Wasp sting create chaos!
Well, this morning I had to make do without my guide so I wasn't as effective on my own, I have to admit... I did go back to the nests he'd showed me but only saw a very brief sighting... I'd hooked up with a couple of photographers from Denver who had this massive camera lens and gear that weighted a ton and I'm glad I wasn't that well equipped as we had to cross a tiny bridge (just about the width of two feet next to each other) with a low wire to stop you falling over into the river... yeah, right. That would only work if you were 5 years old...
The guy was also a pharmacist (his day job) and it was quite handy as yesterday I got stung by a wasp and the pain actually grew worse overnight. It was throbbing a bit and when I woke up I had a rash about 3 inches long and I found it more difficult to lift things with my right arm as my forearm was so sore (felt like deep bruising). As the hours went by the swollen 'stain' seemed to get longer and longer and wider and wider. I've since had quite high fever, 39 C, eeek.. and a few side effects (I'll spare you the details!) and I'm sure it's down to this darn wasp sting. I've even lost my appetite too (well, my throat and gums are also sore = not so easy to chew).
The chap in question therefore gave me 2 anti-asthamine tablets, 1 for daytime (but he did say it wouldn't be very effective as the stronger ones make one drowsy) and 2 for night time and he applied some cream too, but that was 6 hours ago and the day pill hasn't worked at all. I've also got another pill vs wasp allergy from the hotel, 3 hours ago, which also did nothing. They've just given me a gel to apply on the swollen area too.
This afternoon it really rained heavily... my guide did come and pick me up, in his car, and we drove up into the cloud forest hoping it would stop eventually, but it didn't... we watched the rain fall down, listening to old French songs on the radio... but I could tell I was getting a lot worse (shivers, etc) so maybe it was a blessing God prevented me from trekking as strenous efforts is the last thing I needed, hum.
I was speaking to some members of another group today, bird watchers, they saw 350 different birds in 11 days and said that one of the lodges where I will be staying later has got heaps of toucans that come and sunbathe by the pool ! She said they are obviously used to humans so you can take some great close-ups.... wow. Can't wait. As you may know, toucans are in my top 3 birds... because, a bit like the quetzals, they look like big soft toys.
The couple I went 'photo hunting' with this morning also had a jeep which was most welcome as, feeling under the weather, I didn't have as much energy to carry my camera gear as much. I took one decent shot, but still no head shot. I'd have to be incredibly lucky for *that*.
The funny thing is that, having waited by the nest 1km away from the lodge for about 1 hour for a 20 second reward, I headed back to my cabin and one male quetzal flew right in front of my eyes. Then I looked up and a female was looking down at me... they kept talking to one another and flying from branch to branch (courtship ritual I think) and so I got to see them closer than ever. So that's another 2 sightings for this morning. But still no sign of the toucanet (which is actually emerald, not orange as I said earlier)...
I tried to make some log fire to keep warm, but still no luck with making it last beyond 5mns... I ended up having a candle-lit hot bath instead ! I've also asked for a small heater now as I cannot face getting out of bed in the morning if it's only 15C in my room - you know how one feels the cold a lot more with a fever.
The weather was still only good for about 3 hours today and even then, I was quite chilly this morning in the shade (or maybe I felt the cold more because I was a bit feverish). The rainy season is not supposed to start before May... but with global warming, we all know that seaons are not as defined anymore... :(
So, not a good day at all ! I'm sorry this is such a boring post. I didn't want to mention the wasp sting yesterday because I didn't think it was a big deal but it's turning into a major deal, bummer.
At least I have tomorrow afternoon off to sleep some more before I do my photo workshop... I just have to hope that the night pills do the trick.
Lots of Love and I'm not sure if I'll have internet access at the next place, so if you don't hear from me for the next 3 days, it doesn't mean I've succombed to a strange virus ! (she says, hopeful !!!).
I'm even going to skip dinner... how about that ? :) But don't mothers always say that you should feed a cold and starve a fever ???
Bisous, Sylvie xxx
Well, this morning I had to make do without my guide so I wasn't as effective on my own, I have to admit... I did go back to the nests he'd showed me but only saw a very brief sighting... I'd hooked up with a couple of photographers from Denver who had this massive camera lens and gear that weighted a ton and I'm glad I wasn't that well equipped as we had to cross a tiny bridge (just about the width of two feet next to each other) with a low wire to stop you falling over into the river... yeah, right. That would only work if you were 5 years old...
The guy was also a pharmacist (his day job) and it was quite handy as yesterday I got stung by a wasp and the pain actually grew worse overnight. It was throbbing a bit and when I woke up I had a rash about 3 inches long and I found it more difficult to lift things with my right arm as my forearm was so sore (felt like deep bruising). As the hours went by the swollen 'stain' seemed to get longer and longer and wider and wider. I've since had quite high fever, 39 C, eeek.. and a few side effects (I'll spare you the details!) and I'm sure it's down to this darn wasp sting. I've even lost my appetite too (well, my throat and gums are also sore = not so easy to chew).
The chap in question therefore gave me 2 anti-asthamine tablets, 1 for daytime (but he did say it wouldn't be very effective as the stronger ones make one drowsy) and 2 for night time and he applied some cream too, but that was 6 hours ago and the day pill hasn't worked at all. I've also got another pill vs wasp allergy from the hotel, 3 hours ago, which also did nothing. They've just given me a gel to apply on the swollen area too.
This afternoon it really rained heavily... my guide did come and pick me up, in his car, and we drove up into the cloud forest hoping it would stop eventually, but it didn't... we watched the rain fall down, listening to old French songs on the radio... but I could tell I was getting a lot worse (shivers, etc) so maybe it was a blessing God prevented me from trekking as strenous efforts is the last thing I needed, hum.
I was speaking to some members of another group today, bird watchers, they saw 350 different birds in 11 days and said that one of the lodges where I will be staying later has got heaps of toucans that come and sunbathe by the pool ! She said they are obviously used to humans so you can take some great close-ups.... wow. Can't wait. As you may know, toucans are in my top 3 birds... because, a bit like the quetzals, they look like big soft toys.
The couple I went 'photo hunting' with this morning also had a jeep which was most welcome as, feeling under the weather, I didn't have as much energy to carry my camera gear as much. I took one decent shot, but still no head shot. I'd have to be incredibly lucky for *that*.
The funny thing is that, having waited by the nest 1km away from the lodge for about 1 hour for a 20 second reward, I headed back to my cabin and one male quetzal flew right in front of my eyes. Then I looked up and a female was looking down at me... they kept talking to one another and flying from branch to branch (courtship ritual I think) and so I got to see them closer than ever. So that's another 2 sightings for this morning. But still no sign of the toucanet (which is actually emerald, not orange as I said earlier)...
I tried to make some log fire to keep warm, but still no luck with making it last beyond 5mns... I ended up having a candle-lit hot bath instead ! I've also asked for a small heater now as I cannot face getting out of bed in the morning if it's only 15C in my room - you know how one feels the cold a lot more with a fever.
The weather was still only good for about 3 hours today and even then, I was quite chilly this morning in the shade (or maybe I felt the cold more because I was a bit feverish). The rainy season is not supposed to start before May... but with global warming, we all know that seaons are not as defined anymore... :(
So, not a good day at all ! I'm sorry this is such a boring post. I didn't want to mention the wasp sting yesterday because I didn't think it was a big deal but it's turning into a major deal, bummer.
At least I have tomorrow afternoon off to sleep some more before I do my photo workshop... I just have to hope that the night pills do the trick.
Lots of Love and I'm not sure if I'll have internet access at the next place, so if you don't hear from me for the next 3 days, it doesn't mean I've succombed to a strange virus ! (she says, hopeful !!!).
I'm even going to skip dinner... how about that ? :) But don't mothers always say that you should feed a cold and starve a fever ???
Bisous, Sylvie xxx
posted by Sylvie at 1:14 PM
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