El Descanso Mindo

... To my horror found out that the Parents were missionaries. I’d already swore and used God’s name in vain a number of times, so the damage was already done there!

OK, I thought I was ready for the whole zip wire experience but felt slightly nervous when we got to the top (we were about 80 feet above the ground). Cassie went first. Then it was me. OMG, it’s the most scariest ...

... are manhandled into trucks: it takes 3 men to lift each beast. Sacks that are jumping about are full of chicken that get thrown into any available space. The market, having been going 4 hours, only has the poor cattle left for sale. They look miserable emaciated animals that need several decent meals and a bit of tlc.

The rest of the Saturday market, the clothing, food, paintings and tourist paraphernalia is elsewhere. This is organised chaos, busy, loud but full of energy, colour ...

I apologize again for the lateness (For those of you reading Zac´s blog, he already posted about this several days ago and you can stop reading because it will be boring.)
Ok...so
Friday (July 17th): We had Spanish lessons for a couple of hours and then got to cut it short for a field trip! woo hoo. Me, Zac, and Maribel (our professor) visited a cathedral in the old part of the city, Quito Antigua. It is called the Basilica del Voto ...

... and a bit of a tourist trap. You can go there and not even know you were in the wrong spot. However, to be fair, the true equator doesn’t offer a whole heck of a lot of scientific voracity either as the ‘museum’ is filled with a handful of mind games and parlor tricks, but interesting nonetheless. You can balance an egg on a nail, you have to ‘walk the line’ with your eyes closed and your hands out as if you are ...

... 00 flight to Quito, where we have been interacting with HCJB (Heralding Christ Jesus' Blessings), which has had a global radio ministry, spread into health (there is a very good hospital here), and water treatment all over the country. We then went to a very poor section of town to meet the Pastor of the Santos Pamba church--he was sent there by the Christian Missionary Alliane denomination, with NO support, to start a church. He has a small church, a growing day care and elementary ...

... are in south am**ica for around 8 months it seems. Many their second time h**e. I have been talking to this aussi mate and is swedish girlfriend he met in brazil for the past few days. I love them! Defiantly the coolest people i have met. Along with some bloody british chaps, a few more aussies, g**man girl who was neat. And a few am**icans who disappoint me. The am**icans are just annoying, more pestimistic, not as friendly, horrible conv**sationalist ...

... contains some of the finest wildlife (particularly birds) in Ecuador and the lodge educates local communities to the benefits of ecotourism over destructive slash and burn farming techniques.

We spent 3 days in the forest and it was a breath of fresh air after a couple of days in Quito. The lodge itself was a fantastic looking place - a dome perched on a hill side made of wood and glass. The ...

... to the ´dry forests´in the UK.)

The plan was to spend a few weeks in the forest helping with ´conservation´(more on that in a bit) and then teach English in the village. All for the pricely sum of $15 per day (if anybody thinks ´volunteering´ is free, think again).

Day one

Get up around 6.00 and prepare for the long, steep hike up to the lodge. This was a wakeup call if ever there was one! It was an incredibly steep ...

... it high above the forest canopy. Again with my fear of heights it looked a terrifying experience - Paul assured me it was good fun though! Definitely a trip to remember and a nice change of pace to the hustle and bustle of the big city. Mindo is a great place to relax and unwind and see some great wildlife. Here are the pictures... http://www.flickr.com/photos/caroline_l ittle/sets/72157618130147003/ Next stop Quito part 2!

... compared to Latachunga. There was a room with a fireplace and a lounge, they had the best hot chocolate ever, and the two meals they served you a day where delicious. From Chugchillian, we did a day hike to the town of Ilizani. This entire area is in a really interesting valley, not really comparable to the grand canyon except that there is a relatively flat mesa leading to the edge of a lot of the canyon. It must stretch for 60km and is dotted with ...