That must have been very fun. It reminds me of the Kapok trees we had in Peru. Some day I will have to go back and climb them now that I have the gear.
That was a nightmare. All that way to be turned back by bees. Did you say they were non stinging? I think I know those bees and the sting is extremely painful. They kinda look like a house fly but skinnier. The sting is like being hit with a baseball bat.