Galapagos Angelito

Our "Yate" in Spanish, the Angelito. We only had 12 people at any given time, and 7 crew, 1 naturalist.

Galapagos Penguins

Peguins galore, albeit only on one island. They are most playful in the evening, diving, playing and eating. We were snorkeling one day and one zipped just below us. They are very fast. This is the furthest North that penguins live in the natural environment.

Galapagos Blue Footed Boobies

These are the Boobies that do the dance for mating. It is quite an attraction. They also take turns sitting on the egg. We were there in mating season so the dance was going on all over.
The Galapagos disco.

Galapagos Red Footed Boobies

Red footed Boobies, they have short legs as they live in trees, to be distinquished from the Blue footed dancing variety.

Galapagos Sea Lion Pup

The sea lions are all over the place, one has to worry about stepping on them, and they are curious, no fear and come right up to our feet. Information about the difference of sea lions and seals, sea lions have ears, very cute ears. In addition to playing in the sand they have an amazing capacity to climb very steep rocks.

Galapagos Tortoise January 2010

The first tortoises are mating, the males have penises the size of one's arm from the elbow to the wrist. We found the mating ones because the guide heard this very loud moaning, it reverberated through the brush. I inquired about the penis size and I didn't know how he could be on such an angle and still be doing the thing, that's when the information about penis size was shared. This goes on for four hours and it is the male making all the noise.

Galapagos Frigates

Frigate birds are spectacular in the air, they hover--the down side is that they don't fish for themselves but attack other birds with fish in their beaks. When ready for mating they puff out those big red chests, for attraction, it is the "red Ferrari" of the bird world. Espanola had hundred of these frigate nesting areas.

Our walks did not disturb the locals, they just slept through it. Sea lions are different from seals because they have ears. Such a minor distinction. they are sweet and fun.

We left the busy city of Pondicherry and took an overnight "luxury" bus--it's all relative, if the driver had not found space in the battery compartment. Here is the interesting piece about this situation, I offered him a $20 tip which is like a months salary, and her refused it. The sense of people acting not just for this life, but for good Karma in the future.

The formal address of this Ashram is:

Near Pavaana Vilakku Junction

New Natham Road, Saramthamgi Village

Vellayampatti P.O. Madurai, district 625 503

Tamil Nadu, India

Even having a proper address the driver, who said he knew where it was, was stopping at every chai stand to ask. And, it was freezing as this is arid climate and very cold in the morning.

The scooter with eggs on top is the standard delivery system, anything with two wheels has either humans or supplies pilled as high as double the scooter.

Pondicherry Construction

Construction Indian style. Still using bamboo, and humans carrying bricks and mortar. Some women sit -- sifting sand all day long for the mortar.

Auto Rickshaw

Two and three wheeled mode of transportation is the norm. I saw up to 6 humans on one scooter, and couldn't count the number hanging on a "auto rickshaw"--in Thailand they call them toot toot, because they have big Clarabelle squeek horns on them and use them all the time.

Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu

Pondicherry, the colors of India came alive. There is a European influence in Pondicherry, where we stayed in a French Guest Sweet Jade, with a rooftop terrace, where the family and guest were most often settled. A mosque was across the street and the 5:30 call to prayer with 4 huge speakers, again reminded me of the religious involvement is much more than a once a week church service. In Pondicherry there is an ashram called Aurobindo, we were able to visit their Peace community where the Dali Lama came to speak and open the new Tibetan building was being dedicated. His talk was very different than the one I heard in Chicago. More fun and joy messages here, more political in Chicago. As I review my journal, this town had so many interesting message, loved it. We spent a lot of time walking around and being one with the town.