The Cloud Forest

After a short stay in Quito, we headed to the cloud forest.  After leaving early in the morning, we began a three hour bus ride towards the Intag Valley and Junin. The bus ride toward the cloud forest was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. Going through the mountains in a large tour bus was a bit of a sublime experience. As we traveled up dirt and gravel roads thousands of feet up in the mountains with a few feet of room separating us from the valley floor, there were more than a few frightening turns and views. The severity of the peaks and valleys and the vast green terrain was like nothing I have ever seen before. It was also remarkable how remote and removed these mountains were from seemingly all civilization. As we reached the point in the journey where our bus could no longer make it up the mountain, we loaded up in an open air truck and began the second part of the bumpy journey on even less developed and narrower roads. After another hour or so, we finally made it to the Junin area and walked to our eco cabana. The terrain was absolutely incredible, and the place we stayed was amazing. After settling in, the group went for a long hike to a coffee and banana plantation, and then made our way to the village of Junin. It was incredible to see people from the movie Under Rich Earth in person, and the location in which it was filmed. What quickly became apparent was how nice these people were, and the unfortunate situation this remote community was in the middle of, with a multi-national company attempting to move in and potentially destroy their land and way of life. After playing soccer with some of the local kids in the village, and seeing the beauty of their village and surroundings, it really made me think about how important certain things really are. These people live life in a very simple yet fulfilling manner. They have managed to maintain the beauty of their surroundings without allowing outside influence to corrupt their lives. Rather than selling out to outsiders, they have learned how to utilize their resources such as coffee and cocoa and sell them on the market. Also utilizing skills in weaving and crafts in order to create products to sell in Otavalo. I really appreciated that level of entrepreneurship and willingness to learn what works and what does not work. The people of Junin seem to have really found their niche and the potential for sustainable growth without the presence of a mining company. Junin should serve as an example for how to grow and provide jobs without ruining your way of life. The ability to see such a unique community is an experience I will never forget.