Our guided nature walk follows a pattern: walk twenty minutes, stop, smoke-break. We ask for a brisker pace and are accommodated. Aggressive monkeys hassle the guides for food. 

Human impact.

We cross a dangerous river that we have no business crossing. As I struggle back across with Ethan's help, our guide takes his coveted smoke break.

Leeches leap off the ground, seeking our exposed skin. Sandals are a poor choice. I stop more than our guide to pick and flick the monsters out from between my toes. The waterfalls are mere rapids, and the day is a bloody disappointing mess.