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Hi all, Emma here.
Just a few words to describe our time in the Amazon rainforest. We flew from Lima to Puerto Maldonado, a small town in the jungle on Saturday and was then a short boat transfer to our lodge called Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica. Fantastic place! We had our own 'private' cabin in the jungle, with limited electricity and mainly lit by kerosene lamps. The cabins are designed to be as close to nature as possible with just netting and wood separating us from the local wildlife in all their noisy glory :-) The best bit was the huge bed covered with a mosquito net and the hammocks on the veranda. The pace was fairly full on so we both fell asleep in the hammocks a few times.....
Amongst our jungle excursions was a long walk through the rainforest and a boat trip on a lake called Lake Sandoval. We got VERY wet that day as it poured down all morning, but the clue is in the name - rainforest !! Afternoon was spent walking on the canopy walkway from tree to tree about 30 m above the ground. The rope bridges were great and allowed Steve to have his 'Indianna Jones' moment :-)
Our local guide Alan ( we suspected not his real name as it doesn,t sound particularly Peruvian!) also took us on a short night walk through the jungle where we saw spiders, including a huge tarantula, an owl, a variety of insects and caiman which are small alligators, apparently not aggressive but we didn't get close enough to test this !
On the final day we went to a conservation farm called Concepción farm where we were told about the healing properties of the rainforest plants. Very interesting. And to round it all off Steve and I decieded to book a treatment, called a flowering bath. This was something new the lodge was offering and basically its a spiritual experience designed to reduce stress and recharge positive energy. We met with a local shaman or witch doctor who carried out a healing ritual by chanting over us whilst smoking a jasmine pipe. He then poured hunreds of rainforest flowers over us to bring peace and success.
Before we started the bath we were both nervous and downed a couple of pisco sours (Peruvian national drink) to take the edge off but there was no need. The whole experience was fantastic although somewhat unusual and we both felt relaxed and happy afterwards.... And how many people can say they've met a witch doctor !
So that's about it from the jungle.... we've left with some fantastic unforgettable memories and a suitcase full of wet smelly clothes :-) Off to Cusco next and Machu Picchu. Love to all back home
Emma and Steve x
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Karen WO!
Karen WOW!