Lima Plaza Mayor boasts of shops, banks and cafes. The throne like shoe polish stall against the checkered floor and arched windows with a touristy lama posing just for me was truly a shot to capture!

View of the Lima Post Office building

In Cusco Lama and the Lady are affectionately leaning against each other and watch the world go by. Of course the the toddler is happily watching them both and enjoying a snack.

Colca is the deepest canyon in the world, twice as deep as Grand Canyon. The scenery and the people are beautiful and fascinating. This photograph was taken at  at condor Crossing at approximately 16000 feet above sea level.

Fascinating to see the owner and his beloved lamas hold the same pose, demeanor and of course the smile too!

Pampered and preened pet-he earns touristy money too!

In the village of Chivay in Colca Canyon this beautiful girl was sitting with her pet lamb- looking like the Peruvian version of Mary had a little lamb.

Waiting for the tourists!

This lama posed for me as if on cue at the highest vantage point at Machupichu

One truly feels spiritual at this fascinating Inca site of Machupichu

At the slopes of Machupichu

Terraced view

Isla de Ballestas is one of the world’s ecological wonder of diversity to view marine lives and birds like pelicans, sea lions, walruses, penguins and many other lifeforms.

Isla de Ballestas is one of the world’s ecological wonder of diversity to view marine lives and birds like pelicans, sea lions, walruses, penguins and many other lifeforms.

Isla de Ballestas is one of the world’s ecological wonder of diversity to view marine lives and birds like pelicans, sea lions, walruses, penguins and many other lifeforms.

Isla de Ballestas is one of the world’s ecological wonder of diversity to view marine lives and birds like pelicans, sea lions, walruses, penguins and many other lifeforms.

Isla de Ballestas is one of the world’s ecological wonder of diversity to view marine lives and birds like pelicans, sea lions, walruses, penguins and many other lifeforms.

Isla de Ballestas is one of the world’s ecological wonder of diversity to view marine lives and birds like pelicans, sea lions, walruses, penguins and many other lifeforms.

Stretching across the Nazca plains like a giant map or blueprint left by ancient astronauts, lie the famous Nazca Lines of Peru.  No one has proof who built them or why. There have been speculations that the lines could be an alien landing strip to Inca calenders and ritual symbols for astronomy. But they are unique and visible. Their size is understood only  when you go up on a light plane.

Stretching across the Nazca plains like a giant map or blueprint left by ancient astronauts, lie the famous Nazca Lines of Peru.  No one has proof who built them or why. There have been speculations that the lines could be an alien landing strip to Inca calenders and ritual symbols for astronomy. But they are unique and visible. Their size is understood only  when you go up on a light plane.

Stretching across the Nazca plains like a giant map or blueprint left by ancient astronauts, lie the famous Nazca Lines of Peru.  No one has proof who built them or why. There have been speculations that the lines could be an alien landing strip to Inca calenders and ritual symbols for astronomy. But they are unique and visible. Their size is understood only  when you go up on a light plane.

Stretching across the Nazca plains like a giant map or blueprint left by ancient astronauts, lie the famous Nazca Lines of Peru.  No one has proof who built them or why. There have been speculations that the lines could be an alien landing strip to Inca calenders and ritual symbols for astronomy. But they are unique and visible. Their size is understood only  when you go up on a light plane.

Uros islands are floating homes built of reeds  by the pre-Incan people on Lake Titicaca . They are hand built and self styled to the needs of individual families. They are great insights to  these people’s way of life for the thousands of tourist who visit the islands every year.

Uros islands are floating homes built of reeds  by the pre-Incan people on Lake Titicaca . They are hand built and self styled to the needs of individual families. They are great insights to  these people’s way of life for the thousands of tourist who visit the islands every year.

Uros islands are floating homes built of reeds  by the pre-Incan people on Lake Titicaca . They are hand built and self styled to the needs of individual families. They are great insights to  these people’s way of life for the thousands of tourist who visit the islands every year.

Uros islands are floating homes built of reeds  by the pre-Incan people on Lake Titicaca . They are hand built and self styled to the needs of individual families. They are great insights to  these people’s way of life for the thousands of tourist who visit the islands every year. Women produce and sell beautiful tapestry to the visiting tourists.

Uros islands are floating homes built of reeds  by the pre-Incan people on Lake Titicaca . They are hand built and self styled to the needs of individual families. They are great insights to  these people’s way of life for the thousands of tourist who visit the islands every year.

Uros islands are floating homes built of reeds  by the pre-Incan people on Lake Titicaca . They are hand built and self styled to the needs of individual families. They are great insights to  these people’s way of life for the thousands of tourist who visit the islands every year.

Salar de Uyuni is the world’s largest salt-flat at 10,582 square kilometers (4,086 sq mi). It is located near  Oruro in southwest Bolivia. The crust serves as a source of salt and covers a pool of brine, which is exceptionally rich in lithium and contains 50 to 70% of the world’s lithium reserves. The large area, clear skies and exceptional surface flatness make the Salar a unique and fascinating place in the world to visit and explore.

Salar de Uyuni is the world’s largest salt-flat at 10,582 square kilometers (4,086 sq mi). It is located near  Oruro in southwest Bolivia. The crust serves as a source of salt and covers a pool of brine, which is exceptionally rich in lithium and contains 50 to 70% of the world’s lithium reserves. The large area, clear skies and exceptional surface flatness make the Salar a unique and fascinating place in the world to visit and explore

Salar de Uyuni -These mountains at the rim of the flats look like giant lips due to the mirage effects.

These Salt Pyramids get reflected in the rain and appear as alien surreal landscape

These salt flats create a surreal Dali-esque landscape.

Tunupa Volcano reflected in the salt flats. The volcano is the north geo-marker  for the salt flats.

Isla del Pescado (Fish Island) is an oasis in the middle of Salar de Uyuni, with a unique and isolated ecosystem that is populated by cacti, some of which are up to 30 feet tall (about 10 meters) and more than a thousand years old. Called fish island because the island looks like a huge fish from far away.

These dried polygonal shapes stretch for miles across the Uyuni Salt flats

The expanse and the scale of the flats can never be captured by a camera. one has to be there to experience this wonder of the world.  When we traveled 200 kms into the flats  all we could see were the blue skies and white flats and the horizon.Wow!

Earth and Sky your only witnesses!

La Paz is stretched across a mountain range and descends from El Alto at 4000 meters to downtown area which is at 3000 meters.

Copacabana Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe – Here people bring their cars to be blessed. worshipers offer small symbols of various worldly possessions  -like homes, books, body parts, etc to the Lady, so that they will be blessed to receive them as boons.

Interior of Copacabana Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe – Here people bring their cars to be blessed. worshipers offer small symbols of various worldly possessions  -like homes, books, body parts, etc to the Lady, so that they will be blessed to receive them as boons.

Children dressing up on the streets of La Paz

A Woman on the La Paz street

A mountains reflection on the water.

Purple Haze! – Death Valley

Death Valley

Dead trees and desolate mountains still look beautiful.

Railway Museum – Death Valley

Painted  Desert Death Valley

Sleeping Giant – Death Valley

Sleeping Giant 2 – Death Valley

Moon over Panamint Valley

Glow!

Undulations – Death Valley

Shades of Grey

Another View -Death Valley

Rock rock everywhere not a sparkly to wear!

Sweet Beast!

Froth and Frolic

Lolling on the beach.

Eternal Favorite

Yosemite-El Capitain

El Capitan is a granite monolith 3,000-foot vertical rock formation in Yosemite National Park, located on the north side of Yosemite Valley, near its western end. Was truly awe inspiring as we walked around in the winter.

Valley Floor

Yosemite-El Capitain

El Capitan is a granite monolith 3,000-foot vertical rock formation in Yosemite National Park, located on the north side of Yosemite Valley, near its western end. Was truly awe inspiring as we walked around in the winter.

Yosemite

This snow covered valley and the high mountains in the back highlighted the winter magic of Yosemite for me.

Yosemite- Bridalveil Falls

Bridalveil Falls is one of the iconic waterfalls of Yosemite Valley. In fact, the Gates of Yosemite scene where this falls stands opposite the valley to El Capitan. This was a ‘sunny day in cold winter shot’ that I liked.

Yosemite View-1

The snow covered trees and the Merced River valley with towering mountain at the back made it a special shot for me.

Redwoods at Sequoia National Park

Snow covered view of the redwood forest

Californian Vineyards

Iguazu Falls, Iguassu Falls, are water falls of the Iguazu River  located on the border of the Brazil and Argentina. The waterfall system consists of 275 falls along 2.7 kilometers (1.67 miles) of the Iguazu River.

This is one of the panoramic views of of the magnificent cascading view of the Iguassu falls in Brazil

This vision of the Iguassu falls is worth feasting at least once in our lifetime

Thundering Iguassu

Only when you go to the base of this cascade of Iguassu, you realize the power of water, its thundering roar and the force it falls to the ground-Pure Amazement! The birds are oblivious to the force but enjoy being there, waiting to catch a fish or two!

Iguasu Falls

Another view of the waterfall. It is sheer poetry the way the water undulates among rocks and plants creating patterns within its swirls and also with its natural surroundings.

Iguassu Fals

When you are at the base of the falls, you are waiting to exhale. If you remove the colors in your mind and view the falls in B&W, you are stunned by the tonal variations the natural light creates with the shapes and textures in Nature.

Brazilian Amazon Indigenous village

These two prepubescent girls are unaffectedly having a girls chat, while the boat load of tourists are streaming by.

A Mother and Child in the Amazon village

I am Cross!

I  found this boy standing next to some bushes in the Amazon village. I could not figure out whether he was angry, upset or sad. I wish I had asked. But the language was a barrier.

Contemplation!

The young performers in the Amazon Village.

The young girl was upset and protesting that her mother walked away with her baby brother without waiting for her to follow.

Charismatic Amazonian youth with unusual face markings.

This mature Amazonian villager appeared to be a determined woman of substance.

This is one of my favorite shots of my Brazilian trip. The rain drenched village in the background , boy sitting on a rickety bench with his pet fluttering on his shoulder and looking for something in life? One wonders!

Guide, Philosopher and More!

Our guide in the Amazon resort was a very knowledgeable swashbuckling McGuire kind of a guy. During our treks into the jungle, he pointed out so many natural medicinal herbs, trees and bushes and uses for them. he helped us fish piranhas, cook and eat them, jumped into the river and capture a baby crocodile and talked about the importance of environmental protection, and was ready to explain or answer any question we asked. Mighty Impressive.

Peeping Toes!

On the day tour of Amazon River, on the boat, I was on the upper deck photographing the banks.  I looked down and “boom”, this visual   hit me!

Pier on the Amazon!

This tranquil pier is where we stopped to do a bit of piranha fishing.

I took this shot for the ambiance and the graphic feel.

Romantic sunset, painted deck and two wooden recliners waiting for you to sit and enjoy the beautiful Amazon – what more do you want?

Sunset over the Amazon

This smart croc, camouflaged by the giant Lilly pads is patiently waiting for his prey!

Wild Mushrooms

Roasting the Millet

Surreal

A flooded boat in the giant Lily pad waters

Scavengers

At the giant lily pad site, the guides throw meat pieces to attract the crocodiles for the tourists to see. The scavenger birds swoop in to get the meat pieces missed by the crocodiles.

we were walking back from the site of the lily pads. somebody three feet ahead of me screamed and we froze looking at the coiled boa constrictor. Our guide yelled at me to get out of there quickly because it was poised to strike. I stayed took some shots and moved.

Amazon Bird

Iguana at the Iguassu Falls

Indigenous Children at the amazon village

This young man welcomed us with his pet tortoise, offering  to us to be photographed with – of course for a nominal fee!. His friends carried  pythons, crocodiles and other exotic animals to offer.

Amazons rocky banks and their reflections remind you of a sleeping giant being.

Reflections – Amazon river banks

Tranquil banks of the Amazon

Portrait of a tree above and below the ground and reflected

Brasilia cathedral he Cathedral Campanile by Oscar Niemeyer

Brasilia Cathedral Evangelists

Brasilia – Dom Bosco Church Altar

Brasilia – interior of Dom Bosco Church

Brasilia Museum of Art

Brasilia National Museum – walking around this amazing testimony to modern architecture, gives you a sense of floating in space.

Chosen One

Brasilia Cathedral – Angels floating from the ceiling with the magnificent modern stained glass interior as the backdrop

Brasilia Cathedral  with modern stained glass interior

Brasilia Interior of the Senate

Brasilia - The UNESCO world heritage site of the dome (the Senate), and the saucer (the Congress)  by Oscar Niemeyer

Sculpture framing the twin towers of the Congress in Brasilia

Palacio da Alvorada Brasilia

Musicians serenading tourists at the Corcovado Funicular Station

Corcovado Funicular in Rio

Another colorful view of the fa vela in Rio reminding us of the paintings and photographs of Brazil

Young residents at the favela

Rocinha favela is the largest shanty town in Rio de Janeiro and is world famous. It has a estimated population of 250,000. It is built on a steep hillside overlooking the city. Unless you have a local guide, one is advised not to venture into the favela  as a tourist.

In Rio, this glorious architecture from the past, stands neglected and occupied by squatters.

Catedral vulcanica - volcanic Cathedral designed by architect Edgar Fonceca was dedicated to St Sebastian. Exterior looks like a modern building. you are totally taken aback by the 30 story high interior space. Modern stained glass windows reaching up o the white cross on the ceiling is an amazing spiritual experience.

Mother and children in Rio

Old church in Paraty

Ladies in waiting at a Paraty  gift shop.

Quaint town of Paraty where the cars are not allowed in the touristy town center. People walk or use the horse drawn carriages.