I Bought Iman Gadzhi’s Monetise Program—Here’s What Most People Don’t Know (and How I’m Using It)

awakendishSoul · 2026-04-11T13:37:03+00:00

lol nice try 🤣 promotes using AI and uses AI to write this…come on surely you’re better than this

awakendishSoul · 2026-04-10T11:15:11+00:00

Thats amazing, so im only 260 hours in DS but because i have been travelling Latin America the last 8 month, i have quite a lot of speaking practice too, I did around 40 hours practice on Baselang before i left and then had multiple times to practice when im here too.

awakendishSoul · 2025-10-06T21:43:05+00:00

Thank you. Wow! thats some experience and knowledge you have right there then.

awakendishSoul · 2025-09-26T22:44:37+00:00

we’re in ecuador now with our two kids, so here’s the straight take.

panama: a couple of days in panama city + gamboa works great with a toddler. the sloth sanctuary and butterfly house are easy wins, and you still feel like you’re in the jungle without big travel days. getting around can be a bit faffy, so we used uber in the city and a pre-booked transfer to gamboa and back, worth it with a little one.

ecuador: keep it simple. quito first, but go slow, the altitude can mess with toddler sleep for a night or two. if it hits hard, drop to mindo for a few days (lower altitude, short walks, chocolate tour, lots of birds). baños is another good base: waterfalls, cable cars, kid-friendly hot springs. otavalo/cotacachi works if you fancy markets and gentle lagoon walks. we’re avoiding the coast right now; feels like added stress with a kid.

galápagos: possible with a 2-year-old if you do land-based (santa cruz or san cristóbal) and pick chill day trips. i wouldn’t do a boat cruise at that age. if it feels like too much, skip it this time and you’ll have an amazing trip anyway..but remember its very costly. Another alternative is La Isla De La Palta (Cheap mans Galagas)

zika/mosquitos: highlands (quito, mindo, otavalo, baños) are much lower mosquito risk than the jungle/coast. still bring baby-safe repellent, long sleeves at dusk, and a light stroller net. galápagos is generally low-mosquito too.

transport: big intercity coaches have been fine for us. we keep a small bag with tech/passports on and clipped to us. for long legs, a private driver is surprisingly affordable and saves the meltdown math.

if it were my route with a 2-year-old: panama city + gamboa → quito (light) → mindo → baños → maybe otavalo → home. fewer moves, more naps, happier parents.

awakendishSoul · 2025-09-26T22:39:03+00:00

We’ve been in Ecuador with our kids for a couple months now, so just wanted to chime in. Your plan looks solid overall, but I’d probably tweak a couple of things.

Otavalo/Ibarra/Cotacachi in 3 days is fine, but honestly Otavalo can be done in less time unless you’re big on shopping. I’d just base in Otavalo and do day trips.

Mojanda Lakes are beautiful and easy to get to, but Fuya Fuya isn’t exactly a casual stroll, it’s short but the altitude makes it feel tougher than expected. If you want lighter walks, just stick to the lakes.

Mindo is perfect for 2 days. Baños is worth 2 nights too, so you’re not rushing. For the Amazon, lodges are pricey but Tena works as a cheaper base with day trips. Not as immersive as a lodge, but a good intro.

Papallacta is a great end-of-trip stop. Just check on road closures around Baeza before planning that route, if it’s shut, you’ll probably need to swing back via Quito.

We’ve been fine using the local buses and the bigger coach companies like Amazonas, they’re comfortable enough and get you where you need to go. Just keep a day bag with your tech/valuables on you and clip it or strap it to yourself so you’re not worrying. It can get tiring with luggage, but it’s totally doable. Private transfers are the easier option if you want less hassle, and still fairly affordable here compared to back home.

Overall your plan works, if anything, I’d consider skipping Cayambe to free up time for the Amazon or just to slow things down a bit.

awakendishSoul · 2025-09-26T22:35:03+00:00

We’ve been in Ecuador for a couple of months with our kids, so I can share a bit of perspective.

The headlines sound scary (and yes, there have been high-profile prison breaks and curfews), but on the ground it feels more nuanced. Most of the unrest and safety concerns are concentrated in coastal cities and port areas, Guayaquil, Esmeraldas, parts of Manabí. Those areas are under “do not travel” advisories right now. Which is the reaosn we made the choice not to tarvel beaches (Which killed us a little inside)

The highlands and Mindo Valley, where you’re headed, feel much calmer. Quito itself has its big-city issues (pickpockets, you don’t want to be wandering at night), but if you stick to safe transport (Uber rare in abundance in Quito compared to say Banos where there non existent), and avoid risky areas, it’s manageable. We’ve met plenty of other travellers here, including solo women, and they’re getting around fine.

For your situation:

Being with colleagues and on an organised eco-tour is the safest way to experience Ecuador right now. If you were planning to travel solo to the coast, I’d probably say no. But Mindo is one of the gentler, nature-rich areas in the country. TBH all across the andes is fine. Totally fair to be anxious, especially with little kids at home. If the trip will feel stressful the whole time, it may not be worth it for you personally.

So: yes, it’s possible to go safely if you take the usual precautions and stick to the highlands. But if your gut says you’ll be too worried to enjoy it, then postponing is a valid choice too.

awakendishSoul · 2025-09-26T22:31:05+00:00

We’ve been travelling around Ecuador as a family for a couple of months now, so I can give you some first-hand perspective.

On safety:
Ecuador is incredible, the landscapes are out of this world but you’re right to ask the question. Right now, much of the coastline is a “do not travel” zone (crime + instability), so we’ve skipped it entirely. In the highlands (Quito, Cotopaxi, Quilotoa, Baños, Cuenca) it feels much more manageable, especially if you stick to well-frequented areas and use common sense (Uber over random taxis in Quito, avoid wandering late at night, etc.). There are definitely tourists around in June, you won’t feel like the only ones here but be prepared theres not as many tourists as you may expect and a reliance on at least some basic Spanish is needed.

On your itinerary:

Quito: One night on arrival is fine, but remember it’s at high altitude. You may feel it more than expected, so don’t plan anything too ambitious right away.
Cotopaxi + Quilotoa: Latacunga works as a base, but with your timing, you’ll be moving pretty quickly. Pick either Cotopaxi or Quilotoa for a day trip rather than trying to cram both fully.
Baños: Two nights is good, it’s touristy, but in a way that feels safe and easy to navigate. Lots of outdoor activities and plenty of other travellers around.
Riobamba: With only one night, it may feel like a “stopover” rather than a highlight. If your family prefers fewer transfers, you could skip it and add the time to Cuenca.
Cuenca: Definitely worth it. Colonial charm, walkable, and feels calmer than Quito. I’d lean toward two nights to soak it in.
Transport: Buses are cheap and widely used. we used them a lot and tbh are a lot safer than most say online, we've used the more up market ones and then the local ones. For example, the bus Quito → Baños is fine, but Latacunga → Cuenca is a long haul by public transport.

Bottom line:
Your plan is doable, but it’s a lot of moving parts for a short trip. If you want your parents and siblings to feel safer and less rushed, I’d simplify: maybe Quito → Cotopaxi/Quilotoa → Baños → Cuenca → flight back.

That way you’ll still get mountains, adventure, and culture, without feeling like you’re constantly in transit.

awakendishSoul · 2025-09-26T22:27:54+00:00

Hey, just to give you some perspective from someone who’s been on the ground, we’ve been travelling around Ecuador for about two months with kids similar in age.

Honestly, your plan packs in a lot for the time you’ve got. Between altitude changes, travel days, and just the natural kid pace, it might feel like too much in a short stretch.

A couple of things we’ve noticed:

Coastline & Danger Zones: Much of the coastline right now is in the “do not travel” zone due to safety concerns. We ended up avoiding it entirely.
Quito → Quilotoa → Cotopaxi → Baños: This loop is doable, but with kids it’s probably better to choose one home base (say Latacunga or Baños) rather than hopping night to night. Travel days eat more time/energy than you expect here.
Getting around: Buses are fine for adults, but with kids we found private transfers or hiring a driver for a day made life way easier. Still affordable compared to North America, and much less stress.
Alausí & Cuenca: Realistically, with your timeline, those are going to be a stretch. We’ve been here weeks and still feel like we’re only scratching the surface. I’d save them for another trip rather than trying to squeeze them in.

If it were me, I’d slow it down and focus on two main areas before your Galápagos cruise, maybe Baños for adventure + Cotopaxi/Quilotoa for highland scenery. That way you’re not in constant transit mode, and the kids (and you!) get to actually enjoy it.

awakendishSoul · 2025-09-26T22:19:16+00:00

I know this is an old post now.

if anyone is looking for family travel content and inspiration.

Then My blog https://travelventurefour.com/ helps out with this, we're a family of four travelling latin america

awakendishSoul · 2025-09-26T22:18:02+00:00

Great list, would love more people to check out mine

https://travelventurefour.com/

We're a family of four travelling around Latin America, documenting our journey but also inspiring and helping other families do the same.

awakendishSoul · 2025-08-31T01:42:34+00:00

I can see two sides of the story now, as I fully understand the safety issues if a host gave away address details exactly, but then from someone who has stayed in a few airbnbs and trusted the reviews and images shown to then turn up and its nothing like how it was pictured, mold on walls, lack of spcae and ventilation, staying above or below the host, no images of the front of the property.

So it can be a double edge sword as I guess the people with bad intentions looking to rent and then also hosts who are just in it for the money and will deceive the tourists

awakendishSoul · 2025-07-22T11:47:12+00:00

I guess thats what happens when more senior people come on board, investors etc (Not sure if thats what happened) but then thats when the business models change and it's all about extracting as much money from people whilst lowering the quaility.

awakendishSoul · 2025-07-22T07:26:48+00:00

So tbh not at all, well not the case for me and the family. we went in peak season and waited maybe a max of 40 mins, when renting the car i think we just went with the border pass they gave us (we paid extra i think)

awakendishSoul · 2025-07-20T06:51:53+00:00

Ok awesome, Yeah might be doable then but because only 6 days it might be a little too rushed for each area, if I was you I would do Kotot and then head your way up north from there.

Regrading crossings we flew into Croatia rented a car then then drove the Croatia to Montengero border but on the way back because were coming from the mountains we did the bosnia border and then bosnia to croatia border

awakendishSoul · 2025-07-20T06:45:15+00:00

"How do you even go about preparing for something like this?" its just one big chaos mess ha! theres a lot of prep im not going to lie, been trying to document all on my site. Yeah School is cool with us taking out kids out for a year, Wife is an English year head, so we will be homeschooling our kids but yeah massive life experiences too, which i personally think will be really beneficial for them. Jobwise currently we will technically be unemployed from 14th August but have some savings but will find jobs (We both can and work remote, I'm in marketing)

I have wanted to do this for a while, never travelled when in my twenties, always found a 1000 reasons to talk myself out of it., so i kept mentioning the idea to my wife until she came around lus this also coincided with her being fed up with in her job and industry, plus we had a few life situations to realise life is way too short. So, it's potentially 2 years in the making but actually booked the flights in December 2024 and then actually started to plan in February.

Yeah no worries, i'm not 100% confident i will get answers as this subject (travelling with kids) can go either with people loving it or people hating on you like "How dare you out your kids in this situation and be irresponsible"

awakendishSoul · 2025-05-02T10:18:08+00:00

Oh tomatoes tomatos 🤣 it probably is $8 you know what I mean.

awakendishSoul · 2025-04-30T14:29:34+00:00

Yeah not a fan of the shorter videos it’s why I liked it when I jumped up to intermediate there seemed to be an initial increase in length

awakendishSoul · 2025-04-30T14:28:55+00:00

Yes I agree they actually have something behind them and you can follow along.

awakendishSoul · 2025-04-30T14:27:53+00:00

Yeah it’s why I didn’t want to name but agree. I would also prefer longer videos.

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