playa venao, panama

10-14 April, 2014

Hola! Playa Venao is a far cry from the bustling streets of Panama City,  it's rustic and rural and peaceful and just what we were hoping for!

The highlights

• We stayed at Eco Venao, a sustainable Eco friendly hostel. It was the best. 
• It had hammocks, beach front cabanas, a restaurant (with delicious daily lunch and dinner specials), surf board hire and a communal kitchen. 
• And our cabana was so great. In the middle of the jungle, on stilts, no one around, with just a porch, hammock and bed. No glass windows. No locks. Not even a door handle. 
• Our loo and shower was down the path - outdoor cold shower and composting toilet, so Eco friendly! 
• Our daily routine generally consisted of yoga, surfing, reading (which on a hammockm always results in sleeping), eating our homemade meals and drinking beers. Simply perfect. 
• Except for when we had no electricity for a day or so - all our groceries defrosted in the communal fridge and freezer, the restaurant completely shut down, wifi down, and our room fan also down! Not ideal given the 35C heat. Gah. But it sure made us grateful for electricity!
• We also spent most days without Internet, which strangely meant all phones were out too, including mobiles so we couldn't contact our taxi driver for transport the following day. But as the locals say, "manyana!", which means maybe we'll get round to sorting that out tomorrow. Ha. 
• We were surrounded by loads of of animals. Monkeys. So many loud monkeys outside our room at night, at least 30. Turtles. Snakes. Scorpions. Crabs. Bats also flying around our room. Geckos everywhere. Lizards. Domestic dogs. And ants. Lots of ants. Oh and bees, Damo managed to get stung by one in the surf?!
• Kath taught her first ever yoga class to three budding students. 
• Damo performed an off key version of Green Days Time of your life to a live audience. It was so awesome! 
• We saw our first moon shadows on the beach! Didn't know it was even possible. 
• The bus rides to get about this part of the world are incredible- no big coaches, all local buses with school children, shop owners and their wares, including seafood, and general commuters. Every person who hops on says "Buenos dias" and the entire bus responds "Buenos dias" in a school like fashion. Incredible!

The Summary

Weather: Perfect. Hot but dry wind. 

Surf: 2-3 foot but lots of close outs. However, zero crowds. 

Food: Fresh tuna, canned tuna, all the tuna. Oh and tasty burgers at the local bar. 

Beverages: More "Panamas"

People: So chillaxed. And friendly. I've never said good day to so many people on a public bus before!

Accommodation: Picture a jungle hut. That was our abode. Best. 

Budget: Pretty good actually. About 20% under forecast. Averaging $80 a day. 

Overall: We loved it here. So rustic and beautiful and friendly and peaceful and authentic.  Sad to leave!

Adiós,  

Kath and Damo. 

Rockstar surfers. 

After a long day at the office. 

My cabana hammock. 

No electricity today. Good thing we brought all our camping equipment! 

Our cute little jungle hut bed with walls made of twigs and windows of blinds.

Our hut.

Our shower and composting toilet. 

Luc. Our travel buddy.

Best beach. No people, no shops,  just sand and monkeys hiding in those trees.

Beers with Luc.

Damo strums a tune for everyone. Luc on box drum and the other dude on castanets.  He plays it down, but damo was a seriously great guitarist and singer. Go Damo! 

Rock star Damo.

I wish you could hear these guys,  they are LOUD! They have screeching fights with each other. 

Just hangin.

Watching the noisy little monkey monsters from our balcony! 

A snake. A tree snake. Gives me the heeby geebys!

Party at the local.

Doggies! So many cute doggies roaming around our hostel. 

I taught my first ever yoga class! And they even came back for more the following day!