Demarcation Diaries
1 September 2001
I woke up before sunrise again today. The ship stopped last night
while we were sleeping. We started the day watching about a dozen
dolphins swimming and chasing after fish. There were two pink
dolphins swimming right next to the ship. They move slowly, rise
above the water with elegance. What better way to start your day?
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After the peaceful beauty we experienced early in the morning,
we had more training and preparation the rest of the day for
the tough job we are going todo. Bryan, Merel and me took
the boat for a practical exercise on how to use the Global
Positioning System. Since this was the first time we really
used the device, it did not go as smoothly as we thought.
But in the end, we all felt like more comfortable using it.
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In the afternoon, we took out all our gear and equipment that
we will bring into the forest, and tried to figure out how we
could carry all of it. The amount of the stuff we have to bring
looked scary at first sight. There are two solar panels, electrical
generators, communications equipment, cooking utensils, food for
15 people, tents, hammocks and more. Then we began to think seriously
about what kind of stuff we really need and decided to leave behind
some less useful things. We also tried to
imagine what the first days would be like so we could bring the
stuff into the field later. After that it did not look so scary
because we have a sense now of how we are going to carry the load
into the forest.
A large part of the training and preparation is really to prepare
ourselves psychologically for the uncertainties of working in
the unknown environment and what to expect.
According to Chinese Lunar calendar, yesterday was 15th of July,
which means we will have a full moon tonight. The moon brightened
up the sky and the river, and made beautiful silhouette of the
canopy of trees. Manuel told us a famous legend about the river
dolphin.
It is believed by the people living in the Amazon that during
full moon nights, the dolphins transform into handsome men
and they go to the villages to seduce women. Manuel said that
this legend is shared by almost all people living along the
river, from Belem at the mouth of the Amazon river in Brazil,
to spring where the river begins in Peru. |
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Looking at the beauty of the moon and the river, I can understand
why people living so far apart would share the same legends. After
all, our cultures are shaped by the environment, and how we feel
and live with it.
I did not see dolphins transform into mortals last night, but
the real story is that last night was my mother's birthday. Happy
birthday mom, and my best wishes from the Amazon!
Sze Pang
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