Baños was having La Festival de Baños yesterday. I woke up and lounged around. At 10:00, I met Andria in front of her Spanish School for the parade. The sun was really hot yesterday so it wasn´t the most comfortable. Michael and Natura showed up and we didn´t stay long after that. We decided that we would check out rafting the Rio Pastaza. After a little persuasion for Andria, we ended up going. It was either four people or no people, so it was good that she went. It was $25 each for the trip which was not too bad, I suppose.
When we got in the van, our guide, Brain, said that we were supposed to do a set of four class III rapids. He made up a deal because he wanted to do something else. He said, "Listen, we can do this set of four class III trip for about a hour and a half, or we can do this set of 16 class VI-V trip which will take about 60 or 70 mins. Which do you guys want to do"? We agreed on the class VI-V trip, of course.
He continued to say, "now, you guys can´t tell the boss because this is supposed to be a more expensive trip, but we´ll do it if you want to". We thought it was kind of funny to know that he was probably bored with lame groups who just wanted to do easier stuff. So we stuck with it.
I hadn´t rafted in a few years, but it´s like riding a bike, it all comes back. We got in the raft and it was great. Just after the fist rapid, we stopped to check out this waterfall on our left. Then we headed down river again. This was great. I had never been in any water that big before. It was crazy. Michael and I got all the big water as we were in front, the girl, in back. About six rapids from the end, we stopped again on the right side of the river.
We got of at a river junction with a bridge over it. We jumped from this platform about six feet high, then Brian took us to one about 10 feet high. Then, we went up near the bridge and jumper from about 20 feet. I would have never expected that this would be in our trip, it was great!
We boarded the raft again, and took off the the biggest rapids to come, the class V. It´s so amazing to think that so much water can move that quickly. We went up and down over these rapids as tall as me. With everybody still in the raft, with smiles on our faces, we arrived at the landing.
We were taken 40 mins back to Baños and we rested a bit. Baños was gearing up for the street dance right outside our hostal, so we waited. As we rested, Natura made speghetti for dinner in the hostal kitchen. About 21:00 (9:00pm), we heard music blarring, so we went out to the street. We danced and danced. About midnight Michael and Natura took off and I tried to stay out with Andria and the gang. I made it to 02:00. That was all I had in me though. What a way to spend the day.
Showing posts with label Baños. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Baños. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
15 Dec, Baños, What do you do for fun?
I thought it would be a great oportunity to get out and do a run. First thing Monday morning, that´s what I did. I ran up this road that just seemed to keep going up. After a while, the pavement ended. There was still road a head of me, so I kept running. Before I knew it, I was in the middle of nowhere, which was strange because Baños wasn´t but 20 mins. behind me.
I kept going up, and up and I was in farm land quick. There was a little house to my right that read, "CAFE, BAR" in big letters, in the middle of nowhere. I wasn´t even sure how to get to it as it was a couple hundred meters to my right. Then, I came to a small drainage with some suspension bridge looking thing with no way to walk across. I was able to jump over the water and I went a bit farther. There was nothing. Just a little farm house way off in the distance. I didn´t need to go there so I turned around.
I started back and all of a sudden there was a man getting water near the drianage. It seemed a little weird to me, because I didn´t see him on my way out, and I didn´t see where he might be going. He must have been going to the house that I didn´t know how to get to.
On my way back when I hit the pavement, I had a couple visitors. Two little dogs started running after me and barking. Soon after that, two more, I kept running and then more dogs were barking, then more dogs were running after me. Before I knew it, there were seven little dogs chasing me. Good thing my stride was longer than theirs.
When I arrived back to the hostal, I wondered what to do the rest of the day. Andria said that I should rent a bike for a day and ride to Puyo. Puyo is a little town on the edge of the Amazon basin about 60km east of Baños.
I decided that would be a great idea, so I went to a bike shop. I rented this junky mountain bike for $5 for the day. I didne seem to matter which gear I was in, everytime I pedaled it made bad noises. You know the noise I´m talking about, when I gear isn´t quite in gear, yeah, those noises. It almost becomes music when you are on a bike that long.
I soon came to this bridge. I was 45 mins. into my ride and I met two other girls from Austin, Marlana and Susan. They seemed pretty cool as we chatted for a bit. They were watching this man jump off this bridge attached to a rope. He wanted them to do it for $15 each. He was showing them that is was safe by jumping first. They thought about it and said that I should do it first. I replied, "I´m not doing that"! Then, he jumped.
I actually looked pretty cool after he did it. They decided that they were going to do it, but offer $10. He took it. I watched Susan jump, then Marlana. They said, "now it´s your turn Alaska Man". So, I offered him $10 also.
You wouldn´t believe me if I told you what you feel when you know you are about to jump off a bridge. You thought your first day at summer camp gave you butterflies in your stomach, nay. The adrenaline starts flowing, your hearts begins to pound through your chest, you feel like your stomach is in your throat, then... you jump.
For that split second you are weightless. Your not really sure what to think, then, you feel the tension on the rope and you are swinging on the biggest tire swing you´ve ever been on.
I kept going up, and up and I was in farm land quick. There was a little house to my right that read, "CAFE, BAR" in big letters, in the middle of nowhere. I wasn´t even sure how to get to it as it was a couple hundred meters to my right. Then, I came to a small drainage with some suspension bridge looking thing with no way to walk across. I was able to jump over the water and I went a bit farther. There was nothing. Just a little farm house way off in the distance. I didn´t need to go there so I turned around.
I started back and all of a sudden there was a man getting water near the drianage. It seemed a little weird to me, because I didn´t see him on my way out, and I didn´t see where he might be going. He must have been going to the house that I didn´t know how to get to.
On my way back when I hit the pavement, I had a couple visitors. Two little dogs started running after me and barking. Soon after that, two more, I kept running and then more dogs were barking, then more dogs were running after me. Before I knew it, there were seven little dogs chasing me. Good thing my stride was longer than theirs.
When I arrived back to the hostal, I wondered what to do the rest of the day. Andria said that I should rent a bike for a day and ride to Puyo. Puyo is a little town on the edge of the Amazon basin about 60km east of Baños.
I decided that would be a great idea, so I went to a bike shop. I rented this junky mountain bike for $5 for the day. I didne seem to matter which gear I was in, everytime I pedaled it made bad noises. You know the noise I´m talking about, when I gear isn´t quite in gear, yeah, those noises. It almost becomes music when you are on a bike that long.
I soon came to this bridge. I was 45 mins. into my ride and I met two other girls from Austin, Marlana and Susan. They seemed pretty cool as we chatted for a bit. They were watching this man jump off this bridge attached to a rope. He wanted them to do it for $15 each. He was showing them that is was safe by jumping first. They thought about it and said that I should do it first. I replied, "I´m not doing that"! Then, he jumped.
I actually looked pretty cool after he did it. They decided that they were going to do it, but offer $10. He took it. I watched Susan jump, then Marlana. They said, "now it´s your turn Alaska Man". So, I offered him $10 also.
You wouldn´t believe me if I told you what you feel when you know you are about to jump off a bridge. You thought your first day at summer camp gave you butterflies in your stomach, nay. The adrenaline starts flowing, your hearts begins to pound through your chest, you feel like your stomach is in your throat, then... you jump.
For that split second you are weightless. Your not really sure what to think, then, you feel the tension on the rope and you are swinging on the biggest tire swing you´ve ever been on.
WOW, WHAT A RUSH!!!
After my close encounter with death, I decided that I´m ready to jump off any bridge. The best part about it, I didn´t sign one waiver.
Marlana, Susan and I rode together for a bit. After a while Susan needed to break so I split. I kept going on my way. The ride between Baños and Puyo is rather interesting. You are following the Rio Pastaza the whole way to Puyo. You can really see the flora change before your eyes. When you start in Baños, it seems pretty normal, well, to me, then, you begin to desent into the jungle and all the trees start to change. It looks thicker, more dense, and it is a lot more humid.
When I arrived in Puyo, I was pretty tired so I got some lunch. Just as I was headed to the bus terminal to go back to Baños, a bus was headed that way. The bus ride back cost $2.50 which seemed a little high, but to think that I did all that for $17, not bad.
I took it easy the rest of the night.
After my close encounter with death, I decided that I´m ready to jump off any bridge. The best part about it, I didn´t sign one waiver.
Marlana, Susan and I rode together for a bit. After a while Susan needed to break so I split. I kept going on my way. The ride between Baños and Puyo is rather interesting. You are following the Rio Pastaza the whole way to Puyo. You can really see the flora change before your eyes. When you start in Baños, it seems pretty normal, well, to me, then, you begin to desent into the jungle and all the trees start to change. It looks thicker, more dense, and it is a lot more humid.
When I arrived in Puyo, I was pretty tired so I got some lunch. Just as I was headed to the bus terminal to go back to Baños, a bus was headed that way. The bus ride back cost $2.50 which seemed a little high, but to think that I did all that for $17, not bad.
I took it easy the rest of the night.
14 Dec, Baños
Sunday morning I woke up and thought I would go for a hike to La Virgin de Baños and then head to Michael and Natura´s place on the cliff to hang out at the pool. After they found out that this reservation of their didn´t include meals, I figured I would bring them something to eat. I packed some crackers and cheese and this egg plant mix that Alysia made for us.
The Virgin is about half up the rigde on this cliff. I started walking and knew it was going to be up hill. Little did I know that the stair to the Virgin were labled, 1-600. That´s a lot of steps.
I thought 400 was a lot after that´s was I counted in Quito that I had to climb everytime I wanted to go to the park to run a few laps.
When I arrived at the Virgin, it was a beautiful view. The hike from there was mostly a traverse, which was a nice little break. I got up to the resort where the others were and they met me at the pool.
Wow, what an amazing place that was. I was gorgeous. The pool was a bit cold, but the hot tubs were great. A little while after I got there, Andria, hung over, showed up to join us. I seemed like a hour and a half of so later, some guy who works there told us we couln´t be there.
It was a little bit of a bummer, but the clouds were starting to come in and I had had enough sun for the day anyway.
Later that evening, Tim, a guy from England and Jane, a girl also from England, made Yorkshire Pudding for dinner. There were nine people between us who pitched in money for them to make it. If you don´t know what Yorkshire pudding is, it´s pretty much a big pancake. They prepared a beef roast, potatoes, veggies and this cheese sause. I was really good for English food, I thought.
The Virgin is about half up the rigde on this cliff. I started walking and knew it was going to be up hill. Little did I know that the stair to the Virgin were labled, 1-600. That´s a lot of steps.
I thought 400 was a lot after that´s was I counted in Quito that I had to climb everytime I wanted to go to the park to run a few laps.
When I arrived at the Virgin, it was a beautiful view. The hike from there was mostly a traverse, which was a nice little break. I got up to the resort where the others were and they met me at the pool.
Wow, what an amazing place that was. I was gorgeous. The pool was a bit cold, but the hot tubs were great. A little while after I got there, Andria, hung over, showed up to join us. I seemed like a hour and a half of so later, some guy who works there told us we couln´t be there.
It was a little bit of a bummer, but the clouds were starting to come in and I had had enough sun for the day anyway.
Later that evening, Tim, a guy from England and Jane, a girl also from England, made Yorkshire Pudding for dinner. There were nine people between us who pitched in money for them to make it. If you don´t know what Yorkshire pudding is, it´s pretty much a big pancake. They prepared a beef roast, potatoes, veggies and this cheese sause. I was really good for English food, I thought.
13 Dec, Baños
In the morning we woke up and walked across the street to Michael´s host families place. We ate some breakfast with Alysia and Fernando. As always, we had to sit around and talk for a hour after that. Once that was finished, we made our way to the bus terminal to go to Baños.
Michael and Natura are staying up on the cliff in some really fancy time share place that his mother was able to get some how. I am staying in Hostal Chiminea again. It´s great though. One of Natura´s friends from Alaska, Andria, is also in the area as she is traveling as well.
Andria is this great girl from Austin, Texas who happened to be in Alaska becuase of one of her friends. Natara was friends with that person. When Andria came up to Alaska, Natura was introduced to her. This might sound a little boring, but it goes to show, you never know who you will see where.
Andria has been in Baños for a few weeks on and off now. She seems to have surrounded herself with a great bunch of solo traveling women who are also staying at Hostal Chiminea. A great group of women they are. It is so great to meet so many different people. Now, we are all planning on doing this big hike/adventure on the 18th. I think it going to be pretty cool.
Andria, Michael, Natura and I hung out that night. We didn´t do a whole lot, as always, we had a few drinks and chatted. After Michael and Natura walked back up to their place, Andria and the ladies went out.
Andria seems to be quite the partier. I have no problem saying that see can party way more than I can. In fact, I´m not sure I could ever keep up with her and Marina, an Irish woman, if I tried. The 04:00 nights I mostly over for me, I think.
Michael and Natura are staying up on the cliff in some really fancy time share place that his mother was able to get some how. I am staying in Hostal Chiminea again. It´s great though. One of Natura´s friends from Alaska, Andria, is also in the area as she is traveling as well.
Andria is this great girl from Austin, Texas who happened to be in Alaska becuase of one of her friends. Natara was friends with that person. When Andria came up to Alaska, Natura was introduced to her. This might sound a little boring, but it goes to show, you never know who you will see where.
Andria has been in Baños for a few weeks on and off now. She seems to have surrounded herself with a great bunch of solo traveling women who are also staying at Hostal Chiminea. A great group of women they are. It is so great to meet so many different people. Now, we are all planning on doing this big hike/adventure on the 18th. I think it going to be pretty cool.
Andria, Michael, Natura and I hung out that night. We didn´t do a whole lot, as always, we had a few drinks and chatted. After Michael and Natura walked back up to their place, Andria and the ladies went out.
Andria seems to be quite the partier. I have no problem saying that see can party way more than I can. In fact, I´m not sure I could ever keep up with her and Marina, an Irish woman, if I tried. The 04:00 nights I mostly over for me, I think.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
1 Dec, Baños
Sunday Michael and I did a little hike up to the cross above Baños. It gave us great views of the city to hold on to before having to head back to the chaotic mess of Quito. We once we got back, the three of us ate breakfast and we lounged the rest of the morning.
All three of us headed up to Quito on a bus about 14:00 (2:00pm). Natura came to Quito with us because she decided that it would be easiest to head to Colombia for the eight days she needed for her visa.
When we arrived to Quito, we went to this hostal that is right across the street from Michael's place. We got a room with two beds so we could hang out one last night together before Natura took off, and Michael had to get back to work and school.
We went to Aladdin's for dinner and had some falafel sandwiches and beer. We sat around and chatted for a while. After dinner, instead of getting a couple movies to watch, we sat around in our room and watched corny Ecuadorean TV. There can't be anything worse than that.
All three of us headed up to Quito on a bus about 14:00 (2:00pm). Natura came to Quito with us because she decided that it would be easiest to head to Colombia for the eight days she needed for her visa.
When we arrived to Quito, we went to this hostal that is right across the street from Michael's place. We got a room with two beds so we could hang out one last night together before Natura took off, and Michael had to get back to work and school.
We went to Aladdin's for dinner and had some falafel sandwiches and beer. We sat around and chatted for a while. After dinner, instead of getting a couple movies to watch, we sat around in our room and watched corny Ecuadorean TV. There can't be anything worse than that.
30 Nov, Baños
Saturday morning we woke up and wanted to go for a hike. We started out by getting a ride to this bridge that cost us $0.50. The old man looked at us like, "that's it?" and we continued to walk. Natura wasn't feeling well, so she got a ride back into town and rested the rest of the day.
Michael and I decided to take this other giant laundry basket across the canyon. We hiked up this drainage system that was full of little waterfalls and sometimes big boulders. We hiked for a couple hours and came to this biggest waterfall, which wasn't very big, but the biggest.
We thought it would be a good idea to take a "shower" so we played around in the waterfall for a while. It was so much fun. The pressure of the water would just about take your shorts off it you weren't holding on to them. It was also really neat because you could go behind the waterfall and sit on this rock.
Once we had had enough fun in the water fall, we headed back down. We played around in this little swimming hole. The water was deep enough to jump for rocks situated above, so we did. I think the highest was probably only 10ft, but none the less exciting.
When we headed back to the giant laundry basket to take us back to the other side, this old man said that is was closed for the day. While Micheal was trying to sort things out with him, I took a look at the drive train.
Sure enough, with "Pontiac" stamped in the valve covers, I knew it was a car engine. It had a manual transmission and three petals. The output shaft was attached to a flywheel that would drive the cable and it had a spot where a manual break pad would slow it down.
When Michael was unsuccessful in his negotiations, we started walking on this trail on the side of this cliff along the river. Once we got back to the road, the long way around, we got a ride back into town and gave our ride $1.00.
Natura was still sleeping when we got back to the hostal. After she woke up, when went to the market and got some ingredients to make rice and bean burritos. Just as we returned, it started raining. The three of us sat around and ate. We drank cane liquor with tonic and limes and played card games like Rummy 500 and an Ecuadorean game called Cuarenta (40) with an American ex patriot, Jason, who was in the beginning his new life as a Ecuadorean.
Michael and I decided to take this other giant laundry basket across the canyon. We hiked up this drainage system that was full of little waterfalls and sometimes big boulders. We hiked for a couple hours and came to this biggest waterfall, which wasn't very big, but the biggest.
We thought it would be a good idea to take a "shower" so we played around in the waterfall for a while. It was so much fun. The pressure of the water would just about take your shorts off it you weren't holding on to them. It was also really neat because you could go behind the waterfall and sit on this rock.
Once we had had enough fun in the water fall, we headed back down. We played around in this little swimming hole. The water was deep enough to jump for rocks situated above, so we did. I think the highest was probably only 10ft, but none the less exciting.
When we headed back to the giant laundry basket to take us back to the other side, this old man said that is was closed for the day. While Micheal was trying to sort things out with him, I took a look at the drive train.
Sure enough, with "Pontiac" stamped in the valve covers, I knew it was a car engine. It had a manual transmission and three petals. The output shaft was attached to a flywheel that would drive the cable and it had a spot where a manual break pad would slow it down.
When Michael was unsuccessful in his negotiations, we started walking on this trail on the side of this cliff along the river. Once we got back to the road, the long way around, we got a ride back into town and gave our ride $1.00.
Natura was still sleeping when we got back to the hostal. After she woke up, when went to the market and got some ingredients to make rice and bean burritos. Just as we returned, it started raining. The three of us sat around and ate. We drank cane liquor with tonic and limes and played card games like Rummy 500 and an Ecuadorean game called Cuarenta (40) with an American ex patriot, Jason, who was in the beginning his new life as a Ecuadorean.
29 Nov, Baños
Last weekend Michael, Natura and I went to Baños for the weekend. Baños is situated on the side of the volcano, Tungarhua about 3 and half hours south of Quito. It is a little city with LOTS to do. It is very green town, with a town center teaming with life. It is also full of outdoorsy things to do such as rafting, biking, hiking, and much more.
Natura had been staying for some time, so she is very familiar with the area. When we arrived and Hostal Chimenea, I just left my stuff in their room and occupied a bed in the dorm for $6.00 a night. Once we got situated, we decided that we would take a little excursion to this waterfall, La Manta de la Novia about 20 minutes outside of town.
As soon as we got off the bus, we started walking on this trail of switchbacks down to the river. When we arrived at the "chocolate" looking river, Rio Pastaza, we had to cross this Indiana Jones style suspension bridge. As soon as we crossed the bridge, we arrived at this tiny development with a sign the read something like "Bienvenidos a la Manta de la Novia, Adultos, $0.50; Niños $0.25; Extranjeros, $0.75" (Welcome to the Manta de la Novia, Adults, $0.50; Children $0.25; Foreigners $0.75). No one was there, so we just decided to go to the waterfall and take some pictures.
This waterfall was pretty big and it was very beautiful. When I got closer to have my picture taken, it was rather breath taking as well. There was so much green around. There was moss and plants growing all around.
After we had our photo shoot, we followed the drainage down to the Rio Pastaza, and played around in the river for a minute. Because the area is a volcanic, the sand on the river banks is black. There is a lot of pumice stone just sitting around also.
On our way back through the little development, a man was waiting for us. We tried to get the adult rate, but there's no denying the we were three gringos looking at the waterfall. We ended up paying the Foreigners rate. A quarter doesn't sound like much, but when you come to a cheaper country where bartering and negotiating prices is a norm, it makes you cheap, really cheap.
We walked up a trail on the side of the waterfall we were on so we could take the open air gondola across the river. The open air gondola was more like a giant people moving laundry basket that took tourist back and forth across the canyon.
When we got to the other side, I noticed a man sitting behind an old car engine with a transmission "driving" our laundry basket. There are just somethings you don't expect to see, that is one of them.
We hitched back to town. We were sitting in the back of this pickup and went through this tunnel that seemed like it went on forever. The interesting thing about this tunnel, there were no lights and there was surely no ventilation. The only light that we had was the car driving 10ft. behind us, probably also trying to hitch a ride. When we arrived back to the center of town, we gave our indigenous family $1.00 for the ride.
Later that evening, we ate dinner at the hostal that Natura prepared. We had a big pot of what was supposed to be rice with veggie curry, but because there wasn't much rice, we just threw it in the curry and it turned out to be more like veggie curry soup, it was still really good.
After dinner, we decided that we would check out the beauty pageant that would lead to the Queen of Baños. This seemed more like a joke than anything, but it was still fun. There was seven young ladies who were candidates. During intermission, we got to listen to this and that probably wasn't good enough to play at a wedding reception. It was more comically entertaining than it was musically.
We didn't end up staying for the whole thing, but the "Queen" wasn't going to be announced until the next night anyway. We retired for the evening shortly after that.
Natura had been staying for some time, so she is very familiar with the area. When we arrived and Hostal Chimenea, I just left my stuff in their room and occupied a bed in the dorm for $6.00 a night. Once we got situated, we decided that we would take a little excursion to this waterfall, La Manta de la Novia about 20 minutes outside of town.
As soon as we got off the bus, we started walking on this trail of switchbacks down to the river. When we arrived at the "chocolate" looking river, Rio Pastaza, we had to cross this Indiana Jones style suspension bridge. As soon as we crossed the bridge, we arrived at this tiny development with a sign the read something like "Bienvenidos a la Manta de la Novia, Adultos, $0.50; Niños $0.25; Extranjeros, $0.75" (Welcome to the Manta de la Novia, Adults, $0.50; Children $0.25; Foreigners $0.75). No one was there, so we just decided to go to the waterfall and take some pictures.
This waterfall was pretty big and it was very beautiful. When I got closer to have my picture taken, it was rather breath taking as well. There was so much green around. There was moss and plants growing all around.
After we had our photo shoot, we followed the drainage down to the Rio Pastaza, and played around in the river for a minute. Because the area is a volcanic, the sand on the river banks is black. There is a lot of pumice stone just sitting around also.
On our way back through the little development, a man was waiting for us. We tried to get the adult rate, but there's no denying the we were three gringos looking at the waterfall. We ended up paying the Foreigners rate. A quarter doesn't sound like much, but when you come to a cheaper country where bartering and negotiating prices is a norm, it makes you cheap, really cheap.
We walked up a trail on the side of the waterfall we were on so we could take the open air gondola across the river. The open air gondola was more like a giant people moving laundry basket that took tourist back and forth across the canyon.
When we got to the other side, I noticed a man sitting behind an old car engine with a transmission "driving" our laundry basket. There are just somethings you don't expect to see, that is one of them.
We hitched back to town. We were sitting in the back of this pickup and went through this tunnel that seemed like it went on forever. The interesting thing about this tunnel, there were no lights and there was surely no ventilation. The only light that we had was the car driving 10ft. behind us, probably also trying to hitch a ride. When we arrived back to the center of town, we gave our indigenous family $1.00 for the ride.
Later that evening, we ate dinner at the hostal that Natura prepared. We had a big pot of what was supposed to be rice with veggie curry, but because there wasn't much rice, we just threw it in the curry and it turned out to be more like veggie curry soup, it was still really good.
After dinner, we decided that we would check out the beauty pageant that would lead to the Queen of Baños. This seemed more like a joke than anything, but it was still fun. There was seven young ladies who were candidates. During intermission, we got to listen to this and that probably wasn't good enough to play at a wedding reception. It was more comically entertaining than it was musically.
We didn't end up staying for the whole thing, but the "Queen" wasn't going to be announced until the next night anyway. We retired for the evening shortly after that.
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