Raking Leaves And Tarantula At La Tortuga Feliz

I just learned that actually (for Carrie) there were 4 turtles in 1 nest, 43 in another, plus 2 in another.
Turtle Tally:
Carrie: 49+1 Adult
Jonathan: 0

Did a turtle exhumation for two man-made nests. (Exhumation is digging up a nest which has already hatched to find any that didn’t come up as well as any unhatched or diseased/rotting nests.)

The little turtle hatchlings are really cute and it’s amazing to watch them being removed from deep holes in the ground, already flipping, ready to head out to the ocean.

The turtle tracks left on the shore are also very cute.


I haven’t seen any adult turtles, but hope to in our time here. If I don’t see them here (Carrie already saw one), perhaps we’ll see one while SCUBAing, or maybe when we visit the Galapagos Islands?
On a completely different note: My alarm clock sort of works, and sort of doesn’t. Bought it brand new in Bataan. Was complaining a bit about it, and it became a topic for discussion here at the project. It’s interesting that Americans go some place like the dollar store to buy things that are inherently throw away items. Most of those items are made in China, Taiwan, India, etc.
Robert (managing the project) says that the items that are rejected in the manufacturing process due to shoddy workmanship or otherwise poor quality are sold and shipped to Central America, where people buy them, and as a result have no idea what it means to have quality products. It’s apparently not uncommon to buy something here, have it not work, take it back for a replacement, have the replacement not work, etc. etc. etc. until you eventually just give up and get your money back, or simply give up.
I don’t know if that’s 100% true, but if it is, who is buying and reselling that stuff here in Central America to the stores where people shop? Buying defective stuff in bulk, at the same cheap prices and selling at the same cost or even slightly more than what it’s sold for at the Dollar Store in the US only works if people here are open to buying defective stuff and paying high prices for it. But then what about the individual stores selling it? Do they just get stuck with the junky merchandise? Wouldn’t they think to source quality stuff themselves?

And, on another completely different note: while we were raking leaves, I leaned down to pick up a pile and nearly grabbed a large, orange, hairy, tarantula.

Hard to tell from this picture, but (s)he’s about 3 inches across.
Must haves at La Tortuga Feliz (in addition to what they tell you to bring): PONCHO – a MUST for the rainy season), Ear plugs (for sleeping), something for your head (the pillows here are really yicky, but don’t bring your favorite pillow. We recommend leaving your favorite pillow at home or if you do bring it, wrap it in plastic and put 3-4 pillow cases on it before you arrive.)