Blogs from East, Ecuador, South America - page 2

Today we are returning to civilisation. I can’t wait but first we have to endure: - 2 hour canoe ride - 2 hour bus ride - 4 hour wait at airport - 1 hour flight - 1 hour taxi ride Things I’m looking forward to this evening: - Phone coverage to speak to my girls - WiFi to read the news/sports results - WiFi to check up on what my friends/family have been up to on social media - Electric lights - TV - Power sockets - Hot shower - Dry towels - Proximity to shops - Clean running water - Being allowed to use shampoo/conditioner - Being able to eat/drink what and when I want - Clean sheets - Far fewer insects - Not stinking of insect repellent - No animals in the bedroom - ... read more

Today we are going to a local village where we will pay an indigenous family to show us how they live. Inflation in the village is obviously rife, as the price has gone up 25% since we booked. After breakfast and a cold shower, we set off in our canoe again. It takes 2 hours to reach the village. On the way we see dolphins, sloths, 4 species of monkeys, bats, parrots, toucan, hawks and hummingbirds. Once in the village we are taught to make yucca bread. First we go into the jungle to dig up the tubers, then we grate them into a mini canoe, dry, sieve and cook the resulting ‘flour’ like a pancake. Our guide has brought a tuna salad to eat it with. There’s also fried yucca, plantain and a selection of ... read more

As I write this blog entry I'm recovering from cataract surgery (right eye), staying with friends near Quito. I am trying to limit my screen time to rest my eye which is my way of telling you that this entry is likely to be more photos than text so be sure to scroll all the way to the end for a more in-depth pictoral tour. Fortunately, I had chosen, edited and uploaded the photos for this entry before the operation. If you are on facebook you will likely have seen many of these pics already, but now you'll get the full scoop! Today is day six sans cataract but I still have some inflammation -- the effect is like watching a 3D movie without the special glasses...hyper-real! I'm hoping to be given the all-clear to drive ... read more

César, der Leiter des Projektes « Selva Vida » in dem ich meinen Freiwilligendienst in Ecuador gemacht habe, hat uns viel und oft von den verschiedenen Nationalparks in Ecuador erzählt. Da ich ein wenig enttäuscht war, dort wo wir lebten nicht viele Tiere gesehen zu haben, hatte ich große Lust einen dieser Parks zu besuchen und, glücklicherweise, war ich nicht die einzige die so fühlte! Als ich Maja sagte, es wäre ganz cool würden wir am Ende ihres Aufenthaltes in Selva Vida alle zusammen mit César als Guide zum Yasuní Park fahren, fiel die Idee auf fruchtbaren Boden. Sie erzählte Jacob davon und zusammen schlugen sie César vor diese Tour zu machen. César hat vor Jahren als Tourguide in Baños und in den verschiedenen Nationalparks im Amazonas und kennt sich dort sehr gut aus. Er war ... read more

There are many different countries that you might want to visit the Amazon from amd many different ways in which to explore this incredibly vast and diverse rain forest. Our choice was to visit the Cuyobueno national park in Ecuador. Through Anna's work, we were lucky enough to get a free 3 night 4 day tour free for Anna and net price for me. Our tour was with Jamu lodge, one of a hand full of lodges available. Getting to the jungle from Quito is either by plane or bus (you can guess which is faster but also more expensive). Either way, you will arrive a Lago Agrio and be transported with the rest of your group to the Cuyobueno River, about 2 hours by mini bus. We had some lunch upon arrival and then took ... read more