explosive mad cows

these things are called "vacas locas" or crazy cows. they are loaded with firecrackers. these two guys ran around under them like a chinese dragon while they were spurting fireworks. this was for a neighborhood party that my "grandma" here organized to celebrate Quito´s independence from Spain. such FUN!

circle time, good eyesight and dancing for two

Meeting kids at a government-funded school...............

Dancing with a little girl at non-profit program for kids with disabilities, ...................

Helping provide eye glasses for those who cannot afford medical care.

jungle view, maytag and 40

for the first time in my life, I washed clothes by hand on rocks. they really got clean! there is no need for the maytag man out here............

jungle view from my hut. the river was extraordinary.........

playing a card game called cuarenta (40) with a shaman. we played until the candle burned out.

monkey hats, questionable water and the far reach of the coca-cola corporation

hiked to a remote village to visit and donate school supplies. there was standing water all over the place. I could not distinguish rain water from sewage water. there is no doubt it contributes to ill health. If anyone wants to do a project on irrigation, let me know!.......

these fun kids are wearing a hat made out of ... monkey skin! ..........................

we were over 2 hours away from running water... and they sold coke. it is EVERYWHERE.....

a lamb, a llama and a lick

this little girl lived with her family at the top of the mountain. ................
the owner of the lamb tied a plastic bag around him to protect him from the cold. his "baaaa" was so cute!
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for my birthday last year some friends and I bought a llama for a community in south america through Heifer International. wonder if this is the llama? visit http://www.heifer.org/

a gorge, a volcanic lake, and a backpack ...with emily and tony...

spent 4 days and 3 nights hiking in the spectacular andes mountains. we climbed up and down 6 mountains and played a rousing game of soccer with kids from a community on the top of a mountain. we lost our bet that we would win...so we bought them soda and a cookie. what FUN!