Chuki is so tired today because it's finally hot out again. I'm hoping that this is a glimpse of things to come in IL. Lots of sleeping in the sun (for both dogs and humans). We went back to the vet today, for like the 100th time in the last couple of weeks. He has some inflamation in his paws from walking in all of the rain. Or something like that, I really couldn't understand. Just when we could stop cleaning his ears twice a day and then applying cream, we have to start cleaning his paws twice a day. It's one thing after another with this dog!
But he's cute, so we'll keep him.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Our Vet
We loved our vet in the beginning but now it's safe for me to say that I dread going there. A lot of the vets are afraid of Chuki which makes him afraid of being there. It's just not a pleasant place to be. But yesterday we had this doctor, who we actually thought didn't work there anymore. And he was an absolute dear. He wasn't afraid of Chuki at all. He spent time petting him and calming him down. And he was thorough. Usually the doctors just do what we ask and send us on our way. But this guy gave him an exam and answered all of our questions about flying with him. He was actually knowledgeable and helpful! We thought we had to sacrifice one for the other. So thank you doctor whatever your name is. It really meant a lot to me that you didn't just assume Chuki is a mean or bad dog.
With that said, I can't wait to be in IL and find a vet for Chuki that is both helpful, knowledgeable, good with big dogs. And most importantly, that I can fully communicate with.
If you're in the Rockford/Rockton/Roscoe area and have a vet that you just LOVE, we're looking for recommendations. Send them our way via facebook, email or just leave a comment!
MULUB,
Taylor
With that said, I can't wait to be in IL and find a vet for Chuki that is both helpful, knowledgeable, good with big dogs. And most importantly, that I can fully communicate with.
If you're in the Rockford/Rockton/Roscoe area and have a vet that you just LOVE, we're looking for recommendations. Send them our way via facebook, email or just leave a comment!
MULUB,
Taylor
Project Number 2 - Day 14 (Tuesday)
Yesterday we FINALLY got Chuki's shot! He can now legally come into the USA. Thanks the Lord! Also AMAZING news was shared (or more like facebook stalked) this morning by our dear friend Grant! He's going to grad school... IN LONDON... IN THE FALL! Listen to his program (and if you're like me, swoon) Masters of Public Administration and International Development! YES PLEASE! What I'm most jealous of is that he'll be by Sarah and Corine! NOT FAIR!
Anyways, this is supposed to be about what I ate yesterday.
For breakfast - I had a cup of coffee and milk at my class. Coffee is used lightly here. Then I came home and had a pot of coffee and a bowl of yogurt with a banana.
For lunch - I remembered to pack my lunch, only to not really need it. My class was canceled and so I could come home for lunch instead of eat it at inlingua. I had rice, choclos, a chicken thigh and half of a tomato. It was left overs but delicious.
I didn't have any snacks, because I had eaten a big lunch. But I was feeling a headache coming on and so I got a little Coke to drink on the bus, hoping the caffein would help. It didn't really. I think I'm going to get a massive migraine one of these days. I can just feel it.
For dinner - We had left overs. I had a chicken leg with pasta sauce, smashed potatoes, and green beans. PLUS the most delicious juice! Ryan made orange, passion fruit, pineapple juice! Oh. my. word. It was delicious. I usually tend to over season everything and try to get fancy but Ryan often remembers that simple flavors on such fresh ingredients are WAY better. Dinner was fantastic but I was still hungry an hour later. So in a bowl I put some rice, pasta sauce, choclos and a tomato in a bowl and ate that. Then I was full.
Anyways, this is supposed to be about what I ate yesterday.
For breakfast - I had a cup of coffee and milk at my class. Coffee is used lightly here. Then I came home and had a pot of coffee and a bowl of yogurt with a banana.
For lunch - I remembered to pack my lunch, only to not really need it. My class was canceled and so I could come home for lunch instead of eat it at inlingua. I had rice, choclos, a chicken thigh and half of a tomato. It was left overs but delicious.
I didn't have any snacks, because I had eaten a big lunch. But I was feeling a headache coming on and so I got a little Coke to drink on the bus, hoping the caffein would help. It didn't really. I think I'm going to get a massive migraine one of these days. I can just feel it.
For dinner - We had left overs. I had a chicken leg with pasta sauce, smashed potatoes, and green beans. PLUS the most delicious juice! Ryan made orange, passion fruit, pineapple juice! Oh. my. word. It was delicious. I usually tend to over season everything and try to get fancy but Ryan often remembers that simple flavors on such fresh ingredients are WAY better. Dinner was fantastic but I was still hungry an hour later. So in a bowl I put some rice, pasta sauce, choclos and a tomato in a bowl and ate that. Then I was full.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
If you had the choice...
Alright so Ryan and I are now deciding which jungle tour to do. We need your help. Here are the two descriptions, which would you chose?
3.- Enjoy the jungle. We leave our camp after a hearty breakfast. The walk back to the cabañas is shorter and more level than the first hike. On our way, we can stop for fishing. Back at the cabañas, we have lunch and then some time to relax. The afternoon is spent with activities of your choice, like making handicrafts or chocolate, bathing in the river, or a guided tour of the various plants cultivated around the cabañas. Enjoy your last dinner and night in the jungle.
Samona Lodge - Cuyabeno
The Samona Lodge is nestled deep in the primary forest of the Amazon Jungle. For those looking for a wildlife adventure at a reasonable price than look no further. The people at Samona lodge deliver time and time again. With fully bilingual naturalist guides, activites ranging from: Piranha fishing, hikes in the rainforest, caiman spotting, night walks and heading out at dusk to watch the sunset against the backdrop of the Aguarico river makes your stay at this lodge one to remember.
Sample Itineraries
Itinerary 4 days / 3 nights: Price - $210
1.-Quito - Lago Agrio - El Puente . Flight 06:15 a.m. or bus journey (one day before - 8 hours) to Lago Agrio. Drive from Lago Agrio to el Puente. Canoe trip down on Cuyabeno river to Samona Lodge. Exciting night walk.
2.-Cuyabeno River. After breakfast we paddle by traditional dug-out canoe on the Caiman-cocha lake (Laguna del Caiman) where we will enjoy the nature uniqueness, lunch, hike in the primary forest including lessons in the use of plants for survival. Before we go back to our camp, we’ll have a relaxing time to swim and enjoy the sunset on the magnificent Laguna Grande.
3.- Cuyabeno river. In the morning, visit to the Kichwa Community, our naturalist guide will explain about the culture and traditions of the native people. Piranha fishing in the afternoon Back to our camp. Night canoe trip in search of caimans (alligators).
4.- El Puente-Lago Agrio-Quito. Early morning bird watching. After breakfast journey up Cuyabeno river to El Puente. Drive back to Lago Agrio at 16:00. Flight or bus journey back to Quito.
Itinerary 4 days / 3 nights: Price - $ 150
1.-Quito - Papallacta – Tena. After meeting up at the Secret garden hostel at 8:00am, we catch the bus at Terminal Terrestre at 8:50am. If you wish, we can stop in Papallacta to enjoy the hot springs and have a fresh trout for lunch. Depending on your choice, we arrive in Tena either by 3:00pm or around 6:00pm. Our local guide picks us up and drives us approx. 30min out of Tena, from where it is a walk of 30-40min to the cabañas. There we will have dinner, followed by a traditional dance performed by the guides’ children and a Shamanic spiritual ceremony.
1.-Quito - Papallacta – Tena. After meeting up at the Secret garden hostel at 8:00am, we catch the bus at Terminal Terrestre at 8:50am. If you wish, we can stop in Papallacta to enjoy the hot springs and have a fresh trout for lunch. Depending on your choice, we arrive in Tena either by 3:00pm or around 6:00pm. Our local guide picks us up and drives us approx. 30min out of Tena, from where it is a walk of 30-40min to the cabañas. There we will have dinner, followed by a traditional dance performed by the guides’ children and a Shamanic spiritual ceremony.
2.-Into the wild. After breakfast we start our hike deeper into the jungle. Make sure you bring enough drinking water and your headlight. All you don’t need for the second night in the jungle can be left behind and locked in the cabañas. Depending on the conditions, the trek will take 3 to 4 hours. We will stop regularly for explanations of the flora and fauna, as well as Kichwa traditions. After we arrive at our camping site around 2:00 to 3:00pm, you can take a shower in the nearby waterfall and relax until we have dinner. You will sleep in a cave, in hammocks or on sleeping mats, with nothing but a mosquito net between you and the nightly forest.
3.- Enjoy the jungle. We leave our camp after a hearty breakfast. The walk back to the cabañas is shorter and more level than the first hike. On our way, we can stop for fishing. Back at the cabañas, we have lunch and then some time to relax. The afternoon is spent with activities of your choice, like making handicrafts or chocolate, bathing in the river, or a guided tour of the various plants cultivated around the cabañas. Enjoy your last dinner and night in the jungle.
4.- Tena – Amazoonico – Quito. It’s a quick breakfast before packing up and trekking 30-40min back to the nearest road. A pickup takes us to the point at which we board the motorised canoe for the ride down the main river to “Amazoonico” animal refuge and rehabilitation center. A compulsory donation of $ 2.50 (to be paid there) includes a tour in English and helps support this excellent project. We will stop for a swim in the river, or floating down the river on tree trunks (wearing a life jacket is compulsory for this activity). After lunch on the riverside we will be back in Tena around 3:00pm. Catching a bus at the terminal at 3:30pm, we will arrive in Quito around 9:30pm.
Optional: White water rafting on Day 4
If you like, we can organise a white water rafting on the last day of your trip (instead of the visit to Amazoonico). Depending on the length and difficulty of the ride, the rafting is charged $ 30 to $ 40 extra.
After our hike back to the road, the rafting company picks us up and takes us to the starting point. Life jackets and helmets will be provided, and the guides give you security instructions before we start. Good sun protection and insect repellent are highly recommended for a day on the river. We will stop for lunch on a beach and be back in Tena around 3:30pm. Catching a bus at the terminal at 4:00pm, we will arrive in Quito around 10:00pm.
Optional: White water rafting on Day 4
If you like, we can organise a white water rafting on the last day of your trip (instead of the visit to Amazoonico). Depending on the length and difficulty of the ride, the rafting is charged $ 30 to $ 40 extra.
After our hike back to the road, the rafting company picks us up and takes us to the starting point. Life jackets and helmets will be provided, and the guides give you security instructions before we start. Good sun protection and insect repellent are highly recommended for a day on the river. We will stop for lunch on a beach and be back in Tena around 3:30pm. Catching a bus at the terminal at 4:00pm, we will arrive in Quito around 10:00pm.
or
The Samona Lodge is nestled deep in the primary forest of the Amazon Jungle. For those looking for a wildlife adventure at a reasonable price than look no further. The people at Samona lodge deliver time and time again. With fully bilingual naturalist guides, activites ranging from: Piranha fishing, hikes in the rainforest, caiman spotting, night walks and heading out at dusk to watch the sunset against the backdrop of the Aguarico river makes your stay at this lodge one to remember.
Sample Itineraries
Itinerary 4 days / 3 nights: Price - $210
1.-Quito - Lago Agrio - El Puente . Flight 06:15 a.m. or bus journey (one day before - 8 hours) to Lago Agrio. Drive from Lago Agrio to el Puente. Canoe trip down on Cuyabeno river to Samona Lodge. Exciting night walk.
2.-Cuyabeno River. After breakfast we paddle by traditional dug-out canoe on the Caiman-cocha lake (Laguna del Caiman) where we will enjoy the nature uniqueness, lunch, hike in the primary forest including lessons in the use of plants for survival. Before we go back to our camp, we’ll have a relaxing time to swim and enjoy the sunset on the magnificent Laguna Grande.
3.- Cuyabeno river. In the morning, visit to the Kichwa Community, our naturalist guide will explain about the culture and traditions of the native people. Piranha fishing in the afternoon Back to our camp. Night canoe trip in search of caimans (alligators).
4.- El Puente-Lago Agrio-Quito. Early morning bird watching. After breakfast journey up Cuyabeno river to El Puente. Drive back to Lago Agrio at 16:00. Flight or bus journey back to Quito.
.......last.weekend.in.quito.......
I had a bit of a panic yesterday while walking to class. I realized that this weekend is our last full weekend in Quito before we leave. WHAT? How did that happen? Next weekend we'll be climbing Pichincha, which I realize is in Quito but it will take like all of Saturday. The weekend after that we're climbing Cayambe. I'm not sure of the deal with that one, but I know it will also take all day. The next weekend we're climbing Cotopaxi which will be an overnight trip. Then the weekend after that we leave on our big trip, which will include the jungle! We'll probably get back into Quito on Sunday or Monday and then leave on Wednesday!
WHAT?
WHAT?
Project Number 2 - Day 13 (Monday)
I just realized the possible funniness of the title of this project. No pun intended, folks!
Yesterday, lets see...
Breakfast - Banana and coffee
Lunch - 3 left over tomato halves from dinner last night
Snack - Banana, a terrible, terrible, terrible cheese empanada, and a tiny bag of coated peanuts. Plus when I got home I was so hungry that I had a bowl with a little bit of rice, a tomato, some choclos and cheese.
Dinner - Chicken breast, smashed potatoes and green beans!
I'm realizing how important a big lunch is for me. The problem is I'm never home anymore and I always forget. I think this weekend calls for a big batch of soup to be made, so I have something to take with me for lunch.
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