Puerto Maldonado Hotels
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In the jungle the mighty jungle!
Entry 13 of 16 | show all | print this entry |
I know that all I seem to be doing on this elective is jetting off on exciting trips but hey I will go to the hospital manana, after all its the Peruvian way! Well I decided that a real jungle trip was required since Ive always always wanted to go to the Amazon rainforest, so last saturday me and Rich flew to Puerto Maldonado (apparently its a city, and the airport is international but it looks rather like a little shack in someones back garden and the 'city' is more like a shanty town, I liked it though!) We then got a bus to the river (the bus looked like a truck that someone had put some benches in it was very cool, if a little bumpy). We then got on a boat which was a large covered motorised canoe thing. There were 8 others in our group, 2 dutch guys who were very funny, 2 Americans (well a guy who apparently is the world expert on fluoride and tooth helath and his japanese wife), 3 auzzies and a girl from Scotland. They were a good group. Our guide was called Elias and he was lovely and very knowledgable. We took the boat for about an hour along the Madre de Dios (mother of god...) river. It was a beautiful journey we saw lots of birds along the way. It was very random to see parrots flying over head! The heat was intense and it was very humid. We eventually arrived at the lodge where we were staying. It was more like a holiday complex, there were about 20 or 30 lodges (me and rich shared one, it was very comfortable with a private bathroom (no hot water so showering was not much fun!) and hammock room! No windows, just mosquito netting which is a bit odd...) and a communal bar, dining room and pool. Sadly the pool was far far too cold to swim in, you could only jump in then jump out again! The surrounding area was just jungle so there were lots of animals, birds and insects. There was a colony of weaver birds (they make beautiful long woven nests), parrots and lots of other kinds of birds I dont know the names of, and I even saw a Tapir!! Its was amazing it just wandered around happy as can be, totally wild. It came back the next day, it must find some fruit or something lying around.
Anyway we had lunch, chicken and rice cooked in banana leaves which was very nice, and got in another canoe (smaller, not covered. We traveled in these everywhere as its much easier than walking and there are no roads) and went a short distance across the river to Monkey island. This is a small private island owned by the company we travelled with so its exclusive to visit. We thought we might see the odd monkey miles away in the distance up a tree, but then we noticed the guide had brought a lot of bananas with him. Sure enough he used them to attract the monkeys (and by shouting banana monkey and making the males in the group do the same very loudlu!) There are 5 species on the island and we saw 4 of them (black spider monekys, squirrel monekys, white front cappuchins, and brown cappuchins.) They came right up to us and took the bananas, we even got one to sit on my shoulder and eat a banana which was so cool as they are wild monekys, they just have learnt to trust humans. One of the spider monkeys had a little baby with her which was very cute! We also had a nice walk around the island and our guide told us about the plants and animals. He even persuaded us to eat termites to see what it was like (crunchy with no particular flavour). We saw lots of things, including leaf cutter ants which I liked. After evening meals, when it was dark we got in a canoe and went caiman spotting. Elias took a bit spotlight and shined it along the bank. If a caiman is there their eyes reflect back red so you can see them. We saw a few, mostly babys but they disappeared quickly as they are very shy and the canoe motor is loud. It was great fun and beautiful as you could see all the stars very clearly as it was very very dark, and also hear all the birds and insects calling. That was all we did the first day as we didnt arrive til early afternoon. We had an early night as well as wake up for day 2 was 5am!! Plus the lodges only had electricity from 5pm to 10pm, as they only have a generator. When the lights go out it is almost pitch black!
The second day we got up at 5 as i said. It was still pitch balck so I had to shower in cold water by torch light (for some reason i was the only one in the group brave enough to do that!!) We breakfasted then go in a canoe for a short trip along the river. We then walked for a bit, all the time Elias was telling us about the plants and animals, he even lured 2 tarantulas out of their holes! We then came to a swampy area and got in a row boat to row slowly downstream so we could see all the birds more clearly. We saw loads including many types of parrots, kingfishers, hawks, vultures, pigeons, turkeys (i kid you not) and loaeds id never heard of! We then walked a bit more to a giant tree that had steps up and a platform at the top so we could look out over the canopy! That was amazing, most of my group were scared of the height, but I was more worried about the huge ants i nearly put my hand on!! After that we walked along a briged path to another boat. Along the way we saw caiman (only little ones but still exciting) and an Anaconda!! Apparently we are very lucky as most groups dont see either and we saw both! We tehn paddled around a lake and saw lots of turtles sunning themselves. We then had along hike back to the motor canoe. It was only 5k but in the heat of the jungle we almost died. Along the way I had my picture taken with a massive tree, as you will see when i finally get round to loading pics! Yes all in all a fantastic morning, I dont even think I mentioned everything i did, but i cant think of it all, and wed have nothing to talk about when we next meet if i did!
In the afternoon we just relaxed for a bit, until 4 when we went to look around the botanical gardens. That was really interesting, and Elias made me climb a tree to pick some weird fruit for us to eat. it was not pleasant so i resented bring hoisted up by Rich and Elias (there were no branches to climb on so i jsut had to be pushed an try and drag myself, very undignified i must say!) Rich had to climb one aswell, his fruit tasted better though! I spotted a tarantula in the gardens, which was cool until i remembered there is a tarantula sized hole in the floor of our lodge...we also saw agoutis! (if you dont know about tapirs or agoutis i suggest you look them up they are very interesting) That was it really for that day. Me and rich played chess with a beer or 3 in the bar, then when the lights went out we played cards by torchlight in the hammocks (not that easy).
The 3rd day we had a lie in til 7. had breakfast and went in the canoe for a long time. Then we walked a bit and learnt more about the plants in the jungle. then we meet the boat again further upstream and went fishing with sticks and bits of beef! If was fun, but only elias caught anything (2 tiny fish) appartently as its the dry season there arent many fish around, but it kind of reminded me of fishing with dad!! We then went swimming in the river, well me and the guide and 2 of the guys did, everyone else wimped out as we arent sure how safe the water is (parasites, bacteria, who knows what, watch this space and find out what i get!!) It was great fun as there was a rope swing into the water, and it was lovely and cool! We then played in the mud, covering ourselves in it as apparently its very good for your skin! Took a lot of washing off though...Me and Rich were tired so we had a lazy afternoon, playing pool, tabel football, table tennis, chess then having a sleep until dinner! In the evening we played games with the Dutch guys until the lights went out then played by torch light! It was fun, and we had quite a lot of beer!
Tha was the trip really, today was just getting the plane back. Lots of hanging around at the airport as our plane was lunchtime but they had to take us all the airport in time for the earlier ones. It was cold and raining in Cusco, what a welcome back! Plus the altitude is getting me now, as we were basically at sea level and we flew back up here. I feel really dizzy and short of breath, and my heartbeat is even more irregular than usual, Oh well. Hopefully it will pass soon. Rich is worse than me, I think his stomach is playing up aswell so hes started on my ciprofloxacin (antibiotic thats good for stomach infections).
So that was my trip in as much as i can remember/be bothered to type! I had an amazing time, but now i have to do some work...last spanish tomorrow, and i will go to the hospital (i bought scrubs and my bloods are back sop i can go to anaesthetics now). Rich is off on sunday. next week lots of us are going to some clinic to give contraceptives to teenage girls as there is a really high level of teenage pregnancy. That will be good. Then on the 17th im off to Quillabamba, which is a health clinic in the jungle. I was going to Lares for 2 weeks, but our rep wants us to all go to the same place for saftey. That will be good though we should be able to see lots of infections and stuff, and it will be nice to be with a group of friends. I will update soon, but im hungry so ill be off now!
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