Tags
computer is shocking me, cooking with hibiscus, feeling electricity in the floor, ground wires, latin america electricity, living in ecuador, losing electricity
Who knows what this is?
Manabi Ecuador
One learns to prepare for unexpected power outages in the rural areas of Latin America, and this past week brought several lights-out moments. Just after sunset a few days ago, the power failed, and I peered downriver to see if the neighbors had power. They did not. The coastline was cloaked in darkness. Checking in the other direction, I saw that the town of Jama had power. Uh-oh; I suspected that we’d not see light until the sun peered over the hillside, and we would probably get power no sooner than mid morning.
Lack of power forces one to adjust to a different routine! Sunset signals the end of the day! After a hard day of work painting the bodega floor, Barb and I feasted on an eclectic chicken salad over a bed of hibiscus flowers! Many people are shocked that hibiscus flowers make a great salad and are also nutritious!
Marinated vegetables and chicken over a bed of hibiscus!
Having no electricity forces one to adapt to the rhythms of the natural world. When one goes to sleep with the birds, one awakens with them as well. Barb now understands another reason why I love this perch on the river! The birdlife is phenomenal!
On one side of the house, the sunrise tints the sky and the shrimp ponds…
On the other side, the river reflects the sunrise colors; one could not ask for a more pristine start to a day!
Power was restored around mid morning. One sometimes needs a little reminder to be grateful for modern conveniences like power and internet, no matter how undependable the service!
Over the past week, Barb received several small shocks from her computer and from mine. One night while I was cooking, she noted a faint electrical ‘buzzzzz’ in the wooden floor. The house has a cement first floor and a wooden second floor. My friend Xavier contacted an electrician, who arrived about four hours earlier than promised!!!
Within half a minute, he located the problem:
Uh-oh! How dangerous was this?! The ground wire had been ripped away from the grounding rod.
The electrician quickly repaired it after he shut off power to the wire…
I bolted for my camera when I saw how he planned to shut off the power!
One of the workers on the farm had tied his horse to that pole on the same day that another worker cut the grass with a machete.
How’s this for a close call?
Staying an hour longer, the electrician installed one light fixture and changed the location of several receptacles. (Grand total: Twenty US dollars!) In true Latin custom, he returned to town on his bicycle!
so many of your experiences are common to those that we have and when I read this aloud…we are usually both shaking our heads/in amazement or amusement or with delight that you have a way of landing most anywhere and bring a fullness to your life on so many levels (that is not always easy for others to do) yet you make it seem so natural and easy…you live life abundantly…and its a beautiful thing thanks for sharing yet another adventure with us.
hey!
i hear roosters crowing in the distance, and barb has been sleeping for hours! she’ll probably be getting up when i’m going to sleep, but i’ll be caught up on posts.
she will love reading your comment!
thank you so much, and yes, you are surely shaking your head in amazement! you’ve experienced just as many novel experiences!
thank you so much, gwen!
Needs to be seen to be believed!
yes, that was a startling moment for me, and he climbed it as if he’d done that all of his life. perhaps he has!
Fascinating. Beautiful. Scary. Fun. Yummy. All rolled into one.
P.S. do you just pick the flower from the plant and place it (so beautifully) into the plate? Or is there a specific plant? Or will I never try this? ;-( I have two hibiscus plants. Just pick and go for it?
One look at that wire and the only question in my mind was: ok, which one is it? You have to keep your eye on electricity. It has this wild nature, and likes to escape, sneaking around behind your back and showing up in weird places – like your computer.
I’m glad it was found before real trouble ensued, and fixed so easily. Onward!
i love learning new tasks, but electricity is something that makes me take about ten steps backwards. as he neared the top of the pole and began reaching (with the bamboo stick) toward the top, i moved way more than ten steps back! i was relieved when he finished!
Could it have been the workman with the machete clearing the grass that dislodged the ground wire? I am glad no one was hurt. We are always amazed at the way workmen work with electricity here in Ecuador. Seeing your pictures reminded me of the pictures we took of workmen hooking up electricity for a festival here in San Clemente. God must love these Ecuadorianos! (I know we do!)
i thought of you immediately when that man started climbing the pole! yes, it’s amazing that no one (or horse) was hurt!
I’m quite familiar with the infamous power outages of the Manabi Province. They seem to come and go in waves for us. I’m in the states right now, and may I say the long, hot showers are awesome!
yes, endless hot water is so very appreciated, especially in cold weather. a friend in mississippi said that it’s turned cold again. brrrrrrrrrrr.
enjoy your time in the states, and thank you so much for your comment!!
z
Lisa roll with the punches again…gorgeous am shots – either side of the house – that’s fantastic. Wonderful how the less developed countires can deal straightforwardly with problems, without a song and dance and big bill. Developed, indeed!
i always marvel at how resourceful people can be when they don’t have the modern ‘conveniences.’ that particular electrican always amuses me in that he often uses a metal hammer and a primitive metal knife! he knows what he’s doing, though, and works fast.
z
There is always an adventure going on at your place…love stopping by…
Whoa! Don’t you find it incredible that they shinny up a pole like they are gathering coconuts and fix the wires with their bare hands? I cringe every time I see them do it. Here, many of the locals steal the electricity. They throw a wire up on the main line and string it to their houses. I just have to shake my head sometimes.
you are so right! they have so much practice climbing coconut trees, and yes, the way they clamp a wire to a wire and hijack the electricity is amazing. i wonder if anyone has died from doing that….
You could write a book (but not a survival book, although it could be), but one that brings real life to it’s pages and in a way that looks at the bright, fun side of what happens when life brings lemons (Erma Bamback) – a lesson of just going w/the flow. Your good nature and filled-spirit comes through your photographs and writings, there is a love for the people and environment around you. Perfect!
again, thanks, dear mary, for your kind words. i’m glad that you see beauty in my words! z
I love the colors, and your colorful stories!
thank you! every day there seems to be something unique that colors the day! z
Thank goodness no one was injured due to the electrical issues. I do love the idea of going to sleep and awakening with the birds.
during the rainy season/breeding season, those birds squawk all night long! some have a guttural sound, some whine, some whinny, and some sound like ghouls! they’re soft sounds, though, and to me they’re comforting!
You have a wonderful ability for creating an atmosphere and a sense of place. I’ve only been to Ecuador with you!
it’s my pleasure to transport you to ecuador via these posts! thanks, louis! z
Love the flower-power salad! The presentation, of course, is everything . . . .can’t wait to try it myself!
Thank you, dear amiga! You’ll be instantly addicted to flower salad!