Little house on the River

After sharing a shower with a giant frog, which I was much relieved to hear later wasn't poisonous, I was up early enough (dad you would be proud) to see the sun rise from the bank of the lake, spectacular.  Just me, the birds and my friend the frog, nothing like it, my first sun rise.

Soon after breakfast we were on our way deeper into the jungle.  We stopped in our little boat (well canoe) when we arrived at the many different lakes and had an explanation on the many different ecosystems that were present in the Amazon, such a shame so many and so many under threat in the Amazon, all on our way to our next destination. 

crazily able to accommodate 7 adults in their two room hut with 15 children, an aunt, mum and dad and grandma, oh and of course feed us as well

We stopped off and went for a trek in the forest, seeing monkeys, tasting fruit, taking note of the many different woods which exist in the forest (dad you would have been in your element) and swinging on the ropes of wood that hang in the jungle from tree to tree.

After our Jungle book escapades and before we arrived at our next destination, we stopped in the middle of a lake and saw grey and pink dolphins swimming freely, can’t believe that I was so lucky to see this; they even come to you when you call them. 

The tranquil experience of seeing the dolphins so close calmed us for the rest of the journey and we arrived at the native’s house.  Thinking that we were invited we made our way into their house; little did we know that they didn’t even know we were coming...of course how exactly could they ask them there is no telephone!  But they were as you would expect them to be, extremely kind, attentive and caring, and crazily able to accommodate 7 adults in their two room hut with 15 children, an aunt, mum and dad and grandma, oh and of course feed us as well.  The two sisters lived together, with one of the sisters 15 children, could you imagine it Elizabeth, me, you, Luke and your 15 children sharing a two room hut with a little extension for the kitchen.  Unbelievable.  Such a humbling experience to be with them, sharing legends and stories of their life.  The children of cause were lovely, although a little excited and jumping on you at every opportunity wanting you to take their picture so that they could see it on the digital camera.  Completely untouched my modern world.  Sadly, not sure for who (us or them), but the Brazilian government just introduced electricity into the Amazon in January of this year (so they can collect tax off them) so they had a TV.  It would be interesting to see what effect this will have on them later on in life, with their lives now revolving around getting married at 14 and having children and with most of them never been to a city or even a town before outside of the Amazon.

Bruised a little from the pulling and pushing from the children, each dying for your attention, we went out for a bit of night fishing.  Again no lights, and this time they were not going to use lines to fish but spears.  I know, I don't know how they can see them but they managed it well enough and fish was on the menu.

We then hooked up our hammocks and snuggled together for a good night’s sleep, consisting of two couples, two guides, fifteen children and five gringos slept in a two room hut on stilts.  Our goodnight was soon followed by ´oh and be careful when you go outside to go to the toilet at night, because of the jaguars and snakes´.  Okey dokey, Raphael, I’ll be borrowing your machete then.