Weekly Photo Challenge: Grand

Posted on December 13, 2013 by Kris Cunningham

Weekly Photo Challenge: Grand

Grand.  for this week’s challenge, we want you to consider not just the size of something, but also that special element: the “wow factor” of a scene or subject that makes a picture so stunning. That magical quality you’re always out looking for and so excited to capture with your camera.  We want to see your interpretation of grand, from festive holiday city scenes to the Christmas tree in your living room to other shots that will make our jaws drop. We look forward to seeing your images!

There is an amazing tree in our neighborhood. It’s beautiful, strong, and so big it towers above the houses. If anything says “grand” to me this would be it!

ceibo1

There is a better view from the other side, but unfortunately there are also a lot of power lines on that corner. Look how big it is though compared to the two story house next to it.

ceibo2

Like many wonderful things, it’s hard for a photo to do it justice and give you a sense of how massive and impressive this tree really is. Hopefully you will see one like it sometime.

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Living Simply

Posted on December 13, 2013 by Kris Cunningham

Something else I found very interesting at the Rambala Jungle Lodge was Javier’s house. Javier is a Panamanian man who’s been the caretaker at the lodge for a few years, and he lives on the property. I have seen houses like this from the road, but this is the first time I have been able to visit one and be in it, using “in” loosely because living here is pretty much living outdoors. This is definitely minimalist living.

This is Javier talking with Eric before he left on his vacation. He was going back to his town for Mother’s Day. There he was going to go from house to house with two other men singing songs for every mother in town. He told me that he and his two companions had been doing this every year for many years.
This is the front of his house.
This is the front room with the hammocks. The log with the notches on the left goes up to the loft. I noticed there is a mirror on the support in the middle.
This is the side of the house, and that area outside the window is the kitchen sink or washing up area.
This is the other side of the house.
This is from the front room looking back into the enclosed room which is the kitchen. There are cooking areas on the left, and a small table on the right which looked too rickety to use, and no chairs so I imagine food is eaten at one of the benches in the front area.
At the top of the notched log is the sleeping loft.
He has an air mattress up there, and not much else.
There is quite a bit of space in the loft, but except for his sleeping area it was pretty much empty.
This is the kitchen. The gas tank fuels the burners for cooking. The sock looking thing hanging next to that is for making coffee. Put the coffee grounds in the sock, run the hot water through, and you have coffee.
A larger view of the kitchen area.
The washing area as seen from inside. There is a hose above it for water, but I’m not sure how it is turned off and on.
There is also this cooking area on the other side of the kitchen. You can build a wood fire here and put your pots on the stones. It wasn’t in use at this time though because a chicken was sitting on her eggs there. We thought they were due to hatch over the weekend but when we left she was still waiting.

Seeing this really made me think. How much do you really need to live? In this climate you mostly need somewhere to get out of the rain, somewhere to cook, to sleep, and there was an outhouse a bit behind the house. He didn’t seem to be carrying much when he left so I think this is pretty much all his possessions. His few clothes are hanging in the front room, and you saw what he had in the kitchen. And, this sort of living is not at all unusual here, and this type of house is quite common in this part of Panama.

Sitting here in this sturdy block home with all these rooms and looking at these photos, I feel like we live in a palace. It sure makes you think – what do you really need? What does it take to be happy? We were told that Javier is happy to live there. It’s a beautiful place, he has a lot of work to do, and he likes the peaceful quiet. Could I live like that? 3 sets of clothes, 4 plates, a sleeping loft, and a chicken in my fagon? I dunno, but I see I sure could live with a lot less than I have now.

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Let There Be Light!

Posted on December 12, 2013 by Kris Cunningham

Weekly Photo Challenge: Let There Be Light!

IN A NEW POST CREATED FOR THIS CHALLENGE, SHARE A PHOTO THAT FEATURES A LIGHT SOURCE.  Take a look around you. Choose one of the light sources you see, and make it the focus of your challenge entry. It can be a dramatic chandelier or a pair of dying candles; the moon, a row of glaring lightbulbs in the parking lot, or a gaudy lava lamp stored in your attic: anything goes. The light doesn’t even have to be switched on: some lamps are just as fascinating for their shape as for the photons they emit.

We were just at the Rambala Jungle Lodge where there is no electricity. At night we used lanterns and flashlights, so I had fun experimenting with these light sources.

We played cornhole at night. The board is lit by someone’s flashlight. There is a lantern on the left, and someone headlight makes a white spot on the right.
Nighttime priorities – light and beer.
The light source isn’t in this photo, but I like how the light looks on the mosquito netting over the bed.
Joel brushes his teeth by lantern light.
The lantern and my headlamp glow through the mosquito netting over the bed.
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Walking in the Jungle

Posted on December 12, 2013 by Kris Cunningham

Our walk in the jungle was a highlight of our weekend at the Rambala Jungle Lodge. I had never seen anything like this! The photos cannot possibly do the experience justice but hopefully they will give some idea of what it was like there.

Eric took Joel, Brenda, and I into the jungle, on little narrow muddy paths on the steep sides of hills though dense vegetation, past huge trees, over rocks, under vines, and along the river as we went to check out his plans to generate some electric power from the river. Even with my work boots and walking stick, it was tough going and I was very thankful for all the walking and biking that has made my legs stronger.

Even more incredible – they have built everything on the property from lumber cut from fallen trees. They have not cut any live trees, only used dead ones found in the jungle. The workers find the tree, mark it, and cut it on site into 2×4’s, 4×4’s, and other needed lumber usually 8 feet long, but sometimes 12 feet long. Then, they carry this lumber out of the jungle and to the cleared area where the building is going on. It was all I could do to get myself down the paths. I cannot imagine doing that while carrying heavy pieces of lumber!

This also made me think of all the people, all the indigenous Indians who live in the jungle, for whom that is their world. They survive on what they can hunt and gather there, and there isn’t even any access between them and the rest of the world much of the time.

I’m so glad I went into the jungle, and I want to go back and see more!

Trees and plants and things growing everywhere!
Eric, Joel, and Brenda, my hiking companions.
More trees and plants, vegetation so thick it took a lot of work to make the little paths we walked on.
A huge fallen tree.
A bit of the river we followed.
The spot of the planned hydroelectric project.
One of the many huge trees.
Some of the vines were really big.
Some odd moss like stuff growing on this tree.
We happened across these pretty red flowers near the river.
An incredibly large tree had fallen and this was the underside of the stump, hard to photograph in this dark area of jungle.
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Wildlife in the Jungle

Posted on December 12, 2013 by Kris Cunningham

One of the things I loved most about our weekend experience was all the birds and wildlife we saw there. I only took the little Panasonic camera which worked out well especially since it has a great zoom feature. Without that, many of the birds would only be little dots in big trees.

I appreciate that Linda and Eric have worked hard to make the Rambala Jungle Lodge a safe place for wildlife. The local people look at everything as a possible source of food since that is how they survive, so Linda and Eric have had to put strict rules in place for their property. It is paying off as more and more wildlife makes their homes there. I still can’t quite believe that we saw tree sloths in the trees!

So without further ado, here are some interesting creatures I managed to catch with my camera.

This armadillo came walking towards the woodpile while we were all working on a cabana, seemingly unconcerned about all the people and noise nearby.
These little wasps were building this string next to the wire supporting a hummingbird feeder. I’ve never seen anything quite like this before.
This fairly large and interesting ant is to be avoided because they have a very nasty bite known to bring adults to tears.
This is one of three types of toucans we saw, sometimes all at the same time! This is an aricari, the same type that visited our yard not long ago.
This is a Keel Billed Toucan who unfortunately wanted to hide behind some leaves, making it difficult to get a clear photo.
This Chestnut Mandibled Toucan was a bit more cooperative with photos.
Another view of the Chestnut Mandibled Toucan
Then, one of the Chestnut Mandibled Toucans posed for me on a bare branch right out in the open!
The agouti sometimes show up late in the day to hunt for roots in the yucca patch.
A laughing falcon perched in a tree for a while.
There are many hummingbird feeders everywhere, and many different birds enjoying them.
I like this one with the black mask and long white tail.
Another with the mask, but not much of a white tail.
I kept this photo because I think it’s funny.
Pretty colors!
Hummingbirds and a camera can keep you busy for hours.
I like these feeders because the birds can also sit on them, so you get to see them still as well as flying.
I went to photograph a flower on the passion vine outside our cabana, and found these really interesting bugs.
Even the flies are pretty.
Pretty lizard outside the main house.
I like this spider web with the lace like part in the center.
A Montezuma Oropendola, one of many we saw in the area. We have the Crested Oropendolas in our neighborhood, so it was interesting to see this beautiful and different variety here.
And last but certainly not least, this tree sloth was in a tree not far from the main house on the first day.
How interesting to see these creatures in the wild!
On Monday we spotted two sloths in a different tree. We didn’t know if one of them was the sloth we spotted earlier, or if they are two different ones. This one was hanging upside down eating leaves.
The other sloth looked like a bunch of fur in the leaves, but it did move its head enough once to allow me a glimpse of its face.
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A Weekend in the Jungle

Posted on December 12, 2013 by Kris Cunningham

What an experience! Our friends Holly and Scott were going to help Linda and Eric, owners of the Rambala Jungle Lodge with some projects and asked if we would like to come along. Not being one to turn down interesting experiences with good friends, we said yes.

I hardly know where to start telling about the weekend so I have grouped my photos, and through the next few posts I hope the story will come together.

Rambala is a town on the way to Almirante in the Bocas del Toro Province, so it’s on the north side of the mountains and the continental divide. The Rambala Lodge is a bit outside of town, back in the jungle. You can get most of the way by 4 wheel drive, but you have to walk in the rest of the way. There is no electricity, and water is either collected rainwater or from the small river that runs through the property. It was definitely a style of living I hadn’t experienced before!

We saw so much wildlife, birds, scenery, and jungle. Eric and Linda clearly love it and I can certainly see why. Parts are so wild and natural they look like no one has been there for hundreds of years. They are making it safe for wildlife so many interesting animals and birds are making their homes there. I hope the photos will give a sense of the experience, but nothing is like actually being there so visit if you get the opportunity.

Holly had injured her ankle, so it was wonderful the Javier (the caretaker on the property) had the horses available. One took her, and the other took the cooler and luggage. The horses look small but they are very strong and sure footed, a good thing since there had been enough rain to make things muddy and slippery.
This is the main house where we had meals, games, social time, and watched the wildlife.
Breakfast – Eric and Linda in front, Holly next to them, Brenda across the table, and Eva (a Panamanian guest) and Joel clearing the table.
The kitchen, totally open with no windows or screens. I would like a kitchen like that!
Hanging out in the main house waiting for the rain to clear. Notice the hummingbird feeders hanging in the opening, and Eric’s framed molas on the wall. The ropes on the wall are for hanging up the hammocks.
A favorite activity, watching the birds and wildlife.
This is the bathroom in the main house where the sink looks to the outside, and you can watch the hummingbirds. They had composting toilets which worked out surprisingly well. After use add a scoop of wood shavings, and when full dump in the compost pile.
Cornhole – toss the bag of corn into the hole, or at least get it to land on the board. I started to get the hang of it after a while, and even won a game with the help of my partner Linda. I’d never beat these experts though (Scott and Eric)
More hanging out, a favorite activity since it rained quite a lot that weekend.
A break in the rain was an opportunity to work on one of the cabanas under construction.
When you return from a walk, take off the boots and leave them outside the door along with your walking stick.
This was our cabana. It has two bedrooms, and this is the main room in front.
I love the outside shower!
The horses weren’t available later because Javier had gone to town to celebrate mother’s day. Holly made it out on crutches very carefully, and without one slip!

Here’s a few more photos of plants and flowers and wonderful views around the property.

The view from the main house with the water in the distance.
There were quite a few of these beautiful bushes in flower.
This huge tall tree had a vine climbing up it which developed into almost another tree here at the top.
A view of the hillside across the way covered with tall trees.
A very cool heliconia bloom!
It rains a lot so everything is really green. On this side of the country there isn’t a dry season, just times with more rain or less rain.
I got up one morning and my lens started to fog in the cool morning damp air as we passed by this tree. Those are oropendula nests. A storm blew some of them down and the whole colony moved out, but the remaining nests are still in the tree. The birds are still in the area though and we saw quite a few of them.
I went walking and came across this huge heliconia bloom.
These interesting trees with the red leaves on top are everywhere in this part of the country.
There is a very pretty river that runs through the property, and you can hear the waterfalls all night while you sleep.
We went for a swim in a swimming hole under a waterfall.
Next to the swimming hole we saw this tree growing on a big rock, hugging the rock with its roots.
Another view of the river.
Darkness falls as just a hint of pink is visible in the distance.
At times it was misty which I thought made for some interesting photographs.
Clouds and mist wander through the trees on the far hillside.
As we left, we spotted these water buffalo in a field down the road. I’d never seen water buffalo before!

I have a lot of wildlife photos to sort through, so stand by. There is more on the way.

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Our Hostel in Puerto Jimenez, Costa Rica

Posted on December 9, 2013 by Kris Cunningham

We stayed at the hostel Cabinas Tropicales while we were in Puerto Jimenez and were very happy there. Scroll through the photos to take a look at some of it.

Mark, the owner, has lived in Puerto Jimenez for 20+ years so he is a wealth of information about the area. He can set you up with tours, fishing trips, or help you with whatever you want to do in the area. He’s from the US so there is no language barrier either.

We liked the big open area in the center of the hostel, all the beautiful plants and flowers, and the birds that came to the bird feeders. There is a comfortable kitchen area, tables, a sofa, hammocks, and a variety of books and notices about the area, the wildlife, and things to do in the area. The rooms aren’t huge but big enough, and clean and comfortable with adequate storage shelves, something you don’t always find in a hostel. We had an outdoor shower which I thought was really fun! Not all the rooms have that but we got lucky.

I like hostels because you can meet other travelers. We talked with a couple from Spain, another from Germany, a mother and daughter from Canada, and some guys from Alaska there during our stay. The Alaska guys said there was a 100 degree difference between there and CR, and they were sweating a bit! Everyone but us had come from a cold place and were really enjoying the tropical getaway.

This hostel is also affordable and close to everything you need. Main street and the stores are only a short walk away. (The town is small so everything is only a short walk away if you stay in town.) But, it is nice to be able to cook which is less expensive than eating out all the time. We have definitely found our home away from home when we go to Puerto Jimenez.

The front door, a hint of the garden that lies behind
Mark, the owner, checks his computer while a Canadian lady looks at her photos of birds and tries to identify them in the bird book.
There are a number of bird feeders around, they also have tiki torches that can be lit at night.
The side yard with all the plants and flowers, and a hammock.
The kitchen area – there is a fridge, a pantry area, a number of burners for cooking, and all the utensils and cookware you need to make your meals.
There is also a herb garden for your use. I love his growing method and need to try this myself at home.
A pretty ginger in flower.
He has many heliconias. This “sexy pink” is my very favorite. He offered me a start but I think I’ll wait until we are past dry season to plant anything here.
The hammock in the side yard beside some more beautiful heliconias.
More heliconias – another beautiful variety.
There were a number of beautiful birds that visited the feeders all day.
He has a couple bicycles for the guests. We took them out on two days and really enjoyed ourselves.
This is something you won’t find in most hostels though – an outdoor bathroom! It had a door, walls and a roof, but above and below the wall was open.
The shower is open so when you shower you can see the sky, or the starts if it’s night. I really liked that! I should have taken another photo so you can see that along the outside wall at your feet are pretty plants. They get watered as the water splashes.
Outside the bathroom is a little private sitting area with more pretty plants and flowers.
The private sitting area outside our door.
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Sunset in Puerto Jimenez, Costa Rica

Posted on December 9, 2013 by Kris Cunningham

On our last night, we went to the beach near town and watched the sun set. It was so beautiful and we really enjoyed it!  Here’ s a few of my favorite photos from that evening.

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Beaches near Puerto Jimenez, Costa Rica

Posted on December 9, 2013 by Kris Cunningham

We’re back, and now I’m catching up with some things from our last trip. After that I’ll get to talking about our incredible trip to the Rambala Lodge and our time in the jungle.

I love beaches so we had a good time in Puerto Jimenez and the beaches that are within an easy walk or bike ride from town. This beach was closer than the one we went to the day before, and almost deserted except for a couple people walking in the water in the distance. The tide was out so you were able to walk out a long ways on the wet sand.

I also have some photos from the countryside on our way to and from the beach and in the area in general.

A very interesting house near the beach.
I love the crazy trunk/roots on this tree.
There were a lot of these trees that look like they have shelves of branches.
One of the local’s houses in the area.
The clouds were beautiful again that day.
This horse found a cool place to hide out.
There was another bunch of cattle being moved on the road. (photo by Joel)
The crocodiles were in the river again.
The big guy was also sunning himself in the river bank again that day. This was taken with a good zoom feature on my camera!
This is what the river actually looked like from the bridge, and you can see the crocodiles down there. We weren’t as close as it looked in the previous photos!
This guy is a caretaker/guard for this area. I stopped to take a photo of this beautiful road and he came out to talk with us, nice guy, very friendly, and happy that we love the beautiful of his country. We were told that there are a lot of gringo homes back there in this secured area.
Joel rides ahead of me through the lush countryside.
Another local house. We stopped to talk with them the day before when the family and kids were all outside. They were polite but seemed busy and not interested in a lot of conversation at the moment, but the kids were sure cute and they all seemed to be having a good time.

And, a few more photos from our last morning there.

The tide was out and there was a lot more sand showing.
This is the road that heads to the boat dock.
Hanging out, waiting for the ferry back.
One of the planes comes in for a landing at the nearby airport.
We’re under the palm trees enjoying the morning.
Another beautiful day in Costa Rica.
The tide was out and we almost didn’t see the boat which was well under the dock instead of level with it! But, we made it on the boat and here we are pulling away from the dock.

This area in Costa Rica sure is beautiful, and as someone who loves scenery and water I had a great time taking photographs!

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Monkeys in Puerto Jimenez, Costa Rica

Posted on December 6, 2013 by Kris Cunningham

These monkeys were at a fairly busy intersection in town with pedestrians, motorcycles, trucks, and everything passing through here. I spotted the first one eating a coconut in a tree, and then more and more kept appearing. It is really fun to see them!

I first spotted this one eating coconut.
Another eyeing the coconuts.
What a cute face!
They are amazing in the trees.
These two were walking along the power lines.
Another in a coconut tree.
The other monkey photographer at work!

We are leaving soon on another adventure, this time without electricity and internet. My apologies for not answering comments and emails, but I will catch up next week for sure!

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