We had to leave very early, taking a small plane to Playa Chicon, one of the islands, and Yandup island lodge for two nights.
Panama City waking up!
Sunrise.
Storm clouds, rather nerve racking in the tiny plane we were in!
The island looked tiny down below.
We were met by people from the lodge and whisked away in a big canoe to the island.
The lodge was on a tiny island with over the sea rondvalls to sleep in.
They were very comfortable, a cooling breeze blowing through the open cane work.
It was still only 8.00am! And breakfast was offered and a snorkeling trip was arranged for 9.30am.
All go! Off again in the boat, flying past white sandy beaches and palm clad islands. We thought we were back in the South Pacific!
The island we landed on was a coconut plantation.
People lived on the island.
Gathering coconuts.
Back to the lodge for lunch.
A rest until 4.00pm and a visit to The village cemetery.
We had to walk along the runway to climb up to the cemetery.
This is not the traditional tomb, but one belonging to a wealthy person who wants to be buried as the foreigners are.
Traditionally the Kuna are buried lying in a hammock with personal effects to help them on their journey.
In the pot, coco beans are burnt to keep the evil spirits away and earth piled on top on the grave in the outline of the body.
Their beliefs are complicated, but they basically believe that the spirits wander for ever.
The next morning we were off snorkeling again.
Passing more south sea islands on the way.
This fisherman had a plastic sail.
that was difficult to control!
Boats from Colombia come to the island to buy coconuts - there are not enough coconuts in Colombia!
The frontier police are very evident, patrolling for Colombians, drug smuggling along the coast is a major problem.
The island is full! 3,000 people live on an island that is about 100 meters in diameter!
The ladies were busy watching the telephone technicians mend their island ṕhone.
Thatched houses lined narrow streets.
The deal is that you pay $1.00 to anyone who has their photo taken!
The boys insisted! And got paid three dollars!
Old ladies continue with the traditions,
hand sewing appliqué work.
Their makeup is a little different to ours. And face ornaments are installed at about 15 days old.
Th bright colours were, at one time, created with natural colours from plants, but now they use chemical dyes and the cloth is bought in the market and not hand woven,
Some boys were having a great time.
flying a home made kite.
Th evidence of the fire was terrible.
New coconut fronds waiting to be put on the roofs.
Dogs defended their territory.
Handwork was for sale everywhere.
There were shops - of sorts!
Great flowers
Canoes made from whole tree trunks.
The wealthy have two floors.
And imagine our surprise to find Winnie the Poo on the side of a building!
On the way home we realized that the sewage went straight into the sea!
That night we had requested a lobster for dinner, luckily the lobster came from way out to sea!
We left the next morning before it was light, saying goodbye to our hosts we went across the water.
To catch our ṕlane back to Panama city.
Looking down on the islands we felt quite sad to leave.
Panama City was up and awake by the time we landed at 8.00am!
We were about to catch a bus that was going to take us over the bridge over the Canal and our next destination.
Passing more south sea islands on the way.
We had good snorkeling, returned for lunch and then went to visit the village. There had been a fire in the village the previous week and the community was very busy helping the homeless families build new houses. The thatch on the roof was still green.
The ladies were busy watching the telephone technicians mend their island ṕhone.
The boys insisted! And got paid three dollars!
hand sewing appliqué work.
Looking down on the islands we felt quite sad to leave.
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