The two finger shuffle, the butterfly and the lay down were moves we mastered on our night out on Pisco Brandy in Puno. The 3 hour boat trip the next morning to Llachory, as one could imagine, wasn't Brad's most pleasurable experience. We stop at the floating island of Suma Balsa where 4 families eck out a subsistence lifestyle, where everything from houses, to boats and even food are dependent upon the water reeds that grow in Lake Titicaca.
It was the Inka's who called Lake Titicaca the 'Womb of Mankind', and the lake dwellers, especially those on the floating islands regard themselves as the oldest peoples in the world.
Having stayed at a number of homestays on previous travels, shivers of dread are always evident. There is normally no engagement or cultural exchange, rather isolation and an uncomfortable silence. You can imagine, therefore, how suprised we were when our host mumma provided us with an insight into her family life and her culture. With an infectious laugh and a patient manner she took us under her wing, dressed us in traditional dress and became involved as we challenged our host island to a game of volleyball. We provided our mumma with some basic foodstuffs for the homestay and simple gifts of pencils, pencil case and paper to the children. The children soon became Lea's shadow and they entertained us with their games and constant chatter. Dressed in traditional clothing we helped prepare a meal and dined upon our efforts and as we lay on our reed filled mattress over looking the 'Womb of Mankind,' we realise that sometimes you can obtain a glimpse into other people's life by sharing time with them.
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