Upon arriving at the Howler Monkey Lodge in Bermudian Landing, Russell, our fabulous leader, had many activities planned for us. We arrived from Orange Walk around 11 am, got settled into our cabins, and were fed a fabulous lunch. The owners were really good about providing us with a variety of food and drinks made from local plants and fruits. After lunch we went on a jungle walk and came face to face with Howler Monkeys! It was the most amazing experience to see a wild animal up close and personal like we had to opportunity to.
After the walk we had a little nap, had dinner and then came the horror show. If you know me, you know that I am a city girl at heart and there is no way I would ever choose to go near a crocodile, and fish terrify me.
All this was about to be challenged...
Brittany, Aggie, Laura, Dustin and myself were the lucky ones to embark on the spooky night canoe ride to go spot crocodiles in the river. The whole ride to the bank of the river I was thinking, and probably saying out loud "who's brilliant idea was this?? Why are we going looking for crocodiles?? Shouldn't we be running the other way??" It actually felt like I was in a horror movie driving down, only this time I was the main character, and I knew that danger was lurking around the next bend! However, there was no turning back, so I sweat and shook all the way down to the river.
When we got there, our fearless leader - Russell, encouraged me into the boat (where I got to sit in the princess chair, I was calling myself Pocahontas), and off we went. Brittany was in the front, then Laura, then myself and Russell paddling us along.
Shortly after we launched, we began hearing splashing sounds all around the boat. FISH!! As I mentioned, I am terrified of those little guys, no matter what size they are, so I was screaming my head off each time one jumped either head first into the side of the boat, or even right IN the boat and began flopping around at our feet, or under my chair. What a weird feeling that was having little fish flopping under the seat of my pants! I was squealing like crazy which tends to be quite piercing. Thanks to Laura and Russell for reaching under me and getting them for me, I could not bring myself to touch them.
The fish situation got even worse when I heard Aggie's yelp from the other boat that she had just been hit in the head by a fairly large bass. Of course, as luck would have it, I also got a fish in the chest, and at one point had 3 little ones jumping around under me at the same time!
Once I had gotten used to the fish (okay I lied, that never happened) we began spotting the crocodiles. Russell would shine his head lamp or a spot light and we would see up to 8 or 9 sets of glowing orange eyes in the distance.
We were lucky enough (once the fear wore off) to get our canoe right up beside some of them. I would have closed my eyes when we were about 6 inches away, but I had been given the responsibility of holding the spot light right on its eyes - to keep me distracted I'm sure.
On the way back Russell hopped out of the boat in search of a baby crocodile because he was determined to make us hold it. Something he had mentioned in the beginning, but I thought it was a cruel joke. Not so much. Like a lion, he pounced on this little crocodile. You should have heard the noises coming out of this poor, scared, little bugger. Then Russell exclaims, "look at all the other crocodiles coming up behind us". Oh great, now its mom and dad are going to jump in the boat and bite off my limbs! He then plopped the croc in my face for a picture and I held its tail for a picture, I couldn't bring myself to hold the whole thing in case I freaked out and threw it; then we would have had a lose crocodile running wild in the boat.
He finally threw it back and we were done! The ride back was nice and my heart rate returned to normal. What an experience! I cant wait for the other great times to come. Until then, take care.
Love Terin
