Driving through the Ecuadorian countryside with white knuckles, I couldn’t wait to get away from the big city. I have said it before and I say it again: I do not like big cities. Quito was a gringo central, and I hardly spoke any word of Spanish. I like to and I need to get to smaller places where the waving of the arms are not as big. Not like Japan, though - they hardly wave at all. (more…)

Ecuador is relatively tiny and is rarely a country occupying my mind. Before arriving here, I knew of one thing particular for Ecuador: the Equator. An invisible thin line dividing the south from the north. A line with neutral energy. But while leaving Ecuador, I am walking on my own fine line. The fine line of anger and desire. (more…)

Ecuador is a country where the adrenaline can pump through your body almost 24 hours a day. You can enjoy beach, big cities, volcanoes, jungle and desert within these 24 hours and I have never been more surprised about a country. Knowing I was unable to enjoy any of it, I still worked hard for Ecuador to keep me in the country - just for a few more days. (more…)

Normally, I am a calm guy. Normally, I have respect for others. Normally, I am a pleaser - a person who enjoy the company of others. Lately, I have found new feelings inside of me. The dark side of Knut is emerging and I am not sure if I like it. (more…)

Some people in this world are idiots and some people are highly intellectual. Some people are both stupid and criminals, and some people are highly intellectual and criminals. Some people are just unfortunate and some people knew what was waiting for them. Among a very different crowd of people, I found myself right in the middle of the Quito high security prison without a guard. (more…)

As trees passed by at high speed, sharp curves running under the crushing power of the large tires and the altitude meters were climbed slowly but surely, I tried to imagine what would actually happen if the driver had a stroke, an unattended moment at the wheel or just hit a wall of pure insanity. There was no way, that anyone in the bus would survive a drop from the road down through the thick forest onto the floor of the valley. And the worst part was the knowledge of the nighttime sneaking in making it impossible for anyone to actually locate us if it happened. Chances of survival were slim and the stories about these kind of buses racing off the road in other countries, definitely did not make me more able to sleep. But witnessing the awaken Colombians trust in the driver, comforted me - just a bit. (more…)

I can almost smell Ecuador and the smell is sweet. I have stayed longer in Colombia than I planned, a consequence of what I can only call fascination. Colombia contains many absorbing views and the country in general has been more than generous to me. (more…)