Friday, March 16, 2007

Paddys day is a coming


So roll on the weekend

Paddys day is coming up, Saturday in fact and all is well.

Finished reading 'Me talk pretty one day' by David Sedaris

And even though (note you should never start a sentence with and) i should give the book on to someone else, i'm not
i'm going to read it again and again and again and again and again. There i've said it. Your not getting it.

Maybe by reading it over and over some of it will rub off on me, or may be it wont. But why take a chance when it could ?

Going to the Islands on the 23rd, for 18 daze. Looking forward to it. Chris is scheduled to arrive today, should be good and as the
experienced guide i can make all sorts of statements and judgments and since I’m the guide, who’s going to argue with me ?

The Jazz festival has been going well with free concerts during the day and gig’s at night, and for $10 how can one argue? Saw some great piano players this week, last night there was a guy playing the harmonica that was tearing it up. He played some really complicated stuff on Piano as well and then he played both. The bass player last night was unreal, pretty good considering that they don’t really have the clubs here for that stuff.

The Sax player from Argentina won best Sax player from 2000 – 2005, didn’t do anything unreal, it’s hard when you start off on Coltrane. Not every player is at that level.

Had a dance lesson with Elli, Wilma and their friend that I think was in that dance group we saw 2 weeks ago. Loco for the dancing they are. Then we saw the Dancing with the stars, it was a bit like standing next to teenagers watching the Beetles, but without the live music.

Spanish is coming along well, now we have covered the past, present and future. Much practice is needed but it is making sense, sort of and if it isn’t, ignorance is bliss.


A Sedaris bit for yea

See yea in the funny pages

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Walking in the Jungle, it´s no forest you know !


One of Kirsten´s photos

Just got back from the jungle treck in Tena.
Me ? I had a great time, i stayed with Fidel's family for 1 extra night.
I stayed in the upstairs of his house, under construction, currently has 2
walls. All his neighbors could see me sleeping.

As predicted, by 1 Australian on the advice of another Australian i would end up buying a lot, most of the beers, and as good advice goes i threw caution to the wind. But the difference being that the chick in the
red short shorts that cooked breakfast in the morning
came out with us, and was looking exceptionally fine, and could she cook !

She had no problem with my accent, the first girl in a
long time and even though she didnt speak a word of
English at one point i remember thinking, "Hey i'm
speaking Spanish".

At that point the cost of beers went out the window
and beers were on me, it was a good Spanish lesson,
very intense.

Her room was below the bus stop, i got a wave goodbye,
i did at one point feel like saying, "I'll be back" or
"I'm not leaving" but instead i just got on the bus
with Fidel and his family.

All in all, it was great craic.

The Shaman who doubled up as the old man performed a ceramony to get rid of bad spirits which i think did the trick.

I think someone swiped a few travellers cheques, $20 or $40, but shit happens, they got me yet another time.

Stayed in a cave the second night of the treck, i didn´t think i got any sleep, but it´s comforting to know the guy next to me was pissed off with my snoring and farting, i blame the motu (Chick pea kind of food). What else would you expect ?

Had a fish dinner, rice salad and 1 whole fried fish at the bus atation, the doller goes a long way here.

Speaking of food, my legs were eaten (Breakfast, lunch and dinner) on the treck, only a bit of malaria about, if thats any consolation...........

Chris is arriving in a few days, i will be the Tour guide, should be good

Peace out

K

Wednesday, March 07, 2007

Mi Feliz Cumplianus or my Birthday




It was my birthday and as happy birthdays go, it came
and went, not without it's little adventures and
surprises, some you can see in the photos and some you
cant.

Since my camera was stolen a few weeks ago i've begun
collecting other peoples photos, much handier than
taking my own and better too if i was to be honest,
which i'm not. But defiantly cheaper on batteries. Now
I'm not too upset about leaving my rechargeable
batteries at home.

Having a great time staying with the local family, the
dinners are awesome, and now i have my Ecuadorian
soccer shirt with a number '30' on the back, nice
touch, me being 30 the other day and all.

The Spanish is going well too, decided i'm going to
head to the Galapagos Islands around the 20th for 2-3
weeks, then at some stage it will be Colombia, lots of
good things are being said and the lost ruins in the
north seem to be the place to go, so go i will.

Thursday, March 01, 2007

Climbing a mountain, then going down



Hola (I think the spelling is right)

The Spanish is coming along nicely, the family are great. Heading out with them tonight to see a Salsa performance. Free tickets and a rumor of a salsa class on Friday.
Heading to the Sacuquili market to morrow. It´s supposed to be Ecuadors most important market, no commercial crap, just rural people. Not much beer tonight, wont have a repeat of last week (I meant to go last week, but the night life was calling) and a birthday on Friday, mine to be exact, theres talk of a birthday cake.

One of my Neighbours, from Queensland is leaving, so there is going to be a bit of a party, so it will be a good one.

Life is easy, the way it should be, i´m learning about English grammer by learning Spanish and every day i´m understanding more and more even though somedays i look like a mute when i´m trying to say something.

Climbed the local Pichincha volcano 3 days ago, i was the only one to walk all the way up, every one thought i was on speed, nope just house music, glad i didnt run out of batteries or i would have been screwed.
I did a fair bit of training in Cork for it, bringing my mother´s dogs for 15km walks, i never did run out of batteries, i would have been screwed there too.

Going to head down south after the Spanish in about 3-4 weeks, theres no rush, i have plenty of time. I´ll hit the Moccu Piccu trail, it will probably be the rainy season, but i´m used to it and it doesnt bother me a bit, sur wasnt i on the Arran Islands in January ? It's not too bad once you get used to being cold and wet all the time.