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Rachel holds in her palm some cintronella in it's natural form.
Citronella, of course, is that pleasant aroma used in candles and such to repel mosquitos.
The catch is -- in the jungle, it attracts snakes.
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According to Robin, this is an Orb Spider. I don't care what you call it. It's HUGE.
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While on our guided walk through Arenal, we picked up a curious follower.
This is an Oncilla... a very rare and nearly extinct cat that lives in Central and South America.
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This Oncilla was brought to the property as a kitten in a cage. One of the local residents, an ex-pat who lives on the property, rescued the animal and has been feeding it raw chicken.
As a result, the cat is semi-tame. They are currently reducing its chicken rations, forcing the cat to hunt for food and no longer just for fun.
In another month or two, this cat will probably return to the wild on her own.
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In the meantime, she literally trailed us through the forest for a half-hour. She would climb trees, leap down, bump up against you, and generally stalk us.
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My bonding moment with the Oncilla. Immediately after this, she literally bumped into me... Just like her more domestic cousins at home.
And this is why I'm a cat person.
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Most tense moment: As we crossed the hanging bridge (which was like 100ft up over a gorge), she shadowed us -- by leaping from timber to timber on the OUTSIDE of the protection of the bridge.
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Dances with Wolves, meet Walks with Oncilla.
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Rachel stalked me, channeling her inner Oncilla.
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Can you spot Rachel in this picture?
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As the lazy rain day wore on (it was the only day we were there that it rained all day), we played rumi.
I was winning.
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