Be yourself; Everyone else is already taken.

— Oscar Wilde.

And so it begins. The story starts. An epic adventure to lands unknown.

This story does not begin with me, but with my friend Charlotte. You see, she moved to Ecuador about 2 years ago. She’s the reason I’m here now, writing (typing?) to you from under the stars in the Southern Hemisphere. Lounging in a hammock in the beautiful community centre at Terra Frutis. Yes I’m getting bitten, but the price of paradise has never been easy.

Cast your memory back to the distant lands of March 2019, misty for me as I’m sure it is for you. That was when I set my sights, and bought a one way ticket to Ecuador. Game on.

The next 9 or so months were spent in a constant mode of working hard and saving up. Soon my trip was beginning to look a little different… and a lot longer.

As countries were added to my list, the harder I worked. After all, since the reason I was heading out there was to film the Amazon Fruit Festival at Terra Frutis in Ecuador, I was having to invest in some serious kit.

Lenses were bought, camera packs were invested in, rigs, sound kit, the latest GoPro, iPad for editing – the lot. To be a wandering filmmaker is an expensive undertaking, particularly when you’re also saving for the travelling itself!
I’m thinking of writing a more in-depth blog about the kit I used, for those of you who are interested, and to help other roaming adventurers to make smart choices.

Well my hard work paid off, because I’m here! The festival is just about to start, and I’m finally feeling ready for it after all the pre-production and testing I’ve done. I’m just waiting on one part to be delivered so I can hook the receiver for the microphone to the sound system. Getting to town, Gualaquiza, is a trek and I’m glad someone can do that for me!

Getting to Gualaquiza from the UK was a mission in itself as well. Over 24 hours travelling (I haven’t been able to bring myself to count them properly!) By plane, bus, taxi and my own exhaustive efforts carrying my vast amounts of kit, and a stopover at gorgeous Cuenca I made it!

That’s it for now. Come back and visit soon to learn more about my journey!

From me to you, adios amigos! 👣