RTW 08/09

After the first warm shower in almost a week we decided to go and visit a natural phenomenon that is not far from Manaus, called the meeting of the waters.

It is really an amazing sight to see two river that meet each other and wont mix and this is due to the differences in temperature, speed and water density of the two rivers.

The Rio Negro (dark coffee colour) flows at near 2 km per hour at a temperature of 22°c, while the Rio Solimões (sandy-coloured) flows between 4 to 6 km per hour a temperature of 28°c.

Back at the hostel after some discussions and a very little research of other companies we decided to go on a jungle trip with the company that had an office at our hostel as some of the backpackers that had returned had only good reports.

That evening we met up with all the other from the boat and a mob of 14 backpackers headed off to a local restaurant much to the joy of the owner as we treated ourselves very well after been on the boat for 6days.

A very unwelcome 6am start the next morning to get our jungle trip underway and after a quick breakfast it was off to the bus station for the three hour bus trip and a further one hour on a boat to our jungle home for the next four days.

The lodge we stayed at was really nice and we arrived just in time for lunch which was delicious.

The first day we visited a flooded forest where we didn’t see much wildlife only a toucan but heard lots of animals in the distance.

We also went piranha fishing and the guide got the first bite but caught a catfish.

We made it back in time to view the lovely sunset from the watchtower which overlooks the lodge and the surrounding area.

After dinner our guide took us out in a motorboat and we went alligator spotting.

Eventually after a lot of searching we found a baby alligator and after he posed for a few pictures it was back to the candlelit lodge.

The next morning was suppose to be a 5am start but I think the rum that we shared the night before with our guide bought us an extra half hour in bed.

We got up and paddled our canoes out in the perfectly still river in front of the lodge to see some of the local black dolphins playing around.

We were hopping to see some of the larger pink dolphins so we paddled further out to another area but still the pink dolphins remained elusive.

On the way back Steve and I jumped in to the piranha and the alligator infested waters to see if the dolphins would come close for a swim but they weren’t interested in a couple of gringos and off they went into the flooded forests for breakfast.

After our breakfast it was off to a jungle camp to spend the day and night getting up close and personal with the jungle.

The camp was two hours away from the lodge but felt a lot longer as it was very humid and we had to carry all our gear.

We set up our hammocks and after lunch had a siesta before heading off on a Jungle walk.

Our very knowledgeable guides showed us many of the plants and what the people of the Amazon use them for.

We drank from a water vine; we cut into the bark of trees and watched as liquid, some flammable poured out.

Some of the liquids are used in medicines and the gum can be used to light campfires.

We found some ants nests and let them crawl over our hands and them rubbed them into our skin as the odour they release acts as an insect repellent.

Some of the other ants we saw were not as friendly and a bite from them would leave you in need of medical attention asap.

As it is the rainy season it can be difficult to see the wildlife of the jungle but we did get to see two very scary Tarantulas and a very camouflaged frog.

We heard many birds and got to see two noisy Macaws and our guide would call out to the birds and they would answer him.

It was back to the camp and after a dip in the river beside our home for the night it was time for dinner.

Our guides made plates for our dinner from leaves and forks from tree branches which was a really cool.

After dinner the guides made us a cup of jungle tea made with the bark of a tree that released a flavour that tasted like cloves, it was amazing and a nice way to end the day.

The next morning it was back to the lodge and after some relaxing we headed back to the flooded forest and this time we got to see two howler monkeys.

They were moving at speed through the trees and we had difficulty keeping up with them as we manouvered our canoes through the forest

More piranha fishing followed and we caught about four fish between us which ended up as our dinner later on that evening.

The last morning of our trip we were up at 5:30am to see if we could spot the pink dolphins.

The resident black dolphins were out the front of the lodge but we went further away from the lodge in the lashing rain and as if for our efforts and patience a pink dolphin joined us on the mirror like surface.

He/she was also joined by a black dolphin he would pop up beside us and then a couple of minutes later he would be at the other side of the river.

On the way back for breakfast we went to visit two unfortunate Toucan chicks that were in their nest, in the trunk of a tree in the flooded forest.

As the water level was about a foot below their nest and rising, their parents wouldn’t have the opportunity to teach them to fly and they would probably not survive. 

The guides were discussing whether to remove them and take them back to the lodge but we didn’t hear the final decision as we left the lodge that afternoon.

Back to Manaus that evening were we met up with the others as they also arrived back from their jungle trips.

Many photos and stories were passed around before and during dinner.

After dinner it was back to the hostel were I picked up my bag and got a taxi to the airport for my 4am flight to Sao Paulo.