Pictures from Panama - Part 1 of 3

Hugh and Tammy picked me up in Panama City. Hugh really wanted to carry my bodyboards.

The view of the Panama city sky-line from our anchorage.

Hugh in his sweet, sweet Comex shirt

Pirates!

Bridge of the Americas - Pacific Entrance to the Panama Canal

Our first anchorage at Las Perlas Archipeligo.... just one of thousands of beautiful, empty, tropical, white sand beaches. One of the Survivor seasons was filmed in the Las Perlas Archipeligo.

We went snorkeling.

Hugh did some research for the Ocean Gybe Expedition

These plastic pellets are what Hugh is collecting. What's crazy is that they are not broken down plastic... they are raw material used to make plastic products. Somehow, they are leaking into the environment and carrying toxins all the way up the food chain. Besides spillage, one theory is that factories are blowing millions of these pellets up their smoke stacks to try and clean them out...brutal!
Hugh collects samples (unfortunately they're found on even the most remote beaches) and sends them to a researcher in Japan who is trying to trace where they are coming from.

More pellet collecting.

Sitka Surfboards, a BC based surf company, helped sponsor the oceangybe expedition by ponying up free surfboards and clothing.

This is a small village on the small Isla Casya.

Hugh and Tammy peruse Main street in the downtown district. Where can I get a Venti, vanilla soy, double shot, no foam, extra hot, half-cafe, latte around here?

Christmas was in the air.

A villager going about her day.

A fine cock.

No really, it's a very nice cock.

Hugh and Tammy about to launch the not so trusty dinghy. I think Hugh was trying to repair this thing every two or three days.

Hugh on our deserted Island.

Deserted Island Contemplation

Contemplation interrupted... stupid broken plastic chair.

Tammy on the reef.

Me on the reef.

Puffer fish (aka: Fugu).

Puffer fish II. Who knew a fish could be so cute?

We ended up calling this a "rubber" fish after I speared and cooked one (it was like eating rubber). The weird thing about spearing fish without a fish guide is that you're not quite sure what it'll taste like and you're just kind of hoping that it's not going to poison you.

Art Shot!

Tammy and Hugh

Tammy and the spear gun. Watch out seagulls!

Back chilling on Khulula after another successful day of leisure. I wish this picture could convey how quiet and peaceful it was... no other boats or people in sight...the only sound was water rippling when the odd fish would jump.