Complacent for too long…

Complacent for too long…

Sometimes, you have to take the long way around to get where you want to go or you may not appreciate the destination as much.

It came to me in a small, dank somewhat smelly hotel room the darkness of night. I was actually jolted awake by these thoughts: “Why would you want to move to a Country that is well down the path of Socialism?” “It’s time to take a stand and you need to do it at home!”

Hmm, why couldn’t I have these thoughts prior to getting on a plane and riding for over 3000 miles, I would have saved lots of money not to mention the indignity of have those friendly folks at TSA go through my underwear at the airport?

Ecuador has an almost magical quality to it. Everywhere you turn your to look is like a picture that needs to be taken. I found the people friendly and engaging, someone is always willing to point the way or offer advice as to where to find “the best” place for lunch or some spectacular attraction. You do need to be aware of who is in close proximity because you will find out quickly that relieving you of your valuable is a favorite sport here.

The soil is rich and fertile the temperature is moderate for most of the Country. I could love it here and I know my family would too. There is only one glaring issue for me, the Government.

The President here recently got re-elected to office. He was, apparently pretty moderate during his first term but now that he has a second go at it he seems to be stepping up and cozying up to the likes of Cuba’s Castro and every freedom lovers favorite, Hugo Chaves. Ecuador’s President is initiating some “programs” that sound just like they came from the commie play book.

Stuff like: Taking control of all media or how about “community councils”? Community councils sound like Hitler’s brown shirts all over again. You better only have good things to say the Government or that crash you hear in the middle of the night may be your door getting kick in. I love this one; if you own any “unused ground” the Government will take it off your hands and give it to the “people”. These are not instituted yet but they are talking pretty seriously putting them into effect.

Now what?

I caught a flight and came home last night. (Sept. 1st)

And now, I have a “fire in my belly”!

No, nothing to do with the diarrhea I have been experiencing for the last few days.

It’s the kind of fire that motivates a guy to action. No longer will I be silent and just grumble under my breath about the direction our County is going. No longer will I grumble to my family and close friends about the sad state of affairs we are now in and how I wish somebody would do “something”.

We are under attack!

Our God, our Families, our Country are under attack!

Who is attacking us you ask? Evil scheming men in high Government positions that want to ultimately control every aspect of our lives. This is nothing new, since the time of Adam there have been those who plot to take away freedom and choice.

Do I sound like some anti-Government nut job to you? I’ve been accused of worse but please know that I love the Constitution and the Government that our founding fathers were inspired by God to put into place.

If you can’t see what is happening then right before your own eyes then roll over and go back to sleep. Me, I am getting involved!

How did it come to this?

A man, I am sorry to admit that in the past, I have not paid much attention too, who, the more I read his words the more I am in awe of his grasp of what Governments is supposed to be and who was sounding the alarm over 40 years ago; A man who has served as in the Federal Government as the Secretary of Agriculture and as the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Ezra Taft Benson suggested who is to blame and how we have come to this, he said:

“The troubles of the world may largely be laid at the doors of those who are neither hot nor cold; who always follow the line of least resistance; whose timid hearts flutter at taking sides for truth.”

“I accept humbly this obligation and challenge and gratefully strive to do my duty without fear. In times as serious as these, we must not permit fear of criticism to keep us from doing our duty, even at the risk of our counsel being tabbed as political, as government becomes more and more entwined in our daily lives.

In the crisis through which we are now passing, we have been fully warned. This has brought forth some criticism. There are some of us who do not want to hear the message. It embarrasses us.

The things which are threatening our lives, our welfare, our freedoms are the very things some of us have been condoning. Many do not want to be disturbed as they continue to enjoy their comfortable complacency.”

--Ezra Taft Benson- 1973

Ouch! I have been comfortably complacent for most of my life… Time for a change, how about you?

Moving South

The view from my $8.50 a night room.

The bus trip down to Banos was uneventful and that is generally how I like my bus trips in Latin America. The way bus drivers maneuver those huge rolling bricks always amazes me. It’s a quirk of nature that the death toll for bus accidents isn’t off the chart but somehow, most of the time the bus and passengers arrive unscathed.

Banos is about 1/3 of the way south of the Ecuador and Columbian border. So far, my little short glimpse of Banos isn’t all that favorable at least for my purposes. It strikes me here as a party town, lots of foreigners looking to get sloshed (yes, I mean drink and get looped) and then run rapids on one of the nearby rivers and bike or hike up one of the many surrounding mountains. Nothing wrong with those activities but I don’t much care for the riffraff that is attracted to that stuff. Do I sound like an old grumpy conger or what? Sheese, my kids may be right… I AM an old fart.

Anyway, speaking of riffraff there is a hot springs in town and that may explain the many massage facilities that are evident on some of the streets. I think they are legitimate massage places but I will never know for sure. I have this thing about people touching me. A handshake is about the limit of my comfort zone so there is no chance of me getting a message but I just might try out the hot springs.

I am supposed to contact a guy about some property he has for sale here but then again I may pass on that too. It’s hard to get to Banos. The bus trip was a 4 hour ride and they don’t have an airport for commercial aircraft. I did meet a nice couple from the States they found a place to rent here. They were excited that it only cost them 150 per month which aint too bad, especially since it overlooks a river.

Perhaps I am just tired and I will fall in love with it here tomorrow, it really is beautiful here. We will see but whatever happens, happens.

The view from the back of the building I'm staying at in Banos.

Have a head ache? Maybe you just lack oxygen.

Three bucks will get your pretty much anywhere around Quito via taxi. If you have a plan and know what you want to do, taking a taxi is a bargain. It sure beats walking in my out of shape opinion. I did walk to Church this morning; it was only 4 blocks away, I can handle that.

Church was scheduled to start at 9:00 am and I was starring at a locked gate being the only one around at 8:45. Was I concerned? Not really, because this is Latin America and that’s the way it works here. Starting times are pretty much a suggestion of when something should begin. I love it.

Church went well; I was greeted and welcomed by most of the good folks who were flying in the door at the last minute so the service could begin. It’s interesting attending Church where you don’t understand anything but I knew when to say amen and recognized most of the hymns which I “sang” in English. The Spirit is all that is important and It was in attendance.

I bailed after Sacrament Service and had the whole day in front of me. There is this cable car gondola thingy that I heard about. What a great way to spend some time I thought and for the most part it was.

Flagging down the taxi I leaned in the passenger window and asked “Taxi metro?” He indicated that he not only had a meter but would actually use it. I got nicked the other day by a taxi driver who didn’t use a meter and I didn’t negotiate the cost of the ride prior to getting in. Lesson learned.

The taxi ride to the Teleferiqo (the cable car to the top of the world) was uneventful until the last quarter mile. The hill we were going up was extremely steep and the taxi just gave out. I mean it wouldn’t go another inch up the hill with me in the back. The driver was embarrassed and so was I. You know it’s time to lose weight when the car you’re riding in knocks’ out because it can’t handle the load.

Finally arriving at the place where you buy tickets for the cable gondola I spotted a sign that says Adults $4.50, Foreigners $8.00. “What the heck is this?” Why would they almost double the price for tourists? I thought. If I spoke the lango better than my current 1 year old level of Spanish I would give somebody a piece of my mind. After a few minutes of fuming I glance back up at the sign and it says something about “express service”. Hmm, could I get to the head of the line and bypass the hoards waiting to purchase a ticket?

Being a foreigner has its advantages. I would have been waiting in lines for 2 hours, at least, but because I am a foreigner and was willing to cough up 8 bucks for the privilege, I was ushered to the front of the line.

My gondola was waiting to transport me to head throbbing and lung burning hell. Once again I didn’t think about the effect of high altitudes and what it can to do the body.

For a couple of days after arriving in Quito I felt the effects of altitude sickness. Nothing major, just slight dizziness, headaches and the ever present mouth agape drawing in as much air as my lungs could suck in.

The gondola ride was absolutely beautiful. It was so wonderful I barely noticed the non-stop jabbering of the teeny boppers from Germany (I’m guessing). Nope, the ride was sptacular, awe inspiring in fact.

There are several platforms you can choose to go when you exit the gondola. After looking around I decide to go to the one that is up about 200 steps or so. I didn’t count the steps, there could have been more or less but who cares, I was feeling good!

Finally at the 10,000^th step or at least it felt like the 10,000^th step I was at my chosen destination. I didn’t know my heart could beat that fast or that I could suck in bugs from 10 feet away and why did everything look like I was looking down a narrow tube? At least I didn’t quit like that little wiener of a taxi that couldn’t get me up the hill. I had made it.

Snapping pictures almost faster than my camera could record them to the SD card I noticed a throbbing in my head. My heart rate was recovering and my vision was getting back to normal but the throbbing was just beginning. Ignore it; it will go away, right?

I visited other platforms and kept snapping pictures. Looking down at Quito from +13,000 is truly breath taking, figuratively and literally. After a couple of hours I was ready to make like a sea gull and get the flock out of there. My head hurt.

Turns out that Quito Ecuador is the second highest capitol city in the world following Lima Peru. I almost doubled that altitude buy going up to near the top of this huge mountain and now I know what altitude sickness is really all about. Not fun but what are you going to do? I got places to see and capillaries to burst.

Next:

Moving on. I’m done with Quito.

Mi grande cabasa is hurting.

In Country

Arriving in a foreign country always carries a little of apprehension for me. Did I fill the visa forms out properly? Did I bring the correct papers, do I look like a smuggler or some undesirable and will suffer extra scrutiny from the immigration officials?

It didn’t help that the good folks at Continental Airlines put the bug in my ear about my passport being messed up. When I got to Houston I was told to ask for a supervisor and have them inspect my passport. I even had an appointment with the passport office in Houston to get a new one if necessary.

Mr. Brooks looked at my ratty PP and said “you know they have zip lock bags you can keep these in”. Thanks, for the lecture but can I fly with this one or do I need a new one? “It looks good enough to me and I will add to your file that I gave approval”. “Oh, by the way, this doesn’t mean that the officials in Ecuador will accept it, have good day” Nothing happens and I breezed right on in to Quito.

I’m staying at a Hostel that costs $20 bucks a night. When I arrived at the Travelers Inn at 11:30pm Diego was waiting for me. He took me directly to my private room and asked if I need anything else. “Nope, not a thing, see you in the morning”. I was tired and didn’t waste any time spreading my silk sheet out on top of the bedding and passing out. It must have been 2 o’clock or so and I woke up freezing. It was time to get over my weirdness of letting hotel bedding touch me and I piled on the covers.

Sleeping in until 8:30 was a great treat but time is a’wasting; only have a month here and I got ground to cover. Shower then out the door. Diego was good enough to give me a city map and pointed out some interesting places to see and I was on my way. I felt slightly dizzy walking down the streets. Some of you may think that me being dizzy is not all that unusual and I can’t disagree but this was different.

Turns out Quito elevation is around 8000 feet or so I’m told. If true, it would explain my being out of breath and dizziness. If it’s not true then I am stroking out or something. I think it’s the altitude.

After my mid morning hour nap I was more coherent and made a plan. I wanted to see the Plaza Grande and the Basilica, two touristy things to do for sure. It was time to travel like a local also. The map says they have a trolley and it goes right past my intended targets (more or less).

On my way to the trolley I spy a sign that got me excited. “Trout Pro Shop” Hot Dog! Could it be possible I could wet a hood on this trip? Entering the store I somehow, in spite of my miserable Spanish skills I sealed the deal; I had a pack rod and reel, 3 spinners and a map to trout streams and lakes supposedly full of fatties (I’m talking fish here), all of this for under $22 dollars. A two hour bus ride and I can release my inner “EL PESQUADOR” (The fisherman, for you none Spanish speakers). Did I mention this fishing area is in very close proximity to hot springs?

The trolley trip was short due to some bonehead trying to get into my back vest pocket. I noticed him looking at me and my bag while waiting to get on the trolley and when I jammed on he followed me on and positioned himself behind me. He wasn’t a very good pickpocket because I felt him tugging on the zipper. I just turned around knocking his hand away and got off at the next station. Taking a taxi is safer and that is what I did.

Just got through talking to a guy who was robbed at gun point, he was walking to the hostel at about 8:00pm and got jacked. So much for carrying my mono pod around thinking I could beat a robber with a knife. Apparently they look for foreigners with back packs or bags assuming they have a lap top and a camera. The lessons to learn here is don’t walk at night and if you are out and about take a taxi.

Anyway this is my first post while in Country. Time to move along and get down the road.

1st Rule of Travel, know what gate you are supposed to be at.

Oh the joy of being me. You know the saying: "If things can go wrong; they will"? Yeah, I can relate.

What a day it has been. Ecuador has been postponed until this coming Monday due to severe case of A.I.S. (Avery Inattention Syndrome) and "Mutilated" PassPort Issues.

Watch this latest edition and find out some important issues that one should pay attention to when traveling.

Oh yeah, I checked a bag all the way to Ecuador this morning. It should make it OK and I hope to be reunited with it some time in the future.

The first video blog entry ever attempted by Yours Truly...

In this video you will learn the following:

1. I have a great face for radio.

2. How I intend to use the Flip Mino HD Camera.

Amazon and Cosco sells them but check out your local craigslist and get a deal on one.

3. Clothes may not make the man but good travel clothes can make the man happy and Scottevest makes good clothes. Check 'em out at www.scottevest.com

Honey? I'm going to Ecuador for a month, OK?

"Honey, I'm going to go to Ecuador, for a month, OK?"

Having been married for over 29 years to the same woman, I pretty much knew what to expect.

"And how are we going to afford that?" Was the anticipated response.

"Well, I'm going to sell a few things..."

And that was pretty much how it went. Its funny, my friends stare at me in disbelief and then shake their heads in amazement that my wife is the way she is. What can I say? I know a good thing when I see it and all it took was a bit of deceit on my part to win her over all those years ago.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not proud that I had to resort to deceiving her into believing that I was worth marring, but as the boys from Brooklyn are fond of saying "You's gotta do what you's gotta do".

A few days later she got around to asking me "Why Ecuador?" and "What are you going to do there?" Questions that took a lot more explaining and in fact, will take a few more blog posts to really understand.

Until then.