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Date: 5th October - 7th October 2006
We left Misahualli at 8 in the morning to start our journey out of the jungle and onto another town called Baños which is famous for its hot springs, hence the name Baños meaning baths! I sat up front with the driver Steve for the first part of the journey out of the jungle, Matt stayed in the back as he thought the front may make him a bit car sick. It was cool being up front, had good view of the roads ahead which I hadn´t realised were so narrow, with sheer drops on the sides which were quite scary to look down. On our way out of the jungle there were lots of little roads to drive down none of which had road names or signs so it is impossible to know if we were heading the right way, but I think Steve had a good idea anyway. Some roads are one way but there were no signs stating this and we got half way down one road which was cut off with road works and we had to turn back! Its quite hard to drive around in South America, nothing ever runs smoothly but thats all part of the fun of it. Was cool sat up front coz I could wave to all the locals and they would mostly all wave and shout hola back which was cool. There were many little bridges that we were driving over on the way which didnt look like they could take the weight of Doris but thank god they did haha! There were some spectacular views on this drive out of the jungle and I was taking some cool pics on the way, we made a few toilet stops on the way, the first being at this little shop on the way out of the jungle, the toilet was literally a shed with a towel covering most of the door and it was minging!! I have to admit that I have seen and had to use some of the worlds most interesting but disgusting toilets ever but I suppose thats all part of the experience haha!! The next stop we made was for lunch as we got closer to Baños, at the point where we stopped there was the option to go on this red cable car which goes across the valley over a river to the other side past this cool waterfall. Quite a few of us went to give it a go, you pay one dollar and stand in the cable car, it shoots off fairly fast which was quite scary!! As we were approaching the other side it didnt feel like it was going to stop but it does suddenly phew!! Then the way back across was just as interesting, it stopped half way on the line and we were all worried it was stuck but unexpectedly it shot off again, it was so random and yet another experience. Me and Matt both went on it but Russ gave it a miss because of the height, probably a good thing for him as it didnt feel all that secure, but it was cool. After our lunch we continued further down the road until we reached the point where we had the option to do a Bridge Swing. This is where you jump off the wall of the bridge, a bit like a bungee jump but instead of going up and down you swing from side to side. After watching a few people do it me and Matt both ended up having a go, it was really scary at first but was such a cool feeling once you jump off. It was horrible to watch Matt go first and I was so glad when he came back up safe and told me that I´d be okay and I shouldn´t worry. My legs were shaking so much when it was my turn and I was being strapped to the harness. The worst part about it was getting onto the wall before actually jumping I had Matt, Rich and the tour guy all helping me up onto the wall haha. I was standing there while the guy checked I was securely fastened then everyone shouted 3 2 1 and I leapt off the wall, was really cool you roll in the air then swing from side to side quite fast was really fun we both enjoyed it. There was only about 12 of us that actually did it, and after we all had a go we continued our journey to Baños. We arrived at the hotel camp ground at about 4, we were camping for the first time on this trip here for the 3 nights, so we had to unload the truck and set up our tents. Once we were all set up we had a walking tour with Mike of the town to find out where things were, we all really liked Baños it was such a pretty little town, and everyone seemed really friendly and helpful. Much preferred it here to Quito suppose thats because its much smaller and not as hectic. After we had a wander around we headed back to camp for dinner, it was a cool area that we were camping in had lots of wooden tables, a circular bar with swings and a big kitchen to cook in. The only down fall was there was only one shower which wasn´t too warm either!! After dinner me and Matt went to lie down in our tents as we were both quite cold and tired, we ended up falling asleep fairly early that night while Russ and some of the others stayed up playing cards.
We were up early the next day as we had our Canyoning trip which is where you absail down waterfalls, there was 10 of us from the group doing it which was cool and me Matt and Russ were all in the same group. We were given wetsuits, shoes and helmets and then taken to the first waterfall which was 12 metres high. This was quite scary at first as its easy to slip on the rocks as you absail down but if you lean really far back it makes it easier to do, as we got closer to the bottom the guy shouted jump, and you jump back into the rock pool at the bottom of the waterfall and he helps pull you out. At this same point we also got the chance to slide down the side of part of the rock into the pool which was fun we all had a go at this, then Matt and Pete braved jumping off this same rock which was half way up into the pool. I prob would have given this a go but when Matt jumped he hit the rock on the way into the pool, he was ok luckily and didnt hit his head, but that put me off doing it. One of the tour guys jumped into the pool from the top where we had absailed down 12 metre, and they said we would get out tour free if we did this, we were like NO WAY we´d rather pay!! We moved onto the next waterfall which was 6 metres high this time but the water flowed down it much faster so it was a little harder, and straight from this one you move onto the 40 metre one. I was the last to do this so I was bit anxious as I didnt know what to expect of the last one. The 6 metre one was cool did that then jumped into the pool, then I was met by the next guy who harnessed me to another rope to absail one metre and a half to the next guy on the edge of the 40 metre drop one. This metre and half part was fairly steep so quite hard but I made it to the last guy, who gave me some chocolate woo hoo and harnessed me up, he said after about a metre to put my knees on the rock and absail like that. I didn´t realise what he mean´t until I started to absail down, as you put your knees against rock like he instructed you suddently realise that it is the end of the rockface and after this point you are just absailing freely down 40 metres!!! This was really cool but quite scary, so exhilarating, but we all did it and really enjoyed it was something different and was a good laugh!! After we had finished the canyoning we headed back to their office where we changed back into our clothes and they fed us fresh ham & cheese rolls and coke, well deserved after all that adrenaline!! After we had finished they took us to another place in Baños about 10 min drive away where we had the opportunity to do this zip line, which was 150 metres long and 80 metres high! We had to catch one of those crazy red cable cars over to the start point of the zip line, and the tour guy went first to show us what it was like. They always joked with us saying it was their first time too even though they had 100 odd times, just liked to wind people like me up haha. Matt went first out of our group they strapped him up and then off he went all I could hear is his voice shouting the whole way to the other side haha. After Matt went I decided to go, as I prefer to get it done then hang around worrying about what it wll be like. It was a little scary looking but the tour guide made sure you were strapped properly, asked me to sit down then shouts GO, and off I went. Was really fun I screamed pretty much the whole way to the end haha. The scariest part is the end as you don´t feel like you´re gonna stop and feels like you´re gonna hit the trees ahead, but the line goes up at the end which slows the impact of you coming in right down and then they help you down, this was wicked!!!
That night after we had wandered around and done a bit of shopping we had dinner at the campsite and everyone got ready to go out as we were all hitting a few bars to celebrate my mate Irish Debbies b´day. This was such a quality night out! Went to a few cool bars one was owned by the canyoning tour guide called Jack Rock Cafe (Previously called Hard Rock Cafe, but he was paid by the franchise to change it !!). Had such a laugh and the drinks are soooo strong only had about 5 drinks and oh yes I was ill oops, all I remember is Russ saying come on Mel get it all out, outside the hotel on the steps where our camp ground was OOPPS!!Next day we had a bit of a chilled day to relax and look around the town, well needed with the hangovers we had haha. I needed more than our usual camping style cereal breakfast so I talked Matt into going out for breakie. We also went to the hot spring baths which were well nice and relaxing, there were 3 main ones, one was 30 degrees and one was cold and the other luke warm. The luke warm one was always packed so we both stuck to the 30 degree one then the cold, coz if you jump in the cold straight after it cleanses your pores so we felt so clean. Well I´m sure the alcoholic toxins were cleared out haha! There is a high waterfall coming down the cliff which provides the hot water for the springs which was a cool view as well as the nice baths. We were then going to hire quad bikes but decided against it when our Irish mate Adrian had an accident on his and badly hurt his shoulder :( so we thought we would be more cultural and went for an hours salsa dancing lesson!! This was hilarious, all trying to copy the local in front of a large mirror and trying to keep in time with the music, but we did learn a little routine which we have been practising in clubs since haha! That night we all chilled at the camp site and had an early in preparation for our long drive to Cuenca the next day!- comments