Tena Day 29: Self therapy
Here in Wisdom Forest you meet some wise people. No doubt. Besides the volunteers, which each carry their own wisdom and all are so strong, young and independent, we also had a visit from an American guy called Brendan who taught us yoga one of the early mornings. His classes are intense and I had to quit midway (if not before). It was a completely other level than the class with elder people at home than I’m used to.
After the session that morning he ate breakfast with us and told us a bit about his line of work; arcupuncture and kinesiology. Kinesiology is this complicated practice where the practitioner is testing the muscles in the patients’ body to see what psysological/psycholgical problems they patient may have. It works like this; the patient stands with an arm raised and the practitioner has one hand on the arm, pressuring down, the other hand pressuring certain meridian points on the body to see when/if the arm unlocks/fails to stay up. The side of his hand also matters, as one is emotional charged, one psysically charged. Each meridian point is linked to a certain organ and every organ is linked to a certain emotion: the spleen emotion is self-esteem, the liver – anger, the lungs – sadness, the stomach – stress, I believe, and the rest I don’t remember.
He also talked about something else that day; the emotional freedom technique.
This he highly recommended and told us to google as the inventor teaches it online for free. But Brendan would also like to teach us though, another time.
So as today is Saturday – we don’t work. Instead, a jungle trip of 4 hours hiking was planned. I almost didn’t go as I woke up with a stomach ache that morning, but Marion encouraged me and I went anyway, hoping it would go away.
When we got driven to the other farm, where we would start the hike and where we would meet Brandon and the guy having the farm, it was pouring rain though and instead we stayed for some hours at the farm, seeing all his crops, medicinal and for-food plants, and getting quite wet (I have no raincoat..).
We had lunch there and talked a lot with Brendan who decided we could have the class then. The emotional freedom technique works with tapping; you decide on some problem you are struggling with, make a mantra that always goes like this: Even though I [insert problem] I still love and accept myself.
You repeat this while tapping with your fingertips on different meridian points of the body, getting all the organs covered. For example on the sides of your hands, under and beside your eyes, on the top of your head and so on.
It is best to say the mantra in your mother tongue though as it probably has the greatest impact for you.
Brendan asked for some volunteers and one from our 12 people group said he had a problem with willpower/self punishment while trying to stop smoking. He then was asked to do the mantra while tapping and was after 1 round asked how much he felt the feeling now, from the scale 1-10. After 3 rounds he did not feel the feeling of frustration/loss of willpower any more, and smiled. Another one volunteered, and after Brendan asked for others. I was curious, because of my continuing shoulder/back problem, about how to do this if one was sure it was emotionally caused but did not know the emotion that caused it and there fore could not make a mantra. He asked me to come up, and by testing my muscles we figured out a strong emotion, that I have recognised before but not given enough importance apparently. We found a mantra I could say and I felt this strong flow of warm energy in all of my body after tapping 2 rounds. It was quite amazing as he pressed down my arm in front of the others, testing the different meridian points as well, feeling my arm grow weak when certain things were said or points pressed. There’s a lot more to it, but that you can google.
After the session/class we went for a walk along the river to swim and see the rainforest around the farms, instead of the long hike. It had stopped raining by then. I talked with him a lot on the way and he stopped, a little away from the group, to tell me he thought I was brave to do that in front of the others. He offered we could work on it more, without all the spectators. That made me happy, and I’m excited to continue with this, apparently very effective, technique. It’s releiving to finally, after so many different kinds of therapists, feel some progress. He also told us to share this with every person we would like to and the greatness of the knowledge and teachings being freely shared on the internet, as not many inventions and knowledge is done so today.
Tonight we’re having this little party for some guys leaving the place afer staying here for several months. We invited Brendan too and the guy owning the other farm, to join us if they’d like. People are jamming on guitar and drums in the common area, some are making dinner and the rain is dripping outside and on the roof, all making and very relaxed and cozy atmosphere.
Tonight I will probably sleep in my hammock in the treehouse again, as I did last night, falling asleep to tree frogs croaking and waking up to the view of the sunrise/mist over the rainforest. Priceless.
Tena Day 27: Home
Wow this place is amazing. I feel so much at home. Vegans and vegetarians, sharing knowledge, making delicious food, telling interesting stories and really challenging yoga in the morning!! I’m hooked. Oh! And, as a true air spirit and birdy, I camped in the highest tree house with my hammock with the best view over the clouds and rainforest. Oh yeah. Looking forward sleeping there 🙂
The house here in facing the east, so we got beautilful sunrises during yoga and amazing sunsets over the clous and mountains on the other side of the valley. My camera doesn’t seem to capture the beauty of this place, there’s so many places and sights that will only be kept on my inner vision, unfortunately, because I’d like to share!
I connected to well with the different nationalities here, I don’t talk much to Marion these days, and still I sensed it was coming; she’ll leave on sunday already and it felt unspokenly understood between us that’s I’ll probably stay longer. This place feels like such a relief after Puyo that I’ll like to stay as long as it feels right. I do like to travel to the same places as her though and would like to meet up later in the coast maybe. About the HH situation then I don’t know what we will do, traveling alone but we will figure it out I guess. I’m a bit encouraged by the CS girl I’ve talked with who HH’ed South America for 2 years alone, sounds awesome, and she’s quite pretty but said she had no serious probems.. Hmm what to do.. I’ll see 🙂
Tena, Day 26: Into the wild
Last day in Puyo with the monkeys. We got up early to pack our bags and then went on with our regular routine, making breakfast for the monkeys, birds and Quatis (a kind of anteater who is smaller and eats everything but ants, according to Yvan). Today was apparently the ’meat day’ though – they feed the animals meat once a week and eggs once a week. And cooked too, strange.. I don’t feel like that’s very natural. Also, the soap-like thing I though was soap, is apparently iodine to disinfect the food. I don’t get that either, as they’re supposed to get the bacteria, no? Not sure. I sure didn’t participate in any part of the meat-giving and cleaned instead. Two days smelling the boiling meat and seeing it being cut out was enough, not to mention I don’t want to participate in the act of giving something to animals I don’t even find ethical to eat myself.
Anyway, after washing clothes and eating breakfast ourselves we went to town, Silvi (the other Capricorn) went too for company. We said our goodbyes, went to an internet cafe and then onto the road for HH to Tena. After finding the right road we got a ride not so long after by two young guys who were traveling all the way from Guayaquil to visit a friend further north. They would pass through Tena and we were going near a little village called Talag north of Tena, somewhere in the jungle, for the Wisdom Forest farm – a Krishna place. When we passed a sign before reaching Tena that said ”Talag 12 km” the guys decided they might as well just drive us there. It would only take them 10 minutes more they said. The road, not far in, turned out to be a rocky, uneven jungle path though and I was glad we were driving a front wheel-driven truck. I was even more happy about that when we encountered small (luckely shallow) rivers crossing the road and gorches where a dirt road with rocks on top had been made as a kind of bridge. A few places the sides had slided though and I was relieved every time we went safe over it. The supposed then minutes became more around 30 minutes and I got some shots on the bumpy way.
Pics will come later.
We picked up a woman and her child on the way who could also tell us where to go and we were all relieved when we felt asphalt under the wheels and could drive more steadily.
When we found the dancing monkey sign for Saraswati, we were thrilled. We hadn’t eaten since 10 in the morning and went through the gardens of the farm on the stone paved path at around 16 in the afternoon. When I sighted a beautiful two-story wooden house with people in colourful hammocks all reading books, my heart beated quicker and my smile broadened. Wow this place is amazing! They eat what seems to be 90-95 % vegan food, they sing, meditate and do yoga for sunrise and work until lunch at 13 and then they have the rest of the day free for swimming in the river, read, participate in greenhouse or yoga workshops or whatever.. I can’t wait!
Right now I’m waiting for the common dinner, they ’set’ the floor in a circle of metalware – the Krishnas seem to all be using these metal plates- cups and other cutlery – and soon, hopefully, we will eat in a circle on the floor. People are so extremely nice here, all vegan or vegetarian, so friendly and calm, I think I could stay here for weeks! New animals are sounding and I have just seen the biggest cockroach of my life – it was the size of the palm of my hand! Aaaamaazooon yaaaay ❤ ❤ ❤
Puyo Day 25: Black holes and revelations
So today has been one big ups-and-downs day. After waking up under the metal roof attacked by the pouring night/morning rain, it started out pretty bad when I realized a rather big (small for this country though) tarantula had taken residence in the banana rack that we feed the monkeys with. I told it to a worker as I didn’t now if it was dangerous and he just stabbed it with a big knife and threw it to the floor. I almost cried seeing it cramping in death and killed it off faster with a bad banana.. After that the rain went on for quite some hours and the usual non-existent communication went on between me and the others, as the workers don’t tell us anything really. We usually have to ask what to do and deal with sometimes feeling like we’re more a menace than a help.. I thought about that a lot today, especially after being forgotten when there was apparently lunch and I went down to find a few potatoes left. Also in the morning the housekeeping put eggs in the food, I guess she wasn’t told there’s a vegan here, but that I can cope with, I’m used to it. But the lack of administration in general kind of sucks, because it often feels like one is being left out. Anyway, after sulking some time I read a Krishna learn-spanish-book and the first word I wanted to look up was ’to forgive’. I smiled, wrote down my bad thoughts in my diary and felt much better. After that I had the most amazing last evening walk, with the 5 dogs living there too, around the zoo, down by the river which had risen after the heavy rain and back down the road towards the town where I had the most stunning panorama; Tall and dark green banana palm trees in the front, behind: green hills and never-ending rainforest and a tall, dark-blue line of mountains behind with clouds hiding the peaks. Above: white, blue, yellow and pink tinted clouds in the sunset, in sharp contrast to the shaded landscape below. And such a blue sky. Wow. I stopped to gaze for a while, dogs running around my legs excitedly. I felt good and appreciated in their presence which made me very happy.
Tomorrow we’re going to hitchhike further into the jungle to Tena where the volunteer place Wisdom Forest is. I hope the welcoming will be better there, and good news; They tell me all the food is vegan! As long as there is some, I’m happy! Maybe then I don’t have to live off (fall for) bread half the time – I’m getting rashes and I have a notion it’s gluten related.. With white rice as a 40% of their diet and gluten another 30% here in South America, it’s also kind of hard to avoid!
Oh yeah, and i had Black Holes and Revelations on my brain the whole day, which kind of matched my thoughts.
Puyo, Day 24: An interesting turn
It’s funny how people, especially (or only) foreigners here, earn money on being street artists, and a special kind – they develop this skill; to spin as many basketballs as possible at the same time; to juggle; to dress up as a dancing orangutang, and then they perform for the cars stopping for red lights. This is really funny and interesting to look at, ‘cus you are actually a bit bored and looking for something to do when stopping for red lights sometimes anyway. They afterwards walk around and collect money before the light turns green; I’m amazed they have the time for all that.
I found out today what the Zodiacs of Yvan and the other woman who’s here, are. The other woman, also a volunteer, is apparently the first love of the owner. They grew up in the same town in Switzerland. Now, in the middle of their 50’s, I think they found each other again. I’m not quite sure. She stays here for 2 months at least. They’re both Capricorn. He couldn’t have been Gemini anyway, being so reserved and calm.
However, this is not why I’m writing this blog right now.
So until now, my only impression of our Swiss host Yvan had just been: a stereotypical pleasure-being french guy who drinks liqour in the evening – this is the only thing in his kitchen that volunteers are not allowed to take – who eats cheese, who smoke cigars and who has a strong french accent. I have not yet connected with him or talked very much with him but today it suddenly happened. I asked him about this plant I gathered the stingy leafs from, as I heard it would be kidney-cleansing when used as a tea. I do not know the dosis though, and asked if he could help. I’d like to collect some research about the medicinal plants I stumble upon. We started talking about medicinal plants, he did not know much he said, however – he did know this ONE plant that would cure everything, he said. As he dragged out one of his liquor bottles, I laughed, convinced it was a joke. He said it was good for the stomach, the whole body, the spirit and everything. I just then realized he actually has Ayahuascha bottled in the fridge. We then started the big talk about that, and apparently he was (his words) a hard case when he first tried it. He had to use 2 ½ years to sort himself out on Ayahuascha before it worked well for him. Now, when he meets people he thinks he can help, he offers to take it with them. He explains it (though it is, ”so difficult to explain in human words” as he says) as if he, usually – depending on the person, reaches up to this higher level of understanding. Here he can see the other persons problems clearly, among everything else that exists, and after the trip he can then tell the person what he saw. He believes that no matter what happens, everything a person experiences on Ayahuascha is beneficial. Interesting conversation indeed. I wanted to stop several times to write everything down, but couldn’t really break the moment. We also discussed people’s fears and how it is not a party drug and how it is always a ceremony, a ritual.
Puyo Day 23: Monkey cleaning and language learning
Mmmh. I like the name Puyo. I wanna get to know what it means..
So today we got up early, as we were told we feed the monkeys breakfast at 8 in the morning.. as it turned out, the Swiss/French owner of the place, Yvan, had stayed up late drinking with a Chilean/French couple, who also volunteer here, the night before and went to bed late. So, we waited until around twenty to nine before someone could show us. We washed some personal bowls for the monkeys, birds and other animals and washed (in somethings that seemed like brown soap) and cut up different vegetables and fruits. Mostly small bananas, which kind of taste- and look like apple bananas, but a bit bigger. Delicious. We then handed it out in the eating part of the cages and parks before letting the animals in there. We made some breakfast/lunch around ten/eleven and by then the couple and Yvan had gotten up to eat with us.
After that we went with some other workers in a cage to cut down and remove a lot of branches, leafs, plant and roots. See, there’s a bit of a snake problem, they hide in the rich flora on the grounds and sometimes kill the other animals. There fore the workers want to rid the cages better so we can see if there’s any snakes or so they don’t go in there to live/hide. A little white Cappucino monkey was still in the cage because he did not live with the other white Cappucinos in the cage next to him – apparently they do not go along together. We would later figure out why – he had neither met me or Marion really, and with us walking arund, moving all his plants and territory , he went after Marion and bid her in the heel. It immediately swell up and got blue, but ther was no sore so I just think he hit a little vein but did not bite through. It was not dangerous either, but a worker put him in the cage with the others and they started fighting not long afterwards. Poor little, agressive one.
I felt like a zoo animal at some point as several families would stop outside the cage and look at us working. It must be ridiculously boring and annoying to be watched like that all the time.
We later scrubbed the eating platforms with the same kind of soap water as they wash the food in, very strange I thought, letting the animals eat it and also pouring it out in nature, but is must be some natural resolvant I thought – hopefully!
The monkeys were roudy once me and Marion where in their eating space and cleaning – we had not yet been in their cages and they did not know us, neither liked us. The spider monkeys especially, who are apparently the most dangerous ones and the biggest ones in South America, were especially showing off (including showing ass a lot) and trying to get anything they could reach through the fence. They also stole one of their eating bowls into their living cage so a worker had to drag it with a long bamboo stick through the fence from the outside over to the little gate and get it out before they stole it again. They would also show their teeth to us a lot and hiss. So roudy.
After the work we were sticky and sweaty and went to swim in the river. It was so nice and cooling. No leeches so far! 🙂
In the night I started hardcore on my spanish learning and have written down many words, regular and especially irregular verbs and expressions. I hope to be much better soon as it can sometimes be a bit lonely being the only non-coherent all the time!
The birds would fool me the first 2 days, made me think there was a woman in there cage! But nono, they just speak our language 😉
River bathing ❤
Puyo, Day 22: Real rainforest
This afternoon we hitchhiked to Puyo. We got a ride with a young dad and his little daughter who jumped up front when we got into the back seat which was filled with chips, pink objects and colourful toys, pillows and shoes. I guess it was her playground while he was driving. I find it peculiar how no one in Ecuador seems to wear a seatbelt, not even the kids, no matter how crazy the drivers drive, and they do like to take a lot of chances in traffic and to drive fast. They fit in 5 adults and 2-3 kids easily into a car, people often sitting to the side instead of straight ahead, kids in the trunk with an open door… However, I’ve seen no car accidents. But the speed and risks our driver today used made me think of the statistics of car accidents in Ecuador – I’d like to see them! Either, they’re really good at what they’re doing or they’re plain stupid.
Anyway, we had decided to visit the Monkey shelter in Puyo and volunteer there. The french girls told us it would cost 17 dollars and that they stayed there 3 days. When we called after getting dropped off in Puyo however, he said 12 to us. Yay! And when we got there by taxi, it made me think we should stay even longer. The landscape from Baños to Puyo had changed from nice, warm and slightly tropical in the mountain valley to humid, hot and more tropical downhill into a bigger, broad valley where Rio Negro spread out into several side-rivers and the landscape was more plain. More clouds were present here it seemed, like we almost drove into the cloudy mists of the jungle humidity.
When we arrived at the Monkey shelter and took a little tour with the french owner Ivan, seeing the different cages and gardens of monkeys and other animals, we went into what I’d call REAL rainforest. Cicades, frogs and other insects and reptiles buzzing, a broader variety of big and leafy green plants, a very inviting blue-milky river and lianes hanging down everywhere. Golden afternoon sunrays shined on us, ferns and palmtrees through the vegetation as we walked on the newly made stone path that volunteers had made a week earlier.
The day start early in the morning at 8 feeding the monkeys their breakfast before we eat ours.
I’m not sitting in my bed in our new room, where bats supposedly fly around at night, listening to the never-ending singing of jungle insects and enjoying the non existent possibility of internet and phone reception.
Baños Day 21: Water and air
Today we got up early to riverraft! We went down to our host’s tour agency and went with a small bus with other tourists to Rio Verde. After some instructions and jokes about how many anacondas, piranhas and crocodiles we would see in the river, we went out on a fun trip. It was not as wild as expected, I fell out once and the boat didn’t flip even once, but it was funny enough. The cooling waters were nice and there were good views of small streams and waterfalls on the way. Not to mention the butterflies and dragonflies that flew around us from time to time.
In the boat was an instuctor, me, Marion and two Australian guys. One of them had the funniest accent; he somewhat reminded me of the character Brad Pitt plays in Inglorious Basterds (especially when he says ”Arriv’derrrchi”), the way he was speaking spanish, with words and sentences like: ”Noe comprendey” or, when the guide would ask where he was from: ”Austraylianoe” haha…
He would also laugh a hysterical screaming laughter when his friend fell into the water but not so much when he did himself. Strange character.
After the riverrafting me and Marion went to get to bus to Casa del Arbol which just means the tree house. It’s a place they take 1$ for an entrance and the bus goes there once a day but it’s actually ’just’ a hilltop with a treehouse and swings over the mountainside. It is although one of the most beautiful places I’ve seen so far, as the high ’hill’top is in a valley surrounded by green rainforesty montains with big, white clouds sweeping over them. It’s pretty high up and you can see quite far in every direction.
I’m trying to get hands on the pictures from today, as some people had GoPro’s and pics on other cameras, but it will probably take some time.
EDIT: pictures from the trip!
Oh yeah, this guy chipped his tooth with his own paddle!
Baños, Day 20: Earth and Water
Today me and Marion went out early after breakfast to go on a waterfall biking tour. We biked quite far, maybe 20-30 kilometers, downhill most of the way though. We saw several waterfalls, I bathed in the firs tone – Yikes waterfalls are so cold! Refreshing though, very, and I felt more alive and energetic afterwards! I also meditated by the rushing waters for a bit, very relaxing.
The last one we saw was awesome, a great falling pillar of water and you could crawl behind it under the rock and up behind the falling water cascades! We got soaked but it was great!
The rock wall and the rocks in the river had been smoothed for ages and were round and soft to look at. The mountain side beside the waterfall had a most beautiful pattern.
Oh! And I found the coolest thing in the valley of the waterfall! A FERN TREE! A tree of ferns! Wow! Amazing 😀 So extra double many times beautiful!
Quito/Baños, Day 19: Baños!
Today me and Marion met at Quitumbe (southern terminal of Quito) to find any bus south for the highway to hitchhike to Baños which is 164 km south. I believe we got 4 rides in total, we didn’t wait more than 10-15 minutes at the most, every time. None of the rides were from women though, as expected.
We arrived in Baños, a tiny town known for their hot springs, early in the afternoon. Marion had found a CS’er we could stay at and his brother let us in. We took and walk, came back and talked to the sweet guy who would host us in such a short notice. I was exhausted and just enjoyed sitting in the couch, seeing Marion learn more Salsa with out host, while talking to our host’s friend. After going to the bathroom I heard a sudden arrival of more girls, quite loud through the door, and Marion seemed to know them. I went out to greet the french girls who had arrived, some friends of German’s I think (our host). They were in a very high mood and being quite noisy all night, drinking beer, being roudy and laughing and playing music while watching tv. All this was okay if it wasn’t for me and Marion sleeping in the middle of it as our mattress was in the square the couches and the TV made. Oh well. Let’s see if we can sleep tonight. I guess they got my old sleeping rhythm and now that I get up early every morning and going to bed early it’s not exactly fitting the best 😉
I find myself being more comfortable and relaxed out of the house than in it..
I’m just in a different space for now.
Quito Day 16: Quilotoa and Hitchhiking!!
Getting up in darkness again, slip out of bed, on with the clothes, grab camera and out the door.
Today I’m meeting with the German girl Marion to go to the Quilotoa Lagoon which is a colapsed volcano pretty far from Quito – farther than I’d expect, but I would only find out later. We met around 06:00 in the morning and headed for Quitumbe, with a local bus, which is the southern bus terminal in Quito. From there we took a bus to Latacunga, a province in the mountains south. Thre we met a Canadian lady who traveled by herself and was going to Quitoloa as well. She told us she had an Bolivian boyfriend when she was young and had travelled around South America with him 41 years prior. Now she went alone for about 2 months or so – she didn’t dare to ask people to take care of her cat and dog for longer! She was very nice and had an organic WWOOF farm on Prince Edward Island! Unfortunately I didn’t get her contact info before we split apart but maybe I can find her on WWOOFing and go there some day. We talked briefly about biodynamic farming and medicin plants and she said that she brought in Stinging Nettle to her farm because of its medicinal propterties and that it would be her fault if it spread throughout Canada as it is very invasive and is not so common there!
I was surprised when she asked me if I knew it because it’s so common everywhere in Denmark and everyone there knows of it with stinging and annoying memories most likely.
After getting yet another bus to Quilota we walked only for 1 minute and we were at the edge of the enormous crater. It was already noon by then!
However, it was most beautiful. Whenever the sun would shine through a hole in the clouds the water would become tourqoise greenish like shallow waters over a sandy bottom.
Quilotoa crater
It would take probaby 1 hour to get down and 1,5 or 2 to get back up. Before we went down to the lagoon we decided to go a bit around it on the edge and up on what seemed as the highest peak to the right. It took us about an hour to reach it and we had the most spectacular view of the Andean mountains, rather dry in that area but we were surprised to see even fields of crops, almost vertically, in the mountainsides. Sheep, Alpacas, Donkeys and horses were walking around the mountains as well.
Once we got back to the path down into the crater the clouds had rolled over the mountain edge and into the crater, filling the whole area with such a thick mist we could not see the water, almost not even the almost vertical mountainside down there beside our path. We decided not to go down there as the clouds made it pretty cold and down there it would be even cooler.
We then decided to head back to Quito, however the bus was not going anymore from there but from a nearby town which we’d have to take a cab to..
So, we decided to hitckhike for the first time on my trip!
We put our thumbs out and got a ride 10 seconds after. We jumped up on the back up a small truck, driven by a spanish-speaking family. Just as we started driving, an Ecuadorian family of a woman and 3 girls ran towards us and they got a ride as well. The open back was now completely full and we sad between a spare wheel, baskets of Bisquetas, which the girls and woman sold, and other stuff. The girls and the mother sat in the very end of the back and got all the wind in their faces so I offered my jacket for them so they could hide under that. The girls had fun hiding under it and laughed a lot, they were so cute. Unfortunately I wasn’t allowed to take a picture – I signalled the mother with my camera but she shook her head.
We got dropped off in an ’nearby’ village where we could take the bus. We decided to Hitchhike further and 3 seconds after we got a ride all the way to Quito! This Colombian family had rented a car it seemed and was driving around for vacation. This part of the day trip was the most beautiful – we drove through the valleys of the Andeans in the sunset with rain above our heads, a glowing sunshiny mountain side to the right, the sun dropping behind another to the left and a stunning cluster of clouds ahead in white, blue, pink, orange and yellow. If only I hadn’t been sitting in the middle of the backseats, maybe I’d even be able to see a rainbow ❤
We got home, made dinner and went straight to bed after a magical day. Now I’m much more up for Hitchhiking in Ecuador!
It’s funny how by ’coincidence’ I’ve only lived with Gemini’s and traveled with Aries’. I wonder if it lasts 😉
Besides that I have my obligatory deja vu’s that I always have in exploding amounts when traveling and telepathy in small environments in random situations still seem ever-happening no matter where I am.. And I thought it has to do with knowing each other, but not necessarily at all.
Quito Day 15: Little sleep and Otavalo
Wow yesterday was a strange day. I felt so good the whole day! I spoke with a lot of people, went out by night and looked for a surtain vegetarian restaurant for maybe 30-40 minutes in Mariscal with 7 different people guiding us in different directions. Man, adresses here are really confusing, stating not just a street name with a number but instead the crosses between the two streets nearby (sometimes it’s on a third street) including a lot of numbers and some letters.
After finding the restaurant in the drunken noise-pit that is Mariscal, I felt uplifted, happy, silly and slighty free from my normal boundaries like as if I got so affected by the friday night atmosphere that I mysel got tipsy! It was a strange feeling and me and Magzhan walked home laughing and even singing a bit too.
Everything was funny that night, especially while watching 3 idiots – I can highly recommend it!! Great indian movie.
So some people from the Krishna temple came in late evening and then in the middle of the night, so slept like 3 hours before leaving for the Otavalo market. And tomorrow I’ll get up even earlier to go near Cotopaxi!
Hah! So I’m on my way to Otavalo for the Saturday hand craft market, and because I went into the wrong bus and found mine as the last passanger, I got the seat beside the driver in the front! Amazing. Best view 🙂
(Later)
Okay, so it turned out to be the best view indeed, including some, quite intrusive, questions from the driver;
1st question: So where are you from?
2nd question: Do you have a boyfriend?
3rd question: How old are you?
And last, but not least: Are you traveling alone or with friends?
…
Not to worry though, I answered him honestly on all the questions and afterwards put on my headphones and read my book. Then he shared a mandarine with me and the ticket guy on my other side and the atmosphere was very pleasant. It is very normal to get these questions, in almost exact that order apparently as a gringa here, says other traveling girls I’ve met.
I wish I could show you a picture of the overwhelming colourful market, however I did not bring my camera on purpose.
Quito, Day 13: Toxic body, cleansing
After waking up at 7:30 after approx. 5 hours of sleep and with a clenching hunger for fat, greasy and heavy food I had to get up and out of the house. I went straight to the Krishna temple for good, but it wasn’t open until 9. So I read a bit while waiting and when the cook arrived, who knows me fairly well by now, he hurried for me to get some breakfast. Sweet man. I really tried to explain him not to stress, but he doesn’t speak a word english and I realize now how simple and helpless my spanish actually is. But he helps me. He recommended this little book, probably full of Hare Krishna propaganda, but it’s in spanish and english in every page so I can learn. I bought it for 1 dollar together with waaaaay too much gluten containing foods.. They really need to upgrade their look on health – it’s reat with the vegetarian and partly vegan menu, but they almost use wheat in EVERYTHING they make. Man. It doesn’t exactly make it easier for me to quit, no? Not when it looks so delicious!
After eating ’till I was full and regretting it very soon after and for hours to come, I went to get my 50 mm lense fixed. I found a place after being misdirected 3 times but am now waiting to pick it up, hopefully cleaned and working on Monday! Yaaayy! And for 20$! So cheap. Who said it’s cheaper buying a new? (the lazy ones)
So now I’m back to fruits and vegetables – may it stay that way.
Quito, Day 12: Stocking up, updating and Galapagos
Remembering, mostly everyday, to jump around with my hulahoop I’m looking forward for more space, preferably outside with soft grass or moss under my bare feet, looking at palmtrees.. Besides that I’ve updated my backpack with flags of the countries it has carried my stuff to, the flags I’ve been able to get that is. I still need, let’s see if I remember,, The Philippines, Thailand, Spain, Sweden, Germany, France, Belgium, and, does Denmark count? 🙂 hmm I might have forgotten some countries.. Oh yes! Taiwan of course.. Uhh, and South Africa. If anyone I know come by these places, I’d love a flag in fabric sent ❤
HullahopRygsæk 🙂
Also, I have found that you can buy Cacao butter here in small blocks, which my great grandmother used to use. At home in Denmark it is crazy expensive though where it only costs 10 cents for a little block here.
It’s great for my insanely dry lips – a phenomenon that happens when in really dry weather… It might also have to do with my too small intake of water.. I just don’t exactly love the chlorine taste the water here has. You would think that in a city as Quito in the Andes would have spring water, but the city is pretty dense even though it only houses 1,8 million people.
I’ve been in contact with this German girl who also wants to be a volunteer somewhere and maybe join up with me. We’ve been talking about the Galapahos islands, but it’s waaaay too expensive to get there, especially as a tourist. We pay almost 200$ more than locals. However, she got an offer through a local who can get discount, but it’s still 468$ one way, or at least over there including the National Park entry. It’s still a looot… And I had this idea I would make a route into the jungle going south in Ecuador, then into Peru and back up along the coast.. But I haven’t decided anything yet.
I feel a little hint of regret for not going to that festival in Panama og Guatamala where they have a killer lineup including Bluetech and others I really want to see, but then again, this is not why I’m here.
(Later)
By the Foch Yeah sign at night in Mariscal, the constant noisy and touristed, colour-flashing, taxi-filled bingehole of Quito. I might be a bit harsh on the place don’t know yet but I haven’t even been by the sign for two seconds before a drunken tourist grabs my arm fiercely to get a picture with me. No asking. The same thing happened with a guy in broad daylight, sober and everything, who wanted a picture with me an the old, poor lady who sat beside me selling something on the stairs to the Basílica church. No asking. When I resisted, looked down and over at the poor lady asking for money with an out-stretched hand, seeing the ignorant man just putting his hand in hers for the picture and afterwards walking away laughing and waving with his friends, I waved back with a stoneface and my middle finger. Now, when I tried to pull my arm back from the forcing lady’s firm grip in the square by the sign, she only laughed and holds tighter while smiling to the camera. It reminds me of how I really, reallt don’t miss drinking and going out. However, I would like to go salsa dancing nd talk to that German girl whom I might go to the Galapagos with. So I’ll drop the bitter old-lady-attitude and try to have fun for a night.
Quito, Day 10: Sadness
Today I was told that a friend of mine has breast cancer. She cannot pay for her biopsy on Wednesday, so I’ve payed 1500 DKK. to her, even though it is also a lot of money to me. However, now, after talking to some friends we have in common, I see that it doesn’t really help using all the money on the biopsy. What really makes a difference is changing her lifestyle to eating only alkaline food. This is what she should use her money for. Hopefully then, I can get help from other friends too as it is a big cut in my traveling budget. But I would gladly pay, as it is a matter of the life of my friend. I just hope she will make the most important choice there is: to keep this new lifestyle..
Quito, Day 9: Hiking/mountain climbing!
So a few days ago me and Magzhan decided to reach the Pinchia peak not so far from where we live. Today I woke up half past seven and couldn’t really sleep anymore, thinking of all sorts of preparations. We got up and hour later, dressed, ate breakfast and then went to find a taxi that could take us to ’el Teleférico’ – a cable lift that would take us to a starting point for hiking up to the Pinchia peak. And it did, even though I accidently said ’para el telephono’ 2 times.. T__T.
One could also hike from the city to the peak, but that would take approx. 4-5 more hours and would not be very exciting the first part of the hike.
After taking the cable lift, seeing both the snow covered Cotopaxi peak and several others on the other side of the valley – which we also talked about hiking up to for some days – we got off and started the 4 hour hike up to the 4600-and-something peak (exact numbers can be seen on the picture). It took us 3 hours and amazing views made me stop many times on the way (though I had to stop anyway, being out of breath like an old lady for every tenth step).
Peak top, exact altitude
It was an amazing hike with (for once!!) reacheable clouds rushing over you, and taking the steep stairs up to Rina afterwards was nooo problemo. My legs ARE busted though and I’m now lying in bed after a well deserved shower, listening to the thunder and rain we just exactly avoided on the mountain by being so early.
The Pinchia Peak
All that exercise and being completely and absolutely aware of where I put my feet and hands on the way to the peak, left me completely empty-minded afterwards when we came down. Maybe also the sight of the clouds and meditating over them helped.. But how nice it feels not to have any thoughts or ugres to speak! Completely in peace in my mind. It rarely happens, but I enjoy it fully when it does.
Oh, and not to forget, several animals like lady bugs, hawks, other birds and rabbits and 1 dog accompanied us on our way up, on the peak and down again.
Quito, Day 8: Rina’s birthday, thunder/hail storm and clouds
So, I decided to write in English so people I meet on my journey can read this too. Whether I’m able to describe myself as well as in Danish I’m not sure and I apologize beforehand for any spelling errors or other lingual mistakes!
It’s Rina’s birthday today and we will celebrate it with the best international manner. 🙂
Rina, Magzhan, Malek and me on Rina’s birthday 🙂
(Later)
So check this: it’s been the most beautiful and hot day today and hasn’t rained and thundered since I got here. The internet has been disfunctioning so me and Magzan has been sitting in his old hostel for some hours today. Later we went to celebrate Rina with some fruit and traditional Venezuelan dish made of corn and fried. We’re watching the second half of Seven years in Tibet, or at least trying to – the thunder suddenly breaks out and huge hail comes down in fingernail sizes. It’s so overpowering we can’t hear our movie on the loudest and suddenly, INTERNET! Wohooo! Finally it works again, maybe a storm had to be present 😉
(Later)
Nope, it’s gone… grr…
Quito, Dag 7: En veganers overlevelse udenlands/pindefægtning
Så det største veganske marked var et meget spøjst et – ca. på størrelse med en lille købmand og havde sære produkter såsom masser af varianter af sojamælkspulver hvor man tilsætter vand kontra ét flydende soyamælks produkt (på pose…?!), rigtigt mange specialolier men ingen olivenolie så vidt jeg ku se, en hel afdeling af tourist-tingel-tangel men intet margarine..
Inden jeg dog overhovedet kom nogen vegne, kom en fyr ved navn Magzhan hen til mig – tydeligvis også en tourist – og spurgte om han måtte hægte sig på mig. Snakkede en smule med ham for at finde ud af at han ikke var en total weirdo, og efter konklusionen at det var han ikke, har vi ellers gået rundt i to dage og set mere af byen samt en stor park; Parque Metropolitano, hvilken i Danmark ville fylde et helt bjerg både i bredde og højde, men her er det bare en lille bakke midt i Quito mere el. mindre. Ude foran parken og midt i den skilter de med lamaer men så sgu ikke nogen, mega skuffende! Dog er jeg i stedet blevet slået til kriger med pind (billeder følger herunder) og mine fødder har været fantastisk jublende over at gå uden sko i mange timer.
Mor og barn sidder og sælger dagen lotteri ved en trappe til en gammel kirke
Gammel dame
Trappe hos Rina
Skyer over parken
Hare Krishna frokost i parken med Magzhan og god udsigt
Det ligner næsten jeg skal til at syge opera på det her billede!
Mexikansk udstilling fra Day of the Dead
Pindefægtning!
Halvvejs oppe i Parque Metropolitano
Kirkevæg
Vi har snakket om at bestige Cotopaxi, eller noget af den i hvert fald :b (Vulcan nær Quito så vidt jeg ved) eller et af de andre bjerge der omringer byen. Det er rart at være et rart sted med dejlige mennesker som Rina og hendes lille familie men al den os og billarm giver mig virkelig lyst til at komme videre..
Frugten her fra gaden smager heller ikke helt fantastisk og bestiller man en suppe uden ost (ja, de putter ost i suppe her) siger de jaja, og serverer med ost alligevel. Ergo, kunne godt tænke mig at komme ud et sted hvor gluten ikke findes, hvor frugterne smager af et godt liv på busken/træet uden os og pesticider og hvor jeg bare kan leve af frugt og grønt og ikke føler mig fristet af at købe mad ude hvor det så alligevel ender med ikke at være vegansk. Ét stort lyspunkt på madtavlen var dog et Hare Krishna center vi fandt i dag som havde det læækreste udvalg af mad og en hel hylde af sjove enten spirituelle eller faktisk ret praktiske ting, såsom et vegetarpas som på mange forskellige sprog forklarer hvad man IKKE spiser. Har set sådan et ang. Veganisme på nettet til print men det her lignede faktisk et rigtigt pas med cover, plads til billede og det hele! Haha.
Nå ja, og så er jeg igen, helt efter traditionen, blevet totalt hummerrød på hele overkroppen undtagen de obligatoriske hvide stropper og striber efter tøj og armbånd. ^^ See for yourself, below.
Rød som en hummer der lever af tomater i kogende vand.
To, tilsyneladende, fald og min My kop er død L Buhuhuuuuu… Nu med store huller ind til jernet.. Altså øv bøøøøøv!!!
Ved ikke helt om jeg burde bruge den nu..
My kop død 😦
Quito, Dag 6: Rytme
Første indtryk af Quito: Koooooldt! Tåget. Nej, varmt, Meget varmt! Arrrhg Torden og lynild! Vandfaldskaskader af regnvand gennem gaderne! Koldt. Nej, varmt. Konklusion: Totalt bipolart vejr! Bilalarmer. Larm. Udstødning. Majestætiske, gigantiske, storslåede kæmpeskyer. Smukt, bakket landskab. Ufatteligt stejle gader. Forpustet som en gammel kone med astma. Meget venlige og tålmodige mennesker. Ingen stress. Underlige bygningskonstruktioner med alt for mange døre til de samme rum – perfekt for fange- og gemmeleg.
Totalt skybruds oversvømmet
Så, mit spansk har allerede forbedret sig ret meget. Det har klart også noget med mod at gøre, og Rina og hendes søn Malek, som jeg bor hos, taler hele tiden spansk til mig. Plager dem konstant med spørgsmål om sprogforskelle og definitioner. Samtidigt får jeg lært dem en smule mere engelsk, god byttehandel (håber jeg). Alle vægge er smukt malet med trolde, flyvende katte, svampe, alverdens farver og utallige lærreder med teaterplakater påmalet og en masse andet. Jeg har fået fat i en gigantisk mega tung transformer med indbygget adapter så jeg kan bruge deres strømstik. Den vejer ca. lige så meget som 2 x min computer og er helt bestemt ikke lavet af plastik. Det ligner sådan noget man halvsnaldret, eller totalt bankelam, snubler over til festivaller hvis man har forvildet sig ind der hvor alle kablerne ligger; en stor, sort jernboks med stik og ledninger. Min ryg kommer til at hade mig når jeg rejser videre.. T__T
Har ellers skabt mig en ok rytme med at gå helt vildt tidligt i seng pga. Jetlag (kl ni) stadig nå at sove videre efter en hel del opvågninger med fuglekvidder og STADIG stå op kl. halv 8! Dyrke noget motion, gå i dryppebad, lave platanos med guacamole (naaaammmmmmmmsavl) og tage ud inden regnen kommer! .. den rytme skal så bare lige blive ved, ik :b … Held og lykke, Vibe.
Nu vil jeg forsøge mig ud i den nye del af Quito (højhus wannabe-USA delen) med trollebus og lede efter veganske produkter! Jeg gad vide hvor svært det bliver?
“Save the earth, go vegan”
Madrid Dag 4: Farvel og gaver
Udsigt over Madrid fra værts altan
Så er tiden kommet til at komme videre på min rejse til den egentlige hoveddel, den spændende del. Jeg står semitidligt op for at nå af få noget morgenmad og gå i bad inden min vært er så sød at komme for sent på arbejde for at følge mig i lufthavnen. To andre couchsurfere har boet med os de sidste to dage, to tyske søstre. Vi har hygget os, de skal videre til Andalusien og jeg videre til Ecuador. Vi har øvet en smule spansk men ikke for alvor brugt det til andet end at spørge om vej, samt når vores vært har udfordret os. De to søstre ender med at stå op med os og spiser lidt morgenmad. Vores vært har givet alkymisten på spansk videre til en af søstrene men det ender med, da jeg nævner at jeg har den med på dansk, at jeg får den med, signeret af dem alle tre med hilsner på spansk og engelsk. Så kan jeg øve mig, jo. Blev helt flov, da han jo egentlig havde givet den til hende.. Må indrømme jeg er lidt træt af at blive favoriseret nogle gange, jeg ved sgu ikke helt hvad jeg skal gøre i sådan en situation..
Han ender med at følge mig helt hen til check-in skranken og vente på at jeg bliver lukket ind gennem security – igen, med min hulahopring som håndbagage. De griner af mig i security men finder endelig en scanner der er stor nok til lige at mase den igennem. Prisen var da også lige steget fra først 30 euro i Kastrup for odd size luggage, så 60 euro i en anden skranke i Kastrup og nu 100 euro i Madrid lufthavn. SÅ er det godt at mig og mit legetøj kan charmere vores uskyldige vej igennem security alligevel. ^^
Jeg sidder nu i flyet på vej til Guayaquil med stop i Quito hvor jeg skal af og har lige haft en samtale på hele TI MINUTTER på spansk med et ecuadoriansk par ved min ene side. Dog om meget basale ting, men manden var så tålmodig og man kunne bare høre at han med vilje talte langsomt og brugte meget simple ord så jeg kunne forstå det. Mega fedt. Han viste mig billeder af hans forretning og deres rejse i Nordspanien. Med hinanden taler de en dialekt der vist hedder noget lignende Qeicha (?) og de bor to timer fra Quito. Hvis bare halvdelen af dem jeg møder i Ecuador er så tålmodige at tale med, bliver det meget let at lære spansk hurtigt.
Ih hvor jeg glæder mig!
DMI siger at det er 15 grader, manden ved min side siger 25.. Jeg satser på hans udsagn. Klart ;).
De ligner faktisk hinanden, parret, utroligt meget når de nu ligger op ad hinanden og hviler. Begge lave, brede, rundhovedet, store øjenlåg, langt hår i en hestehale.. Meget indianske at se på. Meget smukke.
Hmmm, jeg gad vide om de nogensinde faktisk VISER en af de mange film de konstant teaser med trailere for i flyet? … Eller skal vi bare stene reklamer? Korte, opsummerede film på 10 sekunder, så får man da også det hele med, eller.. tsk tsk.
Nå, nu bliver hele flyet sat på sove mode her kl, hvad, 4 om eftermiddagen?! Øhh… hvad så med os i midten der ikke kan trække vinduesskodderne op efter at stewardesserne har trukket dem alle ned! Øøøvvv, skyyyer.. Vil da se på skyer! Hva’ skal man ellers flyve for? – Ikke for filmene i hvert fald! Buuh Iberia.
Hah! Hahaahha har lige sat mig til at se La belle Verte (Film fra ’96 om spirituel udvikling), Nøj hvor er den grineren!! 😀 Den skal I se, seriøst. Hahahaahah.
Madrid, dag 2: Loppemarked og livsvisdom
Står op til friskpresset juice, eksotisk frugt, hjemmelavet tomatpesto, urtete og tonsvis af latterlig lækker hjemmebagt- og stegt gluten. Åh ja – OG hjemmelavet honning fra Andalusien hvor min vært er fra. Fuck me.
Detox is near. A-gain.
Vi tog ellers på loppemarked, og utroligt nok handler man mindre med prisen her end på de loppemarkeder jeg har været på i Danmark. Måske var det bare lige dem jeg talte med, hm. Nærrige købmænd.
Fik erhvervet mig flere mormor-dimser til sy-projekter og kigget på en maaaasse pænt.. Men dag 2 er ikke acceptabelt endnu for en pakke-sending hjem. Nu må jeg lige styre mig, lidt.. -______-’
På vej hjem kigger vi på graffiti og undergrunds tobaksfabrikker hvor unge får lov at bruge de gamle kælderrum som øverum så rocken blæser ud i de overmalede, malingslugtende gange af små døre under murstensbuer.
I forladte haller har andre unge fra England eller et andet engelsktalende land gang i en lær-engelsk-workshop for børn med billeder, tegnefilm, leg, balloner, masker og forhindringsbaner. Udenfor finder man små nyttehaver og kreativt hjemmelavede konstruktioner og udehuse. Det minder mig i stor grad om Christiania.
Et liv uden rejser sætter én i et frivilligt bur med manglende perspektiv
Resten af aftenen derhjemme taler mig og min vært om livets udfordringer og han minder mig ret meget om ham ’the holy moment guy’ fra Waking life når han taler. Den måde hans øjne åbnes mere i et sekund eller to når han taler eller hører om noget interessant og han udseende og øjne. Han hår mangler bare at flagre rundt imens baggrunden skifter farve…
Madrid, dag 1: Farvel/Buenos noches
Så efter at have pakket alting færdigt, panikket over min vært i Madrid pludselig aflyste inden min ankomst, fundet en ny og sagt farvel til de sødeste børn i verden i lufthavnen, fik min hulahopring charmeret sig sin vej igennem security som håndbagage og jeg begav mig smilende ud til mit fly i Kastrup Lufthavn. Jeg blev åbenbart hurtigt stemplet som ”hende med hulahopringen” og efter at en yderst smilende, sød og 100% homoseksuel steward tog sig af den og jeg havde sat mig på mit sæde, fik jeg et ældre og meget rejseglad par som naboer. De startede samtalen med ”Nå, der er pigen med hulahopringen!” og jeg fik ellers ikke fred fra manden af parret som ved min side konstant snakkede entusiastisk om alt fra rejser, ligestilling og atomkraft lige til vi landede. De nåede endda at give mig en gave – på gulvet havde de fundet et badge hvorpå der stod: ”At turde er at slippe jordforbindelsen for et kort øjeblik, ikke at turde er at miste kontakten til livet” skrevet af ”Fritænkeren Søren Kirkegaard”. De synes den passede godt på mig, så den sidder nu på min lille rygsæk.
Efter at have landet og ventet i godt en time hvor min nye vært skulle hente mig tænkte jeg, ”Fuck hvor er jeg egentlig lost hvis ingen dukker op nu..”
Ingen panik, men det var stadig lidt skræmmende at tænke på. Heldigvis dukkede han op til sidst og vi talte muntert gebrokkent spansk og engelsk hele vejen hjem til hans lejlighed lidt udenfor Madrids centrum – som i øvrigt lå i opgang nr 2. Coincidence? – Han er også primært vegetar og har været det i mange år før, så hans køkken var fyldt af utraditionel spansk mad; masser af sundhed. Yum! Fandt endda en Tahinbøtte på dansk 😀
Fra den lille farverige, plante- og muslingefyldte lejlighed er der udsigt udover en lille park og en hel dal af betonblokke med lysende firkanter som vinduer. Det er en fed kontrast som viser hvordan personlig fantasi for dekoration altid kan overskygge arkitektonisk grimhed. Imens jeg står og kigger ud fra den franske altan slår det mig pludseligt at jeg ikke kommer til at være i velkendte omgivelser i lang tid fremover. Det føles tomt og får lidt mit humør til at dale.
Det hjælper at komme ud og cykle – min værts hobby består i at finde cykeldele og lave sine egne mega fede cykler. Vi cykler rundt i Madrid og slalom’er mellem ret så berusede djævle med korte skørter og lysende, røde horn; sorte kapper; grønhårede troldebørn og masser af heksehatte indtil midnat. Falder dødtræt om i sofaen og krammer mine krystaller i søvnen for at føle mig en smule hjemme.
NomadeSylfiden 
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