June 19 - Friday - In the jungle, the mighty jungle...

Ugh! Wake-up call - 5:a.m.; Breakfast - 5:30 a.m;
6:00 a.m. - We're on board our pekis-pekis, motoring over to another place, where we followed the path for our lengthy trek today!

So many interesting highlights! Firstly, we slowed our walk to a decent pace! Now, we were all able to actually 'see and take in' the different plants and treed areas surrounding us in the jungle. Stopped at the massive 'iron' tree, a hardwood, which actually is known to prevent fires in the jungle. The iron tree acts like a lightening rod, a conduit. So, when it is hit by lightening, the lightening bolt goes through the tree to the ground, and nothing in area surrounding it gets 'hit'.

The iron tree is also known to be a healing tree. People derive 'energy' from it. Shamans apparently can 'cure' people's illnesses, using the energy waves of the tree - We all hugged the tree to feel its power - amazing, isn't it!

Walking on, we stopped at the slim 'justice' tree - where poisonous fire ants thrive inside. The 'tale' is that promiscuous people or criminals were tied to the tree for punishment. Then, another person would hit the tree with a stick, and the ants, once disturbed, would appear on the outside of the tree. They then bit the intruder, the tied-up person, who would eventually die from the bites, within a 24 hour period. Lordy!

The promiscuous spouse was bitten, and left tied to the tree just long enough to pass out from the fever. Then the spouse was untied, hopefully lived, and as the story goes... never to be promiscuous again. Hmmm... (I don't know many women who would stay with this guy!!!)

Saw the massive kapok tree, of which I had heard so much about. It needs to grow away from the water's edge, due to its root system. The kapok tree/ the communication tree, which, when banged on with a large stick, mades a thundering noise in the jungle. When a person is lost in the jungle, one keeps banging on the tree trunk with a stick until they are found by others. Magic!

Walked high up a tall tower lookout - 4 sets of 30 steep stairs, where we admired the view from above, overlooking the palm-treed jungle canopy. Magnificent! Such a beautiful day - such a glorious view! Bruce & I are once more counting our blessing....

And the walk continues....
Saw many termite nests, attached to tree trunks, built high up the tree, for survival purposes. During the wet, flooded seasons, the termites survive as the rivers rise several meters during this wet season each year.

Walked on pathways, through clay mud and on boarded walkways over swamps. One such boarded walk was 700 meters long!) They are constructed with wooden planks - 2x8's, & 2x10's. Some are wobbly, some rotted, some are safe. Lordy, but I sometimes wonder what we have gotten ourselves into!!! Safety really is not #1, but it's pretty good, as long as one is aware of one's surroundings.

(Upkeep and repairs are going on daily at the Lodge - which is a good thing!)

Found a little lagoon, boarded a small skiff, and Ronal rowed us around as we silently observed the wildlife - mostly turtles nesting in the sun. Peaceful, beautiful, serene & restful!

Retraced our steps, walking further on to Cocha Perdida (Lost Lake). Boarded another skiff and the guys had to paddle 2 or 3 kms, at least 1.5 hours, down this meandering swamp river to our next stop, which really tired them out! Bruce thought his arms were going to fall off! I relieved him every now and then, but not enough to make a difference. It was a long meandering swampy river...

Our next stop was just a short walk to the main river where another pekis awaited us. Ronal thankfully motored us back to the Lodge.

It was a great jungle trip, even though we were all dead tired! Quickly returned to our huts, showered, (in cold water!), enjoyed our delicious lunch, and rested for a couple of hours, during the hottest part of the day.

4 p.m. - Visited the Lodge's Botannical Gardens which consisted of medicinal plants from the jungle, along with starfruit and lemon grass. Many plants' healing powers addressed the sexual anatomies of both males & females - interesting! To see this work effectively, one must truly believe in Patchamama and Shamanism. Ronal our guide, certainly does!

Ended the day, enjoying the company of our new-found friends, Ingred, Bernard from Germany & Marie & hubby, from Denmark. Went for dinner, had our group photo taken, and bade our adieux! Together, young & old, we were a great group - sharing our stories was just so much fun!