As the Ancient Myans did no believe in linier time, I´ll be writing this with them in mind. shoshie When I arrived at Flores, the diving board to Tikal (the biggest, baddest Myan ruins in all the land) I was accousted by a few lads saying "shoshie, shoshie". Assuming this was some Mayan diatect from this part of the land, I desperately searched my guide book for some kind of language help, but of course, "shoshie" sound a lot like "shoe-shine" and judging by those backened hands and wooden boxes they´re carrying.... well clearly, I´m an idiot. Having a bad couple [View Full Entry]

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...only makes you stronger. From my very short time here in Nicaragua this is the impression that I take from its people. Having stuck pretty close the cities and the gringo trail, I can´t fully appreciate the issues and the struggles that this country faces, and while many do struggle they haven´t lost their will to fight nor their pride. Walking through the city of León you can see the very best and worst of Nicaragua. "This is where Somoza (ruthless dictator) was killed....this is the house of Ruben Dario (famous poet) ...here is where 4 students were shot while protesting...this [View Full Entry]

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This being my first Australia Day outside of my country, I became particularly patriotic and began to wear little koalas and kangaroos on my clothing, and telling people about the wonders of dancing the 'Heel and Toe'. This all culminated in my first Triple J Hottest 100 party, hosted in the hostel where I am currently living called 'Mama Latina', in Cuenca. We managed to hook up the broadcast (until the internet died, thanks anyway Paul) and the four Aussie girls who teach here at CEDEI: Lea, Gretel, Rachel and myself, revelled in hearing Aussie accents live on radio and a [View Full Entry]

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There are three known ways to cross from Colombia (South America) into Panamá (Central america). The most dangerous and least traveled path is over land, through the Darian gap. Apparently, if you don´t get lost, killed, kiddnapped or eaten up by dense jungle your doing well. The least dangerous and most traveled path is over air, quick, simple - but really... how boring. The middle ground is taking a sail-boat via the San Blas islands. This was my chosen path, and these are the details of my travels. Unfortunatly, I didn´t have alot of options on which boat I could go [View Full Entry]

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Hopping over the Ecuadorian border into Colombia was so easygoing (the best border crossing yet) and the landscape around there is so lush and green you just want to take it with you. Endless valleys and thick jungle, this is Colombia! We landed in Popayán, a colonial city in the south and had the good fortune of witnessing some festivities on our only day there. mini hot-air balloons were being sent up over the city, some shooting off fire works, some crumpling back to earth on fire and others sailing through the skies of Popayán, nestling down on a patch of [View Full Entry]

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We arrived in Tena after another fun bus ride where the road was blocked for at least an hour due to random roadworks...we jumped out to view 'la selva' from the side of the road, stretching out in the valleys with its humid green mistyness, buzzing with a million mosquitos and chirping with monkeys and birds and who-knows what else....YAY, WE FOUND THE JUNGLE!! 6 months in Ecuador and we have not yet set foot in this sticky green wonderland, which takes up more than half of the country and joins with the rest of the Amazon that so often comes [View Full Entry]

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As our time in this little town is coming to an end, we have been reminiscing the more quirky details and customs of our Gualaceo.... 10 ways (or 11 or 13) to know you're in Gualaceo *1) The local playland carnival has a Ferris Wheel (rueda moscobita) made from a car engine. *2) Your next door neighbours invite you over to watch pig's innards stuffed into pig's intestines ('salchichas' i.e. sausages, yummy) and celebrate the momentus occasion by drinking coconut liquer and cerveza *3) The garbage truck announces its arrival at 6am and all throughout the morning wit [View Full Entry]

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Hey all, it's Carly checkin' in. It has been a while since my last blog, and although sometimes it feels like I have nothing to do here, I really have been up to a lot. Still in Gualaceo, and in the middle of a 10 week term, in which I have 3 classes, some of which drive me crazy and others that I love. Also have been teaching twice a week at a local preschool, and the kids are gorgeous, if a little terrifying sometimes. Then on the weekends we have been living it up in the wonderful (and free) natural [View Full Entry]

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We're on holidays! Free from school for 15 days, we decided to search for some sol y mar on the edge of Ecuador. Another all-day bus nightmare (had pleasantly forgotten about those the last few months) including a frantic search of the Guayauqil bus terminal (they bark at you like cattle from their little desks), and we found ourselves in lovely little Montañita, source of many a hippie bracelet stall and cheap cocktail. Reminded me of Thailand with its numerous budget lodgings, colourfully adorned bars playing reggae, and assortment of ragged travellers such as ourselves, looking for the beac [View Full Entry]

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OK so the blog has been a little more than just neglected....we are lagging by so many months now that I have decided to bugger it and skip a few chapters. So here is the last few weeks of Greg and Carly's adventures in Ecuador! We have been living in Cuenca for the last 5 weeks, and it has been a whole lot different to Gualaceo, mainly due to our interaction with other gringo teachers and an increased intake of liquor(see next blog 'Boys in towels')...we have made some great friends here, most of whom live with us in the 'Sucre [View Full Entry]

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