Rajashree & Kiran Khalap vacation in Peru, October 2008

2. v The rainforest: Trees with no tree rings

3. v The rainforests cover only 7% of the earth’s surface but harbour 50% of its species! There are only two seasons: dry and wet. The trees have to grow fast and reach the canopy during the wet season for sunlight, that’s why they have no rings!

4. 1900 species of birds: More than US and Canada combined

5. The Macaw Lick: The birds need minerals, so they come to one place in hundreds and lick the clay

6. Jesus Christ: The jacana is a bird that walks on water, and is therefore called Jesus Christ!

7. The Huatzin. Its babies have claws on their wings. When predators come they fall into the water and later climb back to their nests using their claws!

8. We saw five species of monkeys in one square kilometer

10. Colca Canyon: Twice as deep as the Grand Canyon The condor: the largest bird to fly (Average wingspan 12 feet; life expectancy 80 years)

12. Reserved forest: 40,000 sq kms; forest cover: 50% Vicuna: finest wool in the world;

13. Vicuna: One of the four camelid species in Peru. Found in the wild, protected by law.

14. Another expensive fur: Chinchilla

15. The Wolf of the Lake: The Giant Otter hunts fish in packs. Needs 4 kilos per day!

17. Cuzco: One of the three big cities in Peru. Celebrates 350 festivals a year

19. Rs 17 per model: Each girl and her llama charge Rs 17 per photo!