Day 8 – Another Day At Apoyo
Filed Under international travel
Laguna de Apoyo, Nicaragua – December 2nd, 2008
Things are really laid back here. The day usually starts around 7am where I take a stroll around the area. I can see the water through the trees in some places, but it is more of a jungle environment than a seaside environment. The jungle goes right up and into the water in most places, so there isn´t really a beach at all. Walking around in the morning is nice. I usually bring my camera, but i like to look and hear more than use it. There are many birds here and they all have interesting distinguishing calls.
As the morning becomes afternoon, the temperature begins to rise. My body has become more acustomed to it and I no longer sweat constantly, but when I do, it is hard to be dry again because of the humidity. With the water just 100 feet away, we go swimming at least twice a day. I sometimes forget it is an active volcano, naturally heating the water to about 80 degrees.
Yesterday afternoon, I helped finish an operation begun by the Nicaraguan Navy Seals. They were here as a part of a major cleanup activity over the weekend where over 400 volunteers from around the country came to the lake to pick up trash. About 20 scuba divers in the navy dove for three days collecting trash underwater. A hard core bunch that would have cigarettes hanging out of the corner of their mouths underwater if it were possible. They found an old 6-cylinder boat engine that they didn´t have time to remove. This is where I came in. Since the staff here knows I am a certified SCUBA diver, I was able to assist the Nicaraguan biologist diver and a volunteer from Denmark in removing the engine from 60 feet of water. We dove down to the 200 pound piece of rusted metal with buckets and rope and were able to raise the engine by filling the buckets with air. We then glided the underwater metal blimp 300 feet down the coast at a depth of 40 feet until we reached the land access closest to the Bio Reserve. The three of us then carried the beast up 200 feet of stairs, where we placed it inside the center´s compound for someone to pick up at a later time. It felt great being able to do something useful and good for the environment while SCUBA diving.
At night, after a nice dinner cooked by the local staff, I take turns talking with the travelers while listening to their music and then collecting and photographing insects. I brought some small containers and tools so I rarely need to touch them, so there is no need to worry about them being venomous or not, but I´m always very cautous just in case. I´m getting a lot of good shots and the more I take, the idea of self-publishing a small photo book seems more obvious. I´ve also talked with the main biologist here and he would very much like to work with me to create a book on this bio reserve. Sort of a visitors guide / field guide.
Two Germans and a French traveler arrived recently. It was nice to hear from the Germans – who have been traveling non stop for TWO YEARS – tell me how they enjoy being here in Nicaragua where it feels safe. The French girl came here straight from the airport to be a part of the Spanish school, another option for those staying here at the Bio Research Station. It is a one-on-one course that can be taken for a week or more by local Nicaraguans.
Late at night, when I´m sitting in my tent or laying in the warm Lake Apoyo, I concentrate on the sounds. So many sounds! The sounds of the night are very different than the sounds of the day. The birds heard during the day are silent while thousands of insects come out and communicate with each other after the sun sets. I watch small fruit bats swoop over the lake plucking their invisible dinner from the sky. On good nights, the sky is a diamond ceiling and constellations become crystal clear. If I´m lucky, the deep grunt of howler monkeys can be heard in the trees. Called ¨Congos¨in Nicaragua, their grunts can be heard from up to three miles away, making them the loudest land animal on the planet. They are heard more often than seen, but it is a goal of mine to photograph one before I leave.
It is in the evening, surrounded by this natural beauty and exotic sounds, that I tell myself that I will stay another day at the lake. Just one more day. Always one more. Why search for something better when you are in a paradise like this?