| DIARY 8 |
| 30th Aug 2005 Woke up to birds singing. After breakfast we had another 4 hour walk, but unfortunately didn't see much apart from Chanchos (pigs) - could smell them and hear them, but only caught a glimpse, lots of ants, some monkeys, spiders, ants, butterflies and more ants. There were some huge trees too and we swung on a vine from one!! Back at camp we washed in the river before lunch and then had a siesta in the hammocks. Claire was then sick so went to bed, while Terry went fishing with Rene (only caught a turtle) and Sophie made jewellery with Esmerelda, which I eventually joined in on! Saw weasle/cat like things coming for the scraps of our lunch. After dinner we were joined on the table by a rat, which made Terry's day!!! Never seen him move so quickly. That night, Terry and Sophie went for a night hike (C still not feeling great), but didn't see much. 31st Aug 2005 After breakfast I slept in a hammock while the others went for the last walk. Spent a couple of hours relaxing before going back to Rurre in the canoe. Ended up with 19 people in the boat - picking up waifs and strays on the way. Checked into our hostel, showered (first one since Coroico!) and went out in the evening with Sophie, Rene and Esmerelda. 1st Sept 2005 Poured with rain all last night - first rain we've had since Banos. Went to tour agency and got a jeep to the Pampas with Tom and Anna (3 hour bumpy drive, cold and wet). Then a got a canoe for 2 and a half hours to the camp. As soon as we got in the canoe and went round the first corner we started seeing aligators, capybara, birds, monkeys and pink dolphins - much more wildlife here. Nice hot drink when we got to camp and another great dinner - the meals are so good!! When it got dark we went aligator hunting - hundreds of them with their eyes lighting up in the torch light.All the fish were jumping into the boat because of our torchs-they apparently thought it was the moonlight. 2nd Sept 2005 Got kitted out in wellies after breakfast for a long walk through the swampy pampas hunting for Anacondas - no luck though despite galliant efforts by our guide (Simba). Just as we were heading back to the boat Claire saw a huge snake go past in front of her, but the guide wasn't sure if it was an anaconda or cobra as nobody else saw it, but he told us to run and get out of there quickly!!! Also saw a giant lily pond, lots of cows and condors and other birds. Back in the boat on the way back to camp we saw turtles, dolphins, more birds, monkeys and aligators (which were now out of the water as the sun was back out and they were sun bathing) and capybara. After lunch we went down the river to swim with the pink dolphins, while aligators watched from the river bank and fish jumped out of the water head butting us!!! Brilliant - dolphins came really close at times, but couldn't touch them. They are grey but with pink tummies and sides!!!! Then we went to see the sun set quite a way down river. Terry and Tom played football with another group versus the locals and we all got eaten alive by mosquitos! When it got dark again after dinner we went out to catch an aligator!! Simba went in the river and caught it then we held it and he explained how to tell the sex, the differences between them and caymen, and lots more and he put it on its back and made it fall asleep. It was bigger than the croc we held in Tumbes and didn't have its mouth taped up!!! 3rd Sept 2005 Got up at 5.30 and floated down the river without the engine listening to the dawn chorus, to reach a point where we could watch the sun rise. Beautiful and peaceful at that time of the morning (except for Claire's mood at being woken up so early!!!). On the way back for breakfast we found some monkeys and stopped to feed one bananas - it came right up and took the bananas out of our hands - prizing our fingers open with his little hands - so cute!!!! After breakfast we went pirhana fishing - Terry caught 7, Claire 4..... which we then ate for lunch - bit bland but ok!! We were enjoying the fishing so much we made Simba stay out too long, so we were late for lunch and had to rush it and leave the camp straight away to get back to the jeep where other groups were waiting. The 2 and a half hour boat ride back to the jeep went quickly, but still managed to get sun burnt in the blazing sun, and Terry being his usual self put two blobs of sun lotion on my chest at the start of the trip when I fell asleep - result.... two white marks to get rid of!! Back at Rurre we checked into the same hostel and on the way out to dinner we bumped into Andy & Mel who we hadn't seen since Banos - really good to see them, ended up spending the evening with them, Tom and Anna. 4th Sept 2005 Left Rurre in the morning but not chancing the bus this time, flew back to La Paz in a 12 seater plane, taking off from a grass runway!!! Bumpy ride at times, but great views and only took an hour as opposed to 20 on the bus. Back in La Paz we treated ourselves to another Burger King and walked round the main road which was closed off with craft stalls dotted around. Booked a bus for tomorrow night - we're getting so organised!! 5th Sept 2005 Lazy day in La Paz. Posted a few bits home, picked up CD from Gravity (photos and video of bike ride), and went to the Coca museum - quite interesting, told the history of the coca leaf from Inca times to Coca Cola and Cocaine. Had dinner in an Arab restaurant - pitta and houmous - a reminder of nights in at Viv's!! Spent the rest of the afternoon on the internet trying to send photos, then caught bus to Sucre (most comfortable bus yet...... but got freezing cold so still didn't sleep!!) |