Mompiche, Ecuador
But the days go by and these feelings quickly dissipate. I surf, laugh and meet new friends. You took my money, ladrón, but you couldn't take my joy away.”
When I return to the hostel after a surf session and go to my dorm to pick up some cash, I open my locker, and find it empty. A black hole. The lock had been tampered with. Most of my valuables - my laptop, credit cards, cash - were gone. I find myself with no more money to travel.
I leave Mompiche reluctantly a week later. I take a 16-hour bus ride to go all the way down to Cuenca, to pick up some cash my parents had sent to a Western Union, enough to last me for three weeks.
Thank god, I had insurance that refunded part of the amount a couple of months later.