Las Tunas, week 1
Celebrating my 29th birthday surfing, beach walks and my first dive since a year.
May 26, 08:28
I decided to share a diary of some sort. About me and my life, basically. At this moment I am at a beach town called Las Tunas. It’s a small village at the coast in Ecuador. Google Maps doesn’t really know it, but it’s about 20 or 30 minutes south of Puerto Lopez.
I am not sure yet what it is exactly that I’m going to share. But since I have been traveling now for 3,5 months and there really is no time limit for when I stop doing this, it might be a nice thing to look back on. Besides, the people I meet are interested in the long term travel thing. Especially when I say that I want to become a dive master, do sailing trips, travel through Africa on a motorbike and stuff like this. So I thought it could be a cool journey to follow. I mean totally dependent on my ability to follow up on these plans, but there’s only one way to find out I guess. Oh and if you want to know more about my story, click here.
The view from the hostel in Las Tunas.
May 27, 20:01
I went diving today and we saw two sea lions! The guy working there for 2,5 years said he never saw them there before, so we got super lucky! So maybe it was a good thing that I had troubles with my ears again. It took me a while to be able to go down and otherwise we might have missed the sea lions. Who knows. But after I got it under control I was so happy to enjoy life under water again - a great first dive!
Blurry views while doing down into the blue.
May 28, 07:13
This is just the best thing ever. Wake up and go watch the crabs on the beach. It’s just so calming to see them walking along the shore and playing with the waves. They try to get as close to the water as possible and when a wave comes they run away. Cutest thing ever. I also heard that crabs can’t really see, but instead they sense heat. So when a human comes and they run away, it’s not because they can see us but because they sense a difference in heat. Same with water I guess. Funny huh. (It may need a fact check though - I got it from Chico, one of the other volunteers who likes to share funny facts).
Blending in on the beach.
May 29, 11:50
What a morning. My shift just ended and it was so busyyy. But since it’s a surf/ yoga hostel it’s all just chill vibes and no stress. So we’re joking around while making breakfast for all the guests. And breakfast makes everybody happy so it’s a real nice thing to be doing. And now I’m hanging out at the hostel, eating banana pancakes and waiting for the surf conditions to be right for beginners.
The hostel where I volunteer I found at Workaway - a great site to find all different kinds of volunteering options.
May 31, 12:29
I just walked to Ayampe, a town next to Las Tunas. (This place you cán find on Google Maps!) What a great day to be walking on the beach: it’s a little cloudy with a soft breeze. It’s almost high tide now so I am not sure if I can walk back on the beach, but otherwise I can always take a bus. But first: coffee, and yuca flat bread with hummus and carrot. Healthyyy. And that’s much needed cause somehow I have been eating cake almost every day. There is this pizza place close by the hostel and sometimes they also bake cakes and pies. And when they do, they text us to let us know and everyone rushes over there to buy and stock up. Everything is just so delicious, you need more than one cake. Obviously.
Empty beach of Las Tunas
June 1, 08:24
It's my birthday! It’s so nice to wake up with all these sweet messages from friends and family at home. Even when you are on the other side of the ocean, they think of you. I am so very grateful for all of them. And knowing that my family and friends will always be there, no matter where we are on the globe, is such a nice and reassuring thought.
I am excited for today! We’re all gonna hang out together and probably go try surfing!
And here in Las Tunas, they baked me a cake!
June 2, 14:07
Beach time. Just got washed away by a huge wave even though I only got in until my hips. Guess that board with surf conditions at the hostel is there for a reason. I’m glad that we went surfing yesterday when the waves were manageable. At least some of them, cause I was able to catch a few waves! Only white wash though, but it’s a good start. And I’ve got proof cause one of the local surf teachers took some photos!
I did it!
