Jungle Book

Sorry, I'm a bit behind right now. Here is my blog from last week, and I will be posting another tomorrow or the next day.

Chapter 1: Driver Dude

I don’t think I was ever so close to dying as the day we drove to the jungle. Crammed in the backseat of a cab, Jenny, Ian, and I held our breath as our driver, dubbed Driver Dude, flew down curvy mountain roads going 80kmph when the speed limit was 20. It didn’t matter that it was dark and raining or that we were in the left lane when another car was coming, Driver Dude never slowed down. I sat there taking Dramomine and wishing I had a seatbelt. Then, just three hours after the start of our supposedly five hour drive, we were there….in the mighty jungle, where everything was green and the air was hot and muggy.

Chapter 2: Tarzan

First thing after lunch, Leslie told us that we were going to a waterfall. She went away and came back with a Peruvian kid wearing huge rainboots and carrying a rope. Wondering what it was for, we followed him across a rickety wooden bridge and into the rainforest, lathered in bugspray but getting bitten nevertheless.

Right off the bat, our guide, who I will call Tarzan for reasons to be explained later, started teaching us about the wildlife. Pointing out different plants, he said, “This plant will kill you in five minutes if you touch it,” “Here, chew this leaf, but don’t swallow it, it’ll make you sick,” and Now, feel the fibers in this leaf, but don’t put your hand in your mouth, it’s poisonous.” Jenny, Ian, and I looked at each other and wondered what on earth we’ve gotten ourselves into.

After a short walk, we started walking up the creek/river. When we reached a waterfall that looked unpassable, I learned what the rope was for. Tarzan, who for the record was barefoot (he gave his boots to Driver Dude who only had dress shoes), climbed the rock, tied the rope to a tree, and told us to follow. As I clambered up the slippery walk, I had a feeling this was going to get harder before it got easier.

We climbed several more waterfalls and then reached two that were very large. Expecting to take some pictures and turn around, we were shocked when Tarzan started scaling the wall and threw down the rope. Instead of swinging down on it while beating his chest, though, he beckoned us upwards. We followed him and then had to use tree roots to climb the rest of the way up. It was scary because of how easy it’d be to fall down onto the rocks below. Somehow we all survived, though, so we walked back to the car and set off on our next adventure.

Chapter 3: Ponkey…or Something Like That

After the waterfall and a quick stop at a coffee place, we headed to a native village. We stepped out of the car and were immediately led to put on traditional costumes. The giant brown sacks were about the least flattering thing you could imagine, and we topped them off with a beaded sash and feather headdress. Then we sat down and waited for the chief, who came over, talked and talked and talked, but wasn’t understood at all. Next, he started beating a drum and his family appeared out of nowhere, singing and wearing the same Jedi costumes. When the music switched from slow and mournful to quick and playful, the kids grabbed our arms and dragged us to the fire, not so successfully trying to teach us their crazy dance that got faster and faster and never ended. I felt like a toy that keeps getting wound and wound and never gets to stop. Eventually, though, it ended. The boy that danced with me took me to his shop and told me to buy something to remember. Scared of offending anyone, I bought a bracelet. Before we left, we held parrots and climbed a treehouse. As we walked out, the people all thanked us in their language. Ponkey, pounky…I don’t remember…
Chapter 4: A Wing a Wop, A Wing a Wop

In the jungle the mighty jungle, the gringos sleep tonight….

Finding a place to sleep was so hard. Since there were no rooms available in the village, we set off to find a hostel. For some reason, Tarzan was still with us as we tried hostel after hostel. After the third or fourth one, Tarzan offered some jungle rum to Driver Dude. That was quite unnerving. For that reason, we settled on the next hostel despite that all five of us would be in one room that was about 100 degrees.

Chapter 4: Tirol Falls

The next day, checked out the botanical gardens, which were full of PINK flowers. Our guide was only 9 or 10, but she was adorable. After an hour or so with her, we were off to waterfall number 2. This one had a normal hike but was absolutely amazing. When we finally reached the 82 foot waterfall, we just stood there in awe for a few minutes. Then we took our shoes off and waded into the water. Standing just a few feet back, I could look up and see the water crashing over the edge of the rocks as if it was going to come down on my head. Ian and I ducked under the falls, which felt like a massage from a very angry person. We stood behind the screen of water and posed for pictures without being able to see anything or hear beyond the roar of the water. Finally, thoroughly soaked, we hiked back, drank some fresh coconut milk, and hopped back in the taxi.

Chapter 6: Who Turned Out the Lights?

The cave was supposedly the largest cave in South America, but most of it is underwater. So we only went in 3 meters. But those three meters were scary! Once again, we climbed walls with nothing but a rope. Only this time, seemingly bottomless holes and drop offs waited on both sides to swallow up anyone that was careless. Vampire bats fluttered about, and it was completely dark minus the flashlights, not like American caves with lamps every few feet. Our guide pointed out many figures in the rocks, most of which were thought up by someone with TOO much imagination. When we finally made it back out, we were ready to head back home. Thankfully, it’d be too dark to see Driver Dude’s horrific driving, and I was too tired to care anyway.