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Published: September 18th 2009
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Its that time of year again - holiday time and my next adventure involves travelling round Brazil with a couple of side trips to Paraguay and Argentina thrown in.
The main areas I will be visiting are the Amazon rainforest near Manaus, then Iguassu Falls, Rio then chilling out on the tropical Island of Ihla Grande.
Not sure how often I will be able to update the blog, if not possible during the trip itself will have to complete retrospectively when I get back.
My first destination is Manaus in the heart of the Amazon, to get there I flew with Lufthansa via Frankfurt and taking into account the 5 hour stopover this took approx 24 hours to get from Manchester (UK) to Sao Paulo. I then immediately took another flight to Manaus, in total this took 5 hours.
Afer 3 flight and approximately 30 hours flying I fanally arrived in Manuas deep in the heart of the Amazon. Manaus is approximately 100 miles south of the equator and sits at the point where the various tributaries and river finally form the Amazon river itself.
Obviously wanting to make things as difficult as possible for myself
I decided to go to Manaus at the height of its summer. the temperature was peaking at 40C in the day and was still at 30 at 20:00 at night. Combined with the humidity it was extremely uncomfortable and no AC where I was staying.
I had booked a 4 night 5 day Amazon package with Amazon Riders, part of the package included being picked up at the airport which of course did not happen but some guy eventually gave me a lift in to town after trying to sell me a jungle package of his own first.
On my first evening in Manaus I went on a tour round the Teatro Amazonas which as built in 1896 at the time of the rubber boom in the area.
The next day I set off for the Jungle camp, and after a taxi journey, speedboat, taxi and a slow boat we arrived in time for lunch. There were 5 of us on the tour with our guide Reuben - 2 crazy Spaniards who started drinking from 10:00 in the morning and never stopped, myself and my two new Israeli chums Etil and Tamal.
Lunch was the same
as it would end up being for the next 5 days and dinner come to mention - rice and beans - yum, yum.
After the delight of lunch we set off to fish for Pirahnas, I wasn´t going to catch any so I just let them eat my bait without striking but the rest of the team caught about 10. Raphael had a novel way of dispatching them - with his teeth. He crushed their brains in his mouth which had the disturbing effect of making their eyes bulge - nice. We then went for a trip into the flooded forest at one point there was some foliage blocking our way so Raphael cut it down with is machete, unfortunately for us some fire ants had made a nest in it any they were very upset at us having destroyed their home and started attacking us, Etil got quite badly bit I was OK though, they were probably afraid of me s I was jumping up and down screaming at the time.
At night we then went out looking for Cayman, these are like small crocodiles but are fairly easy to catch as there eyes reflect light so
Reuben shone a torch and then grabbed them out of the water with his bare hands.
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David Tasker
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There you go again!
Kate got home today and SHE was the one to tell me about your travel blog - shame! shame! So close to Tasmania yet so far. Looking forward to reading more - Those 2 Spaniads swho started drinking at 10am sound like they have the right idea! I am of to Cairo with Son Sean in 10 days - for oyr 4 week overland to Istanbul followed by 2 weeks of Crusiing the Easternd Med and 5 days in the cotswolds. Any chance we can catch up ? We will be in Highworth ( near Swindon) from late on the 14th November until Miday 19th November