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ing, after having been awake most of the night, the wind picked up and the sounds grew louder. Finally | saw the sun peek over the horizon and my sleepless night was at an end. The guide was true to his word and the shower produced hot water (after running it for 15 minutes, or so). | made my way to breakfast and enjoyed a hearty meal of bacon and eggs. | was asked if | wanted a tour of a local village, which | enthusi- astically accepted. Another boat ride and | was sur- rounded by thatched roofs and dozens of children all looking for a donation. | took a few photos and handed out some coins and suddenly everyone in the village became a photographer's model. One interesting sight was a number of Albino children. Several hundred years ago Albinos were considered demonic, but recently it has been decreed that they are sacred and are a result of being born under a full moon. In actual fact the infliction is due to inbreeding. ple were extremely friendly and spoke very little English. Recently the government has provided one solar panel per hut giving everyone a light. The Kuna people live simple lives. The women com- mute from their village to the mainland in their dugout ca- noes and watch over the cemetery as they wash clothes, cook meals and watch their children play. The men either go to the mainland to cultivate corn, yucca and coconuts or take watch on one of the hundreds of islands. Each island has a person responsible for the coconuts growing there and every morning that person sets out in his dug out ca- noe across the choppy sea, often disappearing from view between swells. Where the men of Kuna Yala dress in western clothes the women wear traditional appliquéd Mola blouses, gold tings, long colourful skirts, red and yellow headdresses and beads or gold omaments on their ankles and wrists. A thin, dark line is tattooed from their foreheads to the end of their noses, depending on their status and age. For all the simplicity of their lives the Kuna Indians remain very aware of their rights to their own territory and they guard their rights passionately. They live in peace, but would not hesitate to take up arms against wrongdo- 24 hour Video Camera Surveillance Beautiful tropical beaches are found everywhere. ers. The islands are free of snakes and animals (geckos excluded) and alcohol is only consumed during the ‘Rites. of Passage’ ceremonies when women reach puberty. The Kuna Indians are people of vitality, simplicity and charm whose ancestors peopled these shores long before Colum- bus landed. They govern themselves in a virtually autono- mous society. When you have had enough of winter or you just want to get away from it all, consider a trip to Kuna Yala, one of the most remote areas on the planet. The 365 islands Stretch along 200 miles of the Caribbean. The tempera- tures are hot, the people friendly and the culture unique. What could be better than sitting under a swaying palm tree leisurely reading back issues of Focus on Scugog magazine? Tuesday Afternoon Ladies League (9-hole) Open House April 20th - 7:00 p.m. Sunnybrae Sunnybrae Golf Course Sor Thursday Afternoon 1430 King Street, Port Perry Mens Fun League (18 Hole) 905-985-2234 Win Prize Money Every Week ~“-_ Starting May 13th Call to Register: 905-985-2234 Spring Pricing Weekdays $25.00 Weekends $33.33 Plenty of RV, Boat, and Trailer Storage Packing and Moving Supplies Available FOCUS - APRIL 2010 49