The Jungle

After a fairly straight forward couple of buses, we arrived in Misahualli. It is the end of the road really, the last town before you jump into a canoe and head down the river toward jungle. The town itself is awesome, a sleepy village with dirt roads and troop of cheeky monkeys that roam free through the town.

Here we are sitting in the canoe ready to go.

We organised to go to an indigenous village Shiripuno, with a local Kichwa guide, who lives there with his family. The place was surreal, it consisted of palm leaf and bamboo huts, tarantulas and an awesome plantation where they grow most of their food, including chocolate, bananas, papaya, coffee, yuka (like potato) and all manner of other things, including medicinal plants and herbs. No electricity, noise, packaging, rubbish or junk food. Just sweet, simple living.

The village - Shiripuno

This was the hut that we stayed in - fully equipped with bed, hammock and composting loo!

One the first day we made chocolate from cocoa beans, it was absolutely incredibly delicious! we were shown how to make platted wrist bracelets and explored the plantation. Within half an hour of being there we had seen a tarantula - a very big, hairy, and strangely cute one! We both touched it but I couldn't bring myself to hold it.

The second day we took a canoe down the river to visit an animal reserve. The place was amazing, we saw toucans, macaws, monkeys, ocelots, caiman, a tortoise and heaps of other animals. Although it was raining so hard I'm surprised we saw anything. I have never gotten so wet so quickly, it was incredible. Waterfalls and flash flooding were created in minutes.

Eva preparing the fish for dinner

A beautiful macaw

Cooking the fish for dinner on the fire

The third day we trekked through primary jungle with a group of American Uni student volunteers who were on an Outward Bound  program. They were an amazing bunch of people and we shared an incredible experience. We swung through the trees on a tarzan vine, sampled medicinal herbs to treat asthma and sinus - oh my god the sinus remedy nearly blew my head off it was so strong but it definitely cleared things up, and walked to a waterfall and swimming hole. It was an exhilirating day. Absolutely incredible and like nothing that I have ever imagined. I'm so glad that we went.

This was the biggest tree I have ever seen in my life. It would ake about 40 - 50 people holding hands to go around the trunk. Thruly amazing!

Eva making chocolate

Playing with the monkeys in the town.

The monkeys in Misahualli were free to roam whereever they want around the town and they could be seen running along roofs, crawling on powerlines, walking in the streets and the main park, at the beach and of course in the trees. They were incredibly cheekey and mischevious. They loved to steal things and run off into the trees to play with them, just for fun. They would jump onto us without hesitation, just to play, pull our hair, steal our things or check us out - although some liked to bite! I even saw them playing with the local and dogs - that was quite a sight: a monkey pulling a dog's tail! Priceless!

Going to School in Banos

We have been in Banos now for over a week, living happily with the Perez family. They are lovely and with three boys around Eva´s age there is plenty of activity in the house and company for Eva. The father Patricio is the pastor at a Christian Church here in Banos so the living is clean, they play plenty of uplifting Christian music and there are always prayers before meals! ...somewhat of a novelty for Eva and I.

The classes at Mayra´s Spanish School were good. Much better than those in Otavalo, they actually had a program and worksheets. Eva has learnt a lot of vocabulary now but we still struggle with conversation. I can get my point across though and conjugate some verbs correctly! Eva however, has been told three times now by different Ecuadorianos that she speaks very well and without an accent so she was stoked with that. And of course is now correcting my pronunciation.

Mayra (Eva's teacher), Liliana (my teacher) Eva and I on our last day of classes.

Eva the brave, is now going to real school with the boys. She is in a year 4 class with about 40 other kids, so its pretty crowded and noisy! Although I think that 40 is a good class size here in Ecuador.

School starts here at 7:30am which is a bit of a challenge getting ready in time, but they finish at 1pm which definitely makes up for the early morning!

Getting ready on the first day. Obed lent Eva his uniform for the day

Having breakfast with the boys: Mateo, Obed and Joel, before school on the first day

Confidently walking into school with Mateo on the second day.

Lining up for morning assembly.

 









The experience of going to school here is incredible for Eva, it is so very different to home! Things are much more rustic, rules are very different, there is a lot more singing and There is definitely no interactive whiteboard! They also have to do practice drills each week in case the Volcano - Tungurahua erupts. All of the kids have to take a hat, glasses and a mask to school each day, just in case! They had a practice drill for it yesterday afternoon which was something to see.

Eva has been fascinated by the fact that the kids are allowed to climb treees, build cubbies, roll down hills and run amok in general in the playground and its all cool. Eva keeps saying that you aren't even allowed to pick up a stick in the playground at home! Here its like she can do anything!

The girls in the class have also been wonderful - adopting Eva into the group like she has always been there! Despite the fact that they don't really understand each other much. They even invited Eva to come and play after school on the first day.

Eva and the girls hanging out after school in the school playground - check out all the trees!

I just hope that things continue to go as well as they have started for Eva at school and this will definintely be a week to remember for her.

As for me, I'm supposed to be studying and getting Uni work done. At least the room that I am in has a beautiful view of a waterfall cascading down the side of a gorgeous green mountain shrouded in white clouds.