A Trip to South America 南美知性之旅 by David W. S. Liu 劉偉澍 @ 活得精采，劉偉澍的學習網站

A Trip to South America by David W. S. Liu 劉偉澍

(March 1 to March 19, 2005)

Columbus discovered America (landed on somewhere around Central America) in year 1,492 with financial aid from Queen Elizabeth, Spain. Therefore, a lot of people immigrated from Spain from 1,500 to 1,700 A.D. South America was conquered by Spain and most of South America countries speak Spanish (only Brazil speaks Portuguese). In this connection, we also called South America as Latin America. After colonial control; they gradually overthrew Spanish ruling and were replaced by military ruling from the army and towards democratic politics nowadays.

SA 1

Natural resources are very rich in South America, but their economies are still very much in the process of development. Personal income per person per year is relatively low, ranging from US$1,000 to US$5,000. Safety is a concern for tourist, while I took picture in Lima early in the morning by myself, two policemen warned me to be careful not to be robbed on the street. In Rio de Janeiro, local tour guide reminded us not to bring camera or too much money (only keep US$10 in your pocket in case you were robbed) when we walked on the famous beach right in front of the Sofitel Rio Hotel. South America is very different from North America; South American speaks Spanish, still developing, majority are Indian and European white peoples; while North American are white and black peoples, speaks English, highly developed economy.

SA2

United States is unbelievable, we just “in transit” from LA to San Jose, still required immigration process for visitor arrival and visitor departure checks, baggage claimed and checked in again, security check in details, … and happen to be my US visa was due and I need to apply another US new visa + visa interview and cost me extra US$120! We are also required to apply certification of our bank account and job certification for the visa application from Brazil, Bolivia (Bolivia even asked for a visa interview in Taipei), … Long distance travel plus bureaucracy are the two major reasons prevent visitors from Asia to travel in South America.

There is NO direct flight from Asia to South America. We took Eva Air from Taipei to Los Angeles (12 hours + transit 5 hours), from L.A. to San Jose, Costa Rica (6 hours + transit 1 hours), then 3 hours from San Jose to Lima (the capital of Peru); total 27 hours, a long way to reach and tiresome to start with our journey.

SA3

Peru is a fantastic virgin land for tourist to explore. You can take a day to Iquitos (1,500 k.m. from Lima) Amazon River and Indian aborigines in the original undeveloped rain forest. There is no light, no current civilization, lots of mosquitoes (I was bite, swelling and very itchy), children were raised by mother land. We gave them some pencils, ball pens, candies and I took a lot of pictures of them as well. I wondered whether we can adopt a child and provide some financial aid for the children in the jungle. They are so remote and not changed by the civilization and still live a way long time ago as we saw from the Discovery channel.

SA4

You also can spend a day or two in Cusco (3,400 meters height), an ancient capital of Inca Empire.

One day to Machu Picchu, the last missing city of Inca Empire , was built on the top of a mountain back to 15 century.

Titicaca Lake (4,000 meters) is located at the boarder of Peru and Bolivia. The lake is huge, 8,400 square km (quarter size of Taiwan – 36,000 square km; 7.6 times of Hong Kong -1,103 square km). Boat sailing on Titicaca Lake is very enjoyable; the sky is so blue, the air is so fresh, the lake is so clean, … what else you can ask for your life when you were there. We also visited two small islands on the lake. Some people are not suitable to travel on 3,000-4,000 meters highland. If you are able to adjust your body to get used to 4,000 meters height; travel in Cusco, Puno, Titicaca Lake is highly recommended.

SA3

La Paz (3,800 meters height), the capital of Bolivia, is the highest capital in the world. The whole city is built on the valley and surrounded by the mountains. All buildings, houses were built on the slope of the mountain, you can see white snow on the top of one very high mountain. La Paz means ‘peace’ in Spanish. Tiwanaka is their ancient culture which is earlier than Inca ancient civilization.

We took LAN Chile from La Paz , Arica , Iquiqui, to Santiago, the capital of Chile and it took a whole day flight. There are 10 flights in total in our trip. From Santiago, via San Pablo to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, it takes another whole day flight. Several times we need to wake up 4 a.m. in the morning to catch up 7 a.m. 8 a.m. flight in the morning. One-day city tour in Santiago, Chile took two-day travel; one day from La Paz to Santiago and one day from Santiago to Rio de Janeiro.

SA5

If there is one vital celebration in Brazil, it is Carnival. Carnival and Brazil are synonymous with each other. The Redeemer’s stature, the magnificent piece, hovering over the city against the sky; it stands for the dreams of the past comes true. It is also the symbol of today’s Brazil, shining its light towards the future. Rio de Janeiro means 'river of January' in Portuguese.

SA6

Lago de Itaipu is the largest hydroelectric power plant in the world. Iguazu Falls is the largest fall in the world and located at the border of Argentina and Brazil. The waterfall is so magnificent when you stand beneath the falls. Like a Chinese saying that thousand soldiers and ten thousand horses in front of you and suddenly, you felt that you were so little, you were so small when you stand in front the great water falls.

Buenos Aries (11 million population), Argentina is the largest city in South America. Argentina is the 31^st countries I traveled. Buenos Aires, means ‘clean air’ in Spanish, is a very modern city and famous for 'the Paris of the South America'. Again, dinner is very late (same as in Spain). We had a dinner at Chanta Cuatro (the most famous Tango show in Buenos Aires) from 9 p.m. to 12 p.m. (the first one and half hour for a beef steak dinner, red wine and the other one and half hour for the famous Tango show).

You can see playing football all the time in everywhere over there. While I stayed at Sheraton hotel in Buenos Aires, football is on air and right next the Sheraton, 2 football fields were playing football as well. I found very few people speak English in South America. I am surprised when I passed immigration office in Chile, even the immigration officer cannot speak English and have to ask the local tour guide to translate English into Spanish for him. Another thing I don’t quite like is oftentimes there is someone take a picture of the tourist (while at airport arrival, at dinner, attending Samba dance show, Tango show, or take boat, …) and ask for US$5 for the picture taken.

On my way back, it took me 35 hours from Buenos Aries back to Taipei. 6 hours from Buenos Aries to Lima (plus 1 hour transit), 3 hours from Lima to San Jose plus 3 hours transit, 6 hours from San Jose to Los Angles and 2 hours transit, 14 hours from LA to Taipei. I was exhausted and very tired after the long flight. However, it is nice to see the South America in person. To see is to believe. It is nice to take a look of Latin America landscape; it is nice to see Samba, Tango in person not in TV; it is nice to taste South America foods; it is nice to learn a little bite of Inca ancient civilization; and it is also nice to meet South America people over there. God bless South America.

Note was taken on my way back

David W. S. Liu

March 19, 2005

林志玲《花樣2》南美開錄小13歲鮮肉皇帝護花 2016/02/14

〔娛樂頻道／綜合報導〕林志玲續接下東方衛視明星自助旅行實境秀《花樣姐姐2》，大年初四就上工飛往墨西哥開錄，展開南美洲之旅。不過林志玲卻未在合照中現身，原來志玲姊姊從台灣出發，到當地才跟劇組會合，昨終於在微博曬出合體照，而節目中陪伴「姐姐們」的護花使者也曝光，就是憑《武媚娘傳奇》李治皇帝一角爆紅的28歲藝人李治廷，和志玲姊姊的搭配成最受期待姊弟組。

林志玲昨在微博曬出和《花樣姐姐》的合體照。（翻攝自微博）林志玲已41歲，但仍看不出歲月痕跡，溫柔可愛的知性形象，到現在仍是當紅巨星，也是中國網友最愛的「鄰家姊姊」，《花樣2》過年期間就在墨西哥開錄，出發前還在機場大開直播，台灣出發的林志玲在會合後才在微博認證已歸隊。

美麗親切最討喜～林志玲連莊主持《花樣姐姐2》2016/02/01 17:58

41歲林志玲的凍齡美貌及親切個性紅到中國

〔娛樂頻道／綜合報導〕中國實境節目《花樣姐姐》找來5位熟齡女星參加背包旅行，創造高收視，去年3月播出第1季後，討論度超高，近日決定繼續開拍第2季，目前人選已確定，第1季的志玲姐姐及45歲中國實力派演員王琳連莊，繼續主持，並加入3位新血，令網友直呼期待。

41歲林志玲的凍齡美貌及親切個性紅到中國，在中國版《花樣姐姐》第1季就備受觀眾喜愛，第2季連莊主持，與王琳、金晨、宋丹丹、姜妍等中國女星出外探險，首站選在南美的祕魯，製作團隊在近日的發表會上，特別獻上實用的電蚊拍及超長圍巾，象徵把5位女神的心連在一起，雖然節目月底才開拍，超強陣容讓網路上的討論度已破表。

攝於南美袐魯 Iquitos with Indian aborigines.

SA2

Photo with Bolivia children in 2015 March.

SA6

秘魯馬丘比丘（Machu Picchu）

馬丘比丘，是祕魯一個著名的前哥倫布時期時印加帝國的遺蹟，西北方距庫斯科Cosco 130公里，整個遺址高聳在海拔2,350—2,430米的山脊上，俯瞰著烏魯班巴河谷，也是世界新七大奇蹟之一。由於獨特的位置、地址特點和發現時間較晚，馬丘比丘成了印加帝國最為人所熟悉的標誌。

馬丘比丘 Machu Picchu

劉偉澍，朋友都叫他 David ，昱晶能源科技副總經理，昱鼎能源董事，中華民國企業經理協進會前秘書長、現任理事，商業智庫首席顧問，EMBA班主任，前中鼎工程監察人，前中美晶監察人，前品爵汽車董事，前福特六和汽車公司財務長兼Mazda汽車與Jaguar汽車副總經理，同時任教于國立臺北大學商學院，教授企業管理、國際貿易等課程，並常受邀在工商企業界作專題演講。曾榮獲中華民國國家傑出經理人，國家管理獎章。著有1.「臺灣汽車工業發展文集」，2. 「Travel 趴趴走 David 帶你環遊世界，行遍天下」，3. 「活得精彩，做好個人管理」，4. 「管理技能實務 - 核心職能 Core Competency 大學用書」四書。