Day 20 - Bastimentos

Another glorious day on this beautiful island! Early morning swim on especially calm water just after sunrise. Pancake and coffee breakfast, then 30min walk to the one village on the island 'Salt Creek' with Ishmail. He was filling me in on the islands history - his grandparents were the first people on the island in 1940 as they were looking for a good place to base for fishing, with just 3 people total. Today's there's 1000 people on the island, 50% all family. The community have total control and say on what happens here - anyone who wants to buy a house, build something, start a new tour etc gets decided on by the community, and their number one priority is it must be in balance with nature. If not, it doesn't happen. The government wanted to bring electricity and a concrete road to the island but they rejected it (there's just 1 main path round the island and it's the beach :)) the village was beautiful - and had an impromptu tour by an older guy called Taylor whos lived here all his life - we walked through a trail in the jungle, spotted some red frogs, no sloths (apparently they'd already dried off from the rain so were hanging out away from the sun!) Taylor calls the golden manequin bird the 'Michael Jackson' as its always dancing to attract mates. Apparently it clears a small area, keeps it really clean, and has it as his 'dancefloor'. We kept spotting 'dance floors', and hearing their calls, but no real life Michael Jacksons! He showed me a type of fibrous plant they make bags, jewellery, hammocks from. Also a 'big lips' plant, a prehistoric plant and a 'walking palm' (moves 7cm a year)! Walked back along the beach after getting slightly lost! Then afternoon of more beach time and reading ✌️Read more