Return from the Jungle

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Just back into Quito from the rainforest. Will be posting a more detailed blog when time and bandwidth permit (the connection speed at the hotel right now could charitably be described as glacial).

For now, let us just say that the trip to the Napo Wildlife Centre was teriffic. Among many other things, we saw huge centipedes, Tucans, Parrots, Monkeys, Anacondas, bats that catch fish, trees that shed their bark twice per year, and ants that farm a type of fungus, which they then eat. We also spotted the president of Paraquay, Fernando Lugo, who visited the centre. I was operating the blow gun in the cultural centre for the community of Kichwa Añangu when the president and his entourage entered the building, trailed by personal security and armed Ecuadoran military. The security guys took one look at me handling the blow gun and decided that correctly I was not a threat. They had a point, but to save face, I proceeded to hit a wooden parrot from five feet. Your move, army guy.

Like I said, hopefully more later.

Los Smith

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Photos

River Base
Here we switched from river boats to canoes which are the main transportation at Napo

Leaf Cutter Ants
We had a steady chain of ants carring leaves to their nest right beside our cabin.

Comments

[Elaine]

Hello
Can't say I've kept up with your blog lately, but your latest jungle adventure sounds like fun, despite only a few details. On a school note Pauline - if we order you library tables do you want round or rectangle? There is extra money at the SBO and they are offering to purchase some furniture so I thought I better check first. Thanks for getting back to me. If you don't get back to me you get round tables like the ones at RDPC. LOL Later, ET.