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!!

Cotopaxi Pics

Check em out! Thery´re real fun.

Baños

This little town really packs the action! I´ve been here less than twenty four hours and have done so much already! Today I climbed through a cloud forest and found a small five hectare banana farm for sale. they want five thousand dollars for five hectares. It overlooks Baños and there is a mule trail to get things from the town the owner´s name is Patricio and He took me up the trail to a cross that sits high up on the mountain. I then found a trail that leads to a small pueblo called Runtun. Runtun sits halfway up Volcan Tungurahua that is, as we speak, spewing lava. I´m gonna mountain bike the cascade trail tomorrow then Back pack to Runtun. I found a soccer game with the U-12 select team for the area and participated in a scrimmage...so fun. Then I walked to a waterfall at the edge of town and sat by these pools of ¨holy water¨ really cool. It´s about one o´clock and I´m gonna meet up with some English Lads I met on the trail to watch Man U. play. Love to everyone and keep the updates coming.
P.S. Uncle Pete if you want a Banana farm in Ecuador I will happily buy the mules and fix up a cottage! Send Poppie my love.

Cotopaxi info

I was pretty tired last night and the muse wasn´t upon me to give a more detailed account. I have some time here in baños now while I await Kelly´s departure from eco-truly park. The plan now is to get in one of those thermal pools tomorrow and arrange a bike trip through the jungle or a climb up chimborazo the highest volcano (although inactive) in the world it tops cotopaxi by about 150 meters. My guide from cotopaxi took some photos on the climb and expect those by sunday!
We all met on thursday the fifteenth at Sur Trek, an agency in Quito. I met; Boris, my Guide, Guierrmo, a panamanian climber, and Raphael. Raphael is a stout 55 year old guide who has represented ecuador on the summit of Everest twice! He also greets every woman he meets exclaiming, ¨Mi Amor¨! We outfitted and from Quito drove to the Parque Nacional Cotopaxi. The terrain is stark and the vegetation brittle. Grasses and sage dominate the land scape. Deep cravasses wind their way up these volcanos while volcanic gravel and rock cover the edges of glaciers covering cotopaxi itself. Cotopaxi is the very center of the park and it is as they say a perfect cone rising 5897 meters above plains and volcanic lagoons. There are many other great mountains, which I can´t remember their names, in view from the parking area to hike to the refugio Jose Ribas. At this point Rafael, Guillermo, and I are making up commercials for sorojchi´s, an altitude sickness preventative. Boris played it cool but occaisionally asks about the US. He live in Colorado for several years I later foundout. The hike up to the refuge is a short one but we encountered intense sun, snow, and grip your elbows and lower your head gusts of wind on the way up. Once we arrived to the refugio the mountain could be seen clearly, this was a highlight even for the guides as clouds tend to cover the summit most of the time. We spent the afternoon drinking tea and talking with climbers from France, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, and of course the US was representing with the all the B.S.ing! I met a canadian who summited Everest in 04 who was writing a book on acute mountain sickness. Later that night his wife was brought down from the refuge for a dramatic decrease in bloodpressure, but he assured everyone that she couldn´t possibly have suffered any kind of pulmonary edima. While they packed her belongings rapidly a bag containing my rain pants and a base layer was thrown in with the mix. We awoke at midnight ate and I franticly ran around tearing apart closets and cabinets in order to find some rain pants to borrow. I eventually found a pair of blue and yellow pants in a shed by the out house. Most of the climbers left at one I was next to last to leave. The first big climb is Rompe Corazon(heart break) its a steep long climb up the glacial field that lasts two hours normally. Boris and I passed the big group of climbers mid way up and sat for a break alone at the end as we passed the others near the top. At this point I could see such amazingly bright and densly clustered stars that it made me dizzy looking at them. The stars appear to be closer together near the equator. We made a long traverse to the north facing ridge at ate chcolate and cookies while looking down on the clouds that had a great effect of greyish green offset by the moon. I was begining to get in a good rhythim and feeling very solid. The ridge leads to a short glacial field that gives way to steep walls and cravasses that encompass the rim. On the way up it was difficult to think about anything but where to put my foot next and when to inhale.Talk about zenned out my mind hasn´t ever been at peace like that. We crossed a huge crevasse maybe fifty or sixty feet deep and began to make our last push to the summit. The final push was arduous we had to stop and make steps and do an Ice anchor at one point because the day before had been clear and the snow moved with relative ease, even with crampons we were sliding backward. The other climbers made their way up fairly close to us and Boris asked if we should get them to help us make steps. I said I wanted to be first and get there by sunrise. Well, the sun rose ten minutes before we summited and I´m really glad because the clouds had not yet covered us and I looked out over billowing yellow , orange, and pink clouds with every possible combination of the hues refracting off the ice covered rim. Every time I moved my head I felt my cheek stinging and discovered that my hair had frozen, so naturally I put it in my mouth, (I guess one of the many ways I still resemble myself at two) and it broke off. I summited at seven twenty eight and stood quietly surrounded by wind of an incredible force and luminous clouds. We were first to summit, we wited for the next party to arrive before desending so we could doble up our anchoring equipment. After a descent that I tortured Boris by racing ahead on the glacial field and suddenly stopping for extreme crampon skiing on we sat back drank hot tea and hiked back to the car. I arrived in quito about noon and realized that it was done, it had felt as if I were experiencing the climb vicariosly before but in quito it felt real and I can´t describe that feeling. When I returned to Resedencial Sucre the guys there threw a party to congratulate the climb and we broke out the sony handy cam and made a real commercial for Sorojchi´s. Now I sit writing to all of you in Baños doing what any sane red blooded American would do by visiting the thermal pools. I´m ready to get back with Kelly ASAP and continue this adventure. The Rouse clan, thanks for the kind words you make me a little jealous of you all for reuniting while I´m away, I love you all, did I read that emily is preggers?! Tell Poppie Hi for me. Everyone keep the comments and correspondance coming, it does me well to read it all.
M

Well, I climbed the highest active volcano in the world today. I'm kinda tired.
peace

ECO TRULY PARK!

Oh my, where do I start! I have been here at Eco Truly Park for about 2 weeks now! I feel confused and lost while at the same time the scum on the pond in my mind is lifting and my soul can breath. What the hell does that mean, right? I don´t know! I was sick as a dog (someone tell me why that expression exists) for 3 days now and my mind is being very silly right now! Last night, we were sitting in the temple after reading the Bhagavad Gita and talking about how all the gurus of the different families of devotees are meeting together in India right now. I started laughing incessantly, I couldn´t stop (gram you know what I mean). I was picturing all of the gurus together playing poker, drinking scotch and smoking cigarettes. I don´t know why it popped into my head. But it´s funny, yeah! So, since I couldn´t hide my laughing tears, when asked why I was laughing, of course, I told them. Probably sort of disrespectful, yet they laughed and later, Druva told me that at some point I will be able to control the thoughts of my mind better! LOL! You see, the four principles that they follow are 1 non violence (including vegetarianism) 2 no alcohol, drugs, smoking, no tea or coffee, etc 3 no gambling 4 no sex unless for procreation. Along with spreading love and joy wherever they are! I am surrounded by such wonderful, loving, beautiful people right now! While I was sick, Mitra took care of me just like my mom always does. You know how you always want your mom when you are sick! Something really cool that she did to help my stomach. She took cold mud, added herbs and packed it on my stomach and wrapped a cloth around me. I wore it overnight and slept sound!


So we went to these caves nearby the other day (we live literally on the beach) to take some scaffolding to paint a mural. (no I don´t really agree with painting murals in caves, yet Gurudev wants it and I was not about to discuss why it´s disrespectful to nature.) It´s so beautiful here. It doesn´t rain much so my job in the garden is to water twice a day. I´ve been working in the kitchen a bit and pretty much just finding other random tasks to do. Spend some time at the beach, chase around the peacocks, attempt to talk to people in Spanish, learn more about Ayurveda, practice lots of yoga, etc. I tried to teach a yoga class in Spanish. My friend, Ramanuja also speaks English and giggled at me the whole time and ending up translating for me!!
In the pic below in front is my friend and roomate from Germany, Juliana. She was sick at the same time so Druva brought in the TV and we watched random movies about reincarnation and gurus and such.

I will probably be here about another week or so and then meet up with Mike in Ecuador. If I can tear him from the volcanoes and mountains, we will move further north to Columbia after visiting the rainforest. We sadly won´t travel to the Galapagos due to finances, but there are ducks here and if I paint their feet blue I can pretend they are the blue-footed booby. I have so much love for all of you who read this and I hope you are full of joy and peace!
Kel

Listo

Well, no pics this time Kel's got the camera in Peru where she will be practicing, and teaching yoga/ in spanish, and learning more about Permaculture. I've been in quito for about a week now and have an apartment till wednesday. it costs me about five dollars a day and the top balcony has a view over the old city, really beautiful but cold. I just confirmed my reservation to enter Parque Nacional Cotopaxi. Hike to the climbers refuge at fouteen thousand, and then Ascend the mother starting at one a.m. Thursday. I gotta warm up since its up at eighteen thousand so I'm gonna climb rucu pichincha tommorrow to undergo kind of a physical test. get this, the only way to the trail head is by cable car. It's supposed to be fifteen thousand plus feet and has some views over Quito. Can't wait to write back after a hopefully successful ascent, and read about whats going on witheach one of you. I can't do the latter without a reply from you so...Write Some Comments!
Hasta Pronto
m
PS if anyone has Britton, Corey, Todd Davis, or Steve Austin's email could you forward it to me at sclimeyvines@yahoo.com
peace

Happy New Year to All!

I hope this message reaches all of you in joy and sernity. As a bit of a cynic I find it humorous that I have the urge to recap the events of a ÿear, but I will save everyone the burden of reading my ramblings on, pontifications, and realizations of both self and society alike. What I do want to impart upon all of you is this... I have a deep appreciation for those who have taken it upon themselves to consider me one of their loved ones. I don´t take the opportunity to show this gratitude often enough and have learned that I never regret taking such an opportunity to tell someone I love how special they are. My ultimate thanks goes to my travelling companion and those who helped inspire her to embody such a compassionate, and loving personae. Happy New Year everyone, I hope we make the next 365 days ones we can be bold with our words and actions without regret.

2009

I layed/lied (which is it Nici?) in bed staring at this window for a long time this morning, not sure what to think about my life. Another year past...Right now, I can´t seem to understand why we count our lives in years and our days in minutes. Sure, it´s helpful for keeping track, yet in doing so I feel I´m missing my purpose. Missing what this life is really all about. We take photos and hold on to things: objects, memories, concepts of self. Yet ´time´ moves on. The ´years´ pass and we all grow ´older´. What am I missing? In order to understand myself, I spend time thinking about how I spent 2008. I´ve certainly focused more on how I want to live. I took a Yoga teacher training and a Permaculture course. I´ve joined Mike in traveling through South America! Potlucks, Loved Ones, Travel, Wilderness, Adventure, Family. My sister got married!!! So did Andi Jo!! Lily was born!!! We celebrated Grandma and Grandpa´s 60th wedding anniversary! Clay and Em got engaged! So did Jack! Cheri left me for the L-word! :) Luv you Cher! Joy and Elizabeth got a puppy! Tim and Gecko got the new house...and chickens! I got some wonderful new housemates! What wonderful people I´ve shared and learned with this past year! Thank you to all of you who have been and continue to be such a special part of my life! I feel so fortunate to have such amazing people in my life!

We are headed up the coast of Peru tonight. We might go sandboarding tomorrow! Love to all! Kisses and hugs and smooches and smacks on the rear and maybe in the face for some of you special folks!

Photos

For those of you who want to see more pics of our adventures, visit the link below! It is my sis´s site but the link takes you directly to our collection of photos. If you want to see some funny childhood pics of my sister, do feel free to browse around a bit!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/danandjaceywedding/collections/72157610848741909/