Travel theme: Earth

22 april, 201722 april, 2017 / Leya / 15 kommentarer

Earth Day. I listened to her, as I do every day, but as this was a very special day, I walked with all my senses, even more intently listening…

Planet Earth is mostly water – the Blue Planet. Today was a lucky day, because the blue was clear and intense – in the skies as well as in the water on the ground.

And the tiny wood-sorrel made last years’ leaves look green and fresh again…

…maybe not all of those leaves were that lucky, but slowly drifting in a fresh pool is beautiful as well.

Like the clouds. They all meet here – the sky, the clouds, the earth, the trees and the water.

We all belong here…to this planet and in this world and in this universe…

I believe all of us know…and my best friend knows it too. He felt so good today, running around, bathing and frolicking in the leaves…

Howling when he was told we were walking again…

So, this day, Earth Day, has been a beautiful day of belonging and pondering about what we have and how grateful we all should be.

We are not here forever…only for some short moments we can dance in the light. Let us take good care of each other, and of our Planet Earth – we want our children and grandchildren to feel this gentle belonging and the joy of life…and above all, it really is the animals’ and the plants’ planet, isn’t it. They were here first. We are responsible.

CFFC: Crawling or Flying

7 februari, 201715 februari, 2017 / Leya / 24 kommentarer

Back to wonderful Galapagos for Cee’s challenge! A colourful Marine iguana most certainly crawls to reach the water. And the mating of the Swallow-tailed gulls includes flying attacks.

See more crawlers and flyers here.

Meet Cachalote and Her Lovely Crew!

30 januari, 201731 januari, 2017 / Leya / 19 kommentarer

Travel theme: Walking

17 januari, 201717 januari, 2017 / Leya / 25 kommentarer

My first thought is of course my every day dog walking. Walking is also one of my absolute favourite things to do. But, I just have to share this amazing, graceful creature with you.

Have you ever dreamed of ,or wished, you could walk on water? I thought I only knew of one…who maybe could do that….

But, at sea, swirling around our sailing ship in the Galápagos, I saw this wonder with my own eyes. It is an Elliot’s Storm -petrel. I took hundreds of shots…but only a few shows clearly enough this amazing bird’s abilities – it walks, runs and stands on water.

The story of this Storm-petrel is enigmatic as well…It is pelagic, and feeds while fluttering and pattering on the water with wings raised. …”…endemic subspecies galapagoensis. Population estimated at many thousands and although a nest has yet to be found in Galápagos, breeding is suspected to occur between April and October. Conservation Status: Data Deficient.” (Birds, Mammals, and Reptiles of the Galápagos Islands. An Identification Guide by Andy Swash and Rob Still.)

Thursday Thoughts – Why Galápagos is a Paradise

13 januari, 201713 januari, 2017 / Leya / 38 kommentarer

For many reasons of course. When I think of these wonderful islands, my dream was, and is, that animals can live together without fear, and that they tolerate us humans – they are not afraid of us, but rather curious instead…

I made friends with many animals – but we were not allowed to go closer than 2 metres from any animal. Except from trying to pass them on the paths of course…The wonderful thing is that they approached us instead – and that, is true magic.

This mockingbird was really communicative – jumping up and down on the tree trunk, hiding, but still keeping an inquisitive eye on me. I know I lost a bit of my heart there…

The birds here are yellow warbler and mockingbird, then iguanas and sealions.

Nature is fantastic. Everything to me. This time I was really living my dream.

Cee’s B&W Photo Challenge: Ground

6 januari, 20176 januari, 2017 / Leya / 9 kommentarer

Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge: Ground

Beach, Galápagos.

WPC: Names

6 januari, 20176 januari, 2017 / Leya / 19 kommentarer

Skyr is a delicious Icelandic youghurt that has been a part of Icelandic cuisine for over a thousand years. It is traditionally served cold with milk and a topping of sugar. For a short while Skyr was available in our local food store (after my constant wishing for it…), but as it was rather expensive…I think they did not make enough profit from it…so, Iceland is the only option to get it…

But I love the taste of it and I love its Name!

Amazonas – Goodbye and Happy New Year!

31 december, 201631 december, 2016 / Leya / 43 kommentarer

The very last shimmering hours at Sacha Lodge, we spent canoeing again – and finally, for the sunset over the Amazon, in a high tree tower up in a giant kapok tree.

Let us start with the canoe ride – full up with fresh food and ready for the last adventure!

Into the forest again, on silent waterways

And the beauty of the dense rainforest

Finally we reached the last path, hiking to the old kapok tree.

Breathtaking views..

…in every direction

Do you hear a loud, cartoonish water-droplet noise? A Russet backed Oropendola! (The oriole family)

Tucans – this one as striped as a bumble bee

Orchids on the heavy branches

Slowly the sun was fading and the light smoothened out both the landscape and the minds of us six friends sitting in the kapok tree. Each one in his own world…knowing this was the last day, the last hours of our great adventure. The Amazon saying its goodbyes…and us contemplating life’s beauty, in this moment in time

No words needed – only the sounds of the rainforest. A sadness and a joy, a thankfulness and a hope for this wonder to survive, to be given to our children and grandchildren.

In the early morning, we left this Paradise. Of course it showed its most glorious face this day – for us to treasure and to keep in our hearts.

Sacha Lodge will go on helping the locals with free water taxi, school supplies and a medical assistance program – and ecotourism to positively influence the course of land management in the area.

On reaching the Napo River again – a tiny, but clear rainbow appeared in the sky –

I want to thank you all, readers, followers, everyone who finds joy in my posts – it is you who make me tick…I hope to see you again next year – 2017. All the best!

Thursday Thoughts – Ama la Vida!

22 december, 201622 december, 2016 / Leya / 16 kommentarer

Ecuador Ama la Vida – and they do. And they make us, all visitors, do. And we love them, the Ecuadorians and their astonishing country and nature.

I came back a couple of days ago, but in my heart I am still there – and I will never leave. On my first day in Sweden I immediately caught a severe cold, but still had to go to work. Yesterday was my last working day before Christmas.

So, where to begin, trying to explain that my childhood dream has come true? That this journey was the greatest adventure of my life? But we all have different dreams…

As a 7-year-old girl I first borrowed a book about the remote Galapagos Islands, and learned there was a place on earth where animals and humans lived in peace with each other. The animals were not afraid of humans, and you could sit right next to them and we could talk to each other as true friends. The little girl marvelled and nourrished a dream in her heart, that someday and somehow she would travel to these enchanted islands…

After this day she devoured everything about the Galapagos Islands…and later, on TV, she listened to David Attenborough and …her heart and mind was set. About then, she also decided to one day walk in the jungle, listening to all the sounds in the dark night, in the REAL jungle, the Amazonas. I do not think she realized the possibility of these two dreams once coming true within the same country, within the same year and the same month.

To a little girl who loved animals more than people, and who, in fact, in many ways still prefers animals to people – such a journey was the ultimate dream.

On this fantastic journey, I met some astonishing people as well…people I never will forget. They enriched my life and will hopefully continue to do so. The artist Jane Tomlinson and her photographing husband Moth Clark are two extraordinary gifted people. Their deep feelings for, and knowledge of, the natural world are genuine and vibrant. Moth’s photos are outstanding and Jane’s paintings as vibrant as life itself.

I received the permission from Jane herself to use one of her paintings in this post. I love starlings, so this was a natural choice. Now I am looking forward to seeing more of Moth’s photos from the Galapagos Islands and some lovely paintings by Jane. Ama la Vida – easily done when you see Jane’s artwork! The art of Jane Tomlinson.

Thank you so much for visiting, and waiting – I will be posting more when I am recovered!