feliz compilano

it doesnt seem like i've been living out of a backpack for 3 months. its gotten a little heavy, i guess that means its almost time for me to head back. strange as that seems. if you know me, you know that i usually mentally shut down before i finish something. but right now im still fully in south america, somehow i feel so far removed from life in canada.
but i feel really good. i feel like this trip has been nothing like i couldve ever imagined. i feel as though i´ve conquered a mountain that i didnt realize i was climbing. now ive summited and i can see how far i've come. its been a process though. there were times when i was completely overwhelmed. times when i wanted to cry, but couldnt because it wouldnt have helped. ive been challanged in every way and pushed to limits. there've been times when every crutch ive ever used was taken from me and forced to face my insecurities. and there've been times that i feel that i only made it through by the grace of those praying for me.
ive enjoyed solitude, and disdained it as well. i've loved some, despite the fact i would leave them soon after. ive cherished relationships with people of all ages. ive been lost in large cities. ive been at the mercy of strangers. ive been humbled by the generosity of many. ive learned a little of a language, a little of a culture, and a little of their food. ive learned to share. i've been completely vulnerable with people i didnt know. ive had a lot of time to think about a lot of different things. ive embraced emotion. its been amazing. i wouldnt trade this experience for anything.

meet denis

denis, hmm, dont even know his last name. from slovania, although he grew up in germany. student. major in economics and politics.
so denis seems to be an integral part of my trip, strange as it may seem. well, maybe not integral, but he is somewhat of a thread pulling together many different places, people and experiences. i met him in bogota. it was the begining of his trip, and the start of my travel alone. we hung out for a few days, and i went on my way. over the last two months we have bumped into each other 5 times. somehow, when we're in the same city, we even end up in the same hostal. i dont understand how it all works out because we go different places and stay for different amounts of time. there've been other people along the way, that we've tried to meet up again, and it just hasnt worked out.
anyhow, i just thought you should meet.

surfs up

the other day i arrived at the beach with two sweaters on and mittens. and today i found myself in the mountains with salty jeans and sand between my toes. i guess thats how it works when you travel in a small country, you change climates faster than you can change your clothes.


after the whales in puerto lopez, i went south one hour to the surf hippie town of montañita. i loved it there. i got there just in time for a surf competition. i made friends with the locals. well, not locals, im not sure what you would call them. they're travelers that got stuck and never left. some of them work, some of them dont. some of them sell jewelery. some of them have drum circles and dance with fire. i really liked it there. i stayed in a hostel right on the beach the dorms were in the attic. it was open air and you could feel the ocean breeze while you slept. it was one of those places where i felt like i was there a week, even though it was only one night. there were people there that lived something like i would like to. although i do not aspire to be like them, but i think that i can learn from them. perhaps it is best that i did not stay longer, or maybe i would´ve gotten stuck as well.

mi amor

so i i've been doing a lot to try and get the most of my last few weeks. i went on this train ride where you sit on the top of the train. it was a nice way to travel. see the country side of equador and feel the breeze. but there were a few too many tourists for my liking. its funny the different type of people that travel in different areas. here in equador there are a lot of vacationers. i just dont find their company as enjoyabe. actually a fight broke out over seating. not physical but angery people with biting words. i found it quite disheartening.
then i headed to the coast to puerto lopez for some whale watching. i cant explain to you how wonderful it was to watch them dance. these pictures look like i didnt see a lot. but i did - just not through the lense of a camera, which is better i suppose. but these are the humpback whales. it is the time of migration so there are many passing through. they jumped out of the water, slapped their fins, spouted water, and splashed their tales. it was sureal. i thought i might even cry, but that had to do with the lack of sleep as well.
i think that it is funny how these people manage to sell things they cannot own or control. when they told me about the tour they said it would be between 2 and 4 hours depending on the activity. and with a 30 min boat ride out there, and 30 min educational talk, that means we could've spent a half hour looking, and headed back without seeing anything. with the volcanoe as well, they'll take you on a tour to see activity. but it may just be a campfire and warm drink. and maybe that is the thrill, to seek out what you may not be able to find.