© irene waters 2014
A number of the expats on the island, including ourselves, were due to leave within a month of each other. Our contract was about to end which, we had taken, to give us a safe place to live on the island, whilst we waited anxiously for our court case to reach its conclusion. The doctors from Victoria Canada were also about to leave. They came for the length of the sabbatical leave they could take from their regular posts, usually periods of three to six months, to man the hospital on the island. Also leaving were a couple of Peace Corps workers. The expats from the coffee plantation had already left the island. Together, we decided to walk with guides through the jungle from one side of the island to the other. No training was undertaken and in the full heat of summer we set off on our last adventure together.
© irene waters 2014
© irene waters 2014
© irene waters 2014
For most of the walk we saw nothing but jungle although the path we travelled was well trod. For the majority of the local people this was the only way they could get from one place to another. We did occasionally come across a village on our path. Our white skins frightened this little boy who may well have never seen a European in his life. Most of the villages had trenches dug around them with crude stick bridges to cross the deep holes dug beneath. This was to prevent the pigs, a valuable commodity, from both plundering the living quarters of the village and from escaping into the depths of the jungle.
© irene waters 2014
© irene waters 2014
For other entries in the weekly photo challenge.
Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist) 
What an interesting post.
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Thanks Raewyn. An interesting place. 🙂
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Great post Irene 😉
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Thanks Irene. Glad you liked it. 🙂
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This is going to make any adventure I come up with pretty lame.
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Not at all Dawn, just different probably. Look forward to seeing yours. 🙂
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You always go whole-hog, Irene ! – a real adventure ! 🙂
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I’m starting to feel I need some new ones M-R. Perhaps one day….. 🙂
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Was is unbearably humid? I ask because I find myself having problems handling the humidity here in Tennessee this year.
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In the wet season it was humid and I agree it makes it unbearable at times. Certainly looked forward to the afternoon rain storms to cool it down.
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Now that’s a great bridge (and lovely photos btw); definitely a design I can copy to cross the new pond…
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Will await photos ….
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Wow, a SERIOUS adventure – well done! Love the shot of the little boy scared to death of you 🙂
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Thanks Tina. The eyes said it all.
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Fascinating, Irene and brave of you to take this trek without preparation. What was it like when you got to the other side? It must have been one hot walk!
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It was a hot walk. After we descended from the jungle of the highlands it opened onto an ash plain from the volcano then returned to jungle until we reached our destination on the coast which was just beautiful
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Whew! Hope you took lots of water. How long did it take?
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Now that’s what I can a proper adventure! Fascinating, loved this walk Irene 🙂
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Yes it was a great walk. Glad you enjoyed it too. 🙂
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❤
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You must have laughed when you saw the topic–of course you can deliver on adventure! ‘m rather amazed by the photo of the boy. Is he clutching his mum? He looks terrified, poor guy! Thank you for bringing us along on your adventure!
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Funny but I looked through my photos for something adventurous and not finding anything that suited eventually settled on this. It was quite unnerving with the kids, particularly those from the north of the island where there weren’t any roads and they were very isolated , as they were petrified when they saw a white person for the first time. This one is clutching his sister and she looked as though she was trying to hightail it out of there as well. It really shows the meaning of whites of their eyes.
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A true life’s adventure full of rich discoveries not just about another country’s culture but of oneself. I admire you all for sharing your time, talent, knowledge and heart to make a positive difference on others. Most people today are too busy living their lives that they forget so many are simply struggling to live. All the best to you and your family. Thanks for an enriching adventure!
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Thanks Island Traveller. You are quite right about finding out not only another culture but also about one’s self. The journey of life is what you make it and if you can make a positive difference even to one person it could then snowball without you knowing. But you have to keep trying as I know you do and your son will follow in your footsteps. Cheers to you all
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