Hiking in Baños

Clouds hugging a mountaintop, seen while hiking in Baños.

After our morning canyoning adventure, Brandon and I had lunch, then we went hiking in Baños‘s surrounding hills. The first part of the journey was the most difficult, almost straight up the whole time. We reached Bellavista, a white cross overlooking the town, and rested. We continued on the paved road to Runtún, a small village high up […]

Repelling in Baños

The scenery upon arriving to go repelling in Baños.

I’ve found myself a travelling companion for the next few days. I met Brandon, from San Francisco, shortly after arriving in Baños on Tuesday. We were sharing a dorm room and realized we had similar short-term travel plans, so once we decided on the same activities yesterday, the rest just fell into place. And that turned out to […]

Last Work Days at Merazonia and a Zoo in Shell

The kitchen building at Merazonia, with a wooden picnic table outside.

Work’s been pretty relaxed this week during my last work days at Merazonia, so I really can’t understand why I’ve got this blasted cold. Well, in any case, I now know that I’d rather paint three coats in a whole room with drywall than paint one coat on a small cement holding tank. For toilets, no less! I […]

More Merazonia Projects and A Bit of Village Life in Shell

One of the views from the volunteer house at Merazonia shows a forested mountain rising behind the jungle.

This week, we continued with some more Merazonia projects. Jen and I built some drawers to put beneath the future volunteers’ beds. I measured, sawed, planed, and sanded the wood, nailed it all together to make a box, screwed some wheels into the bottom, and voilà! Drawers! I also hauled rocks in a neat contraption we put on […]

“Camping” and Hiking at Merazonia

Hiking at Merazonia and admiring the beautiful scenery.

Thursday evening, David and I decided to stay at the refuge overnight instead of returning to Mera. We had discussed it with Jen and Frank ahead of time, and together we planned some “camping” and jungle hiking at Merazonia (smiley face). We hiked out to the road with Frank, Jen, and Guido because to the right of the […]

Volunteering at Merazonia Animal Reserve

Hacienda-style volunteer house at Merazonia Animal Reserve, Ecuador.

After only a few days here, volunteering at Merazonia Animal Reserve, I now have grease monkey fingernails! Wednesday, which was Day Two for me volunteering at Merazonia, was spent building scaffolding for the construction of the aviary. More sawing, searching for wood, planting poles into the mud to brace our scaffold, climbing the scaffolding to secure the braces, […]

Arriving in Mera and My First Day at Merazonia

This house in Mera is where you spend your first day at Merazonia.

Imagine zooming along winding mountain roads in a rickety old bus, listening to Bedouin Soundclash, chilling, feasting your eyes, insatiable. Imagine chatting away with an amicable Ecuadorian who points out sights: a famous waterfall, a deep ravine, a bridge off which to bungee jump, a good discoteca, his own restaurant… Imagine being dropped off the bus in an […]

The End of Quito: Parque Itchimbia and El Panecillo

Before reaching the end of Quito for me, I had the chance to see the city from El Panecillo, a Quito landmark pictured here.

This is the end of Quito for me. Today I’m moving on to Mera. I can’t wait to get out of the city and into the rainforest, but at the same time, I’m very sad to so soon be leaving all the wonderful friends I’ve made in Quito. Three hours on the internet yesterday. Shitty buzz. But afterwards, […]

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