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Bolivia 2 - Rurrenabaque |
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Casapagina |
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Safely in Coroico, we treated ourselves to a nice hotel overlooking the road which we had just conquered (thinking of it now, this is the only thing that has cost over $5, a whopping $7). Then the next day we took a 15 hour bus ride into the jungle town of Rurrenabaque ( known locally as Rurre). This was without a doubt the scariest thing I have ever done. It made the bike ride look like a merri'go'round. I managed to �score� the left window seat for the journey. Again, due to the danger, traffic travelled on the left side of the street (I think it�s because then the driver can see the edge more easily). This bus went rattling along another valley with a 300-400m cliff with a raging river below. For 3 hours I watched as we skirted the brink, when you looked down you couldn�t even see the road unless you stuck your head right out the window, and then you saw the tires running along a 300m drop! My knuckles were white from holding onto the seat in front of me. Thankfully we made it to Caranavi for dinner, the sun fell and in the darkness of the rest of the ride we were far less tense, not more safe, we were just oblivious to the danger.
Once in Rurre, we hopped on a Jungle Pampas tour and for the next 3 days we travelled up the Rio Yacuma searching for Capybara�s, Monkeys, Alligators, Inumerable Birds and of course The Anaconda! Again as it was rainy season the pampas was inundated with water and we were lucky enough to see all the above mentioned creatures. The Capybara was my personal favourite as it�s the world�s largest Rat but the Anaconda was spectacular. We were wading waist deep in fetid jungle water, I was following the guide and Darryl was behind me. I passed under a branch and Darryl started yelling �Snake!�. Hiding in the branch I had just passed 3 inches under was a 2m Anaconda! The guide coaxed him out and he was beautiful, scary, but beautiful. Our digs in the jungle also featured a wild alligator named Frederico who hung out on the doorstep and a Tucan, named Tuichy, who hung out in a tree and waited to be fed. |
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The tour started badly with the 4WD getting bogged down in the deluged road. We had to carry all the gear 2kms to the river.
That's me with the water on my back and Darryl just in front. |
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The self take as we embarque in our motorized canoe up the Yacuma.
That s Aussies Linda and Darren in the background - letting you know "They re Sweet." |
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The first creature we encountered was the Pampas Condor. |
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Then there were Monkey's! These particular fellows are Howler Monkeys. |
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More Monkeys, there were about 20 of these little fellas. They were bouncing about the canoe and putting on a show for us. |
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Tuichy was a big hit. |
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Our intrepid and fearless guide Domingo toying with Freddy.
The Aussies in the back are still sweet. |
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In the pampas was a swamp, in the swamp was a tree, on the tree was a branch, in the branch was a 2 metre Anaconda!
Unfortunately our batteries ran out after this picture so we don't have a full shot of the spectacular serpent...yet.
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This good looking group was reunited at the Sunset Bar in the Jungle. We had all made the long arduous bus trip from Coroico to Rurre together. Left to Right - Rich (US), Laurel (NZ), Michelle (NZ), Ward (NL), Me & Darryl. |
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Proof of an aptly named bar. |
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On the way home the last day we went fishing for vicious Piranha's - I assure you, if I wasn't holding that little pecker by the the tail he would have lept up and nibbled on my ankle.
Check out the Aussies in the background - That's pure piranha fishing adrenaline right there. "They're Sweet". |
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Darryl caught a nice one too, Bob Izumi would be proud, if he could find it. |
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The gang back in Rurre.
Note: The guy on the motor bike - Who the Hell are you? |
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Back to Bolivia 1 |
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Back to the Casapagina |
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