Thanks for the messages, here´s our next installment, enjoy, with photo´s!!

Quito to Baños

17th May 2009 Quito to Otovalo

Early start to meet the group leader Kristy, Brandan the driver and the rest of our travel mates for the next 53 days. Seem like a good bunch, mixed ages and slightly men heavy.

Three lads were missing for the first meeting nursing hangovers from the night before…

We got on board the truck and made ourselves comfy for a half day drive to Otovalo.

We stopped on the way at a museum of the equator where we stood on the equator and Phil balanced an egg on a nail only posible at the equator !

Otovalo is a town famous for its craft markets. Stayed in a great little hostel and had a crew meal at an Equadorian restaurant. Have another day here so early night alter a few drinks . All seem like a fun lot should be a great trip in South America.

18th May Otovalo

Lazy day mooching aroung the town and the craft markets. Had to drag Phil away from the stalls before he had bought too much ! Some of the others walked to a nearby lake but some of us sat in a bar people watching and relaxing, great day.

Went for a mexican meal that night followed by Karaoke. Phil sang a memorable version of Barbie Girl!!!! Apparently there´s video evidence I will try and get hold of !

19th May Truck day to Tena

Spent most of the day travelling to town of Tena ( one of the rafting capitals in Ecuador).

We stoppped for a picnic lunch in driving rain parked under a sports pitch roof in a small town much to the locals amusement .

Arrived in Tena which , apart from the huge river, was pretty nondescript.

9 of us have booked to go rafting tomorrow on grade 3 rapids. Since we arrived and booked into the rooms there has been continuous , deafening torrential rain so the rapids might be bigger than we think !!!!!

20th May Tena to Amazon rainforest lodge

Woke early to go for pre rafting brekfast before heading to the river for the rafting day.

Phil and Liz on seperate rafts and the rest split into two teams. Warm and slight rain to start the day. We had a quick run through of instructions before setting off down the river, Great fun rowing through the rapids, lots of big waves to soak us all.

We stopped for lunch and played games of ultimate frisby on the beach with the local guides and children.

Alter filling our bellies we set off again down river. Phils raft managed to keep upright all afternoon until they did some crazy tricks !! Lizzies raft capsized within minutes of setting off sending Liz downstream with absolute terror on her face. The kayak came to her rescue and back in the raft she went to carry on !! Brilliant morning except the capsize moment.

We got back on the truck to travel to a river crossing to take us into the Amazon rainforest where we are staying in a jungle lodge for a few nights. We arrived at Arajuno lodge to be met by Tom who runs the lodge. What an absolute paradise it is , surrounded by jungle sounds . Tom took us for a tour of the property and bought out Mona a two year old woolley monkey he keeps as a pet since her mother was poached.

We needed no more entertainment as Mona was hilarious, clambering over everyone and being a truly naughty monkey.

Great food (shock horror Phil has eaten another fish a relative to the Pirahna )and good company .

21 May Aranjuno Lodge

Went by boat to the Amazonica animal rescue centre where we saw some rescued and rehabilitated indigenous animals and birds. Really lovely morning tour followed by and afternoon floating down the river on huge innertubes the boys had to watch out for the Amaonia Penis fish whilst swimming!!! (the fish that swims up your willy if you wee in the water, ouch!!!!. We all feel totally relaxed and played lots of drinking games before bed. Mona helped finísh most peoples drinks and was late found with a cigarette butt- heavy night for a two year old monkey !!!!

22nd May Aranjuno lodge

Early Start for a jungle trek with Miguel a local ecologist, he was really knowledgable and made the trek really interesting and we had a laugh trekking around a swollen jungle river back to the lodge. Phil nearly trod on a snake which turned out to be one of the areas most poisonous snakes which can jump up to two feet !! Also ate ants that tasted of lemon, and various tropical fruits such as coco and coffee

We had a constrictor snake at the lodge feeding on a bat which we were all transfixed by.

We spent the evening lazing and chilling around the lodge. Phil went kayaking and everyone swam in the river before dinner.

23rd May Arajuno to Rio Verde

Another truck morning from Toms lodge to Rio Verde near Banos .Stopped in Banos where the braver of us sampled Guinea pig !! Yum Yum !! Banos is the adventure capital of Ecuador with lots of water sports and we are booked in for Canyoning in the morning. This is travelling down gorge abseiling, swimming, climbing etc. It hasn´t stopped bucketting it down though so not sure if we can go.

Phil is keen to do a bridge jump here too, bit like a bungy but more like a swing !

Congratulations to Steve and Emma . Hope you had a great day . We did have a drink to you here in Ecuador xx

24th May Rio Verde

Early start for those of us going canyoning. Really great morning , it was brilliant fun clambering down the canyon through the white water using the ropes and abseils to get past the bigger waterfalls !! Liz nearly got swallowed by one of the waterfalls but managed to get out ok !

In the afternoon we head to town of Banos on local bus and are here to write the blog. We got a local bus back to our hostel after our afternoon in Banos but got off at the wrong place 3 miles down the road past our stop!!! Had to Blag a lift off a local using our bestist spanish, b*****!!!