Okay, so for Christmas break Robb and I went to Ecuador, ostensibly to visit my parents, who are currently serving as full-time missionaries in the Ecuador Guayaquil (South?) Mission.
Part 1
We started off our trip in Quito, where we found a hostel, crashed into bed (it was a LONG day of flying), and promptly got up the next morning for a 5:30 bus into El Oriente - the Amazon rainforest. We drove to Tena, and ended up in the Shangri La Lodge, above the Anzu River. We stayed there for four days and were able to go hiking through the jungle, white water rafting on the Jatunyacu river, as well as getting to know people from all over the world when the guests came together for dinner each night. We saw bats, river otters, parrots, snakes, and WAY more bugs (particularly ENORMOUS spiders) than I ever wanted - or want - to see. We also saw hundreds of amazingly beautiful flowers, trees, and shrubs, and ate a variety of bananas, plantain, and yucca. Here are some jungle pictures:
Chonta palm - VERY spiky!
The Anzu River
Leaf cutter ants
Pedro, our guide, painting Robb with achiote
Jungle fashion baby - HOT.
PS: I also got the WORST sunburn of my life while rafting. I'm pretty sure it was a serious 2nd degree burn, edging into 3rd degree territory. Thanks to my Mom and her tub of Watson's burn cream, I'm okay - though my legs may have a permanent tan line from the knees down!
1 comment:
omgosh! those pictures are amazing! i want to hike through the amazon- i REALLY want to go white-water rafting. maybe next time i come to cali, we could all go (i'm not a big, preggo liability this time!!).
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