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Published: September 10th 2006
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Lovin' Life
Chillin on the rooftop with some crazy clouds So last week I ended my work on the farm. I loved it there but needed a change of pace and some new scenery. I headed towards otavalo, famous for their indigenous markets and worldfamous weaving techniques, with hopes of meeting up w/ some my my CA buddies. Hopped on the bus at around 3, checked into my hostal at 6ish and started to walk through the city for something to eat. As i was walking I ran into my buddies at a hostal around the corner. They were meeting up w/ a family who lives a few miles outside of town. After about 20 minutes I was riding in a pickup truck ready to check out of my hostal. Carlos, a Quecha indian had invited me to join the other two guys to stay at there house for free outside of town. Might as well take the free room and board right? I had no idea what was going on with this family or what was going to take place, but it all worked out fantastically in the end.
It turns out this family is just one of 32 families trying to get the ball rolling on a community based
Rooftop
View from the rooftop terrace in Otavalo ecotourism project. The families are all artisans and want to get proper recognition in the saturday market as well as distribute products worldwide. The saturday market in Otavalo is the biggest in all of Ecuador but it shames a lot of Otavalans becausae the main square is full of government union workers who basically resell goods the true artisans have made. The real artists in turn don't get the proper reimbursement for their goods. So the group of 32 families are joining together to help fight this situation in Otavalo and created a non-government organization called Kuri Pacha Mama, or Golden Mother Earth.
We woke up in the morning and ate breakfast together and talked about what we all can attribute to help Kuri Pacha mama. After talking and discussing certain aspects, I offered to help build a website for them which will allow them to promote worldwide. After chilling and being fed like Kings all day, the party had to begin. We got to Otavalo on the weekend of their annual party, much like the one i attended in Machachi. From the roof of the hostel in Otavalo, we had a skylight view of the nighttime parade. There were
Crazy Fruit
this stuff made your mouth numb for quite a while people stretched from end to end as far as the eye could see. My CA buddies and myself had a lil' powwow on the rooftop and watched the parade go by for a few hours.
After the parade the people swarmed the streets and all headed towards the main plaza where a stage was set up for the night time music. While walking the streets we got behind a group of andead folk musicians/dancers who invited us to dance with them. For about an hour we chanted and danced our way to the main square as all the locals focused on the gringos gettin groovy w/ the andean group. It was so much fun and there wasn't a single person without a smile on there face. I forgot to mention Otavalo is perhaps the friendliest place i've been to in a long time. Everyone is so welcoming and they do anything to make you feel at home.
After hours of dancing in the streets and drinking boxed wine, it was time to head home and get some much needed rest for the big market day on saturday.
Breakfast started out the same as the other day with simple croissants and
Grubbin'
eating some traditional indigenous foods at the market w/ Carlos tea accompanied by conversation with the neighbors. We booked it for the market and roamed around for hours looking at the amazing hand crafted jewelry, hammocks, bags etc. and ate a good traditional lunch afterwards.
With our bellies full I had my first official meeting completely done in Spanish. We talked about what the webpage will have on it, volunteer programs we can set up, and just anyhting else relating to Kuri Pacha Mama and how we can help. They are so grateful we're helping them get their business rolling and it feels good giving a helping hand to such a genuine cause to some amazing people.
Saturday night was supposed to be another big party night but the streets were dead. Everyone must have danced and drank too much the night before. Carlos, our buddy who's house we're staying at, took us back home to drink and play some pool at the local joint. After lots of hot alcoholic drink, carlos decided it would be a good idea to head to the waterfall. In the black of night 3 drunk gringos and one drunk guide were trekking through the steep hills up to the sacred waterfall of Peguche. This waterfall is the most sacred place to the Otavalan Indians and I was very grateful for the opportunity to go. We finally reached the top and Carlos told us we probably have never stepped on such sacred ground and we needed to give our blessings to the mother earth.
We continued through some caves and finally came upon a spot where we all sat and talked about our surroundings and how we really don't mean anything in comparison to what nature and mother earth can offer us. After sitting in silence for about 20 minutes a small ceremony proceeded. We all hopped in the water exposing our jewels to the sacred water fall as carlos yelled at the top of his lungs various offerings to his gods. It was such a powerful and emotional place/time that I couldn't think of anything to say or do, but rather just watch the waterfall pass overhead and listen to the chants from Carlos. After the small ceremony was complete we threw on our clothes to dry up and start the trek back home. Being underneath that waterfall was certainly an experience I wont' forget and I think Carlos had that in mind. He knew we weren't just going to an ordinary waterfall, but rather we were going to give our offerings to mother earth and have a completely unique experience.
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Rachel T
non-member comment
Hey Bryan, what an amazing experience! It is soooo cool to be that welcomed into a culture that they will allow you to experience something so sacred and special to them, I had a similar experience in Thailand! Your project sounds amazing too, it dosen't take much to help change things : ) Good to hear from you!