Last Updated on August 8, 2018 by PowersToTravel
Monkeys trapped in the Jungle
Our outing this morning was to another stream, this time to a slightly more inhabited area. Surprisingly, the bird-life was more abundant and we saw many beautiful birds.
We visited the monkey island, an island on which people had let loose a variety of monkeys which had formerly been pets, or been in zoos, so the island hosted a mixture of friendly monkeys and very suspicious looking monkeys. They were beggars for bananas: Howler, Spider, White-faced Capuchin, Black-faced Capuchin and Squirrel Monkeys. The guide in another skiff ahead of us had bananas for the monkeys and several of them came down to sit on people’s shoulders and be fed.
I have never been a fan of touching wild animals, even if they have been habituated to humans. Our guide tried to cajole us and the monkeys into a relationship, and I think I was as suspicious of it as the monkeys. This was the one experience in the Amazon I felt was manufactured.
Back at our lodge, we were not greeted by a welcome drink. The entire place seemed entirely unmanaged. No one at the bar to speak to, no one in the kitchen. Even my limited Spanish, “Queremos Coca-Colas” would have worked, had there been someone to say it to. It was so disappointing.
Finally staff arrived and served lunch; my notes say “an awful mess of egg, peppers and chicken.” The food was definitely less than what we had grown to expect on the Cattleya. It was especially sad because I believe we were paying a similar amount for both experiences.
For the afternoon, we napped in our treehouse, under our fan. It was lovely. After dinner, once again, we relaxed in our treehouse, under our fan. I certainly understand why those in the warmer climates have created the tradition of Siesta.
That night, true to their word, the staff left the electricity on and the fan fanned. It was very pleasant, that is, except for the very strange crunching and scratching sounds in the thatched roof directly over my head. It was dark and I was imagining bats in the thatch. However, I did sleep, which was a wonderful experience.
