Sorting out our kit

Today we bought a new cooker as our old one was on its last legs. We also bought some plastic bags and sorted out all of our things. We washed our pots and pans and prepared to leave tomorrow.  We went back to the tourist area to chill for a bit. Freddie gave me some tips for next year at university. One was to download and use software called Endnotes which does referencing for you. He also informed me of a search engine called Scopus.  Later on, Freddie and I went to an internet café and I emailed my parents and brother. I also spoke to a few of my friends, which was nice.

http://www.scopus.com/results/results.url?sort=plf-f&src=s&st1=tropical+peatland&sid=22C7FF4D0E357F5C82EA3DC2998310EA.kqQeWtawXauCyC8ghhRGJg%3a80&sot=b&sdt=b&sl=32&s=TITLE-ABS-KEY%28tropical+peatland%29&origin=searchbasic&txGid=22C7FF4D0E357F5C82EA3DC2998310EA.kqQeWtawXauCyC8ghhRGJg%3a8

Wet feet

Had another two eggs for breakfast with rice and sweet porridge – Quakers. I made tomato and sardine pasta for our packed lunch, sweat bees were everywhere and kept flying into the pasta – oh well, extra protein! We were then ready to head off. Hulio and Hugo went first with their machetes cutting down the obstructing branches and trees in order to make room for us to walk through. My role was to mark with a fluorescent, pink ribbon every 100m point. I labelled the ribbon with a sharpie pen and tied it to a tree at eye level so it was visible. We got just over 1km and back. This took us the whole day as the path was treacherous. We spent a lot of time wadding through water. It was like an obstacle course as we had to avoid the tree branches with spikes on and biting insects on, and at the same time had to make sure not to sink into the mud - most of which was very deep.  A few termites went down the back of my shirt and bit my neck and arms. It stung for five minutes or so and then I had a bite mark to show for it. As we stopped for lunch it started to rain heavily so we got our ponchos out. I fell over quite a few times today, tripping over branches, sunk in the mud, and had to yank out my willies a few times too.  I just laughed at myself as there were quite a few comical falls. All part of the fun.  My feet were wet the whole day. Hopefully one day I will be able to be nimble with my steps and have dry feet.  I found some shells and crabs and wondered how they got there. Freddie explained that the area used to be sea. So the shells were remnants of the sea. Then the Andes formed and this geological change meant the sea moved from the area.  We were faster on the way back so we did improve throughout the day. On the last leg of the journey back to base there was a stream to cross. I Tarzaned across dangling from a tree branch, which was really fun.  Although today was physically challenging I really enjoyed it. The jungle is such an amazingly pristine place with no one else around. And today was an exciting obstacle adventure course. 

Rinon

Had two eggs for breakfast and then we set off for Rinon. Our beautiful boat journey continued. We saw more birds and dolphins along the way. We then reached the river we needed to travel along. However, the water level was too low making it un-accessible - so instead we went down a nearby river meaning we would have to change the transect slightly. Freddie got off our boat first and climbed up the bank. He then stumbled slightly and froze for a split second.  Then he rushed back to the boat announcing that there was a hergone snake! This is where we were planning to set up our camp site. So it was necessary for the guys to kill this deathly poisonous snake. Hulio and Hugo grabbed their machetes and on racing out of the boat our cardboard box with all the food in fell over the side of the boat. Freddie leapt to save it and managed to haul the box back onto the boat.  Then the guys got ready to kill the snake. They stood over it and then smashed it with all their might with the machetes. It was then cut in two. They kept hitting it over and over just to make sure it was dead. In the frantic upheaval we lost a few tins of tuna to the bottom of the river. Considering there was a highly hazardous snake on our hands I think we got off lightly.

The next task was to set up camp. The guys chose a perfect spot to set up and then went to work. Hulio and Hugo chopped down any trees that were in the way and we used these to build a den like structure to put our tents under. Using ribbon we tied a plastic sheet over the tree structure we constructed. Next the kitchen area was made and we laid out all of our food. Finally Hugo dug out a toilet which was 20 meters or so away from our tents. Our boat was used as a washing facility we had a bucket and put river water in it then poured it over ourselves into the boat. I got bitten all over by mosquitoes when washing. Other than that it was an adequate system. We saw three River Otters before we ate dinner. Their heads poked out of the river opposite where we were standing. They are rare sighting - so this was a real bonus. Then we had more eggs for dinner. When I got in my tent it started to rain really heavily. The noise was magnificent.

The toilet!

Boat Journey

Woke up early this morning and loaded a big taxi car with all our gear and headed off to Nauta. Here we met Hugo our third field work assistant. He was in our peque peque boat. So all our team were together – Hulio, Loius, Hugo, Freddie and I. We ate a hearty breakfast consisting of rice, chicken and grilled plantain. We were then ready to set off on the boat. It was an amazing journey. First we travelled down the Maranyon River, which is a large white water river with a high sediment content. We then turned into the Yanayaku River, which is smaller and is a black river as it flows though peat deposits. So it has a low nutrients level. As we travelled we saw a man fishing and he had caught a shiny orange Piranna. We also saw dolphins swimming alongside our boat and numerous spectacular birds. We then reached a village called Viente de Enero and stopped off to have lunch. We decided to stay there for the night and carry on travelling the next day to Rinon. Viente de Enero is a beautiful little River village, home to around 100 people.  We went for a swim and wash in the river, which was refreshing. We could see dolphins in the distance. The river was tranquil and picturesque. We could hear children in the village playing and birds chirping. There were no signs of pollution or the busy noises of city life that I am so used to. It seemed that there were no worries in this village. The children played games and went to school and the adults didn’t seem to work - maybe occasionally in the mornings they would collect Aguajales fruits. The adults seemed to get drunk as a pastime, which would suggest that the boredom does drive one insane at times.  As the sun set and darkness descended we saw numerous stars covering the sky. We were able to point out Venus and a shooting star. Now as I sit in my tent writing this, tiredness is hitting me and I am sure I will sleep well tonight. 

                                         The hut we set our tents up in Viente de Enero

Belen market

This morning we went to the Belen market to buy all the food supplies.  The market stalls had everything under the sun.  The market was pretty crazy with people rushing here, there and everywhere. People were carrying what looked to be there heaviest items on their heads. We went to one particular shop and bought all of our packaged food. Then we went to a stall to buy some fresh fruit and vegetables.  Following this we bought some wellies. The journey into the rainforest will commence tomorrow. I am so excited and also nervous as I’m not sure what to expect. I might never get an opportunity like this again, so will treasure it and make the most of it. This is something I have always wanted to do – visit the rainforest. So let the adventures begin.  

Arrival in Iquitos

I had a quick free breakfast before heading to the airport. Outside the hotel there were police with shields, so we were leaving at precisely the right time - before whatever protests or chaos was about to commence. I shared a cab with Magretta who was slightly eccentric. This flight went smoothly and I met Freddie outside Iquitos airport! Magretta insisted on her taxi man carrying my bags and tried to get Freddie and I to get into her cab to give us a lift. We got away eventually but not before I was introduced to her entire family. We went in a motor taxi to La Pascana hostel. The weather was extremely hot and humid and would take some getting used to. After a lovely two course Peruvian lunch in Waisai for £3 we went to buy some supplies for the jungle. We went with Louis and Hulio, two of the field work assistants. We went to a store which sold absolutely everything you could imagine. The store was known as the Peruvian version of Harrods. We bought pots, pans, rain ponchos, plastic containers, a spade and some other bits and bobs. When we returned to the hostel the food we would need was discussed. The quantities were decided upon and a list was finalised.  

Still flying

Arrived in Lima and ran through the airport to get my connecting flight to Iquitos, which was all a bit of a rush.  After two hours on the plane, it was finally announced that bad weather had made landing impossible.  So the plane turned around and went all the way back to Lima. In Lima there was a massive queue for re-booking tickets and every one was stressed. A group of missionaries spoke English and helped me a lot. When I got to the man at the desk he told me the next flight I could get on was the next day at 10.30am. The thought of waiting in the airport for 24 hours made me break down in tears. He told me I couldn't get on an earlier flight but he could get me into a hotel and would get me a taxi there and back. I asked to use a phone to call Freddie and let him know but instead he gave me a useless phone card which didn't work.  In the taxi on the way to the hotel in Lima we passed very poor areas. Lima was coated in a layer of smog and I was fearful that the hotel would not be up to much. I asked a couple in the taxi if I could borrow their phone to call Freddie and they just shook their heads. After half an hour we arrived at the hotel, which turned out to be the five star Sheraton. It was a palace. The porters greeted us and took my bags. When the door of my room was opened for me a beautiful room was revealed with a king sized double bed.  Luxury.  I enjoyed the delights of a posh free lunch and dinner. Eating lunch on my own was a bit lonely. Fortunately, at dinner I bumped into the group of missionaries who invited me to eat with them. They told me about their work and how they help villages although they didn’t say how. They warned me of the hardship in the jungle and concluded by saying that they would pray for me. I also saw a woman who was at the airport arguing to get on the next flight that day. She apparently was very worried for me. She was called Magritta. http://www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton/property/photos/index.html?propertyID=284#photo_section_2Link