Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
After a much needed shower we headed out to get some much needed lunch before checking out the Amazonas Theatre. The outside is incredible as is the inside. It is hard to believe something like it is here, in what was the middle of the jungle at one stage. The outside is all pink and inside is very ornate, marble, iron and wood. We went into one room (where only VIP's are allowed during shows) and we had to wear special slippers on the wooden floor. We were like little children sliding around.
The rest of the afternoon was spent on the internet and getting ready for our jungle trip. I did have the best thickshake ever and I am going back for another one when I am finished here. Not a very healthy dinner but all I feel like!!
Friday morning we were picked up by Antonio (our guide) for our 3 hr drive to a small town outside of Manaus where we jumped on a decent size boat (2 levels) to head up the Urubu River, a tributary of the Rio Negro. Just after an hour we reached our jungle lodge which was a lovely surprise. There was a few rooms but also an area where hammocks could be slung with a fantastic view of the waterlogged forest. The river level is quite high and alot of the area is quite flooded. I got a bed which was good because not feeling the best with my cold and lovely hacking cough. We were served a lovely lunch and then time for a siesta. We were going to head out in canoes in the afternoon to learn about the area and have the chance to go piranha fishing. I literally slept through the boats leaving so missed out but I did feel better once I awoke. Obviously needed. The group came back at different times, with different stories of success.
Saturday morning, we packed up our daypacks and hammocks ready for our overnight excursion into the jungle. I was with a group of 11 plus our 2 guides. We took the motorised canoes up river for about an hour before making land and starting a 3hr trek towards our shelter for the night. It was so humid, sweat was pouring off us. In the 3 hrs I drank over 2lts and could easily have drank more. Along the way, our guides used their machetes to encourage a tarantula to come out of its dark hole. He was a biggie and he was nice enough to stay still for some photos. Also shown army ants, whose bite can sting for up to 24hrs and if you got quite a few, you could be a very sick puppy. We were glad to see our shelter which was made of palm leaves and tree trunks and even gladder to hear there was a stream we could go for a swim in. A quick change and down to the water. It was freezing but so refreshing and also drinkable.
A fire was started, chicken was put on skewers and put on to roast along with a pot of rice and veges. We slung our hammocks up once again and then spotted some spider monkeys in the trees above us. We were given a piece of wood that was to be our spoon and if we wanted we could use the machete to make it more into the shape of a spoon. I tried but the machete was too heavy for me. The wood did the job. We were also given leaves to make into a plate. After a lovely lunch and a small siesta, we went for a 2hr walk to hear about some of the medicinal trees in the jungle and how some of the leaves can be used. One tree gives up a milk which is good for coughs. I asked if we could take a bottle of it back with us!. Another vine when cut leaked drinkable water which was quite good and then the boys got to be Tarzan for a few minutes, going for a swing. Was tempted but didn't think I would be able to hold my body weight for long enough. Back to camp and again another swim before having a small dinner of boiled potatoes and hard boiled eggs and then ready for bed at 8pm. Had a pretty decent sleep. The surprising thing has been the lack of mosquitoes. We were told at the lodge there weren't any because the river is quite acidic and mosquitoes don't breed, but expected them out in the jungle. Going to sleep to the sounds of the jungle is amazing.
Awake with the light and after a refreshing brekky of fresh pineapple (the pineapple here is so good, I will definitely be buying more of the fresh stuff when I am home), hard boiled eggs and crackers we packed up and walked about 45mins towards where the other group of 6 had camped. We left our bags there before heading out for another walk. One of the guides and one of our group (who didn't want to go on the walk) made their way to the other camp to start lunch for us. We walked for about 4hrs, again learning about more trees and in this part of the forest seeing the really big, high trees. Their trucks were pretty huge. We got to see some Toucans, a camouflage frog and some bush tailed monkeys. We headed back, picked our bags up and then continued onto the other camp where lunch was awaiting for us. We had been looking forward to a swim but this campsite had no swimming hole (we were glad we didn't stay here because it was quite muddy and had more mosquitoes than we had seen all trip). Lunch was rice with veges and sausage on a stick. Food is so good after lots of exercise.
We were able to put our hammocks up for one last siesta before heading back to the boats. Just after we left, our guide climbed & scrambled about 20-30m up a tree to throw some jungle fruit down to us. I can't remember the name of the fruit, but it was good. There just wasn't alot of fruit in each piece, you basically sucked some flesh off the seeds before spitting the seeds out. It started to rain then and we thought it would just be another quick shower. We were wrong. It poured down for the next 1 1/2hrs. Just a little soaked but at least everything in my bag was in plastic bags. Towards the end, we were trudging through small lakes about 20-30cm high. No chance of keeping the shoes dry but all part of the adventure. When we reached the shore we were surprised to see another boat from the lodge there - he had brought us cold coke and beer. The boys were happy!!
Deciding I couldn't get any wetter, I apologised for my white belly, took off my top and jumped into the water in my shorts and bra for a swim. Someone asked me wasn't I wet enough and I replied when else was I going to get the chance to go for a swim in a river in the Amazon. He soon joined me. After marginally drying off, we headed back to camp, the day topped off by some sightings of pink dolphins. A nice cold shower with some soap this time and time to hang out all the wet clothes. No chance they were going to dry. Headed up the tower to watch the sun set and then time for another lovely dinner. Bed at a reasonable time but had a crappy sleep.
This morning after brekky there was the chance to do some different activities but still raining and I figured I got wet enough yesterday, best not push my luck with my cold. Caught up on my written journal and sacked out in a hammock for awhile. After a delicious lunch, we climbed aboard the boat to head back to Manaus. However, about 10 mins into the trip it was obvious something was wrong with the engine. After trying to fix it, we soon saw the motorised canoes heading our way. It was time to change boats and have a slower and less comfortable trip up river. Oh well, all part of the adventure and it was a great adventure. The tour operator could not be faulted, all the guides were so friendly and helpful and the owner only wanted to make sure we were having a good time.
Back to Manuas and it was a race to see who could get to the sink first to do some handwashing and find space to hang up everything that needs to dry. Unfortunately we don't have another day here to explore which I really would have liked. We are heading towards the border tomorrow and it is going to be a long day in the truck.
- comments