Roughing It

Hi Everyone,
I think the title of today´s blog is apt. I am in Vilcabamba still. Two days ago, after my post, I hiked back out to my cabin and decided to explore a little. The hike took about 3 hours and I went up the mountain through the jungle. Everytime the foliage opened up, I was left breathless. I started to have some fun with the timer on my camera too! The trails were untouched and unspoiled. I didn´t see any big animals or anything but supposedly they I where I am going today. I did nearly fall off the mountain a couple of times when I was attacked by spiders or ants, but I somehow survived.

I came across some passionfruit trees and tried to eat them. Unbenounced to me, they are supposed to be yellow, not green, so it was most bitter thing I´d ever eaten. At the end of the trail, I came across a vanilla tree. I climbed and battled to get a hold of some beans. After about 20 minutes, completely covered in mud, I succeeded. Sadly, they didn´t smell or taste like anything. Oh well, I won: Kent 1 - Nature 0.

I went into town after that and hiked around for while. I found out about a German hostel up the hill a couple of km from town. It sounded nice so I went. It was truly beautiful and I ended up walking with a very angry farmer for most of the way. He said the world was unfair and that the West was responsible. I took it in stride and was pleased to finally reach the hostel, and leave the capitalist hater behind! I ordered a beer and looked over the countryside. Some Americans from Wisconsin came to chat. It was good to hear about where they´d been and what they´d learned.

I went back into town for dinner, because the German prices were pretty high. Uneventful, but tasty. The walk back was an adventure in itself. There were no lights walking back out there and I was convinced (for no good reason) that I was going to be attacked. I had my swiss army knife at the ready and tried to use my handcharging flashlight quietly as I fell several times. I made it alive...

In the morning I woke up, showered with rain water, and pack up to head to a new cabin further in the jungle. As I was packing, I noticed something on my pillow. It was a %&$*Ç¿ scorpion! I freaked out a little but was glad I found it as I ws leaving instead of when I was going to bed. Kent 1 - Nature 1.

I started to hike in the direction of the new hotel called Cabañas de Rio Yamba. After about a half hour, I was soaked in sweat and wondering how lost I was. I continued on knowing that maps can be deceiving. I finally came across a sign in English saying "Drums for Sale." I went to chat with the very hippie-looking drum salesman. Hew said I was on the right track and that I should go another 10 minutes. It had already been about 45 minutes but I figured I had gone that far...

I finally made it but it looked closed. Everything was in disrepair. I heard someone up ahead and happened across a gringo painting the walls. He was the owner, they were open for business but were doing renovations. I got chatting with him and found out that he and his wife moved here when they were my age and built this cabin resort. It went well for a while but they had problems a few years ago and business has since dropped off. The place is beautiful, just needs some TLC and some marketing. I gave him some advice and he seemed appreciative.

I asked him about internet. He told me that a guy in the area had wifi so I took my laptop out into the jungle searching in vain for a signal. I came across the connection but it wasn´t strong enough. I must have looked ridiculous in the cow pasture with a laptop but I was determined! My efforts failed and I hiked the hour back here into Vilcabamba to the internet cafe.

I got back to the place just in time for dinner. I was pleasantly surprised when some Canadians from BC and a Dutch couple were there. We chatted for while but the owners had no alcohol of any sort so we all packed it in by 8. I had the most amazing sleep. The cabaña is situated up from the River Yamba so I slept was the roaring river sounds below in the most amazing bed. In the middle of the night, I woke up and strolled onto the balcony. There were thousands of Ecuadorian fireflies lighting up the valley below. Astounding (the difference between our fireflies and these ones is like xenon bulbs versus halogen bulbs; white light here and orange light there).

I am just about to catch a bus to Zamora, NE of here. From there, I hope to conquer the Southern Oriente. It is in the Amazon, but in the section that is almost impossible to get into. I have some recommendations and suggestions from a few folks and will do whatever it takes to explore. God Speed!

I love the comments on the blog and always look forward to them and to the emails.

Love
Kent

PS - Here is my deep thought for the day. Everytime I walked to and from Vilcabamba, I saw a donkey in the hills. Everytime, he moved to another outcropping. He looks so sad, and upon seeing more donkeys later, realized that donkeys are not happy creatures. I would actually go as far as to say they are the unhappiest of all beasts of burden. Cows, although they don´t smile, hang out with other cows and eat grass, goats are always making noise so they must be happy, chickens are a little skiddish but seem content, and llamas have a great time, so do horses every once in a while. The conclusion being that I have discovered the source of Eyor (sp?) from Winnie the Pooh. He is depressed because he´s a donkey, no other reason.