CHICHA – AN ANCESTRAL BEVERAGE TO FEED BODY AND SOUL

by Mary-Fleur Tordjmann:

It is 7 am. I have just arrived in Canelos, a remote Kithwa community of the Pastaza Province, the oldest one in the whole Ecuadorian Amazonian jungle. I jump on the back of a camioneta, a pick-up used as public transportation, to get to the family house of Delia, the community chief’s wife. Women from all generations are gathered outside, in the open-air den, sharing a simple daily life moment.

In welcome, Delia’s mother, the elder of the family, offers me a bowl of chicha to drink with all my hosts. Everyone, from the little children to the oldest one, sips their chicha while talking in kichwa, their native language. Once they have filled their stomachs and gained some strength, they are ready to go to work in the jungle. They are going to cut down dozens of leaves to be used to build a roof. It is always the same routine. Drinking chicha before starting a day of hard work.

..... MORE FROM THIS ARTICLE PLEASE FOLLOW THE BELOW LINK

http://www.soundsandcolours.com/articles/ecuador/chicha-an-ancestral-beverage-to-feed-body-and-soul/

Continue

Pastaza Province, Ecuador Upper amazon bassin.

Pastaza Province upper amazon bassin, a video from TV ecuador on our nice province. A tourist destination of Ecuador to discover near Banos. Come and visit our province and discover all his beauty.

http://www.amalavida.tv/programa-ecuador-ama-la-vida/programa-ecuador-ama-la-vida-temporada-2/pastaza

Continue

Avibase - Bird Checklists of the World, for Pastaza province, Ecuador

Bird Checklist for Pastaza province, Ecuador

This checklist includes all bird species found in Pastaza , based on the best information available at this time. It is based on a wide variety of sources that I collated over many years. I am pleased to offer these checklists as a service to birdwatchers. If you find any error, please do not hesitate to report them.

The taxonomic order and nomenclature follows Howard & Moore 3rd edition (corrigenda 8). If you prefer to view the list based on a different authority, click on one of the list available below. Globally threatened species (status in red) were identified by Birdlife International in Threatened Birds of the World(Birds to Watch 3).

Bird Checklists of the World is part of Avibase and Bird links to the World, which are designed and maintained by Denis Lepage, and hosted by Bird Studies Canada, which is a co-partner of Birdlife International.

© Denis Lepage 2013

http://avibase.bsc-eoc.org/checklist.jsp?region=ECpa&list=howardmoore

Continue

Introduction to Ecuador

Ecuador is a South American country bordered by Columbia in the north, Peru in the south and east, and the Pacific Ocean in the west. Ecuador has a land area of 276,840 sq. km. Galapagos Islands also form a part of Ecuador and is famous for their wildlife. Ecuador has a coastline of about 2,237 km. This country has a republican form of government, and Quito is the capital city, located at an altitude of 2,820 meters.

Ecuador has a population of just over 13 million people (July 2005 estimate). The main ethnic groups are mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) at 65 percent and Amerindian at 25 percent of the population. Spanish and others constitute 7 percent of the population while blacks are 3 percent. At least 95 percent of the people of Ecuador are Roman Catholic. Spanish is the official language, and Amerindian languages are also spoken, especially Quechua. Ecuador has a population growth of 1.24 percent and the infant mortality rate is 23.66 deaths to1,000 live births. Ecuador has a life expectancy of 76.21 years and has a literacy rate of 92.5 percent.

Ecuador gained independence from Spain on May 24, 1822. The Independence Day is celebrated on August 10th. For administrative purposes, Ecuador is divided into 22 provinces. The country has a gross domestic product of $49.51 billion. Agriculture occupies 8.7 percent and industry occupies 30.5 percent of the GDP. The service sector occupies 60.9 percent of the GDP. Ecuador has an urban labor force of 4.53 million. The service sector accounts for 68 percent of the work force while industry accounts for 24 percent of the work force. Only 8 percent of the labor force is employed in the agricultural sector. According to 2001 estimates, 45 percent of the population of Ecuador is below the poverty line.

The main industries of Ecuador are petroleum, chemicals, food processing, textiles, timber, and the main agricultural produces include bananas, coffee, cocoa, rice, potatoes, tapioca, plantains, and sugarcane. Livestock includes cattle, sheep, pigs, beef, and pork. The main export commodities of Ecuador are petroleum, bananas, cut flowers and shrimp while the main import commodities include vehicles, medicinal products, telecommunications equipment, and electricity. The main export partners are the U.S., which accounts for 42.9 percent of all exports. The other main export partners are Panama 14.3 percent, Peru 7.9 percent and Italy 4.6 percent. The United States is the main import partner of Ecuador. The other main import partners include Colombia, China, Venezuela, Brazil, Chile, Japan, and Mexico.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/252828

Continue

Ecuador As Your Next Holiday Destination

Ecuador Travel offers you the most fascinating insights of this wonderful country. Learn more about those places that attract travelers to Ecuador and do plan your visit accordingly. There is something for each traveler here so read to learn more.

Today, when someone plans for a vacation he or she usually look for places that offer them everything that they may wonder. Ecuador is one place on earth that brings you a perfect holidaying experience. The country's natural diversity and the fun associated with it make this place the best selection for your next holiday. It is one place where you will never feel bored as it includes a lot to explore.

The Republic of Ecuador is ranked amongst the smallest nations in South America, but the major attractions for which it is known to the world wide visitors is really astounding. The thrilling Amazon Basin, the drenched tropical forests, the charming Pacific Coast, the unique Galapagos Islands, the historical cities of Quito and Cuenca is all that makes Ecuador worth a visit.

Ecuador Travel offers information on featured Ecuador tours open for visitors from all over the world. Tours those are unusual and exciting offering you the true experience of knowing about the culture, heritage, food, drinks, and adventure that the land of Ecuador is known for. So you will come to know what kind of journey waits for you.

Culinary Travel or gastronomic tours to Ecuador:

Ecuadorian cuisine includes a variety of special dishes. Apart from varieties of staple foods from Amazon lowlands, Coast and Highland, it also includes a fine influence of North American, European and Spanish tastes. Some of the common dishes in this country are Seco de Pollo (cooked chicken garnished with avocado fruit served with rice), Seco de Chivo (spicy goat meat served with dry rice), Lomo a la Plancha, Churrasco, Menestra, Locro, Hornado, Fritada, Trucha and others.

Garden Tours:

Gardening Tours are common in Ecuador. Organized by different tour operators, these tours show you gardens that inspire and educate. The varied terrain and tropical climate makes Ecuador one of the 17 countries to be classified as one of the most mega diverse countries in respect of biodiversity. There are about 25,000 plant species that have been catalogued over time. Garden tours to the Galapagos Islands offer you the chance of experiencing the truly diverse species of plants. However, flower plantations form to be the central interest for most garden tourists.

Overland tours:

South American overland tours bring you the true essence of the life of Ecuador. To get the taste of the outdoor adventure, book your overland tour operator and get an action packed touring experience. These tours include a combination of hotels and camping. These are mainly participation tours where you will get to involve in a lot of activities each day from cooking, cleaning and setting up of the camp etc.

4x4 tour:

The Ecuador 4x4 tours refer to the 4 wheel adventure tours. The country offers you thousand kilometers of adventure tracks and roads in the Pacific lowlands (coast), Andean Highland and the Amazon rain forest and jungles for travelers. So don't miss the opportunity to explore adventure Ecuador with the 4x4 tours.

Accommodation Ecuador:

With the increasing number of tourists each year, Ecuador has come up with some of the best accommodation facilities to meet the basic needs of their visitors. You will find Ecuador hotels and accommodation services ranging from hostels, inns, eco lodges, resorts, B&Bs, haciendas and much more located all over the country. For newly wedded couples, there are honeymoon hotels that offer honey moon packages of all kinds to meet their budget requirements.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3061053

Continue