What a fantastic continent to explore. Too much to see! Could easily spend a year and still not see everything. Vast array of different environments even within one country let alone the whole continent – many of which are extremely harsh – deserts, rugged mountain ranges, flat high altitudes (Bolivia which means you don’t even realise you’re high!) Rainforests, Cloud forests the list goes on and on. . . And the traditional culture still so apparent in Ecuador and Peru (less so in all the other countries especially as headed south) - the costumes, festivals, processions were so interesting to watch.
But it’s not just the physical attributes that are worth mentioning. There is a great deal more that South America opened our eyes too. Mainly about the way the western world lives and how many things we take for granted. In SA, possessions are not everything. In fact they mean little because people just don't have them! Ecuadorians and Peruvians live in little wooden or mud huts, furnished with their few bits of second hand old furniture
, surrounded by their little mud yards, and a few roaming animals and little else, but they seem so happy and content. Especially the kids who are happy to play with whatever they can. Family, friends and the local community are most important to them.
Which posed the question to Mark and I - are we happier for all our extra possessions and our 'grander' way of life? Or have we just somehow lost sight of the most important things?
At times Ecuadorians, Peruvians and Bolivians did seem envious/hostile of tourists. Is it that tourists flaunt their wares irresponsibly or is it the advertising by multi-national companies creating desire to be like western people? (we saw only a few ads in these countries but tvs were becoming more popular . . . )
Low energy light bulbs a
nd solar panels were everywhere. Arequipa, a town in Southern Peru even had solar hot water shops in the High Street (much to Mark’s delight!! He had to go in and enquire despite not understanding the info!) It certainly put the western world to shame on the environmental front(with the exception of Germany)
So come on guys we can do better! :o) Here is a really informative website to check out for starters: www.sustainableliving.co.nz (yep we know its from New Zealand but the info still applies!)
We observed many other interesting points
Just how many habitats are being destroyed, the plants and wildlife with them. Often for the locals to make money to survive from them but all too often driven by the Western world’s desire for the most expensive woods, or our need for steaks – leading to rainforest being destroyed for beef production. Costa Rica lost 80% of its rainforest in about 10 years due to supplying America with steak. Obviously everyone needs to eat but the frustrating part is that much of that steak was probably wasted as portions are way too large and way too cheap. Same with Brazil (there were about four meals in one there!) So really half of that rainforest could have stayed standing. Brazil also over produces on their sugar cane and coffee too. So the forest is being lopped for them to make a few pennies on their produce as supply outstrips demand.
All too often the destruction was actually by huge oil companies from other countries?! Again driven by human dependence on cars, air conditioning, heating etc. Again the Western world seemed to be the main culprits. We were told by a German girl studying Cultural studies in Argentina that somehow America got Peru to sign a free trade agreement which entitled America to help themselves to whatever they liked!?!!
In Bolivia a Canadian company wanted to extract mercury from beneath the Salar de Uyuni (pictured above) -the huge salt plain that Bolivia is renowned for (and the biggest in the world I believe). So far the government had refused but with the country being so poor will their minds be swayed eventually?
In addition a
nimals were being taken from the wild to fuel the Western world passions of having exotic pets. For example the Hyacinth Macaw from Brazil is becoming very rare because Americans like to keep them as pets. Now admittedly they are gorgeous looking birds but you have to wonder, do the owners actually know where they are coming from and if they did would it make a difference?
The goodness of organic foods- Ecuador and Peru full of delicious fresh fruits, Vilcabamba a town in Southern Ecuador used to be known as the town of longitivity because people used to live to around 100 years old. However since the road has been built connecting the town to the ‘outside world’ and therefore chemical filled food brought in, the life span has dropped to around 80.
