more on the life in Ecuador

Hi there all;
I am celebrating new technology today with my first blog on my new netbook. For those of you who don't know netbooks are small versions of laptop computers with smaller memory and no dvd drive. This can all be solved with flash memory sticks and an outside driver. Cool hey, I am still trying to get used to the smaller format of the keyboard though, so I am making alot of mistakes yet.
And now for something completely different....here is something to think about in Ecuador, we are having an energy crisis. This in detail means that, like dominos, a crisis has happened, but like all good Ecuadorians, they are taking it all in stride. There is a drought here in Ecuador that has particularly has struck the large city of Cuenca. Can you imagine such a huge city with is known because it is in the crux of 3 rivers, and there is not enough water to power the turbines to make energy, so all of Ecuador is sharing power. Every day, we share power by not having the power on for 4 hours per day. There is a schedule of the "brown outs" so it is really no biggie. Everyone just adapts and takes it in stride and happily shares the power.
We were in Quito recently, picking up Rob from the Airport and were staying in the touristy area of the Mariscal (one of my favorite places), when they had their turn for the brown out (every city has 4 hours of no power except the larger cities who have areas, barrios, that take turns shutting off the power. We just got into a taxi and went to an area that had power. We then went to the subtropical town of Mindo and of course they had their allotted power out and that was ok too.
One of the reasons that they are without power is that Ecuador is no longer having good relations with Columbia because of the Farq and other issues, the Columbians are not selling power to Ecuador.
When Rob, the kids and I returned to Quito, again the Mariscal was brown outted. Because this area is also touristy there is usually higher crime. We were staying in the Maple Hostel and they with their neighbors have a permanent security guard for their guests. However, some of the tourists staying there claimed that walking at night was dangerous and that there had been numberous muggings. Dane, Rob and I went out and had no problems, so there you go. You can be cautious and ask for trouble by looking like a victim or you can also look confident and nothing happens. This is the "Secret" in action. Of course, I also put my shirt over my bummy pack and it made me look pregnant and every now and again I would rub it and pretend. I got alot of looks but no problems. Rob didn't feel too romantic afterward because he just didn't want to go there, if you know what I mean.
Anyway, enough of the energy crisis, when we were in Mindo we went Canoping. Now if any of you know me, you know that I hate heights but this was great. I loved it. We went with the group who are brothers and sisters to preserve the land and run this together. Very nice people. There were 10 of us in this group and the tour was 1- 1 1/2 hours. Got the fun pictures of everyone flying through the air and also one of a marvelous and unique toucan. I love my camera. Anyway, if you were to go there I recommend the canopying and visiting the butterfly farm.
Here is the sad story though. There too in the supposed dense and lush jungle was dry dry dry. Scarey hey. They were actually and still are very worried, claiming global warming. Those of you out there claiming global warming is a fantasy don't live in these areas that are been affected. YIKES.
Back here in Banos, it turns out we are also being affected by the drought as just down the road is the Agoyan Hydro dam and it is also unable to fully function to just over half power.
Okay, I will give up on talking about the global change and its affects................ hmmmmm, I know we will talk about H1N1, oh yeah that is mostly in the northern hemisphere that is worrying into a panic. Not here, people are taking it in stride and not adding fuel to this world wide panic/distraction that the government is doing to take peoples attention from where it should be the economy and global warming. So unless they make it law and they can find me, I will not be dropping my pants and exposing my delicate rear for them to jab into their pointy poison. I left Canada after having to drop my economic and political pants to take that in another way if you get my drift, SORRY again I digress....... I will talk about something safe again. I love living in Ecuador, there is still freedom here, real freedom. I feel we made the right decision by leaving Canada. I miss silly things really, like jelly beans and red licorice but here I can breath and relax. I guess that is one of the reasons for staying here, peace of mind and good people. My vote: come and visit Ecuador, while you still can witness its' marvels.
Think clearly and question everything.
Robin