Anyone with Asian features quickly stands out as a foreigner in most of Latin America. But not in Peru, where a large percentage of the population is of Asian descent.

The first Chinese and Japanese who left their countries for Peru trusted that their hard work would give them the chance to return home. Many decades later, their children and grandchildren are well integrated into Peruvian society. [Continue reading...]

The Zampoña — I had never even heard of the instrument before Peru, so if you are like I was and hadn’t heard the beautiful sound of a zampoña before, you are in for a treat.  In addition to the guitar and charango (a guitar-like instrument), the zampoña is a marked instrument of Peru and the Andes region.  It dates back to at least the Incas and possibly even further.  The only examples I can think of that anyone might know is that reoccurring flute-like melody in the beginning of the Lion King’s “I Just Can’t Wait To Be King” or in the interlude of “The Circle of Life”.  Yeah, that’s right – I listen to the Lion King soundtrack.  Actually, it was mostly arranged by Elton John and musically [Continue reading...]

Just like any other (and by “other”, I mean “inferior”) destination, Peru is a country which one should not tread upon whilst carrying with them the improper attitude. The pure traveler is one who takes their destination for more than its trinkets, tan-lines and tandem bicycles. Don’t let the vacation get in the way of the trip. And don’t let the trip get in the way of the experience. For, as we all know, there is NO SUCH THING as a bad experience.
I’ve spent 6 of the last 7 days on buses. I was horribly ill for 2. I danced (badly) for 5. I ate guinea pigs, cow hearts, sheep innards and something called a “Sex Burger” which, contradictory to its rather lurid title, I found to be both monotonous [Continue reading...]

Peruvians that go about an ordinary morning routine may scoff at the idea of someone finding value in its documentation. However, that is exactly where artist Alfredo Alcalde finds the inspiration for his work.
Alcalde, a Peruvian artist born in Chimbote in 1961, who graduated with a Special Mention from the Escuela Nacional Autónoma de Bellas Artes, is currently presenting his work in exhibition called Eros y Tánatos.
Here, he transmits his very particular vision about life and death while human beings are portrayed as ordinary, affectionate people whose flaws and mistakes lead to the ultimate tragedy of suicides, terrorist attacks and lack of principles. Alcalde said that he finds himself of those people that are the subject of his work.
However, as Alcalde works to improve his relationship with the viewing public, [Continue reading...]