Jungle
Hello there
So I went to the jungle a few weeks ago. So many things have happened since then it is hard to remember what happened there. I remember the first day ... me and a couple german friends and also a couple (an american girl and an irish guy)...went to this jungle area near Tena and we went for a walk. It was raining the whole time but I liked it...so did everyone else. Didnt see any wildlife but there were lots of cool looking vegetation. Its not that the trees or bushes of ferns looks radically different... I think its just that there are so many different types of species. I was looking around and counting sometimes and the number would easily count past one hundred. And with all the different types of species would come all the different shades of green. The ferns were actually pretty unique...there was one fern that was about two stories high...and the leaves (or whatever you call them) were huge. I swung on a vine and fell off but that was cool.
The guide that took us for this walk was really cool...he was explaining all the different uses many of the plants had. He explained one as a hallucenogenic drug that the Incas used as a tool for visions...so in the evening me and one of the germans as well as Enrique the guide drank a bunch. No visions for me though although I did feel kind of drunk. Maybe that was from the alcohol that you use to wash the drug down cuz it tastes so bad. But whatever it was it was a fun evening...I had brought my guitar and Enrique as well as Nils (the german guy) played pretty well. It was cute cuz Enrique only knew three songs and they all had the same two chords...E and G over and over...the melody of the three songs were pretty similar too but I must say that the rythym was really cool...it took me a lot of practice to finally get it. So it was really nice to hear a local guy sing a traditional song...
The next day we went to another place(Im not too good with names) with another guide. Once again we walked. This time through some cool canyons...and in one spot we went into a cave with a ton of bats. We also went to a local community that lives off alone from much contact with the real world. Or should I say modern world. Most of the adults were not around when we arrived; they were working in the fields...but we timed it just right to see the kids during recess. They were very interested in foreigners but they had seen many so it wasnt a unique experience for them. Its pretty crazy to see a place with no electricity and no modern appliances. No computer...no Cds...none of the kids wore shoes...very different from OUR experience in this world. Not too much else happened in the orient...it was more of an experience where you were just there. Just hanging in the jungle. I wished to see monkeys and anacondas but you have to travel far and pay lots for that here in Ecuador. In Peru it is easier ... maybe I will go.
Take care
Sean
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