30 April 09 "In the (Amazon) jungle, the mighty (Amazon) jungle, the lion sleeps tonight…". It poured all night last night and it hasn't let up yet. Our mosquito net did us proud - no bites (good start!). Last night we were lucky enough to be visited by a shaman or 'witch doctor' who performed a cleansing ritual on a couple of fellow travellers around a blazing fire. This involved some singing, whistling and spitting of Ecuadorian rum (or som...

29 April 09 Happy birthday dad! I jumped off a bridge today and it was unreal! Gave me a bit of belly flip and a shock, but it was well worth it! Being a bit of an adrenaline junkie, I jumped off backwards as the guide said it was scarier that way… But, after doing it, I really thought it'd probably be scarier jumping forwards as you can see where you're falling. Anyhow, after some coaxing and jeering by the whole group that SOMEONE should jump off forwa...

27 April 09 We are on one awesome adventure! So it was quite fitting that today was a day of, well, adventure! We are staying in Rio Verde at a camping/lodge area called Pequeño Paraiso (translated to mean "Little Paradise" - this couldn't be more true). This is just outside the town of Baños (note: the word baño in Spanish means "toilet" so I am a little concerned as to why a town would be named "Toilets"…). We are b...

25 April 09 "Lest we forget" The border crossing into Ecuador was smooth and without drama. Ecuador trades in US dollars which is so strange to me. It makes everything seem a lot cheaper than it is!! haha We are in Cuenca which is BEAUTIFUL!!! Definitely my favourite city so far! It is dotted with old colonial style houses and greenery with a river running through it (we are about to go for a stroll along the river and perhaps an icecream!! My new f...