HEATHER  RATH
  • Home
    • Admin Stuff
  • Who Is She ?
  • Writings
    • Books
    • Children's Stories
    • Lifestyle Columns
    • Short Stories
    • Travel Articles
    • Projects
  • Reviews/Links
  • Blog
  • Comments
  • Contact
  • Poetry
  • Untitled

Panamanian Jungle

2/18/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Our resident hummingbird perches on the airplant branch attached to the palm tree outside our door.  He sits still, carefully preening his miniature feather wings.  I am fascinated this tiny creature migrates seasonally from the hot Panamanian sun to as far north as Smithers, British Columbia, in Canada’s western interior.  While I complain about a 20 minute walk in the searing sun, it is nothing compared to the flight pattern of this exquisite fragile-looking bird.
I am here in the city of David in central Panama to research my latest book.  It’s almost easier to write than walk in this heat! Just returned from an exploratory tour in the jungle on the Caribbean side of this isthmus.  A perfect scenario for a hero and heroine. 

Picture
To survive in the jungle if lost you can eat termites.  Yep.  These are the little fellas in the large dark nests growing on the tree bark but close to the ground.  Tear off the papery covering and watch them scatter. Then like a big bear scooping out honey, reach in and scoop up a mess of termites.  Pop them in your mouth before they escape to your arm or other body parts.  Chew them immediately.  They tend to move while inside your mouth (they are still alive!) and sometimes get caught between teeth.  Our guide says they provide you with protein but you’d have to eat lots and lots.  And the taste?  Some report a taste like almonds, others say celery seeds.  Take your pick!
The jungle is filled with exciting flora and fauna, too.  We caught a rare glimpse of the Helicopter Damselfly.  This stunning flying insect has translucent wings except for its edges so it takes on the appearance of a helicopter when it flies. 

Picture
And are you having trouble with unwanted insect houseguests?  Simply do what our guide and his family, who live in the jungle, do.  He reports sometimes army ants invade his home.  He and his family move out for a few days while the army ants act like mini Molly Maids.  They seek out and devour/destroy any hidden scorpions or cucarachas (cockroaches).  When the family returns the army ants are gone and so are the hidden pests.  A perfect example of living with Nature, not against it.
More jungle vignettes next blog.


Map of Panama
A Dark and Stormy Night - new column
0 Comments

    Author

    A day without writing is a day without sunshine.

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    September 2022
    July 2022
    May 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

All authored material and photographs contained on this site are copyrighted © and the property of Heather Rath and cannot be reproduced without her written permission.
Photos used under Creative Commons from Bazar del Bizzarro, roland, Mike Kniec