Photo Essay: Ecuador’s Crazy New Year’s Celebration

This is a guest post by Troy Floyd, a photographer currently living in Quito, Ecuador. Troy got in touch with me recently and I thought his pictures really bring the unusual Ecuador New Year’s celebrations to life. You can read more about Troy, his travels, and see more of his photography at FOGG Odyssey.

Burning the viejos at mid-night

This year I spent New Year’s in Ecuador and found a new celebration and tradition for bringing it in. I don’t know for sure how Ecuadorians took a simple countdown to 12 o’clock and turned it into an excuse for men to dress as women, to take fireworks to the extreme, and to burning of viejos (dummies) as a way of celebrating a new year… but they do. In all of Latin America there is no country that I know of that does it like Ecuador does.

Fireworks going off at midnight

The Streets Of Ecuador At New Year’s

Men dress as women to represent the widows from the year and then beg for money on the streets the night of New Year Eve. It has somehow been taken to a new degree (like all holidays) and now involves men dressed as sleazy as they can, group coordinated dances and a no-holds-bar of not letting anyone by without paying. One can’t walk down the street in any major city on New Year’s night without having a pocket full of change. They guys (I mean ladies) even go as far as setting up roadblocks to stop traffic and they stop everyone. Taxis and buses don’t get by either without throwing a few coins and even seen a ladyboy get inside a bus one time and sit on the drivers lap until he gave him a quarter.

Two guys dressed up as ladies and working the street for booze money!

The tradition now is that the ladyboys (who are straight macho Latin men any other day of the week) is to collect as much money as they can, then go buy as much booze as they can with the bounty. They will party until daylight or until they pass out.

I don’t think this kid was even 14 years old but I guess everyone has a right to get drunk on New Years, so he was out trying to collect money as well.

Viejos

Another part of the New Years tradition in Ecuador is to burn a viejo. It’s basically a dummy filled with wood chips that can be burnt for good or for bad. That night we burned 3 viejos, each good and representing friends I knew. We saw a lot of Michael Jacksons being burned, as I assume they love him and because of his death last year. There were also a ton of politicians being burned and most weren’t for good, as a lot of Ecuadorians are pissed about the current president in Ecuador (as well as Hugo Chavez from Venezuela).

A City Ablaze

Fireworks start blazing at 11:00 pm and don’t stop until about 1:30 am.  It was amazing and I loved getting the photos of them bursting over the city but you would never see this in the USA. I was surprised that 1/2 the city wasn’t burnt down by the next day, as I saw numerous kids (anywhere from 5-10 years old) walking around on their own with Roman-candles shooting them in the streets.

Maybe 1/2 of the shots cleared the buildings as I seen a lot of the kids just flat out pointing them at buildings and viejos burning. Even if there was a fire I doubt anyone cared, as I almost guarantee the fire department was as drunk as everyone else.

I must have seen a 100 Michael Jacksons on the street that night...but this was the best show of the night hands-down! Thriller!!!!

Mask for the viejos. They cost about $2 each and are hand-made.

The viejos without a mask. These can vary from $5 for a small one to $20 for a full size one.

My girlfriend doing the same but in all, honesty, I don’t think we were “directly” linked to any fires (or any that can be proven).

Amigo blasting off a 50 count Roman-candle, thus helping to torch the town!

If you’re ever near Ecuador during the Christmas holidays, make sure you stop off and try to stay for the New Year’s celebration.  You won’t regret it and you won’t ever see anything else like it… PROMISE!

Troy, thank you very much for sharing your pictures with us. You can see more of Troy’s photos from New Year’s on his website FOGG Odyssey.

T-roy is taking an extended holiday from being responsible. Quitting his 6-figure salary job that was killing him with 12hr work days, he decided that this wasn’t the life. He moved to Thailand and spent 3 months living a humble backpackers life and loved the experience so much he kept going. He now resides in Ecuador doing photography work while running his own travel blog: www.foggodyssey.com.

The Book That Continues To Inspire My Travels

Reading and travel are two of my passions and it was fun to be able to put them together in a recent guest post I wrote about the book Long Way Round. It was a pleasure to write How A Long Way Round Shaped Travel for A Traveler’s Library about how this particular book influenced my travels.

I originally heard about the trip (which book is based on) in a magazine my uncle handed me in 2003. The trip was still in the planning stages but it had me hooked and lusting for the road. I actually kept the magazine and still have it as a reminder of the joys of traveling, which can be easy to forget in the modern world.

A Traveler’s Library is one of my regular reads and if you love books and travel it’s an excellent site to keep up on. I hope that you’ll read my guest post How A Long Way Round Shaped Travel and check out some of Vera’s other wonderful posts.

[photo by: Fred Kranich]

My Guest Post On 5 Things You Won’t Expect On Your First Trip To India

I’ve been to India several times and it’s a place that continues to surprise me on each visit. Every time I’ve been though, I can’t help but reflect on my first trip there and all of the things I couldn’t prepare for. India is sensory overload and try as you may, it will be difficult to get around these 5 things you won’t expect on your first trip to India.

I wrote the guest post for a blog I’ve been following for a few years, Le Monde, written by Nisha who is from Mumbai. I’ll be interested in hearing the comments on the piece from her and her readers.

I’m currently backed up on a number or writing and other projects so won’t be guest posting for the next few months. In the meantime though, if you’re looking to reach a new audience and are interested in guest posting please feel free to contact me. I’m also looking for some guest posts on my other travel blogs, How To Travel With Pets, Travel Blog Advice, and Tech Guide For Travel.

[photo by: mckaysavage]

Top 5 Cheap Thrills In New York City

This is a guest post by Fiona, who writes the Glove Box Blog about cars and car rental. On a recent trip to the Big Apple, she was delighted to find that some of the city’s best attractions are free. Below Fiona shares some of her top 5 cheap thrills in New York City.

1. Visit The Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) On A Friday

Situated on the corner of Fifth Avenue and 53rd Street, New York’s MoMA is the perfect place to spend a rainy NYC afternoon, but especially on a Friday – when admission is free. Even from the outside, the Yoshio Taniguchi-designed building is visually stunning.

Once inside, enjoy five floors of modern avant-garde and conceptual art, dating from the late nineteenth century to the present. If weather permits, make sure you check out the outdoor installations in the Abby Aldrich Sculpture Garden as well as the indoor exhibits by the likes of Warhol, Van Gough and Monet.

To avail of free passes, visit on a Friday between 4pm and 8pm, when the museum hosts Target Free Friday nights.

2. Make a Late Date with Dave

Ever wanted to see what goes on behind the scenes of a New-York based chat show? This is probably a bit of a loaded question when it comes to David Letterman (if recent reports are anything to go by), but those curious to observe the workings of a real-live New York television studio and its celebrity guests can do so for free.

Late Show with David Letterman is filmed before a studio audience in the Ed Sullivan Theatre at 54th Street and Broadway. The show is recorded Monday-Thursday at 5.30pm and again on Thursday at 8pm. Free stand-by tickets are available to the lucky few who queue on the day of the show in the lobby of the studios. Last minute tickets are also available to those who call (212) 247-6497 at 11 am on the morning of the show. Audience members must arrive 75 minutes before the show is due to record.

3. Walk Across Brooklyn Bridge

The 20-minute walk across Brooklyn Bridge offers you unrivalled views of both the Manhattan and Brooklyn skylines – so bring your camera along! The easiest way to begin your walk is to cross the bridge on the Manhattan side, close to City Hall, Park Row and Centre Street. To get there, take the 4, 5 or 6 train to Brooklyn Bridge City Hall. Alternatively take the J, M or Z to Chambers Street.
Enter the bridge via the concrete ramp. Once you’re on the wooden planks you’ll know you’re on the bridge. The walkway is perched above the bridge’s traffic, so you don’t have to worry about dodging oncoming trucks and cars!

Make sure to photograph iconic sights such as the Woolworth Building and the Empire State Building.  Look out for the Statue of Liberty on the right hand side. Exit the bridge on the Brooklyn side and enjoy lunch or dinner in one of the many waterfront restaurants and cafés. Alternatively, a walk from Brooklyn to New York is also possible. Hop off the A train at the High Street Stop.  Follow signposts to Cadman Park. From here you’ll reach the pedestrian walkway and enjoy stunning views of the Manhattan skyline.

4. Take the Staten Island Ferry

Save your feet as well as a pocketful of dollars! The best views of Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty are free to those who take the Staten Island ferry that links up South Ferry (near Battery Park) and the St. George Ferry Terminal on Staten Island.  A round trip takes about an hour. If you’re looking to photograph the Manhattan Harbour or the Statue of Liberty, make sure you get a good spot close to one of the larger windows. Manhattan is prone to fog, so avoid early morning crossings, when visibility may be poor.

These days it’s easy for tourists to take the service for granted, but the Staten Island fare hasn’t always been free. In 1897 it cost five cents to get from one side to the other. Fares had increased to 50 cent by 1997 just before they were abolished.

5. Buy One Ticket Get One Free On Broadway

TKTS Box office on Duffy Square (47th St at Broadway, just off Times Square) offers half price tickets on popular Broadway musicals and plays. TKTS sells unsold tickets on the day of the performance for all Broadway shows for 25 –50% less than the box office price with just a $3.00 service charge added per ticket. This means you get the equivalent of a free ticket when you book two tickets.

Tickets sell out fast so you should always have two or three shows in mind when requesting tickets – at least you won’t be disappointed after spending all that time queuing! All available show tickets are displayed on digital screens at the entrance.  Have your dollars and traveller’s cheques at the ready, as TKTS does not accept credit cards or checks.

Thank you for the guest post Fiona, these are some good (and cheap) things to do in NYC. I’m sure you other New Yorkers have a few of your own to add so feel free to suggest your personal favorites in the comments below.

My Guest Post On Learning To Love American Culture In New York City

I’ve always been interested in human culture and behavior, which is probably why I got (one of) my college degrees in anthropology. So it was especially fun to write learning to American culture in New York City for The Brooklyn Nomad. I thought a good old New York post would fit well with Andrew Hickey’s site and I hope that you’ll make your way over there to check it out.

Andrew has recently been running a series of guest posts on his blog each week and you can read some of the others from Heather D’Amico, Sarah V. (Wandering Off) and Sarah Van Auken (Volunteer Global).

[photo by: meironke]

Guest Post On Motivation: The Procrastinator’s Plan For Travel

There are countless ways to get yourself traveling but if you’re a procrastinator like myself take a look at my guest post for Mary and Sean’s Adventures about motivating ourselves to travel. It’s the procrastinator’s plan that’s simple, to the point, and kind of fun (for planning anyway).

It was a pleasure to write the guest post for Mary who provided the wonderful guest post Remedy For the Port Travel Blues: 7 Ways to Bring Your Trip Back Home back in September. There was quite a lively conversation in the comments on that post which I think you’ll enjoy reading. Mary and Sean’s Adventures is a wonderful travelogue with lots of fun videos and is certainly worth a click over.

Thanks again Mary, it was fun to collaborate and trade guest posts!

10 Things To Know Before Your Next Trip To Panama

This is a guest post by Sean, a spirited traveler with a interest in all things Panama property. He has traveled to more than 30 countries and currently works for a website marketing agency, Website Consultants Inc.

If you are planning on spending some vacation time in Panama you are certainly in for a wonderful experience. Panama is a great place to visit with amazing scenery and friendly locals but if this is your first trip to Panama there are certain things you must know in order to have a safe and pleasant trip. We’ve compiled a list of 10 things to know before your next trip so you’ll be ready before and after you get there.

1. Pack Shorts and Sandals

Panama is hot regardless of what month you travel and it is best to pack for the climate. If you are doing any walking or hiking a good pair of sandals will make your time in Panama that more enjoyable.

2. The US Dollar is Accepted in Panama

Aside from the local currency, the Balboa, the US Dollar is openly accepted for services and goods and the exchange rate to the Balboa is 1:1 meaning you don’t have to worry about exchanging your US currency and paying exchange fees.

3. Taxis are Convenient and Affordable

A regular short taxi ride will cost only a few dollars but it’s important to negotiate the fee before you begin your journey. Try to get cabs away from hotels and the airport, you’ll get a reduced fee and won’t have to barter as hard with the taxi driver.

4. Water is Good, Drink it Up

The local tap water is perfectly safe to drink while spending time in Panama. Certain smaller villages can be questionable and if you venture out it’s probably best to play it safe and drink only bottled water.

5. Most Beaches are Remote

That being said you should plan on bringing all the necessary supplies with you for trips to the beach, including food, water, and sunscreen. It’s much wise to pack everything that you’ll need as there are no stores around the beaches from which to get supplies from.

6. Don’t Worry About the Language

The majority of Panamanians speak English and Spanish, if you know either you will do just fine. Panamanians love practicing their English with visiting vacationers and are happy to teach you some Spanish phrases as well.

7. Relax, You’re Really Quite Safe

With the exception of the border area with Colombia, Panama is a relatively safe place to visit. One should be aware of their surroundings and practice common sense as thieves and pickpockets do prey on tourists. When traveling at night it’s advisable to stick to taxis instead of foot travel.

8. Americans and Most Visitors Do Not Need Visas

Travel to Panama by Americans, British, Canada and several other countries do not need Passports of Visas to travel to Panama. All that is required is a Tourist Card that can be obtained for under 20 dollars at the airline.

9. Don’t Forget Your Camera!

Panama is a beautiful place to visit and it would be a shame if you couldn’t capture the stunning visuals. Think about purchasing a disposable underwater camera as the views below the ocean are just as stunning as the ones above.

10. Relax, It’s a Vacation You Know

Don’t plan too many things to do while traveling in Panama, after all you are on vacation. Spend some time relaxing and unwinding on the beach with a cold drink, you deserve it.

Thanks for the guest post about Panama Sean. If any of you have ever been to Panama feel free to add your own tips in the comments below.

[photos by: hamron, shby, coba, limonada, thinkpanama, Geir Halvorsen, tobym, clappstar, tamaki, Willaert]

How I Got Robbed In Guatemala and Other Hard-To-Believe Escapades: Series Recap

Marina Villatoro’s 11 part series, How I Got Robbed In Guatemala and Other Hard-To-Believe Escapades ended last Friday, but I wanted to list all of the parts here in case you missed any. Marina writes the travel blog Travel Experta about everything you need to know about Central America, be sure to check it out.

• Part 1 – The Beginning
• Part 2 – San Marcos, My Reality
• Part 3 – A Respite From Cat’s Slum House
• Part 4 – Preparation for the Last Supper
• Part 5 – The Search
• Part 6 – The Police
• Part 7 – The Police Report, The Fight, and Other Stupidities
• Part 8 – Grapevines
• Part 9 – Head Back to San Marcos
• Part 10 – The Meeting
• Part 11 – The Finale

In addition to the great story there were a lot of good comments and reactions, here are just some of them.

• Dave and Deb: Ooh hoo, There were so many signs…I love how you are eluding to what is going to happen. I am so afraid for you! At least I know that you are safe, but you totally have me in suspense.
• Final_Transit: OMG, everything is going bad… From what I guess, this must have been traumatic to you for days.
• Erica: The best part: “It feels safe and clean. The key word is CLEAN.”
• Amy @ The Q Family: I cringe when I read the kid’s part. It’s so surreal.
• Daniel: Your description of what it feels like in the moment you come to the realization you’ve been robbed was very vivid. Do you get your bag back? C’mon, you can tell me!
• Heather on her travels: I thought that all men in South America had that macho streak that would make them take pity of a poor blonde girl..
• Shannon OD: I am loving this series – and getting chills every time I read it – can’t wait for next week’s installment…hoping that you didn’t go see Chico!
• Barbara @ Hole in the Donut Travels: OMG! I finally got around to reading this – the entire series in one setting. I laughed, I cringed, I was reminded of a VERY similar incident I had happen to me in Hawaii.
• Shannon: There are some horrible people in the world, but we often forget about the truly kind people out there.
• Carla Young – Where’s Carla: Since the first post, I’ve been anxiously awaiting the rest of the story.
• Mark H: What a great story and over so many parts. Marina did a great job in the situation.
• Meli: A -freakin- mazin’ Really great story!

Thank you again Marina for the sharing this adventure and everyone for their comments.

[photo by: photobunny, CarbonNYC]

How I Got Robbed In Guatemala and Other Hard-To-Believe Escapades: Part 11

This is the final part of a true story written by Marina Villatoro who writes the travel blog Travel Experta about everything you need to know about Central America. Catch up with Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, and Part 10 in case you missed them. I’d like to thank Marina very much for sharing her story here, it’s been something great to look forward to each Friday.

I’ve had a few run-ins with recluses before. Low-budget hotels are inviting for all sorts. The gait and mannerisms for this special group doesn’t vary much from one to the other: mysteriously, they always have funds, although I can’t imagine any of them keeping a job. They indulge in long showers once a month; treat themselves to mammoth-nutritious meals; and stock up on provisions before they recoil back into their shells.  However, on a special night, they expand their world-of-one and let their fellow man inside.  Never straying from their comfort zone, they indulge us with stories of wild adventures: train hopping, feral hitchhikes, animal attacks, people attacks, or other heroisms. But the minute a personal or sensitive question is hurled in their direction they become defensive, edgy, and so riled up that you wish they would return to their cave.

I knew we have outstayed our welcome.

Without further questions I quickly rummaged around in the trunk.  To my shock, the extra clothes she referred to the other day were not at all what I expected. I was prepared to leave her home in wear-me-downs: outstretched, torn, or stained shirts and pants. Instead, my fingers flipped through brand-new designer garments: Donna Karan silk tops, T-shirts and underwear; Calvin Klein casual pants, skirts and matching blouses; Betsy Johnson summer dresses (my favorite).  Like a deliriously hungry vulture, I attacked the trunk.  This was one of those moments when you forgo the unexplained and accept things for what they were: A first-class (free) shopping spree in an Indian village of Guatemala.

Responding to my excitement, she seemed to relax once again.

“Thank you so much! Are you sure I can have these, they’re so new and expensive,” I bit my lip, hoping she wouldn’t change her mind.

She laughed, “They’re all yours.  They’re too small for me. I want you to have them.”

“How can I repay you?” I pleaded.  “It’s not only the clothes I’m referring to.  I’ve been feeling disheartened, bitter, reevaluating my faith in humankind.  But thanks to you I’ve restored some of my hatred. I want to show you my gratitude.”

She took my hand in hers, looked directly into my eyes and said, “There are two ways you can thank me.  One: don’t tell any one who I am and where I live.  Two:  next time you meet someone who’s in trouble or down on their luck, don’t turn your back on them.”  With that she hugged us and led us out.

Susanna’s kindness was contagious.  Janka volunteered to pay for both of our fares back to Pana, where I received the money sent to me from my parents, hugged Janka goodbye, and took a bus to Guatemala City.

Susanna reminded me of the genuine goodness that we all have.  Mine was lost long before I was robbed.  As the days and months pass I allowed a little of my compassion to surface and reveal itself.  I stopped filtering the world through tainted glasses and appreciated all the little miracles I would’ve normally taken for granted.

Last I heard Susanna had to move back to her native land to care for her sick father. I didn’t break my promise and tell you what her real name is or where she lived.  But before she left, she wrote me that the ‘Chico-problem’ was resolved. No one has the full story, although, the most popular rumor circulating was: he was stabbed in the chest by a non-cooperating, fed-up victim.  But we will never know the truth, and it’s not important. I’m glad to know that the village did not lay down to his antics and managed to fight back.

[photos by: federicogori, Galia & Yoav, damaradeaella]

Bio

Marina has been living in Central America for over 7 years and her site Travel Experta is all about traveling in Central America. Marina loves to help people plan the perfect vacation to this amazing part of the world! You can sign up for her RSS feed and join the fun on her Facebook fan page and follow her on Twitter at @MarinaVillatoro.

Airline Feeding Frenzy

This is a guest post by Kim Kinrade, a novel writer with four publications to his credit. He also writes the blog Travel To Nova Scotia and enjoys showing visitors around Nova Scotia. When not on the road he enjoys renovating his Victorian farmhouse.

The onslaught of à la carte fees by the airlines is another in a growing number of reasons of why the airline industry needs to be run like a public utility. Air travel, like the failed Wall Street and the European banking communities, is too important to be run by CEO’s and their minions. As a result we have a $439USD advertised flight that, with added fees, ends up being almost $700. In fact, two weeks ago, BusinessWeek featured a cover story entitled: “Airline Fees are Big Money; a Whopping 345% Jump.”

This week, with the three biggest American holidays just around the corner, the largest airlines in the U.S. – United, Delta and American – announced they are adding a $10 “Holiday Fee.”  This means that from the last week in November until the week after New Year’s they can gouge and extra $10. Now this may not seem like a lot but let’s take stock of what is happening. You not only get the thrill of long line-ups and flight delays you have the opportunity of paying for the privilege. Here are some more fees:

1. Baggage Fees

There has always been an overweight charge for luggage on most airlines but now they are getting creative. For example, on American Airlines, passengers flying within the U.S. pay $20 USD for their first checked bag and $30 for the next one.

2. Meals

Airline food was never great but it wasn’t bad either. You could always be assured that a morning flight would get you coffee and an omelet. Now, if you’re running late you don’t have time to stand in a lie-up at an overpriced, airport, fast-food place. In fact, selling meals becoming a shameless money-maker. Of course Goldfish are still free on most airlines.

3. Counter Services

Airline managers and employees don’t want to meet you. In fact, I don’t think they like people. So, many carriers are going to be adding surcharges for the privilege of seeing you face-to-face but electronic ticketing will be “free.”

4. Movies

Another bit of fun used to be the in-flight movie. The sound was bad and you either saw the movie from a distance or, if it was beside you, you had to crane your neck to see the monitor. Now, they have LCD screens directly in front of you and charge video prices plus the cost of the headphones to watch them. If you can read lips the movies on most airlines are still free – but not for long.

5. Drinks

I don’t drink alcoholic beverages on airliners anymore. This is because I’m older and don’t like to spend the first two days of my holiday getting over jet lag. Actually, I stopped around the time when some airlines (like Air New Zealand) were still handing out free beer. Now if I wanted a glass of wine it would be at well-above restaurant prices. (I believe coffee and water are still “free.”) They say it helps reduce “drunkenness” however some passengers will always find the coin to get drunk and be obnoxious.

6. Seat Selection

This is a real kicker! No more first-come-first-served. You pay between $6 and $20USD for the seats with extra legroom or, for the nervous types, beside an exit.

7. Pillows and Blankets

I never use pillows or blankets on a plane. My coat is good enough. For those who still like the feel of course, artificial weave next to their skin can count on $5.

8. Wi-Fi

Satellite time is expensive. So, charging for Wi-Fi should make sense, right? However, the airline is already paying for it for their own purposes. Now the passengers pay for services the airlines already have to buy.

American air carriers, like other commercial interests, have always been engaged in a “winner take all” scenario. The way they seem to gobble each other up in hostile take-overs reminds me of a small python swallowing a boar. This is how they first got into trouble. So they can use 9-11 or big gas prices as excuses for their gluttony but the spike in fuel and the shadow of 9-11 only lasted a year each. For the rest of those tens years they made money. And now with sky-shopping – a service of online shopping on onboard – passengers buy everything from duty-free liquor to T-shirts at boutique prices.

In other words every seat is a profit center – and still the fees go on.

[photo by: Muffet, en_see89, r5d4]

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