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Published: March 14th 2007
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Entrance to El Yunque National Park
These two ladies we met on our tour. Kofi and Lindsay, from the US. Great people that made the day even more worthwhile. blogger Dougo A sensational day that enters into the Top 5 of Trip Experiences!
Today we were picked up early (9:30am is early for us!) and went on a tour of the El Yunque Rainforest and finished with one of the most amozing things ever.
Raphael was our guide, a local Peurto Rican who always had a story to tell and a piece of advice about life to give. We picked up 8 others before we headed up to the rainforest. All American. All girls. This didnt really bother me that much being an elementary teacher and and having gone through uni with only a half dozen blokes out of a hundred. The first two were from Boston, Lindsay and Kofi, a great pair who made the day all the more enjoyable.
We headed up to El Yunque, the only rainforest in the 'US' forestry system. Puerto Rico is really the 51st state - Homeland Security welcomes you to the United States at the Airport. Much to my surprise, this was the first rainforest any of the AMericans had ever experienced. Strange for us AUssies and anyone who has been to Asia. We stopped at
Waterfall Massage
Doug totally engrossed in the natural massage of the waterfall. a few waterfalls and took a dip. We 'hiked' through the rainforest and saw some amazing plant life. No animals except birds and geckos though - the Spanish killed them all.
The trip to the forest finished with a swing from a rope into a water hole. This section was made all the more memorable for me walking knee deep into the water with my camera in the pocket of my boardies. Does travel insurance cover that? Hmm, subsequently there will be fewer phoots as Bec's monster is not exactly a point and shoot job like my little Canon was.
After being dropped off at the beach for an hour whilst Raph took half the group back to San Juan, we drove to the North of the island for a night time kyak.
Prior to Christmas, my Dad went kyaking in Victoria and reported seeing a strange glow in the water when he broke the surface. We thought it might have been an algae or a chemical in the water. Now I know what it was.
Paddlingout to meet up with our group, Bec and I realised that it was indeed the bastard boat's fault in
Magical Bird of Paradise
This amazing flower was jutting out across the walking trail on the way into the rainforest. Belize, we controlled the kyak with ease. We all made our way up a narrow canal heading to a lagoon. It was exhillerating, relying on simply your eyes to help navigate the narrow and often pitch black canal without hitting overhanging trees.
About 20 minutes into the 30 minute trip I thought I noticed the foam of the boats wake shining in the moon light. I soon realised it wasn't as the moon was not full this night. Reaching down into the water, I pulled out my hand to reveal hundreds of tiny fluro green particles dripping back into the water. We had reached the Bio-illuminescent Bay.
We paddled out into the lagoon and rafted up with the group and the guide who begun to explain the amazing phenomena we were witnessing. There are only 5 places in the world where this particular type of plankton consistently behave in this way. Three are in Puerto Rico and this particular lagoon has the highest concentration.
We jumped over the side and we immediately surrounded by a radioactive green glow. I must admit i did begin to act like Radioactive Man for a bit, reciting a few lines from
Just hanging out!
This little fella is one of 6 different types of gecko we saw whilst exploring the rainforest. He just happens to be on a sign post on the side of the road. the Simpsons - "My eyes, the goggles do narthing!!" A totally amazing experience.
After swimming around for 30 minutes or so, we made our way back through the gauntlet of the canal. Thirty kyaks coming at you in the dark is not easy! By the time we got back to the hotel, we had been on tour for 13 hours. We were zonked.
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Kofi
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San Juan with Doug and Bec
Our trip to San Juan was so much better having met the pair from Down Under... thanks for making the day so fabulous. Here's to your continued adventures, your next big gig, and swinging on the next big rope of life! Be well, Kofi