Welcome to the Jungle!!

Friday, February 28th - Gatún Lake, Panama

So, we have made it back down to Gatún Lake, which is the man-made lake that was created during the construction of the Panama Canal.  We shall arrive in Colón by tonight and pick up a new group of guests tomorrow, making our way back to Costa Rica...talk about déjà vu!

Anyway, today was a day off for me!  I disembarked from the ship to Barro Colorado Island, where the Smithsonian Tropic Research Institute is located.  The island was once a mountain looming above a valley, but once the construction of the Panama Canal began, the waters rose and the mountain became an island and, in turn, a micro-ecosystem.  There are various species of animal families on this little island.  We were led by a guide along the trail, and the first sight we came upon was this giant cicada, and I used Miguel to truly depict its size...

We also managed to snag glimpses of these little fellas: lizards and a poison dart frog...

 As well as this red-billed toucan, who was trying to avoid our gaze...

Bashful little bugger...

Continuing up the path, we heard a LOUD, ominous howl from above in the trees.  Turns out that we weren't actually in Jurassic Park (as I had initially concluded) but simply hearing the usual howl from a howler monkey.  Apparently, this howler monkey was letting everyone know it was going down for a nap, and I attempted to play paparazzi and get a shot of it in its "compromising" position....

I also tried to photograph the little "monklets" at play...

We also encountered plenty of flora on the island, like the barrigon ("beer belly") tree, which provides the flower seen below...

...and this palm that receives signals from the leaves, telling it to grow out its roots on the sunny side...

There was also some warning regarding bot flies and "kissing bugs."  Bot flies bite you, or they bite a mosquito or other carrier who bites you, and deposit eggs under your skin.  The larvae grow and use the deposit hole as an air hole...sounds like fun, eh?

Look up images on Google and try not to have nightmares, haha.

The only ways to kill them include putting gel over the hole to suffocate the larvae or placing something like raw meat over the hole, which draws the larvae out to get air, ultimately placing them outside of your skin.  You're welcome.

The "kissing bugs" are similar, in action, to the bot flies.  As the story goes, they approach you when you are sleeping, bite you (usually around the mouth area) and then defecate into the bite, leaving a parasite.  As I am told, this typically leads to Chagas Disease, which is treatable but not curable.  I don't know how to really avoid them...be careful when you are in tropical areas, I guess.

For now, that is all.  I need to get to bed...finishing up the second trip tomorrow.  ONWARD!!

(By the way, my posts are going to become a weekly occurrence, due to the fact that I need to ration out my internet time.  Sorry! Y'all will just need to let the suspense build.)

Bahía Drake and my "Fan club"

Two details I did not include in the last post:

There are two extra deckhands on-board the ship currently: Erick and Henry.  They are both from Bahía Drake (Drake's Bay), here in Costa Rica.  The other night, we stewards finished our duties for the night, hopped on a Zodiac with Erick and landed on the beach in Drake's Bay.  We hiked up the road to a little cantina that Henry used to own; it was a cozy spot to enjoy an Imperial, la cerveza de Costa Rica. :D

Although it was a nice place, Henry brought us to this other cantina down the road that had a dance floor.  We "limed" there a bit and then returned to the ship, meeting our midnight curfew.  On the way back in Zodiac, however, all of the lights went out in the town and there was one, solitary tree that lit up near the shore...Henry said it was aliens or something. :D  I still do not know the cause of the light show...intriguing!

Also, like I mentioned in the last post, I have finished my first trip with Lindblad.  At the farewell dinner for the guests, we did crew introductions and I received a thunderous applause.  Apparently, I have a fan club, consisting of the people whose cabins I clean and who I diligently serve at meals, and the family of 12 in the corner, which includes all of these teenage girls asking me personal questions.  I guess I had a "fan club" on my first trip.  What a way to start out my contract!

Señor Iguana goes to the tanning rock.

Here he is: Señor Iguana!  While on a trail in the Isla Iguana Wildlife Refuge, we came up this fella "tanning" himself, and he did not move until we were right next to him.  Such confidence!  

Aside from iguanas and frigate birds, there were THOUSANDS of hermit crabs crawling along, especially on the beach.  When we first landed, it looked as though the beach was running away from us!  Upon closer inspection, it was simply these little guys running from us humanoid invaders; apparently, they were not as confident as the iguana.

The last interesting thing about this island was its former status as a bomb testing area during World War II.  In the '90s, a remaining bomb was detonated, destroying some 8,000 square feet of coral, which took 8 to 10 years to grow back.  Unfortunately, the picture I took of one of the giant holes left by a detonation was corrupted. :-/

Due to the fact that I was unable to get off the boat at Parque Nacional Coiba, I do not have any pictures of it...maybe the second time around, I will get some time there.

The next location that we arrived at was Isla Canal de Afuera, which is also known for its coral environments and, of course, white beaches, similar to the one below...

At this location, I joined the guests aboard the ship to the beach, where they snorkeled out to the coral.  Luckily, I did not swim where they did, because everyone seemed to get stung by hydroids, which are little creatures related to jellyfish.  Instead, I got to see schools of multi-colored fish...blues, greens, purples...the list goes on and on.  I wish I had a GoPro to capture these beautiful, underwater sights (in due time, I guess).

On Thursday, I had my first day off, which was incredible!  I played tourist all day and disembarked from the ship TWICE!!  The first location was Playa Caletas, and I can now check off one more thing from my lifetime list: riding a horse!  His name was Congo and he did not enjoy having me on his back, but we made it through the journey.

The guests and I followed Christian (the expedition leader) on a ride, ending up at the beautiful Punta Río Claro...

...where I managed to snap a shot of a caterpillar climbing up his silky rope. *cue Mission: Impossible theme song*

The second location that I was able to play tourist at was Parque Nacional Corcovado, where the guests and I were led by a guide up a beautiful river to a waterfall (both pictured below).  We all took a dip in a small pond along the river.  So refreshing after experiencing that humidity!

The ship has anchored in a few more places, like Manuel Antonio and Herradura Bay.  Now, we have off-loaded the first group of guests, loaded the next group and are on our way back to Panama City.  We will do this leg three more times before heading up to Baja.

Trying to play "catch-up"

So, I have some days to make up for.  I apologize, as I have been preoccupied, not so much with work but with activities.  I had a day off yesterday, and I took full advantage of it; however, I don't want to get too far ahead of myself in describing what has been going on down here.

Let us start back on Monday, which found us arriving at Isla Iguana, which is a 80-hectare wildlife refuge on an island off the coast of Panama.  At first glance, you see these black, winged creatures (I am told they are called "birds"?) constantly hovering above the island.  Once you actually set foot on the island's white beaches, you are transported into a scene from Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds, similar to the picture below.

These birds are magnificent frigate birds.  They spend most of their time in the air, hence the reason you see a constant "cloud" of them from afar, and they are one of the only bird species that sometimes nests at ground level.  What do they put in those nests, you ask?  ONE egg per each breeding season.  And how do they find a mate?  Well, similar to human fashion, the male frigate bird inflates his red throat pouch ("gular pouch"), which attracts the attention of the female and, well, you know what happens next (I do not know how that is similar to humans; use your twisted imaginations).  All I know is that there was one that kept flying low...

I guess it saw my inflated, red...nevermind.

While out on a walk, we also bumped into "Señor Iguana," interrupting his sun tanning session...but that will have to wait until the next post, because the internet on board the ship is spotty and pictures take a lifetime to upload...TO BE CONTINUED...

The hermits, maaaaan...it is all about the hermits!

Tuesday, February 18th - Off the coast of Panama

We on underway on our travels to Costa Rica!  Yesterday, we visited the Isla Iguana Wildlife Refuge, which is a 58-hectare island off the coast of the Azuero Peninsula in Panama.  It is a beautiful isle with white beaches and plenty of wildlife.  As soon as we stepped foot on the beach, the sand seemed to move away from us; I was surprised to find out that it was not the sand, but hundreds of hermit crabs, crawling away into the wooded area to escape these humanoid invaders.  In addition to the crabs, there was a giant flock of red throated frigate birds constantly hovering over the island.  We also interrupted an iguana's sun-tanning schedule while on a hike...lo siento, Señor Iguana!

Another interesting fact about this island was that, back in World War II, the U.S. military used the refuge as a bombing range.  In order to clear the area in the 90s, they ended up detonated the bombs, demolishing roughly 8,000 square feet of precious coral, which takes 8 to 10 years to grow back.  War!...huh!...yeah!...what it is good for?!?......destroying coral, apparently.  In fact, they even have one of the craters left from one of the bombs on the island! 

Today, the guests went ashore on this tiny island in Parque Nacional Coiba during the morning, but during the afternoon, I managed to make it ashore on Isla Canal de Afuera.  The sand on this beach was whiter than the others, and it was so fine and soft...definitely the opposite of the Washington shores. :D

I met a bunch of hermit crabs again.  I had to stash my backpack on the beach; luckily, I didn't return to find it overtaken by said hermits.  Return from what, you ask?  Well, I went snorkeling out to the coral just offshore.  There, I saw various schools of multi-colored fish...reds, blues, greens, yellows...absolutely incredible.  Apparently, I didn't swim out far enough, because everyone else swam further out, only to get stung by hydroids (a term I have not heard until this point).  However, I am not complaining, haha.

ONWARD!!...to bed...again. 

PICS COMING SOON!! (I promise; I have a day off on Thursday)

The Natural?

Sunday, February 16th, - Panama Canal

I have made it through my training day and my first official day on-board the Sea Lion!! Quite a few of the tasks that I am being taught are new to me: cleaning rooms, serving meals military-style and schmoozing the guests...not to mention the sea legs!!  However, I seem to be picking them up relatively quick. 

We have yet to hit open water, although we made it through the Panama Canal today.  What an amazing feat of technology!  The guests on-board were thoroughly entertained by the Panamanian gentlemen working atop the walls of the locks.  These men had to throw their lines from the wall to the ship, and they missed...a few times. :D

My room aboard the ship is located on the lowest level, next to the steel tube housing the anchor's rode, which makes an "interesting" and "not loud at all" sound at various times in the day...and night.  Talk about ambiance!!  I also share my room with two other stewards, Caleb and Gabriella, who have been great roommates.  It is nice to have great roommates, because that 152' ship becomes a lot smaller when you are living on it. 

The job involves a serious learning process for me.  I have worked various areas of the service industry, but I have yet to work in a formal dining establishment; however, I find that talking to the guests is becoming easier and easier as I do it more and more...I guess I am a NATURAL!  Once again, I kid.  I kid.  Easy, Chase...you put your pants on just like the rest of them - one leg at a time...ok, not going into my "cowbell" routine.  (I have been using the "I am new" excuse anyway...which can only work for so long, haha)

Overall, this job is an amazing initial step forward towards the life that I plan on leading.  Seeing unique places, meeting new people and learning unfamiliar skills seems vague, but that is what I am working with at this point...and I only have 200 minutes of internet for this month, so I need to end the post.

ONWARD!!!...to the logout page.

PICS COMING SOON!! 

Panamanian Devil...with the ladies!!

Friday, February 14th - Panama City, Panama

After 8 hours of total travel time spread across two planes, a fire near the landing strip, a wild ride with a Panamanian driver named Carlos and an awkward encounter with the older couple already settled into "my" room, I have reached my destination: the Riande Granada Hotel and Casino in Panama City, Panama.  Oh, I almost forgot to mention the Panamanian immigration lady, who asked if I wanted a Panamanian girlfriend and said she would look me up on Facebook.  It seems "the gift" remains, regardless of the country. :P

This will be a short post, since I need to get to bed early.  However, I wanted to make a note on the city: it is booming with life!!  The traffic, the people and the dimly-lit black building with a sign out front that says "Secretos" with a naked lady's silhouette.  I kid.  I kid.  I know I am noting the wrong things about Panama, but then again, I have only been here for 3 hours.  I am certain that it is full of wonderful people with wonderful personalities, families and stories.  I hope I get to meet some of them in the near future.

Tomorrow, I set out early again with Carlos, meet another member of the Sea Lion Crew, Leah, and finally reach the ship in Colón.  ONWARD!!....to bed.

The Adventure Begins!

Thursday, February 13th - Sea-Tac, Washington, USA

I have made it through the pre-employment process, said my good-byes, maintained a lively conversation with the Ethiopian taxi driver (one of the nicest guys you will ever meet) during the 30 minute drive, and now I lay on the hotel bed.  Alone.  I would be lying if I did not confess to feeling a slight nervousness at times, butterflies, if you will; however, the excitement soon rushes in to crush those butterflies to a pulp.  Pretty image, right?  

What causes these momentary mariposas of moodiness?  Well, tomorrow, I leave for Panama City, Panama, to begin my 6-month contract as a steward on-board the Sea Lion, a 152' expedition ship operated by Lindblad Expeditions, which partners with National Geographic.  Through this partnership, these companies provide expeditions centered around environment conservation, wildlife education and, of course, TRAVEL.  The first two generally speak for themselves, but that last part is equally important; travel is the one thing that you can buy (or in this case, get paid to do) that will truly make you richer.  It widens your perspective, broadens your horizons and (if done correctly) can "increase the size of your aperture."  

The ship departs from Colón, Panama, visiting Costa Rica, Baja, the Pacific Northwest, British Columbia and Alaska.  Along the way, we shall meet local people, who are said to be the kindest and most generous people that you could meet.  Despite this knowledge, I still experience the "butterflies,"  It's a new place, new experiences and new people, so it is pushing me outside of my comfort zone...which is the BEST thing for ANYONE! ONWARD!