The Cruz del Sur Sutra

ali-star — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 20:13:00 GMT

So, I’ve been traveling a few weeks now. Yup, lots of long bus rides. And another one ahead of me…Arequipa to Nazca. The estimated 12 hours through the night quoted to me has me splurging and taking the uber-comfy, luxury bus the Cruz del Sur. Sure it was a bit more expensive, plus you’re paying for a ticket all the way to Lima despite getting off in Nazca, but whatever, I was treating myself.
At the bus station, when they started announcing that my bus was ready to board, I had a moment’s panic as they said we would be arriving in Nazca in the 5:30am range…I hadn’t booked accommodation since I thought we’d be arriving at 7am. The thought of getting to Nazca and having to bang on the steel doors blocking all building entrances was not appealing. Fortunately, the girl in front of me said that I could join her as she had already booked a room. I had just found my new traveling companion, Rebecca.
As luck would have it, Rebecca had been assigned seat #2, and I was in #1. We were positively giddy, sharing stories of our adventures in Peru, pleased as punch when food was brought to us, thrilled at the thought of a movie. Things were lookin' up...but not for long.
When the food trays were cleared, the lights dimmed, the masses silenced, my trouble truly began. Fidgety, wired on soda, and trapped! I had about a foot and a half in front of me and then the "wall" separating the driver's compartment from the passengers. No seat to extend my legs under. And I have looooong legs. 10 hours? This was not gonna be good.
And the heat! Oh man, it was so flippin' hot on the bus. Rebecca couldn’t stop laughing as I let off one uncomfortable moan after another.
Every couple of seconds, I was shuffling in my seat to try and get comfortable. Then layers of clothing started coming off. My pants were rolled up as far as they could go, my socks and shoes were in a pile on the floor, my shirt was off and I was sweating profusely (I had on a tank top underneath which was rolled up to let my stomach breath). How many more hours to go?
It was about 3-4 hours in, and I was in a state of heated delirium. The temperature in the bus was stifling, my legs were cramping, the man behind me was snoring and somehow I seemed to be the only one suffering. It was at this time that I went a little crazy. I started thinking, for whatever reason, about how odd it was that every country you go to seems to have a section in the gift shop for the sexually oriented gift. And Peru was no exception. How many key-chains and statuettes had I seen where couples were copulating…men with their humongous penises and women with their gi-normous boobies?! All posed in a varied amount of positions, like the Kama Sutra.
All the while my mind contemplated this, I continued to shift in my seat: one minute my feet were on my seat with my knees up at my chin; then one foot on the floor with the other up, bent, flat-footed against the “wall” in front of me; then one foot tucked under the seat, while the other came down to cross over it. Once a position became uncomfortable, I’d shift to a new one.
And then it hit me…I was doing the Cruz del Sur Sutra! I found myself naming the positions, cackling away as one position morphed to the next - the "fetal" to the "running man" to the "curtsy" and so forth. Once I had gone through about 7 different positions, I would find myself back at the beginning again. I have no clue how many rotations of the sutra I went through, but it helped the minutes tick past.
Upon our arrival in Nazca, I was wiped. So physically and mentally drained. But let me tell you, if it wasn't for the Cruz del Sur Sutra I dunno how I'd have survived that long, hot, uncomfortable, expensive night-bus ride.

Mystical Energies

ali-star — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 20:09:00 GMT

Why, oh why is it that all the temples are located at the TOP of a mountain, or island for that matter? Honestly.
I’m not sure exactly what is going on? All I do know is that apparently the men of isla Amantani have been drinking since 10am, and will be going until at least 8pm. Yup, we’re just in time for a fiesta of some sort.
The playing of music in the town square is calling out to me. While, dang it, my guide is calling for myself, and all the others on this mad little over-night tour, to head to the top of the island to see yet another beautiful temple, with yet another incredible view.
Is this really necessary? He says it is, and tells us that we’ll have plenty of time to hit the celebration later. With a wee grumble, we make our way up the steep, winding path…did I mention that Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world? Don’t ask me the elevation I’m at, just know that my huffing and puffing is telling me that it’s high. The trail up is pretty and steadily inclining. I’m slightly warmed when I see some people playing volleyball…wow, such stamina, I’m impressed. I also happen to be parched. This elevation apparently is also affecting my brain as I forgot my water.
I push on though, and finally arrive at the top. Where, much to my chagrin, I notice that the temple is actually closed to the public. In fact, the temple is only open one day a year, and that day is not today. I’m a bit growly: frustrated for the hefty hike and missing out on the celebration below. However, I plant myself on a rock, gaze out at the lake and surrounding islands…okay, it is beautiful.
My guide soon starts to talk, telling us how this particular temple is the only one that is still in use. He explains that the one day it is open is a special day…you’ll have to forgive me my inability to recollect the name of the day, my ability to understand Spanish was of no use to me with the Spanish-English mixology my guide was cooking up.
Regardless, I did understand him when he mentioned that this temple, and surrounding grounds, are a good place to “make the meditation”. He said that the mystical energies were extremely high, and that this temple was in alignment with Machu Picchu, the pyramids in Egypt and the sun and moon temples of Teotihucan, Mexico.
Although I am unable to silence my mind for meditation (or sleep, or contemplation, or anything for that matter), I thought I might as well give it a whirl, having climbed so high n' all. So I moved away from the group, sat on another rock and closed my eyes. I suppose what I was doing wasn’t really a meditation, but it was a moment to myself. I thought about my dear friend Scott who was going through some challenging times back home. I wanted him to know that I was thinking of him, sending him positive vibes. So I envisioned this energy swirling up and out of me and riding the wind into the deep depths of the sky. In my minds eye I watched it move up and over all the countries separating us. I imagined it finding him all the way up in Vancouver, Canada, then wrapping itself around him, whispering in his ear and letting him know how much he means to me. Then I let my vision go.
Well, not 5 minutes later, still seated on my rock, I hear a man striking up conversation to a young guy who had settled himself down a few rocks from myself. The man asked: “What’s your name again?” and the young guy replied: “Scott.”
I just about fell off my rock. Tears sprang to my eyes and I felt, and still feel, with every fibre in my being that that was the universe's way of letting me know that Scott was thinking of me too.
Party? What party? Let’s talk more about these mystical energies…

A South American Adventure

The Cruz del Sur Sutra

Mystical Energies