Our Return to Echarati in the Back of Beyond

22 June 2017

This trip felt like I was part of a modernised Dr David Livingstone’s mission pioneering adventure story where we were wielding a machete through thick undergrowth to mark out our new FM transmission site for Echarati.  If you followed my previous Echarati post, you may have gathered I was not very satisfied with that initial selection.  Although it was convenient in terms of access, it was not optimal in terms of FM coverage (you can find my previous article with this link; http://welchesinperu.blogspot.pe/2017/08/echarati-our-6th-fm-license.html)

We returned to investigate the options I found from my desktop coverage predictions which confirmed that going up the road a few kilometres with a height gain of 150m would reach communities with our radio message of hope that would otherwise be left in the noise.

Here following is my version of the official Diospi Suyana post by Klaus of this trip with my photos (as he was in Germany at the time);

Clearing the undershrub with a machete for our new found Echarati transmission site.

This was a three day trip for Doris Manco, Matthias Besold and I.  The first day was travelling back from Curahuasi to the Echarati valley.  We spent the second day exploring Echarati's mountain undergrowth with my pre-determined site options, until we finally found the ideal spot for erecting of our next broadcast transmission tower.  Our Curahuasi driver Cesar, was invaluable with his experience slashing through the Peruvian undergrowth with my machete to peg out our lot.

Moreover this new transmission site is accessible by car via good unsealed road and is also located near medium voltage electricity lines where we need to install a pole transformer which is a requirement for commercial services by the Perú electrical authority.  Both these attributes are important for the swift building of an antenna tower. 

On Friday, Matthias Besold acting as deputy administrative director for Diospi Suyana signed the deed of purchase.  President Sr Remigio and his deputy signed in the name of the village community "Cooperativa mateo pumacahuac".

 

Our team combing through the undergrowth has finally found what it what looking for!  From left to right: Doris Manco, Carlos Lopez, Cesar Mosqueira, Chris Welch and Matthias Besold.

The analysis of the FM coverage of this latest optimal FM site shows much of the population of Echarati can be reached by our Diospi Suyana radio.

We then commenced the site purchase process, where our adventure then took us on a half an hour dirt road trip out of town with Sr Remigoio to his community elders to get their signature of authorisation for the Diospi Suyana lot purchase.  When we pulled up, we then set off on a hike through orchards and produce gardens to their house hidden deep in the bush – all the while being bitten by mosquitos and sweltering in the midday heat.  But what a lovely Christian elderly couple lived at the end of that path.

Our team marching through the tropical bush of Quillabamba to the elders’ house.

Despite being obviously very poor, this lovely Christian elderly couple proudly presented us with some of their local produce as a token of gratitude for our mission work to their region.

The formal signing was done in a notary's office in the nearby city of Quillabamba.   The amusing thing is arriving at the Notary at the advertised 4:00pm reopening hour in the afternoon (i.e. after a 3 ½ hour lunch break J).  We were in a hurry to get back to Echarati before 5:00pm to submit another document at the municipal council there before closing (if we missed this, we would have to stay another night), but the Notary staff did not get back to open their doors until 4:25pm!  Needless to say our patience has improved so much since being in Perú!

 

Our Notary lawyer’s hours of attention sign on display.

But as it so happened, we just made it in time including a couple of quick group photos (see below) and then we set off on our 6 hour drive home to Curahuasi.

 

Matthias Besold signs for Diospi Suyana.

Outside the notary's office: the two parties celebrate the moment with a group photo. The president of the village community Sr Remigio stands between Doris Manco and Matthias Besold.

Leaving Quillabamba at the end of another eventful day in the tropics.

We pass through the Sacred Valley of the Incas which are major tourist destinations for their archaeological appeal – here is a picture of the Scalinata e terrazzamenti in Ollantaytambo.  This was an Inca fortress where they fought the Spanish.

Our driver Cesar gets some fuel in the night from one of the small shops/fuel stations on the mountain pass.  It puts another spin on “old fashioned station service” as we know it in Australia! 😊

As noted, Echarati will be Diospi Suyana's 6^th FM location and once the satellite connection has been made, the Peruvian States Apurimac, Cusco, Madre de Dios and Puno will be able to receive Diospi Suyana's radio programs.

Here is the link to the original Diospi Suyana post of this visit by Klaus (in English) albeit more brief than my version above;

http://www.diospi-suyana.de/wo-sich-puma-und-tapir-gute-nacht-sagen/?lang=en

Regards,

Chris