© Richard HuangAfter leaving the floating islands, we sailed for another half hour or so before reaching Taquile Island (Isla Taquile), the largest island in Lake Titicaca, also known as the “Island of the Children of the Sun.”
© Richard HuangOnce ashore, we faced an uphill climb of more than five hundred steps.
© Richard HuangHigh on the unpolluted plateau, the water was crystal-clear and the sky a deep blue, with white clouds seemingly spread beneath our feet.
© Richard HuangAlong the way, we often passed simple yet distinctive stone archways.
© Richard HuangAll kinds of crops grow across the island, making it largely self-sufficient. Its abundance of produce has given the islanders the means to remain independent of the outside world.
© Richard HuangWildflowers bloomed beside the path, and the scent of ripening grain drifted through the air. Quiet and idyllic, this secluded paradise lifted the spirits and, for a little while, made the troubles of the world fall away…
© Richard HuangAt the top, we came to a place resembling a small plaza.
© Richard HuangThis must have been the town of Taquile—or, more accurately, the village of Taquile.
© Richard HuangTerraced fields could be seen around the island.
© Richard HuangFrom here we could take in the beauty of Lake Titicaca: snowcapped mountains and white clouds in the distance, a blue sky above vivid blue water, and a spotless little village that seemed cut off from the rest of the world.
© Richard HuangTaquile feels like a world unto itself, far removed from the noise and bustle of ordinary life. It is said to have been inhabited for thousands of years, and its Quechua-speaking islanders have preserved their traditional customs and way of life.
© Richard HuangLife on the island is unhurried, and its people are honest and unaffected.
© Richard HuangThe islanders’ traditional clothing seemed to hold us in a bygone age, as if time itself had come to a standstill.
© Richard HuangYet the changes written on their faces seemed to suggest that time was flowing on after all…
© Richard HuangAs we continued, the path began to descend. This stretch was longer than the route we had taken up.
© Richard HuangLake Titicaca is said to take its name from a beautiful legend. A goddess named Titi fell in love with a young man named Caca, and after overcoming one obstacle after another, they were finally united. The yearning for love is much the same everywhere: in China, Titi and Caca become the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl.
© Richard HuangAlong the way, we happened to pass the school just as classes were letting out.
© Richard HuangThe Indigenous schoolgirls’ full skirts and black headscarves were especially striking.
© Richard Huang
© Richard HuangPartway along our route, we stopped at a family home and enjoyed a local-style lunch overlooking the beautiful lake.
© Richard HuangDuring the meal, the islanders also demonstrated their weaving tradition. Although the demonstrators were women, weaving on the island is men’s work. Here, the women farm and the men weave—a division of labor closely tied to ancient Peruvian rituals of worship. Weaving is revered and carries high social status, so the island’s master textile makers, renowned for their extraordinary skill, are all men.
© Richard HuangAfter lunch, the folk performance began.
© Richard HuangOur hosts also invited their guests to join the islanders in a traditional dance.
© Richard HuangEven as they warmly welcome visitors from around the world, the people of Taquile, like the Uros, must confront a difficult question: how to choose between preserving their ancient traditions and embracing modern civilization. The overwhelming influx of tourists has undoubtedly disturbed the peace of these age-old villages. Desires awakened by the material world outside are now surging within them, eroding traditions handed down over thousands of years…
© Richard HuangPeru’s official tourism website describes Taquile this way: “Who knows when this simple, unspoiled way of life will disappear? One can only hope it endures a little longer…” It said exactly what I wanted to say.