Written by: May Mc’Causland
Narrated by: May Mc’Causland and
Gustavo Angarita Jr.
Recorded and Post Produced by: Simón Jaramillo of Vinilo Estudio

Hello humans! As promised, I have compiled some photographs, videos and links of the  4 years journey through the Colombian Pacific.  How we fell in love with the territory exploring the 4 departments and understood the motivation for which we embarked on this beautiful journey.

I share several links of the recommended routes on the interactive map. Thank you all for listening and reading.

We are happy to hear from you and we will be attentive to your messages.Let’s continue reviewing La Mochila Desgualanga’.

The origin of everything

Barranquillera (From Barranquilla) and Cachaco (From Bogotá) are getting to know the Pacific. Why? Find out in this pódcast.

Sound Journey: The 50

Listen to Gustavo’s fascinating voice telling one of those stories that seem fake, but you believe it because it happened in the Pacific.

A peek of the 4 departments

We reviewed our backpack to share some moments, stories and characters that we met on our first trip.

Appellation of Origin: Colombian Pacific

Emotion catches us when it comes to talking about our project. Vast as it is, it is only the beginning of what we dream of. Pacific friends, if you are artists, filmmakers or simply in love with this land, we invite you to be part of this project.

Buenaventura Expedition

The motivation for which we took the risk of creating this documentary series, the main theme of LA MOCHILA DESGUALANGA’

Curious fact

Hear in May’s voice what are the traditional instruments of the Pacific so that you begin to understand the diversity of sounds that brighten up the territory.

Do you want collaborate with us?

Help us to translate La Mochila podcast script to english.

The  Podcast Promises

Make yourself comfortable, bring your tea and let’s get started. This post is divided into 4 sections:

THE ORIGIN OF EVERYTHING

CAUCA

Guapi, how not to love you!

Everything has a first time, and this first trip was unforgettable since we were baptized on many things: The first exploration of the Pacific, the first exchange of Studio AYMAC, our first institutional video and the first anniversary of Gustavo and I. More than 4 years ago we began this crazy and fascinating journey through the Pacific.

The departure from Cali and arrival at Guapi, Faces of happiness!

Touring Guapi on a motorcycle

Guapi, Cauca received us with all its magic: The spectacular view from the terrace of theHotel del Río, its people and the encounter with one of the most deeply rooted traditions of the region: the farewell to the deceased.

Time-lapse from the terrace of the Hotel Rio Guapi, ¡Good, nice and cheap! 

The tradition of saying goodbye to the dead, welcomed us

The Normal Superior school of Guapi

Following the footsteps of Margarita De Castro, Gustavo’s mother, we arrived at theNormal de Señoritas  school with Yadira, daughter of our great host. Walking among the girls of La Normal, my heart was beating excited, our path was beginning to be clear.

At the Normal school, miraculously the books she wrote appeared and are still in use! I have to say, this not only filled my adventure companion with emotion, my heart was moved too.

Appellation of Origin: Colombian Pacific

This is our transmedia project that has been weaving year after year

Teófila Betancourt, Social Leader and Traditional Cook, was our first inspiring character. Her family made us feel welcome, her maternal warmth, her daughter´s disposition and her partner Martín Orejuela, gave us great joy. Her words show her love and commitment to the territory.

We share this photo of the first interview made in the territory by Gustavo with Teofila, at the headquarters of Fundación Chinyagua, she seeks to promote good coexistence, generating a better quality of life for women of the Cauca Pacific coast

Here is a short video that shows the environment of the foundatio.

Martín Orjuela, social promoter and traditional connoisseur of Guapi. Teófila’s husband and boatman took us to the Sansón village to visit the renowned Torres Brothers.

Guapi never stopped surprising us and another unexpected event took us to Olimpo Renteria, this meeting occurred eating rabbit and lamb, an inspiration for ​​our sound journey. These signs made us think that Doña Margarita still feels in her beloved Pacific.

Our stay in Guapi was getting shorter and the last meeting was full of music and tradition in the house of Genaro, the oldest of the Torres Brothers. Luthier and traditional musician, who delighted us by singing arrullos and playing his marimba de chonta. I find that our feet and our hearts moved.

About the Sound Journey

In this first chapter we inaugurate the Sound Journey session in the wonderful voice ofGustavo Angarita Jr.

We share an illustration of José Campo of Calicomix Fest , ‘Las 50’

It is the beginning of the trip, a wonderful adventure through the jungle that will take them to the community.

A PEEK OF THE 4 DEPARTMENTS

Timbiquí, How beautiful you are!

If life is an action movie, we could say that the scene traveling in a boat for 3 hours and with 30 people to Timbiquí  was pure adrenaline. The arrival to the territory was exciting, since we were not only welcomed by a beautiful sun, but by a pleasant host and friend Yuli, the sister ofNidia Góngora, singer ofCanalón de Timbiquí,, who put us in contact with the right people.

A strong and exciting experience on the boat

We settled in the Terranova Hotel, where we observed the life of the territory. A fabulous view!

Our first steps in Santa Bárbara de Timbiquí were in the Main Square where we bought fruits, which we enjoyed from the balcony of the Hotel, contemplating the immensity of the river.

Our dear, Yuli, better known as ‘‘Chochola or Magally ’’, welcomes us in Timbiquí and contacts us with Librada Amú, Esperanza Bonilla, Balanta brothers, Modesta and Manuel Ángulo among others… We treasure every moment with each one of them. The people of Timbiquí are very beautiful. 

Yuli´s Santa Barbara tour

At Librada Amú’s house with Yuli

In the house of Librada Amú of the Cañaveral de Timbiquí  group with Chochola of the Canalón de Timbiquí group

In the house of the Balanta Brothers, Emeterio and Diego Balanta are rescuers of the musical tradition of the Pacific, who welcomed us well. Enjoy their voices, the sound of the bombo, cununo and guasá.

With the Balanta brothers, Librada Amú and people from the territory

At Modesta’s house, presenting and sharing her Chirimoya

Enjoy with the voices and the sound of the bass drum, cununo and guasá

Improvisation at the workshop of Manuel Angulo, musician from the Innovación de Timbiquí group, who have won awards in different modalities of the Petronio Alvarez

CHOCÓ

Bahía Solano, what a cool pod!

We went to Chocó, without Gustavo, because it was a girl’s plan.

In order of appearance Edna Liliana Valencia, ‘Dra Beth’, (me) May Mc’Causland and Ana Harlen

Investigating Bahía Solano

Handicrafts

In April 2017, with my dear friendEdna LilianaValencia, I embarked forBahía Solano, without knowing her very much, although I could say that we had a good connection and the same thing happened with Gloribeth Carrasco, better known as Dra Beth’ Who I met first at Medellín airport.

Upon arriving at the territory, we metAna Harlen and Edna. Together, the 4 travelers began the adventure in Bahía Solano; While they were speaking at the Afro Female Empowerment meeting, I knew cultural leaders, when Beth finished, she became my right hand for the interviews.

Whith the girls

 Almejal Beach

 Almejal beach

After receiving attention from all the public entities present at the meeting, we went to explore the streets of Bahía Solano. This is our magazine photo.

The first nights we spent at the Bahía Yubarta Boutique Hotel, we visited Almejal Beach by day and at night we enjoyed a bonfire and singing.

 

If there was adrenaline on the trip to Timbiqui, this trip through the Ensenada de Utría, was over the top, since at a change in tide I almost flew out of the boat…

Travel through the Ensenada de Utria, beautiful landscapes!

Tener playas solo para nosotras fue una grata experiencia y fue cerrar con broche de oro en Nuquí y en el  Parque Nacional Natural Utría. ¡Paraiso terrenal!

Utría Creek

Utría National Natural Park

Utría National Natural Park

We spent the last night in the park before returning to cold Bogotá

Nuquí

CAUCA

Suarez a rich territory!

Years after discovering rivers and seas in Cauca, it was time to set foot on the mountain and contemplate the Salvajina Reservoir in Suarez,Cauca at the hands of our star host, winner of the Goldman Environmental Prize, Francia Marquez.

With Francia Marquez

Contemplating the Salvajina Reservoir

NARIÑO

Tumaco, a beautiful Pearl!

And we arrived at San Andrés deTumaco, Nariño, the well-known Pearl of the Pacific.

Legend has it that it is because of that famous precious pearl found as the largest in the world, during the time of discovery. (By the way, if you want to know more about this legend and others of the territory, we are preparing a sound trip dedicated to this).

IN SEARCH OF THE PEARL, the project was organized in 20 days before traveling to the territory. I was not alone in production, because I had the compány of actor Jhao Salinas, who served as producer. He embarked us for Tumaco, on a Wednesday, October 17, 2018, with everything included, which is not the same … What a good management of Jhao!

Here we set foot at La Florida Airport in San Andrés de Tumaco  (This was the first of many that we visited creating the project)

Beautiful times in the territory, we made four trips developing the project. And each visit had its essence:

We met its people, toured the island, identified its tourist benefits, made great friends and created the narrative universe.

IN SAN ANDRÉS DE TUMACO

Gustavo (Director) and May (Producer) touring Tumaco

A interesting conversation betwen Director an Producer

May learning to play Cununo

Gustavo learning to play Marimba

Gustavo enjoying the casting clausure

May giving thanks at the end of the casting

Scouting of locations, touring Tumaco (Artistic photos of the project’s look) San Andrés de Tumaco was fantastic!

Scouting Tumaco’s team

San Andrés de Tumaco, put at our disposal, its artists, local media, its streets and people were motivated by our presence, so much so that in one day we saw 120 people with acting aspirations in the project, a pleasant welcome, which motivated us day after day. This was where Julia Ávila came into our liveAnd since not everything is always good … In January 2019 we had to put the project on standby with the dissatisfaction of some, the pain of others and the understanding of many.

LA PERLA (THE PEARL), is a pending product with its people, with its actors and with our friends, those inconveniences we had do not cloud our desire to do it, and we are sure that we will have the pleasure of enjoying the project. Like they say, what’s meant to be will always find a way!

The two faces of May, which is her at the beginning? and which at the project standby? you judge.

If you embark for the Island of Tumaco we have a couple of recommendations

 Accommodation at Hotel Los Corales, has a view of Morro beach that makes your stay unique.

If you go backpacking, go to MERCA Z supermarket, and go to the main headquarters on Calle del Comercio, there is a great variety of products there.

And don’t forget to buy your tickets on the SATENA Airline to arrive directly from Bogotá or Santiago de Cali.

Some evidences of EN BÚSQUEDA DE LA PERLA project

Recommended Articles from Traditional Midwifery:

Midwifery is an active ancestral profession present in the Pacific region. Here are some links that will allow you to learn a little more about the work of Afro and Indigenous midwives. (Articles in Spanish)

PARTERÍA AFRO DEL PACÍFICO. MINCULTURA. 
AFRO PACIFIC MIDWAY. MINISTRY OF CULTURE.

OMBLIGO BAJO EL ARBOL. ARTÍCULO SOBRE PARTERÍA
BELLY UNDER THE TREE. ARTICLE ABOUT MIDWIVING

LA PARTERÍA EN EL PACÍFICO COLOMBIANO.
MIDWIVING IN THE COLOMBIAN PACIFIC.

LAS PARTERAS DEL PACÍFICO, UN TESORO EN MEDIO DE LA MISERIA.
THE PACIFIC MIDWIVES, A TREASURE IN THE MIDST OF MISERY.

PARTERAS DEL PACÍFICO DEJAN LA TRADICIÓN POR LOS CULTOS CRISTIANOS.
PACIFIC MIDWIVES LEAVE THE TRADITION FOR CHRISTIAN CULTS.

PARTERÍA: UN SABER QUE CONECTA COMUNIDADES EN COLOMBIA. 
MIDWIVING: A KNOWLEDGE THAT CONNECTS COMMUNITIES IN COLOMBIA.

PARTERÍA INDÍGENA, UNA TRADICIÓN QUE CONTINÚA VIVA EN LAS MONTAÑAS DE JAMUNDÍ.
INDIGENOUS MIDWIVING, A TRADITION THAT CONTINUES TO LIVE IN THE JAMUNDÍ MOUNTAINS.

EL ARTE DE PARTEAR. CURANDERAS, COMADRONAS Y PARTERAS DEL PACÍFICO COLOMBIANO.
THE ART OF PARTYING. CURANDERAS, MIDWIVES AND MIDWIVES OF THE COLOMBIAN PACIFIC.

    MIDWIFERY ROUTE AND FESTIVITIES IN THE PACIFIC

    HOW TO USE THE MAPS TO SEE THE ROUTES: 

    Follow these directions to use our interactive map.

    1. Click the play button in the middle of the map.
    2. Use the arrow buttons (<o>) to open and close the control panel. In the panel you can activate, deactivate routes and choose route points.
    3. You can also access the information by clicking on the pines that appear on the map. By scrolling the map, you will find images and data that we have collected on our travels.

    GASTRONOMIC ROUTE

    Buenaventura Expedition

    KNOW HERE THE BUENAVENTURA EXPEDITION

    We share a playlist of the Traditional Music of the Pacific. Enjoy it!

    Infinite thanks for reading and for listening, I hope you start to carry this MOCHILA DESGUALANGA’ with us, see you in the next chapter!

    YOU WANT KNOW MORE ABOUT ?  Visit us blog.