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Ecuador: general gringo questions:
The best way I can describe my experience in Ecuador to another American is think of it as a big city in america. There is crime, and you need to watch out for it. You are responsible for your safety there, no one is looking out for you. Things can and will go sideways if you put yourself in a bad place.
Most Ecuadorians are good people. In fact my spidy sense went off more when meeting expats with a business card, than it did meeting locals.
There are merits to the crimes mentioned here. I met Americans I trust who told me about things that happened to them. You are in the minority there and can expect to be treated as such if you don't protect yourself.
I was never a victim of crime in my month there, but I also never made myself an easy target.
Personally, for me, I am not fearful of Ecuador. It's why I am moving with my kids.
Basically just like my little league baseball coach used to say... "keep your head on a swivel"
Ecuador: Seeking Travel Advice please:
It really depends on the order of your visit. For example my family wanted to see Salinas last year. At the time our only option was to fly to guyaquil. So that's what we did. I was told by many, the navy base in Salinas was about to open up to international flights. No idea if that happened or not. If so I am excited as we move this summer and not having to visit guyaquil would be awesome! I dislike large cities.
Ecuador: Cost of monthly groceries:
Do you wish to shop in stores like America? Or are you adventures enough to walk into a giant farmers market that looks like the beginning of an Indiana Jones movie with hundreds if not thousands of people?
The latter is far cheaper, but will scare the crap out of most Americans on a few levels. I personally found it fun. But I am not looking for a cheap America. I want out of America. I don't agree with all of Ecuador. I just prefer a country on its way up to on its way down.
Ecuador: Should we bring cash for2 week trip:
Just follow the common sense rule of only carry as much as you are willing to lose. In the states I never carry cash. No need. When in Ecuador it's a bit different. Some places take cards, but not most. Try buying a beer or bollo on the beach with a card, or anything over a $20....
Small bills are key, and never carry a lot. I never had more than 400 on me at a time. I only carried that much as I tend to get rambunctious, and needed the cash in the off chance I would have to bribe a cop. I went into full out wild freedom mode, and found I never needed to bribe a cop. If you are a well behaved human, I would suggest only carrying what you need for the day.
Ecuador: beware of scammers:
In my time there last summer I was approached by many scammers. All but three were Americans.
Not to say all Americans there are bad. Amy Prisco, Will and Wendy were honest, as were Kevin and Kim at sin. Tom was one of the most honest people I met in my life and sadly died while there. I learned more in 2 weeks I knew him than I did after reading this forum for a year about Ecuador. He had nothing to sell me, he rented me a jetski, but after hanging out a few days picked up a bar tab that nullified my rental.
The lesson I learned in Ecuador is you are responsible for you. The government there are not your parents. They will gladly let you die with out effort to help.
For me, it makes it a paradise. I believe in freedom and natural selection. I don't feel the need for people to protect me from scammers or anything. I can handle my own life, and the lives of my family.
If I die from a bad choice, or lose money in a bad investment, it is 100% my fault.
Ecuador: Scouting Trip:
After staying in Salinas for a month and now in the process of moving I would warn do not move on cost alone. You have to be willing to learn a different way of life. It is not a slight difference either.
Ecuador kicks ass, but only to those who don't care about keeping up with the jones's or want the latest and greatest.
It's a culture shock for sure. It's not for everyone. My family liked it in the short month we stayed, but we are not putting our house in the US on the market for 3 years after we move there this summer...
In simple terms it will either be a land of opportunity, or a dump to you. All I saw while there were ways to make cash.
Ecuador: Salinas Area:
Will & Wendy did right by us, also the folks at Sin. Luvin Oven was another good gringo hangout, but not gringo owned.
Ecuador: New York Style Pizza ~ Dolar Pizza in Salinas:
You seem to love junk food.. You often post about leaching off wifi around the food court at the mall.
To each their own I guess. One of the things we loved was losing over 10 pounds each while partying in Ecuador.
Granted while there, I never tried to re-use a soda cup over and over like you did at carls junior, thinking a one time purchase entitles you to lifetime rights on free refills....
Ecuador: Gold:
I would and am myself, hiding my gold holdings by burring it I own gold because my parents had to find a vehicle to transfer wealth to me and my sister without taxation when they died. At the time they passed, gold was not tracked in the US. Under Obama it now tracked. It's getting hard to pass money from one generation to the next in the US.
It's kind of sad that parents in the US have to use bags of cash and gold in the ground to transfer wealth now.
Ecuador: Young American was buried after dying from ayahuasca healer:
I actualy know a bit on this topic. Ayahuasca is a traditional preparation of a DMT containing plant. It was once considered sacred, and only shared with shamen, healers, and leaders of a tribe. Judging from this article, it seems to be commercialised now, and that saddens me greatly. Only those who are worthy should take part in this.
It traditionally consisted of three parts.
1. A DMT containing plant
2. a plant that provided an MAOI Inhibitor to make the DMT containing plant orally active. DMT is not oraly active on it's own.
3. Some other drug, cocaine is often used in SA, but there are also other plant based drugs that not many would know by name as they are not street drugs. Each tribe or group has it's own special "flair" per say on the third ingredient depending on region.
I when younger and wilder may or may not have been known to extract pure DMT from Juruma, otherwise known as Mimosis Hostills root bark to the educated that read this. (not that there will be many)
DMT is by far the strongest hallucinogen known to man kind. Well that's not entirely true, Salvia Divinorum is, but only because of how small a dose, not based on how strong an effect, salvia only requires a microgram or two and is fairly week in trip. DMT has the strongest hallucinogen effect on humans, but requires a larger dose. It makes LSD look like children's vitamins.
DMT is basically meeting God, and having a chit chat with her. I like to refer to it as "seeing the creamy nougat that is the center of the universe". It goes way past a simple drug, and it will forever change a human who uses it.
Even those against drugs, have felt it, and will feel it again. Your brain at 3 months in utero gave you a strong flash which you do not remember, and when you die, you will see the same flash again as large amounts of DMT are released by the pineal gland in humans upon extreme stress. IE dieng. It's the tunnel of light people with near death experiences describe.
I once shared it with a friend. It only lasts 15 minutes or so when smoked. When he came out of hyperspace and back to reality - he said "Jeff" I said "I am here man" he said "Why would you do that to me?" and I deleted expletives from his reply, as they do not pass filters here but it was more like why the f would you do that to me? I had warned him, that it's like eating 1000 hits of LSD and having it all come on full strength in 20 seconds. I had told him that it is being fired out of a cannon at light speed towards the creamy nougat in the center of the universe. I even told him about the sentient beings he would meet there. He did not listen and was not prepared. That's exactly why I am angered about people offering this to those who can not handle it for $$. It should have been a secret kept by the seekers. It is not for public use.
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