Thanks to my friend, Jody, I volunteered my services to a hotel in Loja for a week. Initially, I was only there to make a website for the hotel. In the end, I became the hotel’s main dishwasher, a part-time waitress, a sous chef, and a semi-advisor. It was good fun. El Cardenal Hotel is…
At the Loja Festival Internacional de Artes Vivas
Somehow, I found myself in Loja again. Most foreigners tend to bypass this city and head straight to the Peruvian border. But not me. I love this city! Loja is the cultural capital of Ecuador and the Loja Festival Internacional de Artes Vivas was at its tail-end when I arrived. Everywhere I went around the…
Thanksgiving in Cuenca
I honestly can’t remember the last time I had a Thanksgiving meal. The closest I came to a proper Thanksgiving dinner was JOMA’s Turkey Dinner Sandwich when I was living in Hanoi. This amazing sandwich had everything: slow-roasted turkey, homemade stuffing, smeared in cranberry sauce, and it came with a side of gravy for dipping….
8 of the Best Cafés in Cuenca
Cuenca is a small town in the Andes Mountains known for its riverside views, Panama hats, and a huge expat population of retired Americans. I decided to set up camp in this quaint place for a bit because it’s quiet, has numerous plazas to sit and people-watch, and there’s plenty of cafés to sample all…
On the Galapagos: Cheap Things to Do on Santa Cruz Island
Yes, the Galapagos is expensive. Because I lived in Riobamba, my perception of prices in Ecuador has been skewed. From the plane ticket to arriving in Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz’s main city, I feel like a hole has been placed in my wallet. Before Arriving on the Galapagos: Let’s start with the costs prior to…
On the Galapagos: Beach Walks and Biking on Isla Isabela
Isla Isabela is the largest and youngest island of the Galapagos. It’s made up of 5 volcanoes fused together to make an island. Pretty awesome! From Santa Cruz, I caught the afternoon ferry Neptuno. The boat cost $25 and the water taxi to get to the boat was 50¢. The two-hour journey was bumpy. I…
On the Galapagos: Life in Puerto Ayora
Thanks to a friend, I was fortunate to live like a local on the Galapagos for two weeks. About 12,000 people call Puerto Ayora home. This particular area is called Barrio el Edén and is the part of town that most tourists never see. There are mainly three groups of people who live here: the…
Riobamba: the Sultan of the Andes
I’ve called Riobamba, Ecuador home for the past four months. Nestled in the middle of the Andes Mountains some 2,754 m (9,035 ft) high, it is home to roughly 226,000 inhabitants. Being from Los Angeles and having lived in such megacities like Bangkok and Hanoi, Riobamba was a huge change for me. The city’s nickname…
Olmedo de Riobamba: Watching Ecuadorian Football
Truth be told, I only watch football (or soccer for all you Americans reading this) whenever the World Cup comes around. So, basically, I like football every four years. However, I was lucky enough to partake a football match with C.D. Olmedo, the pride of Riobamba versus Gualaceo, a team from Azuay province. Fun Facts…
How I Nearly Died Rafting in Baños
I’m not exactly the sporty type. Every once in a while, when an opportunity presents itself for me to do something physical, I’ll do it. I’m also prone to accidents and getting lost (i.e. my hiking trip in Vilcabamba.) On my last trip to Baños, I saw a rafting tour that I really wanted to…