Old vs. New

As if there wouldn't have been enough culture in Bogota here older and newer art from famous artists out of the Botero-museum in contrast to anonymous street-artists. Decide for yourself which ones you like best...

New:

Old:

Bogota

After 6 month in the forest and in isolated places it was time for the 12h-cultural shock at the stop-over in Bogota. First-off into the Museo de Oro:

After that a bit of strolling in the historic center:

I doesn't seem to be all perfect in colombian relationships neither...

quickly with the teleferic up the hill to see Bogota from above:

and for strengthening a cultural shock for vegetarians:

Buenaventura X

Here Tapaculo number 16 just flew into the net and has to be taken out again. Foto: Claudia Hermes

Just a snail

Foto: Claudia Hermes

Searching picture

Where's he? Foto: Claudia Hermes

Buenaventura IX

In Buenaventura you´re always going to be confronted with snakes. this onbe was lying on the path in the forest. All pictures: Claudia Hermes

we found this little baby-snake during the clean-up of the mud-slide pictured below

it somehow liked me and didn´t want to leave any more

Buenaventura VIII

Daily routine in Buenaventura: a mud-slide covers the road and impedes driving further. The road underneath got swept totally into the valley. All pictures: Claudia Hermes

The Beast

As always everything´s bigger in Ecuador. This caterpillar shouldn´t be touched at all. Burns like hell. All pictures: Claudia Hermes or camera of Claudia Hermes

Tapaculo II

Back in Buenaventura searching the dem El Oro Tapaculo. UNfortunately, my camera got stolen in Manabi by some jackasses. Therefore for now pictures from other peoples cameras. All pictures: Claudia Hermes or camera of Claudia Hermes

Attracting with playback

A completely banded Tapaculo

Here one can see how little the color of the Tapaculo is distinguishable from the background (=mud)

A. lilacina VI

The search for the lilacine Amazone is finished. now i´m going via Quito back South to Buenaventura to work another month with the Tapaculo. Here a picture of the Lilacine Amazone (Amazona lilacina).

Manabi III

Bad conditions? Who cares....     Foto: Hannes Kampf

Fotos from the archives IV

Bali; all pictures: Kima

Fotos from the archives III

Manabi II

A typical day in Ecuador: small, wobbly beachbreaks and pelicans. But again and again plenty of fun aswell. all pctures: Alejandro Gilces

Manabi

Esmeraldas IV

Every day a new sunrise

Finally scientist

"my" first paper is published. Now I can finally call myself a scientist, hehe.

A big day

After I inofficially bought my bike on 10th of december by now (2,5 month later) it's finally mine. Now I can be a proud owner for 4 weeks before it's getting sold again. To achieve this I only had to fight a bureaucracy apparatus that in the whole universe probably only is outmatched by the vogons. One of the highlights was amongst others that one lady wanted me to submit the divorce papers of the former owner. But that I only have a room in Sua for 3 nights didn't seem to bother anyone. All obstacles passed without getting crazy or screaming. Zen-level: Master. Oh, and the pen-drawing really is a signature. They are a bit more extravagant here in Ecuador.

A. lilacina V

Getting to the mangroves by land sometimes makes you wish you had a danger surcharge

Rather sit back and cruise the channels with Don Victor from the Ministerio Ambiente in Muisne and his nephews