Hotel: Ecopark Jungle Lodge
This morning we were to be out for the guide at 9am; which means 8:40 in Manaus. The boat was due at 9. Last minute rush! Our bags were taken by road to the Eco resort while we were to go on the boat
Our guide for this resort is Moses - born here, lived in New York, came back here.
There were a number of Americans on board. No Australians and no one still from Cosmos. We appear to be the sole travellers on the Amazon extension. We cruised slowly up the river past the city of Manaus.
Moses pointed out all the sites of interest. There is a floating wharf, built by the British, designed to rise and fall with the river. In flood, it rises up to 10 metres. This wharf is no longer used but a new floating one has been built further up the river. There is also a beach - the Copacabana of Manaus - which was man made for the World Cup in 2004. Along the river were some high rises but not huge like in other cities.
There is a lot of natural gas here but nowhere to refine it. This makes it expensive despite its abundance. The boats go up and down the river delivering the gas, goods, people. I've never seen so many boats in one day. They aren't allowed to have the petrol stations for the boats on the land, so they are floating on the river.
They are building a new city on the opposite bank and a high and long bridge has been built to carry vehicles.You don't realise how high and how big it is until you see a person walking along it = looking tiny. The old houses on stilts are gradually being removed. The inhabitants are given apartments in the city. They pay nothing living by the river but the costs for things like medical can be 50,000Real per person whereas in the city it is 10,000.
We finally arrived at the meeting of the waters where the dark Rio Negro and the lighter Solimoes run side by side for up to 6km. The rivers don't mix because of differing acidity,speed and temperature.
It was quite something to see! The boat slowly turned so all could get pictures. These rivers are HUGE. Where they meet is like a large lake - in the distance on bank and on the other horizon, the opposite bank. I was just awed by the immense size.
We then went to a floating eatery for a buffet lunch of salads, fruits, local fish. There is also a shop there to buy souvenirs made by the locals. Moses told us to go with him onto the bridge and bring fruit. I didn't even get out the back door of the shop before a small monkey snatched the pawpaw from my hand. We walked up the "bridge" which was like a series of packing crates nailed together.
The little monkeys came down from the jungle to grab the fruit. One stole sweets from the open pocket of a woman's backpack. Once they realised all the food was gone, they disappeared back to the jungle.
There was an optional offered for 150 Real to go in a faster boat to the smaller creeks to see some birdlife and animals. Otherwise it was a slow and steady ride back on our original boat to the Eco Park. We opted for the fast boat. It sat very low in the water and we had to sit on certain sides so it was balanced. The so-called creeks would probably be called rivers in Australia. They were quiet and at times we were totally surrounded by jungle and water. On board was a man who knew all the birds - not sure if he was a guide or not. Apparently all those brown birds were different. Some had blue or yellow parts.
Then we were taken to see a sloth, an anaconda and a smaller monkey. They were kept by a local family who lived in one of the floating houses on the river banks. The ananconda was about 1.5m long, just a young one. NO way I was touching that. I wasn't too sure about holding the sloth - it seemed cruel to it. However, I did in the end and gave the family 4 Real - this is probably one of the ways they can make money. I'm still not sure that we should have encouraged it.
Then it was a faster ride back to the resort. The water had become choppier over the afternoon and we bounced along at times. We passed the other boat about 15 mins out.
Our room here is a small hut - just two beds, a dresser, small tables and the bathroom. There is a small porch. It has two large windows that have shutters (and screens!) but they were closed as there is an air on unit in the room. very welcome after the oppressive heat outside.
Dinner was buffet in the open air restaurant. Dessert of chocolate cake and home made mango ice cream was delicious!
This morning we were to be out for the guide at 9am; which means 8:40 in Manaus. The boat was due at 9. Last minute rush! Our bags were taken by road to the Eco resort while we were to go on the boat
Our guide for this resort is Moses - born here, lived in New York, came back here.
There were a number of Americans on board. No Australians and no one still from Cosmos. We appear to be the sole travellers on the Amazon extension. We cruised slowly up the river past the city of Manaus.
Moses pointed out all the sites of interest. There is a floating wharf, built by the British, designed to rise and fall with the river. In flood, it rises up to 10 metres. This wharf is no longer used but a new floating one has been built further up the river. There is also a beach - the Copacabana of Manaus - which was man made for the World Cup in 2004. Along the river were some high rises but not huge like in other cities.
There is a lot of natural gas here but nowhere to refine it. This makes it expensive despite its abundance. The boats go up and down the river delivering the gas, goods, people. I've never seen so many boats in one day. They aren't allowed to have the petrol stations for the boats on the land, so they are floating on the river.
They are building a new city on the opposite bank and a high and long bridge has been built to carry vehicles.You don't realise how high and how big it is until you see a person walking along it = looking tiny. The old houses on stilts are gradually being removed. The inhabitants are given apartments in the city. They pay nothing living by the river but the costs for things like medical can be 50,000Real per person whereas in the city it is 10,000.
We finally arrived at the meeting of the waters where the dark Rio Negro and the lighter Solimoes run side by side for up to 6km. The rivers don't mix because of differing acidity,speed and temperature.
It was quite something to see! The boat slowly turned so all could get pictures. These rivers are HUGE. Where they meet is like a large lake - in the distance on bank and on the other horizon, the opposite bank. I was just awed by the immense size.
We then went to a floating eatery for a buffet lunch of salads, fruits, local fish. There is also a shop there to buy souvenirs made by the locals. Moses told us to go with him onto the bridge and bring fruit. I didn't even get out the back door of the shop before a small monkey snatched the pawpaw from my hand. We walked up the "bridge" which was like a series of packing crates nailed together.
The little monkeys came down from the jungle to grab the fruit. One stole sweets from the open pocket of a woman's backpack. Once they realised all the food was gone, they disappeared back to the jungle.
There was an optional offered for 150 Real to go in a faster boat to the smaller creeks to see some birdlife and animals. Otherwise it was a slow and steady ride back on our original boat to the Eco Park. We opted for the fast boat. It sat very low in the water and we had to sit on certain sides so it was balanced. The so-called creeks would probably be called rivers in Australia. They were quiet and at times we were totally surrounded by jungle and water. On board was a man who knew all the birds - not sure if he was a guide or not. Apparently all those brown birds were different. Some had blue or yellow parts.
Then we were taken to see a sloth, an anaconda and a smaller monkey. They were kept by a local family who lived in one of the floating houses on the river banks. The ananconda was about 1.5m long, just a young one. NO way I was touching that. I wasn't too sure about holding the sloth - it seemed cruel to it. However, I did in the end and gave the family 4 Real - this is probably one of the ways they can make money. I'm still not sure that we should have encouraged it.
Then it was a faster ride back to the resort. The water had become choppier over the afternoon and we bounced along at times. We passed the other boat about 15 mins out.
Our room here is a small hut - just two beds, a dresser, small tables and the bathroom. There is a small porch. It has two large windows that have shutters (and screens!) but they were closed as there is an air on unit in the room. very welcome after the oppressive heat outside.
Dinner was buffet in the open air restaurant. Dessert of chocolate cake and home made mango ice cream was delicious!
No comments:
Post a Comment