Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Looking Back-Bocas Del Toro

Today I head back to the Bocas Del Toro region in Panama. The theme for this series is going back into the folder and pulling pics I have not used during my Panama writes last year.  It's a lot more fun when you don't have to focus on specific topics related to our journeys.  The above pic was taken by a friend on our canoe into Bastimentos National Park.  We are entering the park through the Mangrove forest.  I'm wearing the yellow hat.   Speaking of yellow, at the entrance to the park and cave, we found these adorable and curious chicks.
It was nice seeing people row boats along the coast and islands.  I sometimes wonder what it would be like growing up in an area like this.  While we were there, I was severely attacked by gnats.  During one of my recent treks into a canyon here in Tucson, I was again attacked and as of the day I write this, my body is covered in bites.  Not cool!
You'll find many endemic frogs on the various islands.  Each island has a different color.  The one we were on was known for this red frog below.
The Bocas Del Toro region is known for it's wonderful scuba diving opportunities as well as its beaches.  But I'm not into any of that stuff.  We enjoyed the caving and hiking:)  While we were there, we saw lots of jellyfish(or "mey-doo-saw" in Spanish)
While there, we volunteered at a poorly run turtle conservation program.  But we treated ourselves to a 3 day stay at La Loma Lodge and Chocolate Farm and forgot about that nightmare of an experience!  This definitely was a huge tourist area, but most people choose to stay at Bocas Town for drinks and partying.  I don't do that stuff anymore and prefer the views from my bed below.  Yeah, life is good:)  More tomorrow....

21 comments:

  1. I love the Red Frog, isn't it tremendous. But, it looks so delightful.

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  2. Canoeing thru the mangroves sounds like fun. Love the cute chicks and the red frog. I guess you have to put up with bugs in the jungle. Volunteering for the turtle conservation program is a cool thing. I enjoyed your Panama post, thanks for sharing. Great shots.

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  3. I have a light breezy long-sleeved anti-mosquito shirt with uv protection made by Assics. It would be a must-have item to such an adventurous person like you, Chris, though your face is still exposed to the gnats. I’m surprised to see the red frog as my fixed idea about a frog color was green or brown.

    Yoko

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  4. Lovely photos Chris - the tree frog is just great :) Am enjoying revisiting these places with you :)

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  5. Darling chicks and pretty frog! Can't wait for the rest of the story!

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  6. Interesting story and photos Chris. Thank you!

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  7. Lovely photos again Chris, I love that little frog, what an amazing colour!

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  8. the frog is adorable! can't miss him!

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  9. This sounds like an interesting adventure and I look forward to seeing more photos. I cannot help think that it's sad that so many tourists travel so far to mostly do what they could do at home: shop, eat and party. I like your kind of travel much more.

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  10. i agree...i'd much rather be hiking & canoeing...than scuba diving. love the fluffy chicks and the BRIGHT little frog!!

    what an experience this must have been!! it's like another world...all the colorful & WILD wildlife...a true adventure!
    but all the bug bites...ugh...not so lovely!!

    can't wait to see more of the pic's you didn't show before!!

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  11. I've now added several more places to my Panama list. Thanks for sharing these. If I ever find time, I'll look back in your blog for past posts about this adventure.

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  12. I have been looking around - what a fun blog! Love your pics!

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  13. Interesting views of the mangroves, and very bright frog. I saw a bright green one with red eyes when I was in Costa Rica, but never a red one.

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  14. It sounds like a great place to visit and I can really relate to canoeing along mangrove lined creeks. Summer is on the way in the southern hemisphere and then it will be back on the water for me!

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  15. Great story and photos!
    I never thought I should say I love the red frog.

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  16. This is a cool series of posts. I like the frog and whatever that colorful bit is that it is climbing on. Those chicks have REALLY big feet! There is a picture, I am guessing is not a jellyfish but I have no idea what that interesting creature is.
    Always fun to come here!

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  17. That red frog is really cool. It sure stands out. The turtle experience sounds a bit sad. The chicks cute!

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  18. Hi Kreesh, been sick for quite a while, so no blogging, but up and alive again though still absent from work. I haven't seen red frog!I also love the view from your bed, and that hammock certainly gives a good rest while looking around. Maybe one of these days i will also post some old photos from old travels.

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  19. So many things to see in the world; so little time. Or something like that. Sure a lot of things I want to do though. Yeah - red frog. Very cool.

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  20. You certainly have some exciting and mega interesting trips Chris and I guess the good outweighs the bad, mosquito bites being one of the bad!

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  21. You have inspired me to go back through some old photos. Oh, but you may be sorry! I am so ready for Fall and something new to photograph.

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Thanks for stopping by!