control to the whims of nature. If you can't "flow," falter at inconveniences, are fearful of less than FAA approved air transport or want
your day to go as planned and structured, then choose another destination. On the other hand, if being awe struck by hundreds of greens
being lit by sun shimmering through tree canopies above you, if hearing monkeys and macaws chattering unseen in dense vegetation as
you float your canoe down a narrow Amazon tributary, if following an Achuar Indian through the jungle as he slices the way through with a
machete, if going to sleep with the gentle sound of water lapping at the stiltes holding up your cabana--if all this speaks to you, then you
must go. You will leave knowing that you have had one more glimpse into the grandeur and mysteries of God's awesome creation.
And--you will know that we must be good stewards of the land He has created and placed in our care. He has commanded us to do so.
the rainforest--foot or plane are the only way to reach this isolated location. Fortunately the bus was comfortable as our five hour journey
turned into nine long hours. The topography along the way was awesome but the roads were a disaster! At one point we had to detour around
a tunnel which had collapsed. The detour was a dirt, rutted road with hundreds of feet drop off down a deep chasm. As there was barely
enough room between the solid mountain wall on one side and the precipice on the other, the better part of retaining sanity was just to
ignore the potential for immediate destruction and trust the driver--who seemed nonplused by the whole thing. A little futher down the
road, we joined a long line of cars, trucks, and buses stopped dead in their tracks due to a major mud slide. Eventually an earth mover
rumbled down the road and shoved the mud and rocks off the cliff and we were able to continue after an hour and a half delay--all of this
was in the midst of blinding rain. We finally made it to Shell--our destination--where we were supposed to have boarded our plane several
hours previously. But---it had been raining all day in Shell and at the dirt runway in the jungle and so the plane could not fly. We did not
get out until late the next afternoon--losing a day and a half of our time in the Rain Forest. A reminder that nature and its elements do not
bow to the wishes of man (generically used.) Of course, as we watched the wing of the plane being repaired with duct tape we wondered if it
were any safer flying without rain than with it.
credence to the philosophy that most things have hidden redeeming values. This area is
part of the Rain Forest-just at the outskirts of it where small, underdeveloped villages
exist. Nearby, down a mud, foliage surrounded road is a small complex which reclaims
capture animals to sell on the black market. This
was a unique opportunity to see some of the jungle
denizens we would other wise not have seen--or at
least upclose and personal. For Casey this was a
real highlight.
is amazing given its isolation. Hot water is scarce--one bag supplied by solar power hanging from the shower head and so if it rains--no hot
water. There is electricity. The cabanas are more like going to camp--far different facilities than in Africa--much more basic. The building
materials and techniques are those of the indigenous people. The air is steamy and wet--the sounds of the rainforest fill your ears--the
beauty is poignantly overwhelming.
IN CONJUNCTION WITH
THE ACHUAR PEOPLE
OF THE RAIN FOREST
dark with flashlights providing minimal illumination. I thought it was too late for Casey to handle but he had a wonderful time. His
excitment was contagious as he entertained me with descriptions of the various fungi and bugs. What a great opportunity for a young child
developing a sense of what the big, wide world is! Every time we were hiking thereafter, he would point out and name the fungi--some of
which is exquisitely beautiful.
tributaries with their encroaching branches and foliage--these were like small little alleys. It
was really quite special gliding down the river so early in the morning with the sounds of the
jungle surrounding us and assaulting our senses We heard the monkeys chattering away in
the tree tops although seeing them was a rare treat which only happened a couple of times.
As in Africa, it was amazing the way the guides were able to spot life far ahead in the tree
tops. Then the canoe would stop and we would peer at them through our binoculars. We saw
many species of birds--hawks, eagles, vultures, kingfishers, etc. Unfortuantely, my
photographic skills are not up to capturing these beautiful creatures. Handling the binoculars
was challenge enough. There are as many species of birds here as in the continental United
States--somewhere around 520.
rain forests, not only are the indigenous people losing the land which they have been one with and nutured for centuries, but also the
earth as a whole is being impacted. Kapawi Lodge has been developed by Canodros, an Ecuadorian development company. They currently
lease the land from the Achuar and are training the people to manage the lodge and serve as guides; they will turn the entire operation
over to the Achuar in 2011. These people, who were one of the head-shrinking tribes well into the 20th century, have now developed a
federation which allows them to protect their ancient rights and land.
