Immersion Diversion

 This picture here on the left is the last one  I snapped before it began raining for real in the Forestiere Rain Forest.  Capping a mountain ridge, and cuddled in the clouds, the greener than green canopy was suddenly masked by sheets of water, and the camera went deep into plastic.

Our guide is a forester, Adam, who approached us at the end of a deserted road wearing an unsheathed knife and a hard hat.  We weren't sure we wanted a guide, but after learning that we didn't have a choice and the government requires the presence of a guide after a series of trailside attacks on tourists, we readily capitulated.

Adam revealed himself to be charming, gallant, and extremely educated in the ways of the tropical forest.  We gathered watercress, drank from waterfalls, and, even found natural insect repellent in the fruit of a deliciously scented tree.
Adam cut us umbrellas from banana plants and boomeranged handfuls of beads/seeds from the canopy.

After 600 steps UP and two and a half hours, we emerged drenched and deeply peaceful from our nature immersion.