2013-04-02

【Aiden in English】

        After I went outside, my first statement was: "It's foggy." And that was true. The fog wasn't what you saw every month in your front yard. It looked like a white pillow on top of everything in sight. Even in the old days, superstitious pirates called the Galapagos Enchanted Islands because the islands would disappear into the mist for no reason.

        Today, we plan to visit the largest island of Isabella in the Galapagos Islands, which is shaped like a seahorse. The vast lava flows of six central shields and numerous minor volcanoes have uplifted and joined over millions of years to form this natural beauty. At a height of 5,600 feet/1,707 meters, Wolf Volcano is the highest peak in the Galapagos.  

        Off the central west coastline, Elizabeth Bay became an exciting area for observing the marine life of many different species. However, this morning, we could only take a zodiac ride to view a wide variety of wildlife and an incredible mangrove ecosystem in this sheltered inlet.  

        Pretty soon, a lovely tropical island came into view. Even though the mist made it fuzzy, we could tell green grass and trees apart. We didn't seem to be heading toward the island, leading slightly left. Then I saw another island and knew the Zodiac was going between them. The mist cleared, and a channel surrounded by mangrove forest came out on both sides. Here, mangrove trees grow up to 90 feet/30 meters high and have spectacular tangles of roots. The mangrove ecosystem was essential in protecting against erosion and offered a safe environment for young marine organisms.  

        Suddenly, our first look at marine life appeared. Beneath the water's surface was a magnificent coral with hundreds, maybe thousands, of majestic tropical fish. If there were abundant fish, surely there would be a lot of birds, as I thought it sounded perfect for natural selection and survival of the fittest. My predictions were correct, although they turned out to be wrong most of the time. We heard a splash followed by a series of flapping sounds, which could only indicate that some seabird had found itself a delightful snack. Nearby, Sea Turtles bathed luxuriously. Galapagos Penguins floated face down, trying to find fish that looked like the dead man floating on the water. Two islets of the Marielas appeared to be different pieces of jagged rocks with a scruffy crown of Palo Santo trees suitable for Galapagos Penguins, Blue-footed Boobies, Nazca Boobies, Brown Pelicans, and Flightless Cormorants. All animals are often peacefully nested in the same place.  

       In the afternoon, we headed north for Darwin Volcano and Darwin Lake in Tagus Cove, northwest of Isabella Island. It used to be one of the places Charles Darwin visited when he was 25 years old in 1835. Under the cliffs marked with maritime graffiti, we could see a few shelters historically provided for wayfarers, Lave Herons, Boobies, Brown Pelicans, Flightless Cormorants, Sally Lightfoot Crabs, and other marine animals.  

        At the foot of Darwin Volcano, a sea lion rushed down the slope. It stopped before us and bent back with its head straight up to see what was going on. We began with 150 steps, and you might be thinking of Pitt! 150 steps? I called that a course for a snail! But these steps were high, slippery, and narrow. So, one tiny OOPS and you would find yourself at the bottom of the stairs with bumps and bruises from head to toe. Luckily, it didn't seem to be the case for anyone. But now, we have to deal with another problem: Rain. That set the mood for the afternoon.  

        Our first encounter along the trail was with the mockingbird with a black, sharp, curved beak, brown feathers, and an array of feathers. It seemed impatient and didn't cooperate with us when we tried to catch up with it. Later, we heard a high-pitched chirping noise. It was a little Yellow Warbler that had a dazzling yellow neck and black stripes on its wings. In front of us, the Yellow Warbler sounded like singing something rude like: "Come any closer, and you'll be my breakfast!!!" Another Yellow Warbler flew and perched itself on a branch of Palo Santo Forest. A mockingbird dashed upon it in a flash and started pecking it wildly. The naturalist explained that the mockingbirds were territorial and wouldn't let anyone else stay close to their nests. But I didn't feel as if it behaved too aggressively.

        We then started a steep hike up the side of a volcanic tuff cone to a wondrous view of Darwin Lake. Above Tagus Cove, Darwin Lake was a mysterious crater lagoon without any holes to let seawater come through. The best hypothesis was that a massive tsunami took place long ago and dumped tremendous water into the crater. Palo Santo trees covered the crater sides, where erosion could quickly happen. The naturalist tried to brighten us by telling jokes, but half of them made me grumpier. After a heavy downpour of rain, we climbed to the summit of Darwin Volcano. When I looked down, I felt my jaw drop. My eyes greeted a spectacular panorama of Isabella Island: an enormous Darwin Lake in the back, a wild lava field, and calderas up close, plus a light mist that sheltered the higher mountains. We even spotted our cruise ship anchored a little off the coast. 

        Finally, when everyone was filled with pictures, we headed back to the ship.

【红霞译】

        “晓雾忽无还忽有，春山如近复如遥。”我出门后第一感觉便是“雾气遮天”，一点没错，外面雾大得非同寻常，与偶尔出现在家门口的那种完全不一样，好似“白雾鱼龙气黑云牛马形”，难怪从前连信奉迷信的海盗们都把加拉帕戈斯“巨龟”群岛称为梦幻之岛，因为大大小小的岛屿常常神不知鬼不觉消失得无影无踪，正如“满城烟霭忽然合，隔水人家恰似无”。

        今天我们打算登陆加拉帕戈斯群岛中最大的岛屿──伊莎贝拉“完美上帝”岛，该岛形如海马，由六座盾状大火山和无数个小火山喷发出的熔岩堆积而成，经过数百万年演绎，其自然奇观举世无双，狼火山海拔5,600英尺／1,707米，号称加拉帕戈斯群岛最高峰。

        伊莎贝拉岛西部海岸线中央的伊丽莎白“上帝的承诺”湾格外引入注目，这里是观察各种海洋生物的最佳去处，不过今天上午我们只能乘坐小型机动快艇，水上观看丰富多样的野生动物以及由红树林为主要生物群落所形成特有的海陆边缘生态系统。

        不久身边出现一个热带岛屿，虽然雾气朦朦，但岛上的青草绿树仍然依稀可辨。我们从左侧绕过小岛，迎面又碰上另外一个，快艇从中间穿行，随着大雾渐渐离去，水道两旁的红树林逐渐把地平线勾勒出来，红树林枝叶繁茂，树根盘绕，木节交错，有的高达90英尺／30米，整个植被不仅有效地控制海岸侵蚀，而且还为年幼海洋生物提供了安全成长环境。

        “瓦沼晨朝水自清，小虫无数不知名，忽然分散无踪影，惟有鱼儿作队行。”瑰丽壮观的海底珊瑚最先闯入我们的视线，金牛鼻鳐带领热带彩鱼随后一波接一波蜂拥而来。我敢打赌，如果水下乐园鱼产丰富，那么水上世界必将鸟声鼎沸！物竞天择，适者生存。事实果真如此，一向缺乏先见之明的我，这回竟料事如神，“荒田寂寂无人声，水边跳鱼翻水响。”只听扑通一声，顷刻之间水花飞溅，说不准哪只海鸟好运当头，正在享用刚刚捕捞的海鲜大餐；不远处海龟忽而潜入水底，忽而露出水面，独享安逸生活；加拉帕戈斯企鹅脸部朝下背顶青天，好像死人一般漂浮水面；它有意将双目浸入水中，密切注视过往鱼群。前方海之星大小岛突出海面，铁梨木树蓬乱地葡匐在参差不齐的礁石表面，加拉帕戈斯企鹅、蓝脚鲣鸟、纳斯卡“苦难”鲣鸟、棕鹈鹕和弱翅鸬鹚劳作之余，喜欢驻扎这块无人青睐的荒郊野外，充分彰显各“种族”大团结的和睦景象。

        当天下午，我们北上直取伊莎贝拉岛西北部塔霍“穿过”湾，要去高山湖泊追随查尔斯·达尔文“自由人·亲爱的朋友”足迹，1835年25岁的达尔文曾亲临此地现场考察，登山前辈们与熔岩鹭、鲣鸟、棕鹈鹕、弱翅鸬鹚以及莎莉轻脚蟹等海洋动物驻足的驿站礁石上留下不少海事涂鸦。

        达尔文火山脚下，一只海狮匆匆从山坡上走来，看见大队人马蜂拥而至，索性停住脚步，昂头挺胸静观动向。我们由此向上攀登150阶石梯，你可能不屑一顾，哼哈！150？对蜗牛来说，也许难于上青天；对咱大小伙儿来说，岂不小菜一碟？可是偏偏这些阶梯既高又滑还窄，只要稍不留神，定叫你连滚带爬摔回起点原处，浑身上下不是青一块就得紫一块，幸好这种事情没发生在我们中间，否则真得吃不了兜着走。实际上，我们真正需要应对的却是下雨天气，“雨”的确影响到我们的情绪。

        正当我们徒步行走在火山石径时，仿声鸟拦腰挡着了去路，伊莎贝拉岛上的仿声鸟黑嘴巴尖而弯，羽毛带有棕色花斑并且性子急，尤其在给它拍照的瞬间表现得极不耐烦。稍后林间又传来吊嗓子声，原来一只颈部羽毛透亮的黄莺扑闪着黑条纹翅膀，正振振有词地警告我们：“谁敢靠近我，我将把他们变成早餐！！！”另一只黄莺闻讯赶来助威，没想到刚落在铁梨木树杈上，气势汹汹的仿声鸟就追了过去，吓得黄莺惊慌逃窜。据导游解释，仿声鸟地域概念极强，绝不容许任何动物接近自己的巢穴，其实我倒觉得仿声鸟出于本能，反应并未过激。

        随即我们又开始爬坡，凝灰岩山路指引我们走近风景秀丽的达尔文湖。“水光潋滟晴方好，山色空蒙雨亦奇”，眼前的湖光山色令人禁不住想起西湖之美，高于塔霍湾的达尔文湖说来非常蹊跷，周边没有任何缺口，里面却盛满了海水，海水是怎么进来的？最合乎常情的科学假设推测，从前这里曾发生过海啸，海水倒灌才成为今天这个样子。火山壁陡峭，铁梨木树防护林屏障了悬崖泥土流失，一路上导游边走边讲笑话，试图焕发我们登山激情，可我觉得其中一半听起来并非搞笑。大雨过后，我们成功登上达尔文火山之巅。“斜影风前合，圆纹水上开”。远望达尔文湖，近观熔岩荒野和凝灰岩锥口，周围群山环抱，四处云雾缭绕，游轮停靠塔霍湾边，眼前这幅“雨添山翠重，舟压浪花分” 的景色令人陶醉。

        末了，我们满载充实的记忆凯旋而归。

Today in History(历史上的今天):

2011: 埃及亚历山大·地中海明珠(Alexandria—Pearl of the Mediterranean, EGY)

Zodiac Ride (橡皮艇水上旅行)

Enchanted Trip (梦幻之旅 04-02-2013)

Elizabeth Bay (伊丽莎白湾 04-02-2013)

Mangrove Forest in Morning Mist

(瓦沼晨朝水自清，小虫无数不知名，

忽然分散无踪影，惟有鱼儿作队行)

Red Mangrove (晓雾忽无还忽有，春山如近复如遥)

Propagules of the Red Mangroves Growing before Dropping from the Parent Plant 

(红树林繁殖体在脱离亲本植物之前生长 04-02-2013)

Mangrove Seeds (红树林种子)

Golden Cownose Ray (金牛鼻魟)

Sea Turtle (海龟)

Galapagos Penguin (加拉帕戈斯企鹅)

Galápagos Penguin, the Only Penguin Species to Live near the Equator

(加拉帕戈斯企鹅·唯一生活在赤道附近的企鹅物种)

Mariela's Islets, Home to a Significant Colony of Galapagos Penguins, the Only Penguin Species Found North of the Equator

(玛丽埃拉“心爱之人”小岛·赤道以北独特企鹅物种加拉帕戈斯企鹅的栖息地 04-02-2013)

Mariela's Islet，Close-up Views of Penguins, Marine Iguanas, Green Turtles, Rays, Blue Herons Pelicans, & Various Birds

(玛丽埃拉小岛·近距离观赏企鹅、海鬣蜥、绿海龟、鳐鱼、苍鹭和鹈鹕等鸟类 04-02-2013)

Flightless Cormorant, the Only Cormorant Species Unable to Fly

(弱翅鸬鹚·唯一不会飞的鸬鹚物种 04-02-2013)

Flightless Cormorant w/ Adaptations for Diving

(弱翅鸬鹚·适应潜水)

Blue-footed Boobies, the Brightness of the Feet Decreases w/ Age

(蓝脚鲣鸟·脚的亮度会随着年龄的增长而降低 04-02-2013)

Blue-footed Boobies, a Symbol of Creativity & Dreaming

(蓝脚鲣鸟·象征创造力和梦想)

Blue-footed Boobies, a Brighter Blue the Healthier

(蓝脚鲣鸟·越蓝越健康)

Galápagos Brown Pelican w/ Its Unique Hunting Technique of Plunge-Diving into the Water to Catch Fish 

(加拉帕戈斯褐鹈鹕·拥有独特的俯冲技巧潜入水中捕鱼 04-02-2013)

Galápagos Brown Pelicans, a Living Symbol of How Successful Wildlife Conservation Can Be

(加拉帕戈斯褐棕鹈鹕·野生动物保护成功的鲜活象征)

Yellow-Crowned Night Heron, Crab Specialist

(黄顶夜鹭·捕蟹专家)

Tagus Cove, Served as a Sheltered Anchorage for the Celebrity Xpedition

(塔霍小海湾——“名人·远征”号游轮的避风停泊地)

Rock Formation @ Tagus Cove (塔霍小海湾·岩石层)

Rock Formation @ Isabella Is (伊莎贝拉岛·岩石层)

Tagus Cove, a Haven for Whalers & Pirates w/ Inscriptions on the Cliffs Left behind

(塔霍小海湾·捕鲸者和海盗的避难所，并在悬崖上留下铭文)

Tagus Cove w/ the Oldest Inscriptions Dating back to the 1800s, Offering a Glimpse into the Area's Past

(塔霍小海湾·最古老的碑文可以追溯到19世纪，得以令人窥见该地区的过去)

Rock Formation w/ Coastal Erosion

(岩石层·海岸侵蚀)

Sally Lightfoot Crab, a Ubiquitous Scavenger

(莎莉“公主”轻足蟹·无处不在的清道夫)

Wet Landing, Transported from Celebrity Xpedition to the Shore in a Smaller, Inflatable Zodiac, Stepped out of the Zodiac & into Shallow Water, Wading to the Dry Land @ Tagus Cove

(塔霍小海湾湿着陆——从“名人·远征”号游轮乘坐小型橡皮艇抵达岸边，走出充气艇后直入浅水区，再涉水前往干燥的陆地 04-02-2013)

Graffiti & Natural Shelter

(涂鸦与天然避风台 04-02-2013)

Bolivar Channel, the Meeting Point between the Cromwell Current & Life Blossoms 

(玻利瓦尔“河边的磨坊”海峡·克伦威尔“弯曲的溪流”洋流与生命之花交汇处)

Darwin's Lake on the Rainy Day, a Saltwater Lagoon w/ Twice the Salinity of the Ocean

(雨中达尔文湖·高于海洋两倍盐度的咸水泻湖 04-02-2013)

Sea Lion Nest @ Darwin's Lake (达尔文湖·海狮巢)

Volcanic Tuff Cone, a Testament to the Ongoing Volcanic Activity in Island Formation 

(岛屿形成·火山凝灰岩锥堪称持续火山活动的证明)

Hiking along the Slopes of Darwin Volcano 

(沿着达尔文火山坡徒步旅行 04-02-2013)

Viewpoint of the Breathtaking Volcanic Scenery

(令人目眩的火山景观 04-02-2013)

Volcanoes & Volcanic Landscapes High up on Isabela Island, near Darwin Lake

(伊莎贝拉岛高处·靠近达尔文湖的火山和火山景观 04-02-2013)

Volcanic Tuff Cone (火山凝灰岩锥 04-02-2013)

Bartolomé Island Viewed from Tagus Cove 

(从塔霍湾近观巴托洛梅“犁地者之子”岛)

Corridor Back to the Stateroom of Celebrity Xpedition

(“名人·远征”号游轮——返回船舱的走廊 04-02-2013)

Galápagos Mockingbird, a Symbol of Natural Selection & Adaptation 

(加拉帕戈斯仿生鸟·自然选择和适应的象征)

Darwin's Finch w/ Inquisitiveness 

(达尔文雀·天性好奇)

Hawthorn Berries (山楂果)

Buffaloberries (水牛果)

Sedges (莎草)

Peacock Flower (红蝴蝶花)

Poa (早熟禾)

Common Mullein (蒿毛蕊花)

Mollugo Carpetweed (粟米草)

Crosslinks(相关博文):

Ecuador(出游厄瓜多尔)

South America(漂流南美洲)

小学四年级(4th Grade)