1 00:00:07,133 --> 00:00:10,453 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Saturday Morning with Jack Team podcast 2 00:00:10,573 --> 00:00:11,933 Speaker 1: from News Talks atb. 3 00:00:12,973 --> 00:00:16,493 Speaker 2: Mike Hadley is our travel correspondent on Saturday Mornings, the 4 00:00:16,533 --> 00:00:18,893 Speaker 2: man with the toughest job in the world, and he 5 00:00:19,053 --> 00:00:22,573 Speaker 2: has been to an extraordinary destination for us this week. 6 00:00:22,573 --> 00:00:26,253 Speaker 3: Hey Mike, Good morning Jake. Yes, I've got a crush 7 00:00:26,293 --> 00:00:29,333 Speaker 3: on Ecuador. So I'm going to bore you endlessly about 8 00:00:29,333 --> 00:00:30,773 Speaker 3: Ecuador over the next few weeks. 9 00:00:30,813 --> 00:00:32,453 Speaker 2: You are not going to be boring me, do you know. 10 00:00:32,493 --> 00:00:35,253 Speaker 2: I've never been to Ecuador. It is like right there 11 00:00:35,253 --> 00:00:37,333 Speaker 2: at the top of the list. So I've been to Columbia, 12 00:00:37,533 --> 00:00:40,373 Speaker 2: I've been to Peru, I've been to Bolivia, I've been 13 00:00:40,413 --> 00:00:43,053 Speaker 2: to Brazil, But no, I haven't yet been to Ecuador. 14 00:00:43,933 --> 00:00:46,013 Speaker 2: So I have very much been looking forward to you 15 00:00:46,133 --> 00:00:48,573 Speaker 2: guiding us through some of the gems in that extraordinary 16 00:00:48,613 --> 00:00:49,973 Speaker 2: part of the world. So this week we're going to 17 00:00:49,973 --> 00:00:54,853 Speaker 2: focus on Ecuador's cloud forest, the Marshpee Reserve. So whereabouts 18 00:00:55,013 --> 00:00:56,813 Speaker 2: is the Marshpea Reserve located. 19 00:00:58,133 --> 00:01:00,813 Speaker 3: It's about a three hour drive northwest of Kito, on 20 00:01:00,893 --> 00:01:03,613 Speaker 3: the western slopes of the Ends, so it forms part 21 00:01:03,613 --> 00:01:06,973 Speaker 3: of what they call the Chocow Region. So these are 22 00:01:07,013 --> 00:01:12,373 Speaker 3: the western forests of the Andes, quite different obviously to 23 00:01:12,373 --> 00:01:16,293 Speaker 3: the Amazon rainforest on the eastern side, and Marshbee Reserve 24 00:01:16,693 --> 00:01:20,333 Speaker 3: is ranked by the WWF as one of the world's 25 00:01:20,453 --> 00:01:26,133 Speaker 3: top ten biode diversity hotspots because it just has so 26 00:01:26,373 --> 00:01:30,013 Speaker 3: many endemic species. The interesting thing is Jack that prior 27 00:01:30,013 --> 00:01:33,133 Speaker 3: to all of the seismic uplifts of the Andes, both 28 00:01:33,133 --> 00:01:36,533 Speaker 3: the western and the eastern forests were all just one big, 29 00:01:36,573 --> 00:01:42,133 Speaker 3: sprawling forest. But what makes the reserve really distinctive at 30 00:01:42,213 --> 00:01:46,093 Speaker 3: Marshpee is that you've got this huge change in altitude. 31 00:01:46,133 --> 00:01:48,413 Speaker 3: So you can be walking on trails at five hundred 32 00:01:48,453 --> 00:01:52,773 Speaker 3: meters above sea level, getting virtually a coastal breeze, and 33 00:01:52,813 --> 00:01:55,573 Speaker 3: then you go up to fourteen hundred meters on trails. 34 00:01:55,613 --> 00:02:00,333 Speaker 3: So that's why it is considered both rainforest and cloud forest. 35 00:02:00,333 --> 00:02:03,013 Speaker 3: It's a bit like a tropical for Jordland. They measure 36 00:02:03,053 --> 00:02:04,213 Speaker 3: the rainfall and meters. 37 00:02:05,533 --> 00:02:09,173 Speaker 2: Yeah, lush to say the least. Yes, it's just because 38 00:02:09,173 --> 00:02:14,053 Speaker 2: that that chocol region has been heavily DeForest today shocking. 39 00:02:14,253 --> 00:02:19,653 Speaker 3: Yeah, So it's an amazing sliver of forest that basically 40 00:02:19,693 --> 00:02:23,733 Speaker 3: sweeps down from Panama, goes through Columbia and into western Ecuador. 41 00:02:23,813 --> 00:02:28,253 Speaker 3: But in Ecuador more than ninety percent of the chocol 42 00:02:28,653 --> 00:02:32,973 Speaker 3: has been deforested. So this became a rallying call for 43 00:02:33,013 --> 00:02:36,813 Speaker 3: a former mayor of Quito to safeguard the ecosystem. So 44 00:02:36,853 --> 00:02:39,533 Speaker 3: about twenty five years ago he bought what is now 45 00:02:39,613 --> 00:02:45,653 Speaker 3: Mushpee Reserve from loggers, developed to this dreamy glasshouse style 46 00:02:45,933 --> 00:02:50,173 Speaker 3: lodge nine hundred meters high in the cloud forest, and 47 00:02:50,453 --> 00:02:53,853 Speaker 3: over time the reserve has just steadily grown with community 48 00:02:53,933 --> 00:02:58,013 Speaker 3: buy in, so it now spans three thousand hectares, which 49 00:02:58,053 --> 00:03:00,533 Speaker 3: I discovered this morning is the size of Timaru. 50 00:03:00,893 --> 00:03:03,733 Speaker 2: Wow. Well that's fantastic. And how impressive is the bird 51 00:03:03,773 --> 00:03:04,413 Speaker 2: life there? 52 00:03:05,333 --> 00:03:09,093 Speaker 3: Well, so many birds, so little time, Jack Taane. If 53 00:03:09,133 --> 00:03:12,053 Speaker 3: you are not a Twitter on arrival at Mushpee, it's 54 00:03:12,093 --> 00:03:14,653 Speaker 3: a sure bet you will leave as a hardcore addict. 55 00:03:14,693 --> 00:03:19,173 Speaker 3: There are just so many headline species, like those chocol tukens, 56 00:03:19,573 --> 00:03:25,373 Speaker 3: those with those enormously cartoonish bulbous yellow beaks. There are woodpeckers, 57 00:03:25,413 --> 00:03:28,693 Speaker 3: there are squirrel cuckoos. But best of all, I just 58 00:03:28,733 --> 00:03:31,853 Speaker 3: fell in love with the hummingbirds because they've got thirty 59 00:03:31,853 --> 00:03:37,013 Speaker 3: two species of hummingbirds at mushbee with crazy names like 60 00:03:37,133 --> 00:03:41,213 Speaker 3: purple coronet and the booted racket tail. And the thing 61 00:03:41,253 --> 00:03:45,493 Speaker 3: about his tail, it actually resembles two squash rackets, which 62 00:03:45,533 --> 00:03:50,413 Speaker 3: is just crazy. The thing about the hummingbirds, Jack, they 63 00:03:50,413 --> 00:03:54,053 Speaker 3: are so unperturbed by your presence, so you know, they 64 00:03:54,093 --> 00:03:56,573 Speaker 3: just couldn't kill less about you. You can get right 65 00:03:56,693 --> 00:04:00,533 Speaker 3: up close. You can hear them hum as they levitate 66 00:04:00,573 --> 00:04:03,693 Speaker 3: in the air as if they motorize, and they are 67 00:04:03,733 --> 00:04:07,333 Speaker 3: the only birds in the world that can fly backwards, 68 00:04:07,493 --> 00:04:10,413 Speaker 3: which is just wild to see up close. 69 00:04:11,053 --> 00:04:14,533 Speaker 2: I did there something incredible about hummingbirds? So do have 70 00:04:14,613 --> 00:04:18,093 Speaker 2: you seen the Harry Potter movies? Yes, so you know 71 00:04:18,493 --> 00:04:21,893 Speaker 2: the Snitch and Harry Potter when they're playing quidditch. Don't 72 00:04:21,893 --> 00:04:25,693 Speaker 2: you think that's based on a hummingbird the way it moves. 73 00:04:27,453 --> 00:04:28,333 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, I'm sure. 74 00:04:28,333 --> 00:04:31,653 Speaker 2: I'm convinced it's based on hummingbirds, because they said there's 75 00:04:31,653 --> 00:04:33,653 Speaker 2: something about the way hummingbirds move, and like you said, 76 00:04:33,693 --> 00:04:35,733 Speaker 2: the way they can go backwards. It reminds me of that. 77 00:04:36,573 --> 00:04:37,653 Speaker 2: So what about the butterflies? 78 00:04:38,933 --> 00:04:41,333 Speaker 3: Well, yeah, I must have mentioned the butterflies, because mushb 79 00:04:41,573 --> 00:04:44,493 Speaker 3: is all a flutter with the full color spectrum of butterflies. 80 00:04:44,533 --> 00:04:49,933 Speaker 3: They've got this crazy species called the giant ol eye butterfly, 81 00:04:50,213 --> 00:04:53,573 Speaker 3: and these things are monsters and as the name suggests, 82 00:04:53,973 --> 00:04:56,533 Speaker 3: they have an L eye marking on their wings. So 83 00:04:56,573 --> 00:05:00,213 Speaker 3: when you've got two wings fully displayed, or two butterflies 84 00:05:00,293 --> 00:05:04,213 Speaker 3: side by side, because they're very sociable, they actually form 85 00:05:04,293 --> 00:05:09,213 Speaker 3: the face of an L. So it Julie skars off predators. 86 00:05:09,213 --> 00:05:13,133 Speaker 3: It's kind of like nature's trusty version of the evil eye. 87 00:05:13,213 --> 00:05:15,733 Speaker 3: I had to do like a double take when I 88 00:05:15,773 --> 00:05:19,613 Speaker 3: saw all these giant hel butterflies because it does look 89 00:05:19,773 --> 00:05:24,293 Speaker 3: like a bird just sitting in the tree. Absolutely insane. 90 00:05:24,373 --> 00:05:29,333 Speaker 2: It's amazing when you see the how natures evolve to that. Yeah, yeah, yeah, 91 00:05:29,533 --> 00:05:31,893 Speaker 2: it's bana. So did you go into the forest at night? 92 00:05:33,133 --> 00:05:36,533 Speaker 3: Yes, Well, obviously there are trails galore to explore by day, 93 00:05:36,573 --> 00:05:39,813 Speaker 3: but a guided night walk just reveals so much more magic. 94 00:05:39,933 --> 00:05:43,013 Speaker 3: So there are a lot of vine snakes at marsh 95 00:05:43,053 --> 00:05:48,493 Speaker 3: Fever and they are very active after dark. Thankfully, they 96 00:05:48,493 --> 00:05:51,293 Speaker 3: are very considerate. They stick to the vines of the 97 00:05:51,333 --> 00:05:55,213 Speaker 3: trees so they don't wander down to the trail. One 98 00:05:55,253 --> 00:05:59,213 Speaker 3: of my nocturnal highlights, Jack was gazing at what Ecuadorians 99 00:05:59,253 --> 00:06:05,733 Speaker 3: call Firefox, and it's this avatar like fungus with a 100 00:06:06,053 --> 00:06:10,893 Speaker 3: very vivid, luminous glow. You would think some aleds had 101 00:06:10,933 --> 00:06:14,413 Speaker 3: been wired into the fungus. James Cameron could not improve 102 00:06:14,453 --> 00:06:17,253 Speaker 3: on it. But yeah, the naturalist guides who take you around, 103 00:06:17,253 --> 00:06:20,213 Speaker 3: they're just so passionate about the reserve, sharing all the 104 00:06:20,253 --> 00:06:26,133 Speaker 3: forest secrets with you. National Geographic go absolutely gaga about 105 00:06:26,133 --> 00:06:26,613 Speaker 3: this place. 106 00:06:27,013 --> 00:06:29,213 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, I'm not surprised. So were there any sort 107 00:06:29,213 --> 00:06:32,173 Speaker 2: of particular expedition highlights for you? 108 00:06:33,413 --> 00:06:36,173 Speaker 3: Yeah? Well, I think you really want to commune with 109 00:06:36,253 --> 00:06:38,973 Speaker 3: the cloud forest and an intimate way to do it, 110 00:06:39,053 --> 00:06:41,893 Speaker 3: as with the Dragonfly open air gondola, so you're sort 111 00:06:41,893 --> 00:06:44,693 Speaker 3: of like just a float in the forest. But even better, 112 00:06:45,213 --> 00:06:48,093 Speaker 3: I went on a riveting ride on a skybike. I 113 00:06:48,133 --> 00:06:51,933 Speaker 3: have never come across these things before, so it's kind 114 00:06:51,933 --> 00:06:55,173 Speaker 3: of like a zip line strung above the canopy. But 115 00:06:55,293 --> 00:06:59,373 Speaker 3: the novelty is it's attached to pedals in a seat, 116 00:06:59,493 --> 00:07:03,013 Speaker 3: so you pedal your way across the skyline and you've 117 00:07:03,053 --> 00:07:06,933 Speaker 3: got a galloping gorge two hundred feet by low you 118 00:07:06,973 --> 00:07:09,973 Speaker 3: and robed by the forest, and I think the full 119 00:07:10,093 --> 00:07:13,853 Speaker 3: traverse was about two hundred meters on that high wire cable, 120 00:07:13,893 --> 00:07:17,253 Speaker 3: so it's a pretty it's a pretty solid workout. But yeah, 121 00:07:17,293 --> 00:07:21,453 Speaker 3: those views are just so celestial, and there were no 122 00:07:21,653 --> 00:07:25,813 Speaker 3: close encounters with vine snakes, I'm very pleased to report. 123 00:07:26,293 --> 00:07:28,533 Speaker 3: But it's just such a great perch on those sky 124 00:07:28,613 --> 00:07:31,893 Speaker 3: bikes to just savor the sense of isolation and this 125 00:07:32,493 --> 00:07:36,613 Speaker 3: really remarkable, intriguing pocket of the world. I definitely would 126 00:07:36,613 --> 00:07:40,093 Speaker 3: thread Mushby Lodge into a trip you're doing to Ecuador. 127 00:07:40,213 --> 00:07:42,893 Speaker 2: Oh, that sounds superb, so just to I'm just trying 128 00:07:42,933 --> 00:07:45,493 Speaker 2: to imagine these bikes. So basically, it's like, don't you 129 00:07:45,533 --> 00:07:48,613 Speaker 2: don't zoom across like you do on a zip you 130 00:07:48,693 --> 00:07:52,533 Speaker 2: go steadily like you're slowly peddling a bike kind of thing. 131 00:07:52,613 --> 00:07:55,693 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, it's like they're in a very 132 00:07:55,773 --> 00:07:58,053 Speaker 3: high gear like it does actually take a bit of 133 00:07:59,333 --> 00:08:01,613 Speaker 3: it must just take quite a bit of exercise. Indeed, 134 00:08:03,173 --> 00:08:04,133 Speaker 3: it just sounds. 135 00:08:03,813 --> 00:08:06,933 Speaker 2: So special, Mike, And what a time. Well, I mean 136 00:08:07,253 --> 00:08:10,413 Speaker 2: for those who follow their Latin American politics, you know 137 00:08:10,493 --> 00:08:13,093 Speaker 2: that it's been a very interesting time with the Ecuadorian 138 00:08:13,133 --> 00:08:14,053 Speaker 2: elections recently. 139 00:08:14,213 --> 00:08:19,613 Speaker 3: So yeah, will hiperchat about Keto in a couple of weeks, 140 00:08:19,653 --> 00:08:21,973 Speaker 3: and yeah, I was just fascinating to see the whole 141 00:08:22,013 --> 00:08:24,973 Speaker 3: security situation in Keto and a lot of pressure on 142 00:08:25,013 --> 00:08:27,493 Speaker 3: this new leader. Yeah, so sort of sort out the 143 00:08:27,493 --> 00:08:28,973 Speaker 3: country so good. 144 00:08:29,133 --> 00:08:31,133 Speaker 2: You know, when I when I first moved to New York, 145 00:08:31,333 --> 00:08:35,853 Speaker 2: I had this terrible, terrible sort of you know, cracked 146 00:08:35,893 --> 00:08:38,213 Speaker 2: in of an apartment that was on top of a 147 00:08:38,253 --> 00:08:41,533 Speaker 2: fruit and vegetable store that was run by an Ecuadorian family. 148 00:08:42,133 --> 00:08:44,973 Speaker 2: So yeah, and I became really good friends with them 149 00:08:44,973 --> 00:08:48,213 Speaker 2: over you know, a couple of years, I suppose, and 150 00:08:48,573 --> 00:08:51,333 Speaker 2: it has just like further wht my appetite for visiting 151 00:08:51,373 --> 00:08:54,213 Speaker 2: that part of the world, because you have such contrasts 152 00:08:54,253 --> 00:08:56,773 Speaker 2: in such a such a relatively small area. You know, 153 00:08:56,773 --> 00:08:59,373 Speaker 2: you've got the kind of andes, and you've got the rainforest, 154 00:08:59,413 --> 00:09:01,693 Speaker 2: you've got the cloud forest, but you've also got the coastline. 155 00:09:01,693 --> 00:09:02,653 Speaker 2: It's just it's amazing. 156 00:09:02,853 --> 00:09:03,053 Speaker 1: Yeah. 157 00:09:03,093 --> 00:09:04,933 Speaker 3: Well, so, yeah, your variety. 158 00:09:05,213 --> 00:09:08,213 Speaker 2: Yeah yeah, I'm really looking forward to hearing more about 159 00:09:08,253 --> 00:09:10,053 Speaker 2: it over the coming weeks. Thank you so much, Mike. 160 00:09:10,453 --> 00:09:13,693 Speaker 2: So we'll make sure that Mike's tips for savoring Ecuador's 161 00:09:13,693 --> 00:09:16,413 Speaker 2: cloud forests and the Marshpee Reserve are up on the 162 00:09:16,453 --> 00:09:18,493 Speaker 2: news Talks heb website. If you just need anything from 163 00:09:18,493 --> 00:09:20,893 Speaker 2: our show, honestly, that is the easiest thing to do. 164 00:09:20,933 --> 00:09:24,653 Speaker 2: Just go to newstalksib dot co dot ented forward slash Jack. 165 00:09:25,013 --> 00:09:27,733 Speaker 2: That's our show page and they'll have everything from our 166 00:09:27,733 --> 00:09:29,533 Speaker 2: show right up there, just as soon as it's been 167 00:09:29,573 --> 00:09:30,093 Speaker 2: on the radio. 168 00:09:30,693 --> 00:09:33,813 Speaker 1: For more from Saturday Morning with Jack Tame, listen live 169 00:09:33,853 --> 00:09:37,173 Speaker 1: to newstalks 'b from nine am Saturday, or follow the 170 00:09:37,213 --> 00:09:38,653 Speaker 1: podcast on iHeartRadio.