Salkantay Trail, Peru.

Today my little brother and I started our trek to Machu Picchu.
Both of us grew up in New York City, and neither one of us
has ever gone hiking or camping before. So naturally we
decided that the first camping trip of our lives should be
a four day trek through the highest peaks of Peru.
PK prepares to begin the trek. See that large white thing
in the background? That’s what we’re climbing.
PK hikes much faster than I do. He is almost a speck
on the horizon for most of the day. We made it to the summit! 9km of uphill to make it to
the altitude of 4,600m! Now begins the decline to our campsite.
So close and yet so far. Those tiny yellow spots are our tents.

Cusco (and surrounding areas,) Peru.
Top Left: Weaving in Pisac Market.
Top Right: My little brother’s stubborn refusal to wear hiking boots.
Bottom Left: Sunset at Awanacancha.
Bottom Right: Learning how to dye alpaca wool.

Cusco (and surrounding areas,) Peru.
Left: Restoring the gold leaf in the Catholic Church in the Main Square.
Right: The stone table upon which the Incas made sacrifices in the
Temple for the Earth Mother (Pacha Mama) in Q’enqo. Very cold to the touch.

Cusco, Peru.
Women of Cusco.

Lima, Peru.

Cancun, Mexico.
Sometimes you come back to your room to find an iguana.

Tulum, Mexico.
Check “Swim with manatees” off my bucket list.
(Wow.)

Cancun, Mexico.
Sometimes when I am preparing for a speech, I need to have some
alone time to prepare. Sometimes, when I am looking for alone time,
the only empty space is a bathroom. Sometimes when I am the only
person in a room, I explore it. Sometimes when I find a door, I open it.
Even when that door is a closet. And sometimes when I open doors,
I find weird surprises. Like this.