Its been 10 years. Yes, I was in high school, during class looking through the window and dreaming one day to escape on a tropical island. Lay down under the palms, explore, hike in the jungle, seeking a real adventure just with a backpack ... It was the time I first saw footage of Panama and did a short research about this country, and then I forgot about it ... Since September 11. I remember my dream, 10 years after I had the opportunity to escape and start living a dream. My most exciting journey led me to meet many interesting people, a very special girl that the tropical rain in the night remembers. I will always remember that night and the eyes of Panamanian.

 

                           

      I arrived at Tocumen international airport maybe around 1 am, I had to take a night bus or the first one to the city of David and from there to Almirante, a small city in the archipelago of Bocas Del Toro. With the support and assistance of local people and my bad Spanish, I was lucky to get to the central bus station easily. The public bus costs only 25 cents, but you need a card, what you can do is simply ask someone to tap it for you and pay to this person. Panamanian people are very kind and nice. So the trip was around 8 hours and finally, i was in David, from there you have again maybe around 3 hours to Almirante and the road is high in the mountains where you can see how the local people live in cabins, many or most without electricity. Simple life, fresh air, pure happiness. It was amazing, a kinky Latin music loud radio and a speed going driver. Arriving in Almirante i had no reservation or idea where I was going, so I asked for the cheapest hotel or hostel to stay. It was more than exciting to visit and sleep in the most simple hostel I have ever been to. A warning doesn't drink the water from the sink you are going to get sick, almost everywhere in Panama is like that. A woman welcomed me and warn me to be careful at night Almirante is not that safe. Price of 8 $ per night for a small room with a bed, fan, clean sheets, and door to lock. What more do you need? Later after taking a shower I went out and met a local guy around the 60 his name is Philip, he became my guide for the next day and helped me with some information on my way to Bocas. There you take a boat that will take you to Bocas town on Isla Colon price is 6$. Again something new for me, the short trip is really nice and you can see dolphins in the water, local people with their hand made canoes... It was just the second day and I have traveled around 800 km to see this amazing town, which showed me the beaches palms and the tropical life that my imagination was setting for me many times in some way. 

      

 

  On the next day, I left my suitcase in the hostel and decided to continue only with my backpack limited on clothes and carrying only my most important and needed belongings, also some food for the next days. Where to ? ... Some of the most famous and beautiful beaches with not many visitors on Isla Bastimentos: Red frog beach, Wizard, Tortuga, Polo. From Bocas to Bastimentos I took a boat ride two-way ticket cost me 15$, I believe if you are not alone or in group price is gonna be lower. On my improvised map, I had some mark objects hostels, medicine point, marine, etc. I had no idea about prices and conditions, overall full improvisation on how I am gonna stay the next 4,5 days... Well first two nights I slept on the beach under the tarp I had that was part of my shelter. Not far from a hostel where is stayed the next two nights, the local police officers were kinda surprised and curious about my choice. With my bad Spanish, i was able to explain to them a little bit and received information that I am allowed to sleep on the beach, but I have to be careful with my belongings... Yes, the potential danger was waiting for me. The first night I forgot my bag with food open, a can with some meat on the top open, which was a great invitation for an army of ants, well I've been attacked and forced to leave the shelter till the morning, sleeping under the moonlight outside I was hoping to be not rainy. During the day I enjoyed the ocean and the waves, going for a drink to the hostel and bar area I met a lot of people from different countries. One of them was Milto, the tall cyprian guy waved at me and salute me. It appears we had also the same "virtual" names in social media, for the same reason. Put a shade on our personality, stay away from people we no need to be close to. We had other similarities too, and goals, while we were discovering all of them and swimming In the ocean, suddenly we saw some kids throwing sticks and objects at the palm just above our towels. We headed to see what the kids wanted to do and then on the palm leaves there was the target... a big boa snake curled and staying like freeze. Right above my towel, I imagine how it can fall down on my head and put me in shock ... Since a lot of time, I hesitate to kill a snake and eat it, but I always leave the animal to go free and in one piece. 
    Later I was about to prepare my self for the second night sleeping under the improvise shelter and tarp. At the bar, I met an Afro-American girl and we had some nice time chatting and enjoying the full moon close to the waves. We stayed some time private, it was so quiet. She had some nice curves and for sure a really free spirit. 
    It was time to sleep, this night the bag with food goes up high on a branch, lights off the knife and a stick right next to me. 23:30 I wake up suddenly and right away flash the light outside without any reason. Nothing bothers me or any sound to alarm me. ... I see the silhouette of a man with a hat in front of my bag with food around 1o meters away. "Hey, hombre... what's up" I shout at him. And he left in a moment entering the black jungle, leaving the tray of moonlight behind him and my mind confused. " Was he going to come back or someone else"? The only expensive thing I had with me was my phone and camera, was it worth worrying, sure all my memories and amazing materials were on them, one day they will cost much more than the devices. I woke up 6 in the morning, the waves had increased thundering strong while I was sleeping or rotating around, and there was not cold but kinda razor going breeze that put me cold. I could not sleep anymore so I packed the bag and headed to the hostel where I was about to make a reservation for two nights, rest and sleep in a comfortable bed, take a shower, wash my clothes and discover some more nice beaches on the island.
   

 

                                                           To be continued...