a bunch of men and women in military threads. More pics and video to come. I enjoyed Karen's photography of these guys. Look at them, they sure look like they ate the breakfast of champions that morning. So, if Peru won the war, who lost? Well anyway Commradz and Cityzens of the republic of 'Wherever', just to let you know, storms like seen on 'Lost In Space' have had the internet out in the area for several days, so postings are coming and so is email and blah blah blah. Spending xmas with some folks at Paz Y Luz, the couple that got married last week. Turkey will be served Peruvian style?????? Hmmmm... More later, thank you for watching the blog and just know that everything is safe and well here. Xmas wishes to you all...

more later...

-Kneel

Cusco to Pisaq

2008-12-18T14:52:00.000-08:00

Pisaq, Peru

2008-12-14T13:59:00.000-08:00

Safe Water Abroad

2008-12-11T14:58:00.001-08:00

Things To See In Cusco - The Sacred Valley

2008-12-09T18:14:00.000-08:00

Fragrance of heaven

2008-12-08T14:08:00.001-08:00

At the ruins called Qenko near Cusco, Neil and I came across these flowers. The fragrance is so beautiful I wanted to bottle it. Since that wasn´t an option, I wore it in my hair all day instead. Send a comment if you know the name of this flower!

Faces of Peru

2008-12-07T03:51:00.001-08:00

The beautiful people of Peru (and some scruffy foreigners) star in today's video.
The food here is incredible and inexpensive. Average excellent meal for two is about 35 'sol' Peru dollars.
That is $12 dollars American frogpelts, the meal would be equivalent to food from our high end expensive dining spots. I'm so spoiled now...
Right down the street from the Amaru Hotel is "Jack's Cafe" here in Cusco. Eating there often, full menu, incredible service, relaxed atmosphere, food presentation 'perfection'!!! I highly recommend it when you visit Cusco next.

-Neil

2008-12-06T02:38:00.000-08:00

THE PERUVIAN DOG
I once heard an insult delivered in a film. One man called another 'a Peruvian dog'. It's clear to me now just how powerful those words are.
The Peruvian dogs are wild, interbred, collarless, ownerless. They trot around the city streets in packs, up to a dozen at a time, all shapes, sizes, swarming the legs/ankles of pedestrians, sniffing 'tail-ports' and humping each other. Entirely new mutant breeds of dogs are created, some too shocking to look at. At night they howl, bark and run free on the cobblestone streets when the constant flow of traffic is greatly reduced. Oddly, the indigenous people ignore them entirely as they pass, unless they impede a taxi or are pushing up against your leg while mounting each other. Strange, the dogs seem calm, almost in a spiritual state. Could they be born from an ancient civilization where dogs ruled the land, or perhaps crossed over or banished from another dimension? Well, I do know this, Sparky needs a breath mint and a flea shampoo.

portland to Peru

2008-12-05T07:25:00.000-08:00

The Peruvians...

2008-12-05T06:59:00.000-08:00

Yesterday Karen's vitality came back, health returned, she's doing fantastic. We are forced to drink Coca Tea. It opens the capillaries, adjusts the brain to the high altitude and generally helps you to put one foot after the other. It does NOT make you want to hit the Peruvian night-spots for all night Alpaca fusion jazz disco pan flute dancing.

It is a myth that Peruvians are short, squatty, shriveled creatures. Some are actually tall, wispy and resemble a Dr. Suess-Like 'Apple Bonker' on peyote.
I noticed that I inadvertently am dressed like mission specialist 'STARGATE' TV series. Hmmm.. seems like I passed through a Stargate recently...

Why worry about the water in a foreign county

2008-12-04T16:34:00.001-08:00

Karen´s view: Why worry about the water in a foreign country when you can get ill from the food on the domestic US airline .. which is what I did .. ah but a little purging is good for the soul. Energy and vitality have returned and Neil and I explored the magic of Cusco today and we have photos to prove it!

Karen got a picture of 3 lovely Peruvian Ladies holding little lambs with colorful woven hats. Later than night, I ate them for dinner at a local dining spot. The LAMBS, not the ladies.

The aeroship has landed

2008-12-01T22:34:00.000-08:00

Karen says: We arrived in Lima and are sitting in a Starbucks at the Lima airport organizing our backpacks as Lan Peru won't let us carry them on to Cusco on their flight. Feeling 'over' this backpack with visions of the comfort and luxury of a wheeled bag .. I know .. I'm quite the wimp. Sleep has become optional or adrenaline has become my drug of choice! Only a few more hours till we are comfy in our hostel in the San Blas district of Cusco for a real nap.

Neil writes: This Damn Lima Peru is full of foreigners, lots of em, they all want something and can't ask in english.

Damn Butt burner airlines..
Portland to Atlanta, 4.5 hours, 4 hour layover Atlanta, Atlanta to Peru, 7 hours, 5 hour layover Lima Airport. Starbucks here, playing pan flute newage Peruvian new artist rock music over the Starbucks loudspeakers. Sinister echoes of 'ZAMFIERE' or Pan himself.

Next, a 1.5 hour prop/bucket flight from Lima to Cusco. Over 24 hours total travel to reach a hotel for a weeks stay in Cusco. Of course, this entire journey has been a delightful wheeze, lots of laughs. I need a nap and a clean diaper right now.. more later...

It's About to Begin

2008-11-29T11:40:00.001-08:00