We survived the jungle!!

Wow - what an adventure! After a long drive with our guide and an Austrian girl we arrived in the jungle! First of all we visited an indigenous community where we could buy some jewellery made out of material from the jungle. While browsing, our guide offered us a drink made from the locals - it looked (and tasted) revolting!! Cannot believe we tried it but felt we ought to. It was amazing to imagine these people actually lived in the jungle.

After this we went for along walk with our quite crazy guide. At one point he stopped and started rubbing a rock and it crumbled in his hand. Jen was his first victim as he mixed it with water and smeared it all over her face. She was thrilled she had applied her full make up for this jungle experience. The mascara really hadn´t been necessary! Once we were all fully made up with our face packs on we proceeded deeper into the jungle, our guide offering us some things to eat from the trees e.g. ants etc - yummy! After a while, just as it was getting pretty hot and steamy walking along, we came to a beautiful waterfall and it was heaven to go for a swim in the freezing water. All was pretty serene untl Rich had an unexpected swimming companion - a snake!! Thank goodness Jen was out of the water by then but the guide just scooped it up as if it was nothing!

Later on in the day we went on a canoe along the river - no crocs to be seen!

In the evening we enjoyed fish cooked in the leaves of a tree - delicious!

Jen didn´t sleep at all - stories of snakes, spiders etc had made her a little restless!

Next morning we set off for a huge 5 hour trek through the jungle seeing this time parrots and lots of lovely insects! Again we swam in a waterfall (no snakes this time - pheww!) and did lots of walking through the river. Jen looked suitably clad for jungle trekkng wearing her bikini and massive black wellies - the amazonians had never seen the like!

In the evening we went for a night walk to look for Caimans. Rich enjoyed the challenge but Jen was scared stiff! It was pitch black and all the talk of poisonous insects and spiders had made her realise jungle life was not really her thing - get me back to Topshop in London quick! Rich however loved spotting the caiman and the guide was very impressed with the power of Rich´s head torch!!

The next day we left the jungle and have now returned to our hostel in Banos which suddenly feels like the Ritz! Had a good, well earnt relax today and as you can imagine Rich found the grand prix and the portsmouth vs tottenham game to watch - nothing changes! Sometimes it feels like we are still at home!

Lots of love to you all

Jen and Rich

P.s. - Ma and Pa Haynes- how is the decorating - hope it is to our taste for when we move back in!!

P,p,s - Thanks to everbody for my birthday messages!! Had an amazing day in the jungle and one I will never forget - who would swimming with a snake!!

Big hugs and kisses to Mum and Dad - Thanks for the St Christopher was a lovely present!!