Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 22 hours ago
After Carnaval weekend in Manta, Ecuador, a controversial photo of trash-covered beaches sparked debate in my Facebook group — was it real or AI-generated?
I decided to grab my Camera, head to the beach, and see for myself.
What happened next had nothing to do with garbage and everything to do with human connection, assumptions, photography, and the unexpected beauty of living in Ecuador.
In this episode, I share a spontaneous encounter with a man named Jeremy, a powerful reminder about judgment and kindness, and one of those rare “keeper” photographs that every amateur photographer hopes for.
Sometimes the real story isn’t what you think it is.
Links to know:
Facebook - Manta and Manabi Expats and Amigos - facebook.com/groups/323275021650751
My Channel Video Index - docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-f4Wv3uBMulCX9OK6oNqS5a9wrS84cbUBYXzoq24JNA/edit?usp=sharing
My Google Docs document of useful information
docs.google.com/document/d/1ArNRtsdqfleE1-l9r1yKrh-XyzksSIwj0MMyb09L0ro/edit?usp=sharing
My checklist for moving to Ecuador - docs.google.com/document/d/1ySNcEa6_ffaKutXgMdlhdwAoD46lkwqKvd_H7DlEYGY/edit?usp=sharing
Remember this folks.
A country might look good on paper, or on a YouTube video, but what about the “Chemistry” between you, the individual and the country and culture as a whole?
This is something we can’t know in advance. We can only make our move, dive in and test the waters…….and see how it goes.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
After Carnaval weekend in Manta, Ecuador, a controversial photo of trash-covered beaches sparked debate in my Facebook group — was it real or AI-generated?
I decided to grab my Camera, head to the beach, and see for myself.
What happened next had nothing to do with garbage and everything to do with human connection, assumptions, photography, and the unexpected beauty of living in Ecuador.
In this episode, I share a spontaneous encounter with a man named Jeremy, a powerful reminder about judgment and kindness, and one of those rare “keeper” photographs that every amateur photographer hopes for.
Sometimes the real story isn’t what you think it is.
Links to know:
Facebook - Manta and Manabi Expats and Amigos - facebook.com/groups/323275021650751
My Channel Video Index - docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-f4Wv3uBMulCX9OK6oNqS5a9wrS84cbUBYXzoq24JNA/edit?usp=sharing
My Google Docs document of useful information
docs.google.com/document/d/1ArNRtsdqfleE1-l9r1yKrh-XyzksSIwj0MMyb09L0ro/edit?usp=sharing
My checklist for moving to Ecuador - docs.google.com/document/d/1ySNcEa6_ffaKutXgMdlhdwAoD46lkwqKvd_H7DlEYGY/edit?usp=sharing
Remember this folks.
A country might look good on paper, or on a YouTube video, but what about the “Chemistry” between you, the individual and the country and culture as a whole?
This is something we can’t know in advance. We can only make our move, dive in and test the waters…….and see how it goes.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
