A Memorable Visit to Peru

A MEMORABLE VISIT TO PERU
By Gerrye Wong 2018

Everyone has Bucket Lists nowadays on what they want to do with their lives and where they want to go. With transportation right at our fingertips and all modes of travel so easy to plan for nowadays, these have become the mantra of every conversation – “where have you been? Where are you going? Where in the world do you want to go?” Some friends I know have counted up their travel docs and discovered having gone to up to 100 countries around the world. Others have felt very content to be on the high seas in luxury liners as their relaxing way to see the world. Very few are content to visit the world vicariously through the TV and just seeing it on screen makes them yearn for a trip for up close view.

Husband Calvin’s Bucket List was to visit every state of the United States and a few years ago, accompanied by fellow travel mates the Clifford Changs, Roger Engs and David Yees, we did complete all, with the states in middle America our last remaining ones to visit. A Wong tradition in our family has been to take a family vacation every year somewhere, even when the family grew to 11 persons, and the ages in the beginning 20 years ago were with toddlers to seniors. A family legacy began……

This year, the Bucket List fulfilled for son, Dr. Mike Wong, was to visit Peru—and this caught the adventurous fancy of all 11 of our Wong family members, so unbelievably, all eleven took time off from work, finished graduations in time, and excitedly joined together for a Peruvian experience.

Our family age ranges ran the gamut from us aging grandparents in their 80s, our young-at-heart children in their 50s, and the grandkids in their early 20s. Daughter Kelly came with her husband, Gary and children, Justin, Todd and Melissa. Son Mike came with wife DeeDe and sons Garrett and Braden. Old family friends, Dr. Stanley and Diane Hong with their 3 children joined us so we were a very enthusiastic private group of 16 who went on a special expedition to Peru arranged through Peru travel company, Condor Travel.

Of course the main destination for any Peru visitor is to see Machu Picchu, the long lost Inca civilization ruins, discovered by archaeologist H. Bingham in the early 1900s. When I went before in 1995, the way to get there was riding a switchback train which traversed back and forth on rickety wooden tracks, and train men would have to stop and pour cooling water on the engine before it got overheated and stopped working. From the end of the line, in 1995, we transferred to an open air shuttle vehicle which took us to the park entrance. Now it is a constant flow of big 50 passenger busses going up and down the hill to transport thousands of visitors daily, and a modern multi-car domed train ride.

Our first day visit to see the wonders of Incan civilization in Peru’s history.  We stayed overnight in the newly built town at the end of the train line, so we could return a second day to see Machu Picchu at sunrise and the younger family members could climb Machu Huayna, the very steep smaller hill area which has challenged many a hiker with its natural deep stone steps to reach the peak to view the rest of Machu Picchu below.

Thank you to my family members – Dr. Mike, DeeDee, Garrett and Braden Wong; Gary, Kelly, Justin, Todd and Melissa Matsuura – for a wonderful family three generation family trip we will always cherish the memories of. Happiness is – Traveling and discovering the world with one’s children and grandchildren in a family adventure of togetherness.

HIGHLIGHTS OF PERU TRAVEL
Pictures tell more than 100 words, so below are some of our favorite photo memories of the Wong family Peru trip.
Highlights included:

• Learning about the ancient Inca Civilization while visiting many of the terraced sites was interesting to all ages
• The Inca Trail hike proves to be more strenuous than expected with steep steps curved into the trail where sometimes they felt like literally crawling up
• Hiking the Inca Trail proved challenging for even our younger family members but a fulfilled benchmark to youth always to be remembered. See their happy smiles of accomplishment as they joined together. Ahhhh to be young again!!
• Struggling up the steep steps of the 7 mile trek of the Inca Trail

• Attending the annual Festival to the Sun in Cuzco alongside over 150,000 other native and tourists was a fascinating sight
• Venturing to the countryside to walk on the Qeswachaka suspension bridge over a canyon that was made solely of dried woven grass in ancient Inca style was breathtaking as well as heart-stopping.
• Facing high Altitude ranges up to 13,000 feet above sea level was a challenge healthwise necessitating intake of altitude sickness medication and cocoa tea drinks.
• Searching among the marketplaces for unique products of Peru was a great expedition for shoppers who enjoyed looking at the large Alpaca made items of scarves, sweaters and blankets. In addition seeing the food products sold from local natives
• Happiness of seeing Machu Picchu below from Mike and Braden’s high perch of Inca Trail.

• Latin America tastes were sampled in our daily Peruvian dish meals and where else in the world could you eat a quarter of a chicken for barely $7 and steak dishes for $10.

One regret was not experiencing a meal at a Chinese “chifa” restaurant during our stay.

PHOTO MONTAGE OF WONG FAMILY PERUVIAN ADVENTURE

On our first bus outing to the countryside, we stop to meet Peruvian natives who show off their pet llamas. They sell their native products at all of the popular bus stops and I wondered if some of the products might be made in China rather than Peru.

After flying into Cuzco, we are whisked to lower altitude area of Sacred Valley to help us acclimate to the altitude change. As Cuzco is about 12,000 feet high altitude, many people do get an attack of altitude sickness but fortunately for us and with the use of preventative medication, our group was fine. We learned there about the terraced community of the ancient Inca tribes that was constructed in the 13-14th centuries.

One of our first group pictures as we embark to see the ancient Inca ruins was at Sacsayhuama where Inca tribal warriors would be stationed to protect Cuzco city below. We are fascinated by the structure of large rocks and how the Incans were able to build the walls so precisely to fit a formation that has withstood elements of time and weather. At our first sight of Incan structures we all agree this visit was worth the long plane ride and stressful arrival of high altitude. A visit to Peru wonders is well worth all the difficulties of travel and arrival and should be on everyone’s bucket list!

Walking the streets of Cuzco, we come upon a vendor who enjoys posing her llama with tourists for a small fee, of course. Older women seem to be the vendors selling small souvenirs and many had live animals enticing travelers to take picture which we do for of course, a small fee.

At a luncheon stop of our tour, our group met a larger llama who wanted to get friendly for good photo ops. Our group were all animal lovers so seeing llama of all sizes was interesting to them.

Visiting the ruins at Ollayantambo the guide showed us the rock terraces made by the Inca Tribes in the 13-14th century which still exist. Tourism is a big industry in Peru so all of these ancient sites have busloads of visitors from all over the world.

At Marais, our group gets to see the large salt flats where salt is mined and many were actually able to walk amidst the flats.

A modern multi-car train carried the group up partway before letting hikers off to catch the Inca Trail which will take them to Machu Picchu.

Most people continue riding the train to the small town, newly built with hotels and restaurants for visitors in the last 15 years. When I first visited Peru 22 years ago, there was no town where the train let people off. Obviously growth of tourist industry has engendered the necessity for a town with hotels and restaurants to take care of the many visitors to Machu Picchu now.

Energetic hikers and post college age Kyle, Ryan and Lexie Hong, climbed the Inca trail with Braden and Garrett Wong, Justin, Melissa and Todd Matsuura. It was a 7 hour hike that took them to final destination down the mountainside to Machu Picchu. And yes, the aged parents Kelly, Mike Wong, and Stanley Hong tried to keep up with them.

Ryan Hong jumped for joy on the dangerous precipice overlooking Machu Picchu on the Inca Trail hike. Tired but excited to reach the top, this young student of UC Santa Cruz was the only one with a zest for jumping!

Kelly, Melissa and Gary Matsuura rest and look down on the steep stairway they are stopped at, knowing that there are many more steep steps to climb ahead. All felt relief they did not do the 4 day Inca Trail tour which would have them camping for three nights. Their 7 hour hike, however, had the luxury of guides carrying their lunch and running ahead to have a lunch break for them all prepared and ready for arrival. Their very knowledgeable guide also staged rest stops where he could inform them about the terrain and products of Peru as well as its history.

Resting during their Inca Trail hike, the Wong/Hong/Matsuura group could see the clearing of Machu Picchu below. A guide and cook followed them on the day trail carrying all of their belongings to keep their body free during the strenuous hike. They had the good fortune to have ideal weather during this June trip with mild temperatures and sunny days.

Gary Matsuura, Calvin and Gerrye Wong arrive at Machu Picchu and are thrilled at the site of this former Inca tribe colony which had been hidden from the public for hundreds of years. Tours are sold to follow a guide and the pathway is a circuit whereby one must continue to circle the area. There are three circuit paths one can choose from to see the whole area of this hidden site of Inca civilization of the 15th century.

On the train taking Machu Picchu visitors down the mountainsides, a costumed shamen entertained passengers with his dancing antics. A fashion show is put on by the train personnel to keep passengers entertained. Magnificent views can be seen from the tall windows of this domed train.

Leaving Cuzco on a three hour ride, the group found the Qeswachaka suspension bridge that had been made in ancient Inca style of woven grass reeds. The excitement was crossing it as it suspended over a valley and river far below. Guide told us the bridge is newly made every year and had just been created by the villagers in three days only a few weeks prior to our visit.  Only one person at a time is allowed to walk the suspension bridge made of woven dried grass. Wooden planks lined the bottom to be stepped on, but the only thing holding the bridge together were the dried grass woven together. All agreed this was a heart-stopping experience never to be forgotten.

A visit to the marketplace of local products was a little unsettling when the group discovered what parts of animal meat were sold. Peru, a country of many people only earning a few hundred dollars monthly, cook and eat every part of animals.

Countryside scene from the bus is of a woman shepherding her flock down the road. The villages of the farming communities are very modest and it was a usual sight to see the women caring for the animals.

We attend the Festival of the Sun colorful ceremony of the Inca Chief making sacrificial symbols of a llama and deer to the Sun God. Over 150,000 local natives and tourists arrive to see this once-a-year festival event. Luckily this was a beautiful sunny day with mild temperatures to enjoy the outdoor program following a parade that had been held in Cuzco’s central plaza in town.

Hundreds of Tribal dancers participate in the three hour outdoor ceremony at Festival of the Sun. Travelers on tour have comfortable bleacher seats surrounding the areas which made it so much more comfortable to watch .

Native Peruvians wanting to attend started walking up the hill for a good spot despite the crowds at hand. Can you image the thousands of local Peruvians who climbed the nearby hillside to find a comfortable perch so they can observe the Festival of the Sun God below that only happens once a year? It was estimated over 100,000 spectators were present this time. Prior to the official ceremony was morning parades around the Cuzco town square and in front of the Palace.

A delicacy dish in Peru is the guinea pig, grilled with many spices, which is used mainly for celebratory meals. Of course we had to try it and Stanley was happy to pass it around for all of us to see and perhaps try.

But the biggest surprise was finding WONG products throughout giant super markets that even have the WONG name

Sights and sounds of Peru will always permeate the memory banks of the Wong and Hong Family members and we hope you have enjoyed reading about our adventure.

We must say good bye to Peru and our new found friends wave back to us.