The Galapagos Islands

Took a wee while to get there as the flight was delayed for 2 hours at our stopover airport near the coast, but this gave us some time to meet the rest if the group. All of whom seemed to be a good laugh and completly normal. We even had a Yank couple that were delightful, intelligent and cultured...a shock I know. Got to the boat and were in for a treat as dad had chosen a 3 masted schooner for the trip. Gorgoeus old Noweigan boat that ahd somehow ended up in the middle of the pacific. We all got properly introduced. Dad and I, another couple from Scotland, 2 English couples and a token Japanese girl called Mia. Our natuiralist guide was called George and was a native to the Galapagos, he called himself indemic, which is the word for all the specis that are found only on the islands...not far wrong from what we could gather!! Took our first nature walk (first of many) and headed out onto the island. Saw some giant black bids with wierd scrotal red things under their chins called Frigate bords and these things looked like terodactyles when they are flying. When i get the pics uploaded you will be able to see what i am talking about. They were feeding on the baby turtles that were hatching out of their eggs in the sand. Amazing experince as these animals have no fear of man and all this was happening only 2m away from where we were standing. It like we were not there at all! Also checked out some Blue Footed Boobies and Pelicans that were diving for fish...very cool!! A short dip in the suprisngly warm water before heading back to the ship for some fruit shakes and a rest before our briefing and dinner. We had a nature breifing every night prior to dinner where we were told about the island that we were going to be visting the next day, the type of landing we could expect (wet or dry), the type of animals that we could expect to see and what to bring. Everyone headed to bed pretty soon after dinner as blasted from the travelling and the fact that wake up call had been set at 5.30am so as to get to the island before all the other boats!!

Day 2

5.30 is an evil time to be awake, my philosophy is that anything earlier than 6 or 6.30 is officially the middle of the night and far better to be seen when one has not been to bed yet!! But up we were and after a morning cup of Cha (tea, can’t be doing anything in the morning without a cup of tea!!) we headed to the island for our pre breakfast walk. Saw some Frigate birds mating, which is quite weird as the male inflates the scrotum thing under his kneck into a balloon and looks very strange! Saw loads of Blue and Red footed Boobies nesting and feeding. These birds are amazing when they are diving for fish as they dive from about 100m and hit the water at a stupid speed. They really are nature’s smart bombs! In fact George told us that they only actually catch the fish on the way back up as they hit the wayer at such speed that if they tried to open their beaks their throats would explode with the water pressure and they would drown! There were also some Galapapgos Doves and Owls duking about looking cool. The fasted off all the birds we saw were the Storm Petrals, in fact they were so quick that I couldn’t even get a decent pic of them! But by far the cheekiest of all were the Mocking birds who hopped around tweating at you and trying to steal your water from your water bottle!

Bck to the boat for the first bout of snokling and what a trip that was. In the hour we were in the water saw a 3m hammerhead shark about 2m away from me, huge school of golden and marbled manta rays (VVV Cool!!). Sting rays, parrotfish, emporer angel fish, trumpet and needle fish (V Wierd fish) and not forgetting a big marine iguana swimming back up from the bottom. These things are the only species in the world that can do this and look like mini versions of Godzilla!! But the overall winners of the coolest marine animals had to be the Sea Lions. Look like oversized seals with ears and are total dudes in the water. Spent most of the time twisting and turning around us and making cute barking noises. Really playful and an absolute joy to be in the water with! Had to cut short the trip as some of the less aqautically able members of the group were struggling and poor little Mai was turning blue, even with 2 wet suits on. But bear in mind that she must weigh about 6 stone!! Back onto the panga and boat bound for the usual hot chocolate and snakes before breifing, dinner and bed (God all such party animals).

Day 3

Yes you guesses it. Up at the craic of dawn for some more walking action and more of those boobies. But then more snorkling and saw some more sea lions, spotted puffer fish and some Galapagos penguins but only floating on the surface. bastard cold in the water, prob about 15 or 16 degrees which is way too cold for shorties. Bear in mind that Mike and I had full lenght double 8m suits at that temp in NZ!! But saw our first turtles in the water. One of my fav creatures as they just look so cool cruising around. back to the boat and more of the usual routine.

Day 4

On land we saw some land iguanas which are far larger than the marine ones but dont really do very much. Nice colours though as they have just come out of the mating season and were still wearing their yellow and red heuyed skin. Oh and managed to spot some Galapagos hawks mating. Really rare occurance and the guide wants me to mail my pap cam pic over the Nat Geographic. They are quite good but prob not that good. Will put some up with all the others on bebo.

Highlight of the day was watching massive pods of common dolphins leaping out of the water with the setting sun in the background with sea lions and a mink whales as well. Once again managed to snap off some decent pics which you can all peruse and rob...lol.

Day 5

Walked up one of the extinct volcanos before breakfast for some okish views out over the islands. Pretty cloudy so not much to see. Island looked like the surface of mars as it was all red and black volcanic ash and rock and nothing much living their. A few lava lizrads (no prizes for how they get their names) and some birds.

In the water we saw about 5 White Tipped Reef Sharks which were kinda cool and managed to get some good snaps (i hope) on the underwater disposable that i picked up. Loads of penguins feeding which pute the species in a whole new light as they are very sleek and fast under the waves. Some badass looking trigger fish that thankfully didn't feel like attacking us and some other reef fish that i'm 100% sure that Nike are basing at least 3 of the their new trainre lines on!! Obviously a fish fan on the design team!!

Day 6

2 lots of snorkling today as so much to see and managed to eye ball some more WT Reef Sharks a Hammerhead (although i was busy l;ooking the wrong way ;( ) , moray eel, marbled sting ray and more of the wicked sea lions.

Landed on the big island and went to the Darwin centre to see the giant tortoises. When they saw giant theye really mean it. These things grow up to about 400 to 500 kg and are like mini tanks. Cauight a wee glimpse of the Lonesome George which is an tortoise that they found all alone on one of the islands back in the 70's. The only surviving member of his sub species left and they have been trying to get him to mate for 30 years. Supposedly have tried evertything except cloning and porn!!

Trekked onto one of the smallest islands and saw some very pink flamingos and frigate birds eating the baby turtles. Oh and in the shallows there were loads of mini sting rays and a baby hammerhead.

Day 7

Last full day. Pretty chilled. Usual early morning walk to see the mating dance of the Wave Albatros. Pretty interserting, but got bored as Dad and I had kinda seen as many birds as we could take by then. Went to the information centre and saw some fur seals from the panga.

Sorry for the massivo post but it was an actioned packed week. have been chilling in Quito for last few days and went to the centre of world yesterday, yes the equator. Got some good jumping shots over the line. Off to the cloud forest tomorrow for a day or 2. More later.

Me