Our walk to the stairs for the canopy walk took about 30minutes with a few stops along the way to check out some of the 250 species of trees per hectare. Arriving there we are confronted with about 300 steps, straight up, until we reached the viewing platform. (I think our guide said 38 metres high).
From there our guide Anna and tracker Wilson kept an eye out pointing out many species of birds and explaining about the different vegetation. There were a few avid bird watchers amongst us and you could see them getting excited with each new sighting. With over 605 different bird species in the forest there was plenty to see and hear. Anna and Wilson were making their own noises to see what responses they could get from the forest.
We stayed a while and then it was time for the canopy walk to the next viewing station. Brave old me went first along a narrow and not so stable bridge, high above the treetops about 150metres to the other side; The thought of the walk was far scarier than the reality of it as looking down you only think you are a wee way off the ground with the tree tops just underneath where you stand.
It was weird watching the clouds forming from the tree canopy as the rain water left on the leaves evaporated and went upwards. Not knowing an awful lot about the mysteries of nature I am fascinated as to how it all works and how all the elements of the jungle work together to provide for one another; even dead trees play their part by kicking off the secondary forest as the sunlight is able to reach the plants below.
Just as we all got to the other side it started to bucket down and when we realised that the rain had set in we made for home. It was just sheet rain the whole way, so much so that we all got drenched inside our ponchos. Despite the rain, which pushes creatures into hiding, we saw a couple of new species of trees which are used for medicinal purposes by the local tribes (the Quichua people are the predominant tribe of the area).
And then, my highlight, a Rainbow Boa; about 4cm in diameter and I guess 1.2m long, it slithered through the grasses with its stunning red and gold markings glistening as it went. So pleased I wasn’t alone when I saw it as I think that would have been scarier than the thought of the canopy walk (which I would now happily do again). So graceful and quick it darted in and out but then started to get stressed so we left it in peace and carried on.
Soaked to the skin and ever so thankful for the gumboots, as soon as we got back we made a beeline for the restaurant and a hot drink and a snack. This walking thing is hard work.
A hot shower was like heaven when I got back to the room. Now how on earth do we dry all these wet clothes and hope to wear them again. It is so humid that in our rooms we have a “drying box” to keep our electronic equipment when not in use, so as to protect from the humidity. Last nights clothes are still soaking wet and never likely to dry in our room so we are told the best way to get them dry is to have them laundered and dried by the laundry service. It’s weird as it doesn’t feel clammy and humid but everything is wet! Ah I will think about that tomorrow....
As I snoozed on my lovely comfy bed in the background I heard the sound of the bamboo horn telling us lunch was ready. A lovely buffet lunch with soup, empanadas, prosciutto wrapped sausages, roast cauli (I wonder how much they cost here) and freshly fried potato chips. Heaven! And followed by mascerated figs, a nice wee slice of cake and a coffee. How good is that?
I’m really impressed by Sacha Lodge. They have looked after us from the time we got to Quito airport and everything we need (or pretty much want) has been catered for. I expected some transport and a place to stay with maybe the odd quick activity but here we are pretty much kept busy for as long as we want. Our every need pretty much catered for but I must admit a wee espresso would make my life even better at the moment.
They have even provided us with information packs, not only about the way the lodge operates but about the forest itself. The paper brochures they gave us are starting to get wrinkled with the humidity will soon be going into my drying box as I want to take them home: there is so much interesting stuff in them. We were also given a week backpack and a flannel and water bottle (just as well as I dropped my one from home and wasn’t game enough to go and retrieve it).
Despite the planned activities an afternoon to relax and write this has been heavenly, and listening to the wildlife outside my room made it more so.
Soon time for our next activity where we took another trail through the jungle seeing more incredible trees including a walking palm, which has a very slender trunk and long tall roots above ground.
Like most trees this one needs the sunlight and grows naturally towards it. Because of the structure of the roots the tree can actually move in its search for sunlight.
Further on we found a tiny wee frog, poisonous and very gorgeous. It uses its venom to stun rather than kill its prey. It can then dine on whatever part of the prey it wants. Such a cute wee thing.
It started raining heavily again and I was over the poncho thing so stuck with my wee rain jacket which was no where near as stifling as the poncho but like the poncho didn’t keep much rain out so was drenched by the time we boarded the kayak. Just as we were boarding some monkeys were spotted up in the trees but too far away for us to get a decent look.
Our ride took us down one of the natural tributaries back to the lagoon seeing “smelly turkeys”, kingfishers, parrots and macaw along the way. The turkeys were the only ones I managed to get a pic of but the ride was so magical that it didn’t matter.
Despite the rain the water appeared dead still but the current was moving us along and had its own ideas; we wound round the bends, under the vines and the only sounds were those of nature and my belly, which for some reason was up to its old tricks again. Always at the times when there are people round, but it didn’t spoil the experience one bit. Words fail me in expressing just how amazing it was, almost ethereal, but the photos sadly don’t show the peace and tranquility.
We were soaked to the skin by the time we got back home, but it really didn’t matter. A hot shower soon solved all the problems of the world and the latest wet clothes were added to the pile of other wet clothes.
It was nearly time for dinner when I went up to the main house in time to see then end of a presentation about the tribes of the area, each one with a different language, different customs and ideas. It will be interesting to meet one of those tribes tomorrow.
Dinner was another culinary delight: a divine shrimp ceviche (which someone made the comment that they were surprised it was not a hot dish - um hello - I didn’t dare tell them the shrimps had not been cooked by heat but by marinating in citrus juice), and I was the on,y one who chose the pork - a couple of pieces of pork fillet with a passion fruit jus and potato cakes with pickled red cabbage. Truly delish. The pear upside down cake went down a treat as well.
A quick break to get into the remaining dry clothes before heading off on our night walk. It is quite weird as although the rain had stopped you could still hear rain dripping from the tree tops far above, so until you stepped into it you really didn’t know if it was real rain or not.
As quiet as my bungalow had been I have had neighbours move in next door. The sort that have little consideration for the fact that other people stay here too. They might get a carefully worded verbal message later tonight if they don’t shut up.
Our evening walk was amazing. Firstly it didn’t rain and secondly from the moment we took off, armed with torches we kept seeing insects, frogs, beetles, spiders and even a snake. In fact Wilson, didn’t see the snake (probably the one we saw this morning) until he nearly stepped on it. We then watched the snake slither into a tarantula hole and disappear; the tarantula left waiting outside. There were so many cute bugs and beetles but the adorable tiny frogs were the cutest of the lot.
It has been an amazing day and I am looking forward to tomorrow going to visit one of the local communities.
Fantastic! Beautiful pics as well.
ReplyDeleteSo many photos that it is hard to pic a few to post. More coming from today.
ReplyDeleteNew species of trees (?!) being used for medicinal purposes - very interesting (on top of everything else!).
ReplyDeleteMore like very very old trees that have been used by the natives for as long as theyve been around.
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