The Frog Pond of Monteverde
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(While I took a photo of the nameplate, it's too dark and blurry to read and
I don't remember the name of this one) |
Tonight was unexpectedly awesome. I was exhausted and wet and cold after the tour of Santa Elena and didn't really want to do anything, not even book my horse ride for tomorrow. I seriously considered going to sleep and missing out on tonight's activity as well as tomorrow's. But I'm glad I didn't. I'm really glad I finally forced myself after a 3 or 3 1/2 hour rest to get up and do something!
I went upstairs, booked my horse tour with the hostel owner, and set off in the wind and rain to the frog pond 120 (or so) meters away to use my ticket for the second time. I had been told to try to come back at night so I could see the nocturnal frogs being more active.
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| Swamp Frog |
The experience wasn't anything like I expected; it was much better. I was handed a flashlight in the visitor's center and set off to the ranario. The large barnlike structure was completely black; I couldn't see any of the large aquariums housing the frogs.
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(While I took a photo of the nameplate, it's too dark and blurry to read and
I don't remember the name of this one) |
I could hear a tour being given, but I couldn't see them (every once in awhile I saw a bit of light, and I couldn't even hear them very well). I felt like I was alone in the great black room (almost). At the very end, a 2nd tour caught up with me, but I was at the last aquarium tank and had already taken the pictures I had wanted to take, so it was okay.
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| Hourglass Tree Frog |
Using my trusty flashlight (I rather like calling things "trusty"), I explored the ranario. I wish I had a picture of the inside so I wouldn't have to explain. There is a circular route set up with a sidewalk leading from aquarium to aquarium. Since I went on the tour yesterday, I had a basic idea of where things were. Surrounding the aquariums and in every little nook and cranny are native plants. During the day, the room is really quite cool looking.
During the tour I went on yesterday, we managed to find an example of every frog even though some are diurnal and some are nocturnal. Tonight, however, I was unable to find 5 or 6 of the frog species. It's possible that those were the diurnal ones, or possible that they were hiding, or possible that they were resting near the back of the aquarium (where it was more difficult to locate them using a flashlight).
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| The Famous Red Eyed Tree Frog |
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| Red Eyed Tree Frog |
Overall, the experience was seriously awesome and I got a few great pictures. Trust me when I say that taking photos of frogs (some of which move a lot) in pitch black is not easy. I had to balance my camera and the flashlight at the same time. The only light used in any of these photos comes from the flashlight. Camera flashes hurt frogs' eyes. Even if they didn't, I don't like the unnatural lighting that results from the use of a flash.
And now it's time for bed. I am exhausted, but really glad I forced myself to get up and go. Tomorrow will be a very long day as well. I am going on a horseback ride (yay!) in the morning and in the afternoon I am taking the 2.30 bus to San Jose. The bus will take somewhere around 5 hours. I will find my hostel and then the next morning, very early, I go to the airport to go home!!!!
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