The trip was run by an American ex-pat couple and set out from their house. The fellow (can't remember his name anymore) was a biologist so he pointed out all sorts of cool things as we walked from their beachfront home into the jungle. We saw crazy spiders, poison frogs, and many plants that served different medicinal purposes. He also pointed out one of many termite nests on a tree. My Mom tapped it and commented on how hard it was, so he poked a hole in it to show how the "soldier" termites would come out to attack whatever predator was disturbing them. He let some climb on his hand and then slurped them up, much to every one's dismay. While we all stood there with our faces in the universally recognized "ewww!" formation, he encouraged us to try some and assured us that they tasted like grass. One by one, we all did - except for Sasha. Girls who wear dresses and take ballet do not eat bugs. Now, had they been dipped in whipped cream...
When we got to the stream that would lead us to the waterfall, we began to hike in it which was a relief because it was pretty hot. As the hike got steeper, we thought we'd have to climb around, but our guide said the rock was like sandpaper so we wouldn't slip. We checked and it was exactly like sandpaper. So we totally stuck to the rock despite the incline & the rushing water. Literally & figuratively cool.
Once we got to the base of the waterfall, we left my parents, Sasha and Owen and climbed around to the top. Part of the hike was the ability to rappel the waterfall and Mike, James & I were game. Once we got to the top, we had a little session on how to rappel then tried our hand at it on a small 20ish foot portion of the waterfall. At the bottom of the first part, we settled on a ledge next to a small pool. To get to the other side, we had to jump into the center and swim over. I swear, this was the scariest part for me because I could not get the scary python named Gollum, who was surely lying in wait for me just inches below the surface, out of my mind. Of course it didn't occur to me that the temperature of the water would deter even the most malevolent of pythons...until it was over my head. Then I was fine.
Once we got through this portion, it was on to the serious bit. Peering over the edge, I wondered why things always seemed to look higher when viewed from the top. I was able to make out the rest of our group at the bottom, including S&O who were naked (surprise, surprise). Mike went first, followed by me and then James. It was a great experience and it was really different seeing the jungle while hanging 100 feet over a waterfall. As I watched James come down, I couldn't help wondering if the monkeys watching from the trees were thinking, "idiots."
From there, we walked back to the house and had a picnic at the beach, followed by some playtime in the water. It was an expert surfing beach though, and not a swimming one, so one did not want to go in more than knee deep. We know this because Mike went further and Mother Nature said, "really?" and he said, "uh, changed my mind."
While Sasha enjoyed the playing naked at the foot of the waterfall portion of the hike, she did not enjoy the hiking portion of the hike.
This is the big part of the waterfall we rappelled down. As I said, it looked worse from the top.
James, who looked like he did this all the time.
The end of a very good day.
CORRECTIONS: So James reminded me that our guide's name is Andy. He also pointed out that the first rappel was 50 feet and the last one was 100, though I think it may have been more. There may be another correction since we had this conversation a few days ago, I wrote nothing down and I've been on vacation which has meant a partial shut down of my brain :)
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