Spinning through the world
On the last day of the amazon vacation I took a boat to Panacoche lake to fish for piranha.
One last night hike…
Napo is a pretty special place and what makes it special is the community effort and commitment.
In the early morning, I went to the tower to look for the monkeys and birds that are active right at dawn.
After the sunrise hike and breakfast, we went to the cultural center to learn about the kichwa customs.
After lunch, we went back to the Añangu river to look for giant river otters. No luck today but we saw a lot of other cool things. I got to help row the canoe. The poor guide now knows I hate to sit still.
These coatimundi babies were trying to get across to where momma went. One went up one direction and the other climbed up a vine but fell down into the water – twice. Poor thing….
After dinner was a little night hike.
The clay lick at Yasunà (which in Spanish is called a saladero) is a natural mineral-rich area in the park where parrots, macaws, and other wildlife arrive to consume clay. This behavior helps them neutralize toxins found in their diet of fruits and seeds.
We woke up early in the morning to get there and see flocks of parakeets (yellow crowned, yellow tailed, and blue headed) in the first clay pit and macaws and parakeets in the second location. They eventually cover the walls of the clay banks and are something spectacular to watch. We were fortunate to not have to wait too long for the birds to arrive.
Along the way we saw other animals like this little owl.
Red howler monkey
This is the blue Morpho butterfly but the blue is on the inside of the wings. When it flies it is hard to get a good picture.
Poisonous mushroom.
Later in the afternoon I went to watch the sunset at the top of a very tall tower. Unfortunately there was a very hard rain before and fog covered over the area. I did see a red howler monkey pair.
The Napo Anangu community is an Indigenous Kichwa community. They are located in Yasunà National Park in the Ecuadorian Amazon. They are committed to conservation and sustainable ecotourism. They operate the Napo Wildlife Center, There is a lodge at the Napo wildlife center and also the Napo Cultural Center. Both are renowned eco-lodges that provides employment for locals and preserves the rainforest.
Yasunà National Park is a Biosphere Reserve, and is one of the most biodiverse places on Earth, The park contains vast oil reserves,which is troublesome as there is drilling in parts. There are also other groups of indigenous peoples who still remain uncontacted today.
The next morning we opted to pay for a different tour to the wildlife center in search of the giant river otter. In the video you can see it in the first few seconds. They are fast and elusive.
As we were watching red howler monkeys and a baby climbed a branch directly over our heads. As we were trying to get pictures we saw that it had started peeing. It missed but was pretty close to the boat. Mono travieso which means naughty monkey.
We saw a variety of monkeys on this trip and it was easier to capture videos than pictures.
On our final leg of the holiday vacation, we spent a few days in Mendoza which is known for its amazing wines.
The first day we went to Bodega Clos de Chacra for tasting, tour, and lunch.
Lunch was 7 courses (siete pasos). Great food and a lot of wine. Good thing we had a driver!
Needless to say we did not do anything else the rest of the day….
The next day we visited a few wineries. Cruzat is one of the few wineries that produces sparkling wine.
After 2 more wineries, we stopped at Rincon Gieco for a sandwich and wine tasting (by this point I didn’t want any more wine.)
Next is sailing here in Potrerillos, Mendoza followed by a return to Santiago and then to Quito.
I went to Abu Tahai for sunset. So beautiful. The cemetery is near the archaeological site.
I rented a bike one day and rode across the center of the island. Harder than I thought and very sunny. But I made it to Anakena Beach, had a swim and some pineapple juice and made the trip back. One way is 1.5 hours stopping for pictures.
Vinapu
.irador Rana Kau
Orongo
This is on the other side of the volcano Crater. There is remains of Rapa Nui houses from the 1700’s and reconstructed houses to show what they would have looked like. Here the birdman competition would happen. A representative(s) from each klan would go to the island on a log like surfing to retrieve the egg of the sooty tern.
Ahu Huri A Urenga
Puma Pau
Ahu Akiv
Maoi generally face inland. This looks like it is facing towards the water, but there would have been a village in front of it. The maoi always face towards the people as they represent mana and enlightenment.
So what if there was an alternative explanation to the Rapa Nui culture disappearing?
A theory is the inhabitants of Rapa Nui could have attempted to move to another island They were skilled Polynesian navigators capable of long ocean voyages. Why it is not likely:
1. Rapa Nui is one of the most remote inhabited islands in the world.
2. By the time of their decline, deforestation meant that they lacked materials for constructing large seafaring canoes.
3. They also had less capacity for organizing expeditions.
It has been an amazing 5 days here. Relaxing and so peaceful. Not overly touristic but just enough.
Rapa Nui is a Polynesian island where a unique and sophisticated culture developed. The moai, carved from basalt, were created to honor ancestors and chiefs, representing spiritual and political power called mana. By the 17th century, the culture suffered from overpopulation and resource depletion (mainly trees) which led to conflicts and decline. Europeans from Chile began to arrive in 1722. The brought leprosy and took many natives including tribal leaders in their slave raids. Many of the past stories were lost with them.
It is worth the time to take a full day tour and learn the history.
Anakena Beach
Hanga Tetenga
These relics showed maoi that were knocked over most likely by warring klans. The red scoria rock was used for the topknots (hair).
Ahu Tongariki
These maoi were toppled by a tsunami. A Japanese crane company owner donated a crane and a lot of money to restore the maoi.
Ahu Akahanga
Moai cultural dance at Te Moana
We had dinner at a restaurant that also has a cultural show. The dancers and singers were very talented and told the story of a king who dies, a moai statue is made and he receives eternal power.
A walk through town reveals other maoi.
Oswaldo GuayasamÃn was a renowned Ecuadorian painter and sculptor. His work focused on themes of social justice, human suffering, and oppression. His art was heavily influenced by the struggles of marginalized communities in Latin America, but also included global injustices from Asia. GuayasamÃn’s works are characterized by intense emotion, bold colors, and expressive forms, often depicting anguish and resilience and focusing on facial expressions and hands.
On his property is his house which is filled with pre-colombian artifacts and paintings from other artists around the world. He also created La Capilla del Hombre (The Chapel of Man) which is a museum dedicated to his art and a tribute to the human spirit. Both buildings stand on his property which was donated to Ecuador.
I went to Cuenca for another trip. Such a beautiful city here in Ecuador. Quiet and safe. Washing around there are many beautiful buildings and views.
I also wanted to find Christmas decorations.
This time in Cuenca I visited a few museums. One was devoted to fiber arts here in South America. Beautiful works made of fibers.
We took a half day tour to some of the areas in Cajas national park.
On the way back to Cuenca we asked the driver to put on the party lights (we were in a bus that also is used as a party bus). Of course we had a dance party on the bus. Pretty fun.
I also visited the municipal museum of Cuenca.
Other views of Cuenca.
The Pumapungo museum is an area with Incan ruins, artifacts, and a refuge for birds.
Loja is in southern Ecuador. Here it is known for its cultural heritage and beautiful landscapes. It is said if you want to know the true Ecuador, you should spend time here.
It is known as the “Music and Cultural Capital of Ecuador.” It is a must see place for seeing the real Ecuador. There are only a few expats here and knowing Spanish is highly recommended. It is one of Ecuador’s oldest cities (1548) and has a well-preserved colonial district with cobblestone streets, traditional architecture, and community plazas.
Loja is surrounded by the Andes, something we experienced flying in. The plane entered a narrow valley to be able to turn into an adjacent one to reach the landing strip. If I didn’t know better, I would think we were experiencing an emergency landing. The pilots here are very experienced.
One morning I climbed to the top of one mirador to see views of the city.
We also walked to Parque Jiripa where there are many activities for families. After peddling the swan boat we walked around a bit.
Then we went in search for food at the Cueva de cangrejos (Crab cave). Delicious!
