Today started much earlier than most Christmases I remember. Only one other time was I up before 5am to see what Santa brought and I was 6. This morning found us at breakfast at 6am so we could catch the “taxi” to go across the “street.” In other words, we needed to take the canoe across the river in order to board the double-decker bus for bird watching. I wish I could say this was a highlight of the trip but unfortunately, I haven’t acquired the finer taste and patience to look for birds. I will say, however, that I was very impressed with Avel’s ability to see birds everywhere and name all of them without missing a beat. The binocular viewing ended when we reached the opening in the forest to go on another jungle hike. This time we found a tarantula and several very cool birds (that I did see) and Avel taught us how to survive in the jungle. We learned the proper way to make a shelter out of palm branches, which could convert into camouflage when hunting. He also wove a basket for my dad out of 2 small pieces of a palm branch. My dad now has a new water-bottle carrier, very handy and eco-friendly.
Lunch brought all 11 tourists together for a typical jungle meal cooking lesson. We prepared tilapia, cassava, yucca soup, and fired plantains. All this followed a most ridiculously insane part of the meal; grubs. The line from Lion King plays through my head even now, “Slimy yet satisfying.” And so they were. Yes, you guessed it. I was one of two lucky volunteers to take one for the team and eat a LIVE grub, it’s body pulsating in my finger until I chomped on its head and chewed the rest of the slimy and tasteless creature to more swallow-able size. Don’t worry- it’s on film. Following that, which includes lots of squealing and dancing about, everyone tried the grubs, cooked this time with salt. Funny though it sounds, Lion King came back to me with the line, “Are you achin’ for some bacon?” These cooked specimens tasted like bacon and most people rather enjoyed them. The final entrees were fab and again we went to our rooms for a well-deserved nap.
I woke up so excited for the next expedition: tubing down the river. While it’s similar to any tubing experience, the relaxing movement of the steady current felt good on my weary body (Somehow my lungs are expanding so much in the altitude that it’s causing muscle pain in my chest, or that’s what I’m saying at least.) Daniel and I swam a bit more before heading to the showers and then a night walk. Avel led us through the ridiculously dark forest to find a “friendly” scorpion that he insisted I put on my face. Man, I’m a sucker. No harm done though I was a bit startled when he started crawling down my hair. With his nocturnal eyes, Avel saw owl monkeys playing way up in the trees and pointed them out to us with his powerful flashlight. (PS- Another mag flashlight is on my Christmas list next year. Seems that Daniel has claimed mine.)
They served us a special Christmas dinner compete with Sangria, chicken and rice. Oh the familiar. A package of twinkle lights arrived just in time, so the staff put together a tree out of palm branches and birds of paradise for ornaments. It was a lovely evening with chocolate cake to send us to bed. Tomorrow is the after Christmas sale at the local market. We’ll see what kind of deals we can spring. Anyone need a bag of cacao seeds?
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