Saturday, June 1, 2013

Panama! part 2


Panama day 5
This is me waiting to go on a hike to a chocolate factory! I laced up my boots and set off, only to realize my family was far from ready! So I sat down and played with my little friends, I am so grateful to have them with me, Mama didn’t let me bring any toys with me because she was afraid they would get lost or soiled by the rain and sand. I agreed with her reasoning but still missed my little dolls and such!
I didn't mind waiting as there was plenty to look at and do, I was very excited as Panama has become my favourite place to hike! the soil, the environment, the wildlife and plant structures! I was in my element! When we were finally ready to set off we walked to the dock and set off to another part of the island. Our bot escort said you could walk there from where we were staying but it was about a three hour hike. We opted to boat the way there. Once we landed we followed several signs that showed us up a mountain path, delightful and not to steep a hill to be uncomfortable. I saw a man mowing the lawn with a machete on the way! it was very interesting to see how different life was and how similar it was too. 
Almost up the hill! it was maybe 20 minutes, the path was very muddy and parts of it were lined with coconuts! which are not very good to walk on might I say. I ended up walking bare foot most of the way as a result of my sandals causing tripping and sliding.
This was the first non-forest view we got, there is a small building beside me in the picture. It looked like it could be a small house but looked as though it hadn't been occupied in a while. right before we arrived at the little store front I was bit by a spider along the trail, it landed on my side and bit under my arm! it was horrible having to look at it and throw it off of me!
I was very relieved when we finally made it! we sat down and were welcomed by a glass of lemonade and fresh coconut milk! the store also sold a variety of face creams, body and beauty products and anti- bite creams! most of the ingredients were coconuts grown on the island. I sampled the anti bite and it made my bite disappear by the time we left, it's amazing stuff.

Panama Day 6
We went snorkelling and I saw another scorpion! this one was black though.
snorkelling was inconceivably incredible! I was blown away by the waters and the fish in the small coral patches. though I have to confess I felt a little... claustrophobic? I didn't like the idea of making skin contact with anything and couldn't swim over the grassy parts. It's just one of those irrational fears I guess, not really a fear, just something that makes me uncomfortable