It’s not all diseases, drugs and sex in Peru

Hi everyone, my name is Gerald and I went on exchange in Universidad del Pacifico, Lima, Peru. ?? Being on the other side of the world, the South American continent has always been known to be fraught with diseases, drugs and sex. This has not help especially with the popular drama series of Narcos being aired on Netflix. However, this is not true! Allow me to share with you some of the most beautiful places Peru has to offer! ?

Starting off with my first adventure, it was a trip to the Colca Canyons in Arequipa, the 2nd largest city in Peru after Lima. It is famed to be 2nd deepest canyon after the Grand Canyon and is well known for its beautiful trek. The highlight of my trip is viewing the giant Andean condors and passing through traditional villages along the way that predates the Incas.
I hope these pictures will get you excited about Peru and consider it as your next exchange/travel destination.

‘At least there’s someone else to help you take a photo! Haha!’ ? From our America trips until our nose bled to cooking Asian cuisines and running to school together cause we couldn’t skip anymore classes, it has been a real pleasure to be able to embark on this adventure together.
For those who know me, I’m a sucker for sunrises/sunsets and catching it at the top of Isla Amantani after hiking for an hour makes it extremely worthwhile! ?

Ever wondered where you can find an oasis in real life? Look no further than Huacachina, Peru! From scaling sand dunes with dune buggies to sandboarding in the desert, there’s just so much adrenaline to fill your adventure meter! ?
On a side note, the US presidential election results are in process and whether Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton wins, the world is going to change. So buckle up and prepare for the ride!

‘Tener Bueno momentos, no malo dia!’ – Latin Americans live by this motto in life which means living life with only great moments and no bad days.
South America is famed for its parties and salsa dancing! A short weekend trip to Mancora with my exchange friends was the most memorable and beautiful experience. We were getting ourselves drunk silly on Pisco, dancing salsa on the beach until the sun rose and skinny dipping in the freezing sea. What a perfect weekend getaway! ?

So ask yourself this question the next time you have to make a decision: ‘when was the last time you did something new for the first time?’

A sharing session in an entrepreneur module by the CEO and Founder of Qempo.com to encourage students to follow their passion and start their own businesses.
While focusing on your travel plans during your exchange is the norm, how you can value add to your exchange experience is to directly get yourself involved in a local company. I was privileged to intern at Qempo.com, one of the top 20 startups in Peru and assisted with their phase 2.0 development where they are tweaking their business model and expanding their company to target the entire Latin America market. Having the opportunity to work in a developing country and observing how fast they are growing with the aid of technology is simply astonishing.

The next time you’re planning to go on exchange, do consider to take up an internship or volunteer at social organizations so that you are able to immerse in the local culture and further enrich yourself! ?

Presenting to you one of my favorite places in all of Peru. The Rainbow Mountains!! ? It’s really beautiful and has lived up to all its hype! For all who are thinking of trekking a unique mountain with Panoramic views, you definitely got to be here! It’s not easy but totally worth it! ?

Finally, here it is! ? Machu Picchu, the crown jewel of Peru and marked as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Being the largest Inca architecture construction dating back to the 15th century, it’s beauty is unparalleled and triumph all the others. Definitely, bucket-list worthy and a MUST-experience for all who travel to Peru as it’s history is embedded deeply into the Peruvian culture. However, experts studying this site found out that it is sinking every year. Thus, this beauty might one day be gone forever! ? So for everyone young and old, grab your backpacks and visit it while you still can!
Thanks everyone for tuning in to my posts and I hope these beautiful places arouse your desire to find out more about Peru and ultimately be your next travel destination!

About the author Name: Gerald Home University: Singapore Management University (SMU) Exchange at: Universidad del Pacifico, Lima, Peru