My Last Blog

Well, this will be my last post for a while. We've come back to the U.S. Part of me feels like it´s been years since I´ve been home and part of me feels like there´s no way we´ve been traveling for 4 months. I don't have anything profound or insightful to say. I simply want to say thanks for the support to all of you who gave it. I'm so thankful for this experience.

With just a few days left on our journey from Southern Bolivia to the Caribbean coast of Colombia, I have begun the reflection stage of this experience. Something about scuba diving always helps me connect with my inner thoughts. Mike finished his certification course yesterday and we dove together near a tiny island off the coast of Taganga. I seem to have lost my yoga practice somewhere in Ecuador. Although I could give many reasons why, like staying in tiny rooms in crowded areas or traveling by bus for 5 days straight, I have no excuse for letting go of the awareness of my breath. I realized it very blatently while scuba diving. Breathe in, breathe out, slow, steady, calm, connected. It´s all I could hear while flying along with the current yesterday. It grabbed ahold of me and said, ¨relax, you don´t need to work or struggle or fight or even move, just breathe.¨ After leaving Eco Truly Park, where I practiced daily, and encouraged and taught others as well, I didn´t have it so easy anymore. At Eco Truly I had so much space and time. I had a beautiful beach to practice at in the mornings, I had an amazing temple to comfort and hold me, and a community of others moving with me. Once I left, it became more difficult. I had to search out a place that was somewhat quiet, with flat ground and where there were less than 10 people looking at me like I was crazy, whistling or saying something I can´t understand. I sort of gave up I think. I realize now, that it´s just part of it...part of life I guess...letting something go for a while and then realizing just how important it is to me...to my soul...to my body...to my existence. My lack of dedication and diligence didn´t surprise me. I have come across this before as I am sure many of you have at some point. I think I am back on tract now.

Extra Extra Read All About It!

Fresh news in Ecuador!

Rainy days in Banos, Ecuador didn´t stop Kelly and Mike from their adventure! Rafting down the Pastaza River was just the beginning. They decided to take a bike ride on the third and heaviest day of rain! Upon approaching a bridge that Mike had jumped off of once before, they suited up and without a second thought were plummeting towards the rocky waters below despite the pouring rain! This dangerous endevour is called ¨Puenting¨ and is similar to bungie jumping but it just uses climbing ropes and there´s not much give to it. Kelly, being a newbie to this adventure sport, must have done something wrong or not jumped far enough out because upon reaching the end of the rope her head keep going while her body stopped causing a strain in the left side of her neck. Although there is no real damage, the bumpy bus rides since have irritated the soreness leftover from the whiplash. Less than 10 minutes later on the bike ride, the duo encountered a long, dark tunnel which they proceeded to ride through. Less than half way through, Kelly exclaimed ¨Mike! Where are you? I can´t see shit!¨ Seconds later she crashed into the side of the rocky tunnel. She came away with small scrapes and bruises on her elbow, hand and shin, yet she decribes the worst part like this, ¨You know when you are first learning to ride a bike and that bar below the seat gets in the way during the crash...well...let´s just say it doesn´t just hurt for guys!¨


Yesterday´s Top Story: Mike Buys a Random Animal on the Bus

On yesterday´s bus ride from Tena to Quito, Mike and Kelly got front seats!!! Usually this is quite nice, more leg room, less stuffy, and less bumpy. This bus was different, of course, and the door was directly in front of Mike and Kelly´s seats, creating multiple opportunities for passengers to step on Kelly´s toes. Many passengers just take the bus for a few miles and one such toothless passenger entered the bus with a giant bag of tomate de arbol (tree tomato) freshly cut from the tree. This passenger, which will from here forth be referred to as Jorge, placed his bag in front of Kelly and stood in front of Mike. Kelly and Mike continues to play their game of Jeopardy, but pretty soon a furry little rat-like head popped up out of the bag. Around his neck was a dirty string of lace that attached him to the stalk of the fruit. While Kelly is thinking of a challenging question for the category ¨Things that make you go ´hmmmm,´¨ Mike begins conversing with Jorge. Mike says that Jorge needs money for the bus ride and passes him a 10 cent piece. But that´s not enough for Jorge! He wants more and points to the rat-like creature. Mike gives him a 25 cent piece thinking he must have to pay for his luggage as well and Jeopardy is continued. As the bus comes to a stop, Jorge prepares to depart and unties Fred from the fruit and gently sets him in Mike´s lap. Fred, Mike´s name for his new pet, squirms around and Kelly says, ¨Mike! You just bought a rat!¨ After giving Fred back to his previous owner, Mike decides he wants to keep the little guy. Kelly firmly says, ¨NO WAY¨ and Mike waves as his new friend departs the bus. Hopefully, Fred will lead a nice life as Jorge´s pet, yet unfortunately he will likely end up on the grill.

"who stays up to ring that bell"

The bell in the church tower next door just rang, signaling three-thirty am. I wondered for a moment, "who stays up to ring that bell" then laughed at myself for not realizing at once that it's surely controlled mechanically. During these somewhat quiet hours, I am constantly reminded of my childhood. Even the ring of the bell puts pictures in my head of my grandfathers standing proudly next to their clocks. Grandpa Saunders with the clock that sat on the fireplace mantle next to the portrait of Aunt Sharon. I can see him getting up from his lazy boy after the evening news and winding the timepiece before heading to bed. That clock would keep me awake at night with it's ticking and donging if I slept in the living room at night while visiting. Grandpa Kessen stands with his hand layed gently against the side of the giant clock that nearly touches the ceiling, with it's giant gold ball that swings back and forth. I am awake at three-thirty mostly due to the fact that I have been laying in bed sick for 2 days now and can't stand it anymore and partly because the memories that flood my thoughts. These invitations to visit the past come to me thanks to reading Jacey's "25 things about me" on facebook today and while being sick in bed and bored Mike and I played "2 truths and a lie" bringing to life our histories. Consequently, I lay here with hysterical videos playing in my head such as peeing my pants before getting up to bat my first season playing softball and breaking through the lining in my grandparents pool therefore putting an end to that pasttime.
4 bells.
I can't often remember my childhood and although I should be sleeping I'm rather enjoying these memories. I am able to extract certain images very clearly. The house where I grew up until 4th grade in New Boston, IL. The bunkbeds my sister and I shared, the pegboard wall full of necklaces, bags and random objects. The time I accidentally stuck a needle in my parents water bed and a small stream of water sprung forth, the giant ceiling in the living room that was perfect for a tall Christmas tree, the cool yet sometimes scary basement where I often spent time alone singing and dancing to my first tape...the Beach Boys. The sandbox, mullberries, the triangle bug house my dad made to house all the insects and butterflies I caught in the yard, the playhouse that mimics the real house both built by dad as well, the creepy cornfield that became much creepier after we convinced mom to let us watch "Children of the Corn." These along with many memories of Sunday Dinners at Gram and Gramp's house with the fam. Maybe I'm just missing home a bit.

Isla Corazon, Quito, and around

Back in Quito, Kell and I have been doing alot of taking it easy the past two days and enjoying the ability to cook our own food, and have $3 per night lodging. I've started making stencils for patch making and have a few to show you all. Kelly's been a bit under the weather the past two days, something about dairy products! Ensuring we have ample supplies of Tang, Apple Juice, and Oreos has been my primary function. Before that though we had some fun adventures in and around Quito. We left Bahia de Caraquez one week ago and made a trip to the Isla Corazon. This is one of the worlds few remaining Mangrove forests, and a bird sanctuary. We took a canoe to the mangroves through mosquito infested swamp and a labrynth of natural tunnels to a place where Frigate Birds, Ibis, and Heron were bountiful. We also walked a boardwalk where crab and shrimptraps were diplayed for us. Later as we waited for a bus we caught a glimpse of Pacific sunset, that is rival to anywhere I've seen.

Next, once in Quito, we explored one of the Cathedrals in town and it was all access! We even got to hang out with the garoyles.
We then climbed Rucu Pichincha,which Kelly calls Rucupachoooo!!
As well as viewing some Guyasamin.

Tentacles and Boobies

Our first excursion since reuniting in Guayaquil led us to a coastal town called Puerto Lopez. Puerto Lopez is a small pueblo an the verge of blowing up from the tourist interest in the nearby Isla de la Plata. Isla dela Plata has many bird species with similarities to the Galapogos, but trips are relatively one one-hundreth of the price! We stayed at Hostal Spondylous and had one of those awesome canopy beds. Kelly wanted to take a picture with me holding the quintessential Barbie Doll. Fortunately Toys R Us hasn´t discovered Puerto Lopez... yet. Fresh tuna, shrimp, octopus and conch are served at many of the oceanside restaurants. The beach has many boats in view and the town is a cape enveloped by rocky cliffs. The water has a calm current and is turquois by mid day, then gives way to a cobalt hue by sunset. Kelly booked a trip to Scuba, and I, not having a license, walked the Island, and snorkelled. We set out about nine-thirty am met Adam our guide, along with the rest of our group. Kelly was the only one diving so she recites procedure to herself as we crash through the in coming tide toward the island. We arrive after one hour and meet at a house for drinks while Kelly heads out for her adventure. I learn that this house was built in the sixties by a guayaquilian entrepreneur who had wanted to open the island for tourism, but went under due to lack of interest, twenty or thirty years ahead of his time, he went as far as to construct a landing strip on the northern end of the island. We walked through ecquatorial heat to the top and saw countless Blue-footed boobies, Frigate-birds, and Nazca Boobies. I asked why the island was called ¨de Plata¨,meaning, of silver, and Adam replied that it is because when the sun set upon it the Spanish saw a silver reflection. Thinking it was Silver they naturally approached only to find the source of the reflection to be bird guano. We then returned to the boat for some lunch and snorkeling. The island has a bit of a coral reef and many ropical fish. Snorkelling is pretty cool, but I think I´ll pick it up when I´m seventy. Kelly´s got the real story...

While Mike walked around looking at Boobies, I submerged myself in the blue. I GOT TO TOUCH A FREAKIN OCTOPUS!!!!! It was smooth, soft, and a bit slimey! My diving buddy, Luis, knew where his home was and dug around in there for a bit before finally his hand emerged holding the octopus who immediately inked upon meeting me. It´s main body was a bit smaller than my head and his tentacles a bit shorter than my arms. He eventually warmed up to me and ran his tentacles over my arms, sucking on my skin a bit. I couldn´t believe what was happening. Chillin there, perfectly bouyant in the water, holding an octopus! I missed Cheri alot at that moment, my ol´diving buddy! I couldn´t give the ¨tranquilo¨ signs or do flips, Luis may have been really confused! Honestly, I was a little nervous diving again after over a year and without much instruction, but it all came back so naturally. It felt so comfortable to be amist the schools of fish. There were some beautiful purple starfish and one fatty that had bright silver spects and red spikes. Also saw some moray eel, purple and pink coral, tons of colorful fish, and two real big turtles! Loved every minute! There was a bit of a current and each second was a different temperature. I loved being able to let the current lead me in whatever direction it wanted. If you have never dived before, I highly recommend it!
Now we are about to head to Isla Corazon. And we´ll catch a bus to Quito tonight. Lots of love to everyone!

Back Together!!!!

After an exciting final day in Baños Kelly and I are back together in Guayaquil! Were headed to the beach to do a little relaxation. My last day in Baños consisted of Biking to primary jungle waterfall Pailon del Diablo, Bungee jumping and playing soccer. The next morning woke up caught a bus to Guayaquil and now we are waiting at the terminal. Kelly has alot of great stories from Eco-truley and seems like she met alot of great people. Love all the correspondense keep us posted!!