Nice Boobies!

Blue footed boobies, that is. Everyone loves boobies!

Before I had time to think, I dropped a load of cash on an 8 day Galapagos Cruise on a beautiful catamaran called the Nemo. Great crew, great service and it was the trip of a lifetime! I swam with penguins, sea lions, rays, turtles, and marine iguanas. Saw frigate birds flirting, an albatross menage a trois, and sea turtles mating. Wow.

The Galapagos is an archipelago of volcanic islands in the crossroads of 3 major ocean currents converging to create unique environments for strange animal habitats. Each island is different, and has it's own endemic animals.

we would go ashore with our naturalist, Juan Carlos, our very own Dr. Doolittle, and learn about the behaviors of the different species. When he "talked" to the animals they would actually answer back?! The animals aren't afraid of us, and the park has to have a "no closer than 6 ft rule", but if the animal is on the path, then all bets are off. Also, sometimes the animals would come right up to us (obviously they didn't get the memo), and we could get face to face with them.

do giant tortoises really have two penises? Here we get a glimps.....

ok, so baby sea lions are THE cutest thing I've ever seen. EVER. I could watch them all day. Here's one sucking his thumb/fin - are you kidding me?

the fur seal lions have HUGE eyes to hunt at night - kind of freaky when they come within inches of you to play while snorkeling

Too lazy to walk, here's a bull sea lion rolling himself over to his other group of females. He actually makes it....

turtle porn - it's ok to watch

the captain even let me sail his boat - thanks, William!

some dolphins came to play...

I had to hold back the tears when I left this portion of the journey

for more pics of Galapagos and Ecuador click on thiakonig.com/ecuador

Maseratti bus rides and animal markets

Strap on your seatbelts for a crazy bus ride over cobblestones and around hairpin turns on the Quilotoa Loop high in the Andes. Oh yeah, that's right, there are no seatbelts. And as always, when in doubt, honk the horn.....

I could have bought a llama for $180, a very large pig for $150 and a small pig for $60 - prices variable depending on how serious (or stupid) the sellers thought I was, and before any haggleing

The Quilotoa Crater - over 14,ooo ft (gasp, pant) From here I hiked for 5 hours DOWN to my little guest house in Chugchilan

Saturday market in Zumbahua

and here's a walkthrough.....

Everyone wears thier Sunday best, including velvet skirts, stockings, sturdy high heels, and colorful ponchos to drag their pigs and sheep to market. Style points!

a funeral headed to the cemetery

a family plot - 3 down, 3 to go.......

sorry camels, but llamas are my new favorite beasts of burden

ever wonder how they get the sheep on the bus? (I know that was the burning question on everyone's mind) Why, they just hoist them up with a rope of course.....check out this short 14 second video

for more pics of Ecuador click www.thiakonig.com/ecuador

Hola Quito, Ecuador

so landing in Quito, Ecuador at 11 o'clock at night was a little scary, but managed to find this great hostel in the old town center. Had breakfast on the rooftop, and wandered around downtown in between rain storms.

spend 5 seconds on the streets of Quito....

spent most of the day making plans and booking a Galapagos trip. You have to pay for the trip in cash, but the ATM's only let you take out $500 a day. Luckily Heather gave me the tip ahead of time, so I had $1000 of travelers checks, and I only had to spend one day going to the bank to make up the difference. The travel agent's office looked a bit like a mafia den with all the cash flying around.