Highlights of the jungle:
- Walking through the rain forest in Wellington boots
- Climbing a 120 metre high tower to see panoramic views of the Amazon
- Fishing for and catching a Piranha
- Lazing in a hammock, listening to the rain and soaking in the heat
The decision to pack away my stilettos in exchange for the great outdoors is proving to be a worthwhile and necessary investment. I have been travelling for just under a week and already I have no sense of time or date.
Joined by a few Americans, a Canadian and an Australian couple, Paula (pronounced Powel-la) our Argentinean tour guide, lead us into the jungle. After countless delays and airport closures in Cusco, due to bad weather, our flight eventually landed in Puerto Moldonado. From the base camp, we were bussed to the Amazon River and then canoed to our eco-friendly, no electricity, jungle lodge. Made from indigenous wood and plants, the lodge is very similar to what you would find in the Kruger Park, it even came with the mosquitoes, which had a right feast of me last night.
The camp, although basic, was awesome. Each room is equipped with a hammock, a hand made shower, which only has cold water and huge open windows, which look on to the dense Amazon forest.
Our first adventure was to hike and climb a 120 metre high tower. Ignoring my vertigo, I bravely climbed the very shaky tower. The views were nothing short of incredible; the Amazon forest is thick with flora and fauna. And as the light changes, it feels like you’re looking through a kaleidoscope.
We were woken at 4am the next morning, for a catamaran trip on a lake in the middle of the rain forest. This is where I caught my Piranha. Okay, it was just a baby and not as fearsome as the ones in Jaws, however its teeth were sharp and the mere fact that it was a Piranha makes the experience worthy of a mention. The excitement of the boat trip, coupled with the early morning start, left me rather exhausted and a long nap in a hammock was in order.
After lazing around for most of the morning and then filling up on a generous portion of lunch a trip to the Shaman’s medicinal garden was next on our agenda. As one of the most revered leaders in the community, the Shaman is believed to be a sacred being. His knowledge and application of non-western medicine is extensive. A large portion of the plants found in the rain forest are used for medicinal purposes, there is a cure for everything; from Parkinson’s to cancer, for impotence and love remedies. At the end of the tour, each of us were given a love shot, which is a sticky, very sweet, thick liquid drink. It apparently is meant to set the wheels of love in motion, needless to say, I’m still waiting.
My roomate and I were moved to another less noisy, bug invested room, after an unfortunate incident where bats relieved themselves all over Anne's luggage. Imagine being in the middle of the Amazon with no electricity and open windows with all sorts of creatures running riot in your bedroom. It was Blair Witch Project stuff – very scary! Not to mention the over zealous security guard who propositioned himself to Anne and me, now that actually was a bit of a laugh.
The jungle adventure came to an end far too soon and we were up bright and early for our trek back to the airport for Cusco. Thankfully the weather had cleared up and the airport had been reopened.
Cusco is an incredible city, I feel as I have been transported back 1000 years. The foundations of the town have been built on the original Inca ruins and the city itself is really beautiful and full of short, little Peruvians – I feel like a giant.
Up early again tomorrow for the start of my four day Inca trail hike, only two of us from the group have dared to tread the trail. I am feeling a bit nervous about the trek, but not out of my depths, it is going to be tough and challenging but life changing as well and I’m looking forward to that. See you on the other side…
