After a fair trip in the boat we moored up and once again picked up our
friendly group of mozzies. We started off into the jungle and were soon
learning heaps about the different plants, those that were used for headaches
and impotency !! We also learnt about the different trees, the walking tree
that starts off in one place but if there is insufficient light it walks to a
different place using its roots. We saw one that had moved a good couple of
feet to get more light, very curious. We also saw a strangler tree that takes
holds of other trees and strangles them to death. It starts off as a vine and
then grows into a thick tree strangling the closest tree to it no matter what
the size. We also saw some bats before Jose stopped to show us how to get fresh
water in the jungle. He cut a particular vine and out gushed fresh cold water,
it was delicious. From the piece of vine we had drunk from, Jose made myself
and Joyce a crown out of the bark and popped different leaves into the front of
them before crowning us queens of the jungle. I felt right at home with my new
title ! We had some piccies taken and then carried on our way learning about
termites and fire ants, ants that can kill humans in 2 and a half hours is a
whole tribe sets on you. This killing method used to be used as a punishment -
nice ! We had an entertainment stop to swing like Tarzan on a vine. Trev went
first and sat on the makeshift cross at the bottom, the big grin on his face
told us that it was fun. I had a go but they made me stand up on the cross, it
was going well until Jose pushed me so hard I whacked my head on another vine.
Not such a glamourous end to the swing for the queen of the jungle !
As we set off back to the boat from here, Trev was given his name for the
jungle - \"arse of the jungle\" (Trev: this was not mentioned at the time as my title,
I think Camilla just believes she is in some way humerous). In getting to the swing
we had ducked under a
big spiders web, the spider in the web was huge and had a bit of a grim face on
it. As we retraced our steps, Trev didn´t see Jose duck back under the web,
instead he walked straight into it. Panicked by the web all over his face and
by the fear that the spider may be on him, Trev hurtled back towards Joyce and
I who were behind him. Trev nearly bowled Joyce off of her feet as his speed
and momentum to get away from the spider sent him reeling backwards. From where
I was, it just looked like Trev and Joyce had fallen over something. It wasn´t
until Trev had recovered could he fill us in on the story ! Needless to say the
spider was still happily sat on his web probably a bit peeved that half of it
had disappeared and wondering what the creature was that had had such a violent
reaction to it. Trev was jibed for some time to come after that, hardly the big
brave man that was going to save me from the beasties in the jungle - bless
him !
Back at the boat we all bundled in, relieved that once again we would have a
respite from the mozzies. It was then back to camp for an early lunch before
packing up and returning to Rurrenabaque. None of us were looking forward to
the initial part of the walk, wading through the knee deep muddy water. We were
once again going to be doing this in the heat of the day :o(
The boat trip was over too quickly and the water was in our boots before we
knew it. We headed back with Daniel, the translator in tow, but our guide was
not returning with us. It was blisteringly hot on the walk back and the sweat
and deet began to drip again. The water in our wellies turned out to be
bizarrely refreshing ! At the point we changed our wellies to our hiking boots
Daniel set off without us, so we wandered through the jungle alone, the
way back seemed far longer than we remembered. When we
reached the camp it was time to hop into another boat and head off back down
the river to Rurrenabaque. We relaxed in the comfy seats and had a doze. When
we arrived in Rurrenabaque we had a cold drink - much needed after 3 hours on a
hot boat, popped to the Fluvial office to give feedback on our experiences and
then it was to the hotel for a much needed shower, I think the town could smell
us coming !
This was the last evening we would spend with Joyce and Oscar, or so we
thought, so we headed out to the Jungle Moskito bar and pizzeria for beers and
pizza to celebrate our safe return from the jungle and to say farewell. Trev
and I were heading back in the morning to La Paz whilst Joyce and Oscar were
planning a relaxing day in Rurrenabaque by the swimming pool. We said our
farewells back at the hostel and then crashed.