A Letter to Ecuador on Independence Day 10 August My dear Ecuador, I first met you when I crossed the Canchis river while coming from Peru. The first gift I received from you was the steepest road with up to 25% slope. My heart knocked inside the chest like a hammer and the rear wheel … Read more
Somewhere in Ecuador, a swing hung over a steep rock face at 2600-m above sea level. They called it the “Swing at the End of the World” because a fall from the swing into the abyss could bring the end of the world to the rider. The swing was attached to a wooden house nestled … Read more
After staying in Quito for six weeks, working tirelessly day and night from the hotel room on a dozen photo essays that I recently published on Facebook I was back on the road. My bicycle felt heavier but my wallet, much lighter, with a little money left for the next leg of the travel. Leaving … Read more
About four hours of drive from Quito there is a lake tucked away in the mountains. Located at over 3500-m altitude, this volcanic crater lake is filled with emerald green water. They call it Quilotoa Lake. Today, while sitting on the edge of the crater I look at the lake in its entirety. A soothing … Read more
How to wrap up old year and start a new one? In Ecuador, people bring an end to their año viejo (old year) by burning it. At midnight they bring effigies of politicians, cultural icons and fictional characters, and torch them in the street as a part of their tradition. The effigy can also be … Read more
Over 2600-m above sea-level, a swing was hanging over a steep rock face. They called it the “Swing at the End of the World” because a fall from the swing into the abyss could bring the end of the world to the rider. The swing was attached to a wooden house nestled in a tree … Read more
Deep in the rainforest, a waterfall plunges into a deep canyon with a thundering noise. They call this waterfall Pailon Del Diablo or Devil’s Cauldron. Like a moth overwhelmed by the love for the flame flies directly into it, the (Rio) Verde river jumps from the cliff in a suicidal manner and crashes into the … Read more
Today while cycling uphill in the Central Highlands of Ecuador, I saw a woman working alone with the hay near a 3300-m pass. Nearby, some cows were grazing. “How is life in this village?” I asked her. “Only a few people live here. The weather is cold. There is no other work except agriculture and … Read more
Walking around in the streets of Aluasi, I stumbled upon two Quechua women in traditional dresses. It took me quite a while to convince them before I could take their picture as they were very shy and reluctant to be photographed.Here you see them in traditional Inca dress which is worn by most Quechua women … Read more
Standing at the edge of a road in the Southern highlands of Ecuador today, a sweeping valley was in front of me. The view was so big that my eyes couldn’t contain it, similar to holding a bowl under a large waterfall. The bottom of the valley was covered with thick clouds. It appeared like … Read more
One early morning pedalling slowly on a steep road in southern Ecuador, I feel a hand on my shoulder. A familiar voice speaks to me. “What is that you seek?” “I want to escape. I am searching for something, but I don’t know what?” I reply. “You can only search for something when it is … Read more
I sweated profusely and my heart knocked like a hammer inside my chest as I ground my teeth on the way uphill. A vehicle carrying a family honked the horn as it overtook me and then stopped. A man stepped out of the car and came running to me. “Are you Okay? Do you need … Read more
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