Hola! Bienvenidos a Ecuador!

Where would you go if you had a couple of months, tons of saved up energy from a desk job, and little saved up from the desk job?

I hopped on an American Airlines flight to Quito, Ecuador the day after commencement and some furious last minute packing. Armed with pretty much the same gear I brought to India earlier this year, I included a few extras: hiking boots, first aid kit, and a more comprehensive insurance policy. Still in good physical condition, I've planned for an adventure while I still have the luxury of youth everfleeting.

Upon arrival in Quito, I was greeted by hundreds of worried eyes peering into the exit gate for their loved ones due to delays caused by the movement of Air Force One at Miami International. Each Ecuadorian passenger seemed to have a complete entourage of friends, and extended family receiving him at the airport. As soon as I jumped into a cab, the driver gave me a crash course in local delicacies (such as "Cuy" or Guinea Pig) and local hangover remedies as he took me to the Secret Garden Hostel. Rated one of the best in Latin America, the Secret garden charged $10 USD per night for a bed in an 8 man dorm, and features a panoramic view of old colonial Quito from the rooftop terrace. There, travelers compare tales of traveling feats, mugging experiences, and drinking ability. Every now and then, the volunteer staff will herd the most inebriated of the gringos into a party bus, and ship them off to the abyss known as La Mariscal District.

At an altitude of 9200 ft, Quito is the second highest capital city in the world after La Paz, Bolivia. surrounded by Andean Mountain regions, its also one of the most picturesque I've seen. I spent my first day quickly going through the touristy circuit, exploring and orientating myself to the city, checking out churches, city squares, and shopping around for a 2 day mountain biking trip to surrounding volcanoes departing the next day. My first impression of Ecuador is that its a very user-friendly and popular place to travel. Geographically diverse, one can move from the coast, through the highlands, and into the Amazon rain forest in 1 day. People are generally friendly and helpful, but knowing "un poco Espanol" definitely helps with getting around. Although the streets are cleaner and the touts aren't as aggressive as those I've encountered in India, crime rate is higher, and travelers do need to be more vigilant at night when the police collectively take a break. Most restaurants serve set meals priced between $2-3 which includes a soup, drink and main course consisting of rice, fries, a piece of meat, raw veggies in vinegrette, and fried egg. I would usually hate myself if I settle for pizza or burgers when traveling instead of immersing myself with the local cuisine, but since the local cuisine isn't too different, I'm relieved of the pressure to find and try endemic cuisine all the time.

As I travel south to Peru, I'll try to keep this blog updated more frequently than I have been doing, so stay tuned for more!