Rainforest Essential Comforts
“Panama Canal World” Amusements
“You never really know what’s coming. A small wave, or maybe a big one. All you can really do is hope that when it comes, you can surf over it, instead of drown in its monstrosity.” (Alysha Speer)
What does it feel like to cruise through the Panama Canal and environs beyond as we did on our recent December 2019 cruise? An urban dweller like myself might consider this amazing sea experience extending over eighty kilometers long as a trendy amusement park ride as described in the following exaggerated account.
Imagine the thrill of entering a narrow tunnel threading slowly through dense jungle terrain on both sides. Of course you will have to be patient and wait your turn to experience this amusing carnival ride as hundreds of cargo ships and oil tankers will line up with you to take their turn at designated crossing times during the day. Your anticipation will build then as you cross under an enormous arch created by the “Bridge of the Americas” overpass marking the beginning of this Panama Canal adventure. Soon you will become mesmerized by the sight of awaiting giant locomotive monsters who will slowly drag your cruise ship in mule like fashion through the tight waterway squeeze ahead. As your ship edges ahead, feel the side walls closing in beside you as you enter the rolling gates leading to each lock ahead. How “cool” it seems then that your massive boat can defy the forces of gravity as you experience the mechanically driven rise and fall of elevation inside these narrow sided tubes.
There are other ways that Panama Canal World can amuse your tourist mind. As you exit the Panama Canal, an exciting jungle tour awaits you as you enter the vast expanses of nearby Gatun Lake. It will probably be raining in this tropical wonderland, but getting lost in the mud on this unforgettable nature walk from a remote shoreline location there will provide endless fun. You might even spot exotic wild animals such as wild sloths, colorful toucans, and howling monkeys hiding amidst extraordinary tropical plant life everywhere. At the Santa Clara Visitor Center, don’t forget to buy a ticket for the film. Feel your emotions rise as you watch how this historical canal was miraculously built amidst tropical disease, financial hardships, and political unrest. So let’s keep the camera fun going as I reveal some heart-searching photographic moments. from our latest Panama Canal adventure.
I thought I got rid of the traffic gridlock in Fort Lauderdale!
Why do I have to get up so early to see the Panama Canal?
Move over cargo ship. My boat is bigger than yours.
Hey tugboat, I’m lost in the jungle. Can you help me find my way?
I love to build things. What can I make with these objects?
Oh no! I think it’s going to rain again.
Crocodile on the bank! No wait it’s only a log.
What happens if we get stuck in the lock?
What are you looking at? I’m over here.
Am I seeing double? Why are there two Panama Canals?
Maybe I’ll see a dinosaur somewhere in this scary jungle.
I’m lost. Where did the walking path go?
Oh there it is!
I wonder if you can smoke any of this?
Oh my God. I lost my tour bus!
Ya Mon! Jamaica
“Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.” ( Helen Keller)
I first became acquainted with Jamaica in watching early James Bond movies as British agent 007 prowled bravely for the latest “bad guy” there amidst hidden coves of clear aqua coastline, mystical backdrops of blue shaded mountains, and colorfully dense expanses of tropical greenery. This imagined reality of Jamaica as a secretive natural paradise would thus provide the main impetus for repeated tourist returns for my wife and me to this island.
I also vividly recall some memorable moments we have faced during past visits to Jamaica decades ago. For we have fearlessly ascended by foot the slippery slopes of Dunn’s River Falls, gotten lost on local buses in dense jungles to seemingly nowhere, indulged in unfamiliar sensory tastes of breadfruit, mango and ackee, and intently listened to impassioned “Rastafarian” calls of protest fever. Ya mon, Jamaica has always satisfied our travel urge for daring, exotic adventure.
Landing near the historic setting of *Falmouth Bay on a quiet Sunday morning on the first stopover of our early December cruise, our time to explore on shore would be limited. Booking a one hour, rafting excursion along the Martha Brae River inland into a dense tropical wonderland , we would once more satisfy our continuing quest to actively explore Jamaica’s treasures. By settling into a more relaxing pace for this latest adventure, we soon realized that this jungle slowdown had also added a romantic twist to our upcoming wedding anniversary celebration. Settle into your easy chair then and experience this “chill-heavy” version of our latest visit to Jamaica in the following photographic display. Happy New Year. USFMAN
From our cruise balcony, a first glimpse of Falmouth Bay revealed the striking color arrangement of the Jamaican flag.
A more detailed glance at Falmouth town and the mountainous region beyond revealed the rugged environs we would encounter today via our river rafting tour.
We stopped at this welcome sign to admire the friendliness of two Jamaican locals playing a “laid-back” island tune.
On most afternoons, dense cloud cover “build” up in high humidity over the famed Blue Mountains producing heavy rainfall along the tropical shore. Luckily, today was cooler and drier than normal.
Traveling along the western shore by bus, I noted a striking contrast between luxury tourist facilities lining the beachfront vs. distasteful living squalor to the inland side.
A “tacky looking” souvenir village once served as the set of a famous James Bond movie.
This historic church remains as a religious hub/cemetery serving the Falmouth community.
Our rafting adventure began at this jungle like entrance with dense vines and colorful flowers straddling over the free flowing Martha Brae River.
Getting on our awaiting log raft in bare feet presented a slippery challenge.
As we sat in the rear of our raft, our friendly local guide O’Neill steered the boat expertly through the awaiting currents and narrowing jungle passages.
As our bus headed back to the port for our mid afternoon departure, I meditated silently about the the pristine natural beauty of the Jamaican shoreline.
*Falmouth has been declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations and has been honored as a Jamaican National Monument. Functioning in the past as a major trade center of sugar, slave, rum, and logs, Falmouth was once considered to be one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the western world.
Cruise Therapy Fulfilled
“Sailing unties the knots in my mind.”(Al Noble)
“It’s out there at sea that you are really yourself.”(Vito Dumas)
Do you ever intuitively sense how you really need to take a vacation? In our busy urban world, many of us point to the obligatory time off to escape life’s realities. Or perhaps a birthday or anniversary celebration fulfills your travel fantasy at times. Moreover, you might experience recurring visions to indulge in materialistic binges of eating/shopping to occupy your wandering times. You could even feel compelled to work on that personal “ bucket list” of new and exotic places you wish to visit before you die.
Admittedly, the crux of this issue with me stems from a personal struggle to slow my mind chatter enough to obtain full benefit from each of the above travel purposes. Instead of enjoying the present moment, I’m thus easily distracted by the inevitable tedium of work, health, or family matters.Yet I can happily report that during our ten day cruise from Fort Lauderdale in early December, I surprisingly found relief from my self-defeating, introspective nature on several occasions.
For one, the calm aqua appearance of the Caribbean waters surrounding me on deck and from our 1st time cabin balcony undoubtedly did set the stage for me to escape from life’s realities in a more relaxed state of “letting go. “ It would seem accordingly fortuitous that we celebrated our wedding anniversary onboard ship amidst an inviting interior ambience of warm holiday spirit and sleek artistic design. It also seems plausible that my commitment to continue my practice of yoga along with my resolve to read novels each day diverted my attention in positive ways from frivolous souvenir buying and excessive buffet gorging to fill my idle time. As I engaged in friendly conversations with our Non- American servers who seemed eager to practice their English, I discovered new places to add to my travel bucket list for overseas travel as well.
Are you ready to feel some positive energy about the cruising experience? Travel with me then as I relive below some vivid, photographic memories from the Island Princess.
Happy Holidays: USFMAN
As we embarked on our cruise from Fort Lauderdale, I imagined living my life in lavish luxury along this exclusive residential shoreline beyond.
Taking the time to view this spectacular sunset hovering over the South Florida coast set the right tone for relaxed reflection in the ten cruising days that we anticipated ahead.
The open air, contemporary look of the midship atrium became a favorite area for us to roam freely on the Island Princess.
This beautifully decorated Christmas Tree and adjoining poinsettia bush display became a center-point of the warm holiday spirit emanating aboard ship.
“The Sanctuary” seemed the ideal place to peacefully meditate in relative silence around this pleasing pool.
My wife, Ruth presented me with an anniversary gift of a spacious, ocean-side balcony as we first entered our cabin.
Each morning, I woke up to spectacular balcony views of each port of call.
We celebrated our 45th anniversary with a delectable , three course dinner at Sabatini’s Grill.
While on buffet dinner occasions, we joined in for some relaxing fun with our attentive servers.
I can also proudly report that I kept my “monkey mind” under control by reading this 500+ page novel.
While reaffirming that I will never become a savvy tourist shopper.
* Note: In several upcoming blogs, I will address four land excursions we experienced on this exciting seaward journey at Jamaica, Panama, Costa Rica, and the Cayman Islands.
Snippets of a Traveling Mind 
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