A total of tour of us made our way to these Caribbean islands in Panama. Maria from Ireland, Mark from Ohio and Tyler from Seattle. When we got there it was raining.
* Trek to the beach. I hour through the mountain on muddy make shift paths in flip flops. There were some places where I had to go barefoot because I was sliding downhill because it was so muddy. I slid downhill anyways barefoot. I was worth it when we arrived. Powdery yellow sand and warm water.
* Tour around the island. $15 USD for a guy to take us to see dolphins, go snorkeling around a coral reef and to see red frogs on Red Frog Beach. Dolphin chasing consisted of 5-6 other boats in one area racing to spots where there was commotion in the water. We saw about 6 or so. Snorkeling was in semi-muddy water but we got to see a barracuda shark and a number of multicoloured fish. Red Frog beach was not full of red frogs. In fact, there were about 3. But we did get to see them. They’re red and the size of a dime.
Showing posts with label Panama. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Panama. Show all posts
Friday, February 17, 2006
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Bastimentos, Panama. Carribean island beaches
I got here 2 days ago and so far have not done much but acquire a really good sunburn lying on soft powdery sand.
Actually, it's rained for everyday I've been here except for one morning. Getting to the beach takes about an hour through a rough, muddy trail. But it's NICE when you get there.
Tomorrow I'm heading to Costa Rica if its raining. If not, I'll hike to another beach and soak some sun for one more day.
Actually, it's rained for everyday I've been here except for one morning. Getting to the beach takes about an hour through a rough, muddy trail. But it's NICE when you get there.
Tomorrow I'm heading to Costa Rica if its raining. If not, I'll hike to another beach and soak some sun for one more day.
Monday, February 13, 2006
David, Panama
Nothing to do here but to book something t do somewhere else. Hot like Hades. I went to Boquete for a day, a mountain town 40 k’s east. Not as picturesque as I expected. Cold too. I did manage to get a good cup of coffee and a picture.
That evening, I went out to play pool with some of the people from the hostel.
One kid from Bellingham polished off half a bottle of rum and at least 3 beers at the hostel. He would be talking and would doze off in his seat mid sentence. I think he had another 5 beers at the pool hall. Can’t friggin’ believe he actually won 2 games. Credit has to go to his pool partners.
That evening, I went out to play pool with some of the people from the hostel.
One kid from Bellingham polished off half a bottle of rum and at least 3 beers at the hostel. He would be talking and would doze off in his seat mid sentence. I think he had another 5 beers at the pool hall. Can’t friggin’ believe he actually won 2 games. Credit has to go to his pool partners.
Sunday, February 12, 2006
In David, Panama
I'm in a city called David in Panama. Tomorrow I will be heading to some volcanic mountains and thermal hotsprings. In a few more days, I'll be off to the Carribean. Maybe I'll be in Costa Rica for Carnival!!!!!!!!!!!
Saturday, February 11, 2006
Bus hopping to David, Panama
El Valle to Panamericana Highway – 1 hour
Wait for next bus to come by so that I could flag it down – 30 mins
Hwy to Aguadulce – 2 hours
In Aguadulce waiting for bus to David – 30 mins
Aguadulce to David – 6 hours
Total traveling time = 10 hours
Wait for next bus to come by so that I could flag it down – 30 mins
Hwy to Aguadulce – 2 hours
In Aguadulce waiting for bus to David – 30 mins
Aguadulce to David – 6 hours
Total traveling time = 10 hours
El Valle, Panama (more added)
I caught an early bus and got here before noon. I laid down in my hotel room for 2 seconds and woke up 3 hours later. By the time I got to the hot springs I wanted to soak in, it was closed. I spent the remainder of the evening meandering around the artisan markets, not really finding anything I wanted to lug around. There are waterfalls too that I wanted to see. So I need to wake up early and do all this before check-out time at noon. Oh, and another one of the guys that work here wanted to meet me for drinks and "conversation". Good thing this hotel is well populated. (I said no, of course.)
Day 2
First thing in the morning, I got to the hot springs and there were only 4 other people there, which was great because we didn't have to wait long for anything. For a buck, I got to smother mud all over myself and soak in some warm oxygen and iron rich water. There were 2 types of mud. One for arthritis and other physical ailments (I slapped a handful all over my bad knee); and the other one was for skin improvement. I don't know if the ailment mud worked but my face sure feels nice. I have no idea what the water soak did but I went away feeling refreshed. Could have been because the whole area was outdoors and we were surrounded by palm trees, flowers of purple and pink, fern and other greenery, and birds chirping away in the background. A nice added touch.
I also went to the waterfalls, which were highly disappointing. For $2 USD. So I got to walk 10 mins to the falls. And that was it. I've seen better, more impressive falls in the Vancouver area for free. And with a LOT less tourists.
Day 2
First thing in the morning, I got to the hot springs and there were only 4 other people there, which was great because we didn't have to wait long for anything. For a buck, I got to smother mud all over myself and soak in some warm oxygen and iron rich water. There were 2 types of mud. One for arthritis and other physical ailments (I slapped a handful all over my bad knee); and the other one was for skin improvement. I don't know if the ailment mud worked but my face sure feels nice. I have no idea what the water soak did but I went away feeling refreshed. Could have been because the whole area was outdoors and we were surrounded by palm trees, flowers of purple and pink, fern and other greenery, and birds chirping away in the background. A nice added touch.
I also went to the waterfalls, which were highly disappointing. For $2 USD. So I got to walk 10 mins to the falls. And that was it. I've seen better, more impressive falls in the Vancouver area for free. And with a LOT less tourists.
Friday, February 10, 2006
Panama City, Panama
The flight left at 8am. I was up at 4:30am. Not the greatest state to begin when I needed to understand Spanish. So, the long and short of the morning was that, in the airport bookstore, I FOUND THE GUIDE! There is a God.
I spent about an hour in the airport after I arrived in Panama waiting for them to find my box of stuff to send and trying to find a courier in the airport to send it. No luck sending it from the airport. I ended up finding the local post office after I'd checked in at the hostel. $36 USD for 5 kilos in 2 weeks. Better than Fed-Ex for more than $100 USD. I also found an authentic Chinese noodle house in the area. Yum.
That afternoon, I walked along the main shopping district where tops start at $1 USD each. Nice stuff but can't be bothered to lug it.
The next day, I went hunting for a digital camera. Found a Samsung A502, whatever that means, for about $200 USD. Same price as it would have been at home and I haven't found anything cheaper in my travels.
Day 3. I finally go and see the canal. One of my roomates, Jennifer, and I took a taxi to the Miraflores locks, where the boats go through. We had negotiated $2 USD with the the cab driver, but when we arrived, he said $10. What pissed me off most is that he had indicated with his finger before we got in, $2 dollars. We ended up just giving him another buck each.
Right pissed, we headed up the stairs to the entrance. They wanted $8 each. No way. We walked back to the highway to take a bus to another area to take a look at the canal.
After waiting for about 30 mins in the 30+ degree heat, we ended up hitching a ride to the opposite side of the locks and saw everything for free. Well, I spent $0.35 on a popsicle. And then another $0.35 on the bus ride back to town.
That evening a bunch of us went for dinner in an older part of town. There's a boardwalk where you can see the skyline of Panama city. While we were having dinner, in the nearby park, people were on a stage having a dress rehearsal, performing classic songs from Latin America, live. What a way to enjoy dinner.
I spent about an hour in the airport after I arrived in Panama waiting for them to find my box of stuff to send and trying to find a courier in the airport to send it. No luck sending it from the airport. I ended up finding the local post office after I'd checked in at the hostel. $36 USD for 5 kilos in 2 weeks. Better than Fed-Ex for more than $100 USD. I also found an authentic Chinese noodle house in the area. Yum.
That afternoon, I walked along the main shopping district where tops start at $1 USD each. Nice stuff but can't be bothered to lug it.
The next day, I went hunting for a digital camera. Found a Samsung A502, whatever that means, for about $200 USD. Same price as it would have been at home and I haven't found anything cheaper in my travels.
Day 3. I finally go and see the canal. One of my roomates, Jennifer, and I took a taxi to the Miraflores locks, where the boats go through. We had negotiated $2 USD with the the cab driver, but when we arrived, he said $10. What pissed me off most is that he had indicated with his finger before we got in, $2 dollars. We ended up just giving him another buck each.
Right pissed, we headed up the stairs to the entrance. They wanted $8 each. No way. We walked back to the highway to take a bus to another area to take a look at the canal.
After waiting for about 30 mins in the 30+ degree heat, we ended up hitching a ride to the opposite side of the locks and saw everything for free. Well, I spent $0.35 on a popsicle. And then another $0.35 on the bus ride back to town.
That evening a bunch of us went for dinner in an older part of town. There's a boardwalk where you can see the skyline of Panama city. While we were having dinner, in the nearby park, people were on a stage having a dress rehearsal, performing classic songs from Latin America, live. What a way to enjoy dinner.
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