| TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2018 | THE STRAITS TIMES | D7

A travel series every Tuesday. The stories are also available in sgtravellers.com BON VOYAGE Colours of

Hong Weixi explores the vivid landscapes of the South Bolivia American country

I was greeted by stretches of brilliant blood red water when I got to Laguna Colorada in the south-west of the Altiplano, close to the Chilean border. The colour is a result of the algae and other microorganisms that thrive in the salty water of this shallow lagoon, which is also dotted with large white pools caused by massive borax deposits. There are other equally mesmerising coloured lagoons in the Altiplano Plateau — the area where the Andes are the widest — such as Laguna Verde (Green Lagoon) hen travellers think of the colourful indigenous mar- and Laguna Blanca Bolivia, they often think kets and the multi-coloured la- (White Lagoon). W only of the Uyuni Salt goons, the landscapes are varied The colours of these Flat, which at times becomes a and unparalleled. lagoons are caused refl ective pool where the white of They paint a colourful picture by high amounts of the salt fi elds blends into the blue of a country fi lled with natural minerals suspended of the sky. wonders, a rich history and diver- in the waters. But in fact, everywhere you sifi ed culture. PHOTOS: HONG WEIXI turn in this landlocked country Although nearly 300 years of in South America, an explosion Spanish colonial rule until the of colours assaults the senses. early 19th century left its mark From the whites of the snow- on Bolivia’s language, religion and capped peaks and the greens of the exuberant rainforests to CONTINUED ON D8 D8 | THE STRAITS TIMES | TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2018 | | TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2018 | THE STRAITS TIMES | D9 BON VOYAGE

With fists pumping, Sitting amid the Andes in “cholitas”— indigenous south-west Bolivia, the Uyuni Aymara and Quechua Salt Flat was formed when women — rally the crowd Colours of a prehistoric lake went dry, in the wresting ring in El leaving behind nearly Alto, the second-largest 11,000 sq km of bright-white city in Bolivia. Indigenous salt, rock formations and women used to be socially cacti-studded islands. What ostracised and marginalised; the world’s largest salt flat they were banned from looks like depends on what using public transport time of the year you visit. and entering some public Bolivia Those who wish to get the spaces, and their work CONTINUED FROM D7 unimaginable feeling of opportunities were limited. walking on the sky should The election of Mr Evo architecture, its deep-seated in- visit during the rainy season, Morales as Bolivia’s first digenous culture and traditions which runs from November indigenous president in have survived. to April, when a layer of 2005 led to new policies that Spanish is the language of gov- water creates a mirror have improved their lives. ernment and business, but a vis- effect on the flat. During Today, cholitas — with their itor can find himself surrounded the dry season, which was braided hair, bowler hats by Quechua- or Aymara-speaking when I was there, you get and colourful, wide skirts — people; there are more than 30 to see stunning octagonal work in banks and o˜ces, indigenous languages in Bolivia. salt formations surrounded and even take part in the Most Bolivians are Catholic, by bubbling cauldrons of traditionally men-only but they perform many rites like geysers. PHOTOS: HONG WEIXI world of wrestling. that of parading the skulls of the departed on Nov 8 (Dia de las Natitas) every year or blessing cars with holy water and alcohol. There is definitely more to Bolivia than the whites of Uyuni.

CONTINUED ON D10

Even in the Southern Altiplano, where conditions are harsh, one can find fauna, including colonies of flamingos. There are three species of flamingos here; the rare James flamingo (pictured here), the Chilean flamingo and the Andean flamingo. The birds are not born pink, but grow into that colour due to a diet of shrimp-like crustaceans and beta-carotene laden bacteria and algae, found in abundance in the salt lakes in the Altiplano.  The idea of dinosaurs roaming the earth millions of years ago seemed unreal to me until I laid eyes on these fossilised dinosaur  footprints in Parque Nacional Torotoro. Many such footprints can be found there, all dating back to the Cretaceous period (145 million BLAZE A TRAIL IN EXOTIC LOCALES to 65 million years ago) plus the remnants of different herbivorous just in and carnivorous species. These footprints were made in soft mud, ANOTHER DAY which then solidified into mudstone and were later lifted and tilted by tectonic forces. 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Considered the most beautiful city in Bolivia, Sucre is a glorious ensemble of well-preserved colonial buildings. Impressive museums, old buildings and ornate churches abound in this city, a Unesco World Heritage Site, founded by the Spanish in the 16th century. The Convento de San Felipe Neri (pictured here) is among buildings that have been converted to other uses — the former monastery now serves as a parochial school. PHOTO: HONG WEIXI

GETTING THERE There are no direct flights from Singapore to Bolivia. Bolivian national carrier Boliviana de Aviación, South America-based airlines such as Avianca or LATAM, and some American and European airlines fly there.

TRAVELLER’S TIPS n Singaporeans visiting Bolivia need a visa, which can be obtained on arrival for a fee of about US$100. Alternatively, it can be obtained at a Bolivian consulate in advance for free. There is no Bolivian embassy or consulate in Singapore. n Strikes (called “bloqueos”), especially transportation strikes, are common in Bolivia, so keep up with local news. Some strikes can last up to two weeks. If there is a strike, avoid trying to go around or through blockades. n English is hardly spoken in Bolivia, even in areas with a high concentration of tourists like La Paz or Uyuni. It would be useful to learn a few Spanish words. n Some parts of Bolivia like La Paz and Uyuni are on a high altitude, so take adequate precautions against altitude sickness. Take time to acclimatise and do not over-exert yourself within a few days of arrival. You can buy pills for altitude problems in pharmacies. The sun is very strong in Bolivia, especially in higher-altitude places, so pack strong sunscreen and moisturiser.

^Land tour only *Selected tours & packages. While stocks last. All information is correct at 101 Upper Cross Street #02-56 People’s Park Centre • Mon-Fri: 11am - 8pm | Sat: 11am - 7pm | Sun & PH: 1pm- 7pm (TA1549) time of print. Terms & Conditions apply. Applicable airport taxes & fuel charges fr $0*-$600*.

From the capital of Pyongyang, to the rural region of Mt Kumgang, take this unique opportunity to visit North Korea

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