travelling - Machu Pichu

So Machu Pichu is the best place I visited during my trip. Mainly because I really enjoy visiting archaeological sites and learning from old civilization and history.

Intro
Machu Pichu is like a city from the Inca civilization. Nobody really knows the purpose of its existence, but some historians say that this is likely a city for the Inca elites. This city built around 1500 A.D., and abandoned very shortly after. And it was discovered on the early 1900s by an American explorer.

To get there, you can either walk for 4 days via the Inca trail or take the train from one of the small towns near the city of Cusco. People will have to stay at the town of "Agua Calientes" which is the town closest to Machu Pichu site. That town offers restaurants, hotels and hostels, bars, places for massage, etc.

Language
Spanish. Since it is a touristic spot, English is more than enough.

Transportation
The town of Aguas Calientes is very small, and everything is within walking distance. To get to Machu Pichu site, there is a daily bus that go every 15-20 min to the site.

Food
Same as Lima, I think it's kind of boring.

Safety
Safe.

Things to do
The town of Aguas Calientes have places for massage and also thermal baths, and I was not interested in either haha, but I did play football (soccer) for a bit.

On the actual site of Machu Pichu, you can spend 1-2 days walking around. There is also the option to hike a mountain in the site called "Huayna Pichu", which my group of friends and I did, this allowed us to get to see a great view of Machu Pichu from high up. I would personally recommend hiking the mountain (you have to pay more on the entrance fee, but it is worth it). The hike is a bit demanding (~1.5 hour of walking on steep "staircases"), so ensure you are used to the elevation and enough water. My group just spent one day at the site, but I recommend 2 days so that you can take your time and appreciate its beauty.

There will be many tourist guides that will offer you a guide (I don't remember the cost), but since there is so much mystery around the history of Machu Pichu that I think most of the guides will probably just bluff about stuff, so I chose not to get a guide and just do a self-guide by looking at the map. I can always wikipedia stuff later to learn!

Insights

When entering and walking in the Machu Pichu site, one cannot help to be feel amazement and being in awe of it. The surrounding landscape is gorgeous with beautiful mountains "covered" with clouds on the top, and the mystery that sounds the stone-made city. Many questions come out of it: How did the Inca managed to build all the stone structures on the mountain? What was the purpose of this "city"? Why did the Inca abandoned it?

Such a mystery.

Sometimes I ponder about the word "mystery" itself, and ask myself about the "mystery" of our faith. Like for example:

"Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." - Colossians 1:24 - 2:3

I find it hard to fathom why there is mystery in God's plan of salvation, perhaps because the plan of salvation through the death and resurrection of Christ is clearly made known to us. But for those in the early church and with a deep knowledge on the Old Testament, this was a very new "concept". How will the prophecies from the Old Testament be fulfilled? How will the Messiah rule the people of Israel? How will God bring salvation to His people?

God sent His son Jesus to be the Savior of His people, dying for our sins on the cross and conquering death so that through faith in Him we can live with God in eternity. This salvation is not just limited to Israel, but as well to the Gentiles. It is a glorious mystery, because it is full of God's grace, that He chooses to save sinful people like us, by providing the payment for the transgressions that we have committed. Though I don't really fathom the sense of mystery, I cannot help but to be in awe and in wonder of the grace that God has bestowed upon a sinful man like me.