Well, I do believe that this will by one of my last, if not the last entry before the end of the year.
Since I last updated this, I have held a dinner party at home, (with no furniture) which resulted in one of the most dramatic evenings I´ve known. Some you have heard the story....Here is a shortened version:
Philip, with whom I´d been working alongside at the agency, was finally planning his trip home, so a few of us decided to get together for a night of farewell drinks, dinner, drinks, drinks, did I mention drinks?
Other than Philip and myself everyone was Ecuadorian...The guys brought typical Ecuadorian wine and champagne - Gagging material!
Night at my place ended fairly early, only after Phil received a shirt, and had to wear it out, so we all got a display of muscles!
Then we hit Level, a RnB nightclub in La Mariscal and danced the night away...Well kinda. Maria, Phil´s girlfriend in Quito, (as opposed to the one he went to a wedding with in Cuenca) spotted him chatting to another Ecuadorian girl, and that was it - Started yelling and screaming, tears, and stormed out, with Phil in tow.
"You lied to me, you don´t love me - If you did, why would you talk to that other girl?" Top of her lungs in the middle of the street.
"I love you so much and would do anything for you" On her knees infront of him in white pants!
So guess who played the "Kiss and make up person" in the middle of the street, with another friend not feeling too crash hot hunched over an area well known for a drunk bladder release, and the security guards, telling me that it really wasn´t a safe area and a pretty girl like me really should have an escort to take me home, and did I need one?
The above photo was taken before the above-said incidents...And yes those are huge sweat patches under my arms!!! That´s what happens when you dance the night away!
Then off at a different nightclub...And Edwin, who had to leave quito at 6am to get to work down south, was falling asleep in the corner of the bar...
So I thought I would help out by giving him my housekeys and letting him know I would be home before 6am - All he had to do was let me in....The simplest of plans....
I ended up with my front door key in two pieces, a phone call from my landlord not too happy at being woken up at 4.30 am by a supposed friend of mine who had broken the key in the lock, and rung the first doorbell he saw.
I also ended up with my camera being used as down payment for a $2 cab ride for which someone couldn´t pay the fare for! Luckily a friend knew the cabbie and I got my camera back a few days later along with photos of people I didn´t and still don´t
know! Interesting.
Ten days later...I somehow got a foulish bout of the flu! Not happy Jan! In bed for two days. had Ivan, a friend of mine here, taking care of me, making sure I ate properly....I discovered the joys of cheese humitas, (typical corn pastie) sliced and lightly fried in butter with vegemite - A natural chef is what I am! Watch out for other experiments in food fusion!
I´ve also experienced Halloween here....Everyone, or most get dressed up and parade down Amazonas, one of the main streets here. Everything is for sale: paintings, masks, witches hats, posters, woolen hats, food, fairy floss. There are bands playing every 100m or so, and a live show with dancers at plaza at the end of the street.
Great fun!
Last weekend I went to Baños with Daniel for the weekend. It is a small town quite well known for its thermal springs...Although more recently for the very active volcano, only 7km away...
Despite most Quiteños telling us we would not be able to get there due to a strike outside of town, we tempted fate and hopped on a bus.
The strike did in fact exist...The bus stopped in the middle of the road, alongside another filled with soldiers, who started to hoot and whistle as we walked past - Told Daniel it was his blonde locks and deep blue eyes!
Being told the town was not far - Only 30 min walking - Off we went. Those were Ecuadorian minutes they were counting in...After walking 40, we finally got in the back of a camionetta and
had a 10-15 ride till we hit town.However our walk did prove interesting - The strike was not the military trucks as we had first thought...Big tyres burning in the middle of the road, with rather toxic black smoke, in three different places and a bunch of people just milling around not seeming to be doing much of nothing.
Baños was just gorgeous - Very chilled, very laidback. We stayed in a small hosteria where the woman was so cute! Daniel didn´t understand my blank look after he´d just babbled at me in Swedish...The little lady at the reception just told him "Si no entienda, prenda la en tus brazos, y dale un abrazo - todo se entienda asi" - If she doesn´t understand just take her into your arms and kiss her - Everything is understood then....The Sth American way!
On the Friday we rented bicycles and headed in the direction of Puyo...60km away...Like I said "In the direction of."
Most of the way was downhill with some spectacular scenery, which you almost become part of with the trucks flying past you.
We actually cycled 20km down the road to a waterfall called El Pailon Del Diablo.... On the way we helped an Ecuadorian couple change the flat tyre on their bike...The girl was very surprised when I declined her offer of a paper towel with which to wipe my hands clean, while wiping my hands on Daniel´s face!
All in all a brilliant weekend....Had a wonderful time with one of the most incredible people I´ve ever met.Thanks Daniel - Looking forward to a hell of a lot more of those! Maybe the Biking Dutchmen really will join us next time! Love you to bits!
Here we are, almost at the end of November and I have already done most of my Christmas shopping and am counting down impatiently till the 8th December, when Mum gets here and then the 20th December where Mum, Greg and I get together for Christmas...
What an incredible year.
From the comforts of living in a city I love and know, working in an environment I really enjoyed, surrounded by friends and family, to a topsey turvey journey into the unknown...Unknown parameters not only of where I was going, but also of myself.
Honestly I can say, that in my last five months living here, in Ecuador, I have aged 10 years, (although my actions still don´t reflect it - Was told the other day I act more like someone in their late teens/early 20´s). A number of lessons have been flung my way....
I have learnt:
- That I can go through most things as long as I know my family and friends are just on other side of the phone line
- I have great capacities in being a straight hard assed bitch. Never knew I could be so cold when dealing with people. Warning to you all - Do not piss me off
- That when first meeting people it is best to observe them the way you would your enemy (Great advice Richard - Gracias)
- Bullshit is universal - People spin it around the world and in every language
- The Latino Lover is overrated
- Throwing yourself in the deep end is definitely the best and most amusing way to learn so many things
- Friendship, and I mean "real" friendship is not measured by the length of time you´ve known someone
- Even on the equator line, it gets cold enough to warrant bringing out the heater
- Doesn´t matter how many things you will tick off it, your list of "Things to do Before I Die" will never get shorter
- A beer tower and some good old Aussie humour goes a long way
- Doesn´t matter where you are, or with what nationalities, you know it´s a good night out when the tequila shots come out! An even better night out when the tequila shots are $1.00 (USD) a pop!
- Loneliness is not knowing who to trust
- Happiness is a warm glowing feeling that can overwhelm you in the most unexpected way
- Smiles and hugs are the most beautiful gifts
- To believe in things only once they happen or you are physically holding them in your hands
- People will disappoint you - Pets and animals won´t
- Not to underestimate the level of understanding men can have in regards to "women´s problems"
- It is very hard to live without good cheese...
- Bananas can be served with almost anything depending on the variety you buy - And there are more varieties than you can count on two hands!
- Laughing feels bloody awesome and is highly underrated
- You should never have too much food in your fridge and can never have enough candles in your home, especially when the electricity goes out at least once a month
- Doesn´t matter where you are, gossip (true or false) travels faster than important information
- Life throws snippets of joy at you: Live them recklessy
- Falling in love is one of the most incredible, irrational, and mystifying experiences
Have a fantastic and Very Very Merry Christmas!
Hugs to you all.
XXX
