In your life, what memories will you keep for all innumerable moments forgotten? On night of April 8th, after a long wait at the bus terminal, I bought a ticket for the express midnight bus bound for David along the Panamanian highway. As it happened, the moon hung full in transit and illuminated the forest canopies in a mystical silver glow through the entire night. Unable to sleep much I stared out the window only to see my subfusc reflection superimposed on the forested hills. It was a most surreal existential and ecstatic experience of which only another having traversed the share route can appreciate. How can one describe in words a beauty that is only experiential?
Having arrived in David at 6am, I boarded another local bus to the hill-nested town of Boquete, population 5,000. The town is replete with heavily forested hills, coffee plantations, gardens, low-drifting clouds kissing the hillsides, and the river Caldera meandering all the above. Having settled to the hostel, I wandered the circuitous road that winds around the vicinity; pass lush jungles, tropical gardens, small farms, and coffee-scented plantations as the road wended up the hills and back down – in a word, picturesque. It was much needed escape from the urban capital.
Ecstasy seeks like company. Upon returning after the 4 hour hike, I met some other travels – a Spanish and a Dutch, both of whom were staying at the same hostel. On a lark, I joined them on an afternoon excursion to a natural hotspring (heated by the Baru Volcano nearby). The 25 km drive and trail there was just spectacular, idyllic scenery. The springs themselves where next to the Caldera river downstream and seethed at a soothing 40 degrees C (102 F). Unfortunately, in my haste and excitement I sat in the hot pool with my camera still in the pocket! Oh the agony. Anyway, I was in such high spirits and the incident did not dampen my mood at all. We all swam in the cool river after the hot springs dip before heading after sunset. As we did not arrange a ride back to town from the remote location, we walked out of the trail as darkness descended. To everyone’s surprise, fireflies started lighting up on all sides… just amazing experience. However, getting back to town was a story in it’s own.
All in a long day’s adventure. Tomorrow I shall hike the famed 23 km Quetzales trail to try to see the quetzals.