Bananas, Island Hopping and Booze

Trip Start May 11, 2005

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Trip End Ongoing

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Flag of Panama Boca del Toro, Panama
Monday, July 16, 2007

Bocas del toro was easily the highlight of Panama for me. These little islands off the north coast of Panama have everything. Pristine beaches, virgin jungles, big parties, island hopping and the list goes on. Getting there from Costa Rica was a fun experience too. I ran into 3 Belgium guys on the way there so we ended up sharing taxis and a boat ride. We all got stuck at the port for 3 hours so we decided to check out some banana plantations that were near by.. The port was located in the middle of a banana plantations and many times our taxi had to stop for a train crossing arm. Only difference was that instead of a train coming across the road it was a basically a hanging roller-coaster for bananas. The bananas are transported from the vine straight onto these hanging roller coasters and then go on a 4 to 8 k journey to the little factory. When the workers saw that we were poking around they gave us a little tour of the factory, gave me more banana stickers that I knew what to do with and gave us a bunch of green bananas that would not ripen until next year

a) Free bananas and stickers!

. The boat ride to the island was as a trip because it went through the canals of the banana plantation to the open ocean.
The hostel where I stayed threw a big party every other night. The first one was a costume party that was punk rock, hip hop and goth. I put on my clothes backwards and went as Kris Kros which many of people did not get!. (this means I'm old..) It was good old time that ended up at a bar on the ocean that has a shipwreck in the middle of it. The bar is built around the the wreck in the water. Much like most parties that involve water and alcohol most of us ended up swimming in our costume. It seemed liked a good idea at the time.
Other days were spend island hopping with friends from the hostel, like Johnny, Hannah and Bo. We went to a pristine little island and hung out for the day. The beach was perfect and there were turtles nest marked everywhere. We enjoyed the day soaking up the sun and swimming with the occasional monsoon downpour. Anther day I rented a bike with the Belgium boys and rode 15 k to a different beach. My bike broke while I was there and I had to walk the 15 k back! Most other days I explored different islands with this local guy named Daniel who had just got out of jail for shooting a cop. This guy had some crazy stories but most of all he was stoked to be out of jail and roaming around the jungles and beaches

aa( Bridge you have to cross to get to Panama

. This guys was only 17 when he shot a cop so he only had to go to jail for 3 years.  You can see him in the pictures, he the big and I'm talking big black guy.
     There was another hostel located on the water on another island that we hung out on during the day because it had water trampoline, diving board and bar.  One night this hostel through a big trance party and some how I used up all my money. Since the ferry back to the island where I was staying cost a dollar I ended up swimming back to my island at 3 A.M in the morning. It was a little scary but I swam right into the shipwreck bar and into another massive party but since I had no money I went home.  The cops on these islands are like little Nazi's.  It's island town surrounded by beaches but when you come into town you have to wear a shirt. So walking home that night (soaking wet and shirtless) I was told I was going to go to jail if I did not put a shirt on.... fucking retards. I tried to give them attitude in my best Spanish but I ended up just walking away while they were threatening me. All this at 3 A.M.!
           My last night there was a party called 80's power hour. The object of this party is to dress 80's and do 60 shots of beer in a hour while a different 80's music video is played every minuet. Basically its the century club but 40 less shots and to music.   It was a super fun time and by the end of it everyone was singing along shamelessly to all the songs. I ended up doing 75 shots of beer in 60 min so I'm pretty sure I'm ready for the century club. Every time I tried to leave there I would get roped into a another excursion and another party. This is why it took me so long to leave!

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b) Banna train	c) that where the banana train conductor sits	e) getting washed	f) The journey of a banana
g) getting tagged	k) pics from our boat ride to the island	l) from the boat	m) muff diver shots
n) finishing touch to muff diver shots	o) Our broken bikes after 15 K to the beach	p) me with my broken bike	pp) Punk, Rap, Goth party.
ppp) Party	q) Im on the right	r) Hanna and the meat man	rr) Nirit, Isreali
rr) Punk Party	rrr) Drunken gang of idiots	s) 80s Power hour	ss) 75 shots of beer in 60 mins!
sss) Some of the evidence	sssss) On a zapatos beach	t) Zappatos island	tt) What a poser
ttt) the sticks mark turtles nest	tttt) Back gammon ocean side	v) back flippin Daniel	vv) Daneil Jumping through a window
vvv) more Gammon	z)	z) Hostel on the water	z) beach man
z) Church parade that came by our hostel	z) Cool swamps	z) Crabs with huge pinchers	z) Daniel,
z) Local houses	z) local houses on the ocean	z) Look its Jesus!	z) Me! looking glorious
z) More local houses	z) Star fish I put on a dog	z) This guy has style!