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Never did I expect to write a travel experience that included swimming with piranhas but, now I have. We swam with the piranhas--or at
least we were told they were there and we were assured that these man eaters feed only at night and only if they are hungry. Since we were
in the water in the morning, with fresh water dolphins swimming around, we felt quite safe and I guess we were as we are all still here.
After having traveled the waterways in canoes several times, we found ourselves one morning climbing into rubber rafts, a much slower
form of transport but a lot of fun. It wasn't long before one of the other four people with us decided that a swim would be nice and so dove in
to what is really quite muddy and not too inviting water. But--since the opportunity presented itself, I did not want to return home without
being able to brag that I swam in the Amazon rivers with piranhas--how many people can say that? We had a great time. Actually, Casey
went in long before I did--no fear at all. Alex, our guide, was wonderful with him. Casey was wearing a life jacket and then when they began
drifting down stream from us, Alex tied a rope to him so that he wouldn't be caught in currents and swept away. Just as with Nara in the
Galapagos, we were fortunate to have Alex and Wajai in the Amazon, as they enjoyed Casey, enriching him with memorable experiences.
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As you can see-not only was there water--piranhas--rafts--swimming--dolphins--but, best of all--MUD. Alex told us we were going to a
beach--a beach? Well, not the sandy beaches that we in Southern California envision--but a gooey, muddy, sink-to your-knees beach with
enough suction to make you wonder if you would soon be swallowed. We all had fun clawing our way out of the quicksand but, at times, it
really was quite frightening--especially if there were no one around to help pull you out. Poor Casey, at one point, was almost up to his neck
before being rescued. He thought it was all great fun--how perfect for a six-year-old?
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BACK
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China, Tanzania, Peru, Italy, Spain, France, Traveling with Children
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E-Mail: jane@janeandken.com
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THE AMAZON RAIN FOREST 3
The last morning we had one last ride down the river in quiet canoes--watching again for the birds of the forest. They were
there--macaws--parrots--king fishers--eagles--hawks and many other species--we could hear them and sometimes see them in the treetops
but they did not come down to say goodbye to the strangers in their land. But--they did talk to Wajai and he answered. I wondered what they
were saying and if it echoed the conversations of their ancestors. I wondered how many years these people and the birds have before they are
lost to encroaching "civilization" as it burns the forests, pollutes the waters and rescues them into the twenty-first century. People who have
taken care of the earth, preserved it, treasured it and are one with it will soon be only memories of civilizations that once were. We are
taking what is not ours to take and we seem to not question our right to do so. I am glad that Casey had the opportunity to know of it.
We had lunch that day and then hiked out of the forest to the landing strip, waiting under a little lean-to for our plane to arrive. We could
hear the engine in the sky and soon saw it make its pinpoint landing on the little spot of land cleared from the forest. It would take no time
at all for the vegetation on either side to reclaim it, completely obliterating it from memory. Little Achuar boys stood shyly, curiously
watching us as we boarded the plane and flew away. They must wonder from where we come and to where we go.
Fortunately, our return was easier than our arrival. We flew to Shell and from there boarded another plane which took us to Quito. Once
again we returned to our little home away from home--Hostal Los Alpes. There our possessions had safely returned to our rooms, hot water
awaited us in the shower and the noise of a city filled our ears. Already the last few days seemed distant and yet, as I write, I am there and I
can feel the air, hear the sounds, and see the quiet waters. God gave us a gift beyond measure when He gave us the gift of memories.
