Touch My Monkey*

Date of events depicted: 12 February 2011

Two Crazy Chicks Productions, in association with WorldWild PhotoGraphics and What Am I Going to Tell Your Mother? Productions, is proud to present episode 6 of The Adventures of Yumiko and Eden in Costa Rica…

White-faced monkeys surround the boat. Clearly curious, they leap from branch to branch, screeching excitedly. One scampers noisily across the roof, stopping to peer over the edge. Another clambers onto the side, reaches for Eden’s extended hand, and attempts to pry open her clenched fingers.

Eden is thrilled. "I've hugged a shark, kissed a giraffe - and let me tell you, that's a lot of tongue for a first date - and now I've touched a monkey!"

Wordlessly, Yumiko hands her a disinfectant wipe.

Our intrepid heroines are deep in the mangrove-lined estuaries of Damas Island. Black iguanas and crocodiles bask in the sun, bare-throated tiger-herons hunt in the shallows, and green kingfishers plunge headfirst into the water in search of prey while a silky anteater (the world’s smallest species of anteater) sleeps curled up high in a tree.

Yumiko and Eden are still marveling over the wonders of that distinctive ecosystem as they take a sunset stroll along Manuel Antonio’s crowded main beach. They revel in the cool ocean breeze and the tangy smell of salt in the air.

“Excusez-nous. Did you ever find your monkey?”

It is the young French couple Eden encountered in Tortuguero.

“Yes. And today I touched one. Now I am as happy as a little girl.”

© Eden Feuer

*For those readers who are not familiar with Saturday Night Live 1989-1993, the title of this episode is a reference to the Mike Myers sketch Sprockets. A clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jc7lPwfQAKk