I'm at dinner! :D
So hello, let's rush to the jist cause I got lecture right after dinner.
Mandatory up by 5:45 so that we are up and ready at 6:00 to eat and get out of there. Breakfast was essentially plain bow tie and penne pasta, hard a boiled egg, and some vinegar coleslaw thing....not the best but you can't be picky.
We immediately took off for our phenological study day, which is essentially trying to identify the different trees around the area to understand what the primates eat, and we also took samples which we could take back to identify. Mainly we took notes on the amount of leave and if there were any fruits or flowers....which there weren't -_-" Dry season is boring for that.
Anyway on the way we spotted Capuchin monkeys traveling through the canopy and got to practice focal point studying. Essentially pick one of the monkeys and every 2 min. or some interval right down what they are doing. there were two adults and a juvenile, the others weren't visible but they rocketed through the forest. So essentially our notes were "Monkey!" "out of sight ...out of sight....out of sight.....welp" lol
We spent the better part of that day doing the tree stuff and then continued a hike back to camp but it was all uneventful....meaning no monkeys.
We found a centipede....which by the way I was up in its face trying to get a good picture.....didn't but eh I have another good one of it. Yeah centipede shoot cyanide out of their face.....that would not have been fun -_-
We also saw two bullet ants trying to kill each other, but it was a slow battle :(
Otherwise it was uneventful :/ but we saw monkeys :D Monkeys make everything worth it even the fifteen (not really more like three) steep up and down slopes we had to climb....when I say steep I mean vertical lol WHICH BY THE WAY......we all understand I am not the healthiest monkey in the barrel right? Got more to love? .......catchin' my drift? Yeah I'm like running laps around these guys....they keep stopping and chatting small talk and I'm like "I'm missing valuable monkey hunting time people!!" ugh but its fun being in a group
So anyway, we get back for lunch which is this REALLY good like shredded chicken curry thing but MAN they gave a huge portion O.o Usually they're pretty small but I was even getting full at the end.....still pushed through I mean by 3 hours later it's all digested haha I'm not joking...yesterday I walked 10 miles.....today only like 5 but you hear that Yassi.....can you see me through the dust cloud? :P
Anyway after lunch we had lab, took notes on the reasons for phenological studies and such, and will continue with the lecture tonight.
Otherwise it was relaxing time, revising our project proposals, and such. I mainly caught up on reading and finally did laundry :D which means i filled a bucket dumped clothes in and threw detergent in there......squish squish...the water turned black -_-
And of course I forgot my sunglass were on my head and at some point, which means when I went to hang up the laundry some hours later they fell and crunch -_- Still functions just needs glue. I haven't used them anyway....I'm blind without my glasses now my eyes are so used to it and you NEED great eyesight to find monkeys especially when you start chasing through the forest to follow them like I'll be doing on my own soon. But no excuses, but it is fixable. I also stood on an ant hill and got bite on my legs......ants here aren't nice ants....they all hate you.
The biggest news was when we found squirrel monkeys near the camp. Linda came and grabbed me cause we've been hunting for them (they're pretty rare) and she found a big family. So I ran out in what are my pj's with rubber boots...ya know proper jungle excursion attire......cotton doesn't fix with plants that grip to you.... -sigh-
Anyway it was amazing, so many of them jumping through the forest. and THESE....as my dad would say "these are monkeys you want to study" Squirrel monkeys are by far the most adorable monkeys, look 'em up if you don't believe....go on I dare you *viewer discretion is advised: prepare for cuteness*
Haha but it was amazing, and I got pretty good photos. Totally still wish I had that other lens :/ But I ain't complaining.....yes I said ain't :)
Not only did we see squirrel monkeys and by see I mean we watched them for over 20 minutes it was that amazing! There were emperor tamarins around there too! Essentially little monkeys with very outrageous mustaches......no seriously they have mustaches :)
BEST monkey sighting by far....almost made me change my project to comparing how different species run through the forest, but eh aside from there's no point to that I am not going to give myself more work to write a whole new proposal.
Essentially, it got further widdled down with the help of Fo, that I am studying how Brown Capuchin monkeys travel through the forest, at what levels, and if its for foraging or traveling or resting, what types of branches they normally travel on and such and how the young travel compared to the adults. .......Still more widdling, but I'm meeting with the professor tomorrow.
But some of these projects are fascinating. This one guy, Gideon, is here for his 4th year in a row conducting more studying on the parasites in Tamarin poop and a bunch of more technical aspects of such. For example, does parasite A infect the same host as Parasite B and coexist with one another? It gets even more technical with testing hormones and such, but it's all for his dissertation :) More exciting than mine haha but for a first behavioral study I think simple is great :D
Anywho down to the nitty gritty....
Lessons learned:
#1: When walking down steep slopes walk sideways, you get better traction and it also helps to not have your toes jam into the front of the boot lol
#2: As I've stated many times....there are bugs here. Get in before power turns off if it bothers you, while your lights are still on and as long as you don't have to get up and pee or something to deal with them they are gone by morning........like the cockroach that scurried under my bag when I came back from star gazing last night. Extra gross but shrug it off and no they scurry off before bed
Altho Seamus has a couple still in his drawer xD I also totally had one on its back in the bathroom this morning and when I said I had one it was frikkin;' HUGE! and of course I took a picture! I also smashed it with my shoe....which freaked me out cause it exploded but it was just the mud off my shoe xD
Oh we saw a shooting star last night :D They have alot here. Also the constellations are completely different on the southern hemisphere then they are back home, which makes me sad cause I don't know any. Yes, I am brushing up on it. Found the Southern cross, it's the only one i know xD Looks like a kite in the sky :)
Anyway I'm off. Injury wise, woke up with a sore throat so usually that means something is starting, my guess, Also got a small irritation yesterday on my right shoulder like small and wasnt bothering me. (from me wearing no sleeves :D ) But after todays hike I think with the long sleeves rubbing with the sweat it got more irritated and rashy but it's disappearing now.
Hit my hand on something while hiking alone yesterday I forgot to mention, don't know what the HELL happened but I had a bump on my right thumb and pinky that if you touched it was like knee-buckling painful.......went away after a few hours.
Completely fascinating, weird/strange, and scary all at the same time :D
But I'm still in one piece! Which may or may not stay true when I start running through the forests lol
I'm kinda bummed I'm not bruised up and scratched like everyone else............you know that's something only I would be upset about xD
Haha until tomorrow,
REN
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
Monday, June 23, 2014
Day #2: Free Day.....Monkey sightings ;)
Ah yes, what everyone has been waiting for....I have seen MONKEYS! Granted with my standard lens even when I'm 20 feet away from them it still doesn't get close enough -sigh- but I'm more than thankful that after dry-bagging it the lens has de-fogged itself and it works perfectly....plus I'm happy I have a camera here at all :) But next time I'm getting a bigger lens :D
OK!!! First and foremost.........pictures meant for yesterday anyone? Sorry :( The internet is soooo slow here cause people are doing things they aren't supposed to like trying to watch videos which eat away at it and make it slow for everyone :/ But as long as I'm able to post :D
I have been taking photos of the food they have here, in hopes to add them in my day to day blogs......but under the circumstances :(
FIRST THINGS FIRST.....it was free day today lol xD Also people complain WAY too much here it's incredibly annoying.....it's as if people assume it's a vacation -_-"
So....woken up at 5:40 am by the kitchen staff and birds, but willingly, I also couldn't go back to sleep so meh :)
For breakfast they had "fried dough" essentially a pancake...two of them :) With your choice of strawberry jam or honey or both :D it was goood but way too light for the hikes xD they also had these sweet orange crackers haha
I decided to go in a hike with Linda who wanted to search for squirrel monkeys, no luck :/
HOWEVER, I spotted a Titi monkey.....essentially a black furball with a black face and long tail xD It was jumping through the trees so wasn't able to get a photo of that one....too much of the canopy in the way as well.
The rest of the time it was just a simple hike, incredibly surreal, you occasionally forget you're in the rainforest...except for the occasional Buttress trees. The hike lasted maybe 3 hours, also I hit 10k steps before noon xD About 5 miles at 12:30 so yay...but yeah surreal except for the guy who had an asthma attack! Halfway through the hike someone comes running through, clearly exhausted from said running, and asked us to take the inhaler further down the path. Apparently, Joe (who was in that group I took the boat with) had an asthma attack from the humidity. :/ He's okay now don't worry :)
Which by the way, they are my absolute favorite trees! Adaptive evolution at it's finest! If you cut the floor of the rainforest straight down so you could see a side view of the roots you would see every different length imaginable. It's not incredibly rich in moisture, as you'd think it would be, and so no species of plant has the exact same length of root so that they can get the optimum moisture from that level......then you have the buttress tree. A tree that can grow to enormous heights and where are it's roots? ABOVE GROUND! The trunk spiders out with these tall thin roots sitting at the top of the forest floor, it's pretty cool :)
Anyway, when we got back I began to catch-up on all the reading I have been missing. Which, I have to say, I kinda wanted to laugh when one of the students told me to "skim it cause it'd take like 20 minutes to get through it all" ....... really? The process still stands here.....read, highlight, type out notes.
Anywho, I then went on another hike with Linda which was shorter cause I left to catch lunch, ya only get an hour people and you need all the sustenance you can get here! Plus I ran out of water xD
We did see a brown capuchin monkey...and by see I mean we heard branch snaps and decided to travel offtrail to find the source. Don't worry most groups chase monkeys deep into the forest....hehe wait til I get started on my research xD One girl had her boots warmed with ants O.o ANYWAY, back on track, we started hearing the calls they make and boom there he was climbing up a tree and sitting right there glaring at us. We moved closer and he even started to give out warning calls. I say he, only based off of the behavior, I in no way know if it was male or female. Unfortunately, you really can't aside from body size and seeing the physical genitalia. But anyway he stared at us started grooming, scratched under his leg like a lazy man watching football or something while the other members of the group jumped through the trees behind us. Then as quickly as he showed up, he left. Yes, I have a photo
Anywho again, lunch was a starter of like potatos (dry, but still inhaled it) with like eggs? and ketchup????? It was good at least. Main course was rice, beans with some type of meat (how's that for encouraging), and a bit of lettuce. Great with this Aki...ahi? I dunno but it's this pepper and onion mix that sits in vinegar yummy and spicy!
Also was told by Linda that "you didn't have spam growing up?! You must've had a good childhood" .......Not sure how to take that O.o But I mean yeah I did, I guess. Makes me feel like I was extremely affluent or something haha
Anyway, more reading blah blah I then decide to go on my own hike...yes alone. Trying to cut off that capuchin where they were headed......but I got lost between the trails xD I had a map so it's not like total lost but I went down instead of up :/ And just as I was like "awwww but I wanted to see a monkey" Plop....A Titi monkey flies out of the forest and lands on a fallen tree in front of me.
I must've been pretty entertaining to watch. I was creeping so quietly, and anytime it looked at me I'd freeze........you know like when you try to sneak up on a cat lol Yeah doesn't work then and doesn't work with monkeys either xD I got within 20 feet or so, huge approximation, but I could see it clearly camera not so much -_- but it then climbed up into a neighboring tree and hid behind leaves occasionally poking its head out to glare at me. To which I waved that white flag and let it be :)
Just finished dinner, which started with like chicken noodle soup but add like something in it like quinoa or something (Peruvians tend to have soup every dinner) and the main corse was chicken on the bone (just a leg) with mushrooms and this great sauce...dunno what it was but it looked like "orange chicken" sauce :D Did you know thats a color!? It is now. But yes....I don't eat bugs here...that's strictly voluntary ;) The food is great and well portioned, and the family will be happy to know I have yet to come to any harm.
Seriously though, so many people have complained about it taking DAYS to get adjusted....I dunno if it's a bad thing or good thing but I was adjusted like my first night. After I had cooled off from the stairs and such like it's like being at Lake Mooma (yeah spelled wrong I know) It's like frikkin' camping I swear! Which you all know I love....so I think it's pretty safe to say I found my niche haha. I guess we'll find out when I chasing capuchins through the forest.
Ah, and for those that don't know I am studying how capuchins travel through the forest (i.e. the different levels of the forest.....canopy.....mid.....underbush) those are simplified terms haha there's generally five layers to the forest. But I am studying that and reasoning why, if its adults or juveniles all that good stuff :)
Long blog and they'll just keep getting longer :)
ALSO, sunsets amazing, stars amazing I already said it but still. Just tested the camera and it CAN take the stars in the sky.....about to fiddle around with it when the generator shuts off in about 55 min (currently 8:04) To those trying to call me (aka, mom and dad) I have ZERO signal here, and my phone AND computer both died between last night and the end of the first hike. I can't charge until between 6-9 pm no joke....there's no power. Anyway, I'll start calling now that everything is powered on :)
Lessons learned:
#1:Wear flip flops when walking in the bathroom and shower......there's like soap residue and grossness .....it's just hygenic just do it.
#2: If you have things like powdered gatorade such as I, make sure to create the concoction in the bathroom. Easier cleanup of the sugary goodness.........like it's an extra step...do you WANT bugs in your room?! .....More than there are usually.
#3: Best signs for monkeys in the forest are of course something shaking branches (monkeys leaping between trees), branches breaking (capuchins break branches to eat the inside.....everything here is mainly just focused around bugs ok!), and even leaves falling. Also, don't get discouraged when you follow the sound of fruit dropping and you only find a green parrot...those are cool and they deserve some "ooo"ing and "aaa" ing too.
#4: Be able to distinguish monkey calls.....some sound similar to birds.....I'm talking to you tamarins
-_-" Did hear some chirping back and forth asserting where their territories are, but their palm sized and I have the vision of a 90 year old.
Rules broken: ...YES THERE ARE MORE OF THESE
#1: Don't go in the forest alone when you haven't been exactly.....completely.......not even trained at all :D Hey I brought my whistle, pocket knife and compass...and I had a map! eventually you hit trail markers, and I'm not dumb enough to venture off trail....I'm too dumb to use a compass xD
#2: Don't go into the forest without telling anyone even if you sign out.......permission required.......Okay just quit your face palming would ya....go enjoy your AC, and comfy sofas.....and ceilings......
Anywho I do apologize for a lack of photos but the internet is so horrible! :( Until tomorrow :)
Ren
OK!!! First and foremost.........pictures meant for yesterday anyone? Sorry :( The internet is soooo slow here cause people are doing things they aren't supposed to like trying to watch videos which eat away at it and make it slow for everyone :/ But as long as I'm able to post :D
I have been taking photos of the food they have here, in hopes to add them in my day to day blogs......but under the circumstances :(
FIRST THINGS FIRST.....it was free day today lol xD Also people complain WAY too much here it's incredibly annoying.....it's as if people assume it's a vacation -_-"
So....woken up at 5:40 am by the kitchen staff and birds, but willingly, I also couldn't go back to sleep so meh :)
For breakfast they had "fried dough" essentially a pancake...two of them :) With your choice of strawberry jam or honey or both :D it was goood but way too light for the hikes xD they also had these sweet orange crackers haha
I decided to go in a hike with Linda who wanted to search for squirrel monkeys, no luck :/
HOWEVER, I spotted a Titi monkey.....essentially a black furball with a black face and long tail xD It was jumping through the trees so wasn't able to get a photo of that one....too much of the canopy in the way as well.
The rest of the time it was just a simple hike, incredibly surreal, you occasionally forget you're in the rainforest...except for the occasional Buttress trees. The hike lasted maybe 3 hours, also I hit 10k steps before noon xD About 5 miles at 12:30 so yay...but yeah surreal except for the guy who had an asthma attack! Halfway through the hike someone comes running through, clearly exhausted from said running, and asked us to take the inhaler further down the path. Apparently, Joe (who was in that group I took the boat with) had an asthma attack from the humidity. :/ He's okay now don't worry :)
Which by the way, they are my absolute favorite trees! Adaptive evolution at it's finest! If you cut the floor of the rainforest straight down so you could see a side view of the roots you would see every different length imaginable. It's not incredibly rich in moisture, as you'd think it would be, and so no species of plant has the exact same length of root so that they can get the optimum moisture from that level......then you have the buttress tree. A tree that can grow to enormous heights and where are it's roots? ABOVE GROUND! The trunk spiders out with these tall thin roots sitting at the top of the forest floor, it's pretty cool :)
Anyway, when we got back I began to catch-up on all the reading I have been missing. Which, I have to say, I kinda wanted to laugh when one of the students told me to "skim it cause it'd take like 20 minutes to get through it all" ....... really? The process still stands here.....read, highlight, type out notes.
Anywho, I then went on another hike with Linda which was shorter cause I left to catch lunch, ya only get an hour people and you need all the sustenance you can get here! Plus I ran out of water xD
We did see a brown capuchin monkey...and by see I mean we heard branch snaps and decided to travel offtrail to find the source. Don't worry most groups chase monkeys deep into the forest....hehe wait til I get started on my research xD One girl had her boots warmed with ants O.o ANYWAY, back on track, we started hearing the calls they make and boom there he was climbing up a tree and sitting right there glaring at us. We moved closer and he even started to give out warning calls. I say he, only based off of the behavior, I in no way know if it was male or female. Unfortunately, you really can't aside from body size and seeing the physical genitalia. But anyway he stared at us started grooming, scratched under his leg like a lazy man watching football or something while the other members of the group jumped through the trees behind us. Then as quickly as he showed up, he left. Yes, I have a photo
Anywho again, lunch was a starter of like potatos (dry, but still inhaled it) with like eggs? and ketchup????? It was good at least. Main course was rice, beans with some type of meat (how's that for encouraging), and a bit of lettuce. Great with this Aki...ahi? I dunno but it's this pepper and onion mix that sits in vinegar yummy and spicy!
Also was told by Linda that "you didn't have spam growing up?! You must've had a good childhood" .......Not sure how to take that O.o But I mean yeah I did, I guess. Makes me feel like I was extremely affluent or something haha
Anyway, more reading blah blah I then decide to go on my own hike...yes alone. Trying to cut off that capuchin where they were headed......but I got lost between the trails xD I had a map so it's not like total lost but I went down instead of up :/ And just as I was like "awwww but I wanted to see a monkey" Plop....A Titi monkey flies out of the forest and lands on a fallen tree in front of me.
I must've been pretty entertaining to watch. I was creeping so quietly, and anytime it looked at me I'd freeze........you know like when you try to sneak up on a cat lol Yeah doesn't work then and doesn't work with monkeys either xD I got within 20 feet or so, huge approximation, but I could see it clearly camera not so much -_- but it then climbed up into a neighboring tree and hid behind leaves occasionally poking its head out to glare at me. To which I waved that white flag and let it be :)
Just finished dinner, which started with like chicken noodle soup but add like something in it like quinoa or something (Peruvians tend to have soup every dinner) and the main corse was chicken on the bone (just a leg) with mushrooms and this great sauce...dunno what it was but it looked like "orange chicken" sauce :D Did you know thats a color!? It is now. But yes....I don't eat bugs here...that's strictly voluntary ;) The food is great and well portioned, and the family will be happy to know I have yet to come to any harm.
Seriously though, so many people have complained about it taking DAYS to get adjusted....I dunno if it's a bad thing or good thing but I was adjusted like my first night. After I had cooled off from the stairs and such like it's like being at Lake Mooma (yeah spelled wrong I know) It's like frikkin' camping I swear! Which you all know I love....so I think it's pretty safe to say I found my niche haha. I guess we'll find out when I chasing capuchins through the forest.
Ah, and for those that don't know I am studying how capuchins travel through the forest (i.e. the different levels of the forest.....canopy.....mid.....underbush) those are simplified terms haha there's generally five layers to the forest. But I am studying that and reasoning why, if its adults or juveniles all that good stuff :)
Long blog and they'll just keep getting longer :)
ALSO, sunsets amazing, stars amazing I already said it but still. Just tested the camera and it CAN take the stars in the sky.....about to fiddle around with it when the generator shuts off in about 55 min (currently 8:04) To those trying to call me (aka, mom and dad) I have ZERO signal here, and my phone AND computer both died between last night and the end of the first hike. I can't charge until between 6-9 pm no joke....there's no power. Anyway, I'll start calling now that everything is powered on :)
Lessons learned:
#1:Wear flip flops when walking in the bathroom and shower......there's like soap residue and grossness .....it's just hygenic just do it.
#2: If you have things like powdered gatorade such as I, make sure to create the concoction in the bathroom. Easier cleanup of the sugary goodness.........like it's an extra step...do you WANT bugs in your room?! .....More than there are usually.
#3: Best signs for monkeys in the forest are of course something shaking branches (monkeys leaping between trees), branches breaking (capuchins break branches to eat the inside.....everything here is mainly just focused around bugs ok!), and even leaves falling. Also, don't get discouraged when you follow the sound of fruit dropping and you only find a green parrot...those are cool and they deserve some "ooo"ing and "aaa" ing too.
#4: Be able to distinguish monkey calls.....some sound similar to birds.....I'm talking to you tamarins
-_-" Did hear some chirping back and forth asserting where their territories are, but their palm sized and I have the vision of a 90 year old.
Rules broken: ...YES THERE ARE MORE OF THESE
#1: Don't go in the forest alone when you haven't been exactly.....completely.......not even trained at all :D Hey I brought my whistle, pocket knife and compass...and I had a map! eventually you hit trail markers, and I'm not dumb enough to venture off trail....I'm too dumb to use a compass xD
#2: Don't go into the forest without telling anyone even if you sign out.......permission required.......Okay just quit your face palming would ya....go enjoy your AC, and comfy sofas.....and ceilings......
Anywho I do apologize for a lack of photos but the internet is so horrible! :( Until tomorrow :)
Ren
Sunday, June 22, 2014
Day #1 :)
Officially my first ish day here! Heads up there won't be any pictures....explained later.
Start off simple and fast: Left the hostel around 8, left the dock around 10:15, arrived around 2:30 Quick easy no problems.
Sling my backpack on which was way too heavy, crawl to the end of the boat when the backpack slips. Note to self: Listen to the voice that says grab the @#$%ing boat, and not attempt it at the last second.
So yeah, I fell in the water, shallow water but yes. Bakcpack (containing laptop) and my camera case....not to mention both phones *kerplunk*
Luckily dad's backpack and the camera case are relatively waterproof, and I wasn't in that long either......like dropping a cat into a tub. Well if that wasn't bad enough, on the way up the back I sink thigh deep into mud.....river mud......yay
Then I climb up and tumble down the hill......weeeeeee -_-"
After all that, laptop works perfect as you can see, camera has a bit of moisture in the lens (could be due to humidity) and is currently on a personal day in a dry bag with it's buddy "silica beads" :) The phones work too, my actual phone spazzed out a bit but now it's honkey dory!
SO!.............I had to lug my duffel up 450 steep steps :D ....................................that face is a sarcastic face....it wasn't fun.
I'm going to get real, by the top I was so winded, and bladder so full, that the force needed to lift that duffel around my shoulder was like listening to one of Minoo's stories............I think you catch my drift and for those who don't.....don't worry about it.
I also abandoned the backpack after 10 steps to realize 40 pounds off my back, which allowed me to sling the duffel and lean it on my back :) Power lifting......dead afterwards but yeah the guys were impressed -shrug- lol
I will say I lost my water bottle for a time, most likely when I abandoned the backpack it fell out. When I went back for the pack I noticed it and ran up and down trying to find it.........it was alot of effort!.........especially since someone else grabbed it -_- bah, but its sitting muddy in my sink in tact :D
ANYWAY!
Needless to say, at the end of the stairs adventure I took my smelly, sweaty, muddy, butt into a cold shower and oh it felt GOOOOOOD
Unpacked , got changed and rested outside with everyone. They were playing soccer :) LUCKILY, I haven't missed much these days that I've missed so I'm right on track. Tomorrow is a free day so I will be caught up on everything :)
Dinner was good, they ring a bell when it's ready. They gave us a little bowl of chicken noodle soup and then squash curry. It was yuuuuummy :D
Breakfast is 6-7 am, lunch 12-1 pm, dinner 6:30-7:30 always starting with the ringing of the bell :)
Also.....best sunsets ever off the cliff, and if the sky is clear you can even see the Andes in the distance.
My favorite part would be right now and just looking up. I've never seen a more lit sky and it's amazing. Also, Taurus is right above me :D The beauties of being "winter" here haha you guys are summer so you have the big dipper ;)
All in all it's great, my group was excited to see me, currently I'm in my own room but I'll be bunking with the other girls tomorrow. They even saved me a bed.......although it's the top bunk so I'm closer to bugs -_- *shrug*
Anyway, that's all thats happened. I'll try and do pictures tomorrow. Morning hike, time to hunt some monkeys :D But not really hunt cause that's rude :/
Lessons learned:
#1 Generator shuts off at 9 pm sharp......so good luck with that.
#2: You can only charge devices in the dining hall or the laboratory......first come first serve
#3: Best time to use internet is at dinner time, no one else is using it. Also sit on the left most bench, left side....closest to the router :D
Rules broken:
yeah yeah, did you really think I'd go a day without breaking one? Didn't get in trouble, it's all at your own risk. But I ran around with just socks :D FYI No. 1 rule: WEAR SHOES! ;)
Til tomorrow,
REN
Start off simple and fast: Left the hostel around 8, left the dock around 10:15, arrived around 2:30 Quick easy no problems.
Sling my backpack on which was way too heavy, crawl to the end of the boat when the backpack slips. Note to self: Listen to the voice that says grab the @#$%ing boat, and not attempt it at the last second.
So yeah, I fell in the water, shallow water but yes. Bakcpack (containing laptop) and my camera case....not to mention both phones *kerplunk*
Luckily dad's backpack and the camera case are relatively waterproof, and I wasn't in that long either......like dropping a cat into a tub. Well if that wasn't bad enough, on the way up the back I sink thigh deep into mud.....river mud......yay
Then I climb up and tumble down the hill......weeeeeee -_-"
After all that, laptop works perfect as you can see, camera has a bit of moisture in the lens (could be due to humidity) and is currently on a personal day in a dry bag with it's buddy "silica beads" :) The phones work too, my actual phone spazzed out a bit but now it's honkey dory!
SO!.............I had to lug my duffel up 450 steep steps :D ....................................that face is a sarcastic face....it wasn't fun.
I'm going to get real, by the top I was so winded, and bladder so full, that the force needed to lift that duffel around my shoulder was like listening to one of Minoo's stories............I think you catch my drift and for those who don't.....don't worry about it.
I also abandoned the backpack after 10 steps to realize 40 pounds off my back, which allowed me to sling the duffel and lean it on my back :) Power lifting......dead afterwards but yeah the guys were impressed -shrug- lol
I will say I lost my water bottle for a time, most likely when I abandoned the backpack it fell out. When I went back for the pack I noticed it and ran up and down trying to find it.........it was alot of effort!.........especially since someone else grabbed it -_- bah, but its sitting muddy in my sink in tact :D
ANYWAY!
Needless to say, at the end of the stairs adventure I took my smelly, sweaty, muddy, butt into a cold shower and oh it felt GOOOOOOD
Unpacked , got changed and rested outside with everyone. They were playing soccer :) LUCKILY, I haven't missed much these days that I've missed so I'm right on track. Tomorrow is a free day so I will be caught up on everything :)
Dinner was good, they ring a bell when it's ready. They gave us a little bowl of chicken noodle soup and then squash curry. It was yuuuuummy :D
Breakfast is 6-7 am, lunch 12-1 pm, dinner 6:30-7:30 always starting with the ringing of the bell :)
Also.....best sunsets ever off the cliff, and if the sky is clear you can even see the Andes in the distance.
My favorite part would be right now and just looking up. I've never seen a more lit sky and it's amazing. Also, Taurus is right above me :D The beauties of being "winter" here haha you guys are summer so you have the big dipper ;)
All in all it's great, my group was excited to see me, currently I'm in my own room but I'll be bunking with the other girls tomorrow. They even saved me a bed.......although it's the top bunk so I'm closer to bugs -_- *shrug*
Anyway, that's all thats happened. I'll try and do pictures tomorrow. Morning hike, time to hunt some monkeys :D But not really hunt cause that's rude :/
Lessons learned:
#1 Generator shuts off at 9 pm sharp......so good luck with that.
#2: You can only charge devices in the dining hall or the laboratory......first come first serve
#3: Best time to use internet is at dinner time, no one else is using it. Also sit on the left most bench, left side....closest to the router :D
Rules broken:
yeah yeah, did you really think I'd go a day without breaking one? Didn't get in trouble, it's all at your own risk. But I ran around with just socks :D FYI No. 1 rule: WEAR SHOES! ;)
Til tomorrow,
REN
Saturday, June 21, 2014
Last night in Puerto
Spent a lot of time wandering around with the other US interns that were going to the CICRA station. Lunch was just lunch, nothing exciting, nothing really all that good just bland generic empanadas
-shrug-
Later departed to go to the super market to buy snacks for the boat ride and the stay at the site, but unfortunately it was closed.
-shrug-
Later departed to go to the super market to buy snacks for the boat ride and the stay at the site, but unfortunately it was closed.
We then decided to go and wander the market, which was filled with mangy dogs, rotting fruit and plenty of flies.......also chickens
Nothing truly exciting or noteworthy happened today. Just wandering through the market, and city for the better part of the day. There was some sort of "parade" at night that we witness/ran away from in order to not get trapped unable to cross any streets.
We ended up going to the restaurant right across from the hostel covered in jungle flora. We were all quite shocked to find so many white people in there.....is that a horrible thing to say? It was a sit down dinner place, but very simple. They brought your food out on your own personal mini grill :) No wildlife spotted as off yet, that will be tomorrow. Updates and such may be alot slower due to lack of good internet connection there, but we will see
Now for the fun part......Lessons Learned:
#1: Construction will start at the crack of dawn.......that means rocks dropped on your sheet metal roof......prepare for adrenaline rush......that pain will go away after about a minute
#2: On a similar note, don't mind the weird sounds at night from the roof......those are the stray cats walking around
As I said very uneventful which means not many lessons. The following were learned during dinner conversation regarding preparation for CICRA station.
#1: TUCK YOUR DAMN MOSQUITO NET UNDER YOUR SHEETS...................wandering spiders..........look 'em up.....*Viewer discretion is advised*
#2: Similar note, just make the extra effort to throw shoes back in suitcase when they aren't being worn.....which means at night....Otherwise, plastic wrap them, duck tape the, insert one end of the boot into the other, put books on them whatever it takes..................wandering spiders..........I'm not frikkin' kidding just do it.
For those that don't know, wandering spiders are well huge..........and I don't mean Yassi's over-exaggeration of huge......again google it......bites from these are not only painful, but potentially lethal depending. It's mainly a wait and watch type of scenario
#3: Certain trees have special symbiotic relationships with ants (symbiotic = mutualistic. Both benefit each other) The tree protects the ants.........you touch the frikkin' tree the ants explode from the bark to protect that spot.........dont.......touch.....the frikkin' tree..... Or do what I'll do and throw a rock at it from a far safe distance.
#4: Be wary of Army Ants. Usually traveling in highways they can be avoided....however if they decide to take over an area......don't care how big you are compared to them.....get the @%#$ out of there.
#5: If you see a sloth......do not pet it.....do not touch it.....do not go within arms reach......It will bite you with its incredibly bizarre carnivorous teeth......who frikkin' knew. Known about two-toed sloth, but use as a generalization for the three-toed sloths as well.
#6: Although you probably won't notice them......Jaguars may follow you. If you happen to notice them do not run.....for you will be acting like prey...............that's not a good thing......Jaguars are used to people at this point and are essentially curious cats. Again, unless you see a jaguar cub....don't scream and run away or do anything spastic for that matter.
#7: Butcher ants.......one inch long gross ass#^$% that travel alone but will bite you causing tremendous pain.
#8: Trees have spines....those spines will cause intense nausea attacks............just don't touch them.
In fact don't touch anything. 99% of the biodiversity in the amazon wants to kill you so like.........don't let it
The boat leaves tomorrow around 9-ish and it will be another 5 or so hours until we arrive at the station. There have been little to no instances of bites from wild animals (most wild animals aren't rabid FYI) or anything incredibly dangerous happening.
But let's face it, this is me we're talking about, I like to touch things :)
Arrival in Puerto Maldonado
I have attached some pictures :)
They include the hostel I'm staying at and a bit of the town I am currently in :) My boat doesn't leave until Sunday now so there won't be any jungle pictures until then :( However as you can see by the "forest" outside my hostel door, I'm not far :)
It's a crazy experience and a complete 180 to life back home, but I'm loving experiencing a different culture and lifestyle. Also everyone is extra nice :D
Lessons I've learned on Day 2:
#1: Do not leave out protein bar wrappers out after eating them.....if you leave them they will come........bugs...the bugs will come
#2: Inspect mosquito net BEFORE pulling it down.......bugs
#3: Always tuck in mosquito net under mattress
#4: Eyeglasses don't block deet....be wary of aim.....stinging lasts few seconds -shrug-
#5: Resist urge to hunt for that stray cat meowing on the other side of the street lol
Until Sunday ^_^
They include the hostel I'm staying at and a bit of the town I am currently in :) My boat doesn't leave until Sunday now so there won't be any jungle pictures until then :( However as you can see by the "forest" outside my hostel door, I'm not far :)
It's a crazy experience and a complete 180 to life back home, but I'm loving experiencing a different culture and lifestyle. Also everyone is extra nice :D
Lessons I've learned on Day 2:
#1: Do not leave out protein bar wrappers out after eating them.....if you leave them they will come........bugs...the bugs will come
#2: Inspect mosquito net BEFORE pulling it down.......bugs
#3: Always tuck in mosquito net under mattress
#4: Eyeglasses don't block deet....be wary of aim.....stinging lasts few seconds -shrug-
#5: Resist urge to hunt for that stray cat meowing on the other side of the street lol
Until Sunday ^_^
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