Jungle paradise, chocolate brownies and the coast!

---

As per usual, the plans that I had so firmly set out in my mind changed and the 'one or two nights' in Quito as a final farewell to my friends turned into an amazing week. But finally I am here on the coast, it's a little too overcast to say basking in the sun, but I can definitely see the ocean from my room. Ahhhh.

Returning to Salasaca felt like going home. We had two hilarious last nights, drinking rum, breaking the broom whilst trying to hit a piñata and struggling to come to terms with the fact that we were leaving. But finally, a group of 8 of us set off for Quito and left our home behind.
However our misery was soon displaced by a raucous sing a long of Yesterday on the bus by Claire and Adam, much to our amusement and much to the confusion and amusement of the locals on the bus.
Arriving in Quito, we were all just so excited to see sunshine, and we bathed in pools of it whilst Emma and Arpen expertly wrangled us a good deal on a hostel. We spent the twilight watching the sun set over the craggy mountains and high rise shambly buildings of Quitos Old Town. Quito second time around was just as enjoyable. We spent the nights having brilliant parties both in New Town and in our dungeon room, one morning not going to bed until we saw the sun rise over the terrace. The days were spent lying in the gorgeous spring like sunshine in Quitos many parks, eating ice cream and indulgent gringo food and exploring the lovely colonial Old Town.

After three nights we got on a bus and headed to Mindo. I initially just trailed along without much interest because I felt unable to part from the group, but my excitement was soon rekindled.
Mindo is wet and tropical and muggy and wonderful. We asked our camioneta driver to take us somewhere 'bien y barato' (good and cheap) and he drove us into a jungle paradise. As we pulled up to wooden cubby-house like shaks set in the jungle, next to a trickling river and adorned with bright orange and pink flowers we all scoffed, knowing that we could never afford such a place. But another surprise, it was only $6 a night! We set ourselves up with incredulous giggles in our princess beds (mosquito nets) that overlooked the dripping, verdant jungle.
Our first full day in Mindo and the adventure buffs in our group were determined to go canopying. I traipsed along for the ride, a little unsure what I was getting myself into. But $10 and a short camioneta ride later and we were right in the jungle, being strapped in to harnesses, helmets and gloves! The guides led us up a hill and gave us safety instructions in Spanish and then one by one, we were attached to this long zip line that disappeared over a valley and into jungle on the other side. Before I knew it it was my turn, and before being given time to think about what I was doing, I was dangling 400m above the jungle, shrieking and laughing and seeing my feet hang over the canopy of the trees with only a harness to keep me from plummeting down. I arrived shaking and grinning to a group of my friends on the other side and could only laugh some more and think about how Mum would kill me if she saw me doing this! We had 12 lines all up, some upside down and one where they just started pulling on the chord so you bounced up and down and all over the place, without telling you! It was invigorating and hilarious and so much fun!

That afternoon we went on a chocolate making tour at the most amazing cafe next door to our hostel El Quetzal. They showed us from the fruit to the chocolate how it all worked, and at the end gave us homemade chocolate icecream and chocolate brownie! It was the most exquisite taste in the world. Fellow chocaholics Brittany and Laura accompanied me and we convinced everyone to come back the next day for more brownie. They absolutely blow your mind, and accompanied by a real, hot, delicious coffee made me the happiest girl in Ecuador.
Another morning was spent at the butterfly farms, watching all these incredibly coloured shaped and sized butterflies flutter around us indifferently. Most of our time was spent lazing about next to the river at our hostel and soaking up the warm, fecund jungle vibe. Very nice after over a month in the Andes. Overall Mindo was a surprise and a delight.

The next morning I finally said goodbye to my adoptive family. Armed with a comfort brownie for the road, I hugged and kissed them all and set off on a bus alone to Santo Domingo. After a number of confusing bus changes, accompanied by conversation and help from a local man who asked wide eyed if Australia really has kangaroos (they seem to think we are lying!) and who loves Midnight Oil, and a lovely woman who fended off a particularly persistent cookie vendor, I arrived a little flustered in Canoa. But all the fluster fell away when I turned to my right and saw the ocean. It's not sunny here, but the water is warm enough to swim and the beach is wide and open like beaches at home. I can sit on my balcony and gaze at the ocean and read my book or play guitar. I couldn't ask for anything better.

---

Comments

[anonymous]

Oh bub, i actually have tears in my eyes.. that was beautiful... ill say it again...YOURE GONA BE A FAMOUS WRITER!!!! love it, love you,love hearing about your adventures, and LOVE LOVE LOVE that youre having such a ball. Stay safe and remember i adore you. MASSIVELY GIGANTIC sister hugs xoxoxox