Alicia Fox Photography Blog

This young girl is wearing the traditional felt hat, a woollen shawl and a ribbon wrapped around the ponytail hanging down her back.

I was walking around town when a few kids stopped me to chat about their toy dinosaur. 'It's a bit like Godzilla', they were telling me. Then they proceeded to tell me about their animals. They have 2 little pigs, 8 chickens and no cows. They sometimes work in the Cervecero (bar). The game of the day was climbing on this fence post. Life is pretty simple here.

I got up at 6am to take photos, because that seems to be when things are busiest. The kids start walking to school and a lot of people are leading their animals (sheep, horses, cows, pigs) off for the day. I saw many of the kids carrying a piece of wood to school, they told me it was to put on the stove to keep the classroom warm.

There are some beautiful characters in town, but this man has to be my favourite (I think it helps that he only comes up to my shoulder). When we first met, walking in the mountains, I thought he only spoke Kishua, not Spanish, because he didn't seem to understand me. But since then we've met many times, and it seems that he cannot speak, only make noises and communicate through pointing. When in town, he points at me with an expression that all the onlookers seem to understand, because they all have the same response of laughing cheekily. Sometimes it's better to not try and understand. Whenever we give him some food (he loves potatoes and cabbage), he repays us with the longest and most grateful smile that I have to look away to avoid being brought to (happy) tears.

It's market day again, so the town is full of people in their best dress. This lady is wearing the typical dress of the region - a felt hat, vibrant shawl (or poncho), skirt and woollen socks. This lady watches the rainy town from the shelter.

A Kishuan lady walks her sheep down the main road to pasture for the day. It's a pretty quiet road, and each day it probably sees more animals than vehicles.

Another glorious view in the Andes. I was watching the sun set and the clouds roll by from the deck.

I was sitting on a block, taking photos outside a store this afternoon. As I took the viewfinder away from my eye, I literally screamed with shock, then recovered with an embarrassed giggle, at the man standing over me, watching me. He was tiny - no more than 4.5feet, and had the friendliest smile that I have seen in a long time. He had come to town to get 2 bread rolls, he told me he paid 1 cent. I knew that it was my duty to take a photo of this magnificent character, and as I walked with him I asked why he wears no shoes. 'I'm poor' he said, shoes are too expensive. I thanked him for letting me take his photo and as I carry no money with me, I agreed to meet him at 8am. As I tried to ask him where, he softly shook my hand and wandered off. I wander if I'll see him in the morning.

Just another day in the village. A donkey is parked outside the co-op store while the store attendant waits outside for customers

An elderly man walk past a yard which used to house one of the oldest buildings in the village. It was recently torn down to be replaced by something new.

Although most of the adults around Chugchilan are shy, the babies are just like babies anywhere - curious, friendly and adorable. This little boy is wearing a hand knitted beanie, which is what you'll find many people in if they aren't sporting a traditional felt hat.

It's Sunday again - market day in Chugchilan. For many of the locals this is their one day to come into town and spend time with their friends, partake in a bit of people watching, and gathering what they need for the week. It's also a good chance to grab an ice-cream.

This is one of the beautiful views from where we live. Like many of the locals, our neighbours raise pigs, sheep, a dog and a whole lot of kids.

I went to the co-op store to order 4 wheels of cheese. The señora told me to come back Sunday. There might be some cheese then.

A night time view of the silhouetted trees, back lit by the tungsten street lights in the main street of Chugchilan hitting the evening cloud.

In a cosy, little restaurant a waitress pouring fresh cows milk into instant coffees.

These kids were playing in the town square (actually when I arrived, the girls were going to the toilet in the town square. They obviously haven't seen the mural that I photographed last week). As soon as I got my camera out I couldn't stop them posing. I let the girls take some photos and they were in hysterical giggles from the fun they were having with the rapid shooting mode.

The proud mascot of the Black Sheep Inn, Chugchilan. This ram will run for any human he can, and when he gets you you'll probably be on the ground.

Traveling can be confronting for the senses of a vegetarian - usually the smell of fresh meat hits me before the vision. But I'm becoming increasingly desensitised. Today in Chugchilan pork is on the menu. This Señora was cutting up the head of the pig - she'd already discarded the skin and ears on the board to her left.

I was taking photos of sheep in the cemetery when a man walked past me in a brilliant red poncho - something which is favoured by the older, more traditional men in this area. I followed him up the hill to his house and waited until his figure was silhouetted against the white building. In post production I found that the image worked best in sepia, giving it a classic, romantic feel.

Maria walked to Chugchilan village to do some paperwork. We sat down in the shade and had a chat before she began her 2 hour walk home.

To be honest, it was pouring down rain all day and I was busy chasing around a (very fast) baby llama after its rope frayed. I took this shot on a previous day when I was hiking around the mountains overlooking Chugchilan. I was close to the cloud forest and the atmosphere was so laden with suspended rain that my hair was dripping wet from walking though the mist.

The view is ever changing with the movement of the clouds and sun. I look out over these mountains and the plateau as I practice yoga each morning.

A mural painted thanks to the Peace Corps, to raise awareness in the village and encourage the use of rubbish bins and public toilets. Ecuador has an amazing network of rivers, yet unfortunately many of these are littered with plastic.

It’s Easter Sunday and the street at the top of town is full of locals dancing to the lively sounds of the brass band. Firewater and carton wine is still being passed around (these people can party for days). Women are dancing with babies on backs, children are running around and friendly men including this one are asking me to dance.

Just outside Chugchilan is the Saturday market in Zumbawa. It was Easter Saturday and by noon there were people all over town at varying stages of inebriation, passing around cartons of wine, plastic bottles of firewater and beers. This man was taking some time out from skinning his sheep and selling the skins. I stepped over the fresh blood to take this shot.

The local kids put on a Good Friday procession. They started at our driveway and finished at the Catholic church in town. These girls were some of the prophets who followed 'Jesus' on his journey.

A local shopkeeper watching the goings-on of Chugchilan, in between customers