Day 7: Donderdag 29 maart 2012
El Valle
Thursday 29 March 2012
Moments after 7 am I woke up and had breakfast. Just after 8 am I drove by car to the village and thought to go to the walking route to the sleeping woman, but I came on a road that I could drive by car because it was to steep. I went by foot and came to a road, which they just were tarmacking. It was clearly not the right place and I drove back towards the village and first visited the Mosas waterfall. A rustic place where the waterfall falls down in three steps. After sitting here for a while, I went back to the village and eventually came to the real starting point of the hiking track.
After having paid $ 1.75 I walked upstairs. A tough climb. First along a stream that assails the mountain, later it was steeper. Eventually I came upon an open field with some shacks, associated with a small community here. After a while searching I found a path that led me further along a fence and then back on the path towards the top. The reward was a beautiful view, with lots of wind. I met a local who tried to explain me the shape of the woman. The two breasts I could still follow, but with the legs, arms and head I had problems to imagine that. After having been on the ' breasts ', I walked further to mountain that should be the 'legs'. An elongated chain of mountain peaks where you could walk along on a path. I walked back, when I saw dark clouds approaching and began the descent. At the village again I got lost, but found the path eventually anyway. On the decent I collected an amount of waste left behind by other people.
Back at the exit, I drove back to the village and on a dirt road to the Zoo cum botanical garden. The collection of animals is varied, crocodiles, parrots, peacocks, monkeys and raccoons through to, pheasants and even chickens. There is also a display of frogs in a small building, including the golden frog where this region is known for. This frog is threatened to die out by deforestation and degradation of its environment.
After this visit, I did some shopping and returned to the hotel where I relaxed in a hammock for a while. After a shower I went to dinner and then read some more. Outside I took a picture of a frog that jumped around on the stairs in front of the door of my room. I had also seen a large toad yesterday. After all this I went to sleep.
Initial publication: 22 april 2012
Last update: 22 april 2012
© A. Heeroma