Northern Exposure

Busy, busy, busy!!!  I've been on a high-speed tour of New Zealand's North island for the past week and a half and now it's time to play blog catch up!

 I sat around Auckland for a few days, resting up and relaxing in preparation for the Auckland Marathon.  Lots of CARBS and water up until Sunday, November 2nd.  Carbo-loading day is my favorite holiday:)  It's basically an excuse to eat all the crap I usually try to avoid (Dominos, pastries, mmmm).  I had to wake up at 3:30 am in order to catch a ferry across the Harbor into Davenport where the event began.  A guy in my dorm room was gracious enough to play alarm clock and wake me up when he was getting back from the bars.  When I left the hostel at 4:30 am, there were a surprising amount of drunk kids falling all over each other in the streets; some girl incoherently tried to tell me something when I walked into a convenience store for coffee--classy.

After getting myself properly caffeinated, I took the 15 minute ferry ride over to Davenport and wondered around the starting area doing everything that needs to be done before a race--stretch, people watch, chat with strangers, multiple port-a-potty visits, etc.  6:30 am came quite quickly and it was time to start running!  

There were so many people dressed up!  I'm not quite sure what it is about extreme physical exertion that makes people want to look so hilarious, but there were a lot of characters in this race.  A few of the most memorable were two guys dressed up as Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble (WITH a cardboard replica of their prehistoric car), the entire cast of the Wizard of Oz, and, my personal favorite, Borat--IN the swimsuit.

                       Classic

I thought I was CRUISING.  I mean, I had a lot of amazing music on my ipod thanks to Bry Riggs and Bradon Young, I was in a great mood, felt fantastic, there was a really cute guy in front of me that I was following--it was awesome!  The first half of the marathon which brings everyone back into Auckland consists of continuous rolling hills.  The second half is a 6.5 mile flat course along the harbor and back into downtown Auckland.  I thought, I was doing really well;  I hardly even walked which is HUGE for me (only to drink some gatorade at a few water stops).  I even had a new power song to bring me across the finish line--R. Kelly's "I Believe I Can Fly."  That's right!  I said it--I WENT there...R Kelly.  It was amazing:)  However.  Not amazing enough to break four hours.  Far from it actually;  the final time was 4 hours and 36 minutes which is actually 30 minutes faster than Guayaquil (I finally found out that I actually ran that race in 5 hours and 6 minutes; weak:( ).  I'm proud of myself for finishing; obviously.  Now time for a little break before training for Thailand!

The next day, I got on the Stray Bus to start touring around New Zealand.  There are numerous different tour busses that can bring you around the country; I am NOT happy with Stray right now, so for those of you planning on coming here--don't waste your money.  Anyway, our first stop was in Hahei which is home of Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach.  Cathedral Cove is a beautiful rock formation which can be found after hiking an hour along Hahei beach.  Hot Water beach is quite crowded within an hour of low tide; people come and dig pools in the sand near the rocks which then fill up with hot water due to the areas geothermal activity.  While walking around the rocks, one step could be ice cold and the next within inches might possibly scald your foot--the wonders of nature.

After Hahei I was back to Raglan for a few days.  We arrived just in time to join everyone in the tv room to watch the US Election coverage!!!  There was a group of about 10 Americans there, but everyone, no matter where they were from, was as eager and interested as we were to see the results.  When CNN finally declared Obama to be the 44th President of the United States EVERYONE began celebrating.  The owners of the hostel bought a case of champagne for everyone to share; I was in tears, it was so moving :)  Needless to say, nearly the entire world was hoping that we would elect the Democratic candidate.  I have yet to meet one person from anywhere (other than the United States) who was a McCain supporter.  

I spent the next few days back in the Raglan Backpacker Hostel with Josh, Ryan, and Marissa (American buddies :) ) attempting to surf and reading in the sunshine.  My last day in Raglan I woke up at eight in the morning in order to go for a hike.  On my way out, two of the guys that work there, Thomas and Iain, were on their way surfing and coaxed me to join.  Why not??  The waves were beautiful; nothing like I've ever tried to surf on and, therefor, I was quite scared.   I found Josh on the beach and we let the more experienced guys go on their way.  I basically spent the morning sitting, or lying rather, on my board watching everyone else catch waves.  At one point, I noticed a bunch of people paddling their boards out further.  When I tried to turn around a guy near me points behind me and told me to watch out.  I looked up just in time to see a giant wave (large to me, at least) breaking on my face.  After getting rocked by a few more waves in a row, I decided I was finished for the day.  Josh then drove me to Te Toto Gorge in order for me to hike Mt. Karioi.  The hike takes about three hours; it isn't really difficult, though a chain rope is needed in order to climb up a steep portion of the hike,  but it's fun and has some incredibly beautiful scenic views.  Once I arrived at the bottom, I suddenly had a huge burst of energy (I have no idea how that's possible), so I decided to run part of the way back to the hostel  I ran about 8 kilometers (4.8 miles) and then hitchhiked home because there was a never ending incline in front of me that I was not in the mood to climb.  

The next day Ryan, Marissa, and I got back on the bus and went to Waitomo where we toured some glowworm caves.  This area has between 800 and 1000 caves within a 50 kilometer radius, all filled with glowworms, rock tunnels, and underground waterfalls.  We all donned some pretty sexy wet-suits, giant white go-go looking boots, and helmets.  We repelled down rock walls with waterfalls crashing down on our heads, army crawled through low tunnels with our faces in streams, squeezed through small windy spaces that I have no idea how my hips got through, and climbed up steep rock walls.  We also sat in the dark to watch the neon green glowworms shining above us.  BEAUTIFUL. 

 

The next day we stopped in Rotorua which is known for its geothermal activity--the town REEKS of rotten eggs due to the sulfur, like the entire city decided to eat way too much dried fruit at the same time (graphic but true).  Ryan, Marissa, and I wandered around the town and found the COOLEST park I've ever seen; definitely a step up from your classic swing-set.  Then, I was introduced to Burger Fuel...the biggest burgers I've ever seen--literally the size of your head, with gourmet ingredients such as brie cheese and jalepeno aioli.  Magical.  That night we stayed in Taupo which has the country's largest lake, created from a giant volcanic eruption.  

The next day was phenomenal.  We spent the whole day hiking the Tongariro crossing.  It took me a little over five hours to complete.  You hike through snow, craters, forest, along crumbling rocks, up man made stairs.  It's beautiful.  The colors are stunning, especially the Emerald Lakes and Blue Lake.  There are also waterfalls and hot springs--one stream flows through a Maori private land that is home to hot springs; the stream smells of sulfur and is actually very warm.  This was another one of my favorite days of the trip, so far.  If you are traveling to New Zealand, this hike is NOT TO BE MISSED.

Tomorrow, I get on a Ferry from Wellington to Picton--from the North to the South island.  I am meeting up with Annaliese's Aunt and Uncle who are graciously letting me stay with them for a few days--I love NZ hospitality:)

AKWARD MOMENT

Everyone has to use the restroom before a marathon--at least two times, this is just how it works.  You drink too much coffee, adrenaline and nerves kick in, whatever the case may be, ya gotta get in the EXTREMELY long port-a-potty line.  I saw one line that was moving quite quickly so I hopped in the Q (that's what they call a line/wait list here).  I was just looking around when I noticed that the majority of the line was filled with men; now, I have no problem being surrounded by a bunch of attractive Kiwis, but this just seemed odd.  When it was almost my turn I finally focused on the oddly shaped outhouse only to realize that it was basically just a giant trough-like urinal.  I mean, it was my turn and all, but just imagine the sight if I tried to pee in it; I would look pretty......

New Country: New Zealand

Before I discuss my most recent adventures, my mother wanted me to take a moment to inform my readers of what "passing out" means.  When I use this phrase in relation to an evening of inebriation, I do not mean that I randomly lost consciousness on the street/during conversation/etc.; I am simply implying "falling asleep."

Ok, now that that's out of the way, let's discuss my first week here in New Zealand.  I arrived after what I believe to be about a 14 hour flight from Buenos Aires, Argentina (I fell asleep before the plane doors even shut, so I am not positive of the exact length) and arrived in Auckland at around 8:00 a.m.  My first day in the city was a bit of a waste because I was severely jet lagged;  I attempted to walk around, but I basically just ate lunch in front of the water and then watched hours of Family Guy in the hostel common room.

The next day I went for a run and then walked around the city--central Auckland is small, extremely, clean, and the people are very friendly.  It was a nice change of pace going from being consistently vulgarly heckled in South America, to being completely left alone.  Later that day I saw a familiar face in my hostel.  Josh Koshar, a guy I had met at Boston University a few times through mutual friends, walked by me while I was on my laptop.  I wasn't absolutely positive it was him, so I sent a massage through the ever useful Facebook saying, "This might sound nuts-o, and I'm not even sure if you remember me, but I think I just saw you in my NZ hostel."

He then wrote back saying, "I think I'm looking at you."  A moment later I heard a girl yell my name from across the room and when I looked up he was sitting at a computer near me!  Small world.  He and I then went out for a drink to catch up.  We then met two other Americans from California (Garrett and Bradon) in our hostel and we all decided to drink and hang out in the hot tub on the roof of our hostel before going out.

We first attempted to go to a bar called cowboys and Indians; however, two of the guys we were with weren't dressed properly so we left and went to another bar with live music.  The California boys were making fun of my leisurely drinking pace and told me I had to go to the corner until I finished my drink.  Instead, I saw down with some very attractive locals (for the rest of that story, see my Awkward moment) until it was time to leave.  Next stop, Family, a gay dance club.  SO.  MUCH.  FUN.  We stayed there until around 4 a.m. and then wondered back home.

The next morning, I took a free Auckland day bus tour that showed us parks and volcanoes around the city.  We stopped for some delicious fish and chips (french fries) and when I got back to the hostel it was hot tub time, again!  I hung out with Bradon and two Swedish girls in the pouring rain for a few hours, then went to bed.

The next day, Josh and I left in his car for a surf town a few hours South called Raglan--part of the movie, "Endless Summer" was filmed here.  The first two nights, we slept in his car; one night at a campground and the second, parked on a cliff overlooking the surfing beach.  The view was absolutely stunning;  the sky was perfectly clear of clouds and we had an undisturbed view of the Southern Hemisphere's night sky--I haven't seen that many stars since I lived in the boonies of Minnesota.

We wondered around the first two days; we took some scenic drives, hiked down Bridal falls, and spent way too much time at the local coffee shop, Tongue and Groove.  For the next two nights, we stayed at the Backpacker Hostel--everyone there is very friendly and laid back, "on Raglan time" as they like to call it.  We attempted to go surfing that third day; it was a lot of fun, but I definitely need more practice seeing as how I never stood up for longer than a second.

The next day, I went with another Kelly, from Maine, to visit a local Maori Eco-farm (Maori are the indigenous people of New Zealand).  It was very interesting to see how self-sufficient people on these farms are;  I am currently reading Omnivore's Dilemma; the comparison between the American diet and how it's produced with those on Eco-farms is mind-boggling (I highly suggest everyone read this book to understand what you are putting in your body as well as your family's).

The weather wasn't as cheery as one would like it to be in a surf town, so I hung out with Manon (from Canada) and a few others in the hostel drinking wine and chit-chatting.  The next day, I was on a bus back to Auckland where I am currently sitting, preparing for my next international marathon in t-minus 3 days!

AWKWARD MOMENT

I do not have game (read; any smooth ability to hit on a guy).  Seriously.  I just cant.  While at a bar in Auckland, sitting with extremely attractive local guys, I...God this embarrassing...ask for an e-mail address.  Who DOES that????  In my defense, I thought my phone was stolen from the hostel and i was playing the "oh, you're from here:  Do you have any suggestions for what I should do?" game...but still.  An e-mail address??!!!??  That is so...

Under construction

The previous few entries are lacking in photos right now, which I apologize for.  The internet connection in this hostel is pretty weak--I will add photos soon, but for now, enjoy the stories!

My new favorite city

Buenos Aires, Argentina; oh how I wish I had more than three days here!  I arrived at about 8:00 am and took a very expensive cab ride to a hostel in Palermo ( a trendy neighborhood of Buenos Aires where Erin Kelly told me to stay--thanks, lady) called Palermo House.  Being that I didn't have a reservation, I ended up waiting until around four PM. for a bed.  Sounds annoying, but I had a lot of picture uploading, for your pleasure, being that my computer works again--HORRAY!  I met a guy in the hotel from Sweden, Johan, who was very hungover--I helped him recuperate the best way I know how, to start drinking again:)  We drank a few bottles of the local beer, Quilmes while hanging out and socializing with the other kids in the hostel.  An Irish girl, Mazy, knew some people that owned a local bar; I went with her and a guy from Wisconsin that works at the hostel, Simms for some food and adult beverages.  The atmosphere was really cool, very dark, red lights, and exposed brick everywhere.  At about 11 pm I went back to the hostel and passed out.  

I got up at around 8:30 and went for an 9-10 mile run around the parks.  So many people were out running, roller-blading, biking, dog walking--it was amazing.  I am so moved by a city that is so positively active and social--I couldn't help but smile the whole time and say "hola" to people I ran past.  

When I got back, some girls from the hostel were going to some open air markets in Recoletta and asked me to come along.  It was such a beautiful day; warm and sunny.  Then, I went to the Recoletta cemetary where Eva Peron is burried (think Evita)- it looks like a small town.  Every grave is a large intricate statue with figurines and stained glass windows that are in rows like sreets.  Then I walked back through the city, about an hour, where I met up with two other girls to go to dinner at a fancy restaurant called Sugar--Martinis, wine, and STEAK (Argentina is known for their delicious beef).  We went back to the hostel and all drank for a while and then went to  nearby rooftop house party with about fifteen other people.  We stayed up until maybe 5 am (which is actually early to stop partying in BA).  

I spent my last day in Buenos Aires wondering around a giant market in San Telmo; there are hundred of stands, street performers, food, and dancers--my favorite was a group with three violins, one viola, a bass, one piano, and four accordions, they were amazing!

FOOD CORNER

I didn't consume anything strange, but my steak was TO-DIE-FOR.  Medium rare to perfection, and so tender I could have cut it with a fork!

Taste: 5+++++

Aftertaste: 1

AKWARD MOMENT

The night we all went to the rooftop party, I passed out on the couch in the common room.  I was told in the morning that when they tried to wake me up and put me to bed I kept saying "no, I don't trust the guys that work here."  I have no recollection of this and actually felt very safe in the hostel;  I'm not quite sure what I was dreaming about but the whole thing was pretty...

Lima Bean

After my day o' waterfalls, I had dinner with my dorm-mate, Jenna, who is also from Canada.  We went out for pizza (not quite local fare, but whatever, I can't eat crazy things all the time) and drank some beer until I had to get on my midnight bus ride.  This was the start of my 36 hour trip via bus to Lima, Peru.  I rode overnight to Guayaquil, and changed there for another bus to Piura, Peru.  

On this bus I met a very friendly couple from California who were seasoned travelers and had a lot of advice for me for the rest of my trip and upcoming destinations.  It was a good thing that I met them, because we had to get off of the bus for Immigration twice (once for our stamp leaving Ecuador and once for entering Peru).  I had no idea what was going on, where to go, or even where our bus was once I was finished.  They were very helpful, waiting for me to get everything situated so I didn't get lost.  I also met an older woman from Ecuador, Fanny, who was very eager to talk to me in order to practice her english.  She told me that she has been away from her husband for eight years; he is in New York City working while she stays at home taking care of their three children--he can't come home and she can't visit him due to visa and passport difficulties (really puts our bubbled American lives into perspective, doesn't it?).  

Once in Piura, I got on yet another bus to Lima.  I told the driver of my previous bus that I needed transportation that was safe for a young, blonde, American to ride over night.  He said no problem and put me in a cab.  When the driver dropped me off, I initially didn't want to get out of the car; the area was dark and I didn't see a bus or anyone in a line.  I asked him again if this was definitely safe for me and he assure me it was.  I purchased my ticket and was sent to the back of the office where the bus was loading.  BALLER!!!  This bus was a double decker; my seat was on the top right behind the front window the an amazing view of the drive.  The seats was comfortable and huge (plus no one was sitting next to me so I could lie down), they gave us pillows, AND dinner and breakfast.  Thanks for the hook up!

At 8:00 am I finally arrived in Lima, Peru.  Luckily, the bus terminal had an internet cafe in it, so I could even look up directions to the hostel in Miraflores where I was told to stay at--lucky, lucky me.  I walked in without a reservation (again) and they had an open bed--no problem!  I instantly met a few girls in my room that were heading off to the Inca markets to go shopping and asked me to join; nothing like friendly travelers :).   We wondered around for the day and later that evening decided to go get dinner down by the water.  We went to the Marriott Hotel for drinks, first, because they were told by some other travelers that that was the place to go for some amazing passion fruit pisco drinks.  Now, my last experience with pisco was less than to be desired, but I figured I'd try it again.  MMMMMM, so good!  They had numerous house infused flavors, as well.  I tried one that was infused with hot peppers, celery, and an excessive amount of black pepper--it took the three of us 15 minutes to finish one shot because it was SO spicy (but would make a phenomenal Bloody Mary).  Afterwards we walked along the Pacific Ocean in a failed attempt to find a restaurant.  We wondered for a while and then headed back towards the hostel where we knew we could find some food.

The next day I got up early and went to GOLD'S GYM!!  Sadly, I was quite excited to find a really good gym (which is all over the United states), and I went to run on a treadmill and take a spinning class.  When I got back to the hostel I met a Aruk from London who was taking a trip to central Lima.  I was doing the same so we went exploring the historical sights together.  We walked through the Plaza Mayor, Government Plaza, and through the San Francisco convent where you tour a beautiful church and walk through underground catacombs.  After that, I found a restaurant that served Cuy--I have been looking for this since I arrived in South America.  It was delicious :)  That was basically the end of my short adventure in Peru.  A few hours later I got on my plane to Argentina!

FOOD CORNER

CUY!!!!!!  OK, this is apparently the national dish of Ecuador and a delicacy in both Ecaudor and Peru.  That's right, kids, I ate Guinnea pig!!  The internal organs are removed and everything else remains (head, ribs, claws); then, it is battered and deep fried, served with an ear of moté, salad, and baked potatoes.  It literally tastes like Kentucky Fried Chicken.  I washed it all down with a local beer, Cristal :)

Taste: 5

Aftertaste: 1

#2  For lunch the day before I had what I knew was some part of a chicken and french fries.  Later I found out that it was the esophagus--chewy and a little crunchy but once you get over the texture, not too bad.

Taste: 3

Aftertaste:2 (it was extremely salty and I got a little nauseous, but once I consumed some           chocolate I felt a lot better:))

I need to use the Baños

After I left the Amazon I headed to Baños, Ecuador, which is known for its natural beauty and hot springs.  At first, I was a little bummed because I got there too late to do any of the tours, so I just wondered around the small city for a while eating local food and people watching.  I ran into a couple from Canada that I met in the Guayaquíl hostel and they invited me to join them to rent "quads" (four-wheelers) and drive down the waterfall route.  DONE!  

The next day may very well have been my favorite day of my trip so far.  I woke up at about 6:30 am and went for a run around the small city looking at the surrounding mountains and volcanos.  Afterwards, I went to the Virgin Baths, which is a cement pool where the local hot springs flow into for everyone's enjoyment.  The steaming water was already quite full of people, despite how early in the morning it was.  The water was so soothing (due to the heat and the extensive mineral content) and the view of the Tangurahua volcano and a backdrop of a waterfall falling from the Ecuadorian Andes was nothing less than stunning.

After my quick dip in nature's sauna, I went back to my hostel for a health bath.  For 45 minutes you alternated between sitting in a steam box and cooling your body in different ways--sitting in ice cold water (this part included a bowel massage, not as gross and invasive as it sounds), running freezing-wet towels over your body, being hosed down, etc.  Once I was relaxed and refreshed, I met up with the Canadian couple to rent a couple quads and we were on our way.

I would first like to note the condition of my death-trap vehicle (which would be absolutely unacceptable to be rented by US standards....sorry you have to read this, Mom :) )  The fender was sewn on with plastic wiring, the breaks were AWFUL (especially when it started raining, I was skidding all over the place) the headlights were incredibly weak (we drove through tunnels without lighting and I seriously could not see anything; I could have hit a wall and wouldn't know it until the impact) and the alignment was worse than the '89 Cadillac I drove in high school.  

We traveled down a windy road through tunnels dark as night (literally no lights) in order to find different waterfalls and activities.  We hiked down a few waterfalls, my favorites being Macay and Pailon del Diablo.  At the Diablo, you can climb under a low cave to actually stand behind the waterfall.  We also stopped at a bridge that overlooks another waterfall where you can be attached to a bungee type cord and jump off the bride to swing over the water.  Of course, I can't say no to an adrenaline rush, so I paid my ten dollars and was wrapped into a harness and took the plunge.  

I never knew I could scream like such a girl.

It was amazing!  The jumping is, of course, the most difficult part;  I swung back and forth over the water...the view was amazing.

FOOD CORNER

Yay, street food!  I purchased a plastic bag of Moté, which is basically GIANT corn kernels, that had some sort of meat-gristle-gravy over it....delicious.

Taste: 5 (starchy and salty, can't go wrong)

Aftertaste: 1

AKWARD MOMENT

By the time we got to the Macay waterfall, we had been rained on for quite some time and I was freezing.  For those of you who know me well, you know that when I get cold my fingers and toes instantly lose circulation and turn white as snow.  After we parked our vehicles we sat at a table outside of a house that was selling beverages and food.  The woman who lived there looked at my hands put hers next to mine laughing and saying  "you're so white!  You look like you're dead!"  

Thanks...

Amaz(on)ing Jungle Boogie

The next morning I got on a bus back to Quito in order to catch yet another 8 hour bus to Lago Agrio to start my five day trip in the Amazon Jungle.  My bus out of Quito left at 11 pm.  When I woke up at around 2:30 am the bus was stopped on the side of the road and had been sitting there for quite a while.  Turns out the bus broke down and they were going to just SIT on the side of the road until eight AM when the next bus drove by.  Needless to say, the entire busload of people were not pleased.  I started asking around to find other people traveling to the Amazon; a woman behind me from Spain, Ana, told me to stick with her and her friends and we'll all figure out how to get to the camp.  After the bus broke down THREE more times, we finally arrived at our destination at 10:30 am.  

A van was waiting to pick us up and drove us another two hours to the village of Cuyabeno.  There, we got on a motor-canoe for another two hours that brought us down the narrow, windy Cuyabeno River to our campsite.  When we got there I found out that I didn't actually have a group (thank you, Happy Gringo, for lying to me); so Ana told me to stay with her and her five other friends from Spain.  I ended up staying in a group with them for four days speaking mostly Spanish with them and our Spanish guide.  I had the option, at the end of the first day, to switch to an English speaking group, however, being that I have had about 

six years of education in the Spanish language, I figured it would be a good learning experience to put my rusty knowledge to good use.

That first night, we went for a night hike into the jungle, looking at plants, animals (mostly frogs and birds) and insects.  The next day we went on a three hour hike, fished for piranas, and canoed along the river in search of Alligators (Caiman).  Two of Ana's friends and I jumped into the Lagoon and swam around for a while (I am a pretty weak swimmer, but didn't drown or get stung by Sting Rays so I consider it a successful A + experience).  

Pirana fishing is interesting--you basically have a long thin tree branch,

 like what you'd use to roast marshmallows, that has a string and a hook attached.  Instead of waiting patiently and quietly for a bit like the lake fishing I know and love, you actually thrash the end of the pole around in the water like "struggling prey."  I had no success that evening, but ended up catching four my last day in the Amazon when I paddled around the river for four hours with my own personal guide.  

Afterwards, we watched the sunset and took the boat around the river in the dark in order to search for Caiman and other nocturnal animals.  We found a few, however, they were significantly smaller than anticipated.

The next day we left the camp at 6:45 am in order to bird watch before breakfast.  Afterwards we took the boat back out to visit the indigenous community a few hours down the river.  There, we walked their their "farm" (for lack of a better word) where they grow Yuca, Cocao, and many medicinal plants.  We met a 92 year old Shaman, Criollo, and his wife, Victoriano, who taught us about preparing Yuca to eat.  Yuca is a white root that is g

round up on what looks like a cheese grater.  It is then placed in a giant braid of Palm leaves to ring out all of the excess water.  Victoriano then sifted the ground Yuca into a flour and spread it on a round pizza-like pan over a fire to make Yuca bread.  On this we placed baked bananas (Platinos), honey, and tuna (all separately, of course).  We also drink Chicha, which is beer made from fermented Yuca flour and water.  After we ate, Criollo dressed in traditional, native clothing and gave a small demonstration of a healing ceremony which includes dancing and chanting (this usually takes place for an entire night, but the demonstration was only for five minutes).  Our final event with the Shaman was to try our hands at the six foot blowgun--this time I hit the target!

The final day, I was all by myself .  I went paddling around the river with a personal guide to fish for Piranas and look at wildlife.  Afterwards, I joined the English speaking group (because my beautiful Spaniards left the night before) for more fishing and swimming.  I also saw a lot of snakes, frogs, more bugs, pink dolphins, lizards, and MONKEYS.  I ate my final three course meal of the trip (they fed us like crazy; three, three course meals of homemade food and fresh fruit juice a day) and was on my way back to civilization.

AKWARD MOMENT

The lodge I stayed at has a domesticated six month old monkey named Pancha that hangs out at the camp.  She is there because a group of tourists tried to smuggle her out of the jungle in order to see her as a pet.  Now, she hangs around clinging to whomever she wishes (loves perching on someone's shoulder with her paws dug their hair and her tail wrapped around their neck--this happened to me often), and she also loves stealing food from the dinner table.  One night she decided to try and steal my food; one of the guides went to grab her and instead of fleeing, she wrapped around my arm, clinging for dear life.  He tried pulling her off of me and upon doing so, she started screaming loudly like a four year old girl for a solid minute. Everyone at the camp was staring at this ridiculous sight while I just sat there with a man and a monkey playing tug of war with my arm......

#2  While drinking the Chicha, the Shaman told us a little story about a saying they have in his village.  Chicha is traditional drink to consume on one's wedding night, "Chicha then chucha, chicha then chucha."  Now, I've already told you what chicha means...can you guess what chucha is?  Coming from a 92 year old man this is both hilarious and ....

FOOD CORNER

So, this Chicha, to me, is a bit unpleasant.  Now, everyone has their personal culinary preferences, but to me, it tasted like a very warm, floury, pulpy beverage with a beer-like aftertaste.  Not my cup of tea.

Taste: 2

Aftertaste:1 (no adverse consequences, as of yet)

#2  I don't know the exact name of the insect, but we consumed some ants which crawl on a certain plant that have a sour, lemon flavor.  This flavor protects them and the plant from being consumed by predators due to their repulsive acidity. 

Taste: 3 

Aftertaste: 1