Day 5 & no sleep

I know people pay big bucks to get those machines that have the river rushing and crickets, etc. but I want one with sirens and maybe a train horn in the background!! I have slept horribly every night, and thanks to the howler monkeys (yes there is a reason for that name) I'm up all night and pretty early in the morning and everyone knows how pleasant I can be in the morning!!

But I digress. We went to the organization for tropical studies this morning at la selva. Had yet another lecture about the type of research they do on the rainforest which ran way too long, but then we took a walk through their rainforest and saw spider faced monkeys (did mention we saw a howler monkey the last day... They're all starting to run together). Lots of birds! And then it started downpouring! This is the wet season! We got drenched and had to head back to the station! I wish we could have gone further into the forest, but we had good reason for cutting it short...we were going ziplining and white water rafting!!

The ziplining was fun! Susie was worried at first about doing it, and so was karla, but they're troopers and did it. Supposedly it's a good way to see the rainforest, but you don't really see anything because you're too worried about watching the guides and knowing if you should break or keep going! I went first, and got stuck over the middle of the river!! The guide had to come out and pull me along like a monkey. Susie got stuck as well!! Once I got the hang of it, it was fun! Leslie and I got invited out for drinks by the guides (they were all young guys) at a local bar later in the evening. I said I'd go, but only if they were buying...and if edwin would come. That didn't happen.

Once the ziplining was over (and, I might add, I kicked Susie's ass on the last line...she insists she didn't know we were racing, but I think she was lying because she lost baaad!), we went to the sarapiqui river to go white water rafting. I was nervous especially when Mau, our guide, started telling us all the things that could go wrong!! (side note about Mau..gorgeous, sexy, hot...getting the idea? and he had to be in his upper 30s maybe 40. I couldn't take my eyes off him which made it hard to concentrate on what he was saying).

Again I digress...the rafting was the best thing we've done! It was hilarious because you have to paddle together and listen to the leaders commands which you know is hard for teachers, so it made for some interesting movements. You get soaked an once I realized I wasn't going to fall out of the boat (contrary to what Mau warned) I had a blast. There were 6 of us and it was the best part of the trip!

Once back at the lodge and dripping wet, we changed for dinner and bat misting at another reserve. This basically means we learned how they study and catch bats an got to see some live ones. I had a major problem with the bats. Not fear...more of a concern. I know we have to study them in order to learn more about them, but putting them in bags and yanking on their appendages is not some thing I like to view. The guide was telling us that they get stressed after a long time in confinement! Well, duh!! wasn't comfortable with it though I did touch one. Susie didn't initially touch one, but she finally did at the end.

I clearly needed a beer after the bats so, thankfully, the bar was still open, and got in a few drinks that night. Susie and I were up pretty late with Edwin our guide, and Didier, our driver. We had a good time!! Now if only I could put this good nature to use and get some good sleep!