Ecuador is a country straddling the equator on South America’s west coast. It is the fourth smallest country in South America, but it’s also one of the world’s 17 megadiverse countries (this refers to any one of a group of nations that harbor the majority of Earth’s species and high numbers of endemic species).

Its diverse landscape encompasses Amazon jungle, Andean highlands and the wildlife-rich Galápagos Islands. In the Andean foothills, Quito, the capital, is known for its largely intact Spanish colonial center, with decorated 16th- and 17th-century palaces and religious sites, like the ornate Compañía de Jesús Church.

In just one day of exploring Ecuador, you can see the Amazon Basin, watch a volcano billowing smoke in the distance, walk through misty cloud forests, and have a drink on the Pacific coast.

Ecuador is the home of the first UNESCO world heritage sites, and fantastic local crafts, and despite being the fourth smallest country in South America, it is a highly sought out travel destination, and it is one place you want to go prepared. So, we have gathered a few tips from experts to enable our readers plan and execute an incredible experience in Ecuador.

Here is 5 Things you probably didn’t know Ecuador.

Whether you’re here for a trip to the incredibly diverse Galápagos Islands, to shop for trinkets at an indigenous market in Otavalo, to challenge yourself on a serious trek around the Quilatoa Loop, or ride the TelefériQo in Quito, these tips could add some more excitement to your trip.

Did You Know that Ecuador produces eight-million tonnes of bananas a year, and has had nine presidents since 1997? I bet you did not.

Ecuador is one of only two countries in South America that does not share a border with Brazil, and the national tree of Ecuador is the cinchona tree which produces Quinine, the first drug used to prevent and treat malaria.

The Panama hat is actually from Ecuador. Straw hats woven along the Ecuadorian coast were taken to Panama initially to be sold to canal workers and, after the canal opened, to affluent westerners passing through the Panama Canal.

It has the highest official capital city. At 2,850m, Quito gets the accolade of the highest official capital in the world. Although La Paz in Bolivia stands higher, it’s not considered the constitutional capital, just the seat of government.

Rights of Nature. In 2008, Ecuador was the first country to officially recognize the rights of nature. Rather than treating nature as property, Ecuador recognizes that nature has constitutional rights and has the “right to exist, persist, maintain and regenerate its vital cycles.” So refreshing.

Galapagos Islands. Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution was heavily influenced by Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands. The Galapagos Islands are an incredible, albeit expensive, highlight of an Ecuador visit. Home to creatures that cannot be found anywhere else – giant tortoises and myriad bird species – the Galapagos also inspired Darwin’s revolutionary evolution theory. Pretty cool stuff. It’s a site you need ti visit while at Ecuador.

The equator runs right through Ecuador, hence its name. But there’s a whole tourist attraction centred on the line, and you can even get your passport stamped as proof of your visit. It’s called La Mitad Del Mundo, which translates as the middle of the world, and it provides endless photo opportunities, usually involving standing with one foot either side of the line.

It is in fact the only country in the world officially named after a geographical feature. The official name, República del Ecuador, translates as “The Republic of the Equator

Some other tips that may help you plan better for your trip include:

Travel Jabs. Before you travel to Ecuador, see a doctor and make sure you’ve got all the relevant immunizations. Your doctor should be able to let you know which vaccinations you will need. These will protect you from illnesses that might strike when you eat and drink in questionable situations or get bitten by a pesky mosquito.

Pack a Longer Skirt. Catcalling by men to women is an issue. You’re not going to blend in if you wear a mini-skirt or spaghetti-strapped singlet, so perhaps pack a longer skirt and t-shirt to avoid unwanted attention from men. There’s a strong sense of macho culture in Ecuador, and hearing a whistle or catcall isn’t out of the norm. Try to ignore it – in most cases, this isn’t a form of intimidation.

No matter how old or how fit you might be, altitude sickness can strike anyone. Quito is 9,350ft (2,850m) above sea level, and many travelers feel the symptoms of altitude sickness while walking around town – especially soon after disembarking the plane. Do your best to avoid the symptoms by drinking lots of water and taking it slow. If you feel nauseous or unusually tired, listen to your body and take it easy.

Ecuador has one of the best markets in South America. Enjoy an epic experience on a day out to the Otavalo market, rainbow colours, traditionally dressed salespeople, and all the tourist that you could ever desire. One set of panpipes for every distant relative: easy souvenir shopping.

There are all sorts on offer, from colourful textiles to, well, fully grown llamas. Though one of these fits more easily into a backpack than the other. It’s at its biggest and best on the weekend: Saturday is when most people choose to visit

Seek New Experiences. If you seek out Ecuador’s lesser-known parks and mountains, always consult a credible local guide about walking trails, and check weather conditions before you start the hike. Never go hiking without telling someone about your plans, and give them a rough idea of when you should return.

If you’re prone to motion sickness, bring seasickness medication – don’t rely on your tour operator to have this on-board. If you haven’t brought any from home, a motion sickness medicine called Mareol is available in Galápagos and can be found in many pharmacies on mainland Ecuador.

Ecuador might not be the first country you’d think of visiting in South America, but honestly that would be a mistake. Choose Ecuador as your holiday destination! Live a unique experience, live Ecuador!

By Eloke-Young Splendor

Relaxation is an essential element in the life of every man, as he tries to capture the pure joy of discovering the pleasures the world has to offer. In a world, where relaxation and food has become an inevitable means to survival, accessing a nice location for relaxation as well as sumptuous meal is a great necessity.

Seychelles continues to portray Africa as the true destination for tourism as it magnifies its glamorous travel destinations as well as relaxation areas; of which Bird Island Seychelles represents. Bird Island can be described as the northernmost island of Seychelles. It is located at a strategic part in the country, 28 miles from Denis Island on the edge of the coast of Seychelles, specifically where the ocean drops to over 2000 meters.  Its name Bird Island, originates from its spectacular colony of around 700,000 pairs of sooty tern that nest on the island.

This picturesque sea-side is occupied by diverse creatures which include about 700,000 pairs of sooty tern that nest on the island.   This Island also hosts the heaviest turtle in the world as it makes the island its nesting abode. It can be described as one of Seychelles most loved and treasured locations because of the luxury of comfort it provides; which include twenty-four comfortable bungalows, excellent beaches, a reputation for good food, a friendly atmosphere complemented with fabulous spots for diving, deep sea fishing, and comfortable points to clearly observe nature. The Island is inhabited by a colony of terns, kingfishers and swallows that you can observe at your leisure, thereby giving you a sight-filled journey.

Bird Island Seychelles gives its visitors an opportunity to experience and observe nature; as it pulls them away from some artificial leisure experiences such as air-conditioning, phones, televisions, pools, cars, and even daily newspapers, thereby giving them strong reasons to appreciate nature. It is a destination that allows its visitors explore the fullness of nature without resistance.

The birds that can be found in this location include; White fairy terns, lesser noddys, Seychelles sunbirds, common mynas, Madagascan Red Fodies and so on. These birds add to the untold beauty of the island. The Island’s ecolodge is a comfortable base from where you can watch free-roaming Aldabra tortoises and preening, red Madagascar fodies.  It literally brings other creatures close to your dwelling. Another interesting fact about this island is that all rats have been eradicated, thereby making it the safest environment for recreation. This touristy charming location is renowned for its perfect blend of hospitality, relaxation and simplicity in its most natural form.

This island also provides sumptuous meals, nourishing fruits and also allows for Citizens to cultivate food and vegetables. So expect to see small organic farms where pumpkins, papayas and tomatoes are grown for the lodge’s restaurant. This is a recommended holiday destination with a reputation for its delicious cuisine.

After a great tour on this beautiful island, one is filled with the desire to bring back some of the beautiful creatures and materials that adorn the Island. Unfortunately, nothing can be brought back, everything should be left where it is except your photos and the memories gotten from the beautiful Island.  Bird Island can be said to be one of the “must visits” in Seychelles because it has more affordable and reasonable prices compared to other islands.

What to Bring on your Trip:

You might probably have your own packing list; nevertheless, this list is not cast in stone, so feel free to create your own list as you enjoy your journey to this beautiful Island. For women, a summer or evening dress is always the appropriate attire. For during the day, light, summery, airy clothing is recommended, as the high humidity can quickly cause you to sweat.                                          

Other items include, Sunscreen with a high factor of protection, hat, sunglasses, comfortable sports shoes for walking and hiking to various beaches or through the Vallée de Mai on Praslin. For La Digue, a torch (or better yet a headlamp) will assist you through that route.

Taking a trip to Bird Island Seychelles will leave you in deep awe and an overwhelming admiration of nature as well as life; it might as well prove that to travel is to discover that everyone is sometimes wrong about other countries.

Events are a reason for people to come together and celebrate; people either celebrate progress or in remembrance of past experiences, usually held on a yearly basis. This gives attendees ample time to prepare and come with their best at the next edition.

One of such annual events is the Winter Light Festival. This event is usually organized by different cultures in different parts of the world. The winter light festival is always celebrated to mark the end of the winter and beginning of the light season. Most times the event is marked with a huge showcase of art, workshops, light designs, live music, and street food.

At the earlier times of this celebration, it was revered as a religious and spiritual gathering to celebrate the end of a dark period in a year and the beginning of the days of light. It was celebrated as a moment of rebirth of the spirit and mind, with each religion celebrating it differently.

In the Hindu religion, the essence of light is symbolized with equating everything in existence with a divine quality as well as the illumination of the mind. While in Judaism, light is signified as a symbol of the good and beautiful and is seen as an emanation of a different essence from the other side of reality. The Judaists mostly celebrate the Hanukkah as the principal festival of light. For the Buddhists, light is seen as the presence of God within all human and the wisdom that dispels ignorance.

In celebrating the winter light festival, the Nabana no Sato festival held in the Mie Prefecture, Japan is usually the best display of winter illumination that can be seen across the country. The Nabana no Sato is a park that is entirely dedicated to flowers and is located on the island of Nagashima in Kuwana City. The park is famous for its seasonal flower shows which takes place all year round with the winter light festival being held generally from the end of October to the end of March in the next year. This year, the Winter Light Festival in Nabana no Sato will take place from October 25, 2018, to March 31, 2019. This means that the sight can also be enjoyed during the month of February which is the month of and a good sport for couples to hang out.

The Nabana no Sato is a botanical theme park which features carefully planned landscape gardens and impressive giant greenhouses. During the spring, the park is decorated with an array of colourful flowers, blossoms, and cherry trees, including multiple rows of tulips, pansies, viola, stock, and daisies.

In celebrating the winter light festival, the park is beautifully illuminated with over eight (8) million LED lights and turning it to a sight straight out of a fairy tale. Usually, the theme of the display changes yearly and also has also featured spectacular LED-illuminated models of objects in nature like Mount Fuji, the Niagara Falls, the Swiss Alps, Northern Europe Aurora’s show model, and the Kumamon, which is depicted by a black bear, Kumamoto Prefecture’s superstar mascot. The light bulbs are always charged via solar panels to reduce the impact on the environment since they will be on for a particularly long period of time.

One breathtaking part of this festival is the 200-meter-long light tunnel that is usually covered with over 1.2 million light bulbs. The bulbs will represent a tiny flower and together, the lights draw a beautiful part along the park. The park has also added recently the Kawazu Sakura light tunnel which 100-metre-long with around seven hundred thousand pink LED bulbs to resemble the Kawazu cherry tree. This tunnel has become especially popular with the couples that come for the winter light festival.

The fragrance of the flowers mingles with the cold winter air as visitors walk and enjoy the famous Tunnel of Lights which will always be accompanied with elegant light shows and designs that blanket the entirety of the theme park and its waters.

Now, because there is obviously going to be a lot of walking to admire the sight of the park, there is an Ashiyu foot bath (a Japanese public bath in which people can bathe their feet) available for visitors to use free of charge. The spa is made from a contained underground natural spring.

The winter light festival in Nabana no Sato provides visitors with the right ambiance to truly appreciate nature as well as enjoy the comfort and company of their loved ones. While the garden is open all year round to visitors, visiting the garden during the winter festival will truly give you the most breathtaking sight have ever seen.

Usually, for someone who is particularly scared of spicy food, when you go through a restaurant’s menu and you notice some meal selection with a good amount of spiciness to it, you are quick to avoid them and move on the next sweet and savory selection.

While food with a lot of spicy in it may not be for everyone, it is advisable that you try it once in a while. You may not build the tolerance to munch on some raw pepper, but you might be helping your body to remain healthy. One of the main ingredients for our meal today is the Chili Pepper.

Chili pepper, while a hot spice also contains a rich amount of capsaicin (gotten from Capsanthin, which gives its red colour), which serves as an anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant. This very small sauce has been known to be a major ingredient in treating inflammatory diseases and cancer.

This very interesting benefit of chili pepper is not the only one that can be derived from it, as it also helps to build immunity in the body; the beta-carotene contained in chili pepper can be converted into vitamin A (gotten from the Lutein in it) which is essential for good eyesight and developing membranes to fight against pathogens. Vitamin C is also another vitamin that can be gotten from chili pepper to help increase the white blood cells and fight germs.

Other benefits of chili pepper are; reduction of insulin levels, relief of congestion and prevention against sinusitis, it also keeps the good old ticker ticking.

In parts of Asia, especially Indonesia, the Sambal is a paste made from mixing a variety of chili peppers. Usually, this can be accompanied with secondary ingredients like shrimp paste, fish sauce, garlic, ginger, palm sugar, lime juice and rice vinegar.

The word “Sambal” has its origin from an Indonesian loanword of Javanese origin, Sambel and is a native in most Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Singapore dishes.

Sambal has many recipes that can be served with other dishes as a hot and spicy condiment. Since not too many people are comfortable with eating spicy food, the Sambal has gone through variations over the years and different recipes with ranging consistency have been developed. They could either be mild, hot or extra hot (for the adventurous ones).

Preparing the Sambal is an easy straightforward process that can either be gotten off the shelf or prepared traditionally with a stone pestle and mortar. You just need all your ingredients and then grind it up all into a paste and you are good to go. Based on how you like your Sambal, it can be served either raw or cooked.

Since chili pepper is one of the main ingredients in making the Sambal, some of the most common varieties of chili pepper used in preparing it are:

• Habanera: also known as Adyuma and can be identified with yellow colour and block shape.
• Cayenne pepper: this pepper is red, shiny and has an elongated shape.
• Madame Jeanette: also, an elongated pepper with a yellow-light green colour and irregular shape.
• Bird’s eye chili pepper: is green-red in colour and very spicy.
• Chili pepper: also, green-red in colour but has a mild spiciness. It is important to note that the green chili peppers are milder than the red ones.
• Cabe taliwang: much spicier than the Bird’s eye chili, the Lombok Island or “the Island of Chili” supposedly derives its name from it.

So, while you might want a glass or two of water beside you, or maybe even a jug, having a bit of spicy chili or just the mild ones can be good for your health.

For a healthy life, go Chili

When getting your meal ready for either breakfast, lunch or dinner, we are always so excited to dish the food and sit down to enjoy a good meal. Maybe because of the excitement and thrill that comes with having a meal that tastes deliciously divine, or maybe some other factor, it does not change the fact that meal time is usually a happy time for most people.

Most times when we eat, food enthusiasts and health lifestyle coaches will always encourage one to eat a balanced diet. Give each meal in the day the right proportions of nutrient needed by your body to keep you healthy and fit.

This is usually not because they want to control how you eat (well, they are helping you control how you eat), instead it is because they want to you eat in portions that are healthy for you.

Remember; Too much is Bad, too little is not enough!

Take carbohydrates, for instance, we know how important it is in providing the body with the energy it needs to help us work through the day. The glucose released by the carbohydrates give us the push to work, it is almost like we are batteries and the glucose is what keeps us charged and functioning.

Usually, you can feel a bit dizzy or nauseous when you do not have the right amount of glucose coursing through your body and in some severe cases end up fainting. Therefore, we are always encouraged to take in as many carbohydrates as our body needs.

Now, recall we did mention that “too much” can be bad for your health and this also applies to carbohydrates too. As much as you would need to keep your energy supply to your body by taking in carbohydrates, taking in too much carbohydrates can also stand to have an adverse effect on your body.

An excess amount of carbohydrates in your meal allocations can take a shocking turn in your growth. Experts suggest that, excess carbohydrates in your meal pattern can stunt your growth.

This happens because the excess carbs in your body produce more glucose which raises your insulin level to a point where it hinders your growth hormones from functioning properly. With the growth hormones not secreting enough hormones into the body required for growth, you might find yourself not growing as tall as you would want and reaching that top shelf.

In order to maintain the right height needed for you or be of a height that you are comfortable with, it is essential that the right proportions of carbohydrates, proteins, and other nutrients in meal rations be put on your plate – A balanced diet.

The carbohydrates will provide your body with the energy it needs on a daily basis while the protein will ensure that your growth hormones are functioning accordingly, assisting your growing up to be tall and strong. Now, do not forget; there are still a few downsides to having too much protein released into your body just because you hope to one day play for the national basketball team, so ensure to always keep your meals balanced. Always have a good mix of all the food groups, this will ensure that you grow and live healthily.

Note that food high in saturated fats may also contribute to you not getting as tall as you want, plus they are rich in cholesterol which is nowhere good for your heart.

So, eating right and making sure you exercise daily is the surest way for you to be healthy and live a happy life.