Biotrips in Mesoamerica

My Photo scholarship 2011 entry

Panama | Tuesday, November 8, 2011 | 5 photos

In every trip I start, I always expect colorful places and vibrant life everywhere. Panamá in Central America didn’t let me down.
When I got to the border between Costa Rica and Panamá I found the first sign of color, an old lady selling “mollas” took my attention. She was dressed in such vibrant colors accessorized with lots of bracelets on her hands and legs that distinguished her from other cultures in Panamá. I crossed the border and as I left the lady behind I thought, “This will be a surprising and wonderful trip”.
On the bus to Panama City, the capital, I wondered where to stay and go while in Panama. Luckily for me, an old man sitting beside me, advice me go to Barro Colorado Island and that’s when It hit me “I had to get there no matter what”.
When I arrived to the city I took a “Diablo Rojo” bus ( due to their particular paint) to the city of Gamboa, from where I took a small boat to the island. On my way, I saw a lot of pelicans; one of them “told” me “follow me dude!”
I arrived to the island after sunset. At dawn of the following day, mantled howler monkeys woke me up so I enjoyed their song to the sun right from a yellow blooming tree, that made me realized what an amazing view it was to start the day.
While hiking, I decided to climb a fig tree in my attempt to get a different view of the forest, I got to the top, and for my surprise, a friendly sloth with a very fashioned hair style, was having his own feast of fruits, so I joined him in an extreme but amazing banquet with good company.
I’m Yader, 25 years old, from El Salvador, Central America, I’m passionate for photography. I have traveled through the Mesoamerican tropics learning, watching and of course taking tons of pics! Be mentored by Mr. Edwards will be a wonderful experience and I could benefit from his knowledge. Being in a NatGeo trip in Africa will really be a dream come true for someone like me, that has studied animals, plants and cultures in tropics.
Believe me Im your man for this opportunity; I have all the necessary things to do my 110% as always.