In search of an authentic rural market at Saquisili
Contrasting two of Ecuador’s rural weekly markets: A grand market at Otavalo and a smaller market at Saquisili. What’s the test for authenticity? Join me as I examine some clues from Saquisili market that may help answer the question.
Disappointing touristy fare at Otavalo’s saturday artisan market
The famous market was thriving for sure, but were did the handmade crafts go?
Sell a cow, buy some sheep, but don’t get depressed
By 7 am an army of tourists descended into the animal market, armed with video and photo cameras. By then, I had seen enough action and started making my way out…
The curious case of collapsing volcanic craters
Hiking to Quilotoa’s spectacular emerald green volcanic caldera lake
Occupy waterfront
Malecon 2000 is a waterfront boardwalk in Guayaquil, Ecuador’s largest city. Besides giving a tour of the place, I have examined the composite factors that lead to waterfront development projects, impact of public spaces on the local polulation and finally the perceived impact of these regeneration efforts on travel and tourism.
Advancing the ‘urbanidad’: A new church every week
Spanish conquistadors from the fifteenth-century, and subsequent waves of settlers that came to South America during the the period of Spanish imperial dominance were thorough adheres of the urbanidad (urban-living) doctrine. In this post, I discuss this concept and relate it to the density of colonial churches in Cuenca, Ecuador.
Photo Friday 03.15: Sangay National Park
I hike up from Baños to catching a glimpse of the snow capped Tungurahua volcano surrounded by grassy paramo and a thick forest. Clouds hang low in the region and after hiking through a foggy patch I emerge over the cloud layer and watch the beautiful conical peak golden under the rays of evening sun
Hiking through Andean hills
One can never get tired of seeing soaring snowcapped peaks at the horizon under deep blue sky with wisps of white clouds and noisy streams of water flowing through a lush green mountain valley next to the hiking trail. That pretty much summarises the scenic four to six hour trek between the villages Isinlivi and Chugchilan.
Ruta de las Cascadas
Like most travellers typically do, I check a few adventure sport agencies to choose what activity I would prefer to do. Without much deliberations, I rent a bicycle for $5 a day from one of the bike stores and decide to embark upon an ambitious journey beginning in hills of Baños ending all the way to the Amazon basin some 62km east. Well, not quite ambitious, since this is a standard bicycling route called “Ruta de las Cascadas,” or route of the waterfalls