Machu Picchu...The mystical land of the Incas!!!! Happy new year everyone...hope it brings you everything you hope for. For me new year`s eve has always been a really big deal. A big party, definitely a new outfit, surrounded by friends I love, lots of drinking and dancing. A couple years ago, me and Rick threw the best new year`s party ever. Last year I was in Goa, surrounded by total strangers but me and Kanika managed to make the most of it. This year would be absolutely the most memorable new years eve of my life. When will I ever get a chance to say I was in a tent, surrounded by tall majestic mountains on the Inca trail on my way to Machu Picchu!! What a beautiful way to bring in the new year. Yes, I know it`s just another day...as a lot of people like to think of everything in life. I like to make big deals of some days out of the year. I realize that every day of the year should be memorable and important but sometimes its good to have landmark days to stop and guage your life. For me, a new year brings new energy! Time to let go of the past and look only to the future. And from where I stand now, it looks amazing! I read somewhere today that the best place for personal growth is when your ego has been shattered but still hasn`t had the time to attach itself to anything new. That`s where I am at right now. CLEAN SLATE!!! Time to write a new story.

The story begins on Dec 31st, the most anticipated day of my entire South American journey. I think Machu Picchu was the reason for me to set out on this journey. We arrived by bus to Olyantantambo, the town where the Inca trail begins. I was feeling very restless in the morning before this journey. I think I was a bit homesick...just missing my mom and dad so much. Just wanted to cry...so I called mom and cried my heart out. Thank God for mothers...what would I do without her. After that everything was smooth sailing. Went through the Sacred Valley, which was breathtaking. Drove through little villages, saw old Inca ruins and finally arrived at Olyantantamo in the evening. Got all our supplies for the Inca trail i.e. walking stick, water proof everything, warm clothes and other knick knacks.

Next morning I woke up literally vibrating with excitement! I was like a little kid in a candy store. I just wanted to get started on this journey that I had waited over 3 months for. We arrived by bus to the base of the Inca trail, where we got our passport stamped stating that we began the Inca trail. The first day was easy...i can say that because of the days that followed. But, it was still 6 hours of walking up and down the mountains, in the rain---ponchos on, ponchos off!! The first day, we walked through little villages, saw some ruins but it still seemed like we were in civilization. Arrived at our campsite at around 4 pm. We were 11 people in our group with 18 porters looking after us. We only carried our little day pack with the stuff that we might need during our hike. The rest of our stuff (sleeping bags, matteress etc) was carried by these poor porters. I cant believe the quality of service we received. We were treated like royalty the entire journey. The food was spectacular. We arrived at our campsite and our tents were all set up. We were given hot water to dip our feet in. There was a little shop where we bought some beer. But after beer and dinner, we decided to go to bed...at about 9 pm. At 11:45, we were woken up to bring in the new year. There was champagne, pisco, wine!! It was quite magical to count down to the new year in a dinner tent surrounded by mountains. For the first time, I was really at peace on new years eve even though I had no one to kiss. Last year was hard and I remember the first thing I did when the count down ended, was cry! I had been with Rick for 7 years and he was not there with me for the first time in 7 years. But this year, I was at peace. That`s what I mean about guaging how far you`ve come in your life.

Next morning we were woken up by the donkey braying outside our tent. Came out of my tent to see that I had literally landed in Old McDonald`s farm. There were chicken, pigs, ducks, cats, dogs, donkeys, guinea pigs...all roaming free among our tents. It was quite hillarious. After a lovely breakfast of pancakes, we set out on what was supposed to be the hardest hike of the four day journey. Me, Sponge and Jessica were ahead of the group and walked the entire day together. We had a lot of help from coco leaves! Felt like a right maj(cow for hindi) chewing on dried out leaves. But, it does give you a lot of energy and helps with breathing at high altitude. After all we had to climb 2000 meters in 4 hours. Straight up!! It was grouse grind x 10! But so much more magical. The highest point of our journey, dead woman`s pass, was at 4200 meters. It was a real tough climb, up the uneven, rocky steps. At one point I stopped to put on some sun screen and there was something crystally on my face. Then I realized I was literally sweating salt! But, when I arrived at the top of the dead woman`s pass, I was overcome with emotion! I looked down to see how far I had come and the entire valley was covered with clouds. I realized that I was above the clouds! I sat there, feeling the energy of the mountain....and then the tears came. OUt of nowhere...I started to cry. Not knowing why I was crying but I knew that I had to. I cried and I cried until I felt like I was completely cleansed from the inside. I think a lot of it was related to Rick. I just never allowed myself to grieve for my marriage breaking up. I just went out and started dating right away, never giving myself the space to grieve the loss of someone I loved dearly. I think I had a lot of suppressed grief that just came out at the top of the mountain. I felt so lighthearted after. I have been a whole new person since then...granted its only been 4 days :) but hey, so far I feel like a different person. What goes up, must come down...hence, we started our downhill journey from dead woman`s pass. This was harder than climbing up, especially when it started to rain. Going down slippery stones, covered in our ponchos was not the funnest but we made the most of it. Arrived at our second campsite at the foot of a massive waterfall, in the middle of the cloud forest. Yes, we were literally in the middle of the clouds. Heaven...couldnt have imagined it any other way. That nite we were told the best part of the journey was yet to come.

Next day began with a straight uphill climb for about 2 hours. After that it was supposed to be mostly flat, or rolling hills. After lunch, I decided to walk alone...and am I ever glad that I did. This was the most beautiful landscape of the entire journey. I was walking through clouds, past waterfalls, on this narrow authentic Inca trail. All I heard were birds, waterfalls and my footsteps. Its the closest I`ve ever felt to God. I felt so at one with nature, walking among these majestic mountains, on the road built thousands of years ago. Everything seemed brighter, as if I could see the energy fields of the plants! I get goose bumps when I think about it. I would be walking for hours and then around the bend, in the middle of the mountains, I would come upon an old Inca city ruin. This is how they lived, among the mountains. THey worshipped mountains, as their primary God. THat is why there is so much energy here. Arrived at the 3rd campsite...finally showers!!! Oh, did I mention there were no showers the first two days? Yes, we sweat a lot and we were extremely stinky! After the best hot shower of my life, I had the best cold beer of my life. THis campsite was very posh compared to the other two we stayed at. There was a restaurant, a bar, a discotheque and did I mention..showers!!! We all drank and danced with our lovely (yet extremely stinky) porters. It was a lot of fun. When again would I get the opportunity to go to a discotheque in my socks and sandals :)

Next morning arrived too early. We were supposed to be up at 4 am in order to reach the sun gate to watch the sunrise over machu picchu. It was pouring rain, I was tired and sleepy, and it was freezing cold! But, we got up, got dressed and started our 2 hour journey to the sun gate. Again, I opted to walk alone, away from the group. I wanted to feel one with nature again and I wasnt disappointed. Unfortunately, it was not very sunny when we arrived at the sun gate. In fact, the entire city of machu picchu was shrouded in clouds. But, it was still magical. When I first caught sight of Machu Picchu, it was breathtaking! It looked like it had a veil of clouds over it. But as I stood there, mesmerized by its beauty, the clouds lifted and the city was revealed to me. It was spectacular! Then, our lovely guide, Miguel, took us around the city and brought it to life. HOw the Incas lived, how they prayed, how they performed human sacrifices, their customs, their architecture, their spirituality! It was wonderful. THe entire city is surrounded by amazingly tall mountains. My only regret was that the clouds never fully lifted for me to see the mountains clearly. Yes it was quite amazing to see the clouds drift in and out and reveal a little bit at a time, but I would`ve liked to see the entire thing clearly atleast once. But, it was not to be. Nonetheless, I have to say, Machu Picchu not only lived up to my expectations but exceeded it! I would recommend it to anyone in a heartbeat. But I have to say, the journey was what made the destination so amazing. You can get to the city by train but I cant imagine the experience being even close to what we experienced!

I am in Cusco now and have only 9 more days left on this trip. After that 10 ays in Galapagoz and then I am off to India. I was gonna come to Vancouver for a week or so but I miss mom too much. My brother has been kind enough to get me a flight direct from Quito, Ecuador to London. Might have to be in London for a couple of days, long enough to buy some clothes and then off to India. Did I mention I am going to live in an ashram in India for 3 months! Yeah, next up, spirituality!! I am going to work and meditate, and do yoga for three months in this gorgeous ashram in Pune called Osho ashram. Should be interesting. Will keep u updated. Lots of love and good wishes for the new year.