Sep 2007
Sustainable
Friday, September 28, 2007
Trees do a great deal to help the environment. If we
preserve them and allow them to grow, they prevent
erosion, provide a larger animal habitat and produce
more oxygen. It is imperative that we remember the
importance of the trees here in the rain forest. We all
hear about the different medicines and other beneficial
items which are discovered in the world’s rainforests.
The size of our rainforests is continually diminishing. With continued population growth, the spaces on earth covered with trees will continue to decrease. We need to try to keep the reduction in forest size to a minimum. Thus it is important for all of us to vote with our dollars.
Support business and locales which treasure natural resources and do what they can to ensure the natural resources will be around for future generations. This means that we should all do what we can to learn what it takes to support the environment. Does it mean going 100% green or does it mean supporting those businesses who have the longevity to keep going over time? Eco tourism is difficult to define. How eco can you demand a location be when at home you use large amounts of fossil fuels to support your day to day life? Or is it best to learn what is sustainable and what we can do to slow the reduction in the world’s rainforests?
The size of our rainforests is continually diminishing. With continued population growth, the spaces on earth covered with trees will continue to decrease. We need to try to keep the reduction in forest size to a minimum. Thus it is important for all of us to vote with our dollars.
Support business and locales which treasure natural resources and do what they can to ensure the natural resources will be around for future generations. This means that we should all do what we can to learn what it takes to support the environment. Does it mean going 100% green or does it mean supporting those businesses who have the longevity to keep going over time? Eco tourism is difficult to define. How eco can you demand a location be when at home you use large amounts of fossil fuels to support your day to day life? Or is it best to learn what is sustainable and what we can do to slow the reduction in the world’s rainforests?
Embraced by nature
Monday, September 24, 2007
Once you step off the boat onto the dock at almost any
location here in Bocas del Toro Panama, you know you
are being embraced by nature. You almost feel as if you
are receiving a hug from Mother Nature herself. You are
surrounded by plants and trees which make up the rain
forest. You can almost feel the forest breathing. The
insects and animals make room for you to share their
space, but you never forget that you are a visitor here
in the jungle.
The main reason you know you are in a beautiful foreign territory is because you are enveloped into this space where you are so diminutive in size compared to the trees which make up the rain forest canopy. Many of these plants and animals have been around much longer than you or I.
However at no point do you feel that you are intruding or that you are not welcome. You are in fact being embraced. It is as if you are the recipient of a great big hug from a wonderful new friend. A friend who will always be there for you and asks very little in return. It is important that we look out for our new friend as once we have made her acquaintance we are never the same.
The main reason you know you are in a beautiful foreign territory is because you are enveloped into this space where you are so diminutive in size compared to the trees which make up the rain forest canopy. Many of these plants and animals have been around much longer than you or I.
However at no point do you feel that you are intruding or that you are not welcome. You are in fact being embraced. It is as if you are the recipient of a great big hug from a wonderful new friend. A friend who will always be there for you and asks very little in return. It is important that we look out for our new friend as once we have made her acquaintance we are never the same.
Pineapple
Friday, September 21, 2007
Here in Bocas del Toro Panama we have an abundance of
pineapples.
The pineapple is a member of the bromeliad family. It is a short herbaceous perennial with 30 or more trough-shaped and pointed leaves surrounding a thick stem. Its leaves may be all green or striped with red, yellow or off white down the middle of the leaf.
When the fruit blooms, the stem elongates and gets bigger and then blossoms a head of small brightly colored flowers. Each flower is accompanied by a single bract. The stem continues to grow and acquires a “crown” of short stiff leaves at is apex. As individual fruits develop from the flowers, they join together to form a cone shaped, juicy fleshy fruit up to 12 inches or more in height. The stem serves as a fibrous but fairly succulent core. The tough rind made up of hexagonal units may be various shades of green, yellow or reddish when the fruit is ripe. The fruit itself ranges from white to yellow.
The fruit was named pineapple due to is similarity in appearance to pine cones. In Spanish it is referred to as “pina”.
This tropical fruit and plant is native to Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay. Apparently the plant was domesticated by indigenous people and carried up from South America into Central America. Christopher Columbus and his crew saw the pineapple for the first time on the island of Guadeloupe in 1493 and then a second time in Panama in 1502.
The pineapple is a member of the bromeliad family. It is a short herbaceous perennial with 30 or more trough-shaped and pointed leaves surrounding a thick stem. Its leaves may be all green or striped with red, yellow or off white down the middle of the leaf.
When the fruit blooms, the stem elongates and gets bigger and then blossoms a head of small brightly colored flowers. Each flower is accompanied by a single bract. The stem continues to grow and acquires a “crown” of short stiff leaves at is apex. As individual fruits develop from the flowers, they join together to form a cone shaped, juicy fleshy fruit up to 12 inches or more in height. The stem serves as a fibrous but fairly succulent core. The tough rind made up of hexagonal units may be various shades of green, yellow or reddish when the fruit is ripe. The fruit itself ranges from white to yellow.
The fruit was named pineapple due to is similarity in appearance to pine cones. In Spanish it is referred to as “pina”.
This tropical fruit and plant is native to Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay. Apparently the plant was domesticated by indigenous people and carried up from South America into Central America. Christopher Columbus and his crew saw the pineapple for the first time on the island of Guadeloupe in 1493 and then a second time in Panama in 1502.
Eco Adventure Excursion
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Here is a sample itinerary for a Four Night / Five Day
Eco Adventure Extension from either Panama City or
Costa Rica.
Day One:
Arrive Bocas del Toro Panama. Afternoon trip to beach
Unspoiled islands protected by the National Park and home only to a park ranger and a couple of seasonal research scientists studying sea turtles
Day Two:
Snorkeling trip throughout the archipelago to different reef formations
Reef encircles many of the islands with oceanic formations consisting of walls, freshwater caves, tunnels, pinnacles, coral spires and towers, groove and spur, ocean impact reef, sandy ledges and shallow protected patch reef.
Day Three:
Sea kayak trip around various islands
Rock cliffs jut abruptly out of the sea, each having its own unique array of geological formations. Some are undercut by ocean waves on one side with a miniature 30-foot beach and shallow water on the other. Others rise piercingly from the sea and have deeper water on all sides.
Day Four:
All day excursion to indigenous village and isolated beach
A dramatic peninsula covered in dense tropical forest and high peaks descends to the ocean from over 700 feet. A 15-minute walk through the jungle leads you to the longest stretch of white sand beaches in Panama.
Day Five:
Mid day departure from Bocas del Toro Panama.
Day One:
Arrive Bocas del Toro Panama. Afternoon trip to beach
Unspoiled islands protected by the National Park and home only to a park ranger and a couple of seasonal research scientists studying sea turtles
Day Two:
Snorkeling trip throughout the archipelago to different reef formations
Reef encircles many of the islands with oceanic formations consisting of walls, freshwater caves, tunnels, pinnacles, coral spires and towers, groove and spur, ocean impact reef, sandy ledges and shallow protected patch reef.
Day Three:
Sea kayak trip around various islands
Rock cliffs jut abruptly out of the sea, each having its own unique array of geological formations. Some are undercut by ocean waves on one side with a miniature 30-foot beach and shallow water on the other. Others rise piercingly from the sea and have deeper water on all sides.
Day Four:
All day excursion to indigenous village and isolated beach
A dramatic peninsula covered in dense tropical forest and high peaks descends to the ocean from over 700 feet. A 15-minute walk through the jungle leads you to the longest stretch of white sand beaches in Panama.
Day Five:
Mid day departure from Bocas del Toro Panama.
Ocean front property
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Year-round oceanfront access. It can be yours.
What do you want to do with it? Do you want to launch a kayak and head out for a paddle in the calm waters? Or do you want to jump into the bathtub warm Caribbean and snorkel for a while? Perhaps you prefer to while away the afternoon from the dock overlooking the sparkling sea. Maybe if you look up at the right moment you will spot a few dolphins at play in the bay. Or perhaps you might take a boat ride for your guided excursion over to another island for a great hike through the jungle.
Really the choice is yours. You can do as much or as little as you want. It is your vacation and you can do whatever it is you like. You may choose to wake up early and enjoy the sunrise with a cup of delicious Panamanian coffee. Or you may choose to wake up with the sun and begin your day. Then there are those who choose to sleep in and catch up on some much needed sleep. Depending upon the length of your stay and the activities you would like to experience you may begin your day differently each day. You decide.
What do you want to do with it? Do you want to launch a kayak and head out for a paddle in the calm waters? Or do you want to jump into the bathtub warm Caribbean and snorkel for a while? Perhaps you prefer to while away the afternoon from the dock overlooking the sparkling sea. Maybe if you look up at the right moment you will spot a few dolphins at play in the bay. Or perhaps you might take a boat ride for your guided excursion over to another island for a great hike through the jungle.
Really the choice is yours. You can do as much or as little as you want. It is your vacation and you can do whatever it is you like. You may choose to wake up early and enjoy the sunrise with a cup of delicious Panamanian coffee. Or you may choose to wake up with the sun and begin your day. Then there are those who choose to sleep in and catch up on some much needed sleep. Depending upon the length of your stay and the activities you would like to experience you may begin your day differently each day. You decide.
Dirty secret v. Nice Surprise
Saturday, September 08, 2007
What is more important about the place you choose for
your vacation? Its dirty little secret or any nice
surprise you might find? I think it depends upon what
the dirty little secret is and what the surprise might
be.
For instance, is the secret that the airport bathrooms leave a bit to be desired? Because really, how much time do you spend in the regional airport when you arrive and before you return home? The bathrooms at the airport in Bocas del Toro do leave something to be desired. However, how different is that from many of the small airports in Latin America?
What if the surprise is that the food is way better than you ever expected it to be? When you go to a small Caribbean town you generally do not expect to find good food. Here we are fortunate in that we do have good food – really good food.
What if the dirty secret is that Bocas is experiencing a major drought? And then what if nice surprise was that your lodge didn’t get its water supply from the municipal water supply? Unfortunately Bocas is having problem with its water right now. The government is doing what it can to correct the problem in the short term as also determine a plan for a long-term correction. However, most of the lodges on the outer islands are self-sufficient so for anyone selecting any of the small personal accommodations on those islands the water supply isn’t a problem.
For instance, is the secret that the airport bathrooms leave a bit to be desired? Because really, how much time do you spend in the regional airport when you arrive and before you return home? The bathrooms at the airport in Bocas del Toro do leave something to be desired. However, how different is that from many of the small airports in Latin America?
What if the surprise is that the food is way better than you ever expected it to be? When you go to a small Caribbean town you generally do not expect to find good food. Here we are fortunate in that we do have good food – really good food.
What if the dirty secret is that Bocas is experiencing a major drought? And then what if nice surprise was that your lodge didn’t get its water supply from the municipal water supply? Unfortunately Bocas is having problem with its water right now. The government is doing what it can to correct the problem in the short term as also determine a plan for a long-term correction. However, most of the lodges on the outer islands are self-sufficient so for anyone selecting any of the small personal accommodations on those islands the water supply isn’t a problem.
Isla Bastimentos
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
Isla Bastimentos. Yesterday, we had a gentleman stop by
who was writing an article on Isla Bastimentos. I find
it interesting that someone who has never been to Bocas
del Toro before decides to focus on one island within
the archipelago. While we have 68 islands in the
archipelago there are about ten which garner attention.
Bastimentos is one of the ten.
Isla Bastimentos is a rather large island and has several population centers. Bastimentos town anchors the island on one end. Punta Viejo is one peninsula. Macca Bite is another peninsula. Salt Creek is one of the indigenous villages. Bahia Honda is another indigenous village in the interior of the island. There are several areas under development: Red Frog, a few other areas near Bastimentos Town, and Punta Viejo.
Attractions. There are multiple beaches on Isla Bastimentos. Red Frog Beach, Wizard Beach, Playa Larga. Bastimentos National Marine Park takes in about one third of the island and includes several outlying islands and marine areas in the archipelago. There are also caves, a butterfly farm and numerous hiking trails.
Personal lodging options. On Isla Bastimentos there are several places which are small personal lodges. Some have been around for a number of years and others are relatively new. Interestingly, most of them are owner operated which makes them a completely different experience than any other type of accommodation.
So actually, I guess it is easy to understand how someone would decide to focus on Isla Bastimentos. It has so much to offer its guests.
Isla Bastimentos is a rather large island and has several population centers. Bastimentos town anchors the island on one end. Punta Viejo is one peninsula. Macca Bite is another peninsula. Salt Creek is one of the indigenous villages. Bahia Honda is another indigenous village in the interior of the island. There are several areas under development: Red Frog, a few other areas near Bastimentos Town, and Punta Viejo.
Attractions. There are multiple beaches on Isla Bastimentos. Red Frog Beach, Wizard Beach, Playa Larga. Bastimentos National Marine Park takes in about one third of the island and includes several outlying islands and marine areas in the archipelago. There are also caves, a butterfly farm and numerous hiking trails.
Personal lodging options. On Isla Bastimentos there are several places which are small personal lodges. Some have been around for a number of years and others are relatively new. Interestingly, most of them are owner operated which makes them a completely different experience than any other type of accommodation.
So actually, I guess it is easy to understand how someone would decide to focus on Isla Bastimentos. It has so much to offer its guests.
