Monday, August 15, 2011

Ecuador - Amazon - Day 1

6-08-2011

As we were driving to the Amazon I naturally thought it would be warm along the way. But we had to go up and then down, summited at 4000m above sea level, my teeth were chattering. Foolishly I had worn shorts and sandals and once the back pack is put away it isn't accessible for the journey. Hot once we actually reached the Amazon basin.

We are staying at an Eco lodge, though the amenities are basic the views are wonderful. Jeevan and me have a sort of cabin on stilts, the balcony has a hammock as it overlooks the river with it's twists and turns.

After lunch we went on a walk. We were told it would be around three hours and were each given a pair of wellingtons. After the Galapagos where a three hour walk consisted of 10 minutes of walking and the rest at looking we were in for a surprise. It started innocently enough with information about various plants along the way and even ate some ants (lemony in taste, I think one bit my tongue). I was so thankful for the wellingtons as we trudged through wet mud (the Hindi word describes it so much better - kichad).

After a short stop for everybody to catch up the real fun began. We went canyoning, scrambled our way through canyons. Our bodies were suspended in between rocks as we made our way across. There were areas we had to squeeze ourselves through rocks, there would be a drop down but the rocks merged on the top, so no sunlight. We had two guides and they did help people who struggled at times. One point we were in a bat cave, got to see an albino bat, and as we climbed the rocks bats flew around us, bit like a horror movie. Luckily some of us had head torches.

Finally came out in the sunlight, it was longer than three hours and no simple walk. We were all filthy,wet, hands were scratched but it was such an achievement. Some people hated it but I would love to do it again.

Slept really well.

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