August 9
The kids were reluctant to wake for breakfast this morning. After breakfast we took a boat ride to visit an indigenous village. We saw how the buildings are made, some land that was cleared to plant various fruit trees, a short walk in the jungle and some ceremonial dancing. What a beautiful experience! I would venture to guess they don't see many little blonde kids. The village had some electricity, and some connection to the outside world. Our guide explained that before covid 19 there were 130 people living there but many spread out deeper into the jungle to avoid the virus. They are just beginning to come back to this settlement, and receive visitors.
Sunrise over the river
Sleeping with this guy can be an adventure
Mudslide?
Approaching the indigenous village
A friend found Audrey
Looking at traditional building techniques
Acai berry tree
Cocoa tree
Coconut tree
Massive ant hill
Jim next to the ant hill, for comparison
Soccer field
More modern construction
Water and solar electricity
A little hike into the jungle
Trees used to make syrup to be sold in Manaus. I'm afraid I didn't hear the name.
Walking back down to the village.
All parts of the tree are used for one thing or another.
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Back to the lodge for a swim before lunch (Josiah's happy place). Siestas after lunch. Then Jim and I head out for a night in the jungle.
Camping in the Jungle
A boat ride through narrow places I have no idea how the guide can navigate. We saw a small owl but it was too quick for a picture. We pull up to shore just as a barefoot man with a shotgun and a machete is leaving. I wonder if maybe we are camping on someone's hunting land?
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An brisk trek on a narrow footpath takes us to the campsite.
Our guide, Jefferson, seems to be maybe twenty-something. He hung the hammocks and mosquito netting, found and chopped firewood (Jim helped chopping), built a fire, cooked dinner (boiled rice and fire roasted chicken), and carved a spoon for each of us and a serving spoon. All the while we sit and listen to the rising symphony of the jungle. Crickets, cicadas, and many more things we can guess to be various birds, frogs, and at least one monkey. One sounded like a bottle rocket. One sounded like a puppy. One sounded like an extremely long note on a flute. The howler monkeys, of course. We can't actually see many creatures. A few butterflies and fireflies.
Dinner was supremely delicious. The chicken so juice and flavorful. Mm! By this time there was no sunlight left. With the fire and flashlights out, the nearly full moon in the night sky was rather bright. If we could see through the treetops we would have been able to see so many stars. The guide used a flashlight to look very slowly and carefully at the forest around our campsite. Lost in translation, we asked where to find a safe place to go to the bathroom, and the guide answered that he was looking for anacondas. We are directed to a bathroom place. Of course I use the term "bathroom" rather loosely. Climb under the mosquito netting and into the hammock for a long night's rest...
Becky:
I started too warm still from all the walking and long clothes to protect against mosquitos, so I took my socks and shoes off. Since the only ground creature we did see was a snake I decided to keep them in the hammock with me, nevermind how dirty. The sounds of forest were rather rhythmic and soothing, in my opinion. Except for the sound of mosquitos on the underside of the hammock. Those, I found very annoying. I was able to get comfortable and slept for a few hours before I got cold. Put my socks and shoes back on but that didn't do much for my core. I rested, listened, watched the sky get brighter, and waited for the guide to get up and signal the start of the day.
Jim:
It was very dark by the time we got into our hammocks and difficult to see anything around us. The only light came from the faint outline of the sky filtering through the leaves of the canopy and an occasional glimpse of the moon. The night noises of the jungle were pleasant with several different animals adding their voices to the chorus. Most of the sounds were completely foreign to me and I enjoyed imagining what different forms of life might be making them. The few things I could identify where the chirps of the crickets, the call of the cicadas and the familiar buzzing of mosquitos.
I took some comfort knowing that there was a net between me and the mosquitos until I felt one land on my cheek. I quickly slapped at it and listened to hear if it had gotten away. Not hearing anything I contented myself in the knowledge that I had gotten it and was now safe. About 5 minutes later I heard another buzz and felt a slight pinch at the back of my neck. I swatted at it and continued to listen for any further buzzing. By this time I was on alert for mosquitos inside of my netting and had difficulty relaxing and enjoying the other night noises. This process continued for what seemed like a long time until I resigned myself to the fact that I was at the mercy of my invisible attackers and couldn't do much other than try to ignore them. I eventually fell into an uneasy asleep but woke up every couple of hours throughout the night.
As the night progressed I found that sleeping on my back in a hammock was not very comfortable and I would need to readjust my legs several times trying to relieve the pressure on my knees and the heals of my feet. By the time the sky had grown lighter I had slept a fair amount and was ready to start the day. As soon as I was able to see clearly I started counting the mosquitos inside of my net and found that about 20 had made it inside somehow. Despite this, I didn't feel many bights and think I was saved by wearing long clothing which covered most of my body. All in all, the sleeping part of the night was not the most comfortable thing I've ever done but not the worst either. I really enjoyed being outdoors and appreciate the opportunity to camp out in the jungle. I would try it again.
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Olivia & the kids:
Audrey, Gideon & Josiah were napping when Jim and Mom left. When they woke up we went swimming and washed off in the pool shower. They ate a good dinner and went to bed without trouble - three across on the full size bed so everyone would fit and no one would fall off. They woke up bright and shiny at 6:30 am and played until breakfast was ready. They really behaved well and listened well the whole time. Audrey had a sad moment after breakfast waiting for the parents to return. We had a very good time.
