Jumping Ship on the Penas Blancas River
One notably bold move in my recent Costa Rican adventure: My guide on a wildlife-watching river float pulled over to shore, leaped onto the bank, thrashed around in the more than knee-deep lush green tangle, and came back to the raft holding a poison dart frog.
These brilliant little creatures are actually poison to touch. It's not just a name. ("The Strawberry Poison-dart frog is not known to be lethal to man, but its skin secretions may have unpredictable effects on humans. … The most lethal animal toxin known belongs to a (related) frog (Phyllobates terribilis)…; poison from a single individual can kill twenty thousand mice or ten adult humans.")
River guide Moises proceeded to let the thing scoot around on his arm, then thoroughly washed off in the river.
I was still reacting to the fact that he'd jumped into that tall grass on a riverbank where boas and the like have been known to appear.
Categories: enhancing creativity
Tags: Costa Rican adventure, Penas Blancas
Comments
'This does not inspire creativity on MY part – au contraire, just visualizing it scares the stuffin' outta' me.
And he was bare-legged for that little hike, Mary!
I do find other people’s exploits give me a spurt of courage, in the form of: well, if he can run through the jungle unprotected, I can certainly return a difficult phone call.
Greetings Peggy, Auuhahahaauuhahaha! is what would have come outta my mouth. Then I'd of thanked the Lord the boa didn't get him or me!Now what does that say of the ratio "of mice vs men?"
Maybe those brilliant dart frogs are like us when we are young, small–pretty harmless–sweet, cute even. Then when we grow older, we can become filled with pure poison and allow words to dart out of our mouth and act in ways that kill the human spirit AND ourselves if we aren't careful. (I know I used to have a BIG mouth when I was younger. Nowadays when words of pure truth comes out, they oftentimes feel like poisonous darts to those who don't want to hear it.)
I don't know if this makes sense to you but it does to me.
I hope you gave this brave fellow a good tip. By the way, did you notice that his skin is glowing and very good looking. His arm looks as smooth as silk.
Nice pictures. You are just so talented and have a sharp eye for everything.
I think I’ve been a mixed bag the whole way, Eileen. I have an idea most of us are. You have a pretty good eye yourself, noticer of glowing skin.
Such a pretty frog! That guy is a daredevil; there are also crocs there! (not the rubber kind you wear on your feet…lol)
Well, maybe he knew stuff about protecting himself that wasn’t obvious. He certainly didn’t show any fear or squeamishness about anything.
Wow! Mark and I once watched a TV show called "I Survived" and it was filled with stories like this one. The only difference is that the "stunt" did not work out quite the way that the individual thought it would and then it was a rush to get help and survive!
Sounds like you had quite an amazing adventure!
Hugs,
Debbie
I just watched the other guy take chances, Debbie. Much easier. I’ve been following your daughter’s adventure at school. So sorry that happened. Sounds as if she has handled it very well.
Great Trip. Aiki
Thanks, Aiki. It was. More stories to come.