Amazon Village Life

We had an easy morning today. After breakfast we took our boat and went to a local village to see first hand what life on the Amazon is like.

The dark section on the tree trunks shows these peak depth of the water during the rainy season. Celso said the depth will change as much as 45 feet in a year. He also said that many of the waterways we have been using will be totally dry in a month.

A cargo boat taking local products to Iquitos to sell. There are no roads in the jungle or along the river so boat transportation is the only means of getting around. This one is full of bagged charcoal.

The village we visited was Sapo Playa. There are about 500 that love there. 

We had to climb up the bank as there was no boat dock.

At the top of the bank was a yucca field which they harvest the roots for tapioca. I thought it was interesting that even these small fields are called plantations.

They also grow rice here. We walked along the temporary boardwalk to reach the village. Once there they had concrete sidewalks which was provided by the government. A typical house is built on stilts, because of the water level changes, and has open design for air circulation.

One of the local families invited us to come into their home and showed us around. The family was in the back kitchen area eating breakfast.

Sleeping area. Notice the mosquito nets.

When I asked the man what he thought about the changes being made for his village (electricity) he said it nice to have a TV to see the news and a stereo to listen to music. His daughter-in-law came to the window to tell us goodbye.

They had rigged up this water collection system to catch rain water in a bucket for drinking.

At another home we saw the process of making the charcoal. Celso said it took about 10 days to cut the wood, dry it, build the smoldering oven, and then bag the charcoal.

Next we went to the local school to visit. Some of the kids were playing kick ball in the courtyard.

We went to the kitchen which was recently built behind the school. The mothers take turns volunteering to come and prepare breakfast and lunch for the students each day. Today they were going to have a tuna bake and rice.

We then were invited to visit the 1st and 2nd grade combined class. The kids sang a song for us and we attempted to sing Row Row Your Boat for them. They didn't know that we didn't do a really good job of it. 

After our school visit we headed back to the boat to go to a rum maker.

The rum "factory" is in the old medical clinic.

We were given a chance to sample 4 different types of rum. 1. A straight rum (equivalent to a moonshine) 2. One sweetened with molasses 3. One with molasses and ginger, and 4. One with a smoky flavor and honey (which the locals call their Viagra (because after a few drinks you are up for anything).

After a few shots I was ready to run the bar!

The owner let us look around his home.

We went to look at the distillery. The rum is made from sugar cane which they grow. Just like making molasses, they squeeze the juice from the sugar cane.

They then let it ferment in a barrel for a couple of days.

Then it is distilled and bottled.

They also cook down the syrup to make molasses.

After our visit we went back to the lodge for lunch. Waiting for us to feed them where some saddle back monkeys.

There were also some macaws. One of them was very aggressive and kept trying to attack my legs and feet. 

After lunch we packed our stuff and headed to the Ceiba Top Lodge and some of the comforts electricity and hot water can bring.

They have a couple of pet tapirs running lose on the property. They are quite interesting creatures.

Once we were settled into our rooms we hiked to the tree that gives the lodge it's name. A huge Ceiba tree that is about 60 meters tall. It was huge.

Well that concludes another day of adventure.