Tag Archives: fauna

Mexico, North America

Mexico: Visiting a Friend in the Riviera Maya

This January we decided to go visit a friend who had been working as a SCUBA instructor in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico.  So, with 2 days notice, we booked flights, and took off for the week to hang out on the Mayan Riviera.

Playa del Carmen is about 45 minutes away from Cancun.  We easily hopped on the airport shuttle, and met our friend Andrew at the bus station on Quinta Avenida.  (FYI: Quinta Avenida is one of the busiest most obnoxious shopping streets ever–more on that later!)

As neither of us are really “beach” people, we needed a plan to enjoy the most of our stay in the resort filled paradise.  We quickly learned how to take the colectivo busses (5 pesos each) so we could travel to and from Andrew’s apartment.  With three of us, traveling by car was a cheap convenient option for longer distances, so we decided to rent a car to explore some of the sites in the state of Quintana Roo.

CHICHÉN ITZÁ
UNESCO Designation at Chichen Itza
UNESCO Designation at Chichen Itza

Chichen Itza is one of the New 7 Wonders of the World AND a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Lucky for us, these Mayan ruins were close enough to Playa Del Carmen that we were able to make a day trip to the site.  We hopped in the car and quickly learned to spot the GIANT Mexican Speedbumps AKA “topes” along the way!

El Castillo, Kukulcan Pyramid - Chichen Itza Mexico
El Castillo, Kukulcan Pyramid – Chichen Itza Mexico

El Castillo, the iconic Kukulcan pyramid of the Yucatan, is definitely the main attraction of Chichen Itza.  The structure has all sorts of astronomical importance for when and how the sun hits during equinoxes and solstices.   Google it up if you’re interested.

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On the way from Chichen Itza back to our home base, we stopped in the sweet little colonial town of Valladolid.  It would have been nice if we’d have had more time to explore all that the town had to offer as it was a super cute place.

People would have to sit face to face and have a conversation.
San Servacio Church, Valladolid
COBA

For our second day with the rental car, we decided to head to Coba.  Coba was the largest and most powerful Mayan city before the rise of Chichen Itza.  These Mayan Ruins also have the largest pyramid of the Yucatan Peninsula.  As a visitor, I enjoyed the atmosphere of Coba much more than Chichen Itza.  Though there were dozens more touts which is a definite draw back to any site, the pathways through the jungle, and the trees/shade made up for it.

The tallest pyramid on the Yucatan Peninsula.
La Iglesia, Coba
Maybe another time?
TULUM
Pelican - Tulum Beach
Pelican – Tulum Beach

We made it to the beach at Tulum, but due to time constraints missed visiting these ruins.  After having seen the two previous archeological sites, we weren’t super disappointed at missing Tulum.  The beach itself was beautiful.  Such fine sand, almost like confectionary sugar, and some pelicans bobbing along on the waves made me a happy gal.

The Caribbean Sea, Tulum
The Caribbean Sea, Tulum
BEST OF THE REST
Cruise Ship Cozumel
One of the many cruise ships plaguing the Cozumel coastline.

We were left with a few days to fill up, and I had heard great things about Cozumel from friends and coworkers.   Cozumel is a short ferry ride from Playa del Carmen, and is supposed to be a fun way to spend the day.

SUCH A  DISAPOINTMENT!

Cozumel is touts on steroids, and beyond that, it is horribly packed with cruise ship passengers.  Visiting Cozumel was a huge waste of time and money.  If you’re there for SCUBA, I’m sure you’d have a great time.  We did not.

After the shit-show of Cozumel, I was certain Xcaret would be a horrible experience as well.  We are not fans of zoos/aquariums in general.  The reviews online were utterly horrendous! Fortunately, I was pleasantly surprised.  For us, it was actually an alright facility.

Note: We did not participate in any of the water activities.  If you’re into snorkeling or swimming with dolphins/sting rays feel free.  That’s not my cup o’ tea.  Guaranteed my opinion would have changed to the negative had I taken part in any of those activities.

Scarlet Macaw - Xcaret
Scarlet Macaw – Xcaret

We were able to see baby Sea Turtles at various ages as part of the Sea Turtle Conservation program.  The Butterfly Garden was kind of neat.  We saw dozens and dozens of birds, parrots, macaws, flamingos etc.  Xcaret is part of conservation efforts for Scarlet Macaws.

Red Forehead Parrot – Xcaret
Flamingos at Xcaret

This vacation really was a different experience for us.  Typically, we don’t stay in one city for more than 3 or 4 days, and we’ve never had a host or home to settle in.  Being able to set a home base definitely made for a more enjoyable adventure in Mexico.

Mmmm tacos.
Mmmm tacos, before adding the delicious toppings.

We were able to experience several things that we would have missed out on otherwise–like using colectivos, going to the movies, eating at the same little taco stand, drinking Horchata, and even just relaxing in the evenings playing card games.

All in all it was an enjoyable winter interlude in Mexico.  Thanks Andrew for the hospitality!

~j

Israel, Middle East

Mount of Olives: A Walking Tour

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Mount of Olives, a hill on the eastern side of Jerusalem, was the site of Christ’s betrayal in the Garden of Gethsemane.  There are several churches commemorating events of Christ’s Agony on the Mount of Olives.  Jewish cemeteries are a prominent feature on the hill.  You’ll also find it is a GREAT place to view the Old City.  There are some excellent views of the Dome of the Rock!

As we were without motorized transport for the day, we opted to do a guided walking tour on the Mount of Olives.  For the photography, and of course the history, visiting the Mount of Olives is  a good way to pass the afternoon.  Here are some of the churches and sites we saw on our visit.

Enjoy,
~j

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New Zealand, Oceania

Why You Should Visit the Otago Peninsula

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Sea Lions, Otago Penninsula

The Otago Peninsula is one of the few places to see the endangered Yellow Eyed Penguins, and one of the only mainland Albatross habitats in the world.  This is probably one of my favorite vacation days in recent memory.  When we were looking for a company to visit the Otago Peninsula with, I was asked if I was a “twitcher” because I wanted the opportunity to see penguins.

twitch·er

ˈtwiCHər/
noun
noun: twitcher; plural noun: twitchers
  • a person or thing that twitches.
    British informal
  • a birdwatcher whose main aim is to collect sightings of rare birds.
No, I don’t think I would go that far! However, I’m not going to say no at the opportunity to see Royal Albatross and Yellow Eyed Penguins, Seals, Sea Lions, and tons of other birds!  That’s awesome.  We saw so many more birds than I could have even imagined.  The day wasn’t just about the birds; the Sea Lions were a definite hi-lite of the day.

To see the Albatross, we went to the Royal Albatross Centre at Taiaroa Head on the Otago Penninsula.  The centre is the only mainland place in the world to view these enormous birds.

The teeny tiny Yellow Eyed Penguins were on the opposite end of the size spectrum.  They actually walk up from the beach (near the Sea Lions who very well could eat them!) up the sand bank into the longer grassy areas to nest.  It was quite the trek for these little waddling birds.

If you’re in New Zealand, and wondering whether to visit or not, take the opportunity.  It was fantastic.

~j

New Zealand, Oceania

Milford Sound

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Milford Sound MapTraveling  by bus from Queenstown to Milford Sound and back again made for a long day!  Not having our own transportation , we went with a day tour.  If you’re from a coastal rainforest area, Milford Sound might not be very impressive to you.  I found it worth the visit.  There were plenty of stops along the way that broke up the trip nicely.

Milford Sound, in Fjordland National Park, is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  This unique area receives more than 6.5m of rain annually.  (That’s about 21 feet of rain a year for all of you non-metric folks–more than three times your height unless you play for the NBA!)  Such high rainfall creates a layer of fresh water over the salt water sound.  Stained by tannins washed down from the forest, the fresh water layer restricts light to all but the top 40m.  This creates a rare opportunity for deep water eco-systems to be much closer to the surface than normal.   Milford Sound is a popular area for SCUBA for this reason.

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Though Milford Sound receives up to 180 days of rain annually, we had a beautiful sunny day for a cruise on the water.

Happy Travels,
~j

North America, Oceania

Queenstown

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Sparrow on Toi Toi GrassQueenstown seemed to be the adventure sport hub of our New Zealand trip.  It is very similar in feeling to Banff or Jasper.  Lots of little shops to check out, but also lots of gorgeous scenery and outdoor activity.   Fazh was most excited about going paragliding.  He saw them, and instantly wanted to go.  Literally, we hadn’t even checked-in or put our bags away.  I guess when you know, you know!

We also managed to check “see a Kiwi bird” off his list by visiting the Kiwi Birdlife Park.  Queenstown is also home to Fergburger, a burger place with a cult like following.  Seriously, the line-up was out the door, constantly.  I must say it was delicious.  Here are some photos of our time in Queenstown.

Kiwi Birdlife Park, Queenstown NZ
Skyline Gondola, Queenstown NZ
Fergburger–One tasty stop for lunch!
Fazh’s Ferg coffee with a little meringue treat
Fazh and his paraglide partner Dean
Fazh Paragliding
Fergburger, Queenstown NZ
Fazh Paragliding
New Zealand, Oceania

Hot Springs, Haka & Hangi Oh My!

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No visit to Rotorua would be complete without a trip to Te Whakarewarewa.  (Whaka for short, and the ‘Wh’ is pronounced as an ‘F’…true story!) My brother had visited years earlier in high school and was emphatic that the Hangi cooked corn was a must.  So funny!  The geothermal vents provide heat needed to steam and cook food which is actually quite tasty, but more of a novelty than a must do.

We spent the day visiting the Maori village, checking out the geothermal and cultural sites.  There was a performance that included information on traditional Maori clothing, tools, music, and a Haka, which Fazh loved.  Our park guide, Sandra, was great, even if she tried to introduce her self at the start of the tour as Te whakarewarewatangaoteopetauaawahiao.  (The full name of the site, loosely translated to: The gathering place for the war parties of Wahiao.)  And, now you can see why the village is called Whaka by the locals.

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Rotorua also provided us with the opportunity to cross a few “must-sees” off of Fazh’s list by visiting the Agrodome.  If you’ve been reading all along, you’ll know that he wanted to see a sheep sheering, a kiwi orchard and some logging industry site amongst several other things.  Logging was cut before we left.  Pun intended.  At least the other two were enjoyable.  The Agrodome was a thoroughly entertaining day at a fantastic facility.  The “sheep show” features 19 different kinds of sheep.  The farm is home to all types of animals–working sheep dogs, geese, ducks, Angora goats, llamas, alpacas, red and fallow deer, ostrich and emu.  Kiwi and feijoa fruit are grown on the organic farm, as well as apples, mandarin oranges and olives.

Merino crossing
Feijoa Fruit
Kiwi Fruit
Pukeko Bird
Angora Goats
Ostrich

Check out the photos, and see for yourself.

Happy travels,
~j

North America, USA, Yellowstone

Observations on Americana

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I’m not inspired to write this entry. I’ve moved on to thinking about the next trip, and these last little bits are just so random that it makes any remotely coherent writing nearly impossible. But, this could be the last Yellowstone entry, which is great because I already have so many other things to include. Here are the last observations from our half-way across the country road trip.

Buffalo crossing signI was so happy to find the Buffalo Crossing sign to add to the photo collection! In all of Yellowstone, there is only ONE that we saw. The irony is that there wasn’t a buffalo for miles around the sign; they most certainly were everywhere else. We found the sign as we were leaving the park on the last day. Road signs included, there are quite a few differences between Canada and the US that are easily noticed when driving through the United States. None of these differences is a bad thing (well except for one which we’ll get to!)

M sign Overt Patriotism abounds in the US. Not to say that Canadians aren’t patriotic, we just don’t generally plaster the Canadian flag anywhere and everywhere (well, except in Falkland. Maybe they’re a little nutty?). In addition to flags everywhere, each little town along the way had a huge letter on a hillside somewhere on the edge of town, like a teeny tiny Hollywood sign to celebrate the town, but with only the first letter. I can’t remember where the photo of the M is from, but you get the point.

Wade Magers and Jesse Allen Another difference–elected law enforcement. In BC, Sheriffs serve primarily with the court system. They’re involved with jury selection and with transporting prisoners to court cases etc. Whereas, in the US, the Sheriff is seen as the highest member of law enforcement, and is elected by the county he/she serves. As you can see, Wade Magers and Jesse Allen were running for Lincoln County Sheriff** (Kudos to you Wade Magers for winning by over 1000 votes.) Which also brings about the use of the word “County”. Seriously, I bet less than 1 in 10 Canadians could tell you which county they live in. We never use that term. Ever.

The one sick difference–white gravy at breakfast. Biscuits and gravy=wrong! You would be hard pressed to find that in any breakfast/brunch buffet in BC. Vile! And non-sweetened Iced Tea–why would anyone want plain, tasting-like-newspaper-ink actual cold brewed tea?

testy festyWe did see another food item that was particularly interesting. Anyone up for attending the Testicle Festival event next year? Their slogan “You’ll have a ball! If you miss it, you’re nuts.” Klassy with a capital K.
And there were plenty of “interesting” attractions in the small towns we drove through. How about the Jackalope Exhibit?

adopt a highwayThere were literally thousands of Adopt a Highway signs. Every 2 miles for thousands and thousands of miles. I felt like I was being brain washed. Somehow they aren’t as noticeable here. The other uber-depressing marker that there were thousands of–little white crosses along the interstate that mark where someone has died.

And my all time favourite=Smokey Bear. I’ve never seen Smokey used on any fire prevention signs here. That would be awesome, and much more entertaining.
Smokey Bear

Happy Travels,
~j

**The campaign signs were everywhere. Jesse Allen Lincoln County Sheriff became quite the conversation topic. Imagine a made for TV movie staring Tom Selleck as Jesse Allen and some washed up wrestler (like the dude who was a Governor) as Wade Magers. They would have rival moustaches. Ooh, that would be good TV for the ancient demographic.

North America, USA

Do Not Feed Prairie Dogs

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Do not feed prairie dogsPrairie Dog Town is a real location at the entrance of the Belle Fourche campground. True story. Check out the map. We ended up spending a very rainy night there. The campground was nice enough, but the weather not so much. At least we were able to take some fun photos.

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 These Black-tailed prairie dogs remind me of the marmots at one of the parks here. (photo below) Even though they’re Yellow-bellied marmots–they still look the similar. Yep, Groundhogs, Marmots, Prairie Dogs, whatever you like to call them–the same all over the place. (ps: they really are all from the Sciuridae family, so there’s your mini science lesson for the day.)
gopher

 

 

North America, USA, Yellowstone

Wyoming: The Road Kill State

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I don’t even know where to start with this entry. Maybe with some photos…

After we had driven through miles and miles of corn fields in Montana, the scenery in Wyoming was a welcomed change. Luckily, we managed to take the scenic route to Devil’s Tower which made a lot of difference. Most of these shots were taken from a moving vehicle, so don’t be too sad if they’re off kilter.

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We drive major highways all the time. Every day. Hwy 1, Hwy 5, Hwy 16, Hwy 97, etc etc. Even including all the driving in other countries, the number of times I’ve seen road kill prior to this trip is probably less than 20. In Wyoming, that number is probably about 1500, and I’m not exaggerating. Why the hell is there so much road kill on the I-90? So disheartening.

Bet you really wanted to know this—in many States and Provinces it is legal to collect and eat road kill. Seriously. Animals are collected (if they’re not too smashed up) and distributed to churches, soup kitchens etc to make meals. People can keep the meat they find; different rules apply in different areas though. I suppose it makes sense? At least you know how and where the road kill happened to be if you’re the one who hits it? Is it really different than hunting game? The animal is still being killed, just with a vehicle, not a conventional weapon? But somehow I don’t think I’ll be trying roadkill stew any time soon.

Wikipedia even has a nutritional values chart. Yummy.

North America, USA, Yellowstone

Stop, Drop, Roll

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Naturally Reseeded by Wildfire
Reseeded by Wildfire in 1988

The park covers 8980km² which is about 2.2 million acres. In 1988 almost 800,000 acres burned. Thousands of fire fighters and 380 million litres of fire retardant were used for one of the largest fire fighting efforts ever, and still it was Mother Nature that eventually squelched the fire with fall rain and snow.

Yellowstone, and the National Park Services have a natural burn policy–as long as a fire is caused by nature (ie: lightening) and isn’t threatening human life, park structures, natural resources or areas of cultural importance the fire is allowed to burn. Obviously fire is important to the ecosystems of the park; I can appreciate that. Allowing 36% of the park to burn in 1988 certainly affected the landscape we saw. One can’t help but wonder what the deforested areas would have looked like had there been no mass fire. It isn’t as though we’re strangers to the scorched earth landscape left behind by wild fires–BC is always on fire. Always. On the positive side, the 20 year old trees appear to be thriving and green where they’re growing back.

Dead trees, YellowstoneAnother tree oddity on Cooking Hillside–“Shake then Bake”. From one of the sign posts: “Covered by dense forest until 1978, this hillside changed dramatically after a swarm of earthquakes struck the area. In spite of being jolted again and again, the trees remained standing, but met their demise soon afterward when ground temperatures soared to 200°F or 94°C! Roots sizzled in the super-heated soil and trees toppled over one by one as steam rose eerily between the branches.”

Some more park facts for you:

Yellowstone Lake is one of the largest high altitude lakes in North America at 2557m above Sea Level. (Or, 7733 feet.) Yellowstone Caldera is the largest super volcano in North America. We crossed the continental divide several times while in the park. Most of the park is in Wyoming, but also there’s 3% in Montana and 1% in Idaho. This Map shows the Caldera, the Continental Divide as well as all the roads and other normal map components. It is almost identical to the one given out at the park entrance.

Yellowstone Lake

Moving from flora to fauna, in 1926 Wolves were nearly exterminated in the park. By the 1970’s the Wolf was on the US endangered species list. In 1995, and 1996 there was a successful Wolf reintroduction program. To promote bio-diversity, 32 wolves were imported to Yellowstone from BC and Alberta. Word is that the wolves “were back” when we were in the park. Loads of people with spotting scopes were at pullouts in the Lamar Valley. One couple we ran into (who said we had Canadian accents, and that they aspire to be Canadian because “we’re so civilized”–so funny!) had been successful in their viewing that morning. They have lived near the park all their lives, and were super excited to share information with us.

Once they had been watching a small wolf pack for days (can’t remember the pack name, but they knew exactly who they were), they saw the wolves take down a bull Elk, and then a Grizzly came and stole the carcass. They said they whole thing went on for about 3 days until loads of people showed up with scopes and binoculars to watch. We did not see anything even close to that, but then again, we didn’t have days to sit in one spot in hopes of seeing something with binoculars.

I did manage to spot some things with my eagle eyes, and thanks to my new camera I did get photos. These shots were taken from super far away, but you still get the gist. ps: I love the little goat peeking out from his leafy snack a top a cliff in the middle of nowhere.