Please read to see part 2 of "The Great Ecuador Exodus. I promise you a good read and hopefully some good laughs.
If you want to get to know me a bit first, check out my introductory post .
First, please read Part 1 if you'd like to understand how we got this far.
| The Great Ecuador Exodus Pt. 2 |
Part 1 ended with Avianca Airlines preparing to deliver what they assumed Sreypov, Srey Yuu, Sakana and I would take as terrible news. After a 4-hour wait at the check-in counter we were informed the next available flight was in 4 days. Our hearts sank in our chests as we quickly calculated the hundreds of dollars we'd spend going back to Quito and renting a per-day hotel, something much more expensive than our budget monthly-rental we'd previously jettisoned.
We already knew that Avianca would be footing the bill for our newly rescheduled flights. We had assumed Avianca would just give us rebooked flights without any added fees, but we expected to spend hundreds of dollars in extra travel expenses due to the rescheduling. The employee began nervously telling us that she had tried for several hours to find us similar tickets, but the only thing she could find from Quito to Paramaribo was 4 days later. Feeling powerless, I asked for the flight details and discovered that we would depart Quito around 3am, arrive in Bogota for a roughly 12 hour layover, then to Aruba for another nearly 10 hours before finally arriving in Paramaribo past midnight. "Okay, we'll take the tickets," I said, trying to seem as pleased as I could in the moment.
Sakana overjoyed
She began handwriting our departure time and date on a piece of scrap paper, and assured us this is all we would need when we would return 4 days later. She then began printing several red and white Avianca tickets, about 30 or more. She had already said there were no tickets for us yet, so what in the world was she printing? She began to apologize as she informed us we would be awaiting our new flight at the Wyndham Quito Airport hotel, free of charge. As far as I was concerned the red carpet had just been rolled out for us, although it seemed like a pretty standard situation for Avianca.
In a matter of seconds a gentleman was loading our bags onto a handcart, our Wyndham shuttle was on its way and it was quickly time to go. I began translating the news to Sreypov, Srey Yuu and Sakana, explaining we were going to be sleeping at a $400 per night hotel, or at least that's what I thought at the time. Sreypov and I are not accustomed to 'good luck', if we can call it that. We began quickly discussing any possible drawbacks or surprise costs that we may encounter. "Food" quickly popped into our minds and we immediately began to worry we wouldn't be able to afford to 2 to 3 meals per day at 5-star hotel. "How would we be able to buy groceries?" we asked each other, knowing this hotel is far from everything and located only a few minutes from the airport.
No sooner than I began to prepare my question about Wyndham food costs, she handed me a stack of Avianca tickets and started to explain what they were. What I thought were tickets were actually vouchers, and 4 of them were for 4 nights at the Wyndham Quito Airport hotel, courtesy of Avianca Airlines. The other 30+ vouchers were meal vouchers for the Wyndham restaurant. 4 people × 3 meals per day meant 12 meal vouchers per day as well. Problem solved and no need to ask our embarrassing food cost question. This was going to be an all expenses paid stay at Wyndham, or at least an all basic costs paid stay at Wyndham anyway. Well, time to finally breathe, things were going to be okay after all.
Showing off our VIP luxury foodstamps
We were escorted outside to the Wyndham shuttle waiting area and were told our driver would arrive in 10 minutes. I should mention now that our family language is Khmer, and that Sreypov, Srey Yuu and Sakana only understand basic English. It was only while waiting for the shuttlevan I was able finally able to fully explain to what we were in store for. You see, we had arrived in Ecuador from a $50 per month one-room apartment in Cambodia. Our place in Cambodia was a little bigger than a prison cell, no hot water or aircon and we ate our meals on the ground in typical Cambodian fashion. I'm not complaining, but my point is we weren't even middle class by Cambodian standards, so going to the Wyndham was equivalent to winning the lottery for us. Our shuttle arrived and we were off, silently smiling and taking it all in.
Awkward staged photo before Wyndham departure
We had already seen the place where we would be staying. Our taxi had previously passed it on the way to the airport. Sreypov mentioned when we passed the Wyndham the first time that it looked like a freighter ship. Silence fell on us as we approached the massive structure. The shuttle came to a halt, and just like something out so many American movies, a gentleman in a suit and tie opened the door and invited us inside the hotel. We, being too accustomed to Cambodian life, thanked the man and walked to the back of the shuttle to collect our luggage. We discovered that the driver and "bellboy" were already loading our luggage onto a handcart, and politely shooed us away from the rear of the shuttle. I write bellboy in quotes because it seems like such an antiquated term to me, and surely nowadays there is a more politically correct term for this job.
Wyndham Quito Airport freighter ship hotel
Sorry, I have digressed again as I often do. Anyways, we were once again invited by the gentleman to enter the lobby. The lobby looked like something straight out of a John Wick movie, awe-inspiring, polished wood everywhere. "Would you like some iced tea, coffee, wine or juice sir?", someone said from somewhere. Clogging up the entrance, we snapped back into self-awareness as a few guests with luggage went around us on the left and right. On our left we found a nice gentlemen tending a minibar for lobby guests. "Hello sir, thank you so much. 4 iced teas would be lovely," I said as Sreypov gently poked me with her finger. Speaking Khmer, she reminded me it might be really expensive, and to ask for the price first before taking drinks. "Too late to turn back now, can't look like a cheapskate in front of all these VIPs" I thought, as I took the 4 champagne glasses full of iced tea and thanked the gentleman.
First magazine and first iced tea from a champagne glass
We briefly took a seat in the lobby to enjoy our drinks and do some people-watching for a few minutes before checking in. The first thing I noticed after sitting down were all the American-accented English conversations going on between lobby guests. This was strange for us, as we had just been living in the Venezuelan ghetto of Quito, and for the nearly three months we'd been in Ecuador, we hadn't met one English speaker. Our Spanish was pretty decent by now, so it was all the stranger to be suddenly surrounded by English speakers.
This place certainly didn't host the same kind of clientele as we were used to seeing at our previous abode. Half of the guests were dressed in formal business attire, and the other half were dressed overly casual, wearing sandals and shorts. I had always assumed these types of hotels had dress codes and lots of other rules that were strictly enforced, but the atmosphere felt pretty relaxed and welcoming, even though we were obviously out of place.
If it's free, have another, switch to hot tea, grab an apple or a pear
I went to check in, got our key card and room number, and we were off again. As soon as they put our names in the computer, they discovered we were Avianca welfare recipients. They requested our Avianca vouchers, and began to explain we would have three meal vouchers per person per day. We could use the vouchers to eat from the buffet, or use each voucher to order from the menu at no more than $15 per person per meal. At this point I realized perhaps this hotel isn't $400 per night like I had thought, especially if the buffet is $15. This was still expensive though for both Quito and our standards. We thanked the the check-in staff for the intro and continued on.
Another worker greeted us with our luggage on the handcart and proceeded to take us to our room via elevator with soft jazz playing, very classy. Down the open air hallway and to our room, and it really felt like we were on a cruiseship as we entered our room. We had a window bigger than a car, a monster plasma tv, office with desk and leather accessories, ironing board, fridge, coffee maker, endless hot water and duvets fluffier than clouds. As soon as the door closed and the 4 of us were alone, we began making "ooh" and "aah" sounds as we toured the room like a museum admiring and pondering it's features. There were even robes in the bathroom, a blow dryer, shower caps and a plethora of hygiene products. I was beginning to feel like Julia Roberts during the hotel scene in "Pretty Woman."
Srey Yuu trying out the office chair
As a reader, things get really boring from here on out, but I'll do my best. For us things were just beginning to get exciting though, and we had a free meal to catch. Time for quick showers and a ride down the elevator. Refreshed, redressed and recomposed, we arrived at the hotel restaurant excited to take full advantage of the word 'buffet.' We were greeted by staff who asked for our room number, and in turn reminded us we are eating on vouchers and the buffet is free.
After a quick tour of the buffet, we found there was enough vegan fare. There were plenty of breads, menestra, rice, guacamole, fruits and more. We began to gorge like Romans, trip after trip, sampling every possible item. Sreypov, Srey Yuu and Sakana were experiencing food items for the first time they'd only seen in movies: plums, blueberries, blackberries and more. Even though it wasn't the south Asian flavors we are used to, the food was quite fresh and tasty. One of the chefs was very friendly with us, and we were able to communicate in Spanish well enough to have her point out the vegan dishes for us.
Sreypov's empanada selfie
After the meal we only needed to sign a small form for our Avianca food vouchers. The staff seemed to take a liking to us, perhaps because we were commoners, or because we were the only foreign guests able to speak basic Spanish. Sakana noticed there was a small playground outside on the walk back to our room, and we let the girls take it for a spin. Everything was immaculate, the playground lawn, the landscaping, we'd never seen anything like this. The girls liked El Ejido Park back in Quito, but that was a play-at-your-own-risk park.
Two days after I took the photo of Sakana and Srey Yuu coming down the slide in part 1 of this saga, the Quito city workers were informed of some human turds on the slide. We know because were having our morning coffee and bread next to the slide while the cleanup took place. Now knowing the new turd-slide connection would warrant future pre-slide inspections for all further park visits. I have digressed once again, but I only mention that to help illustrate the upgrade scale. The point is the kids playground was awesome.
An immaculate playground
Back to our room for a well-needed night of sleep. We awoke the next morning ready to settle into a routine. The black-out curtains allowed us to sleep in late, and after hot showers it was almost too late for the breakfast buffet. We got ready in a rush and made it to breakfast in time and enjoyed it to the fullest. Eat, digest and repeat. Sreypov got brave and decided we should smuggle some apples, pears and plums back to our room for a post-breakfast snack.
Acting as natural as possible, she slowly put them one-by-one into her purse. In retrospect, there was probably no need to hide the fruits in such a manner. Back to the room for a nap and a little mindless entertainment on the television, and it was already time for the lunch buffet. Eat, digest, repeat until satisfied. Smuggle more items back to room. Tv, nap, repeat and time for dinner buffet. The day disappeared all too quickly.
Sakana's creation - mini bread roll with jam and popcorn garnish
Awake again and it seemed the previous day's routine was easy enough. Again we filled our day with naps, fruit smuggling, hot showers, the playground and buffet trips. At some point during the stay I decided to don one of the bathrobes because I'd never owned one in my life. All I have to say about that is I don't understand why bathrobes don't receive a little more hype. When I put that thing on, I instantly felt more important and powerful. I was inspired to do a few kung fu moves, which got a few fake laughs from the family.
I then went to the window and grabbed all the free hotel accessories I could find to aid in my new higher level of consciousness. In an instant the words "Buy low, sell high" leaped out of my mouth. All these years we had been doing it wrong, laboring and laboring and giving our wages to various landlords. All we needed to do was buy low and sell high. All it took was a night in the Wyndham to have this revelation. In fact, any time you, the reader, find yourself in a Wyndham hotel, just ask any random guest why they are there. You will surely receive the answer, "I buy low and sell high."
Buy low, sell high, so easy
There isn't much more left to the story now. If we would've stayed a week longer at the Wyndham, surely we'd have developed gout due to all the sinful pickled foods we'd been consuming. Sreypov, Srey Yuu and Sakana fell in love with pickled cucumbers, something they'd only seen in foreign films, and consumed them at every meal. I have a bit of a love affair with capers, although I never buy them from a store. I therefore found myself with an overconsumption problem. In the end there weren't really too many consequences from our behavior. The only real drawback were the farts, and they were bad. How's the old expression go? "You can lead a horse to water, but rice, menestra and pickled foods will slowly destroy you and your horse." I think it's something like that.
Safe inside our plane
When we finally returned to the airport for our 3am flight to Paramaribo via Bogota-Aruba, we went through all the same procedures as before. This time around Avianca flagged us to the front of the line. Once again the rest of the passengers completed the check-in process during the time it took us to get our boarding passes. All in all, it went smoothly enough, we got some strange stares when we presented our 4 yellow fever vaccination exemptions though. The new flight path was brutal, and we found ourselves in Bogota for nearly 12 hours. It wasn't too bad, the airport food and drinks there were relatively affordable and there were plenty of napping chairs. In Aruba we spent around 9 hours, and it was brutal. Everything was expensive, there were few shops, and we had to pay $16 per person just to sit a the airport during our layover. We couldn't even go outside with our carry-on luggage due to the tough visa restrictions on Cambodian citizens.
We arrived in Paramaribo at around midnight and made it safely to our AirBnB after a one-hour taxi ride from the airport. The change in weather, culture and scenery was starkly different from Ecuador. Sreypov immediately made lots of comparisons to Cambodia, and I could sense we were going to fit in a little easier here. Most of the airport employees assumed Sreypov and the kids were Surinamese-Javanese, and some of them expected her to translate Dutch for me. Suriname was going to be interesting, and we were going to start a new life with less pickled foods than we'd enjoyed at the Wyndham.
Meditate and reflect
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