Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Getting to Manaus was a test of our friendship which we passed remarkably unscathed.
Firstly our flight wasn't until 2am so to save money we didn't get a room we just bummed around the hostel, then came the 8 hour flight up to panama. No problems so far.
Then the 9 hour wait in an airport! We cracked after only 30 mins and paid for the business lounge where we curled up on sofas and slept! Hopped on a little flight to Manaus and we were officially in the amazonas!
Manaus is nothing really special, A big city of 2 million sitting 1500 km from the mouth of the river made rich by rubber trade long since vanished and now antiquated but stubbornly holding its own!
We spent two days getting to grips with the crazy markets selling all sorts of everything you could never need!
Next came the best bit, the amazon trip!
We got picked up at a local hotel and taken to the port packed full of locals and odd tourists. Picked up a supply of chopp ( small beer cans in packs of twelve) and hopped on the boat over to the "meeting of the waters".
The solimones and the negro merge to create a 6km two tone river running at different temperatures and speeds. Our camp was on the solimones, more likely to have animals, fish and birds (but also the dreaded mozzies). We travelled by boat and vw combie van into the jungle finally arriving at our water side lodge in time for lunch!
On route we had already seen giant Victoria lilies, dolphins, macaws, capuchin monkey, parakeets and fish jumping by the bank side. It boded well and we were not disappointed!
After meeting our fellow tour friends and our amazing guide Titan, we headed out on the river to spot caimen relaxing on the bank and catch piraña! After storming into the lead initially, Derek eventually won with a score of pip 5 dez 7. They maybe small but they don't half have some sharp teeth and spines! It was skill we developed being able tonpick them up without loosing a chunk of finger in the process!
Next was nighttime caimen catching, ours was a baby at 1year old but still had some vicious looking knashers! They can live to be over 100 and grow up to 5meters ... Glad we didn't catch that one!
Our room was a traditionally build house with palm leaf roofs and amazon water pumped in for the shower! We even had a little tree frog in our shower, we called him Charlie and were happy as he ate the cockroaches!
Day two was an early rise to see the very misty cloudy sunrise ( or lack of) with the lodge dogs lord and schnapps accompanying us! We did see lots of dolphins, both pink and little greys. They would often swim past the lodge hunting or just playing. It never got boring seeing them glide past!
Next was the jungle trek. Our guide Titan took us out for hours enjoying the remarkable variation of vegetation, the seemingly endless parade of weird and wonderful bugs, we saw numerous birds , my favourite capibara and even howler monkeys and toucans. Titan found a tarantula hole and encouraged her to come out. Massive and hairy but strangely beautiful too!
Next We dined on grubs!
The firefly grub lives in a nut, so after finding some Titan coaxed them out and we had to give it a go! The nut tastes vaguely like coconut and lo and behold so did the bugs! We chewed it, it burst in our mouths and then you spit out the skins!!!! Coconut grubs .... Once was enough!
We then headed out to set up camp for the night. We travelled by boat for an hour into the smaller water ways after collecting essentials from the cabins. Flashlight, mozzie spray, rice, pans, fruit, and of course the obligatory three 1l bottles of cachaca the local 40% proof drink made from sugar that makes the delicious and deadly caiparinas!
We set camp after Titan caught the fish for our dinner not more than an hour before we cooked then. Collected fire wood, designated toilet areas, hung hammocks, bbqed the fish and chicken then started on the caiparinas! Derek was a tottering around camp trying his woodcraft skill with a machete ...luckily he still has all his fingers! Entertaining and terrifying to watch in equal measure as he drunkenly hacked and swing his machete at any dormant peicenof wood! After sleeping (or lying liatening to dereks snoring) in a hammock we chased our hangovers away with a swim at 5am in the river! No better way to start the day!
We explored the local farm, saw how they farm the land and cultivate alsorts of weird and wonderful fruits and veggies! Said goodbye at the lodge to those leaving but we couldn't bear to leave so we stayed longer! 3 days longer.
The next three days were a parade of meeting amazing new people, swimming everyday in the water by the lodge and learning to fish with Titan. We managed luckily to get one to one time with him and experienced some of the best days of our lives! We went spear fishing in the mangroves, played cards late drinking beer and caiparinas and just enjoyed life thoroughly and completely!
Singly the best day we have had in this trip was our pure unadulterated fishing day! Set off at first light and headed deep into the jungle water ways away from the parade of tourists. We fished all day and set a BBQ for lunch and cooked what we caught, two peacock bass and a triera, just the most delicious food! Simple but terrific. We started drinking ice cold beer at 10:30 on the instructions of Titan, no beer no fish!
Sadly our days in the jungle drew to a close but will be memories we will carry always. Just amazing!
- comments
Ish Wow guys...this sounds totally amazing!!!!
Rosemary Trewinnard WOW you are certainly having a spectacular adventure! So what comes next? It is hard to imagine what it must be like. You will be able to write a book of your travels when you get back, it will be an inspiration to future fun seekers. Have fun. xx
Alan glad you have had such an amazing time. Hope the rest of your trip is as exciting.
Penny Hi both! Great blog ..very interesting,and you obviously are having a fantastic time. lovely to Skype last weekend ..let's hope we speak again soon....no pressure!!!! Love you both Mum xxx
alex i wish u were here we all miss u i really want u to come home i realllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllyyyyyyyyyyyyyy miss u.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx i want u to cme home now but u cn nip back for christmas we have 2 spare seats love alex that bit about xmas was from mummy