Strutting My Stuff!

Not exactly exercising a stealthy approach this morning while photographing wildlife in the jungle.  I was dressed in long pants that were every shade of pink, red, purple and green, I could probably have been spotted from space. 

It wasn’t a deliberate decision, I dressed quickly and quietly in the dark not wanting to make any noise or throw any lights on and wake Frieda.  I don’t usually venture outside in these pants, I bought them in a moment of madness and have since only used them in the confines of the boat, usually when alone, but so excited was I about photographing more wildlife I didn’t think when I grabbed my camera and excitedly headed out to the jungle.

It was only when I was coming back that I noticed a group of marina workers staring in wide-eyed astonishment at me that I suddenly realized what I was wearing.  But then in an environment where people dress (or not) in the most odd and peculiar fashion, where its apparently quite acceptable for women 8 & ½ months pregnant to run around in bikinis, 40+ year old men to prance around in turquoise thongs, really, really, hairy old men strutting around in Speedo’s (I truly would like to shoot the person who invented Speedos, an age limit really, should have been applied for their use) women in shorts, who honestly shouldn’t, pajama clad people who maybe just couldn’t be bothered to get dressed, anything goes it seems, out here.  So if I want to strut my stuff in a kaleidoscope of colors while doing my Baily/Belamie impersonation’s then I’m allowed!

Great New Book

For those of you who enjoy reading my blog, and love travel stories, there is a great new book that you should check out, here's the link to the web site
http://www.boatnuts.net 


Enjoy 

Lost

Walking through the jungle it was like stumbling across a film set for Lost.  The whole area used to be a military zone, before they left and the marina was built.

Jungle walk & Monkey business

So this afternoon Frieda and I decided to hike through the jungle, such an amazing experience, we saw leaf cutting ants, many different birds,  even a family of Toucan's, but best of all three monkeys, and one had a baby on her back...

A Toucan in the trees on the edge of the jungle

Monkey with baby on her back

Anchor drama at Monkey Island

Sunday 16^th January

As we approached the mainland of Panama the scenery and the water change quite drastically.  

The mountainous rainforest rises up dramatically from the shore, and the peaks of the mountains gradually disappear into a mist.  Heavy rain clouds loom ominously above. The sea quickly changes from clear turquoise to murky green, caused by the run off from the rivers.  The coastline appears quite eerie, dark and foreboding with occasional hazy rays of sunshine piercing through the clouds.

We approach Monkey Island as the sun is setting and we are so grateful to be at our anchorage before dark.  In my excitement at having arrived safely, and while paying more attention to the island (looking for the monkeys) than to the anchor, I’m suddenly in trouble, when the anchor chain shoots through right to the bitter end.  Thank God we had the chain tied on.  I quickly attached the snubber to secure the chain, and called for Bob.  Unfortunately the line tied to the anchor had knotted itself around the windless and we were unable to untie it.  Bob had to dismantle the entire windless to get the line out and put the chain back on.  OH boy was I ever popular!

Only monkeys populate Monkey Island, there is a derelict house on the shore, inhabited by the monkeys, they are very tame and will come and sit on your lap and eat out of your hands, but apparently when you try and leave they get upset and will bite you.  Knowing this we decided not to venture onto the island, but to observe from a safe distance on the boat.  

We could hear the monkeys clearly, but were unable to see any.

Days in Paradise

We woke to blue sky and sun streaming through our open hatch, Daisy barely moves here in the bay, which is so still the water is like turquoise glass. 

For breakfast I made French toast  dressed with slices of fresh pineapple, melon and banana, and drizzled with maple syrup and chocolate sauce, and strong Italian coffee, what a totally decadent way to start the day.

After lazying around in the hammocks for a while we got the dinghy down and  motored around the islands looking for a good place to snorkel.  We doned our gear and flopped out of the dinghy into the crystal clear, bathwater temperature water.

The snorkeling here is good, but I wouldn’t say it was fantastic, however the water is, it’s the clearest I have ever seen, unfortunately the fish are not as abundant as in Bonaire.  I’m afraid Bonaire has spoilt me forever for snorkeling, nothing so far compares, not even close.  However, this water is truly amazing, and there are giant eagle rays everywhere.  You can spot them a long way off as slowly moving dark shadows, when they get close you can see how beautiful they are, we have seen so many already, we just say “OH look another ray!”

After snorkeling we went ashore and explored one of the little islands. The islands are truly something out of a picture book, if you like the BVI’s, then times their beauty by 100, and you will be close to the beauty of the San Blas.

Lunchtime was another delicious gastronomic event, gravalax and dill sauce with salad, wine, fresh fruit and incredible scenery, it is Paradise here, and I have to wonder why I so often complain about this lifestyle of mine.

The afternoon was spent lazying around in the hammocks again, some friends from neighboring boats joined us late afternoon for cocktails, then dinner of crispy sweet and sour pork and stir-fried fresh vegetables bought this afternoon from one of the local boat vendors.

OH life is tough sometimes, but someone has to do it J  Don’t you all just hate me right now!

Police & cheerleaders

‎So, taking the bus into Colon today to do a supermarket shop was an interesting ride, first we pass the armed guards at the entrance to the marina, then we head out through jungle for about 20 minutes, albeit on concrete roads, where all sorts of wildlife surround you.  I spotted a couple of crocs in the river, and a funny looking furry creature with a long tail and its head in the grass at the side of the road.  There are Toucans, eagles, monkeys, fabulous butterfly’s and all sorts of interesting creatures not normally seen outside of your local zoo.

Crossing the first lock of the Panama canal took ages as a ship the size of a small town was crawling slowly through pulled laboriously along by the donkey trains.

The surrounding countryside was untamed and sadly littered with garbage, as we approached the main town there was yet more garbage and typical neglect of buildings. 

In the town everyone drives like they’re either crazy or blind, there are absolutely no traffic lights, no signals or any road signs anywhere, no courtesy from drivers, in fact I don’t think they would even understand the meaning of the word. 

 Police are everywhere running around brandishing their automatic weapons like cheerleaders with batons.  I wasn’t scared, but I can honestly say I didn’t feel too safe. I am learning all too quickly how dangerous this place is.