Welcome to Ecuador

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Well, well well,
Sorry i have been extremely slack on the internet front im afraid, but that is not to say ive forgotten all you poor souls, not travelling or in close proximity to me!!
I have been working in Ecuado for a month now and am loving it so very very much, the animals are amazing, ive been working with lions (ex circus), jaguar, puma, tonnes of monkeys, Cabeza de Mates, Coatis, all the small cat species, Andean speckled bear cubs, and so much more..its been very stimulating and refreshing working on the front line in places where the animals come in straight after being confiscated by the police..the place is run entirely by volunteers so its very hands on (really raw stuff, safety is kinda your own responsibility)..ive done things like go into enclosures with lions, hold donkeys whilst they are shot and chuck them in with lions with no safety traps or barriers, have monkey cuddles on a daily basis, build and mend cages and help with all sorts of aspects, its been a fantastic experience. I was so very sad to leave today, but am off to the amazon release site on monday for 2 weeks, so that is very exciting.
Have had an amzing amount of fun with the human species too, lots of drinking and games at the volunteer houses most nights, i do feel very sorry for my liver its taking a bit of a pounding, but definately worth it!!
Again i´ll let the photos do the talking mostly, so much fun has been had and amazing animals worked with, enjoy!!
Take care everyone, i hope all is going well with you and life is treating you at least half as well as its been treating me 😊
Love Ally xx
PS Quick update on the above blog which i wrote prior to the amazon...I am now back (as you will figure out fom the photos). I had an amazing trip, the work was alot different, mainly working with a local amazonin family with building, collecting materials from the jungle and helping set the place up with proper paths etc, because it is very new and there is lots of work to be done...it was very different from the first centre which is where the animals come when they are rescued and initially need to be assessed, because it is the release part, where the animals go when they are ready for the next stage..unfortunately there is alot of hunting in the area, so education is a huge aspect, as well as finding suitable release sites, for the monkeys and birds.
I cant wait to come back here (especailly to the first centre where all the cats are kept) and work for longer periods of time, because i was immensly happy being able to help these creatures...As Julia would say..To the animals of the world!!
Im back in the capital of Ecuador now and awaiting my lost credit card, and will then travel to Peru for christmas, to spend chrissy with the crazy irish...im travelling solo at the moment, Jo has decided to stay in Santa Martha, not that i blame her, so im on my lonesome, but all good, loving every minute!!
Peace out
Ally xx (5/12/06)

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Photos

Me and my boys
My first ecuadorian friends, on my first day!!

Middle of the world
Me at the ecuator line..North and South..check it out!!

Shrunken Head
A real shrunken head of a 12 year old boy..wowza!

MIddle of the world..not!!
The government built this major momument on the ecuador only to find they stuffed it up by 100m..whoops!!

My Ankle
The bane of my ecuadorian existance to this day..a sprained ankle still looking bad, even after 5 weeks..why why why!!

kitchen fun
Santa Martha every morning..involves sharp knives, which as phil found out, arent condusive to hangovers!!

White Water Rafting
The crew of us during a weekend trip to Baños, went for a hungova raft..good wake up call!!

Otavalo Markets
Some of the most important indigenous markets in South America (apparently). Was spectacular and so much fun..unfortunately i didnt have room or money for much but what a shopping spree!!

Monkey
Baby Squirel monkey that lived with us for the last week..very cute, shame about the exsessive vocal cords and lack of toilet training :)

First time
This wasnt taken through wire, this was me standing in the enclosure with two 15 month old lions..criky..a first for me and luckily i survived to tell the tale :)

Damn right!
one of many drunken nights at Santa Martha..single handedly ridding the world of irish, two at a time!

So that was a little harsh..
I love them really..2 out of 3 of my irish friends, sitting on the famous dancing wall..

..ballarina styles
now standing on that wall, hanging off ceiling soon followed, then so did two of the boys on the ground!

Boy 3
Nick and I successfully keeping balance

oooooohh!
Me and two of the baby capuchins...i love these guys..all rescued animals, now is a settled social troup..yay!

Pitt Fights
The age old art of pitt fighting..i was challanged by phil..was keen cept here i look like i wanna be anywhere else in the world...yes i lost :)

The boys square off
Jose and Gary take each other on..hungover...Gary (int he blue) manages to pull one off for the irish

Haha
After phil demolishes me he gets whats coming to him, when leon the co-ordinator demolishes him (and takes one back for the kiwis!)

The aftermath
Tired and dirty, but whats that when there is fun to be had!

Champions and losers..reunited!
All of us that fought..why am i the only girl..maybe my heads screwed on a little funni and there is a reason every other female had the sense to just watch!

Oh Dear!!
Last drunken photo in this blog promise..Leon and I..him with the world famous (or what will become famous to anyone that knows me) 3 man hat on..best drinking game in the land..unfortunately i have no recollection of this nights antics..this was right before i vommited all over the table..lol!