Some advice for my friends who are considering this destination: - Many people think they would get the altitude sickness in Machu Picchu. As a matter of fact, it's more likely you would get sick in Cusco instead of Machu Picchu, because Cusco is at an elevation of 3,400 metres (11,150 feet) above the sea level. It's not the highest place you heard of, but you get up there too fast - after an hour flight you suddenly land at an airport so much higher than that in Lima. The elevation of Machu Picchu is only 2,430 metres (7,972 feet), and the average people won't feel dizzy.

Before this trip, I had requested my doctor for the prescription for the altitude sickness, and followed the instruction to start taking it 1 day before flying to Cusco. The medication has a side effect of causing numbness in the fingers occasionally. When I saw my fingers shaking, I was a little worried that they could not handle the camera, but the tough walking and hiking just diverted my concentration from there. Now when I think back, I still can't believe I finished the walk carrying 2 cameras, a bottle of water, an umbrella (rain was in the forecast, luckily it didn't happen, as it could get very slippery), a jacket and a walking stick. There were a few steps where the rocks were actually about two feet deep.

To me, the breathtaking Machu Picchu is worth these challenges. Though I did not climb up the hill for a top shot, I can tell myself I'm glad that I have seen it in person.

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