Day One

 I'm awestruck, stunned by the intense beauty, peace, and aura of warmth that Batipa possesses. It's difficult to find words that hold enough power to describe this place. The dirt road which serves as the only entry point into camp has a canopy of green, yellow, red hues of flora. Teak trees, mango trees, thick-barked and dark trees, skinny and light ones. The cows mooing, goats bleating, birds singing and monkeys howling all heard before seen. While trekking through the mountain side and through the forest to get to our final destination, all I could think of was how special and wholesome Batipa is; as well as how lucky I am to be here to experience this, especially with an amazing group of people. 

    It has only been a day and I have been exposed to many new plants, animals and insects. Edmundo, one of our hosts, took us students out on a tour of camp to show us the area by camp with many mangroves down by the bay, we heard the clams camping shut, hermit crabs walking the beach, fossils in the rocks and mama monkeys with their babies eating the fruit in a mango tree(and chucking the ones they don't like.) Afterwards, we shared dinner together. Our hosts prepared a bountiful meal of crispy plantains, fresh avocado, bbq'd pork and a salad with a fresh glass of tamarind juice. All while watching the light drain from the sky.