SO Many Rats [S & J]
Well we have returned from the so-called research center on the Rio Tambopata. I´ve always wondered what it would be like to live off the grid and generate my own power. It sucks. At least in Peru. It´s a hot, muddy, interminable effort. The jungle takes back everything you do, eventually. Still, Picaflor is s noble effort at conservation amd education in a thankless social environment. It may be a great place to visit in a few years, if Laurel Hanna´s visions pan out. And maybe they´ll smuggle fewer parrots and cut down less rare wood. There´s hope.
We did see some crazy wildlife, although the forest is too thick to allow a clear view, and everything happens up in the tree canopies. There are also some 12-foot snakes that come out at night. One bite = death. And so many rats. Singing rats. Kitchen rats. Giant rats. And of course Bathroom rats. Anyway, I´m very glad to be on to Lima. --SR
Picaflor Research Center is in Manu, Department of Madre de Dios on the Tambopata river. To get there you have to get on a boat and travel against the current for several hours, southeast more or less. You have to wear bug spray so they can only cover your skin with bites, not your whole life. It is buggy and hot and hard in the rainforest. Here plants rule. The first night at the center is very comfy for me, we had a cool night and I felt the jungle welcoming me. Our first day is without the 3 hours of volunteer work required and we luxuriate in bed. Our host Dr. Laurel Hanna takes us on a guided walk later and we come upon a huge tree fall upon which grow some amazing orchids. Disturbance rules in the rainforest.
The center is three houses connected by covered walkways. In the center is the cooking-living area and bedrooms spider off on either side. Our room is an end with windows on 3 sides looking out on permaculture gardens. The sounds are otherworldly. Bamboo rats that sound like geckos the size of dogs, oropendulas that make the epitome of watery bird calls, crickets that turn on chain saws, monkeys grunt and hoot. At night we shut off the solar powered lights and mice come to play under our bed while rats party on the roof. It´s kooky, it´s the Amazon rainforest, Madre de Dios department, Peru...written by Jonathan
We did see some crazy wildlife, although the forest is too thick to allow a clear view, and everything happens up in the tree canopies. There are also some 12-foot snakes that come out at night. One bite = death. And so many rats. Singing rats. Kitchen rats. Giant rats. And of course Bathroom rats. Anyway, I´m very glad to be on to Lima. --SR
Picaflor Research Center is in Manu, Department of Madre de Dios on the Tambopata river. To get there you have to get on a boat and travel against the current for several hours, southeast more or less. You have to wear bug spray so they can only cover your skin with bites, not your whole life. It is buggy and hot and hard in the rainforest. Here plants rule. The first night at the center is very comfy for me, we had a cool night and I felt the jungle welcoming me. Our first day is without the 3 hours of volunteer work required and we luxuriate in bed. Our host Dr. Laurel Hanna takes us on a guided walk later and we come upon a huge tree fall upon which grow some amazing orchids. Disturbance rules in the rainforest.
The center is three houses connected by covered walkways. In the center is the cooking-living area and bedrooms spider off on either side. Our room is an end with windows on 3 sides looking out on permaculture gardens. The sounds are otherworldly. Bamboo rats that sound like geckos the size of dogs, oropendulas that make the epitome of watery bird calls, crickets that turn on chain saws, monkeys grunt and hoot. At night we shut off the solar powered lights and mice come to play under our bed while rats party on the roof. It´s kooky, it´s the Amazon rainforest, Madre de Dios department, Peru...written by Jonathan
posted by squid | 4:30 PM
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