The town of Mindo itself was very safe, and relatively new, with a population of around 4,000 people. Tourism is basically the only industry in the town, which, due to its latitude and climate, boasts incredible biodiversity. The hostel I carefully chose from hundreds had a beautiful half-acre of garden in the backyard, a host to over 100 bird species. In the breakfast area, I could view hummingbirds feeding as I ate my breakfast, or, in a lazy afternoon after returning from adventures, I would lounge in a hammock in the open living room upstairs reading, the hummingbirds occasionally swooping over my face, and the toucans faintly disturbing me from the trees.
My first day in Mindo, I took a terrabita (cable car) across this chasm of wilderness to hike and explore on the other side. Using a map that was so hopelessly introverted that it was really just a bad diagram, I jogged and hiked, visiting seven waterfalls, and viewing closely the amazing flora and fauna along the way. I am fascinated by the incredible fecundity and, opposing it, the myriad blight. The highlight of my trip was coming across a small armadillo, that was so shortsighted (or maybe stupid) that I was able to lure him toward me, so close I could've picked him up without lunging. These creatures are strange, almost reptilian, with scaly legs and claw-like toes, but with the flexing ears and faces of sensitive mammals. I encountered just two other people in my 3 1/2 hours, and enjoyed singing and talking to myself alone in the canopy. Afterward, I jogged the 3 miles back to town (this time downhill), and sighted a fleeing black monkey just as its hauches and tail vanished over the edge of the roadway.
That evening, I met Marie and Niko (sp?), a French-speaking couple from Belgium staying at my same hostel, and struck up an easy friendship. The next day, we set off to do a canopy adventure together. "Canopying" consists of riding zip lines through and above the canopy of the cloud forest, sometimes with a soaring 300-foot drop below, sometimes through boughs of palms. We wore harnesses to attach us to the lines, gloves with metal hands with which to grab the lines - but ONLY to slow us on the fast ones! - I disobeyed and grabbed the line a couple times on the first two rides (not too close, or your hand will get caught up in it!) because I was worried about my face getting to close to the rushing line... they assured me that if I leaned back more and kept my body rigid, I would be safe. I was dubious, but became comfortable after my first super-man style ride where I didn't have the line anywhere near my face because I was riding face first, my legs wrapped around a guide behind me(see video below). Our adventure included 13 ziplines, which were quickly over. Afterward, I decided I wanted to try the Tarzan swing (see earlier post and video). Needless to say, this was quite thrilling! I always thought I was afraid of heights...
After our high-flying adventures, we headed to the more demure butterfly house, where we ate a delicious lunch with a French couple I had met earlier. The butterfly house breeds butterflies for release but also for education. Some were quite old and ragged. I noted my revulsion with interest; as the wings uncomfortably shred with age, the butterflies transform from winged beauties into hideously disfigured, large bugs - but nothing else has changed... just the absence of wings! How shallow our interest in butterflies...
The next morning, we were up at 5:30 am, waiting out a rainstorm to go birdwatching. Our guide was a strapping young 17-year-old sophomore in high school with a frightening ability to spot birds almost invisible in the dense and convoluted forest. His enthusiasm carried us along for our 3-hour hike, and we were also accompanied by a typical local dog. My favorite bird sighting was definitely the toucans, which were hard to miss - they were the noisiest animals in the forest.
That same afternoon, we left on a bus for Quito, where we crammed 5 people into a cab into town. Then, armed with a map from Marie (my first map of Quito!), I was able to plan my route to the used English-language bookstore (to pick up an old library copy of Catch 22!) and Sebastian's apartment for some lively conversation and to pack. After a few hours' sleep on his couch, I called a secure taxi to the airport. Shockingly, my 4 flights all went off without a hitch and I made it home, as scheduled, with both of my bags.
I don't know what my plans are for this winter, yet, but I hope to approach it as I did my Ecuador adventure; with the same resolution to explore my world and enjoy my time, and to weather any rough spots as part of the experience, with smoother sailing to come.
Hummingbirds from our breakfast nook
The view from the terrabita.
Mother tree.
Me and my Belgian friends
Nicko attempting "the butterfly" - flying upside down on the zipline.
The superman
The mess in Sebastian's apartment. It is hard to believe I had extra space. I was kicking myself for not buying more Christmas gifts in Otovalo... especially after my second bag checked only cost (strangely enough) $33.60!
No comments:
Post a Comment