Peaking into the world

PANAMA | Friday, 5 July 2013 | Views [589] | View Smaller Image

[CALM AMIDST CHAOS] While visiting a small town, Pedasi for the Santa Catalina festival, the town came alive with rich colours, sounds and excitement for one its biggest events. Like many other festivals in Panama, much of this excitement is fuelled by a lot of drinking of home made alcohol. Towards the end of the day there was much stumbling and confusion by many. When I asked to take a photo of this man he kindly let me do so and impressively took a very composed, calm stature despite the cacophony of excitement around him. However, he did not look at the camera. Instead his also very calm cow looked straight into the lense - somewhat knowingly.

Tags: pedasi, panama, festival, cow

[SLOTH ACROBATICS]
One day in Panama city I walked to a market on a forested hill, Cerro Ancon. The market was just beginning and different flavours of popular Reggaeton tunes were being blasted from tinny sound systems, seemingly from all directions. Unfortunately for a local sloth, he had overnight chosen a tree right above the central activities of the daytime market, which were encroaching on the forested area. With the realisation of human chaos beneath its tree, the sloth was desperately trying to make an escape to nearby trees without having to climb down its own tree. Unfortunately for the sloth, the nearby trees were not so nearby. In this process of escape the sloth demonstrated some magnificent displays of acrobatics (and energy!) that I did not realise were possible for a sloth. It was fascinating to see the fluid, yet also awkward movements of such a strange creature. But it left me with a heavy feeling of guilt (and helplessness) as I watched this sloth's distress. I am pleased to say that eventually the sloth's efforts were rewarded and he safely made it to the arms of nearby branches, where he clambered away more quickly than I've ever seen a sloth do so.

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[BREAKING THE STEREOTYPE OF LATINO MALES]
At the Santa Catalina festival I witnessed this moment of dedication and tenderness from a local campesino farmer towards his baby. He had such focus of care as other men around him were loudly partaking in other activities. I was particularly struck by the timing of this moment and my reflection of it, as right behind them was a sign 'Protecto' (protection in English). This, I think, may have been a sign for a brand of fertiliser, but nevertheless I found it reflected the essence of the moment and my thoughts around it. During my travels in Panama as a female, I was at times taken aback by macho and chauvinistic attitudes of some men. However, like many countries around the world, it is changing and I was pleased to be get insights into greater open mindedness around gender and associated roles.

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Peaking into the world

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