So we went out early this morning for our bird watching trip. We drove about an hour and then took a small boat across to a small island in the middle of Lake Peten (that's where we are). We then basically walked across the island in search of birds. We found a few but not as many as we would have like or as they told us we would! Oh well that's nature. It was a nice warm day to walk around.
We came back and had a nice lunch. Then sat around and did nothing for a while which was just fine. Around sunset we took a walk up the road and found a few other birds around. And a small dog who took a walk with us for while too.
Tonight is one more dinner and then leave early in the morning for the trip home.
Sorry no photos today. When we get home, we'll post on the photo site when we can.
Enjoy!!
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Yaxha
After a lazy morning, we took an afternoon trip to another Mayan site called Yaxha. It is about 2 hours from the hotel and would have been about a 2 week walk from Tikal in Mayan days. It is significantly less well excavated than Tikal and what is has mostly been rebuilt because its in a poor state of repair from almost 1500 years of the jungle regrowing.
We saw a few birds (overall slow bit day). Some monkeys in the trees and apparently a gray fox ran by but neither of us saw it.
We climbed to the highest of the temple buildings overlooking a lake and watched the sunset. It was the nicest sunset we had so far and was a perfect place to watch. See the photo below.
Tomorrow we have an early start to a place that's supposed to be good for birds.
Enjoy.
We saw a few birds (overall slow bit day). Some monkeys in the trees and apparently a gray fox ran by but neither of us saw it.
We climbed to the highest of the temple buildings overlooking a lake and watched the sunset. It was the nicest sunset we had so far and was a perfect place to watch. See the photo below.
Tomorrow we have an early start to a place that's supposed to be good for birds.
Enjoy.
Saturday morning
So far it's looking like a nice day here. The sun finally broke through the clouds and it's probably around 70 degrees now. We ate breakfast watching the birds. We could hear the howlers monkeys today but not see them yet.
This afternoon we are going to another Mayan site and will stay there to watch the sunset. Hopefully it will be cleat enough for a real sunset.
Hope everyone is having a good weekend.
This afternoon we are going to another Mayan site and will stay there to watch the sunset. Hopefully it will be cleat enough for a real sunset.
Hope everyone is having a good weekend.
Friday, December 9, 2011
Spike
Just one more quick post today. This is Spike with his poor little cast. He broke his leg...well actually his sister Violet broke his leg in a misunderstanding they had last weekend. Fortunately, our friend and dog sitter Martha is taking good care of him while we're gone. 
Greetings from Guatemala
We are in Guatemala for a short 5 day trip. Posts will be short since I'm doing this from the phone and typing is slow. We arrived on Thursday to Flores and then drive about an hour to where we are staying. It's a place called La Lancha. One of the sister resorts to the places we stayed in Belize a few yeas ago. Owen by Francis Ford Coppola. The place is very nice.
This morning we woke up to the sounds of howler monkeys. It's not quite howling but really very loud grunting. We recorded it an if we can figure out how we'll post is.
We took a trip to Tikal today. A large and probably the most famous of the Mayan sites. It is a huge complex that is still only about 25% excavated.
Will post just one photo. This is the lake near where we are staying. This is the view from the place meals are served.
Enjoy!
This morning we woke up to the sounds of howler monkeys. It's not quite howling but really very loud grunting. We recorded it an if we can figure out how we'll post is.
We took a trip to Tikal today. A large and probably the most famous of the Mayan sites. It is a huge complex that is still only about 25% excavated.
Will post just one photo. This is the lake near where we are staying. This is the view from the place meals are served.
Enjoy!
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Back to Tulear...back to Tana
July 5, 2011
Today we drove to Zombitse National Park, which is a dry deciduous forest, which is a small protected oasis surrounded by unprotected forest that has been completely devastated. We saw the Apperts greenbul, a bird that lives only in this small patch of forest and nowhere else on earth. This bird makes a strange “whirring” sound. We had two sightings of Verreaux’s sifakas, large white lemurs with black facial markings. These are gorgeous animals that leap vertically as they move effortlessly through the forest. We also spotted some dozing nocturnal Hubbard’s sportive lemurs peeking out of the holes in the trees where they sleep. They were probably wondering why the weird people were interrupting their rest! We saw several birds including the large Madagascar buzzard and a white browed owl (who was also trying to sleep).
After leaving the park, we drove back to Tulear and had an early dinner before flying back to Antananarivo. We arrived late tonight and will have the day to spend in town before starting the long journey back home via Johannesburg.
Today we drove to Zombitse National Park, which is a dry deciduous forest, which is a small protected oasis surrounded by unprotected forest that has been completely devastated. We saw the Apperts greenbul, a bird that lives only in this small patch of forest and nowhere else on earth. This bird makes a strange “whirring” sound. We had two sightings of Verreaux’s sifakas, large white lemurs with black facial markings. These are gorgeous animals that leap vertically as they move effortlessly through the forest. We also spotted some dozing nocturnal Hubbard’s sportive lemurs peeking out of the holes in the trees where they sleep. They were probably wondering why the weird people were interrupting their rest! We saw several birds including the large Madagascar buzzard and a white browed owl (who was also trying to sleep).
After leaving the park, we drove back to Tulear and had an early dinner before flying back to Antananarivo. We arrived late tonight and will have the day to spend in town before starting the long journey back home via Johannesburg.
Happy 4th of July from Madagascar
July 4, 2011
We left the hotel at seven am and drove to Isalo National Park, which was established in 1962. We hiked up to a viewpoint that overlooks the canyon, passing rock formations that looked like a turtle and a crocodile. The stone has iron and aluminum oxides so it has amazing colors. The standstone is relatively soft so it has been eroded into interesting shapes.
The Bara people of this region use the caves formed in the stones for their burial rituals. The dead are placed in coffins and left in a temporary tomb for two years. At this point, the bones are removed and ritualistically washed in the river. The bones are then wrapped in a shroud and placed in a permanent family tomb in a cave high in the standstone cliffs.
After taking in the view, we hiked down into the canyon where there is a natural pool. This is like a small oasis in the relatively dry area and is surrounded by trees. We then hiked across the canyon floor, across a ridge and then ended up at a campsite, where we saw ring tailed lemurs. These cute lemurs live in family groups and were sleeping in little furry clumps of lemur balls when we found them. There were also some red fronted brown lemurs in the area, who are rather sneaky and fearless as they try to steal bananas from the hikers. After some lunch, we did a short hike up to some small waterfalls that involved lots of steps.
We also saw silk worm cocoons, that the local people collect to make into fabric. We found some amazing stick bugs that look just like the twigs and are up to nine inches long. We saw the rock thrush, which is a rare bird found only in this area. We also saw kestrels and scorpions. Just as we were leaving the park in the late afternoon, we saw a large chameleon. There is an interesting plant that is endemic to this area called a pachypodium. Despite living several hundred years, they stay very small, usually under one foot. They look like small baobabs with bulbous bases and a few have had some yellow flowers.
Upon returning to the hotel, we took a walk around the hotel grounds.
We left the hotel at seven am and drove to Isalo National Park, which was established in 1962. We hiked up to a viewpoint that overlooks the canyon, passing rock formations that looked like a turtle and a crocodile. The stone has iron and aluminum oxides so it has amazing colors. The standstone is relatively soft so it has been eroded into interesting shapes.
The Bara people of this region use the caves formed in the stones for their burial rituals. The dead are placed in coffins and left in a temporary tomb for two years. At this point, the bones are removed and ritualistically washed in the river. The bones are then wrapped in a shroud and placed in a permanent family tomb in a cave high in the standstone cliffs.
After taking in the view, we hiked down into the canyon where there is a natural pool. This is like a small oasis in the relatively dry area and is surrounded by trees. We then hiked across the canyon floor, across a ridge and then ended up at a campsite, where we saw ring tailed lemurs. These cute lemurs live in family groups and were sleeping in little furry clumps of lemur balls when we found them. There were also some red fronted brown lemurs in the area, who are rather sneaky and fearless as they try to steal bananas from the hikers. After some lunch, we did a short hike up to some small waterfalls that involved lots of steps.
We also saw silk worm cocoons, that the local people collect to make into fabric. We found some amazing stick bugs that look just like the twigs and are up to nine inches long. We saw the rock thrush, which is a rare bird found only in this area. We also saw kestrels and scorpions. Just as we were leaving the park in the late afternoon, we saw a large chameleon. There is an interesting plant that is endemic to this area called a pachypodium. Despite living several hundred years, they stay very small, usually under one foot. They look like small baobabs with bulbous bases and a few have had some yellow flowers.
Upon returning to the hotel, we took a walk around the hotel grounds.
Back in the bus...to Isalo
July 3, 2011
Today, we drove back towards Tulear and then onwards to the northeast. We passed through Ilakaka, a poor mining town, where sapphires have been found. We passed a second species of baobab, called ‘za.’ There are six species of baobab in Madagascar only one of which is found on the African mainland. In the area of Isalo National Park, the landscape is remarkably different and very much like the Southwestern US with eroded sandstone outcroppings and canyons. We arrived at our hotel, the Relais de la Reine (Palace of the Queen), in the evening. The hotel is named after a nearby stone formation that looks like a queen. It is built of local stones that are amazing colors: rust, yellow and purple. We took a short walk around the hotel and watched the stars come out.
Today, we drove back towards Tulear and then onwards to the northeast. We passed through Ilakaka, a poor mining town, where sapphires have been found. We passed a second species of baobab, called ‘za.’ There are six species of baobab in Madagascar only one of which is found on the African mainland. In the area of Isalo National Park, the landscape is remarkably different and very much like the Southwestern US with eroded sandstone outcroppings and canyons. We arrived at our hotel, the Relais de la Reine (Palace of the Queen), in the evening. The hotel is named after a nearby stone formation that looks like a queen. It is built of local stones that are amazing colors: rust, yellow and purple. We took a short walk around the hotel and watched the stars come out.
Spiny Desert Photos
Mouse lemur...
Ground Roller...not on the ground...
Magpie Robin...
Boabab Tree...
Famous Madagascar Hissing Cockroach...and yes, when you poke at them, they hiss...
The stars in the sky...so clear and dark, the sky is amazing...
Ground Roller...not on the ground...
Magpie Robin...
Boabab Tree...
Famous Madagascar Hissing Cockroach...and yes, when you poke at them, they hiss...
The stars in the sky...so clear and dark, the sky is amazing...
Spiny Desert
July 2, 2011
We arose before sunrise today and drove to a preserve where we walked among the baobab trees and spiny forest looking for birds. The baobabs can live for 5,000 years and get very large. The oldest one in this area was about 1,500 years old. The bark has a distinct orange-red color and they grow in interesting shapes.
After returning to the hotel, we took advantage of the fabulous weather and walked along the beach. It was low tide and the ocean is shallow all the way out to the coral reef. As we walked towards the fishing village on the beach, we saw children wading in the shallows and collecting mollusks. Further out people in small boats, some with sails, were fishing and singing. There were crabs and several nice looking shells on the beach as we walked. After lunch, we had some time to relax before heading back to the park for an evening walk. We saw the adorable grey mouse lemur scampering around in a high tree and the ground roller, which has striking blue wing feathers, roosting for the night.
We arose before sunrise today and drove to a preserve where we walked among the baobab trees and spiny forest looking for birds. The baobabs can live for 5,000 years and get very large. The oldest one in this area was about 1,500 years old. The bark has a distinct orange-red color and they grow in interesting shapes.
After returning to the hotel, we took advantage of the fabulous weather and walked along the beach. It was low tide and the ocean is shallow all the way out to the coral reef. As we walked towards the fishing village on the beach, we saw children wading in the shallows and collecting mollusks. Further out people in small boats, some with sails, were fishing and singing. There were crabs and several nice looking shells on the beach as we walked. After lunch, we had some time to relax before heading back to the park for an evening walk. We saw the adorable grey mouse lemur scampering around in a high tree and the ground roller, which has striking blue wing feathers, roosting for the night.
To Tulear and beyond...
July 1, 2011
After an early morning flight to Tulear, we stopped for breakfast under a tree and then went to a marine museum with specimens from the local coral reef. Oddly, several of the fish were dried. There are five coelocanth (dead - and not so well preserved some of them!) there, which are large fish that date back to the time of the dinosaurs and were thought until fairly recently to be extinct. After a tour of some of the local markets, we arrived at our hotel, Le Paridisier in the town of Ifaty. The hotel is located right on a sand dune overlooking the ocean.
We are currently located in the southwest and the environment is desert like and very different from the lush rainforest that we just left. We took a late afternoon walk in the spiny forest, which fits its name in that it features several plants with sharp thorns. This is one of the most endangered biomes on the planet with less than 10% of the original forest remaining. After a night walk, where we did not see much, we had a nice dinner and then went to bed.
After an early morning flight to Tulear, we stopped for breakfast under a tree and then went to a marine museum with specimens from the local coral reef. Oddly, several of the fish were dried. There are five coelocanth (dead - and not so well preserved some of them!) there, which are large fish that date back to the time of the dinosaurs and were thought until fairly recently to be extinct. After a tour of some of the local markets, we arrived at our hotel, Le Paridisier in the town of Ifaty. The hotel is located right on a sand dune overlooking the ocean.
We are currently located in the southwest and the environment is desert like and very different from the lush rainforest that we just left. We took a late afternoon walk in the spiny forest, which fits its name in that it features several plants with sharp thorns. This is one of the most endangered biomes on the planet with less than 10% of the original forest remaining. After a night walk, where we did not see much, we had a nice dinner and then went to bed.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Poor Internet
The Internet is VERY slow and unreliable here. Hopefully will be better tomorrow night at the next stop.
Things are good. We are now in the south of Madagascar where it is very dry and hot. Desert. Wildlife has been sparse. Sadly, a lot of their habitat has been cut down. And, they are eaten as well.
More later with photos when we can. Stay tuned.
Sent from my iPhone
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Moving on again...back to Tana
June 30, 2011
Today, a few of us did some early morning bird watching and saw some gorgeous kingfishers and some moor hens, which are marsh birds that have duck-like bills and chicken-like feet. We then took a plane back to the capital of Antananarivo. After lunch at a restaurant on a hill, overlooking the city, we had a short driving tour of the city and walked through a flower market. Tonight is an early night because the plane leaves at 04:45 in the morning tomorrow to head to the southern part of the island...more from there!
Today, a few of us did some early morning bird watching and saw some gorgeous kingfishers and some moor hens, which are marsh birds that have duck-like bills and chicken-like feet. We then took a plane back to the capital of Antananarivo. After lunch at a restaurant on a hill, overlooking the city, we had a short driving tour of the city and walked through a flower market. Tonight is an early night because the plane leaves at 04:45 in the morning tomorrow to head to the southern part of the island...more from there!
Masoala and Nosy Mangabe Lemurs
The red colored one is the Red Ruffed Lemur - the only place in the world that they live is in Masoala....
The other lemurs are both the White-Fronted Brown Lemur - but only the male has the white face, the female is completely brown...
The other lemurs are both the White-Fronted Brown Lemur - but only the male has the white face, the female is completely brown...
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