It's a Peruvian Jungle, Baby! The Inka Jungle Trek

Nothing brings me more joy than traveling and travel planning.  Recently, a friend of mine asked for an itinerary of my trek to Machu Picchu.  Javier is planning to go, so I could not help but rejoice for him.  I chattered from the top of my lungs about my adventures and my enlightenments while, no pun intended, perusing to Machu Picchu.  This will serve as a guide and a memoir of the trek.

I landed in Lima and took a local flight to to Cusco, Peru.  I settled down at a hostel and set out to find a trek to Machu Picchu.  And I went with this option:

                                             INKA JUNGLE TREK                                  

An adventure that leaves your veins pumping and your mind in awed.  The trek was both physically challenging and mentally vigorous.  Be prepared for some mountain sickness folks!

Day 1:

I left with only a small backpack for 4 days journey.  A van drove myself and a group, who signed up for the same trek, to Ollantaytambo, over 4,200 meters above sea level .  Amazed, we took in the beauty terrain while standing on the highest peak of the whole trip.  Then we strapped on some gear and bike down the Andes.  The rush of the winding road and the wind whipping our faces kicks in high gear as we ride past waterfalls, school kids, and villages.  A couple hours and 2,000-meter descend in, we got to a small town in Santa Maria.  The adventure did not stop there.  For ~$30, I signed up for a level 3 rapid rafting.  My god, if that did not blow my hair our of the water.  (Side note, I don't know how to swim very well - take precautions).  Needless to say, I slept very well that night.

You know, just biking in the Andes

Day 2:

Waking up fresh and eager, we set out on the Inka Trail.  As we trekked, we stopped by huts and small houses of local Peruvians for quick rest.  What I loved most about this trek was the kindness of the Peruvian people.  Everyone was amazing and compassionate - I've been to places where I would be looked at as walking wallets.  Onward to the trek, our trail continues into Quellomayo where the group stopped for food and quick hammock nap.  We then picked up our trek on the side of Urubamba river, and then crossing it at one point in a cart and pulley.  Our day ended soaking in the Santa Theresa hot springs. Which was much needed to soothe my soul after a day extraneous hiking.  Food and salsa dancing in the town Santa Theresa was followed. 

The Group!

The Inka trail ( for trail - see to left of picture)

Crossing Ururamba river in style

Santa Theresa hot spring - doing a little jig!

Day 3:

While some of the group continued to hike, I chose to pay a little extra ($35 - I believe) to zipline in the most extensive 5 lines zip in South America.  Needless to say, free style zip line was encouraged, meaning we can go upside down, side ways, flip, etc.  The adrenaline for starting the day like that gave me a surge of energy for the rest of the hike that followed.  On today's hike I cried (yes, cried) in awe of my surrounding, it was incredibly beautiful landscape I have the pleasure of immersing.  Our hike ended in the tourist town, Aguas Calientes.  Again, here we had the option of hot spring pool siding.  I chose to skip out on hot bathing and again go dancing.  But only to dance just enough to come back for a night rest for the 4AM ascend to Machu Picchu.

Day 4:

The climb to Machu Picchu began at 4 o'clock, before the sun is up .  We ascended through a zig-zag staircase that lasted 1 1/2 - 2 hours.  Pushing time to get to Machu Picchu before the sunrise.  The funny and humbling experience was that the ascend was so tiring for me that when I finally reached Machu Picchu, I was so relieved and happy that I finally see buses and people.  That meant the my rigorous climb was over.  Just a funny situation, where my expectation of my behavior, 'enlightenment', failed to meet the actuality of the moment, 'relieved'.  Personal thoughts aside, our tour guide have us a quick guide through Machu Picchu.  It was quite impressive to see how Incas lived and they were able to build such an amazing structure, WITH NO CEMENT!  After the tours, I made friends with a couple other trekkers and we explored the rest of Machu Picchu.  Once it rained a bit, we made our way down and decompressed until it was time to board our train back to Ollantaytambo.  And from there back home to Cusco.

It's night time Trekkin'

This trek was amazing, and seriously if any of my friends or anybody would want to go with me.  I am 100% ready and readily volunteer my service as your companion and your guide! :)

Booyah, more power to ya!

Yesterday, I laughed. Today, I cried, whine, bitched... just a little.

Every year, for my birthday, I have a tendency of having the most lavish parties.  I have always loved the energy of everyone 'living it up.'  I don't know what changed this year, but I did not feel compel to book anything extravagant.  Instead of planning for anything, I just showed up I was showered with love from co-worker, friends and family.  I like that - the unexpected shower of love.

This year (2013)


2012

2011

Despite the love, I feel an overwhelming amount of stress fortified by adulthood.  The stress of moving was enough to push me over the edge.  Couple that with some unexpected bills and car maintenance.  And a few other important things, which I feel it may be too personal to mention.  All of which I can handle if it trickles down one at a time.  But it may be true what they say... 'when it rains, it pours'

Yes, I have tried to look on the brighter sides.  Yes, I have tried running off of the positive things I should do in situations like this.  But sometime, it just easier to sulk.  And it's okay.  It is okay to whine, bitch and complain for a day or so.  So as long as I know that this is temporary.  Perhaps it is against popular belief to feel sorry for oneself, but I beg to differ.  It is normal to have days like this.  It is normal to feel helpless sometime.  It should also be normal to have some compassion for oneself.

And as G*cough* as my witness, I will not let these feeling soil me into a black hole.  Anna will rise again.  First things first, get my phone fix -  my phone got a little too happy at my happy hour birthday celebratory and slammed face first on the concrete at Kung Fu Bar.  

Second thing first, sleep and wake up deal with all this shit that is adulthood. 

Have a good night kids!

Anna

Breathe... and go camping

Today, I received much disheartening news.  I have to move.  Mid-day at work, I got a phone call from my landlord, stating that she had seen my dog, Austin, barking and bobbing his head from my flat's window.  And as per our lease, I can't have pets on the premises.  Well, when I signed the lease I  didn't intend to have a dog and now I have not only a dog, but a woman's best friend.

The whole day at work, I kept on thinking what is my next course of action.  Whether or not I should hide Austin from her, and just keep on taking him to doggy day care.  Or move to a new place.  Or get a place with roommates to save money, since I need to start my business/project.  I was so overwhelmed by these thoughts that I wasn't even able to focus on the present or work.   You would go bonkers too, knowing how much I pay for my wonderful bungalow downtown Austin.

The  logical thing and correct course have yet to come, but I'm willing to bet that it won't come with me  going out of my wits worrying.  Popular wisdoms say, take a breather, meditate and drink a glass of wine.  Will do! Will take things as they go.  Ohm or Om... Wine.

Mean while, this past weekend I camped, and celebrated a close friend of mine's birthday, at a spectacular spot in Austin, called Pace Bend Park.  I will let the picture ruminate:

Oh nature... How do I love thee! And within this trip I've also realized that I'm more outdoorsy kind of gal.  I've noticed that I no longer revel in the party scene.  I have since graduated to activities that are outdoors.  Nature have this amazing quality of healing me and allowing me to breathe and clear my head.   I shall let my situation takes it course.  ;)

A bonus round:

A moment of Marilyn

Birthday boy!

Our Model

Breathe...

#Foxxifailed

When I was 19, I was cool, or so I thought.  I was also a dork, so I came about with an online alias, FoxxiDork.  Recently, FoxxiDork came about to embarrassed the heck out of me, as follow:

 Skype Work Conference Chat:
.....

[7/3/2013 2:55:30 PM]  Co-worker #1: I have reached out to Coworker #2
[7/3/2013 2:56:04 PM] Co-worker #1: she has escalated the issue and will get back to us soon
[7/3/2013 2:56:28 PM]  Co-worker #1: also, who is foxxidork?
[7/3/2013 2:57:09 PM]  Co-worker #3: good, foxxidork? I do not know
[7/3/2013 2:57:20 PM] Co-worker #3: where does that come from?
[7/3/2013 2:57:40 PM] Co-worker #1: well there are 3 of us in this chat
[7/3/2013 2:58:01 PM] Anna Nguyen: Oh god, this is really embarrassing
[7/3/2013 2:58:23 PM] Anna Nguyen: It's Anna.  I guess this is how it shows up to people not on my contact
[7/3/2013 2:58:32 PM] Co-worker #1: lol
[7/3/2013 2:58:38 PM] Co-worker #1: yes it is
[7/3/2013 2:58:44 PM] Co-worker #3: ah je
[7/3/2013 2:59:27 PM] Anna Nguyen: Yeah, it's not one of the brightests point of my day.
[7/3/2013 2:59:33 PM] Anna Nguyen: have a good day guys.
[7/3/2013 2:59:56 PM] *** Anna Nguyen has left ***

Lesson of the decade.  When you enter the work force, make a new Skype name.  #foxxidorkfailed.

And so We Meet Again...

So I have fell off the blogging bandwagon.  Why? If only I knew.  All it took was one day.  One day led to two days, and then three, and then about a month and some later, I realized something is missing.  Something that I really enjoy to do.  Today will rectify my blogging gone awry.

Well, not all was lost in my time astrayed.  I was very productive in other aspects including this amazing project, www.much-o.com, which I hope to debut in November or December.  I can't wait to share this with the world.  It was inspired by my journeys and my encounters with awesome and creative minds.

Mean while working on that project, I have also been working on myself.  Working on oneself is dramatic and freaking long journey of ups and downs.  And right now it's in its down
cycle, pushing its way back up (I hope).  This down cycle consist of me getting discouraged and in turn I panic in confusion, not know what to do with my life.  The enormity of such awareness makes me feel so vulnerable.  But through much examination, I perceive that this is a good thing.  To be confuse in life is a good thing.  It allows me to question, "WHY?" Why do I do the things that I do? How do I get what I desire and aspire? What can I offer the world? Yadah Yadah, dah, and more life related questions.

These life pondering questions can go on indefinitely.  However, what I can conclude from this experience is that, life can be confusing and it should be confusing.  Because if I have it all figured out, I maybe doing something wrong...

Stay positive and continue to ask questions.

In the mean while, I still am stopping to smell the roses:

Best mother ever - her last few days visiting in Austin

Some Happy Hour studs

The best fortune I have ever gotten in my life!

Swimming Beauty

A happy Michelada that I wish I can swim in!

You can't tell,  or maybe you can, but I was getting ready for some Salsa-dancing.  No action pictures, unfortunately. 

My nature's medication

-------------------------------------------------

GOOOOOOODDDD NIGHT!

              

STOP BEING A CONCEITED B*&TCH!

To preface, I rarely ever write about anything negative.  It's just unnecessary waste of energy.  Unfortunately, it is one of those days, so here goes some wasted energy.

You know what I don't get? Conceited people.  God, they kill me.  They indeed sucks the life force out of me.

Scenario one, super-market, hair flipping bit*ch.  I was walking down an aisle to grab and item, and there is this huge cart blocking the very item I am reaching for.  I tried to push the cart aside so I can grab the item.  Instead of the cart owner running over to move the cart.  The cart owner looked at me, looked away, flipping her hair.  Aghhh, I can just scream at such facial disdain.

Scenario two, newly introduced people, especially bit*chy/@sshole co-workers.  I seriously go out of my way to make people feel welcome.  I know how it is being a new person.  I especially know how it is being the outsider.  So it boggles me when a new colleague rolls their eyes at me when all I'm trying to do is make them feel received.  Aghhhh, I can just bitch slap such rudeness.

Scenario three, conceited people, who thinks the world revolves around them.  This kills me the most.    Ugggh Uhhhhhh. *snapping my fingers in a Z-formation*.  Why do you think the world is here to cater to you? why? It is not pretty.

Our individualistic society place so much emphasis on being by ourselves.  We push others away and only celebrate our own successes.  We don't instinctively see ourselves as a part of the larger whole. We are only significant through our connection to other people.  No human ever exist in isolation.  So play nice.  Play kind.  STOP BEING CONCEITED.

A Birthday and... Fire-jumping?

Yes, this post is coming a week late, since it is about this past last weekend's adventure.  Yes, I have been enjoying my mother's awesome company.  Yes, I have neglect other aspects of life, i.e. this blog. Anywho, moving on, this past weekend was a field of jumping fiery fun...and yes a whole lot of relaz-ing.  And again, a lot of gratitude, realizations, and cakes.

The cake was in celebration of a close friend of mine's birthday. With much reason to celebrate, we headed off for some camping by the lake, Canyon Lake, TX.  It was a nice shift in space and scenery from Austin.  It was a nice staycation.  About an hour away from Austin, with scenery similar to lakes in California.  What I was so fond of was standing by the shore, and having the 'waves' hitting my feet, while having my dog swimming and fetching in the 'ocean'-lake.  I had this imagery when I was younger, and standing there was semi-deja-vu.  Instead of a beach in California, it was at a lake in Texas.  Instead of another dog I had, I have my wonderful Austin.  Everything seems  in its right places.  Couple that with my group of friends and S'more, it was weekend-tastic.  -- Now I just need a jeep wrangler to complete that image I had in mind. And a surfboard.  And this... and that...  I kid, I kid.  The image and experience was close enough.

               

Maybe you do get everything you have ever wished for! Just need stop and appreciate the..... Cheeeesseee.  We all know how much I love cheese.

Good Day folks!