Hello dear Steemit friends!
First, we’d like to explain why we were so quiet here recently. Our trip to South America is over and we’re in Poland since the 10th of December. As you can imagine, we have spent this time with our families and friends, so we couldn’t write as often as we’d love to but finally, found some time. Are you ready for other breath-taking views and some adventures? Yes, we are ready too! Here we go 😊
In July we have visited Ecuador and we were hungry for seeing their volcanoes, so after some research, we have decided to check out the famous trekking The Quilotoa Loop. The day before trekking Monika got a little fever, so we had to postpone everything for one day to let her rest and get better. Because of that, we extended our stay in Latacunga where basically you won’t find anything interesting. Unfortunately, she wasn’t fully recovered, so we did only one-day trekking starting from Chugchilan and ending on the top of the Quilotoa volcano, wherein the crater you find its famous lake.
Arriving at Chugchilan we didn’t feel that in a minute we’ll be on this well-known route. Literally, there’s nothing in the village. Almost no people, no stores and no clear signs where to start. Don’t worry no one will let you get lost. Villagers seeing our white faces immediately showed us the right direction. Lovely people, we must admit that. Of course, knowing Spanish was our advantage. When we found the path, we followed it to the end.
Walking through deserted lands give you an opportunity to think about the meaning of life and why we are running every day to work to buy more and more things, which we don’t need at the end. On our way we spotted kids, who were so happy because could have helped us to cross the backyard of their house. Somebody finally needed them and that was enough. Those were most precious and honest smiles on that planet. We paid back for their kindness in sweets and took a picture to keep this memory alive. From the other hand, we found kids who were begging for gifts, because their parents got infected by the materialism virus, which came with mass tourism. We have seen people living in small wooden houses, without conveniences of XXI century, sometimes even without running water inside. Hiking through such beautiful landscapes helped us to focus, talk and understand the meaning of life here, on the planet Earth.
Would you be able to live in such a deserted place, without Internet connection and electricity? Your only worry would be how to get your belly full every day and get some coins to buy things which you can’t harvest yourself. We’re curious about that, please let us know in comments.
Now please join us and let’s hike together:
I don't need no arms around me
And I don’t need no drugs to calm me.
I have seen the writing on the wall.
Don't think I need anything at all.
No! Don't think I'll need anything at all.
Another Brick in the Wall, Part 3
Do you agree with Roger Waters words?
After meeting people’s life, we opened our eyes and appreciate even more what we have and what we can have. It’s crazy how we’re different. Who’s happier then?
Guidebooks say that this walk should take around 5-6 hours. Because we have enjoyed views so much, we finished trail after 9 hours, right before the sunset. Due to the altitude, which starts from 3200 meters above sea level up to 4000 meters and changing weather conditions, we wore jackets with and exchanged them for t-shirts. During nights at Quilotoa temperature fell even to 0 Celsius near the ground. It was very important for us to get a warm room with heating and warm water, to not let Monika get sick again. And we found one 😊
Next day after breakfast, we went for a short walk around the edge of the volcano and hitch-hiked to Zumbahua to catch a bus to Latacunga.
Below you'll some pictures from the other side of Quilotoa:
Thank you for staying with us. We are pleased being able to share our memories and thoughts with you. We must admit that you guys rock! The best audience we ever had! All the best for you in next year, make your plans come true! Hope we could meet you at SteemFest 4! :D
M&D
I often dream about ditching everything and move to a simple place like that. But then again, how would I pay for my favourite hobbies? Travelling and going to concerts?
Priorities and choices...you can travel for some time, live a simple life and then back to civilization for some time :)
Maybe you can join a band as a roadie? Traveling and concerts combined and after the tour you can go back to the simple place? :)
Long time no see, but good to hear again from you guys!
Really great reflections! Those are some of the thoughts I have had too from travelling, and now i am trying to create a more simple life for myself, because that is the only thing that really feels real, when you have gotten it all into perspective!
thanks for sharing!
Thanks for your comment! Yep, when you start looking on things from a bigger perspective you can realize that goods aren't that important as people are :) Living a simple life makes you less stresful and happier :)
Your trip, judging by the pictures, looks like a great adventure!!
Dear @route-m-d,
Thank you for the submission for our project – 1001 Places to Remember. Hooray, your story is now listed in our project publication, you can check through our progressive report either from our @fundition project page or @archisteem account. We will be sorting out the seasonal shortlist authors and make an announcement soon for the seasonal reward.
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@archisteem and team
Some beautiful country there, thanks for sharing it with us. Happy New Year.
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My brother walked this route a year back. Loved the photos. They had some rain the second day but when they arrived at the crater lake in the end the weather was all good and it looked spectecular! Just as in this post ;) thanks for sharing.
Thanks for stopping by! :)
Nice blog entry - I need to get down to South America one day. Until then, looking forward to more pics. Thanks for sharing.
You'll get more, we have many places and adventures to write about :)
What a wonderful blog @route-m-d I love the rugged terrain of your trek and the photo with the local kids is priceless. I understand and agree with your sentiments about the pleasure poor people get from giving what they have to make others happy. I also asked myself how I'd cope away from technology etc and I can honestly say that if all my basic needs were being met, I wouldn't miss it at all apart from the need to keep in touch with my friends and loved ones.
Thank you for providing great detail and sharing your journey with us. I look forward to seeing more of your travels. Following. (U & R )
Thank you for such an honest comment. I agree with you about being in touch with friends and loved ones, it's so important while living in remote areas and we can do it only through internet. We'll post more travel post soon! :)
My pleasure. We are definitely enriched by spending time with people of other cultures and I hope you continue to enjoy your travels.
Great sharing @route-m-d!
You have shown us the part of the world most people might not be travelling to, thank you!
Thank you for stopping by and such a nice comment!
The pleasure is all mine.
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Hi hi love to see you again @route-m-d, Happy new year for both of you. Those photos are fantastic. Happy travel my friends. #steemitbloggers
Finally we were able to write about our adventures. Now we'll have some more time and we'll be more active on steemit :) Sorry to keep you waiting so long! Bless!
What a marvelous adventure! The views are pretty darn incredible!