Lake Titicaca is the world's highest navigable lake, situated between the southern border of Peru with Bolivia. It sits at 3,800m above sea level and is South America's largest lake with a length of 200km. We visited 3 of the islands located on the lake - Isla Uros (man-made floating islands), Isla Amantani (where we spent overnight with a local villager), and Isla Taquile (noted for their beautifully woven belts, caps, shawls, tapestries, etc).
On our totora reed boat. The totora reeds grow wild in the lake, and is used by the villagers of the floating islands of Uros to build houses, watchtowers and even the islands themselves.
They also eat them, as demonstrated by this villager.
Almost all structures on the man-made island are made from totora reeds. This is one of more than 20 floating islands of the Uros people.
They use solar panels donated by the government to generate electricity for light domestic use.
A cross section of the totora reed. They are very absorbent, and so the ground of the islands are spongy and soft.
Martin, our host on Isla Amantani. He lives with his wife & daughter in a mudbrick house with no running water or electricity. Martin fishes 2-3 times a week and they have a small plot of land beside his house where they plant potatoes, which is a diet staple. We stayed with them for one night and our room was lit by a single candle. With nothing to do and a candle between us, it was probably the most romantic situation we have found ourselves in in a long while :)
Outside view of Martin's house & garden
Dinner time at Martin's home. At night, the family huddles in the kitchen warmed by the stove and a single kerosene lamp, listening to the radio.
A musician belting out Andean tunes at the village hall on the evening of our overnight stay on Isla Amantani
Dressed up in the local costumes, ready for an evening of dance & music. To make up for the lack of entertainment, the villagers organised an evening dance party for guests of the island.
View of Lake Titicaca from Isla Amantani in the late afternoon 
Dissatisfied with the self-inflicted torture of hiking 4 days on the Inca Trail a few days earlier, we decided to climb up the highest point on the Isla Amantani at 4,100m. Up there, YL & I did our own little ceremony to thank Pachamama (Mother Earth). As the sun gradually disappeared and evening set in, the wind turned unbelievably cold, and I remember thinking that my fingers have not felt so frozen for a long time. (Hence this picture is not so much of us trying to look lovey-dovey than trying to keep warm.)
This girl was the daughter of the proprietor of a local restaurant where we ate lunch.
The girls of Isla Amantani waiting to bid farewell to their guests
On our totora reed boat. The totora reeds grow wild in the lake, and is used by the villagers of the floating islands of Uros to build houses, watchtowers and even the islands themselves.They also eat them, as demonstrated by this villager.Almost all structures on the man-made island are made from totora reeds. This is one of more than 20 floating islands of the Uros people.They use solar panels donated by the government to generate electricity for light domestic use.A cross section of the totora reed. They are very absorbent, and so the ground of the islands are spongy and soft.
Martin, our host on Isla Amantani. He lives with his wife & daughter in a mudbrick house with no running water or electricity. Martin fishes 2-3 times a week and they have a small plot of land beside his house where they plant potatoes, which is a diet staple. We stayed with them for one night and our room was lit by a single candle. With nothing to do and a candle between us, it was probably the most romantic situation we have found ourselves in in a long while :)Outside view of Martin's house & gardenDinner time at Martin's home. At night, the family huddles in the kitchen warmed by the stove and a single kerosene lamp, listening to the radio.
A musician belting out Andean tunes at the village hall on the evening of our overnight stay on Isla AmantaniDressed up in the local costumes, ready for an evening of dance & music. To make up for the lack of entertainment, the villagers organised an evening dance party for guests of the island. View of Lake Titicaca from Isla Amantani in the late afternoon Dissatisfied with the self-inflicted torture of hiking 4 days on the Inca Trail a few days earlier, we decided to climb up the highest point on the Isla Amantani at 4,100m. Up there, YL & I did our own little ceremony to thank Pachamama (Mother Earth). As the sun gradually disappeared and evening set in, the wind turned unbelievably cold, and I remember thinking that my fingers have not felt so frozen for a long time. (Hence this picture is not so much of us trying to look lovey-dovey than trying to keep warm.)This girl was the daughter of the proprietor of a local restaurant where we ate lunch.
The girls of Isla Amantani waiting to bid farewell to their guestsLocal women congregating at the village plaza on Isla Taquile
2 comments:
What an interesting and adventurous trip. Beautiful pics. YOu make my life feel so dull and colourless. I just spent the whole of last sunday sleeping and cleaning up my son's poo (3 times!)
Hey, it's a matter of priority, really... We envy you guys for your "complete" life - the house, the cars, the maid, etc. We are still nomads :(
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