A Letter To Ecuador

A Letter to Ecuador on Independence Day 10 August My dear Ecuador, I first met you when I crossed the Canchis river while coming from Peru. The first gift I received from you was the steepest road with up to 25% slope. My heart knocked inside the chest like a hammer and the rear wheel … Read more

International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples

Today is the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples! When the European colonizers arrived in the Americas, the indigenous population was diminished by 80–90% within the first few centuries mainly due to epidemic diseases the new settlers had brought with them. The colonizers destroyed indigenous empires and butchered natives to capture gold and land. … Read more

The Treehouse

Somewhere in Ecuador, a swing hung over a steep rock face at 2600-m above sea level. They called it the “Swing at the End of the World” because a fall from the swing into the abyss could bring the end of the world to the rider. The swing was attached to a wooden house nestled … Read more

Crossing the Equator Line

After staying in Quito for six weeks, working tirelessly day and night from the hotel room on a dozen photo essays that I recently published on Facebook I was back on the road. My bicycle felt heavier but my wallet, much lighter, with a little money left for the next leg of the travel. Leaving … Read more

Weight Loss On Bicycle Trip

How much weight have I lost in this journey so far? Judging by the clothes I wear and feeling my rib bones while sleeping at night I already knew that I have lost some, but how much exactly? Today in Quito, I saw an old man in the street with a weight-machine and after paying … Read more

Many Shapes of Quilotoa Lake

About four hours of drive from Quito there is a lake tucked away in the mountains. Located at over 3500-m altitude, this volcanic crater lake is filled with emerald green water. They call it Quilotoa Lake. Today, while sitting on the edge of the crater I look at the lake in its entirety. A soothing … Read more

Buring Old Year in Ecuador

How to wrap up old year and start a new one? In Ecuador, people bring an end to their año viejo (old year) by burning it. At midnight they bring effigies of politicians, cultural icons and fictional characters, and torch them in the street as a part of their tradition. The effigy can also be … Read more

Cotopaxi National Park

Indigenous people named it Cotopaxi or Neck of the Moon. At full moon, the crater of this mountain seems to hold the moon perfectly. With its 5897-m height, Cotopaxi is one of the highest active volcanoes in the world and Ecuador’s most destructive—destroying nearby towns repeatedly. The last eruption was in January 2016. Due to … Read more

Swing at the End of the World

Over 2600-m above sea-level, a swing was hanging over a steep rock face. They called it the “Swing at the End of the World” because a fall from the swing into the abyss could bring the end of the world to the rider. The swing was attached to a wooden house nestled in a tree … Read more

Devil’s Cauldron Waterfall

Deep in the rainforest, a waterfall plunges into a deep canyon with a thundering noise. They call this waterfall Pailon Del Diablo or Devil’s Cauldron. Like a moth overwhelmed by the love for the flame flies directly into it, the (Rio) Verde river jumps from the cliff in a suicidal manner and crashes into the … Read more

Animals Are My Family

Today while cycling uphill in the Central Highlands of Ecuador, I saw a woman working alone with the hay near a 3300-m pass. Nearby, some cows were grazing. “How is life in this village?” I asked her. “Only a few people live here. The weather is cold. There is no other work except agriculture and … Read more

Quechua Women In Ecuador

Walking around in the streets of Aluasi, I stumbled upon two Quechua women in traditional dresses. It took me quite a while to convince them before I could take their picture as they were very shy and reluctant to be photographed.Here you see them in traditional Inca dress which is worn by most Quechua women … Read more

Marriage Proposal In Ecuador

Standing at the edge of a road in the Southern highlands of Ecuador today, a sweeping valley was in front of me. The view was so big that my eyes couldn’t contain it, similar to holding a bowl under a large waterfall. The bottom of the valley was covered with thick clouds. It appeared like … Read more

Fog And Clarity

One early morning pedalling slowly on a steep road in southern Ecuador, I feel a hand on my shoulder. A familiar voice speaks to me. “What is that you seek?” “I want to escape. I am searching for something, but I don’t know what?” I reply. “You can only search for something when it is … Read more