Day 20: July 18
We got on the boast at 715 this morning after some fresh fruit for breakfast. The 3 hour boat journey to La Cieba was calm and enjoyable. I sat on the bow of the boat for half the trip, it was lovely! No one got sick, A+ work to all. Then we got to the boat yard and had a 3 hour bus trip to San Pedro Sula. Not as enjoyable, but still scenic. Oh yea, there was a small stop at Dunkin' Donuts on the way. There is a surprisingly number of American Chain food mixed in with little stores selling entrees for 40 Limperos (~ 2$$ wut). We got to the hotel and rested for a bit. I am sharing a room with Sonja and Sophia (cuties).
We were going to wait for the other girls to go shopping/exploring but we got impatient so we went ahead. The local mall is just two blocks over. We ate at this cute little restaurant in the food court that seemed the most authentic/tasty to us. I had a meat burrito. It was delicious, with lots of fresh toppings; most importantly, avocado. We walked around and went into a few stores. Also bought some churros and coffee.
The whole coffee trade is interesting to me. Honduras is a leader in coffee production. Yet, the coffee is not especially great/fresh tasting here. They clearly export most of it as it is not economically prioritized to sell here. One of the most abundant coffee shops is called 'Espresso Americano', clearly showing how American/western coffee ideals kinda rule everything. Interesting.
We came back to the hotel. I googled San Pedro Suela. Found out it has the highest murder rate in the world. Good(...)
(Snap chat has geo-filters here!!)
Saturday, July 18, 2015
Last day!
Day 19: July 17
This morning we went to pick up trash again in East Village. This time we took more bags to get more things. Except today, we could not get the school boat back so we had to walk. Dante came and took a group of us the long way around the mountain, since the way we came over is really steep downhill and would not be fun to get back over. Except he has not gone the long way in 5 years and did not really know the way. That made it a fun adventure. We literally walked on rocks and different things right on the side of the island. We saw some of the private homes and remnants of old private homes. We saw great views. Somewhere along the way we lost Olivia. We panicked a bit when we got back and realized she was not with the other groups who walked back separately. She ended up going a bit slower and we did not realize she was behind us, but she was fine as she is a sensible person who knows how to do things. She swam some of the way back and I think that is fun/bomb/cool.
Next, worked on my project presentation. We are presenting at night in a broad sense of what our final research report will include. I started wading though all of my data but I am going to do the bulk of it at home because who wants to stare at computer screen while on an island for the last day amirght.
Afternoon was filled with frolicking in the water. I tore my wet skin the other day playing on the rope swing that was up so I was sans protection from the jellies but there were not many so it was all good.
Oh yea, when we were at the village, Carlos talked to the fisherman and bought lobster! Sonja, Dante and I all got in on it and thus had a great last meal. fresh lobster for $7, beautiful.
This morning we went to pick up trash again in East Village. This time we took more bags to get more things. Except today, we could not get the school boat back so we had to walk. Dante came and took a group of us the long way around the mountain, since the way we came over is really steep downhill and would not be fun to get back over. Except he has not gone the long way in 5 years and did not really know the way. That made it a fun adventure. We literally walked on rocks and different things right on the side of the island. We saw some of the private homes and remnants of old private homes. We saw great views. Somewhere along the way we lost Olivia. We panicked a bit when we got back and realized she was not with the other groups who walked back separately. She ended up going a bit slower and we did not realize she was behind us, but she was fine as she is a sensible person who knows how to do things. She swam some of the way back and I think that is fun/bomb/cool.
Next, worked on my project presentation. We are presenting at night in a broad sense of what our final research report will include. I started wading though all of my data but I am going to do the bulk of it at home because who wants to stare at computer screen while on an island for the last day amirght.
Afternoon was filled with frolicking in the water. I tore my wet skin the other day playing on the rope swing that was up so I was sans protection from the jellies but there were not many so it was all good.
Oh yea, when we were at the village, Carlos talked to the fisherman and bought lobster! Sonja, Dante and I all got in on it and thus had a great last meal. fresh lobster for $7, beautiful.
Thursday, July 16, 2015
la la la
Day 18: July 16
We are leaving soon. Today I worked on putting together a presentation for tomorrow night; we will show the class essentially what we are going to write about in our final paper, the data we found and what not. Tonight we are making a presentation of some of our best pictures to make sure everyone sees all of the coolest things!
When I went into the field all of my remaining flags were in a pile not where they were placed. Someone must have picked them up and moved them but I am not sure who. Guess that means I am done with my field work!
We are leaving soon. Today I worked on putting together a presentation for tomorrow night; we will show the class essentially what we are going to write about in our final paper, the data we found and what not. Tonight we are making a presentation of some of our best pictures to make sure everyone sees all of the coolest things!
When I went into the field all of my remaining flags were in a pile not where they were placed. Someone must have picked them up and moved them but I am not sure who. Guess that means I am done with my field work!
hmm
July 15: Day 17
Just a typical day of various assignments, and my project. Two more snails have left their sea fans today.
Got a front row seat at the sunset during night snorkeling.
Just a typical day of various assignments, and my project. Two more snails have left their sea fans today.
Got a front row seat at the sunset during night snorkeling.
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
illume
July 14: Day 16
Today I went on a night dive with Mei-Jing and Grace! It was all of our first night dives and it was incredible. We all had flashlights and went with three dive masters (one for each of us :)). WE got in the water right after the sunset and it was gorgeous. Diving when very little light comes through the water really forces you to pay attention to one thing at a time, whatever your flashlight can see at once. I saw a lot of different small creatures I have yet to see, like tiny crab and little fish. Each sponge and coral looked different too under such light. Shutting of your flashlight and just looking up/into the abyss was awesome. At the end, we all shut off our lights and played with the bioluminescence. Bioluminescence is the emission of light by marine vertebrates/invertebrates that are tiny and just hanging out in the water. When you move anything around it all sort of comes off the object all blue and lit up. It was dope, for lack of a more accurate term. We got back on the boat to go back and the light was broken. It was awesome to get to see the bright stars on the ride back in. No flash on the GoPro, so no pictures, but I assure you it was magnificent.
Today I went on a night dive with Mei-Jing and Grace! It was all of our first night dives and it was incredible. We all had flashlights and went with three dive masters (one for each of us :)). WE got in the water right after the sunset and it was gorgeous. Diving when very little light comes through the water really forces you to pay attention to one thing at a time, whatever your flashlight can see at once. I saw a lot of different small creatures I have yet to see, like tiny crab and little fish. Each sponge and coral looked different too under such light. Shutting of your flashlight and just looking up/into the abyss was awesome. At the end, we all shut off our lights and played with the bioluminescence. Bioluminescence is the emission of light by marine vertebrates/invertebrates that are tiny and just hanging out in the water. When you move anything around it all sort of comes off the object all blue and lit up. It was dope, for lack of a more accurate term. We got back on the boat to go back and the light was broken. It was awesome to get to see the bright stars on the ride back in. No flash on the GoPro, so no pictures, but I assure you it was magnificent.
Monday, July 13, 2015
Girls Chase Sunsets
Day 15: July 13
Today I mostly worked on upcoming writing assignments. Nothing too exciting.
I'll post some pretty pictures instead:
Today I mostly worked on upcoming writing assignments. Nothing too exciting.
I'll post some pretty pictures instead:
 |
| Sonja not falling in |
 |
| gold-chained eel |
How big, how blue, how beautiful
Day 14: July 12
Today I went diving again. Diving definitely has been one of my favorite parts of the trip. Getting to see the world from a different vantage point is so intriguing/different/enlightening. Nothing like being 80 feet under water to make you feel tiny/special/everything.
The first dive was at a site called "The wall". Our max depth was about 80 feet, the deepest I have gone yet (!!). It was a large coral 'wall', some of which we swam through the little nooks and crannies. I saw a lot of lion fish, an invasive (but pretty) species. I saw a large stingray too. The reef was very lush, colorful and full. Looking up was awesome.
Our next dive was at a site called the 'washing machine'. This is becasue there is a large tunnel part between two walls that has a current that pulls you forward and back throughout the channel. It was awesome, you just kinda float there and it pulls you back and forth until you get to the end of the tunnel. It was not nearly as eerie as I expected, but it was probably better that way.
I only got pictures from the first dive:
Today I went diving again. Diving definitely has been one of my favorite parts of the trip. Getting to see the world from a different vantage point is so intriguing/different/enlightening. Nothing like being 80 feet under water to make you feel tiny/special/everything.
The first dive was at a site called "The wall". Our max depth was about 80 feet, the deepest I have gone yet (!!). It was a large coral 'wall', some of which we swam through the little nooks and crannies. I saw a lot of lion fish, an invasive (but pretty) species. I saw a large stingray too. The reef was very lush, colorful and full. Looking up was awesome.
Our next dive was at a site called the 'washing machine'. This is becasue there is a large tunnel part between two walls that has a current that pulls you forward and back throughout the channel. It was awesome, you just kinda float there and it pulls you back and forth until you get to the end of the tunnel. It was not nearly as eerie as I expected, but it was probably better that way.
I only got pictures from the first dive:
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| lionfish |
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