14/12/09 - day 5.

up at half 4, taxi to the airport at 5, checked in and waited for my flight to el porvenir. i would be staying in the kuna niskua lodge on WichubWala island. the kuna people that live there are an indigenous group that run the islands without government influence. they have their own gov, economic system, language, etc.

albrook airport was tiny, 1 terminal for the lines airlines there and 1 runway. the plane was tiny as well, 7 rows with 3 seats on each and not so much as a curtain between the cockpit and passengers. it was more like a bus setup - we walked out to the plane with the pilot, who opened the door at the back to let passengers in, and then got in himself. on the way to el porvenir, it dropped a few people off at what looked like a skanky island called corazon de jesus and after anout an hour arrived at the island. i was met by a fella called orlando who works at the lodge i stayed in, paid $2 entry to the island then got on a 5 minute boat the WichubWala.

when i got there, he showed my my room which was a thatched hut type thing with a corrugated iron roof, running water AND a light bulb for later. also had my very own toilet and shower! luxury! orlando said i could have breakfast whenever i wanted as i was the only guest currently on the whole island. i napped for an hour, ate, then he showed me around the island village. there are about 300 kuna people living there and they had a church, a shool and a medical centre each consisting of 1 room. after this little tour, he said we would visit other nearby islands with beaches, but had to wait for 2 other guests who would be coming as well.

the boat ride over the to other island was WELL choppy and i was seconds away from throwing up i am sure. somehow i didnt. the other 2 that came were a pasty, ginger, scottish dude called steve who lived in panama, and his mum called mary who was visiting him on holiday. they were really friendly and chatty but i was unable to concenrate on what they were saying at times as all my efforts were going into not being sick. steve works all over the world as a translater and this is how he funds his travels which i thought sounded like a pretty cool way to make a living!

the 1st island we went to was very empty except for a few palm trees and 3 huts where people can stay for 100 bucks a night. this price owing to the fact you pretty much have your own island to yourself. it reminded me of thailand with the white sand beaches and clear waters. it was very pretty and enough breeze meaning sweaty backs were not a problem here. had lunch of fish and rice before moving onto another island 5 mins away. this was nicer and smaller. i walked round it in about 10 mins. i swung on a shaded hammack for the afternoon while reading til orlando said it was time to go.

when we got back to the island, had an awesomely cold shower, realised my chest was singed and fell asleep. had fish, think it was tuna, and potatoes for dinner with the scottish duo, followed by a beer before bed. [i seem to be getting tired rather easliy after spending time in the sun!]