Riding solo

Sunday, November 21st, 2010

Latacunga

I was lucky enough to have a mechanic at the site where my bike was parked, so I didn't have to ride through the town. He showed me how to tighten the chain, which unfortunatly needs to be changed soon, how to clean the airfilter and we shortened the kickstand, and made the plattform larger and more durable. After that, I was gonna go shopping to get other pants than my running pants. I was so happy to finally have a credit card, and Pow, it doesnt work! So frustrating, but I got money from the Western Union this morning. It did remind me of how it was when I was in Sydney, living in one of the most luxurious hotels in the city, without money for food the next day. But the receptionist of the hostel lent me money in exchange for my passport as security, so I went out with some fun australians.
The next morning, I did some chores and I tried to leave at the same time as Ray and Victor, but I ended up leaving on my own for Banos: first taking a wrong turn that forced me to go a looong way around, and it was raining and eventually freezing. Luckily the roads were wide open without traffic. I decided to stop in Latacunga instead, and I'm so glad for that! Its an amazing little town with surrounding mountains. I found a great hostel: hostel cafe tienda, met some nice people. Walked around the town looking at beautiful churches, the nice market thats every day, got to know some locals while trying out some new food. They give samples here too, and it makes me feel a bit bad when I really don't want to buy it!
I don't mind staying one more day. Banos is only two hours away, and there's a lake to see from the back of my bike. Happy that I left Quito!!

For some reason, I was exhausted this morning, and didn`t feel like rushing around town to see it before hopping on the bike to Banos. I decided to rest my leg and wait till tomororw, when there`s also less traffic. Was gonna go really early, but I don`t know anymore as I met a guy who`s driving up Cotopaxi after an artisan market. It means I`ll be going to Banos late, and I`ll probably get wet n cold, but I`ll go if the weather`s good.
I walked around a bit to take photos, and took Tornado out for a little spin to make sure that everythings alright, as he was a bit shaky when we arrived here. It was only the altitude though, and he`s good now. Rode up to the top of the city to look around, and also go to some areas where I wouldn`t really walk. Went to the market twice today for some fruit and later ceviche. I bought a big bad of strawberries, blackberries, a banana and a mango for 1,5usd in total! After fussing a lot about which movie to choose, we ended up with "the visitor", which was really good!
But yeah.. Really looking forward to Banos tomorrow! Feel bad for Victor, who`s in the hospital with food poisining. That`s one of the things I have to be really careful about. Miss being able to drink the tapwater, as one does in Colombia. Also miss a bit of heat.. brr.. Travelling South America and I`m both freezing and pale(w one blue foot though). What is this? Gotta get down to the coast soon.



Monday, November 22nd, 2010

Baños!

God damn! I like it.
I turned down the offer of a roadtrip up Cotopaxi, as I was more keen on getting to Baños, one of the places that have been very high on my list. It´s the place for thermal baths, adventuresports, trekking, horsebackriding, eating and being a true gringo. It´s very touristy, but I have been so far off the gringo trail for a while that I don´t mind too much. I only mind the "short trip- lonely planet travelling slaves", that doesn´t get to know the country nor the people, at all.
Riding to Baños was great. The sun was shining, I had my mp3 and it was a surprisingly short trip. Unfortunatly, as I stopped to take a photo, my camera appeared to strike! It´s the focus, so I had to accept that I couldn´t take any photos of this beautiful place, just yet. Baños is in a green valley of steep mountains. One which is a volcano that you can ride or hike far up on. Coming in to the town, I saw loads of foreigners, quadbikes, restaurants and hotels. I checked in to Plantas y Blancos, which is a great hostel for 6,50, met a guy from Salento, almost passed out in one of the sunbeds, walked around, had a really good lunch and afterwards a great full body massage with great aromas, hotstones and an included facial: total 70minutes for 15usd...! I had been craving that. I got pampered some more in the hot thermal baths by the waterfall: three pools with different temperatures: 2usd entry. We also went to a good restaurant with great international food and movies showing, called club house. Tomorrow morning are we going to do a kind of "swing" from a 90m high bridge: 15usd. Unfortunatly there is no bungee jump. I can´t do too much with my knee either. Frustrating.. But should heal soon.







Wednesday, November 24th, 2010


I went to the bridge to bungee with a group of Aussies. I was set on making it as scary as possible, so I went last. Actually jumping from the edge is terrifying, but there was hardly any free fall. When I went with Victor later in the day, he got the second jump cheaper and with a longer freefall(recommend just showing up on the bridge and haggling, as the equipment is already there).
I considered riding my bike up the hills when the others were renting quadbikes, but I had never ridden one before, so I went for it, luckily, as it was great fun! The scenery is beautiful and the roads were swingy and loco. We saw the tip of the volcano through the clouds at one point. After that amount of adrenaline, we needed some time on the sunbeds. Later, I decided to get another massage from another parlour, just so that I could say who to recommend. It was just me being really nice! Unfortunatly, the Chakra massose wasn´t there, and since I had already tried Prana(which is really good as for sents, the bed, hotstones, massage, oils, music and price), I decided to try a recommended chinese place. After a nice conversation with a woman from Urugay, I practiced some of my mandarin words with my massose! I haggled the price a bit, and got one of the worst massages I´ve had... I´ve had quite a few in Bali. It was a depressing waste of money, which you do spend a lot of here.
For dinner, we were disappointingly aware that Casa Hood was closed that day and the next. They have great international dishes! We went to Cafe Good instead. Yes, their names are similar. There´s also a Cafe Hood, to make it even more complicated. I don´t know if its on purpose, because Plantas Y Blanco is a popular hostel here, and there is another hostel with almost the same name, for people that make that mistake.
After checking out a few bars, among one a karaoke bar where I got to sing some, we shut our eyes after a good day. The next one would be rather boring..
I´ve been restless as everyone is doing activities that I can´t. I tried to locate somewhere to buy a new tyre, but I´ll have to do that in Riobamba tomorrow morning. I tried to figure out wether or not to go to Cuenca, as not doing that could save me several hours on the road. But the road down between the mountains are supposed to be spectacular, and I don´t really have anything else to do down south. I´ve been waiting all day for a mail from my modelling agent, as I got word that Exito needed me urgently.
I sent a mail saying that it would be good to know when, as I need to get to an airport in that case. Once again, it´s taking them forever to reply. I´m just struggling with myself a little bit today. I feel really restless, which I didn´t expect at all. Would´ve been different if I could trek, climb and horsebackride. At least I had a good big lunch at my favorite spot: the second floor restaurant at the right corner before arriving at the supermarket from my hostel, which is near the beautiful church.