Page 20 - February 4, 2019
P. 20
THE WEEKLY ANCHOR
THE WEEKLY ANCHOR
PAGE 20 MONDAY FEBRUARY 4, 2019 MONDAY DECEMBER 17, 2018 PAGE 13
Armchair Traveller Series:
Ecuador: celebrated as a country of 'four worlds’
by Cassie Kushniruk The volcano last erupted in August
of 2015 and continued until January
As the fourth smallest country in 2017.
South America, Ecuador is home to Previously, the volcano has been
some of world's most unique species closed to tourists, but when the
and is celebrated as a country of couple visited in October, it had
'four worlds'. Here, travellers can recently reopened. “One other thing
experience four distinct regions that ended up just opening up the
within its 280,000 square kilometers; day we went was the Refugio to
the Andes Mountains, the Pacific allow tourists to hike to the start of
Ocean, the Galapagos Islands, and the glacier,” said Sarah.
the Amazon rainforest. Although many tourists finish the
On January 22, Biologist Sarah hike when they reach the Refugio,
Milligan and partner Jesse shared the Milligan's persisted on to reach
their 5 week adventure through each the start of the glacier. “It was a long
of these regions during the first walk up feeling the altitude,” Sarah
Armchair Travel session of the recalled. “Our guide was super
season. pumped because it had been well
After reading book after book on over a year since he got to do it.”
how to travel Ecuador on a budget, At this point, the couple was ready
Sarah discovered how incredibly to head to their next destination:
diverse this small country was, and Manta, located in the coastal region
as a biologist, was inclined to see of Ecuador. “The whole reason we On January 22, Sarah and Jesse Milligan shared their adventures through
what the country had to offer. came [to Manta] was because Jesse the four regions of Ecuador during the first Armchair Travel session of the
The Milligan's flew into Quito, the was doing kite surfing as his travel season. photo Cassie Kushniruk
capital and largest city of Ecuador component,” said Sarah. “I always
situated in the Andes region. want to do the wildlife and the Isabela after hearing comments that really high biodiversity,” said Sarah.
“[Quito] stretches about 40 nature and [he likes] the adrenaline.” Santa Cruz can be very populated. “It's also very wet and is more of a
kilometers through the mountains “There was this really cool The unique component of this flooded ecosystem so it's really
and hills,” said Sarah. “Other than company where you can come to do island was the abundance of Marine unique in that way.”
La Paz, Bolivia, it's the highest Spanish school in the morning and Iguanas. “They were everywhere,” The couple stayed at Jamu Lodge,
capital city in the world. It's also the kite surfing lessons in the said Sarah. “They blow salt boogers where every morning their group
city closest to the equator.” afternoon,” Sarah said. “We both at you.” would get up early, go on an early
For their time in Quito, the couple enjoyed the Spanish more than we In Isabela, the Milligan's noticed morning bird watching canoe ride,
wanted to spend as much time thought.” some differences between the and return to the lodge for breakfast.
exploring the Andes Mountains as After their time spent in Manta, the tortoises they saw on that island During the evening, the group
possible, but were setback as they couple departed to the Galapagos compared with ones they saw on San canoed through the flooded jungle to
still needed to book their Galapagos Islands for their next adventure. Cristobal, which Sarah explained, spot caimans, and even embarked on
and Amazon tours. “We just had our The Galapagos Islands are an “The tortoises evolved and adapted a night time jungle trek to spot
first night for accommodation archipelago of volcanic islands to specific islands, so each island has creepy crawlers such as tarantulas.
planned,” Sarah admitted. located in the Pacific Ocean its own [type of tortoise]. But [on Through the canoe rides and jungle
“It took a lot of time walking approximately 1000 kilometers west Isabela] those tortoises adapted and treks the Milligan's embarked on
around the city trying to shop for of South America. People from all evolved to specific volcanos on that with their group at the lodge, they
tour agencies,” said Sarah. across the world visit these islands island.” were able to spot anacondas,
“Eventually we got sick of that and to spot the vast number of endemic Here, the couple spotted the piranhas, squirrel monkeys, Woolly
took a quick trip to Mitad del species (species that are limited to a differences between the tortoises monkeys, Monk Saki monkeys,
Mundo, which is the middle of the specific location), such as the living near the different volcanoes. bullet ants, and sloths, to name a
world.” Marine Iguanas and the Galapagos “If there was more lush vegetation few. “For me the most exciting thing
Here, not only did the couple learn Tortoises. close to the ground, [the tortoises] to see on this entire trip was the little
about Ecuador, but Sarah also Famous biologist Charles Darwin, were smaller and didn't need long ripples or sprays in the water
discovered that this was not the true known for his work in evolutionary legs or long necks and had more of a because that was the Amazon Pink
location of the equator. “The true sciences, visited the Galapagos dome shaped shell,” Sarah River Dolphins,” Sarah said. “We
line is 240 meters away from that,” Islands in the 1830s and introduced explained. “On some of the other just got to see their dorsal fin come
she said. “From reading about it, I evolution by natural selection based volcanos that are drierand have a lot out and the ripples. At least every
can't tell if it's because they were off of his discoveries of the island's of cactus, they need longer legs and day when we were out we did see
just wrong with earlier technology or species. For this reason as well, the longer necks and had more of a them at some point in our day.”
if it's because the real line goes island have become a very popular saddle shell.” During one of their jungle treks,
through a sacred Indigenous site.” tourist destination. Later the couple visited a popular the couple also stumbled upon the
The couple took a few day trips Instead of booking a cruise, the snorkeling spot called Los Tuneles, monument for the actual middle of
out of Quito, where they visited Milligan's decided to visit the translated as 'The Tunnels'. “It's this the world. “We redeemed ourselves
local farms, livestock markets, and Galapagos Islands independently so labyrinthsystemof these formations in that way,” Sarah said, referring
the Cotopaxi volcano. “[The they would be able to do more of the from lava,” said Sarah. “It creates back to their visit to the Mitad del
Cotopaxi volcano] is one of the activities they wanted. this protective break between the Mundo near Quito.
highest volcanos in the world and The couple flew into San ocean and the mangrove forest.” The Although the couple experienced
one of the few that has an equatorial Cristobal, where they noticed the couple was taken out into the water far more adventures than what could
glacier on it,” said Sarah. “It is also large amount of Galapagos Sea by an ex-lobster fisherman, who be presented during the one hour,
one of the most active in Ecuador.” Lions inhabiting the area, taking up identified the species they passed by attendants still marveled at the
everything from boardwalks to while snorkeling, such as stingrays, exhilaratingexperiences the
benches. “It was pupping season, so sea turtles, and white tipped reef Milligan's took part in during their
there were babies everywhere,” sharks. The fisherman even spotted a time in Ecuador.
Sarah added. giant seahorse later, which are During the time period for
From San Cristobal, the Milligan's normally only found deep in the questions, one attendant asked,
did a few day trips to other parts of ocean. “Where are you going next?”
the island. In Punta Pitt, located in At the end of their Galapagos “Everywhere is on my list,” Sarah
the northeastern corner of the island, adventure, the Milligan's realized replied.
the couple had the opportunity to that they had only toured around two On February 26, Jan Karasek,
spot both the Blue-footed Booby and of the four islands they were Sandi Rix, and Barbara Prescott will
the Red-footed Booby. “They feed permitted to visit. be sharing their adventures to see the
on the same food—shrimp and From the Santa Cruz Island of the wintering area of the Monarch
squid—but they metabolise the iron Galapagos, the couple flew back to butterflies in Mexico as the second
differently,” Sarah explained the Quito, where they took a night bus session of the Armchair Travel
difference between the colors of the to Ecuador's fourth 'world': the series. The final presentation will be
boobies' feet. “The more they eat, Amazon Rainforest. held on March 13, when Ciera
the more blue or red their feet are, Instead of visiting the popular Knight will share her journey
and that symbols that they are a Yasuni National Park, the couple climbing Mount Everest. All
good hunter and a good mate.” decided to travel to the less known Armchair Travel events are free to
After their time spent on San Cuyabeno National Park. “We chose attend and are will be held in the
Cristobal, the Milligan's visited Cuyabeno because it was less busy, community use room at the Edson
it was a lot cheaper, and it still has a Public Library.
THE WEEKLY ANCHOR
PAGE 20 MONDAY FEBRUARY 4, 2019 MONDAY DECEMBER 17, 2018 PAGE 13
Armchair Traveller Series:
Ecuador: celebrated as a country of 'four worlds’
by Cassie Kushniruk The volcano last erupted in August
of 2015 and continued until January
As the fourth smallest country in 2017.
South America, Ecuador is home to Previously, the volcano has been
some of world's most unique species closed to tourists, but when the
and is celebrated as a country of couple visited in October, it had
'four worlds'. Here, travellers can recently reopened. “One other thing
experience four distinct regions that ended up just opening up the
within its 280,000 square kilometers; day we went was the Refugio to
the Andes Mountains, the Pacific allow tourists to hike to the start of
Ocean, the Galapagos Islands, and the glacier,” said Sarah.
the Amazon rainforest. Although many tourists finish the
On January 22, Biologist Sarah hike when they reach the Refugio,
Milligan and partner Jesse shared the Milligan's persisted on to reach
their 5 week adventure through each the start of the glacier. “It was a long
of these regions during the first walk up feeling the altitude,” Sarah
Armchair Travel session of the recalled. “Our guide was super
season. pumped because it had been well
After reading book after book on over a year since he got to do it.”
how to travel Ecuador on a budget, At this point, the couple was ready
Sarah discovered how incredibly to head to their next destination:
diverse this small country was, and Manta, located in the coastal region
as a biologist, was inclined to see of Ecuador. “The whole reason we On January 22, Sarah and Jesse Milligan shared their adventures through
what the country had to offer. came [to Manta] was because Jesse the four regions of Ecuador during the first Armchair Travel session of the
The Milligan's flew into Quito, the was doing kite surfing as his travel season. photo Cassie Kushniruk
capital and largest city of Ecuador component,” said Sarah. “I always
situated in the Andes region. want to do the wildlife and the Isabela after hearing comments that really high biodiversity,” said Sarah.
“[Quito] stretches about 40 nature and [he likes] the adrenaline.” Santa Cruz can be very populated. “It's also very wet and is more of a
kilometers through the mountains “There was this really cool The unique component of this flooded ecosystem so it's really
and hills,” said Sarah. “Other than company where you can come to do island was the abundance of Marine unique in that way.”
La Paz, Bolivia, it's the highest Spanish school in the morning and Iguanas. “They were everywhere,” The couple stayed at Jamu Lodge,
capital city in the world. It's also the kite surfing lessons in the said Sarah. “They blow salt boogers where every morning their group
city closest to the equator.” afternoon,” Sarah said. “We both at you.” would get up early, go on an early
For their time in Quito, the couple enjoyed the Spanish more than we In Isabela, the Milligan's noticed morning bird watching canoe ride,
wanted to spend as much time thought.” some differences between the and return to the lodge for breakfast.
exploring the Andes Mountains as After their time spent in Manta, the tortoises they saw on that island During the evening, the group
possible, but were setback as they couple departed to the Galapagos compared with ones they saw on San canoed through the flooded jungle to
still needed to book their Galapagos Islands for their next adventure. Cristobal, which Sarah explained, spot caimans, and even embarked on
and Amazon tours. “We just had our The Galapagos Islands are an “The tortoises evolved and adapted a night time jungle trek to spot
first night for accommodation archipelago of volcanic islands to specific islands, so each island has creepy crawlers such as tarantulas.
planned,” Sarah admitted. located in the Pacific Ocean its own [type of tortoise]. But [on Through the canoe rides and jungle
“It took a lot of time walking approximately 1000 kilometers west Isabela] those tortoises adapted and treks the Milligan's embarked on
around the city trying to shop for of South America. People from all evolved to specific volcanos on that with their group at the lodge, they
tour agencies,” said Sarah. across the world visit these islands island.” were able to spot anacondas,
“Eventually we got sick of that and to spot the vast number of endemic Here, the couple spotted the piranhas, squirrel monkeys, Woolly
took a quick trip to Mitad del species (species that are limited to a differences between the tortoises monkeys, Monk Saki monkeys,
Mundo, which is the middle of the specific location), such as the living near the different volcanoes. bullet ants, and sloths, to name a
world.” Marine Iguanas and the Galapagos “If there was more lush vegetation few. “For me the most exciting thing
Here, not only did the couple learn Tortoises. close to the ground, [the tortoises] to see on this entire trip was the little
about Ecuador, but Sarah also Famous biologist Charles Darwin, were smaller and didn't need long ripples or sprays in the water
discovered that this was not the true known for his work in evolutionary legs or long necks and had more of a because that was the Amazon Pink
location of the equator. “The true sciences, visited the Galapagos dome shaped shell,” Sarah River Dolphins,” Sarah said. “We
line is 240 meters away from that,” Islands in the 1830s and introduced explained. “On some of the other just got to see their dorsal fin come
she said. “From reading about it, I evolution by natural selection based volcanos that are drierand have a lot out and the ripples. At least every
can't tell if it's because they were off of his discoveries of the island's of cactus, they need longer legs and day when we were out we did see
just wrong with earlier technology or species. For this reason as well, the longer necks and had more of a them at some point in our day.”
if it's because the real line goes island have become a very popular saddle shell.” During one of their jungle treks,
through a sacred Indigenous site.” tourist destination. Later the couple visited a popular the couple also stumbled upon the
The couple took a few day trips Instead of booking a cruise, the snorkeling spot called Los Tuneles, monument for the actual middle of
out of Quito, where they visited Milligan's decided to visit the translated as 'The Tunnels'. “It's this the world. “We redeemed ourselves
local farms, livestock markets, and Galapagos Islands independently so labyrinthsystemof these formations in that way,” Sarah said, referring
the Cotopaxi volcano. “[The they would be able to do more of the from lava,” said Sarah. “It creates back to their visit to the Mitad del
Cotopaxi volcano] is one of the activities they wanted. this protective break between the Mundo near Quito.
highest volcanos in the world and The couple flew into San ocean and the mangrove forest.” The Although the couple experienced
one of the few that has an equatorial Cristobal, where they noticed the couple was taken out into the water far more adventures than what could
glacier on it,” said Sarah. “It is also large amount of Galapagos Sea by an ex-lobster fisherman, who be presented during the one hour,
one of the most active in Ecuador.” Lions inhabiting the area, taking up identified the species they passed by attendants still marveled at the
everything from boardwalks to while snorkeling, such as stingrays, exhilaratingexperiences the
benches. “It was pupping season, so sea turtles, and white tipped reef Milligan's took part in during their
there were babies everywhere,” sharks. The fisherman even spotted a time in Ecuador.
Sarah added. giant seahorse later, which are During the time period for
From San Cristobal, the Milligan's normally only found deep in the questions, one attendant asked,
did a few day trips to other parts of ocean. “Where are you going next?”
the island. In Punta Pitt, located in At the end of their Galapagos “Everywhere is on my list,” Sarah
the northeastern corner of the island, adventure, the Milligan's realized replied.
the couple had the opportunity to that they had only toured around two On February 26, Jan Karasek,
spot both the Blue-footed Booby and of the four islands they were Sandi Rix, and Barbara Prescott will
the Red-footed Booby. “They feed permitted to visit. be sharing their adventures to see the
on the same food—shrimp and From the Santa Cruz Island of the wintering area of the Monarch
squid—but they metabolise the iron Galapagos, the couple flew back to butterflies in Mexico as the second
differently,” Sarah explained the Quito, where they took a night bus session of the Armchair Travel
difference between the colors of the to Ecuador's fourth 'world': the series. The final presentation will be
boobies' feet. “The more they eat, Amazon Rainforest. held on March 13, when Ciera
the more blue or red their feet are, Instead of visiting the popular Knight will share her journey
and that symbols that they are a Yasuni National Park, the couple climbing Mount Everest. All
good hunter and a good mate.” decided to travel to the less known Armchair Travel events are free to
After their time spent on San Cuyabeno National Park. “We chose attend and are will be held in the
Cristobal, the Milligan's visited Cuyabeno because it was less busy, community use room at the Edson
it was a lot cheaper, and it still has a Public Library.
