This was our last day living around the river Arajuno and we had one more quick excursion: to see a 200 year old tree and visit the Amazonico, a sanctuary for rescued wild animals. This not before a heavy dose of the tropical rainstorm. In its true cats and dogs format it washed down in big drops and the thatched roofing kept us all dry but did not keep away the pitter-patter, splosh-dosh noise of the rain on the vegetation. The heavy rains the night before caused an immense surge in the river flow. Even the depth: the docking berth for the lodge was unrecognisable and we didn't have to wade in. Not to mention the fact that the river went from green to brown overnight!
The whole wall is the tree trunk!...welcome to the Amazon
Who knows, after a couple of hundred years these vines will finally kill off the old sage of a tree
On our return to so-called civilisation we had to go back up river again and our "captain" had the task of keeping the boat from smashing into the banks and also to cut off the engine if a cluster of think debris comes by us.
The angrier, "browner" river Arajuno....not so "green" and docile anymore
We got back to Tena to enjoy the carnival till the following day. It was a combo of people gathering, playing traditional games, dancing and singing with an obsession with water boarding (CIA, take notes). And don't bother to bring your best clothing; you will get so soaked you won't recognise your clothes. Sometimes the kids put dye in the water to add that bit of colour to the splashfest so leave your guccis and pradas at home!
Permit me to demonstrate...
One of the fellas gives a blow-by-blow account of an encounter....
..so, we were jus' chillin' on the street corner...not much goin' on..
...then some fools jumped us with water cannons, buckets and all types of hydroprojectiles...
A very bad chronology but hey, u get the drift. Whilst in Tena we visited yet another zoological park, on a river island around which the Napo river flows. You will have noticed that there quite a few places to see animals behind cages. I personally think "whats the bloody point" when this is the environment where they can roam free and be seen free. The quality of these "zoologicos" varies from place to place. This particular one was the most depressing. Even the snakes, those slithery creatures that can make a home in any nook and cranny looked morbid behind the chicken wire. Some of the visitors are no better. The lack of appreciation and understanding of nature by the city folk is quite shocking. A saw a grown woman cooing at a wild cat and trying to feed it fruits. I felt like opening the cage and letting the feline bite her so she realises that she ain't dealin' with no vege!
Some highlights:
The African guinea fowl: nice to know Im not alone so far away from home....
A peccary (type of pig) feeling at home in the mud
I saw millions of these little chaps on a mission....
As you can see, it was a mission impossible.....look, an ant eater
Funky water trough...
Some beautiful macaus....they were all paired up (most pair up for life and display some fidelity that would make the French blush.....some you can't see here) except for a miserable old male with shaggy plumage (he lost the will to attract the ladiez)
Stealth turtle...he's gonna get ya....in a couple of hours...
Sunset from the hostel.....that's all folks!
K.
No comments:
Post a Comment