musezine 18

Besides the immense food diversity there is a great wealth of scenery. Ecuador is
divided into four sections: el oriente, la sierra, la costa and Las Islas Galapagos.
I wanted to experience both the force of the water and elevation, so I directed
myself to La Laguna Quilotoa, a water filled caldera (crater) formed by the explosion
of a volcano. The Crater Lake feels surreal as if you are above the world
giving off natural energy from itself while encouraging you to walk down to its
waters to experience the place as a whole. You feel as if you’ve been transported
to a different world where the lines between reality and imagination are blurred.
The water from the crater posses the energy from the volcano that collapsed
and you can feel the energy the instant your hand makes contact with the water.
The people from Quilotoa have created a transportation system using mulas and
burros (mules and donkeys) to shuttle people up the crater for eight dollars. I was
frightened to ride on them so I hiked up for an hour and a half instead.
I often dream of the opportunity to feel out of this world, as most of us will experience
at one point in our lives. I’ve realized that we all seek for this, but only in
these special instances are we able to endure this feeling. Life is full of inconsistent
sensations, but I searched and found my place of personal fulfillment
in Ecuador. Back in New York, I remind myself that I cannot have this pleasure
forever, but I must develop other distinct satisfactions as I venture forward. Here,
I’m brought back to reality with a better sense of myself and to move forward with
a new outlook on life as I travel underground in the subways and wander through
the busy streets.
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