On The Jahan, our photo instructor Sue led an early morning photo walk in Phnom Penh by tuk tuk to a waterfront park on the Mekong and at Wat Ounalom Monastery, the center of Cambodian Buddhism. The group photographed locals exercising in the park and a ceremony at the monastery. After breakfast, University of Phnom Penh Professor and Linguist Jean Michel Filippi gave a lecture covering the past 70 years of Cambodian history. We took a break for fresh coconuts on deck before a Q&A session in the lounge. During the afternoon, National Geographic Archeologist Fabio Esteban gave a talk about “The Power of Art”. Then, we took local tuk tuks through the village of Kampong Leaeng to visit a local pottery artisan. We also learned about palm sugar production with a demonstration on a farm and watched the locals climbing the palm trees to collect the sap, which is later boiled to thicken it. After dinner, Expedition Leader David Brotherson gave a presentation about “Cambodian Weddings”, sharing his experience and the many costume changes involved.
It’s our second day in Bahia Magdalena on board National Geographic Venture. It was an early start but worth it to experience our second round of whale watching in the shallow lagoon of the southern bay. The morning was especially spectacular, with over 40 whales spy-hopping consistently and some even breaching in the distance. We even spotted a mother and calf which were navigating across the lagoon. Upon our return, we were met by the wonderful hospitality team with hot cocoa to warm us. We repositioned to Puerto Magdalena, a small fishing town of about 100 inhabitants who greeted us with a delicious assortment of beans, guacamole and chips, and of course agua de horchata! We split off into groups to cover different hikes along the way, exploring some of the island’s endemic and captivating flora. Some examples included the Santa Margarita agave, the Magdalena prickly pear, and the cochemiea. It was a great way to explore the coastal plains of Magdalena and get a feel for the very dynamic ecosystem that makes it so unique. The scenery will be a fond memory as we leave the islands and lagoons behind to head out to the Pacific in search of some more amazing wildlife.
Weather changes rapidly here, and today was cool and windy. El Barril has a lovely mangrove forest which we enjoyed exploring in calm waters, but the ride back to National Geographic Sea Bird was splashy. Kayakers in the mangroves got to see herons and egrets. We glided through Hull Canal along a narrow channel marked by Sergio and his late father. Sergio took over the piloting of our ship through the challenging canal to the boca in the north. At the boca, we found a mother and calf gray whale. At times the month-old was flopping itself on mom’s back, delighting us all. Tonight is Mexican fiesta night on board, with live music and dancing!
Our day began with perfect weather for an early morning walk on North Seymour Island, a fascinating landmass that emerged millions of years ago from the seafloor due to geological uplift. As we explored, we encountered numerous magnificent and great frigatebirds perched atop the palo santo trees. Along the trail, we also spotted several blue-footed boobies returning to the island preparing to nest. The landscape of North Seymour is beginning to change with the arrival of the rainy season, and lush green foliage is replacing the dry scenery. After our visit to North Seymour, we set sail westward toward Rabida Island. From a distance, we could see the island’s striking reddish hue, a result of iron oxidation and volcanic erosion. The afternoon provided the perfect conditions for snorkeling along the beach, where our guests had a thrilling experience swimming with playful sea lions, colorful fish and, of course, the blue-footed boobies that captivated everyone. At around 5:00 PM, we returned for a walk along the beach to visit a lagoon where flamingos nest, and we encountered several Galapagos sea lions resting along the shoreline. Just before sunset, we returned to National Geographic Islander II, cherishing the unforgettable memories of this incredible day in the Galapagos.
Our day was full of excitement. We had a surprise for our guests today, keeping it a secret that we might find giant tortoises today. Their faces when we found these incredible reptiles were beyond description, filled with so much joy, surprise, and excitement. Isabela Island is unbelievable, with so many things to see and so many things to do. We had a lot of options, including kayaking, snorkeling, swimming, exploring by Zodiac, and hiking to an astonishing summit with an out-of-this-world view. We said goodbye to the western realm of the archipelago as we sailed away to our next destination.
