Galapagos Trip - Planning

Bumped into an "upgrade" 

Back in May, I booked a Galapagos Island cruise on the yacht, Fragata, which was scheduled to leave later this month. Today, I received an email with the following information:

Due to an unintentional error on behalf of the operator of the Fragata, they have upgraded you to the Luxury class motor yacht, Beluga! For more information on this yacht, feel free to go to http://www.enchantedexpeditions.com/yachts_beluga.htm

While the "new" yacht is probably nicer than the Fragata (it costs more than 2X that of the Fragata), I didn't pick the cruise based on the yacht. I picked it based on the itinerary. With the Fragata, I would visit Genovesa, Santa Fe, and South Plazas islands. The Beluga does not go to any of these three islands! Instead, it goes to Fernandina and a couple of places on Isabela islands.

I'm sure these are very nice, but I spent weeks researching the different islands and which animals I wanted to see. I was willing to pass on seeing the flightless cormorant (on Isabela) to see the red footed boobies, red-billed tropic birds, and short eared owls on Genovesa. (I can see the latter two birds on some of the islands that remain the same for both itineraries, but they aren't as "easy" to find on those islands as the ones I am giving up) Both Santa Fe and South Plazas are excellent places to see land iguanas. I'm not sure I will see them on Isabela.

While I'm sure that I will have a great time once I'm there, I can't help but feel extremely disappointed that the trip I invested a great deal of thought into planning (and paid for months ago) was drastically changed so close to my departure!

Bank robbery? 

 I went to the bank today to get cash for my trip to Ecuador. There were several 'unsavory' looking people in line, so I decided to write down the amounts of each denomination that I wanted, rather than being overheard talking to the bank teller. I found a piece of paper in my bag, and wrote down that information, then at the top of the page scrawled "Crisp Unmarked Bills!"

I then wrapped that piece of paper around my withdrawal slip, bank card, and driver's license. When I got to the window, I slid the whole thing under the glass, oblivious that the only thing he could see was

Crisp Unmarked Bills!

It took me a split second to realize why he had a look of panic on his face and then I quickly corrected the looming problem by telling him to unfold the paper - that my ID and withdrawal slip were inside. He chuckled and told me that "unmarked bills" is a term that I should avoid during future trips to the bank. D'uh!

That problem solved, the teller tried to fulfill my request of a specific number of each denomination that was crisp, clean, and free of any tears or extraneous markings. He had to dig through several tellers' drawers in order to find enough bills that fit the order. Finally he got everything I needed, and as he was handing me the money, he commented that it probably would have been easier if I had held him up!

*The official currency of Ecuador is the US dollar. I read on several tourist information sites and guide books that it is best to carry small bills, and that it is hard to get people to accept the bills if they are torn, dirty, worn out, or have writing on them. Hence my desire to have small unmarked bills.

Mensa World Gathering 2006

I just got back from spending 5 days at the Mensa World Gathering in Orlando. According to the press, over 2000 people from over 38 countries attended. I'm not really sure how to describe the experience.

I spent most of my time with the Gen-X SIG, some of whom are part of my core group of friends in Phoenix, some were people that I met at previous gatherings, and a number were new people that I just met. The Gen-X events were well attended and a lot of fun - even when the Disney cops made us disperse to the hospitality room. In fact, the hospitality room was a great place to really get to know individuals better. A group of 6 of us spent the entire night in hospitality talking until the mid-hours of the morning (I went to bed at 9:45 am).

One person in the group of 6 that stayed up all night (and in the group of 3 that stayed up until 3:30 the following night) was a guy named John. He was cute, fun, witty, nice, smart (I guess that one's a given at a Mensa event) and just so adorable I wanted to take him home with me! We exchanged emails, so hopefully we will remain in touch.

Another of those in the group was Shawn, from the reality TV show Beauty and the Geek. Shawn gave a presentation the previous day on what it was like to be on the show. His presentation was fun, light, and very funny. In addition to having a "cute geekiness" to him, it turned out that he was a very fun, witty, funny, and genuinely nice guy. (I know guys hate to be called "nice" but Shawn really is - and in a good way.)

In addition to all the good memories, I also had too many encounters with creepy lecherous men who lacked social skills - they stood too close when they talked, they stared at inappropriate places on your body, they opened conversations with off-color jokes, and they tried to ignore the "hug dots".

Hug dots come in three colors:

• green indicates that the wearer is willing to be hugged by anyone - friend, foe, pedophile, letch, leper, etc;
• yellow tells potential huggers to ask the wearer for permission before touching;
• red means "hands off!"

As far as I know, Mensa is the only organization that implements these hug dots, for a membership that obviously can't read social signals on their own. This makes me question the whole premise of Mensans being the top 2% of the population in intelligence. Obviously the tests used to determine Mensa eligibility do not include all 7 of Gardner's Multiple Intelligences. I think it probably only measures three of them:

• Logical-Mathematical Intelligence
• Linguistic Intelligence
• Spatial Intelligence

It leaves the other 4 intelligences out:

• Musical Intelligence
• Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence
• Intrapersonal Intelligence
• Interpersonal Intelligence

It seems like there should be a test that requires Mensans to score at least in the 50th percentile for interpersonal intelligence - although it seems like too many are in the bottom 2%.

Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence was something else that was lacking in some members. The Gen-X group hosted a dodgeball tournament. Two people were injured - one enough to require a wheelchair for the duration of the gathering (and probably the next month or so). I feel sorry for him when he gets home and back to work. Imagine having to explain to your friends and coworkers that you are in a wheelchair because a bunch of nerds and geeks kicked your @ss in dodgeball!

Brazil Adventure (Aug 18-Sept 2, 2005)

Because I really enjoyed the trip I took to Rio a couple of years ago, I decided to return to Brazil and see more of the country. I picked three main regions I wanted to visit:

1. Iguassu Falls (Brazil and Argentina sides)
2. the Pantanal
3. Garopaba, to see right whales.

Aug 18

I flew to Houston, than changed planes in Sao Paulo and Curitiba, before arriving in in Foz do Iguacu.

Aug 22

After visiting Iguassu Falls, I caught a flight to Campo Grande and then a bus to the Pantanal and later Bonito. After visiting both, I returned to Campo Grande for the night.

Aug 29

I flew from Campo Grande to Florianopolis than headed to Garopaba

Sept 2

Left Garopaba and then flew from Florianopolis to Sao Paulo, then to Houston and back home.

Foz do Iguaçu

My first afternoon, I arrived in the town of Foz do Iguacu, Brazil. I checked into the Hotel Rouver and dumped my stuff, then took a walk to explore the city. I was pretty worn out from traveling all day, so had an early dinner and then collapsed on the bed for the night. The next morning I woke bright and early, had breakfast, then caught a city bus to Iguacu Falls. Iguacu Falls consists of 275 falls, forming a gigantic semi-circle 2.5 km long, with millsions of gallons of thundering water plunging to depths 75m below. The falls are located at the border of Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay, and bring together the Iguassu and Parana rivers.
On the Brazilian side of the falls, the trails are mostly concrete (sidewalks) with wooden railings to prevent you from falling into the waters below. There are a few steps and some grade changes, but it is a nice leisurely stroll, unless you are part of a tour. Then they march you right along.
There were lots of birds along the trail, including this toco toucan. It didn't seem to shy around people either.

I brought Benigni along with me, so I had to take an obligatory picture of him. I tried to get the rainbow to look like it was going in the glass. The final picture didn't quite have the effect I was going for, because a toucan swooped down and tried to steal Benigni. I had to hang on for dear life. Benigni's stem was already damaged from a prior journey, and the toucan ended up damaging it further. I had all I could do to keep it in one piece and in my possession.

There were also quite a few butterflies in the area. Over 700 species have been identified in the park.
I also happened to catch this pair of mating grasshoppers "in the act".
But the real attraction was the falls.

The waters above the falls are deceptively tranquil.

Despite tons of signs warning not to feed the coatis, people did anyway. The restaurant had to hire people whose sole job it was to chase away the coaties. I almost lost half of my sandwich to one. I let go of it to take a drink and one of the sneaky devils almost snatched it off my table. After that I was more careful.
Don't let their cuteness fool you. One man had a sack of apples and they ran up and ripped open his sack and attacked the apples. Then they chased him looking for more.

I spent most of the day in the park, but left a little bit of time to visit the bird park that is just outside the main entrance to the falls. I'm glad I did, because seeing the birds here made it easier for me to identify wild birds throughout my trip.

Iguazu Falls, Argentina

The next morning, I got up and caught a bus to Iguazu Falls, Argentina. After going through customs at the border and changing busses at Puerto Iguazu, I was on my way to the park.

The Argentina side of the falls felt much more developed. There were several trails instead of just the single trail, so it didn't feel nearly as crowded. The Brazilian side gave more of a panoramic view, but the Argentina side let you get up close and personal to the falls, especially the lower circuit trails.

Great dusky swifts (vencejos) perched on the rocks by the falls. These birds flitted in and out of the falls catching insects.

Salto Bossetti - you could feel the mist from these falls.

A small waterfall and lagoon on the Lower Circuit trail. It looked like the perfect place for a swim (if not for the sign prohibiting swimming).

The calm surface waters plunge into the Devil's throat (Garganta del Diablo).
The roar of the falls was almost deafening, but the spray felt fantastic.

The Argentina side of the falls didn't have nearly the problem with coatis as the Brazil side. Unfortunately, an even worse pest attacked your lunch....wasps!

After a day at the falls, it was back on the bus to Brazil for dinner and sleep. The next morning, I had an early flight to Campo Grande.