Now that we have settled into the neighborhood here in Guayaquil I have had time to ponder what actually has been happening around us since we've landed. With the paperwork of importing our truck and just settling down to a relaxing mode of life after working 85 hours a week for 5 months I haven't had time to even think. So let me explain some personal observations.
Now I don't want to sugarcoat our experiences here in South America. I'm not just going to tell you about beautiful waterfalls with rainbows and beautiful beaches all of the time. When overlanding in a foreign land I believe there is much more to it than just sun tans, gas prices, and local cuisine. Sharing adventures should have a little more depth on topics such as a country's Infrastructure, environmental impact, education, and unique rituals in each culture we experience for example. I'm not an expert on these topics but I can share what I observe.
What I first noticed here in Guayaquil Ecuador is that it is simply a dangerous place. For example, the fenced in 10' walls around home owner's yards are secure and difficult to scale, and if you are able to scale 10' or 12' walls a high-powered electric fence on top is there to stop you. Private security companies are everywhere and not just a guy sleeping in a booth with a black and white monitor with a view of the entrance. These guards are pacing the perimeter and have a shot gun in hand ready to pull the trigger at any moment. Also, walking into any place of business will have an armed guard with a bullet-proof vest and at minimum a revolver holstered. My theory to all of this private security is that the police are corrupt and under-funded by low tax revenue and unstable government. So the people take security into their own hands and essentially the police are just traffic cops handing out seatbelt, parking, and speeding tickets. Thats where the money is at anyways. Tickets and bribes by traffic cops here in Ecuador are what help feed them, not salaries. If an armed robbery or break in does occur, chances are it will never be resolved and will most likely go unreported.
It seems China has ALL the markets cornered here from motorcycles, cars, electronics, clothes, to construction products and raw materials such as plastics and building material. Nearly every juice stand and food stand is owned and operated by the Chinese. Cheap labor in Ecuador can not even come close to compete against the cheap labor in China. So goods from China are so cheap even an Ecuadorian on a 260 dollar a month salary can afford to buy a pair of knock off Prada sunglasses. That my friends is a recipe for utter destruction of a country. Since Ecuador is already struggling to build a manufacturing sector in an already impoverished society, it will never see any real long-term growth as long as imports from China continue.
Prescription drugs are essentially free here. No doctors prescription are required and prices are a fraction of what US prices are. Being self employed in the US meant I paid cash for doctors and prescriptions, so for one particular prescription that cost me 85.00 USD in the USA costs me only 9.40USD here in Ecuador! Private practices such as dermatology and dentistry are all fractions of what US and Europe cost. So coming here for a root cannel might just pay for your ticket and a week at the beach instead of having it done in the US. Most doctors here practiced medicine in the US as well, so quality is up to par with the US IMO.
In summary, the personal observations in this post are only for Guayaquil and not the rest of the country. We have yet to discover the rest of the country for ourselves. Our truck will be here in less than 24 hours and the expedition will soon begin! Stay tuned!