A Day in the Jungle

On Monday, January 10th, we took our guests to Mambukal mountain resort. Mambukal is known primarily for it's 7 waterfalls but also has many other things to do.

Climbing around on the rocks

Picnic!!!

Shhh! Don't disturb the bats!!!

Really???

So we begin our hike up to the first fall. We have a guide going with us and he tells us that it's about a 10 minute hike. So far, so good.

See how fresh, clean and energized we all look?? This is only the beginning!

HUGE trees!!

The bridge was closed. We'll have to come back for that!

Made it to the 1st fall. The hike wasn't too bad, but we're definitely sweating by this point.

Years ago they would let us swim at the 1st fall, but now you have to go to the 4th one before you can swim.

So thankful they are here!!

This makes my heart smile :)

So we head off to the 2nd fall. Our guide says it's just one more minute.

He failed to tell us that it was STRAIGHT UP for that one minute!!

"Are you kidding me???"

Keep smiling and just climb!

The 2nd fall

At this point, our guide informs us that it's just 3-4 minutes to the 3rd fall. (And yes, still straight up!!) Also, the path to the 4th and 5th falls isn't accessible so after the 3rd it's on to the 6th. There we can swim. He also tells us that if we can make it to the 6th, there's a much "easier" way down. So here we go!!

We made it to the 3rd one, even though some of us were huffing and puffing quite a bit!!

Beau.ti.ful!!

Somewhere between the 3rd fall and the 6th (a 10 minute hike supposedly) Toya almost died of a heat stroke and I wasn't far behind!! Needless to say, we had to stop and take breaks about every minute or two! Our sweet guide was even picking leaves off the trees and making fans out of them for us!

Of course, the boys still had PLENTY of energy!

We FINALLY made it to the 6th fall and it was gorgeous!!

The boys loved climbing around on all the rocks

Our guide told them they could swim, but the water was C.O.L.D!!!

So, they tried to "ease" into it.

So much for "easing"! LOL

It's soooooo cold!!!

Once the boys were wet, our guide showed them how they could jump/dive off the cliffs into the water below. Carly had to take the videos because this momma couldn't watch the first one!!

The first jump

And then our crazy guide decides to show the boys how to jump out of the tree!!!

The second jump

Caleb's third jump (off the higher rock). Turner jumped too, but I didn't get video of them all.

(They also both jumped a 4th time too. Turner said that the next time he was here, he wanted to jump out of the tree!!)

All hikers need a little nourishment, right??

Carly, taking pictures of flowers again :)

"How beautiful are the feet...." Really???

The way back down the mountain WAS easier then climbing straight down, but it was the scenic route and took us about 45 minutes or so. And it was quite muddy in places and we had several wipeouts! However, we did make it and shared MANY laughs along the way!!

When we got back down to the resort, we headed to the zipline. We had promised the boys they could ride but then everyone - except me - ended up riding. (Someone's gotta take the pictures, right?)

These guys went first

After the boys, Wade went next but I didn't get any pictures because he took the camera with him to the other side so that he could video Carly, Sarah and Toya as they came down the zipline!

On the way home, we stopped in a field where they were harvesting sugar cane and got a few sticks to snack on.

What an incredible day spent with very special friends, enjoying God's amazing creation!! Thank you, Lord, for the blessings of this day!!