About Me

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Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
I am married to my loving husband for more than 40 years now. I am a mother to 3 beautiful children, until years ago when I lost my youngest son. Since then my life is forever altered but yet unbroken....

My Travel Journal

"There isn't much I haven't shared with you along the road and through it all there'd always be tomorrow's episode" - Elton John

I started traveling around the world since early 80s when I had the opportunity to combine business trips with vacations. Then later when my rezeki is in abundance, there were numerous other trips along the way for vacations, most of the time with hubby and the kids when the timing is right. I have also started to compile the journal and photo-pages covering almost more than 45 years of world wide travel. Some destinations I visited just once, others many times. Many of those places are the obvious famous places people would like to visit but some, the casual traveler doesn't even think to try. I have placed links to my travel at the side bar of my personal page, My Life Reflections, and will be updating them from time to time.

My wish is to continue my travel and complete circumnavigate the globe, insyaAllah…

Friday 20 October 2017

Peru 2017: The Huaca Huallamarca in Lima

“Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without one…” – Chinese Proverb

(The Huaca Huallamarca in Lima, Peru)

After lunch we were transferred to Ministro Pistarini International Airport to board the 19:40 flight LA2466 to Lima, also known as 'The City of the Kings'. Arrived in Lima, Peru at 22:30 and were met by our local guide Mr. Alberto and the driver, Mr. Carlos.

Jorge Chávez International Airport is Peru's main international and domestic airport. It is located 11 km from Lima, the nation's capital city and 17 km from Miraflores. Although this is our first time in Peru, this airport looks very familiar as we have been watching many episodes of the Airport Security Peru on the National Geographic channel. The biggest security incidents in this airport are cocaine trafficking and Peru anti-narcotics police work 24/7 to bust the latest ingenious schemes.

Everyone were cautioned of own safety and reminded never to leave luggage unattended. According to statistic, Peru has one of the highest reported crime rates in Latin America. But then, the threat of violent crime in most of Peru is no greater than many of the world's major cities.

It was very late when we reached our hotel. We spent the night in Lima Jose Antonio Deluxe Hotel in Miraflores.

Day 05: Friday, 20 Oct 2017 Route: Lima Tour
Hotel: Lima Jose Antonio Deluxe Hotel, Peru

(Jose Antonio Deluxe Hotel)

We started the tour of Lima early in the morning. Lima is at an altitude of 1,550 meter. It is the capital of Peru, lies on the country's arid Pacific coast. Though its colonial center is preserved, it is a bustling metropolis and one of South America’s largest cities. It is home to the Museo Larco collection of pre-Columbian art and the Museo de la Nación, tracing the history of Peru’s ancient civilizations. The Plaza de Armas and the 16th-century cathedral are the heart of old Lima Centro.

(Huaca Huallamarca ancient Pyramid)
(Historical Pyramid of San Isidro)
(Mud brick wall housing the museum)
(An archaeological findings on display)
(A sacred burial site)
(On top of the mud brick pyramid)
(View of San Isidro town)
(Partial view of Huaca Huallamarca pyramid)

We travelled to San Isidro town to visit Huaca Huallamarca, a historical pyramid structure located in the heart of San Isidro. It especially stands out because of the sharp contrast it forms with the modern buildings surrounding it. It consists of a temple, a cemetery and an urban area surrounded by many embassies. The pyramid building was constructed with hand-made mud bricks, stacked to make platforms creating several levels. The design enclosed squares, patios, corridors and restricted areas, all painted with an ochre yellow. Considering the size and characteristics of Huallamarca it is believed that it was a temple of high rank.

(Part of the 30,000 km Pan American Highway)
(Archaeological site of Pachacamac)
(Named after the God Pacha Kamaq)
(Archaeological findings on display)
(Excavated masks from the sacred sites)
(Brightly coloured paintings decorating the temples)
(One of the excavated temples of the Sun)
(Favella near the archaeological sites)
(Temple of the Sun in Pachacamac)

Next we visited Pachacamac, a pra-Inca archaeological site 40 km from Lima in the Valley of the Lurín River. The site was named after the "Earth Maker" creator god Pacha Kamaq. Pachacamac covers about 600 hectares of land.

(Lima viewed from Chorillos)
(A deluxe beach resort)

On the way back to Lima city we had photo opportunity at Chorrillos, a beautiful beach served as a deluxe beach resort until the late 19th century, when it was almost completely destroyed by Chilean forces during the War of the Pacific.

(Famous for beach resorts and restaurants by the sea)
(A romantic city by the beach)

We passed by Barranco, a beautiful colonial and republican town considered to be the city's most romantic and bohemian, being the home and working place of many of Peru's leading artists, musicians, designers and photographers. There are homes and restaurants in and around a ravine near a cliff overlooking a sand strip which runs from the Miraflores District to Chorrillos. There is a walkway to the sea that runs through Barranco, called the Bajada de los Baños. Crossing over this walkway is the Puente de los Suspiros, or Bridge of Sighs, a bridge which crosses the ravine itself.

(La Rosa Nautica Restaurant)
(A floating restaurant on the Pacific Ocean)
(A famous seafood in Miraflores)
(Beautiful ambiance of the dining room)
(A surfer's paradise)

We had lunch at La Rosa Nautica Restaurant, a beautiful floating restaurant and watched the surfers braving the huge waves while we had our lunch.

(Interesting art in Lima town)
(Grau Square in the busiest side of Lima)
(St Martin Plaza)
(General Jose de San Martin Statue)

After lunch we drove to Saint Martin Plaza through Miraflores town, a residential and shopping centre in Lima. Miraflores is one of the main tourist attractions in Lima. It is an exclusive residential and upscale shopping district south of downtown Lima. It is also one of the most affluent districts that make up the city of Lima. It has various hotels including the Hilton, the JW Marriott, and the Belmond, restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and department stores. Our hotel Jose Antonio Deluxe Hotel is situated in this area.

(Cathedral Basilica of St. John)
(Artesania Santo Domingo Market Place)
(A charity box and a poor boy statue)

After visiting the Saint Matin Plaza, we walked to the market place at Artesania Santo Domingo for a shopping spree of varieties of local products and colourful handicrafts.

(A small mosque in Magdalena Street)
(A mosque for the Muslim Community)

It was already late when we visited the Magdalena Mosque and the Association Islamic Del Peru for Asar/Zohor prayers. We waited for a while and performed the Magrib/Isya prayers in the mosque before we travelled back to our hotel.

Tonight we spent another night in Lima Jose Antonio Deluxe Hotel.

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