Convento Santa Catalina, Arequipa, Peru

Santa Catalina monastery

 I remember the first place we visited after the Nazca Lines is Arequipa, which is also the beginning of the ascending. Some of the travel mates have suffered from the severe altitude sickness while me and Adri, since we practically slept most of the time in the bus, we had not much of the symptoms. We were even given the nickname of sleeping queen. We snapped photos when the bus stopped and slept when the bus moved.


I don't recall much of the names in the city and places except for this beautiful convent in the middle of the town. We had 2 days to spend in this city to acclimatise to the altitude. A quick google made me recalled the name of the convent. It is called the Santa Cantalina. If I am not mistaken, families in Peru send their youngest daughter to the monastery to become a nun and it's something that they were proud of. And only upper class familes can afford to send their daughters to the monastery and they need to pay in order to get in.  A look at the interior of the monastery, I can see why only the rich can afford to send their daughter. The place is unlike other monastery whereby abundance colours can be seen inside. There is even a fountain located inside.

I felt like I was in Spain while walking around the monastery as the lanes are named after the places in Spain.

The highlight of the walk must be at the top of the roof where one can see the El Misti volcano covered in snow.

 

view of snow capped El Misti volcano from the rooftop

Colourful courtyard

I love how the buildings are coloured here

Streets in the monastery are named after ciities in Spain

Another tribute to Spain

I would love to hang out in this courtyard

Caught a couple in the background

The interior of a nun's room

The blue on the building is as blue as the sky

Project of the Year

Ok. I am sounding a bit cliche here. Yes, I am currently doing some projects for my brother's wedding this coming September. Will be in charge of the decorations of the venue.

Some of the work in progress...

All photos are taken using my SIII, hence the lack of quality. I think I must start playing my 7D again!

Somewhere in Peru

I was looking through my old travel album, selecting photos to be made into photobook and stumble upon this set of mountain photos somewhere along the road in Peru. I have no idea where this place is located. I can only recall it's after Lake Titicaca but before Machu Picchu. Hahaha.. this teach me to blog right after a trip and not 4 years after that.

I remembered we stopped here to have toilet break, as well as, shopping. Yup, we practically shop at every single 'shop' at every stop. Things are cheap and too beautiful here. And the photos below look so fake although they are very real.

 

 

 

Travel Plans

Another long absence again and this time, I can't find what is the reason for that. Maybe I am preoccupied most of the time with cooking, housekeeping, washing and working. Gosh, I am beginning to sound like a 'si lai' already. Seriously need to get my writting and photographing mojo back. Hence, I have booked myself for 2 travel trip this year, all happening at the end of the year, to Myanmar and New Zealand. Yup, gonna dump my hubby at home and travel with my friends this time. Both countries had been on my radar for a very long time and yet never see the light of it. This year I am going to search my inspiration back. And not forgetting, I have also signed up for the Stan Chart marathon supposing to happen next week (though I highly doubt I will be going under the current very bad weather hazy condition) and the Penang Bridge run in November. At least I know I have something to look forward to towards the end of the year.

At the moment I am doing some project for my brother's wedding as I self nominated myself as the chief decorator. What have I gotten myself into!