Spotlight on the Guide

2/18/14 12:15 PM 

As promised, here is my post about our tour guide.

I should first mention that although he introduced himslef, we never caught his name. We didn't understand it when he said it, but after asking him a second time, I felt it impolite to keep asking. On day 3 of our jungle tour, I heard the boat driver call him what sounded like "Olivio" So, for my purpose here, the guide will henceforth be referred to as Olivio, even if that is not his real name. 

Olivio showing us around the local market

Olivio was a nice enough guy, but he drove me crazy. He spoke very slowly, which I could handle, but he waas also incredibly boring. I had to make a very sincere effort to listen to him because it was much easier to tune him out. Yes, we were paying for his services, but that didn't make him interesting. 

I should give him some credit - he did seem to know what he was talking about (except when he told us a stick was a snake, and even we jungle novices could tell that it was just a stick). He was able to identify plants and animals we asked about. He was also very excited about showing us the "flora and fauna." Once, upon sighting a monkey, he grabbed my upper arm and pulled me toward him so I could see too. At the time, we were standing in six inches of water, and the suddenness of his pull threw me off balance. I very nearly became very wet.

He was constantly ordering us to stand in a particular spot for the best view. More than once, I had a view of the animal where I was and lost it when I moved to meet him. He was also constantly shoving his sweat-stink binoculars at us so we could see the birds and other wildlife more closely.  

I suppose what bugged me most were his assumptions. He made a comment about us being "city girls" and ubnable to handle longer hikes. (He made this comment after finally realizing I was too tired to finish our hike). That was the 2 1/2 hour mud and water hike taken after a long and active ten-hour day that started at 4:30 AM. Of course I was tired! I was understandably tired!

Furthermore, he essentially told us we both have fat calves when he discovered the Wellingtons were a bit tight at the top on both of us. My pant legs were bunched up underneath! I actually think I have nice calves. Just goes to show what he knows.  

I suppose I really shouldn't be so harsh; he was trying to give us what we wanted 

after all, animals. He just wanted to make sure we got a chance to see them. Regarding his assumptions, I am sure he is basing his perceptions on what he sees and hears on television and what he hears from other tourists; those sources aren't always accurate.

Alas, we are no longer in the jungle and are no longer being guided I guess I'll have to start the long, arduous process of getting over it.