Peru – Part I from erin & camera on Vimeo.

Peru Part I.

I took nearly 4,000 photos. Narrowed it down to 3,000, and broke it into two parts.
Warning: it’s a bit frenetic & might be seizure-inducing. Watch at your own risk.
Password through Facebook post.

Here’s part 1 of my travel.
Highlights:
- Salkantay Trek
- Ollantaytambo & Agua Caliente towns
- Cuy
- Pisco Sour
- Vistadome Train
- Machu Picchu
- & llamas

Music: Modern Drift by Efterklang

Previous Posts:
Part II of Peru Travel

How to Pack for Peru

Peru – Part II from erin & camera on Vimeo.

Peru Part II.

I took nearly 4,000 photos. Narrowed it down to 3,000, and broke it into two parts.
Warning: it’s a bit frenetic & might be seizure-inducing. Watch at your own risk.

Here’s part 2 of my travel.
Highlights:
- New Year’s Eve at Plaza de Armas
- San Pedro Market
- Ollantaytambo & Pisac ruins
- Volunteering at Aldea Yanapay
- & llamas

Music: Annie You Save Me (Dr. Rosen Rosen Remix) by Graffiti6

Part I with Machu Picchu

Previous Post: How to Pack for Peru

Have you seen this?  It’s framed and hanging on my bedroom wall.  Sometimes you have to swallow the shoulda-coulda-woulda’s, kick down the cubicle walls, and leap from high places. TRAVEL OFTEN.

One of my favorite part of travel is the prelude: the planning up to the departure date.

My least favorite part of planning is … packing.  I usually leave the inventory-related to-do’s to the last frantic minute but three weeks in Peru can’t be packed in minutes.  So here, I list all the things one might need when anticipating an adventure.  Note: I’m traveling during Peru’s summer (wet season), at high altitudes, with varying temperatures because of the long hike — from freezing cold nights to hot, sunny mid-day.

Remember, there’s only one tried & true rule to traveling: Travel Light.

** Items denoted with an asterisk (*) were purchased in anticipation of this trip.  If it weren’t for the hiking part, my budget would’ve been much smaller.
***Items in pink are pictured in the photo.

Things I’m Carrying:

• Camera Backpack* : Quick reflex-ready holster for my other pair of eyes.
• Silk Money Belt* : Gut feeling? Oh no, just your passport & soles (Peruvian money) wrapped in silk and safely against your belly.
• Other Bag (TBD) : For everything else from A to Undies.

Things I’m Bringing:

• Common sense.
• Toiletries | BB Cream
• Toiletries | Chapstick with SPF
• Toiletries | Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss
• Toiletries | Contact lens, case, travel-size solution
• Toiletries | (If the obvious isn’t listed, I’m buying it)
• Reading | Lonely Planet Peru* : I like to highlight, rip, dogear my travel books.
• Reading | Easy Spanish Phrase Book* : Over 770 phrases for $2? No debate.
• Gadgets | iPhone 4S : For all my handy-dandy apps.
• Gadgets | Nikon D700 DSLR : Really debated between bringing this chunk of metal and my much lighter, petite D3100.  Full versus cropped frame?  Peru’s meant to be experienced full-frame.
• Gadgets | MacBook Air (on loan) : I’ve some pre-work to do.
• Gadgets – Accessory | Extra camera battery*, battery charger, extra memory cards
• Gadgets – Accessory | Gorillapod Focus/Ballhead X* : I honestly do not trust my camera in anyone’s hands besides my own.  How’m I to take the iconic Machu Picchu self-portrait then?  Easy. Funky alien tripod and timer.
• Gadgets – Accessory | International Travel Charger – unnecessary, same as U.S.
• Gadgets – Portable clip-lights | for dark hostel rooms
• Misc | Towel : DryLite Towel*
• Misc | 2 Zip-loc bags : For things you don’t want touching your other things
• Misc | 1 Bobby Pins.
• Misc | 3 Hair ties : The ponytail is the best travel style
• Misc | Moleskine & pen
• Misc | Aspirin
• Misc | Altitude pills*
• Misc | Money, money, money!

Things I’m Wearing:

1. A scarf : This was a gift from someone I met at Turkey.  Better than souvenirs bought from hawkers.
2. Blue cap* :  Y’know, to block the sun
3. 2 Sets of water-resistant pants* : it’s light and rolls up
4. 2 Pairs of running capris* : also serves sweat-wicking baselayer
5. 1 Fleece Jacket* : Cold weather protection
6. 1 Flannel Hiking Shirt* : ExOfficio Plaid Long Sleeve Shirt
7. 3 Technical shirts* : 100% Nylon. Breathable, sweat-wicking, quick-drying.
8. Bathing suit : Left behind.
9. 1 Baselayer shirt : Uniqlo Heattech shirt for chillier nights
10. 1 Baselayer pants : chilly nights
11. 6 Pairs of socks* : Merino wool. Mostly Point6 socks.
12. 3 Sets of undies* : ExOfficio Give-N-Go
13. 2 Sports bras
14. Goretex hiking boots* : for the actual hike
15. Flip flops
16. Cheap $10 sunglasses
17. Eyeglasses : I have 3 pairs of Warby Parker glasses.  I won’t miss one less should anything happen.

Things I’m Leaving Behind:

• MacBook Pro w/ Retina : My own workhorse swapped for the lighter loaner (see above).
• Amazon Kindle : Already in my iPhone as an app.
• Theory Collar Shirt : My favorite shirt switched for camping shirt.
• Makeup : no lipgloss or nailpolish. Just grit under fingernails and grin on my face.
• Ignorance.
• Worries.

Resources:

Packing List for Peru Trip | Quixo

The Universal Packing List | Wish I had discovered this before I left on my trip!

How to Pack for a Nomadic Life | Taylor Davidson

Hiking Machu Picchu … On Your Period | Girl Guides

Cusco Clubhouse | SAE

Travel Independent | My favorite go-to site for backpacking and traveling on a budget, check out the country summaries

Today I shot the look book for RYU RYU‘s beautiful first collection.  Note, this image is not the final look, just playing with the colors.  The final shots soon to follow after!

(The previous post was a taste of the starter)

And here I am on their wedding day.  The slight upward tilt of Karen’s head as she looks into Sean’s eyes.  His adoring gaze as he draws her nearer to him.  So now I know.  Now, here from the sidelines, I know these captured bits of private moments mean a most supreme, lifelong happiness begins.

Made it this far to the end?

Bonus video: the No Direction performing Katy Perry (Glee Version) and One Direction (video credit: bluexjade)

I think every wedding should have a choreographed song and dance routine!