Day 2 of the amazon. We were going to get up at four to get to the lake in time for sunrise, but it was pouring with rain when our alarms went off so we got to go back to sleep. Apparently all the wildlife seeks refuge from the rain as well so there was not much point in going out. Makes sense I guess. So we got up for a 7:30 breakfast before heading out to see the local shaman. He gave us a tour of the botanical gardens and showed us all the local remedies, including ones for Parkinson's, fever and impotency. Pretty cool. In the middle of the tour, poor bianca keeled straight over into the forest. She had fainted as a result of the malaria tablets she was taking, so she was carried off by some of the guides and the rest of us finished our tour. To finish off, We tried some of the remedies (which funnily enough all tasted VERY alcoholic (I guess if you drink enough, everything stops hurting)). We travelled back to the lodge by canoe again and had some lunch and managed to spot a couple of toucans and some oh ho ho monkeys. After our siesta we then trekked back out to the lake where we went bird watching and did some fishing for....PIRANHAS!!! Yep, no kidding... And they are everywhere. Brad no sooner dipped his rod in the water and he had caught one. I caught a red belly one (there are four species... Red, black, yellow and white belly). It was an angry little b*****.. And the red one is actually the most aggressive of the species. Honestly, it took about 20 seconds to hook it. You just put your line with red meat on the hook in the water and as soon as it breaks the surface you can literally see the piece of meat go flying about as it is attacked. We released them all after getting some good shots and headed back to the lodge, spotting some rare black cayman crocs on the way. After dinner and a few delicious cocktails, some of us went out for a night walk. Again, amazing stuff with the definite highlight being a massive tarantula. Seriously, it was hairy, yellow and black and about as big as if I stuck my hands together to make a spider shape. Our guides knew where there was a nest and daniel got a long, thin twig and poked it down into the best and started vibrating it to simulate prey (tarantulas are blind and rely on sensing vibrations). Sure enough, two of the gigantic creatures emerged. I didn't get a photo but brad did so I will try and get it onto my iPhone tomorrow. We have another early start in the morning, leaving at 6am as we have to get to the airport before the illegal gold miners commence their strike again. I know. Completely illogical that illegal workers are striking, but they are getting quite violent, so we are being cautious. We actually watched a short video today about the destruction that illegal gold mining is wreaking throughout the amazon. It is gut wrenching. But I'm not sure which is more depressing - the fact that it is happening, or the fact that I will have forgotten all about it by the time I get home.