Sunset Cruise

Welcome aboard the Sunset Cruise. You're about to embark on your own private tour in a charming canopy boat through one of the Pacific's most beautiful wetlands, home to abundant wildlife, especially birds. These backwaters formed when part of the original river branched off into a closed off lagoon. They're surrounded by atmospheric floodplains and mangroves, and with vast skies stretching in all directions, you can be assured of a glorious sunset as you relax and take in the sights tonight. But before setting off on your journey down the river, let's take a moment to do a short wind down exercise. Tonight's exercise is a really simple breathing exercise. So when you're ready, let's begin. So first, get yourself comfortable. Now, just bringing the attention to the breath and just noticing where you feel it, in the nose, the throat, the chest, the diaphragm. You're nice and relaxed. We're going to be taking a deep breath in for four, holding it for four, and then breathing out for six. So are you ready? Let's begin. In for four, two, three, four. Hold it for four, two, three, four. Now breathing out for six. Two, three, four, five, six. In for four, two, three, four. Holding for four, two, three, four. Out for six, two, three, four, five, six. In for four, two, three, four. Holding for four, two, three, four. Out for six, two, three, four, five, six. In for four, two, three, four. Holding for four, two, three, four. Out for six, two, three, four, five, six. Great. Now returning the breath to normal. The surface of the water is dotted with white and pink water lilies. Their flat green leaves curled at the edges like little dishes float on the water in great numbers. There's something quietly festive about them as if they were once decorations for a party, and the host liked them so much she decided to keep them up all year round. The flowers themselves are like sculptures with their long stalks and pointed pristine petals. The white tinged with blue in the fading light. You watch a group of wadding birds with enormous feet as they hop from leaf to leaf, their sharp eyes searching for treats. These attentive creatures are comb-crested jacana, but their colloquial name, wonderfully enough, is Lily Trotter. A Lily Trotter's feet are perfectly designed for its purpose. Each one, like some kind of spindly garden rake, allowing the bird to delicately pick its way from lily pad to lily pad. Their steps so precise, like a child trying not to step on the cracks between paving stones. From this vantage point, they look like they're walking on water. Just one of many little miracles you can witness around here. These beautiful wetlands are home to over 60 species of birds. You'll likely see many on this tour. Not all of them will be at close range, of course, but luckily, you've come equipped with a pair of top...