Today is time for our second trip with Dawn on the Amazon - a trek in the jungle. We get picked up by Julio at 9am and get dropped at a bus stop at the edge of town. The place we are going is about 30km north of the city in the middle of nowhere so we need to get a local bus. It's a great experience getting the bus with the locals. They sure know how to pack a crazy amount of people on these. It is not actually that hot though as there are no windows and the rusty holes in the sides and floor also add to the breeze! Before we set off there is a mad dash of people trying to sell us things through the windows and we are off. Also randomly along the way a comedian gets on and does a little routine followed by trying to flog some stuff. The locals seem to like his jokes and what he is selling.
We arrive at the Allpahuayo reserve which is the base of lots if biologists and scientists conducting research and experiments in the jungle.
Nat wasn't quite expediting butterflies this size.
Time to get covered in big spray and multiple layers and head off into the jungle.
We are in the jungle for all of five mins before our guide breaks a twig off and starts poking it around a hole in the ground telling us to wait and see. Ten seconds later a massive tarantula pops his head out. It is really quick though and I don't manage to get a great photo.
We are struck by the noise, diversity and richness of the jungle. It is amazing but we are also struck by the sheer amount of damn mosquitos. They are everywhere and constantly buzzing around our ears which makes us walk through the jungle like a boxer warming up on the way to the ring.
The trees are phenomenal. Amazing roots and so tall due to the competition for sunlight. They also have huge vines that grow from the top and hang down like giant pieces of rope to take root in the ground.
Our guide keeps diving out into the forest whenever he spots something. He seems to love catching frogs. This ones camouflage us brilliant. Looks just like the leaf.
Apparently they found a 15ft bush master snake here the other day when they were out at night. Luckily they only tend to come out at night so we are safe.
This is the biggest tree in the jungle. Something ridiculous like 300ft tall. This is only the bottom third.
And the top half.
Another type of frog.
Thousands of termites all over the tree. They make their own little tunnel up the length of the tree trunk.
All leading to a huge nest. There must be hundreds of thousands of them in there.
Jiminie cricket with a new coat.
Our guide picking wild chillis. He loves them and is so excited when he finds this bush.
This plant was amazing. It's a disappearing plant that shrivels up when it is touched. Now you see it.
Now you don't.
We welcome the bridges over the leech infested streams.
More crazy trees.
We stumble across this little fella. So colourful.
Nat has been very brave today with all the giant butterflies the size of my open hand flapping around. Her fear is definitely getting better.
Our route today around Allpahuayo.
It has been a great 4 hour walk around he jungle. We have managed to see monkeys, spiders, butterflies, caterpillars, termites, frogs, crickets, numerous species of birds as well as amazing trees, vines, disappearing plants, chilli plants and flowers. Oh and about a million mossies. Definitely ready for some air con and a cold shower now though.
Now we thought we were safe back on the bus from the jungle but oh no. Not when a woman gets on who had been out catching tarantulas all day. She has this little fella in an old bottle and gladly passes it around much to the delight of the bus - particularly when looking at Nat's face.
She had even more stuff in the bag which she showed to a local and he nearly shat himself so we refrained from asking what was in the bag, opting for the ignorance is bliss strategy.
I manage to get back for the second half of the Man City's demolition of Spurs. What a treat again!
The rest of the afternoon is spent planning for the Ecuador and Brazil legs if the trip. It's a productive session even with very slow internet but we have locked down our plan. Very excited about this leg now too. That evening we head to a Tex Mex place for dinner. Starting to run out of decent places to eat here.
