IE Blog
Guest Haiku: Cuba's Creatures of the Night
Jim Smith, a guest who joined IE to travel to Cuba in January 2013 commemorated his experience with a series of poems, which he has graciously agreed to share. Read his first piece here.
creatures of the night
hanging bats’, screech owls’ abode
cavern depths disclose
In the Parque Codina, there was a cave inhabited by both bats and screech owls. We were able to climb into the cave and with the use of a flashlight briefly view these creatures of the night. -- January 20, 2013 - Trinidad, Cuba
- emily's blog
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Predators of the Plains: The African Lion
If you've seen the movie “The Ghost and the Darkness,” you’ll know the strength and ferocity of the African lion when they are so inclined to harm people. This movie is based on a true historical event that took place in the Tsavo area during the late 1800’s. Two male lions killed 130 people over a period of nine months. Of course, with modern transportation and weapons, this type of long-term killing of people by an animal predator is a thing of the past. Today, there certainly are many human deaths caused by lions in Africa and tigers in India, but they are isolated instances.
The African lion is an awesome predator capable of taking very large prey, especially due to their behavior of social hunting, when multiple lionesses will cooperatively hunt to subdue large animals. This includes such adversaries as African buffalo and giraffe.
The African lion is truly one of the world’s most remarkable predators, and are easily observed from the comfort and safety of a safari vehicle during IE’s Tanzania & Kenya safaris. Cooperative hunting strategies are not especially common in big cats and to witness a pride of lions on the hunt is an incredibly fortunate circumstance for safari guests, yet to some folks it may be somewhat gruesome to observe. Most often these big cats hunt prey at night but occasionally, a pride may take an opportunity to take down prey during the day. It takes patience on the part of the safari guide and his guests as the actual take-down of an animal may take hours. This often is the case if a pride gets a large animal like an African buffalo singled out from a herd. Lions will rush in, the buffalo will wheel around to face the charge, and the cat will back off. This standoff may take a long time and if indeed the buffalo is a strong bull, eventually the lions may give up. However, if multiple lions charge simultaneously, one will typically grab the throat, another will clamp its very strong jaws over the nose and others will grab haunches and even leap onto the back. The sheer weight of five or six lions may exceed a ton which may bring the buffalo down and death quickly occurs due to suffocation. This is part of the life and death struggle of all wildlife and while some people find this unpleasant, it is essential to the ecology of the African plains.
Another thing of interest in regards to lions is the hierarchy of a pride being under the control of a male lion. Males have to fight other males for the right to breed and pass along his genetic material to the lionesses of the pride. Males fighting for dominance of a pride often fight to the death, or at least to the point where the loser sustains terrible injuries. What is also of interest ― yet disturbing to many ― is the behavior of new males when they take over a pride. The newly dominant male will kill all of the young lions sired by the previous male. This allows the lioness to quickly come into heat so the new male can breed, passing along his genetic material. This cycle continues year after year with new males battling for the rights to breed.
Observing African lions is a magnificent experience, even if the pride is just lounging in the shade. Be sure to look closely – there may be things going on that only the careful observer will discover.
Naturalist Greg Greer is a favorite among IE travelers, and has gained a reputation for his friendliness and good humor, along with his incomparable knowledge of natural history, photos and articles have been widely published in books and magazines, including Georgia Outdoor News, Bird Watcher’s Digest, Alabama Outdoor News, Riversedge and Southern Wildlife.
IE's Guyana named an Active Times "Best Tour of 2013"
International Expeditions was honored to learn the The Active Times has chosen our Guyana adventure as one of the "Best Tours of 2013." Ranging from trekking 100 miles through Africa to view the "Big Five" to flyfishing in Russia's wildest waters, these adventure tours highlight the very best in new destinations opening up for exploration.
IE's Guyana tour takes guests on a journey deep into one of Earth's last virgin tropical forests - The Guiana Shield. The birding in this area the The Active Times dubbed "the other Amazon" includes such gems as the Guianan cock-of-the-rock. Plus, by combining Guyana with near-by Trinidad guests have an opportunity to spot more than 800 species, including scarlet ibis and oilbird.
But birding is only part of the fun awaiting guests in this undiscovered oasis! On daily excursions, guests explore by canoe, boat and Bedford truck. And the entire journey is packed with rainforest hikes, excursions into a vast canopy on a specailly built walkway and more.
To check out the full list of "Best Tours," click here.
Guest Haiku: The Cienfuegos Choir
Jim Smith, a guest on IE's people-to-people Cuba travel program in January 2013 commemorated his experience with a series of poems, which he has graciously agreed to share.
harmonizing tones
a cappella choir sings
concert repertoire
In the small town of Cienfuegos there is a state funded "a cappella" choir which has performed and competed internationally. They sang different selections for our group, including an American spiritual. It was outstanding and exhibited pure professionalism. - January 18, 2013, Cienfuegos, Cuba
Victoria Amazonica: The Amazon's Giant Lily
The giant Amazon water lily is the world’s largest water lily of the family Nymphaeaceae. Its massive leaves may exceed seven feet in diameter and visitors to the Peruvian Amazon are always greatly impressed by these absolutely amazing plants. There are a number of characteristics of this huge lily that most people are not aware of. For example, the leaves are extremely durable and the underside veins are lined with very large spines. The spines are strong enough to prevent their being food for aquatic and semi-aquatic animals like manatees and capybara.
The flowers are also impressive and the first opening of each flower occurs at night. The new flower is brilliant white and since it opens only at night, attracts a nocturnal species of beetle - Cyclocephla casteneaea. Even more incredible, once a number of beetles have entered the flower, feasting on its rich, enticing nectar, the flower closes its petals. The beetles inside the flower are trapped for the remainder of the night. By the next night, the flower has undergone a dramatic change. Upon opening on the second night, the beetles are released, covered in pollen. Within 24 hours, the flower has now changed from white to pink. This signals to other beetles that there is no longer a food source so the beetles exit the pink flower, covered in pollen and search for a nearby flower that is white and thus cross pollination occurs. It is a remarkable symbiotic relationship that may be observed by visitors to this incredible region of the Peruvian Amazon.
And while the naturalists on International Expeditions' Amazon River cruises are highly knowledgeable about all of the flora and fauna of the Amazon, they can also provide insight into local folklore. For instance, many tribes along the river believe that Victorian Amazonica holds the spirit of a young girl who fell in love with the warrior in the moon.
Naturalist Greg Greer is a favorite among IE travelers, and has gained a reputation for his friendliness and good humor, along with his incomparable knowledge of natural history, photos and articles have been widely published in books and magazines, including Georgia Outdoor News, Bird Watcher’s Digest, Alabama Outdoor News, Riversedge and Southern Wildlife.
Photo of the Week: Ecuador's Red Crabs
Director of Program Development Bill Robison spent part of last year in Ecuador scouting IE's new Ecuador tour and shares some of the interesting sites from his journey.
This shot is of red crabs, a delicacy in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Their population is well managed and the local indigenous people are allowed to harvest them at certain times of year. Only males are allowed to be harvested, and a female can lay up to 250,000 eggs in one year. You can tell the males by the size of their pincers.
How many local delights will YOU sample in the Amazon?
We asked IE Director of Peruvian Operations Jorge Salas to talk to us about one of his true passions - Peruvian food!
Peruvians are passionate about food, and have been enjoying the rich diversity of their ocean, Andes and Amazon on their plates for millenniums. It is hard to see a recipe repeated in a Peruvian home in the course of a month. The recent recognition of Peruvian cuisine by the first world has Peruvian chefs showcasing modern fusion preparations across the country. Even though this new fusion cuisine if wonderful, it's often hard for visitors to access to the authentic Peruvian cuisine. Most travelers miss the opportunity to experience the true Peru through its food.
IE’s Amazon River expedition cruise includes 20 meals onboard its riverboat, two others on land and several snack services. This allows the Amazon Voyage to act as the perfect vehicle to present the true Peruvian food, including the modern mixtures of recent times, the old classics and the superb food that Peruvians enjoy on a daily basis. With IE you will meet the real Peru in multiple ways, including its cuisine.
The menu on board IE's new riverboat has been crafted to include the highlights from the Pacific coast, the Andes and of course, the Amazon. During the expedition, IE guests visit remote villages where local fresh ingredients are purchased to be served onboard. Yucas, hot peppers, avocados, herbs and the most diverse fruits find their way from the village gardens to the ship and are rapidly prepared and served. When fisherman are met, often their catch is also served and even guests get to help by fishing for piranhas during one of the excursions. (Which are served!)
The modern kitchen is run by two highly trained chefs. The menu was developed in coordination with the ship executive chef and can accommodate all special dietary requirements.
And the new riverboat's bar deserves special mention. Even though it carries an assortment of the finest spirits, liquors and South American wines, it has a concentration in drinks and cocktails based on Pisco, a fine brandy style spirit that is the base of Pisco Sour and Chilcano, Peru's national drinks. These classic recipes and versions including Amazon endemic fruits are offered daily (And all guests get to taste them during daily guides' receptions with complimentary drinks).
Some of the traditional recipes served:
- Heart of Palm Ceviche
- Papa a la huancaina
- Lomo Saltado
- Aji de Gallina
- Seco
- Locro
- Chicha morada
- Helado de lucuma
- Suspiro de limena
Some of the unique products you can taste:
- Multiple varieties of potatoes and other tubers.
- Several types of hot peppers and salsas
- Vegetables endemic to Peru
- Paiche (The biggest freshwater fish of the planet)
- Piranha
- Armored catfish (The amazon has over 2000 species of catfish and several find their way to the tables)
- Lucuma
- Zapote
- Camu Camu
- Taperiba
- Aguaje
Many of these are fruits, and we serv others depending on the season. Guests typically sample these local foods in desserts, juices and/or jams.
Special thanks to our friends Bret and Mary from Green Global Travel for this photo!
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When is the best time to travel to Galapagos? (Part II).
At least once a day, International Expeditions’ travel planners field the question “When is the best time for a Galapagos cruise?” So, our favorite naturalist Greg Greer sat down to tackle this popular question. Check out part 1 here.
In addition to air and sea water temperatures, there are several nesting events that you may want to consider when deciding what time of year to travel to the Galapagos Islands.
One of the iconic and endemic species is the waved albatross that nests on Espaňola Island. These are the only albatross to nest equatorially and are amazingly large glorious birds. If you are a birder and want to see albatross, travel between March and November. From March to April, albatross will be courting and there should be dueling and head bobbing taking place. By late April and May, eggs are in the nest and the first chicks hatch in July and August. The huge downy young are in the nest for quite some time but they are round little butter balls as they are fed regurgitated oil that is extremely high in fat content. Fledging usually takes place from September to November; occasionally into December. So, depending upon what stage of waved albatross nesting you want to see, your Galapagos cruise should be decided on the general dates of nesting and chick raising occurrence for these wonderful birds.
Most of the other sea birds are opportunistic nesters, nesting when food is abundant. So, timing for many species is not as important as it is with the waved albatross. During most trips, there will be nesting frigates, boobies, gulls and Darwin finches on various islands and at various sites.
Another timing event that people greatly appreciate is the sea lion pupping season. This season actually varies from one island to the next, but a fairly good time is from July to December. Watching newborn sea lions nurse is a wonderful, moving experience. The young sea lions are usually quite inquisitive and often approach visitors to sniff their shoes or clothes. Additionally, it’s not all that uncommon to witness the actual birth of a sea lion. Of course, this needs to be from a distance in order to not stress the female during this time. Once birth occurs, it is amazing how quickly Galapagos hawks, mocking birds and lava gulls find the afterbirth and it is fed upon with great relish. Also, during the times when young seas lions have entered the watery realm, snorkeling can be a joyous event as young sea lions are very playful and love showing off right in front of the mask of snorkelers. I had one young sea lion grab and remove my flipper. This turned into a game where the pup would drop my flipper. I would swim down to retrieve it only to have him streak past me and grab before I could reach it and the game went on for about 15 minutes! Yet one more of the wonderful experiences recorded in my journal. I often have said, my office as a naturalist is the most wonderful office in the world.
For reptiles, the hottest months are when mating usually occurs with marine iguanas — January through March. During this time males may be quite colorful as they try to impress the ladies. This is especially true of the marine iguanas on Espaňola, where the males are adorned in beautiful red skin tones.
There is something happening in the Galapagos Archipelago every month of the year. The above statements are designed more for the people that really want to increase their chances of observing a special natural history event. Please, please, please remember that many things can change due to so many outside influences on wildlife so don’t be disappointed if a particular event is not observed. The glory of the islands is such: that no matter what, you will observe great numbers of spectacular wildlife, many up very close and I have never known anyone to come home disappointed. The islands truly are magical!
Naturalist Greg Greer is a favorite among IE travelers, and has gained a reputation for his friendliness and good humor, along with his incomparable knowledge of natural history, photos and articles have been widely published in books and magazines, including Georgia Outdoor News, Bird Watcher’s Digest, Alabama Outdoor News, Riversedge and Southern Wildlife.
Check That Bag! 4 Tips for Buying a Suitcase
Our friend, the World Wide Will at MedjetAssist is an expert on all things travel related. This is the second in a series on making the best buying decision when purchasing luggage.
Whether you’re buying your luggage online or in a local store, there are many options to consider before making a purchase. In fact, there are so many individual considerations that making a buying decision can prove difficult. Do I want two wheels? Four wheels? None? Whatever your travel patterns and personal needs, there are specific criteria you should always consider when purchasing luggage. (For great tips on buying a carry-on, click here).
- If you’re planning to check your bag, a hard-sided suitcase or roll-on will be sturdiest and withstand the most wear and tear, although a soft-sided bags made of durable material will also travel well.
- If the bag is soft-sided with a frame, make sure the frame is durable and the material tough enough to be virtually indestructible.
- Decorative buckles and protruding wheels are generally not a good idea because they can get snagged and damage your bag in the process of loading and unloading.
- Even though you won’t be carrying it, you need to consider the weight of the bag itself because airlines now impose weight restrictions and additional fees for overweight luggage.
When it comes to luggage, basic black is a thing of the past. Bags come in a wide variety of colors and designs, which makes them a lot easier to identify. And you’ll appreciate they distinct colors if you’ve ever inadvertently walked off with another person’s suitcase. You’ll also really appreciate a “personalized” color if you’re the one standing at the carousel when the last bag rolls around and it looks exactly like yours, except that it isn’t. When making your color and design choice, remember that:
- Darker colors are less likely than light ones to show the frequent abuse your luggage is subjected to when you travel.
- If you do select a dark suitcase, mark it in a way that will clearly differentiate it from other, similar bags. Suggestions include tying colorful ribbons to both the top and side handles of mine so that I can spot it easily from any angle.
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Cuba: Feel the Beat of Bolero
While traveling to Cuba during IE’s people-to-people journey, music will be an ever-present companion. If you hear melodic guitar, a romantic tune and a beat that makes you want to sway your hips, there's a good chance that you're listening to bolero music, a genre of song and dance that originated in Cuba.
Cuban bolero is not to be mixed up with Spanish bolero, despite the fact that they share the same name. They are entirely different genres of music, though it's true that most music in Cuba has both Spanish and African influences, thanks to its diverse and unique populations.
There are a few aspects of bolero that make it stand out from the Spanish music of the same name. For one, it is slower, and typically has guitar accompaniment. The lyrics are different as well - most bolero songs are slow ballads about love and heartbreak, and of course, sensuality.
Jose “Pepe” Sanchez is widely regarded as the father of Cuban bolero. As a writer and composer, he created many signature songs of the genre, but surprisingly, he never wrote any of them down. Fortunately, he had friends and admirers who recorded the music on paper, and his tunes are still a staple of bolero. The musical style evolved over time, and eventually, in the 1940s, "conjuncts" bolero, or ensemble bolero, became popular. These tunes consist of larger, big band type renditions, featuring bongo and conga drums, pianos and maraca-wielding singers.
The bolero dance, like the rumba, is romantic, sentimental and sexy. In fact, some say that it's even more erotic than the classic tango, as its purpose is to show the love between the two partners who perform the dance.
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