Armenia with Philip & Gladys

Philip and Gladys (uncle + aunt) took us to Armenia Tuesday and Wednesday. It's more in the mountains, and there are beautiful views everywhere you turn.

They took us to a research/education center for guadua. Guada is a type of bamboo and is used for construction. It's flexible and can be used for making furniture, cups, toys, instruments, etc. Interestly, guadua houses used to be only for the poor, but then when an earthquake hit, and the guadua houses were the ones left standing, more people took an interest in them.

They can retain 10 to 15 liters of water a day in their stalks, and when the river start drying up in the dry season or drought, theygive back that water to keep the water level at the status quo.

They grow super fast (21 cm per day, 25 meters in 6 months). You can't use for the construction until they are 6 years old.

Interestly, these plants are excellent evidence of creation. It seems they were made to be used. If left untouched, they shrivel and die. They actually thrive and get stronger (they grow back thicker) when cut down (similar to when you cut your dead ends to make your hair grow faster). Philip asked the young man who giving us the tour, and after a reluctant pause (maybe he was wondering what motive Philip had in asking that), he said that with plants like this, you have to believe in creation.

Anyway, it was very interesting. Don't quote us exactly on the facts, because the tour was in Spanish, and we only got the translated version from Philip.

And yes, Steph is hugging a giant tree in that picture :) They say that if you hug it, it will take away your negative energies. Steph says it takes away your negative energies, not because of any natural remedy, but because you are hugging a tree, and you have to be happy when you hug a tree.