Peru 2006
Just back from Peru with a lot of ideas and material. Flickr on the right just below here has my photos.
Apart from telling people that I came to Peru to watch the World Cup; which I did quite frequently, I revisited some places and found some new things. The highlight was watching the sun rise on the Winter Solstice in the eye of the llama at Ollantaytambo.
The next day I got up to Machu Piccu early enough to have it to myself for a while.
Here are three ideas I am working on connected to my Peru experience:
I am interested in the "sacred geography'" of the Incas. While Machu Picchu is the main tourist destination, there are many Inca sites in and around the ancient Inca city of Cusco and in the nearby Sacred Valley. I am interested in how most of these sites reflect the belief that the mountains surrounding them were considered divine. This is usually displayed by the postioning of rocks that resemble the shapes of the mountains in the distance. I am asking to what extent these beliefs persist in the descendents of the Incas, the Quechua people, who make up the dominant population of the area. These beliefs are reflected mainly n the view that the earth is sacred and referred to today by many as Pacahamama (mother earth).
Many visitors to Machu Picchu and the surrounding area say they feel a special energy when they visit these ancient sites. In fact many come to this area of Peru specifically for a spiritual experience. As in other "energy centres" around the world the local tourism industry is catering to these spiritual tourists. I am examining these facets of spiritual tourism. Some come to simply experience what they feel is the special experience of being in these places while others go further and join locally organised groups that provide the means to take part in shamanic ceremonies that involve the use of the two major "sacred" drugs ayahuasca and San Pedro. How is the phenomenon of spiritual tourism effecting the shape of tourism in general in the area?
There is a significant number of local tour guides working in the tourism industry which is centred in Cusco. The universities in Cusco provide degree courses in tourism. I have noticed that a lot of tour guides refer to the same book, Elorietta's Cusco and the Sacred Valley and pass on to tourists many of the concepts and ideas contained in that book. The book takes a semi academic approach to describing the natural and created features of the landscape. Some assertions are backed by evidence other appear to be pure fancy. I am interested in how one book can influence the view of the tour guides and consequently the perception the tourists receive of this area.
Apart from telling people that I came to Peru to watch the World Cup; which I did quite frequently, I revisited some places and found some new things. The highlight was watching the sun rise on the Winter Solstice in the eye of the llama at Ollantaytambo.
The next day I got up to Machu Piccu early enough to have it to myself for a while.
Here are three ideas I am working on connected to my Peru experience:
I am interested in the "sacred geography'" of the Incas. While Machu Picchu is the main tourist destination, there are many Inca sites in and around the ancient Inca city of Cusco and in the nearby Sacred Valley. I am interested in how most of these sites reflect the belief that the mountains surrounding them were considered divine. This is usually displayed by the postioning of rocks that resemble the shapes of the mountains in the distance. I am asking to what extent these beliefs persist in the descendents of the Incas, the Quechua people, who make up the dominant population of the area. These beliefs are reflected mainly n the view that the earth is sacred and referred to today by many as Pacahamama (mother earth).
Many visitors to Machu Picchu and the surrounding area say they feel a special energy when they visit these ancient sites. In fact many come to this area of Peru specifically for a spiritual experience. As in other "energy centres" around the world the local tourism industry is catering to these spiritual tourists. I am examining these facets of spiritual tourism. Some come to simply experience what they feel is the special experience of being in these places while others go further and join locally organised groups that provide the means to take part in shamanic ceremonies that involve the use of the two major "sacred" drugs ayahuasca and San Pedro. How is the phenomenon of spiritual tourism effecting the shape of tourism in general in the area?
There is a significant number of local tour guides working in the tourism industry which is centred in Cusco. The universities in Cusco provide degree courses in tourism. I have noticed that a lot of tour guides refer to the same book, Elorietta's Cusco and the Sacred Valley and pass on to tourists many of the concepts and ideas contained in that book. The book takes a semi academic approach to describing the natural and created features of the landscape. Some assertions are backed by evidence other appear to be pure fancy. I am interested in how one book can influence the view of the tour guides and consequently the perception the tourists receive of this area.
posted by Blomidon at 3:12 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home