Majestic Trees. One of the joys of walking through the jungle here in Bocas del Toro Panama is to encounter the different kinds of trees. Some of these trees stand as tall as a high rise building in the middle of the concrete jungle. Here, however the concrete, if any, is limited to minimal walkways.

Walking amongst these trees, which can stand hundreds of feet above the ground, makes one realize how small our dimensions are. Here in the rainforest each of the plants and animals has its own place in the life cycle. There are the trees which grow tall quickly to provide shade to some of the other plants which cannot handle the full sunlight. Once the early bloomers have served their purpose they may fall over to make way for sunlight which then permits other plants to take their place in the forest.

The termites and other insects which feed on the different plants in the jungle also help the natural order of things to continue. When they termites feed on a tree for an extended period of time, it ultimately falls making space for the next round of growth. The ants may feed on the fallen tree or upon other plants near the forest floor.

Each time I think about how nature keeps this process going I think of The Trees by Rush where you have the maples asking for more sunglight and the oaks ignoring their pleas. Ultimately, a hole will open up and the maples will get more sunlight as that is just the way things work in the jungle.

Tags: Bastimentos National Marine Park, Bocas del Toro, Panama, Trees, Jungle, Rainforest

When it comes to music, there are a number of songs about the jungle and Panama. There are also artists when you listen to their music you feel as if you are either in the jungle or on an island. I thought I would list a few of the ones which come to my mind when I think about it.

Panama, Van Halen, 1984
Panama, Various Jazz Artists
Panama, Crosby, Stills & Nash, After the Storm
Going Down to Panama ,Shorty & Slim, Going Down to Panama

Jungle Man, Red Hot Chili Peppers, What Hits!?
Welcome To The Jungle, Guns N' Roses, Appetite For Destruction
Jungle Love, Moris Day and the Time
In The Heat Of The Jungle, Chris Isaak, Heart Shaped World
Jungle Gym, G. Love & Jack Johnson, Sing-a-Longs and Lullabies
Jungle Love, Steve Miller Band Greatest Hits
The Bare Necessities, Jungle Book, Soundtrack
Jungle Boogie, Kool & the Gang, Pulp Fiction Soundtrack
George of the Jungle
In the Jungle, Hugh Masekela
The Lion Sleeps Tonight, The Tokens
Jungle Strut, Santana
Jungle Fever, Stevie Wonder

Brass Monkey, Beastie Boys
Tweeter and the Monkey Man, Traveling Wilburys

Jimmy Buffett – just about anything he has recorded, but especially Don’t Stop the Carnival

Jerry Jeff Walker, Bathing Suits & Cowboy Boots

Tags: Music, Jungle