Day 256
Lodge, Amazon Basin, Puerto Maldonado. Peru
Up at 4am to the sounds of the howling monkeys! It sounded awesome! How often do you wake up to that...and the sound of a wood pecker pecking at the tree just outside our window..or expanse of open space that we looked out of our room..like an open verandah.
Its such a great idea to have a lodge with rooms that are open like that, it really does feel you are in the depths of the forest, truly experiencing the noises and soudns and sense of open space of the jungle. And of course to have cold showers and get dressed by the candlelight!
This is the place where naturalists come to do research and its a botanists dream! For us its just the fact that we are here, experiencing such a unique paridise.
Breakfast was early because it was to be a long naturalist day...and it was fresh, again, fruit and homemade fare. So yummy. A bit like when we were at the Makutsi Game park in South Africa, simliar surroundings, with the dining in the open where you could dine close to wildlife.
The jungle walks are such a highlight. The aim is to search for the monkeys, birds and in the river the cayman, giant otters and pirranhas.
Trailing through the desert was a wonder. Seeing all the things, pointed out by our expert naturalist guides was such a thrill. They pointed out so many kinds of birds and were so excited to see them, as if for the first time!
We arrived at the canoes, about 14 of us and paddled upriver, arriving at a lake and whilst there we spotted macaws, smooth blackbilled ani's, hoatzin which looked like scraggly little things, black donacobius, wattled jacuna's which were the funniest looking birds..with long slender legs and HUGE feet!!! They use them in the marshes and the locals call them, 'jesus birds' because they look like they're walking on water!!!
I really felt the botanic in me arise when we were were looking at all this wildlife on the lake. I wished i'd bought our little binoculars to bird watch! I've often head of people birdwatching and thought...hmm...but after this, i can see why the excitement!! We were there so long watching them we could almost see their personalities starting to resonate!
Then...a huge osprey came flying overhead. The wingspan must have been about a metre. So majestic...reminded me of the Abrolhos when the ospreys and sea eagles would perch on top of the antennas. Actually the sound of the birds in the morning had that reminder as well..i thought it sounded familiar and wondered why..and it's because it did remind me of the natural bird sounds at the Islands.
After the intense birdwatching Carole, the other guide, got out the cane fishing poles. We were going to go pirahna fishing! I was joking when i mentioned the pirahna's but they weren't!
We cast out the poles with a hook and meat attached....
And..we caught pirahnas!! They were black and yellow bellied ones. We were instructed to yank when we felt them bite!
Of course, my experiences of fishing were at the Abrolhos Islands...and i was used to catching large groper or snapper at the islands and being told this...but there was always a weight at the other end..Sooooo when i went to yank the line up....with the piranha on the other end...i flipped it out of the water so high it flapped over the boat to the other side!
And flipped off!
So...
I tried and tried again. Others were catching fish..and i hadnt...nor had Greg!
Finally we both did catch a pirahna each..and felt satisfied wed had our pirahna fishing experience...and then took all our photos with these vicious amazonian man eating fish....
But really..They're quite small, but yes, they do have sharp teeth, and do eat meat! So much fun!
After the canoe ride we headed back to the trail and found more exciting wildlife to observe in the jungle.
I even had my taste of termites!! They tasted like bitter carrots!!! Had to try it!
After we got back we went back to our rooms...rested...and went for another jungle walk to the Mud Lick to watch for toucans and monkeys. We didnt spot the toucans, again, but did see the monkeys scrambling up and down the trees. Such an overpowering feeling of feeling akin with nature enveloped me here...
We saw these incredible little wax tailed insects that looked like catfish nestled in the trees..and so many other things..snake skins...bazra tree and the cotton...oh just everything. So glorious.
Lunch was healthy and spicy...ohlala..the food is SO healthy! Im loving it!!! Gregs feeling good for it too..so we both feel we're on track again!
We've met such a diverse group of people. Trish and Barb are from Sydney and are in the late to early fifties and have trekked before, in New Zealand and Nepal. They're the only other one's on our tour..with two others to join us when we go to Cusco on Wednesday. Six of us all up doing the 16 day tour with Machu Picchu trek included. We've bonded with Barb and Trish because they're on the same tour.
At the lodge we've also met others. There are two British girls who are doing the round the world trip together with one of the girls parents. Emily. The parents stayed in Cusco but they've all taken a year off to do this trip and plan on working in NZ and Australia for 6 months.
We also met a hillbilly English pair that now live in Toronto. Hes a part time songwriter so weve learned a lot about the Nashville songwriters.
Such an ecclectic group..and sitting around at meal times gives us time to mix..and also on the treks...when we're not having to be silent waiting for the animals!
If anything, it's just so nice to be with people and wake up and they're there...like the family we haven't had for almost nine months!!!!
