January 2006 Vol. 2 Issue 9

BOCAS NIGHT LIFE!!!
by J.B. Seligman

Hooking up with a mottled gecko in the evening hours can be, well ….. different. Bocas nightlife can be a wild and exciting evening on the town or in the jungle!! Roger Cogan, a biologist guide and owner of Blue Marble Tours, invited several of us on his guided night Jungle Tour. We left Bocas Town at dusk in his boat and journeyed to San Cristobol Island where he has a 50-acre nature preserve. Trails are laid out in a safe and orderly manner. Powerful flashlights were distributed and the “hunt” was on.

Following the trail system, the jungle came alive after becoming acclimated to the dark. Crossing several creeks, we saw many red eyes belonging to fresh water shrimp, followed by the red eyes of spectacled caiman. Shining the lights up in the tall trees, we observed a three-toed sloth, a woolly opossum and some kind of cat that moved too fast to be identified. Concentrating on the tropical vegetation along the trails, we observed several amphibians, marine cane toads, strawberry dart frogs, dink frogs and a web-footed frog. One of the favorites of the group was watching the amazing night trail of cutter ants climbing and descending a 40 foot Laurel tree with their leaves in tow and depositing their cargo into a small hole next to the tree. Watching this at night was a totally different experience than seeing it during the day.

Lightning bugs and beetles with florescent eyes, and giant crickets, grasshoppers and spiders also added to the event. At one point we all turned off our lights and let the jungle envelope us. The sounds were unforgettable. This experience made us feel very small and insignificant in the world as a whole. Totally unique!

We observed no snakes that night; however, Roger is an experienced handler and he goes first on the trail with the proper tools so we all felt very safe the entire time. You might see blunt-headed tree snakes, boa constrictors or sleeping brown vine snakes. At night a lot of different animals are out and about, and you never know what you might see! The jungle really does come alive at night!!

So if you are looking for an exciting and enjoyable evening, more of a Discovery Channel moment than a “Wild On E” segment, then load up on “OFF”, wear long pants, a long sleeved shirt, hiking boots, and give Roger a call! The trip usually starts at 5:30pm and you’re back by 10:30pm. The trip is $35 per person with special group rates available.

You can reach Roger at Blue Marble Tours: (507) 6-632-6269 or at the Blue Marble Café next to Roots, on Isla Bastimentos.

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BOCAS BLURBS

“Someone Who Cares”, now “We Who Care” (see the National Geographic Moment article in the July issue) would like to thank all of you who took the time to bring donations to The Bocas Breeze over the last few months. They have delivered clothing, shoes, books, backpacks and household items to a grateful gathering of, mostly children, and old folks. All of the deliveries were graciously met. Thanks also to the BESO Committee for their donation of school uniforms to the children of the village.

The Bocas Breeze is still looking for locals and foreigners who are interested in working with the Boy and Girl Scouts of Panama.

A correction to the recycling information printed in the previous issue of The Bocas Breeze: the recycling by the airport is for Seco and Cabillito bottles and aluminum cans only. Edgar Wong, Wongsa (Costcolito), on the main street will take any glass bottle, aluminum or plastic. They do not need to be separated, only bagged. He stores them in the back yard and takes with his empty truck to the mainland. It pays for his gas, he is happy to do it.

BOCAS GOES INTERNATIONAL

NatureAir will start its first ever flight between San Jose, Costa Rica and Bocas del Toro, Panama beginning Dec. 31, 2005.

What was once 8 hours by car and boat is now a 50-minute flight over the scenic forests of southeast Costa Rica and the La Amistad National Forest. After years of rumour and talk around town, Bocas del Toro will finally have a reliable and quick connection between San Jose and the islands of Bocas del Toro.

NatureAir, which also offers flights to Granada, Nicaragua, has over 15 years experience and 250,000 flights within Central America. With the largest fleet of De-Haviland Twin Otters that feature panoramic windows, the airline has achieved a 94%

on-time performance and the pilots announcing attractions along the way. NatureAir just made international headlines by becoming the worlds first zero emissions airline by voluntarily offsetting its carbon emissions through financially supporting reforestation projects in southern Costa Rica.

NatureAir will start with 3 weekly flights. For schedules, fares and purchases you can visit their website at www.natureair.com or any of the hotels or tour operators in town.

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INDEPENDENCE DAY!
NOVEMBER 3RD PARADE PHOTOS

Photos courtesy of Julie Czerwinski, Ross Hagen and Melody Burt

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TANGERINE EDUCATIONAL CENTER

The Tangerine Educational Center opened on Monday, December 5th. They are open to the public and any visitors seeking reliable childcare in an educational environment. Daytime is for children ages 2+ and the night time is for local adults who wish to learn English. The center is located in the large tangerine-colored house directly in front of the college and anyone from the community is welcome to stop by and see what they have to offer.

Tangerine Educational Center is run by Nichole Jacobi and Kori Moore, two certified teachers from the United States, who can be reached at 757-9096 or by e-mail at tangerineedu@yahoo.com.

Great information, since the banana industry was Bocas’ claim to fame!

Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber, giving an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy, but that isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression and PMS: Bananas contain tryptophan, a protein the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and make you feel happier. It contains B6, which regulates blood glucose levels that can affect your mood.

Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure: Bananas are extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it the perfect way to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action without resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body; so try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Ulcers: Bananas are used for intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in chronic cases. It also neutralizes acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Smoking: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. Stress reduces our potassium levels, which can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.

Strokes: According to research in "The New England Journal of Medicine," eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!

When you compare a banana to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrates, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around. Maybe its time to change that well known phrase so that we say, "A banana a day keeps the doctor away!"

Note: Clyde Stevens says that while he cannot verify all of these claims, he thinks that most of them have general credibility.

THE YEAR 1906

What a difference a century makes! Here are some of the U.S. statistics for 1906:

1. The average life expectancy in the U.S. was 47 years.
2. Only 14 percent of the homes in the U.S. had a bathtub.
3. Only 8 percent of the homes had a telephone.
4. A three-minute call from Denver to New York City cost eleven dollars.
5. There were only 8,000 cars in the U.S., and only 144 miles of paved roads. (And we complain about Bocas!)
6. The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph.
7. With a mere 1.4 million residents, California was only the 21st most populous state in the Union.
8. The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower!
9. The average wage in the U.S. was 22 cents an hour and the average worker made $200 - $400 per year.
10. A competent accountant could expect to earn $2000 per year, a dentist $2,500 per year, a veterinarian between $1,500 and $4,000 per year, and a mechanical engineer about $5,000 per year.
11. More than 95 percent of all births in the U.S. took place at home.
12. Sugar cost four cents a pound, eggs were fourteen cents a dozen and coffee was fifteen cents a pound.
13. Most women only washed their hair once a month, and used borax or egg yolks for shampoo.
14. The five leading causes of death in the U.S. were pneumonia, influenza, tuberculosis, diarrhea and heart disease.
15. The American flag had 45 stars. Arizona, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Hawaii, and Alaska hadn't been admitted to the Union yet.
16. The population of Las Vegas, Nevada as reported in the census, was 30!!!
17. Crossword puzzles, canned beer, and iced tea hadn't been invented.
18. There was no Mother's Day or Father's Day.
19. Two of 10 U.S. adults couldn't read or write.
20. Only 6 percent of all Americans had graduated from high school.
21. Eighteen percent of households in the U.S had at least one full-time servant or domestic.
    
    Try to imagine what it may be like in another 100 years!

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