People from Quito and Guayaquil have a bit of a rivalry with each other. They both think their city is better, and they’ll talk trash with each other about why. One thing they can agree on though is that Cuenca is the cream of the crop. It doesn’t have anywhere near the size of Quito or Guayaquil, but Cuenca is Ecuador’s most beloved city. The historical centre and...
Oil giant Petronas has been investing in renewable energy for nearly a decade. Petronas has become a large player in the solar PV industry. In 2018, about 54% of the company’s interests were in fossil fuels, with ambitions to continue decreasing their dependence. Companies that begin making the transition to renewables sooner rather than later put themselves in a...
The recession brought on by the United States housing market crisis in 2008 enacted sweeping changes to how securities are traded in the US. The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act was legislated in 2010, regulating nearly every aspect of the country’s financial sector. One of the major reforms included Section 1502, which requires all publicly...
Baños de Agua Santa. It´s one of the most prominent tourist destinations in all of Ecuador. I knew it was a popular spot but I didn’t realize how big it was amongst foreigners. I thought it was just gonna be a beautiful little mountain town, which it is, but I wasn´t expecting to see so many foreigners walking the streets and the number of bars and restaurants...
I had no expectations when I went to Otavalo. I knew about the market on Saturdays but that was it. I took a bus there on a Friday afternoon so that I could visit the market on Saturday and had plans to head back on Sunday. It’s about a 2-hour bus ride or so from the Carcelen Terminal in northern Quito. In my head I had made Otavalo out to be a bit of a shanty town...
Ohhhh Quito. I didn’t love nor hate this city. Its size is impressive, its altitude is near suffocating (until you get used to it), and its historic centre is scattered with beautifully preserved colonial architecture. Overlooking the centro histórico is the largest neo-Gothic basilica in the Americas. The thing about Quito though for me was it was just lacking that...
Izhcayluma. The trail that’s hard to say and almost harder to follow. But my God what amazing views it provides if you can find your way to the top. The hike took me about 5 hours in total to walk from the center of town in Vilcabamba and back. If you’re staying at Izhcayluma Hostel, the trail will be easy to find and they have maps that will prove very helpful. I...
I was sitting in Baguia, Timor-Leste wondering if I should flee the country and return home before borders close. My other option was to ride out the pandemic for however long that may be in the small, remote village. Most of the friends and family I talked to told me it was a no-brainer. Canada, your home country with a robust health care system, or Timor-Leste, a...
Arriving by plane at night it was tough to tell if it was mountain peaks or clouds that were obstructing my view of the lights far below. Quito is the capital of Ecuador and finds itself nestled in a valley high in the Andes mountains. Surrounded by volcanic peaks on seemingly all sides, it became apparent to me how high I was as I was touching down at the Mariscal...
Have you heard of mezcal? Isn’t it the same as tequila? Well, yes but no. Some mezcals might have a similar taste to tequila, but for the most part, mezcal has a more full, smooth, smoky flavour. A good mezcal tastes nothing like tequila. That’s not just me being pretentious – like saying I can notice the subtle differences between Coke and Pepsi, which I can’t. I...