Ecuador, siempre me encanta

I was lucky enough to get to go to Ecuador for work the last two weeks. It had been 4 years since I was here last, and in a very different capacity this time. I was mostly in Quito for work, but I got to travel a little bit.

Hard to explain the hold this country has on me -- I felt at home immediately, and I feel sad to leave again now. My Spanish is pretty rusty, but I spoke almost nonstop over the weekend I had free, and after that my tongue no longer felt like lead.

The mountains here are just as spectacular as in Bhutan, although everything else is different. Quito is at 9,000 feet, a couple thousand higher than Thimphu, and it affects most people when they arrive to visit. On a site visit, I was at over 10,200 feet -- at that height, just walking up a street I felt a bit out of breath.

I'll post pictures soon.

Last big hike: back to Tiger's Nest

A week before leaving, I went back to Tiger's Nest to visit the monasteries that most tourists don't visit above Tiger's Nest.

Tiger's Nest:

One of the monasteries at the top:
I made a new friend on the route, and he introduced me to his friends, since he spends a lot of time at these monasteries.
The "trail" was really a stream. Slow going, a little slippery and required at least one jump-across.
Zangto Pelri:
My new friend introduced me to his "grandpa," who made us tea in his one-room home.
And since someone rightly said I don't usually post photos of people, here you go :)
The last temple we visited was two floors, with one nun in silent month-long meditation on each floor. My friend and I sat and meditated for some time here, and I left with such peace.

Last days

My last days in Thimphu were hectic, filled with goodbyes, packing, and happily, a few last hikes.

Strange fungus along the trail we found:

Rainbow over a ridge across the valley, a sweet ending to my time.
Beautiful mushroom:
I love this garbage can, at a local school. One side says "Plez love me" and the other "kiss me nicely."

Puppies

We see dogs all the time here, in various levels of adorableness. These ones are right near where we live, and I am so sorely tempted to take one home.

Morning hike

I went for a couple hours walk today up to a nearby low ridge and gardens. Here's some of what I saw. View of a monastery across the valley:

Butterflies! I think this one is an Eastern Courtier:

Azure Sapphire:
Okay, this guy is from a couple days ago, but I love his look:

Dragonflies

And finally, the dragonflies were amazing at the site, in colors I'd never seen in dragonflies before. Who wouldn't want to make this beautiful valley their home?

Thick mist over the river in the early morning:

Bugs and sun-lovers

This lizard was a daily guest at the site:

Have you ever seen a red grasshopper before?? I sure hadn't.
This is not a leech, but I did get a few leech bites on one of my long hikes in the area.
First what is this??
Second what is this??? It has wings and pinchers, at least 3 inches from top of bottom.