Enjoying Pisac and the Sacred Valley

October 14, 2014

"You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection."

The past couple months I have settled in Pisac, Peru. Ever since I arrived in May, I seem to be drawn back. There is a beautiful community and awareness here that makes me feel at home. Since Pisac is located in a valley of the Andes Mountains, there are lots of places to enjoy, and many incredible people to meet.

Ausangate

more pictures and stories to come when better internet is found...

Myself, Persona, PJ and Laura strut our stuff on our way to find lunch in a small town between Pisac and Ausangate

The VW van sits in front of Ausangate Mountain at 4200 meters. There are several of us soaking in the natural hot spring left of the van. Nice morning!

Pisac - Yin Yang Home

Housemates - Laura, Sanne and Tuula on bottom row. Myself, PJ and John

Frontal view of Yin Yang Home

Yin Yang Home where I lived for 7 weeks in September and October. What a lovely place to call home!

PJ, originally from rural Ireland, enjoys a book at the Yin Yang Home. So comfortable!

Preparation for a homemade vegetable lasagna!

View from inside Moto Tax. These vehicles make me laugh every time

We experimented with sourdough bread, an active yeast that comes from flour and water. And what delicious bread we made...

Tuula, originally from Finland, helped me a lot with making breads. Thanks Tuula for your enthusiasm!

Incan Terraces in Pisac. Hundreds of years ago, they grew food for thousands of people from these terraces

Kinsa Coccha

There is a Hiking Club that entertains hikers every Monday around the Valley. This hike we went to the Lakes of Kinsa Coccha, which in Quechua translates to mean three lakes.

Elimination Diet - Improving Consciousness of Healthy Food

Elimination diet

"Did you ever stop to taste a carrot? Not just eat it, but taste it? You can't taste the beauty and energy of the earth in a Twinkie."

“The food you eat can be either the safest and most powerful form of medicine or the slowest form of poison.” - Ann Wigmore
 
Have you felt a lack of energy? Suffered from Allergies? Asthma? Nausea? Headaches? Ever thought the food you eat and the liquids you drink have a major impact on your health? Well, they do!
 
I always made excuses as to not begin consuming a healthier diet. Especially while traveling, one makes up excuses that it is impossible to be vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, etc. The truth is, anything is possible. So give it a try, one day at a time, one meal at a time. If a traveler that moves locations multiple times a week can do it, you can do it in your home.
 
I learned this diet from another traveler, Pip from Australia. So thanks Pip for being the inspiration behind this blog and diet.
 
What it an elimination diet?
An elimination diet will eliminate certain foods and liquids from a diet for two to four weeks. After this elimination period is the testing period. The testing period is a time when you try certain foods that you eliminated to see how your body reacts and feels. For instance, you stop eating chicken for three weeks, then one day have a big serving of chicken. That day you eat chicken, and the following two days, you observe how your body reacts as you return to the elimination diet. You may not feel any difference, you may feel gassy, nauseated, foggy headed, have diarrhea, etc. Then you will know if your body reacts well to chicken. After two days, you try the next food you want to test. If you have no negative symptoms, you can add this food into your normal diet.
 
What did I eliminate?
I eliminated all meats, lactose, gluten, sugars, alcohol, nuts, flavor enhancers and caffeine. What I could eat for three weeks: fresh fruits, fresh veggies, rice, beans, herbal tea, water. So I ate real food, alive food. Nothing processed. The more you eliminate, the more you can test. You may try only eliminating gluten from your diet if you are suspicious gluten effects you.
 
What did I experience?
Cravings! Especially for bread and cookies the first couple weeks. The first two weeks are the most difficult as your body craves certain foods that are not good for you, and you are not used to the diet. A few days my body seemed to go through withdrawals and I felt tired.
After a couple weeks, I began craving only the healthy food I was eating. I felt alive, energetic and healthy. My cravings for fast food and processed food decreased dramatically.
After three weeks into the diet, I began testing foods, one at a time. First I tested peanuts, almonds and other nuts as I craved them and they provide energy. Then I tested certain foods like egg, cheese, beef, yogurt, etc. I followed the diet for about three months and preferred the original diet I began.
 
What I learned?
I learned that yes, you will have cravings, but they pass. Just like everything in life-emotions, people, situations, etc. they all come and go, always changing. At times I would have an intense craving for bread, especially if others were consuming it around me. But with patience, this craving passed and I felt normal again.
I continue the vegetarian lifestyle and I am very conscious of what I feed myself. Everything in proportion. My intake of lactose and gluten is under more control and I limit the amount I eat. It is a treat when I eat these foods.
If you are traveling, yes it is difficult, but it is possible. You are also separated from your normal routine, so it may be easier as everything in new when traveling. It is probably easier if you are settled in one place and you can store foods.
 
Here is a link to a great website describing in detail the diet.
http://global.oup.com/us/companion.websites/9780195371109/pdf/00_Mullin_Appendix_3.pdf
 

Island of the Sun, Lake Titicaca

September 26th, 2014

Sanne and John, two lovely roommates from the Yin Yang Home in Pisac, joined me for a trip to Bolivia for visa reasons. We decided to take advantage of our time to visit Isla del Sol (Sun Island) which is located on Lake Titicaca. This lake is rather famous because it is one of the highest elevation lakes in the world at 3800 meters or 12,467 feet.

The Bolivia flag waves in the wind in front of Lake Titicaca

John and I arrive onto Isla del Sol and share a laugh

Sanne meets a Mamita named Sana, pronounced the same way. She supports Sana by buying a hand made alpaca sweater 

The view from the bathroom of our hostel

Hiking on Isla del Sol

Incan Ruins

Incan Ruins

Sanne brought a kaleidoscope. We had some fun!

John overlooks the lake from the ancient ruins

Sanne, John and I enjoy a fruit smoothie before we take a boat to leave the island

Learning Meditation

Vipassana Retreat

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched -- they must be felt with the heart" Helen Keller
 

Housing Quarters for men

I learned of this ten day silent mediation retreat years ago. It intimidated me. No communication for ten days! Ten hours of mediation everyday! Sounds intense. It is. Words echoed in my memory when thinking of a challenge. "The  greater the challenge, the greater the reward." I decided to do it for multiple reason but mainly to learn more about myself and how my mind  works.
 
All over the world, Vipassana style mediation retreats are given throughout the year. The style of mediation was invented and gifted to the world over 2,500 years ago by Siddartha Guatama, more famously known as Buddha. The course provides the location, a place to sleep, healthy food, teaching and and environment where there are few distractions. At the end of the course, you can give a donation of whatever amount you feel is just.
 
What I experienced?
This was one of the most mentally challenging things I've ever done. It was quite the roller coaster of emotions. Certain days, and throughout these days, I would feel excited, tired, doubt, faith, pain, motivated, unmotivated, loneliness, community, the whole spectrum. Sometimes very strong, sometimes very subtle. And I was to process all these emotions without communicating!
 
What I learned?
Wow. I learned, and I am learning so much from this experience!
One goal is to observe your orderless, erratic 'monkey mind' as it jumps from one emotion or thought to another. These thoughts happen so fast and have no sense of order, and most of us live without control or awareness of it.
I am learning to observe these thoughts and emotions without judgment, without labels of good or bad. Just observing. I am more conscious of when my mind wanders off on irrelevant or unimportant topics. I am more conscious of how my body feels throughout the day. I am learning how authentic appreciation and giving generously makes us feel true joy. I am learning patience as I take small steps on a long path in my spirituality.
 
Who can do it?
Anyone! There is no religion affiliated with vipassana. Any person from any religious or atheist practice will benefit from the practice. So anyone who feels like they want more balance in their life, more awareness and joy, I strongly recommend this retreat.

There is a small river that runs through the property in Calca. A beautiful place to spend time during our breaks

Mom visits me in Peru!

August 19th

'You are now becoming what you are someday going to be.' - Jim McEachern

The past couple weeks my Mom and I have traveled around Peru. What a special treat to have Mom around! We met in Lima, the capital of Peru. The next day we traveled to Ica and visited an oasis in the middle of the desert. Then to Nasca to visit the famous and ancient geoglyphs in the desert. And the past week we have been relaxing in the Sacred Valley near Cusco. We volunteered at an Eco Yoga Farm near San Salvador, visited Incan ruins in Pisac, partied with Hare Krishna friends for their holiday, and met amazing people.
Thanks again Mom for making the time to visit me here in Peru. We will remember this forever!

We climbed some ancient Incan terraces in Pisac

Mom wanted to see what a local home looks like. So we knocked on a door and asked to be shown around. We are standing in the kitchen, very simply and small. This woman was extremely nice.

Mom and I take a ride in a motor taxi. This is a motorcycle with a sitting area attached to the back. They are abundant, super cheap and quick to get from place to place

Mom and I volunteered at an Eco Yoga Farm in the Sacred Valley. We practiced yoga, meditation, cooked and shared meals and enjoyed the beautiful nature.

Here a man walks behind two oxen plowing a field in preparation to plant seeds. Incredible that the locals use this technique instead of what we see normally, tractors and heavy equipment.