Category: Living Simply

We did go piranha fishing but alas, as with other fishing, you never know whether you catch anything. We didn’t….

On the last day we saw another small village that had a nice stream to relax in.

And in the pool at the resort, a different frog was there the last morning

And of course, this praying mantis loved to be held. I have held him most days. And he loved my phone. When I picked him up, his head turned wherever the phone was. Maybe he is an Instagram influencer? And with that, my time in the Amazon is almost done

Now to have a tour of the meeting of the waters in Manaus where two rivers of different densities meet.

Paricatuba is a small village located in the Brazilian state of Amazonas, along the Amazon River. It has historical significance as the site of the Paricatuba Cemetery, which was built in the late 19th century during the rubber boom era. The cemetery was designed to accommodate the large number of deaths caused by diseases like malaria and yellow fever among rubber tappers and workers.

The building we visited was originally a hotel for immigrants working during the rubber boom. There is evidence of the thick Italian tile.

Also the system of bricks that are alternated and very strong design came from Marseille France.

When petroleum was replaced in making rubber, that economy fell and the building was used as a jail. Only a couple doors have bars on them still.

Later it was used as an insane asylum and then as a hospital for those who are stricken with diseases as a form of isolation.

Now it is abandoned and the jungle (as all of nature) wins in the end. This reminds me of Angkor Wat but not as old obviously. It is only 120 years old.

After the nature hike we went by canoe to another island inhabited by an indigenous tribe. The tribe I believe receives money to  maintain the rituals for tourism.

We stopped to try foods including Brazil nuts, rambutan (which I have not had since I left China), and a tapioca pan.

On the left are larvae and on the right are dried ants. Yes, I tried both of them.

These Brazil nuts are actually found in a giant pod. I did not know that.

They use the office of the eucalyptus tree to start a fire to begin the ceremony.

I know many wildlife conservationists know that swimming with dolphins is not good for their well being. I still wanted to see them. I had seen them at times in the wild from the canoe while moving around during my Amazon stay, but I wanted to experience them closer.

The pink dolphins in the Amazon are known as Amazon river dolphins or boto. They are freshwater dolphins native to the Amazon and Orinoco river basins in South America. They have a pink color, which is more prominent in males and becomes brighter during the mating season.

We also went spotting for crocodiles. There were a few large ones that we saw and I had the chance to hold a baby for a few seconds. He was let back into the same location on the thick grass near the edge.

Of course there are toads. This is the most common one we saw.

The Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja) is prominent in the Rio Negro region of Brazil. It is one of the largest and most powerful eagles in the world, known for its impressive size, strength, and distinctive appearance. It is found in the tropical lowlands along the Rio Negro.

If you look at the shoreline you can see the tea color of the water of the Rio Negro. It is caused by decomposition of the vegetation here and the acidic compounds make it that color. It also is not a good breeding ground for mosquitoes so though there are some mosquitoes it is not a lot. It is also a very clear water.

We also took some canoe trips to look around the area and look for animals.

We also took a canoe to look at some structures that were left behind when they could not finish constructing a hotel. It was a relaxing canoe ride but on the way back a few of us fell asleep and arrived back to the lodge a bit pink like the dolphins.

You can see the structures from a distance.

We were not able to get out of the canoe to get closer as the grass was thick in the area to take the canoe through and there were crocodiles in the area. Instead we stopped at another resort to get in the water and get some snacks.

Okay. I am not fond of camping but I wanted to sleep in the Amazon to see what it is like.

I gathered my sturdy hiking boots, long pants and shirt, bug spray, a 2 L bottle of water, and a good rain jacket. That is really all that is needed. I bought a portable power bank but really did not use much battery as there is no cellular signal or WiFi.

We went by canoe from the Anaconda island where the lodge is located to a location in the state of Amazonas.

Mosquitoes are actually not as prevalent as I thought thanks to the slightly dark colored water here. It looks like coca cola when being poured into a glass and has been described as tea colored.

The coloring is due to the high concentration of organic matter such as tannins and humic acids that are leached from decaying vegetation. These compounds are released when plants decompose in the forests. The waters of the Rio Negro also have a low mineral content,along it more transparent. It is easy to see the dark color.

The trek was 1 km inland from the Rio Negro.

Tying up the hammocks and mosquito nets.

After finishing dinner, the rain started and it didn’t stop all night. We went into the hammocks and talked, chilled out and went to sleep.

I woke up on and off through the night and recorded a few sounds. It had been described as being very loud, but so are crickets in rural western PA. We heard birds, insects, and monkeys but since it was raining there was much less activity.

The next morning…. And no it hasn’t stopped raining yet.

A shower was first on the list. There is no power in the cabins from 6 am to 6 pm and also no Wifi. There is wifi at the lodge itself and is powered by solar power. Not a fancy place to stay but it has what you need. I have to say that the fish here is amazing. And, there is a pool….