Today I was once again up early ready for my mission out to Quilotoa Laguna. After yesterday's crazy amount of walking I am not feeling the best today and feel my cold coming back. I had an unusual breakfast today that my host family had made for me - various mashed up cereals, grains, sugar and chocolate made into a warm drink - was so so tasty but unfortunately gave me the s***s. At 7:30am we headed in to the city to drop Cami's 18 month old sister off at daycare, from there we headed to the bus terminal. I jumped on the first bus headed to Zumbarawa and 2 hours later I was there. From here I had to catch a truck to Quilotoa - I was told 50cents but arriving to the destination the driver wanted $5 and got very angry - he started to argue with me and I said all the other people pay 50 cents I am not stupid don't try rip me off, it really started to upset me and he got angrier and angrier he then locked the doors and skidded out of the park. I told him fine I will go back and catch another truck for the real price - he kept saying policia policia threatening to take me to police - I said fine but was now worried he was going to do something crazy as I could see he was getting violent. He took off back to town so I finally agreed to payed him $2.50 and jumped out of the car - I don't want to start on how much this upsets me - ripping me off because the colour of my skin, if we want any form of equality in this world we must treat each other as equals. After this I was quite shaken and in a bad mood which unfortunately impacted my visit to Quilotoa. The view was epic and there was barely anyone around. The main path down was blocked as they were blowing up pieces of rock from the top edge - quite impressive little blasts then rocks catapulting down the crater. The only way down was through old pony treks and these were steep, loose and quite dangerous, I slipped on my arse probably 5 times and there were sections where I really wondered if I would make it. I made it down and was absolutely knackered / my legs were hurting, my throat was dry and I was still thinking about how I was ripped off by the taxi driver. I tried to enjoy the view down the bottom as best I could and all I can say is similar to yesterday's volcano the peace and quiet down the base of the crater is unbeatable. I didn't have long as I had to head back up before the last bus that apparently left at 2:30pm. I wouldn't have got 100 meters and my legs started to fail me, the whole climb was grueling, agonizing, stinking hot and dry but when I made it to the top arghhhhh bitter sweet. A few people asked how long it took up and I told them 45 minutes for me and their guide was like impossible at least 1.5 hours - I guess I climbed it very quick then. I sat up at the top of the crater for the next hour enjoying the best view and trying not to let my mind wonder about today's events. I walked back to the car park where I met an Israeli couple and asked if they wanted to get a taxi together - they agreed but were waiting on two other people they had met on the trek. They stuffed around for an hour and then we all decided to get a taxi just for the 3 of us. They were a nice enough couple but there was definitely something insincere about them - they obviously didn't think much of Australia and when we got out of the taxi they said they would pay less then me as they were a couple - I was quite shocked at this logic but brushed it off and paid the extra. I gave them lots of advise on Colombia and how to travel cheaply and decided not to let the little indiscretion about $$ worry me. I made it back to Latacunga grabbed a few things at the supermarket and then lined up and waited for the bus out to the farm and here's where my third drama of the day came in. After one hour no bus and it was starting to get freezing cold then two hours no bus - s***, I tried ringing my hosts but no one picked up. There was apparently another bus stop on the other side which I walked to and was told no buses were running so I walked back to the terminal and waited - I finally gave in and caught a taxi something I haven't done in years, but even this proved incredibly difficult as I couldn't pronounce the name of the area and it took 4 taxi drivers before one new where it was. I paid an extortionate rate for the taxi (the third time today being ripped) and arrived at the farm 4 hours after getting back to Latacunga. What a day - blame the dramas on myself, as it was my outlook on the various situations that made everything appear worse, I sometimes forget how lucky I am and today was that day. Tomorrow I shall be thankful for all my blessings and for God sake knuckle down on my Spanish - not knowing Spanish in this country has been the root of all my troubles.