Boobies ..... thousands of them ...

And of course by that I mean the indigenous blue footed booby ...... cute little creatures indeed and not what one would call shy. However I digress. We went off on a day trip snorkeling yesterday out to a bay called ´Los Tunnelles´(can you guess what that translates too?). Was an amazing landscape of volcanic rock which looked like little tunnels and bridges above the lagoon.

Our first sight of wildlife was when we barely left the port, swimming all around us where huge manta rays just below the water and I would put an estimate of some of these being at least 6ft across. A completely fantastic sight. Next in the distance we saw a huge whale rise and fall in the sea which although was in the distance was still pretty amazing to see.

When we got to the destination the first thing on the agenda was to look down into some of the smaller lagoons to see huge sea turtles swimming by without a care in the world. These things are huge. Without delay it was on with the wetsuits and down into the water to swim with these wonderful creatures. Although most of them went too deep to swim with it was such an amazing experience swimming above them. Next port of call was a quick swim with the sharks in another lagoon. They where quite shy but we did manage to see some swim past and under rocks which was funnily enough not as terrifying as expected. Fantastic animals.

The last sight we saw which really topped it all off was on the return journey we had a hammerhead shark swim alongside the boat which although probably the weirdest shoped fish I have ever saw was majestic all the same. My aplogies for all the superlatives but some of this shit really has to be seen to be believed. Well I am off for some lunch but I will leave you with a nice picture of some boobies ....

Tortoise Poo is mighty big .....

Hola mucachos

Not a lot of updates here recently so you can all assume I am having a great time. Been on the island of Isabella a few days now and it really is a paradise. We arrived after 3 hours on the ´ferry´which is really just a flotilla of small boats ..... it was off to the pub for a wee drink and then an early night .... met the other volunteers which all seem to be a varied bunch of very nice people.

Up early the next morning for my first day of work which basically involved cleaning up huge tortoise leavings and raking leaves ... nice and relaxing. Then it was off to a wee bay for my first taste of snorkling .... it took me a while but now I am swiming like a dolphin. The bonus was that I got to swim breifly with a sea lion which was just fabtastic .... they really do play with you and dive with you and swim round you. It was really fantastic.

Anyway must dash as I am off on a snorkling trip tomorrow out by one of the islands to look for hammerhead sharks and manta rays ....

Adios.

Hello Galapagos !!!

Well we arrived on the Archipelagio today amidst puring rin ... which turnied to bright sunshine ... which turned to cloud which turned back to sunshine. The landscape really does look like another planet and can turn from dense jungle to barren scrub after 5 minutes driving.

We had our first stop at one of the giant tortoise farms to see these behemoths in action .... they really are massive creatures. After wards it was a walk down to ´Tortuga bay´ for a swim and a look at some more of the wildlife .... spending the night in Santa Cruz .... off to Isabella tomorrow afternoon .... after a visit to the inimitable Lonesome George .....

Buenos Noches ....

Up where the air is clear (feel the fear part II) ....

Hola Moñitas ...

My apologies for the lack of fotografia but I am so crap with my camera you wouldnt believe but I will get some up there soon. Well yesterday we went to the lovely little town of Mindo about 2 hours outside Quito to indulge in what is apparently called zip-wiring. Before I descibe the experience I must digress, the bus services in this country are a shambles ..... even though we bought tickets 2 days in advance they still tried to throw us off the bus ... long and complicated but I am however glad to say there is very little buses on the Galapgos.

Bur back to zipwiring, it basically involves large steel cables stretched across 200-300 foot drops which you slide across ar speen on a wee wheeley thing ... each crossing is a few hundred metres and take about 30 seconds while you enjoy the lovely view below. There where 13 in total and I have to say was completely exhilarating. Our housemate and good friend Rachel decided she would try the mariposa (butterfly) which involved her going across with the guide but suspended upside down. Looked very bizzare but we both had a fantastic time and took 3 hours to finally stop shaking.

Afterwards it was time to go to the butterfly farm which was nice and chilled after such adrenaline rushing. Butterflies the size of your hand landing on your arms and head .... was very nice and a good way to come down. Then after another shitty bus journey back we commited culinary sacriliege and went to KFC .... as I mentioned you can only take so much bloody Ecuadorian food.

Tomorrow myself and Nichola leave for the Islands at 5 am so its an early night for us. For amyone who cares .... a llittle picture of ´la casa de rita´...

Pizza time ....

Just had to inform the world that Nichola has now mastered the art of ordering a pizza for delivery in Español ..... we just where getting a bit sick of the whole soup,unidentified meat and pickled veg so we decided to have pizza and beer .... Nic took the bull by the horns and decided to call Pizza hut after a lot of giggling and crossed wires we managed to order 2 pizza´s for delivery. I was banaished to the balcony because I apparently would induce laughter ..... and lo and behold 30 mins later pizza arrived ..... now this might not sound very exciting to all .... but to us it was .... if you can excuse my lamguage ... a fucking miracle ....

Thumbs up to Nichola .....

Just back from a day zipwiring in Mindo and having a very large Ecuadorian ´Pilsener´ ..... will tell all tomorrow....

G.
XXX

Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway ....

Well we are just back from a lovely 2 days in the little remote town of Baños in the mountains and when I mean in the mountains I mean in the mountains as our hotel back right onto a 200 ft vertical wall of rock with waterfalls cascading down. The town was so chilled and relaxing and a relief after 4 hours on a crowded bus. The nice director of the school (big shout to Luis) was kind enough to book us 2 rooms in a hostel so we wouldnt need to sort accomodation and my word what accomodation. For a measly 15 dollars each we got a fantastic double room each with fantastic views and a good night sleep was had by all. After stowing our kit it was off to a little Italian place for a lovely pizza and beer (they really dont serve small beers here at all) as you can really only take so much chicken,rice,beans and potatoes in this lifetime.

Up early the next morning to do what we came to do, the dreaded white water rafting. We booked the night before and where soon kitted up in all the safety gear and off up the mountains to start our descent. We shared the boat with 4 lovely Dutch people and our very nice but probably insane guide. I must say for my first taste of white water I absolutely loved it. At no point did I feel unsafe even when the boat was flipped (delibretely I may add). We negotiated the white water for about 2 hours stopping halfway to climb a small waterfall and play in the mud. After completion it was off to our very nice inclusive lunch and back to get the long and winding bus back to Quito.

I will admit freely I had to be persuaded to indulge in this pastime but in all honesty it has been my favorite experience so far and something I would not hesitate to do again ....

We do have lots of lovely scenic photos and pictures of me looking silly in my wetsuit which I will add when I find a PC with the correct port .....

Hasta Manaña persones ...

In the Jungle the Mighty Jungle .....

!Hola Niños .... !

Well we are just back from a 4 day jaunt deep in Amazoia ..... 40 minutes on a plane ... 3 hours on a bus ... 3 hours on a motorboat ..... and finally we arrived in our ´cocaracha´ infested shack .... the first night we went for a little wander in the jungle in the dark following a swim in a rainforest lagoon ..... refreshing I must say but I was very much on the lookout for crocodiles and piranha .... Below is a picture of the resident baby wooly monkey called Pancha who just likes to stay in the camp and steal food from the table when you arent looking ....

Day two in the jungle .. we went for a big long walk where our multitalented guide taught us to climb trees and make fire ....after a 4 hour walk through the jungle it was completely unbelieveable that we had only covered 4 km .... thats the jungle for you ... then back to the camp and followed by a quick dip in the lagoon ..... look at this for a jungle sunset

Day three and we where off to visit an indigenous community and see how they make their traditional yucca bread ..... on the way thereI got to indulge in some Beetle grubs which are laid inside coconuts and when hatched eat their way out .... Sorry tried to upload the video but it was just too huge ..... here a before picture anyways ....

It really did taste of coconut .... and that proves that really I will without a doubt eat anything and everything .... which reminds me .... got to eat lemon flavoured ants the day before ..... full of anty goodness ... Jesus only knows what my dietician would say .

Next our guide requested a volunteer for some of what he called natural accupuncture .... ever the idiot I thought yes I´ll have some of that .... it amount to being whipped with thorny nettles and really did itch .... and I must say had zero theraputic benefit .... but the welts went down after an hour or so .... looks a lot worse than it felt ...

Then it was off to the idigenous village where the nice Huaorani ladies made us some bread which to my poor palette tasted kind of like a coconutty wrap but was nice ..... go well with bacon ....we stayed a while and chilled while our guide ran riot with the local children .... they seemed to view him almost like santa claus and as he was thorughly enjoying himself who where we to interrupt. Then back to camp for dinner ...

After dinner it was off to the lagoon for a last look at the sunset and then off to see some caimen .... for the uneducated these are related to alligators or crocs but are generally a lot smaller and less aggressive. On the second attempt we managed to find one which was more than happy to pose for photos in return for cookies and bread .... it was very very dark but I managed to get a few photós.

Then it was back to camp for some sleep for a quick kip before disembarking on the 8 hour journey back to civilisation at 3 am. Much as I liked the jungle it was nice to return to civilisation eventually ..... looking forward to what this week brings .... Nichola would like to take me white water rafting and to be honest I am 99.7% convinced I should do it .... we only live once eh?

Well its off to ´la casa de Rita´for a lovely dinner and probably a kip ...... we are doing well and nobody is maimed or dead .... I faced my fear of long bus trips and Nichola faced the dreaded cockroach and came away a winner .... all is good ...

HASTA MANAÑA ....