Blenheim WCE Ecuador Blog

We started the Inca Trek from a primary school.

Kellie’s menagerie

Teamwork	Ed putting up our tent

We spent a day hiking, and got to our campsite about 3-4pm, then spent an hour doing lazing about and eating lunch. Obviously the mules had beat us there with our bags.

Eventually we pitched our tents and got on with some work (digging the loo). As the sun set about 6pm it got very cold. We had pasta and Mc Dougles for tea. Some of us went on a walk up the cliff of the valley to explore a cave. In the end the cave was tiny, but there was a cool hay hut which we checked out, and there were some high rocks to pose for photos on!

Guys in the hay house…

(Click on pictures to open album)

We went to bed about 7pm! Nothing much else to do you see.
We were woken up in the morning by Chris who was leader that morning shortly before 630am and it was freezing. Porridge for breakfast, and my tent were the slowest at getting moving packed up ready for the days trek.

Finally we moved off (9am!) and spent half the day trekking before stopping about 12pm for a break. Unfortunately it turned out to be a very long break because one of our members had the symptoms of altitude sickness. After much debate, the plug was pulled since we needed to get down to ensure their wellbeing.

Going back to Alusi

Alex & Charles break it down in Alusi

So we went back to Alusi, and stayed there a night, our ill teamate was given some Oxygen and declared fine.
Next day we took a 4hour coach journey to Cuenca, where we are staying for a few days. Cuenca is the third biggest city in Ecuador i think, and the home of guinea pig food and panama hats. I was impressed at the bus station in Cuenca by a clean toilet with soap and towel for only 10c !

We then accidentally ended up at the wrong hostel (two with identical names, one a Hotel, the other a Hostel), then traipsed over to the right one (its a lot cheaper) only to find out that its a bit minging (slang for nasty) and i don’t think anyone wants to use the showers.

Meanwhile the girls have a much nicer establishment round the block! Oh well. Its a bed and its com& even if we do need our sleeping bags! LOL

Tomorrow we plan to take a day trip to the inca ruins anyway. so we havent lost out on anything but the camping and cold mornings with rubbish food (our tent hadn’t bought enuf anyway doh!)

After that we have a long about 8-11hr bus ride to Maccas to start our Jungle phase which is the second to last bit!

How time flies!

Gonna be fun!
Adios Amigos!

Might be a while b4 i get to write again..

Chugging along.	The Nose

Today, we rode on the ‘Nariz el Diablo’ – Devils Nose.
People ride on the roof of the train to get the best views, and because
a)it’s cheaper
b)there isn’t enuf space in the coaches.
It was a very long and scenic journey, and I took hundreds of photos (only put the best ones on the gallery lol).
The funniest thing was that kids were dotted alongside the rails on the route, because people on the roof (and us once we realised) were throwing the kids lollipops and sweets! We even had on train entertainment:

1 man band!

And the bog was interesting – a straight drop, so you could see the ground wizzing by, like a window u pee through! Aiming while the train is moving is tricky for us lads to lol. Its actually a long but cool zigzag down a mountainside, with death defying almost sheer drops off the edge, and some very old rickety bridges across ravines!

We were heading to Alusi, a small high town, even though we went through to see the devils Nose – came back up after stopping for photo ops and shuffling the carriages.

Heres some random pictures:
(click on the pictures to view the album)

view more images from this album

view more images from this album

So far, we’ve travelled thru:
Central Quito, Rio Bamba – Quito,
been to Apuella for our Project phase,
Quito – Travelling through,
Climbed Ruminahui (about 4700m), staying here (very cold when the sun sets ),
Stayed in Otovalo and got to see the markets.

Currently we’re in Alusi.

Now we’re moving on to our trek – an Inca Trail.
We are stocking up and buying loads of food today, and then moving out. We’ll be staying in a small village for overnight before starting the trek.
Its going to be 5 days in total, through some valleys and stuff, round a lake I think, and eventually arriving at an ancient Inca civilization.

We going to see an Inca Sun temple – i believe, and catch sunrise over the ruins!

Hope to post when we get back.
EDITED 15/3/7 – Fixed corruption, added pics and some more detail.

Hi Everyone. Sorry about the downtime, my host moved my account accross to a different server. Everything should be backup now. In the meantime, Garreth tried to add a post, but failed so he sent me an email which was also lost :’(.

Sorry Guys!

Catherine’s entry

Well sleep last night was pretty poor cos someone *coughs* (Louise) cept kicking me in the head ‘accidentally’, but the day has been another brilliant one.

We started painting classroom divisions + teachers desks @ 8, with breaks for lunch, and sacrificed our planned trip to local hot springs so that everything would be ready for the kids return to school tomorrow.

I am really pleased because I learnt to mix/thin paint today, something I’ve never done before. However in the process I have managed to stain my hands with grey-ish paint (which no amount of paint thinner will remove), thus earning the nickname corpse-girl, and resulting in many odd lookcs from locals. Ah well, it’ll come off ewith the skin… in about 3 weeks.

Today we treated ourselves in a restauraunt meal which was delicous + only $1.50 per head. Afterwards a few of us socialised with some local children which was very enjoyable.

All in all a great Day.

ED’s Entry

What a brilliant day! The satisfaction of a job well done is unbelieveable. The team worked like a well oiled machine and churned out 15 sanded and painted divisions for the school classrooms, and did some other jobs, like fixing the baskedball nets.

We then got ready for dinner and had a proper meal (no pasta and sauce of your choice for us today). Chicken, rice, chips and veg! Yum! Then we came back where I am sitting now, under the stars, writing this entry.

Most memorable comments of my day:

“I Hacked into the school computer system”

- GazzaT on being asked about one of the most reckless/daring things he has ever done.

“I am pregnant”

- Charlie telling an Ecuadorian in spanish about a little problem he has.

“CHRIS STOKES”

The Ecuadorians hail Chris as their new King!

Monday 24th – Louise

Today everyone was happier after the night before! Everyone put a lot of effort in to make the day go well. Catherine was leader and did a wicked job.

First we set off on a walk up a really steep zigzaggy hill by our campsite. James did overcome his fear of heights and everyone showed we could work as a team when people struggled.

[FIND AND INSERT PIC OF TREK/HILL]

Matt found a lot of insects which were very alike.

When we got to the top we ate then stayed to play with the children who were really excited to meet us especially when John gave them sweets.

Personally it was my favourite part of the trip so far.

Here are a few peoples comments:

I was extremely moved and excited as well as proud of the team – it was wicked good fun teaching them games like duck duck goose and It.

- Yasmin

Today has been the best day so far. It started off with a long trek up the mountain which was very rewarding when we got to the top. To our amazement there was a school up there and all the children were fasinated by us and our cameras, and stole Stephans game boy. Later we played games with them which was really fun. Their favourite was duck duck goose which was brilliant. Then when the bell went and the kids went back to class we were all a bit upset. Finally we had to make the long and dangerouse trek down and I saw lots of massive spiders. Great!

- Matthew [insert snake sig here]

The trek down was hard & everyones feet hurt but we washed in the stream then came back to start our project work. We began by sanding & painting the dividers between the classes. After we were knackered so ate, had a quick meeting & slept. But it was really hot.

X Louise X