Middle of the World

Being on the equator line brings about an energy not seen anywhere else in the world. Near Quito, I witnessed the strange phenomenon only available on the line. Through various science experiments, I could balance an egg on top of a nail, not walk in a straight line with my hands spread apart because of the greater centrifugal force at the equator and watch water drain in different directions depending on if I was on the north or south side of the equator. The touristy area with the line is not the actual sight, but nearby the Ecuadorians created a new site for tourists to enjoy the weird effects of science at work.


Connected to the tourist site is a tour of jungle life. I learned how to make a shrunken head. Apparently, a certain tribe in the jungle use to make shrunken heads of various tribal leaders as souvenir necklaces. In case anyone would like to make one, the process seems fairly straightforward. They would decapitate their victim, drain the blood, remove the skin off the face, sew up the eyes and mouth, boil it, then stuff it to make it solid. Easy enough.