Manaus!

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Hey everyone!!

Im afraid this has got to be a really quick one as im running out of time in the internet cafe and have still got a million things to do before tomorrow morning! :o(

Just to let you know not to panic if you dont hear from me in a while! I flew in from Belem this morning (will do Belem blog with photos soon!) and as there isnt that much to do here i have booked my boat to Colombia for tomorrow morning! Only 2 boats go a week - Saturdays and Wednesdays and decided i didnt want to hang around until Wednesday so am leaving tomorrow!! I thought the boat took 4 days but apparantly it takes 7!! Ive heard a lot of horror stories - overcrowded boat, food and water gives you an upset stomach and there are hardly any toilets etc etc!! But im really excited anyway!! :o) Went into town today and bought my hammock and rope (have no idea how to hang it up though.... might get someone to help me otherwise there will definately be a big bump in the night! hehe!) - its PINK! very exciting! hehe! paid an extra 5 pounds just so it was pink, which i realised afterwards was a bit silly as its really heavy so im never going to be able to keep it!! Maybe i can send it home - fancy a big pink hammock... michi? mum?! hehe!! Oh well, maybe it will be a good investment - maybe it will turn out to be the key to making friends - everyone will want to be friends with the girl with the cool pink hammock!! hehe! :o) Had lots of advice about where to put up my hammock - not above the engine, not near the toilets (ull be gased to death), not near the food buffet (ull be trampled to death!) etc etc!! but apparantly even once u get a good spot, people will come along and put their hammock over yours, under yours, right next to you etc! think its going to be like sardines in a tin!! it all sounds very complicated! Im really hoping ill see some travellers before i even get on the boat and can just follow them! :o) The boat doesnt leave until 4pm but im being picked up at 8am because apparantly its going to be chaos tomorrow and the boot is going to be really crowded (typical) so need to get there really early to get a good hammock spot! As if 7 days on a boat isnt long enough, youve got to get there 8 hours before you leave!! holy guacamole!! :o(

Luckily the hostel im staying in tonight is really nice and they have a book exchange and have said i can help myself so im going to stock up on lots of books!! :o) Once i run out of books on the boat, Michis suggested i write a book! hehe! :o) Im sure ill be able to pass the time somehow just hope soooo much that there are some travellers on this boat! (apparantly its mostly lots of locals!)

Ok i need to go and get a shower otherwise i definately wont be making any friends tomorrow!! hehe!! :o)

By the way... i love reading ur comment on my blog wall so keep them coming!! :o)

Oh and ill have my phone with me too! :o) For as long as the battery lasts!

Lots of love and will get blogging again once i get to Colombia!! Really hope the FARC arent recruiting new hostages! :o(

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Comments

[Andrew]

need new books
What hostel did you stay in? I'm desperately in need of some new books for the same boat trip.

[zoe gardner]

typical you buying a bright pink hammock! im suprised ppl didnt assume u were really rich because u can afford luxury colours and try and steal ur stuff! keepin away from the tolets is probably a good idea but i wouldnt want to go at the edge of the boat in case u roll off! hehe xx