Guess What?

So we´re back in the city after the wonders of the cloud forests. Here are some pics of the creatures we saw at Los Cedros.

Unfortunately we didn´t see any monkeys, but maybe that´s a good thing after my experience in Cambodia(!) We did hear all 3 species (howlers, capuchins and the brown headed spider monkeys) but they are elusive little buggers. We did see some stunning wildlife though; snakes, birds and butterflies all the colours of the rainbow, insects as big birds and listening to the birdsong each morning was a beautiful way to wake up, even Bec was in a good mood despite the 5:30am natural alarm calls. By this week I could identify toucans by the calls, we loved the night bird that sounded like a dripping tap with a whistle at the end and the frog that asked "hoo, r yoo?" most of the night.

Despite the remoteness (it´s mentioned just a few times in these 3 posts) we had all the creature comforts we needed, even though everything can only be brought up by hand or on mules.

The pics are of a toucan, sleeping Mancunian, a transparent butterfly, a 5ft constrictor that Bec nearly trod on, and a suspected tarantula. Turns out it wasn´t despite the body being as big as the palm of my hand.

(Un)fortunately we didn´t come across any pumas or bears either, maybe it´s ´cos I never wore my scruffy red riding hood outfit. When Bec encountered the snake I´d already walked past it totally oblivious and then she shouted me back. Both the snake and her were scared stiff and neither would move a muscle for about 5 mins until I convinced Bec to calmly walk towards me.

So, when we did the treks looking for the monkeys Bec and I always did them together. One day, we went out with Sarah the other volunteer and Ray the guy who is co-ordinating the research at the reserve and all 4 of us were to do a "transect" each. Transects are treks that go straight through the forest rather than meandering the so called easier paths. The 4 of us were to start at the same time and then meet at the bottom of the first transect. Easy.

Guess what? If I told you that one of us got completely lost on only a 200 metre stretch, I´m sure you´d all think it was me. Well, unbelievably it wasn´t and I did my tarzan impression and when Bec (who´d had the shortest route) didn´t appear after 40 mins I went off and found her wandering in almost the opposite direction. Macho pride was restored after the Hong Kong psychometric test!