Where We Be
We saw this tiny emerald glass frog
right on the premises of Samona Lodge
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Amazon Basin, Ecuador (Days 3-5)
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Silhouette of a half-submerged tree as dusk falls
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We paid a final visit to Laguna Grande on Day 5 and saw several pink river dolphins
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He seemed surprisingly relaxed as he draped himself across the metal counter
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The simple pleasure of tooling up and down the Cuyabeno
River in a motorized canoe is something we'll never forget
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The shaman may administer a hallucinogenic brew known as "ayahuasca," which first cleans out the system by inducing
vomiting then causes several hours' worth of either spiritual enlightenment or tripping, depending on whom you ask
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Its roots writhed like snakes
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We headed even deeper into the jungle to see this enormous 500-year-old ceiba tree
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As we left we saw kids heading into the river for a swim
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It was flipped once, like a pancake, and allowed to cook on the
other side, then split into pieces and served with marmalade. Not bad!
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More than 550 different bird species live in Cuyabeno, including this rufescent tiger heron
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The mud came right up to the tops of our boots. To my dismay I discovered a slight leak in the bottom of my
left boot. It quickly became squelchy and made farting sounds for the rest of the hike -- how embarrassing!
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Pajarito demonstrates how to make a snare with a loop of vine and some sticks
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This "small" boa constrictor was plenty big enough for us!
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Robin's boots almost came off in the mud!
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The trunk of the ceiba tree was like a wall!
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Weaver bird nests dangle from a tall tree overhanging the river
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Back at Samona Lodge, a rainbow boa constrictor made himself at home in the lodge's kitchen!
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Our boat driver showed us a very small caiman he scooped up from the
river bank. As you can see, it latched onto his finger and wouldn't let go!
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The meal was then spread over a hot plate on top of the fire to cook for a minute or two
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It was twisted even tighter as the pan was being heated for cooking
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The woven contraption was then twisted to get all the moisture out
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The grated yucca was placed into a woven contraption
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The yucca tubers were then peeled and grated, with each of us taking a turn
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Helliconia grew wild in
the jungle nearby
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The pace of life in the village was slow and serene
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On Day 4 we headed away from Laguna Grande and deeper into the jungle. It rained heavily
as we puttered along. Eventually, just as the rains ended, we reached this Siona village.
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The houses of the Siona village were more modern-looking than the thatch huts of our lodge
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At the village we learned how to make yucca bread, starting with
the first step: pulling up the tubers of a manioc tree -- hard work!
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Our last three days in the Amazon Basin offered
up a fun combination of wildlife sightings and
cultural activities. We took a medicinal herb
walk through the primary rainforest, visited a
shaman of the Siona tribe, and learned how to
make yucca bread, starting from the very first
step of digging up a small manioc tree to get to
the yucca tubers. We paddled a canoe all the
way from Laguna Grande to our lodge (whew!),
saw pink river dolphins up close, and stared at
an unmoving blob in a distant tree our guide
swore was a two-toed sloth.
One afternoon our boat pushed through a
narrow gap in the jungle. On the far side was a
secluded stretch of river teeming with wildlife.
A troop of squirrel monkeys frolicked in the
trees. We watched in amazement as juveniles
jumped across a broad expanse of sky from one
tree to another. A few jumped from a high tree
on one side of the river to a branch barely
above the water on the other. One missed and
fell plunk into the water! He quickly swam out.
Capuchins lazed nearby and toucans flitted back
and forth. We could have spent all day here so
mesmerized were we by this rich display.
Robin channels her inner Amazon woman and heads deeper into the jungle
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Photo op inside a huge hollowed-out ceiba tree
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During our jungle hike we crossed this swamp area
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Standing proud in my fart boots!
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This resident woolly monkey came up to greet us as we entered the village. We were
told not to appear too welcoming unless we wanted him to jump right into our arms!
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The yucca was sifted into a fine meal (Robin liked this part!)
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We returned to the village to watch a demonstration from a shaman
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