Life in the Jungle - Day 5

Last Amazon Sunset
Originally uploaded by Phil Chan.

I woke a bit before sunrise to the most amazing sounds I have ever heard, howler monkeys greeting the morning... I have absolutely no idea how to describe it, but luckily Richard, a Swedish guy we camped with, made a recording of it.

We headed back to the lodge about 11am and on the way, Rubins noticed a sloth in the trees. We stopped the canoe and went back for another look when one of the guys in the boat started yelling “Anaconda, anaconda!” There was a 2 metre anaconda making it’s way towards the sloth! Rubin and Charles, proving their mettle as true Jungle Boys, caught the anaconda to take back to the lodge, then nabbed the sloth for more show and tell.

When we got back to the lodge the guides played a great practical joke on the one armed manager of the lodge who they asked to open the bag that the anaconda was in without him knowing what was in it. He was understandablely surprised to see the snake in there.

I have had an incredible time in the jungle, but after 5 days here and 6 on the boat before, I’m ready to leave and head back to “civilisation”. This afternoon I’m going to book my bus ticket to Venezuela, hopefully leaving tomorrow. Enough people have warned me off Caracas that I’m going to skip it this time.

After the last couple of weeks, I’m going to skip the 6 day hike to Mount Roriama. I also decided a few weeks ago to take a little holiday from my holiday in Merida and work on a little computer game while I’m taking Spanish lessons. It should only take a couple of weeks, famous last words, and give me something to do between class and hiking.