I arrived in Guayaquil in November 2007, my initial plan was simply to stay here for maybe a week or two after visiting the Galapagos. Never would i imagine that almost 5 months later i would still be here.
For some reason i’ve had a surge of bad luck these last few months which have really made me question my integrity and often led me to start thinking ‘is it really worth all the hassle’.
How many of you would consider throwing in the towel after experiencing so many negative situtations.
1. Lens was out of focus on my new digital camera - cost to repair $100 - unable to take it to the Galapagos (thankfully my host lent me his instead)
2. On my dream trip of a lifetime to the Galapagos i fell whilst dancing on the 6th day of an 8 day trip causing severe knee swelling, the following day i was unable to walk which just happened to be the day trip to the Darwin Centre to see the Giant Tortoises. (thankfully i did still get to see them on the final day on another island yet was still extremely frustrated to have missed out)
3. Upon arrival back to Guayaquil with continued knee pain i had an MRI Scan showing a broken crucial ligament. I would need my first ever surgery in the first week of January, great start to the new year.
4. Just before Christmas a tooth cap broke whilst eating pizza (of all things). Cost to repair $250, nice present for me.
5. Had to stay in bed for three weeks unable to walk after surgery.
6. Due to being in bed for so long a strange fungus rash appeared on my buttocks caused by lack of movement and stress. Nice!
7. Rash returned 2 weeks after disappearing. Finally it has now gone.
8. After fully recovering from my first surgery and with plans to go to Peru i fell again during my final days on the beach reoccurring a new injury to the same knee, this time a fracture. Surgery was needed yet again. (thankfully my insurance did pay all the first surgery and most of the second but i still had to pay $300 of my own money for other medical bills.
9. Broke up with my new girlfriend who i had been living with during my first surgery. I needed to return back to the original couchsurfing family who where at work all day. Again i find myself trapped in a bed for 3 weeks unable to move suffering from the pain of a broken heart.
10. Second visa expires, i’m currently now illegal in Ecuador and will need to pay a fine of $200 once i am fit and well enough to leave. I’ve been in Ecuador for more than 6 months, i should now be finishing my tour of Brazil.
11. Nasty virus attacks my website. (luckily it was dealt with but for a moment i was led to believe that all my work would be lost.
12. Had to give my first negative reference about a surfer i stayed with in Guayaquil. In return of course he gave me one back. The red kinda sets of my profile real nice!
13. I accidentally sat on my bank card and put a kink in the very bar the ATM machine needs to read to draw money. Now i currently have to wait for my sister to send my new card from England on an Express courier. My wonderful host is lending me money in the meantime. Incredible!
i have exactly 13 problems, isn’t that an unlucky number???
However one positive thing that recently happened was i finally received a box sent by my best friend Andy (who i miss dearly) and his lovely girlfriend Lucy from England over 2 months ago containing some essential English supplies to make my day
Just my luck though, the Marmite jar was smashed, i had to salvage what i could and try to filter out the small pieces of glass. Nice..
Thankfully i’m able to get some half decent bacon here so with my HP sauce and Tetley tea breakfast is now a time to wake early once again.
In ten years i’m sure i’ll look back and laugh, for now i’m off to make me a brew, 2 sugars (standard mix)!
