Today is September 15th. Only 4 days to go and I am getting thoroughly excited. I am so in need of a real vacation! I am looking forward to testing out my new little camera and just hope the battery will last...

September 16th. Starting my shopping shortlist: batteries and a flashlight. Don't want to run over this anaconda in the dark - oops. …

Quito on a Saturday is pretty busy, add to it a political rally in preparation for the national referendum for a new constitution next week and I start wanting to go to the jungle right now. The old town is pretty colourful. Buildings are in all different colours including pink and the white churches and cathedral make an awesome picture against …

Today, I balance an egg on a nail. And then I lose my balance trying to stand on one leg. Go figure! That’s of course, right on the equator – the real one that is, the one they GPSed a few years back not the fake French one. Our guide there shows us the water running clockwise in the southern hemisphere, counter-clockwise in the …

A stuck-in-the-mud Land Rover and 2 burst tyres later, my bum hurts. Mountain Biking in the AndesMountains along Volcán Pichincha is somewhat tougher than I thought. We started at 3,200m altitude in the Andes Forrest where the trail starts cobble stoned – not perfect for my bum – did I mention that it hurts? I find out that my …

On the way here, I had this Disney Moment. Looking at the rainforest around me I imagine singing snakes looking up from the tress, joking monkeys dangling from the branches, colourful butterflies dancing around and a shy jaguar peeking through the trees. None of this actually happened. Sigh.

The short flight from Quito took us across the …

I just had my third shower and the day isn’t over yet. The cabins don’t have glass windows, just mosquito nets. Though it doesn’t get quite as hot and humid inside the cabins, nothing dries. Just to make it clear, each room has a “dry box” where we are supposed to keep electronics, all our books and papers as they may …

1h25min. That’s how long I can sit or stand still and not talk. Any quiet activity lasting longer than this is killing me. Another round of bird watching this morning. A different tower, same birds. No, not really. We saw some amazing colourful birds, but there is only so many times I can ahh and uhh over seeing yet another bird. Luckily, we …

I am Jane today. Walking through the rainforest in search for some so far undiscovered gems, we come by a liana and I can’t help taking a swing. Where is Tarzan when you need him?

On the hike today we see a giant ant, a Konga, which is the size of your pinky finger and poisonous. Then we see an anteater. Wow, this thing is enormous. This …

Back in Quito, Luis, our guide, meets us at the airport. Quito airport has now become a place to see familiar faces. Luis tells us where to buy souvenirs and go for a good Ecuadorian dinner.

I still have a whole list of food items on my list to check off, so here is my chance. And I have it all, including the figs with cheese and the fried …