15 - November 11-12, 2016

Our day and a half in Manaus, Brazil (as far up the Amazon--900+ miles--as we went) was spent in Amazon EcoPark, a lodge in the jungle. We (group of seven) departed Sirena first thing in the morning, had three excursions the first day, overnighted in an air conditioned (thankfully!) room, and had a great experience learning about the Amazon's culture and environment.

Our destination (note arrow)

Boarding our river transportation to the lodge

Enroute to the lodge, already dying from heat and intense humidity

HPG at the outboard's controls

Arriving Amazon EcoPark with HPG

Our cabin--bathroom and airconditioning included

Outside of cabin--there are about 50+ cabins 

Our outdoor dining room--buffet style with native and very interesting foods

A series of excursions (mostly by boat) introduced us to local wildlife and culture--monkeys, turtles, piraña, caimans, rubber trees, and the local natives, the Caboclo.

A monkey reserve rehabilitated a number of woolly monkeys that had been kept as pets (now illegal) and now, although they live in the wild, they come back each day for a fruit treat. The babies stay on the mother's back for a year before trying to survive on their own. Also seen, spider and capuchin monkeys in the wild.

Rescued green turtles (the larger is about 80 lbs, 30-40 years old)

Cap piraña fishing

Night search for caiman--in spite of heroic efforts by guide Jackie Chan, wandering barefoot at river's edge, only a small one was captured (and released safely back into the water).

We visited a small Cabolco settlement (Caboclo are the people who are of mixed ancestry--indigenous Brazilian and either white or black); they live in the forest without electricity and depend wholly on the land for their sustenance. They harvest fruits and nuts, make manioca flour from cassava roots, and fish for themselves and to sell to others. 

Caboclo house

Drying grated cassava root into manioca flour

How rubber was processed--turning raw latex into rubber that could be exported. All Brazilian rubber production has stopped; someone 40 years ago took 80,000 rubber tree seeds to Malaysia; now all rubber comes from there. Latex for medical gloves is still harvested.

Grandma with HPG and baby receiving colored pencils Suzy brought.

And all babies are adorable and happy.

Jackie Chan and Shamir did a great job

And we had yet another beautiful sunset.