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I've spent the last few days deciding whether to book a tour and go on a more challenging and view regarding trek or do the Ishinca trail. It’s conflicting for me to know in what way to say goodbye, but after some thought I think I’d rather do a simpler trip that allows me to explore the Andes one last time with the space for myself and my thoughts only. Thus, no tour, no company, no experience basically.

So, I set my mind up to do the Ishinca trail, and left to plan what would be my last adventure in Peru. It came quite last minute, and I had to rush, take a 1hr 30 m colectivo to the nearest city, and attempt to plan. I thought I was experience since I’d done some other treks during my studies in Canada. However, this experience revealed to me how reliant I’d be on other people during my whole time there. Yes, I’d been on so many trips, but i was always following, never leading. Upon this realization I started getting quite nervous, finding out I might not be as mentally prepared as I though. I however, ignored this fear and used it as motivation to go on alone and look forward to the satisfaction of successfully venturing into the unknown. I then went to a rentals shop to get a tent, head lamp, camping stove and more. As I spoke to the man working in the rental shop about my plans, he expressed a very offensive thought. He told me I should not go alone, that women are indeed very capable to do a lot of things, but that women and nature are not the most compatible. He said men and nature understand each other, that men are sharp and quick at reacting, and that they can endure the harshest circumstances. He suggested I booked a tour, alarming me that if I happened to need help or get lost- which he assured I would- there'd be no one to help me. He said I should leave those type of adventures to men, and that I could enjoy La Cordillera Blanca- the part of the Andes I was in- in many other ways. Although I could tell he was coming from a place of care, and that these sexist remarks were just a result of the patriarchal culture in Latin America that indiscriminately shapes people's minds, I couldn’t help but feel this as a profound personal attack. I’d felt so excited about this adventure all day, overwhelmed with the wonder and curiosity of how it'd be for it to be just me. Now, I felt a bit discouraged and anxious about if I could do it. And, if you know me you’d know I’m not a confrontational person, in fact, I hate it. However, I couldn’t stay still and receive all he was saying without disagreeing, so I took all the courage and expressed how his words were limiting and harmful. At the beginning, he’d just refute everything I’d say, unwilling to listen and unable to process what I was saying. Nevertheless, I persisted and kept speaking with such a passion. It’s incredible to see how fluently and with how much abundance one can speak when passionate about the topic. After a couple minutes of conversation, I could sense how his speech was softening and he was becoming more receptive. This was something so special, given he was so set on his sexist remarks before we spoke. The mere fact he was at the end willing to listen was such a motivation to not stay quiet and voice out my opinion when it feels right to express it. At the end, he acknowledged how what he said could be harmful, and although I know I couldn’t fully change his minds since those ideologies are so embedded in the way he grew up and where he lives, I’m happy to know he at least listened and gave our conversation a chance. At the end, he wished me the best trip ever and I was very pleased with the experience of respectful discussion.

After this, I headed back to my hostel and packed for the adventure I so awaited. I woke up the next day at 5:30 am and headed to the local colectivo stop to catch a bus to the beginning of my trek. I was so so excited and nervous at the same time. I kept asking ppl in my bus if id be ok, asking them to assure me id be fine and nothing would happen to me. Eventually I realized the only one with the power to grant me the certainty of my wellness is myself. So I had to take on a mostly fake but useful sense of confidence and go on. This confidence eventually turned real, and guided me through the most beautiful three days. I started my trek and I felt like I was experiencing something for the first time ever. Every little thing was incredibly exciting, from collecting my own water from the river, to cooking my own breakfast, and stopping wherever I wanted to listen to the sound of the weeds moving. It was such a bonding moment with myself, in which I got to reflect on the long and arduous journey from first applying to the flight school to now enjoying the series of events that had granted me with the confidence to reach the Ishinca Valley. Such overwhelming feeling of joy, excitement and appreciation allowed to reach the refuge at the end of the first day.

On the second day, I decided to hike to Ishinca Lagoon. I’d never heard of it, nor knew what it looked like cause I did 0 research, but still I followed the trail marks and walked and walked. It took me over 3 hrs to reach, and once I was able to see the beginning of the lagoon, the most beautiful blue id ever seen, I started getting quite emotional. It was as if in that moment I’d gotten the clarity that every choice, every effort, every introspection where meant to bring me here, in front of this turquoise lagoon, for me to realize life is whatever I want it to be.

I then got back to the refuge and reflected on how much the Flight School means to me. I then remembered that PeeBee's connect and reflect that the day after and I couldn’t miss it! So I decided to start trekking back at 3 am instead of 10 am (as I’d planned). It was such an adventure to hike back in the night, while the glacier behind me glowed in the dark, and the black horses ran around me without me seeing them very well. I slipped in the river a couple times, and had jump scares because of confusing birds with bats, but I eventually made it back, full of gratitude and appreciation for this trip.

I visited La cordillera Blanca, a section of the Peruvian Andes that offers a magical opportunity of experiencing the snowy mountains. Here, I decided to challenge myself and push my physical limits. Thus, I hiked Mount Mateo, a mountain 5105 meters high! Setting this challenge for myself required a lot of courage, but also a lot of self love to be able to recognize that the effort, and physical struggle would mark great growth in me. I’ve realized over this past year, that working hard on myself, and compassionately pushing myself to be a better version has filled me with such a sense of accomplishment and purpose. This hike was a reminder of my mental fortitude, and how it will always show up when needed most. It’s so important for me to see how I’m capable of reaching my goals, when working hard for them. It was also a great moment to connect with the land, and to think deeply of where I stand as a person, since being in nature always bring a comfort to my mind in which the outside noise is quieted down, and I can focus on me.

This was a small yet incredibly meaningful moment for me. While I was in Arequipa, in the south of Peru, I visited the Colca canyon. During this expedition, my bus made a short stop at a viewpoint of the mountains. Although we’d been told there was a possibility to see Andean condors, there was a huge crowd that impede me to see the condors. I tried to break through the multitude, and get closer to the front line of the viewpoint, in hopes to see a condor. However, my efforts failed and while everyone watched in wonder (and in discomfort cause there was so many people squeezed together), I gave up and walked back to the car. It was then in that moment, in which I thought about how, in my efforts to see a condor, I’d overlooked the majesty of the mountains that formed this valley. So I stood far away from the crowd, and watched the mountains. In that moment of deep appreciation, a condor flew and sat in front of me. It felt as if it was directly addressing me, and it was almost as if we could communicate. I felt this enormous amount of gratitude and respect for the land I’ve been so privileged to experience, and this moment was so majestically special that served as a reminder to find the beauty in everything, not only the more prominent and obvious type of beauty. So this is a picture of the gorgeous Andean condor that really spoke to me.

I hadn’t been home for women’s day in 2 years. Two years without being in close contact with what started this personal journey of understanding and empowerment. Now I was home, but I felt as my journey had shifted some. Not in how I felt but how I practiced it. Still, I decided to go to the march. I asked my friends to come with me, but they couldn’t join. Thus, I went by myself. The energy was incredibly strong, and the shared chants and aligned feelings of passion in the atmosphere made me never feel alone. Walking by the women and locking eyes with them, only to find they were crying and admiring our unity, was truly magical. This protest in which abuse testimonies were shared, patriarchal behaviors exposed, taught me that the fight is not over, but we’ve done great work

I did the salkantay trek. A 5 day trip with the final destination of Machu Picchu. Before starting, just like in my last stretch during my trip to India, I thought I’d struggle to find community, thus I attempted to isolate myself. However, I was once again gladly proved wrong, and I was able to form such a strong connection with these people. Through bonding moments and care, we supported each other every day, when things- more than once- wouldn’t go as expected. This ability to trust one another and give these strangers the treatment of friends allowed us to become close and learn from one another. I got to know myself more throughout this trek because I was able to reach further with their support. At the end, Machu Picchu wasn’t the gem of my trip, but the friends I made and whom I'll shall meet again.

In this picture, I am in a Tuktuk with 6 other people ( I know that sounds physically impossible). Here, I was in auroville- on the south of India. And throughout this week, a feeling of mental exhaustion had accompanied me, impeding me from having a open mind when interacting with new people. Thus, I basically isolated myself that entire week. It wasn’t until one day, I went out on a bike ride and unexpectedly got caught into a cyclone everyone seemed to foreseen but not me. Desperately, I rushed back to my hostel, and a group of friends traveling together who I had not attempted to speak to before drove by. They stopped their car and offered to drive me back. I accepted and spent the entire evening with them, finally letting my walls down and getting to know them. They ended up being incredible people, and we forged a connection. The next day, the cyclone got significantly worse, and we knew we had to do something. So we took all our bags and stepped into the street, hoping we’d find a car that’d take us to a bus station. We had to climb over fallen trees, accept that we’d be soaked, and keep a positive attitude through it all. Eventually, a Tuktuk drove by, and we all got in it, holding great support for one another. We then parted ways, but this was a magical moment for me that reshaped the meaning of community and how it is vital for me.

Ashey Tashi is the name of the woman that took me in her remote village called Tar. She welcomed me with so much love and took me to one of her friend's wedding. No one could remember nor properly pronounce my name, so she told everyone to refer as me as her daughter, and she without a doubt treated me like one. Apart from the fun at the wedding and the delicious food, I was able to create a bond with Tashi, cooking with her and learning about her family history and what she loved. All her family lives away, and when I first asked her who she lived with she told me it was just us, saying it as if I had always lived there with her. I remember the wedding with fun and love but I remembered her mostly and the care she took of me, how she worried about me not being cold and me not being full enough. I’m glad I cooked with her and hope to recreate the delicious meals we had

I was able to do pottery after having not done any in months. It was wonderful to use the creative side of me and put all my concentration into a small piece of clay and let my imagination take me anywhere it wanted to. I also met a very interesting pottery professor, who used his mind and passion for pottery as a way to lead his life, showing me that success is not on what you achieve but on how close you follow what you love.

In this photo, I’m being hug by two little girls from Jaipur that offered me a home and a meal when I needed it. It was my first time in Jaipur, and when my taxi ride had not arrived in over 30 minutes I decided to sit on the side walk outside a shop and keep waiting, afraid that it was getting dark and I’d have nowhere to be. All of a sudden these two kids come and poke my arm, following by their mom telling them off. They then offer me chai and kindly let me in. I spent a while talking to them, getting to know them, all this while still being skeptical as why someone would just be so selflessly kind. They then invited me for dinner, since my ride didn’t seem to come anytime soon. I was gifted with the most delicious meal, and although many of the family members didn’t speak English, they tried their best to make me feel comfortable. I specially connected really well with these two kids that out of nowhere brought makeup and hair brushes to play with my hair. I played with them for hours, and it was so fun hearing them giggle and calling me things I’d later look up and translate. I ended up staying 4 hours in these strangers house, who by the end were not strangers anymore. Their kindness kept on surrounding me of love and security, so much that they even drove me home. I can’t believe I was able to find a place in which I felt so safe in a city i didnt know. It was quite a magical experience for me, and the image of these kids lingers in my mind, I hope they remember me as much as I do. They wouldn’t let me go and they reminded me of when my sister was little and she wanted to keep playing longer. I wish them all the best