Last thoughts leaving Bolivia and Ambue Ari

Six hours north from Santa Cruz

Arriving alter dark

Where Howler Monkies greet the dawn

And you can show'r with Aviram

It's Ambue Ari Park

 

Four nights sleeping in a quiet town

Though sometimes I heard La Bomba

And even though my gear got damp

I was finally glad to move to camp

And Ro's " 'morning Cochabamba"

 

A monkey peed on all my clothes

'cause my door someone LEFT OPEN

Stung over and over by fire ants

A scorpion's crawling inside my pants

What's the worst thing that could happen?

 

At half an tour past six o'clock

The comedor calls out dinner

Hot peanut soup, we eat and talk

Four to one Paper, Scissors and Rock

No plate washing for the winner

 

Hot water is on, the candles are lit

Writing info on my cat's form

Then time to chat, a book to read

Werewolf, chess and Junglespeed

Unless you're cool enough for Skydorm

 

Morning translations with Omer and Sev

Anuncios when you're finished eating

Don't bring outside your cups nor your platos

Be careful with the wind and your gatos

Alter 6 months, Duncan is leaving

 

Our sick monkey's lost in the Amazon

Then lessons on ecobanos

It's movie night, five B is the cost

And once again Chantal has lost

Something in Guarayos

 

CLOSE THE DOORS and don't hang your clothes

On any of the flora

Cat I has said that she will stay

Noemi's Hero of the Day

For removing Bora Bora

 

It's Friday tonight, let's all go to town

Flo's taxi is for hire

Get out your best shirt and pick off your ticks

Put Pios to bed and dinner's at six

Then Dave and Potable and fire

 

Two miles from camp, the mud and the bugs

Ru's runner with Ben and Johnny

San Pedro where we swim and run

Santa Maria's auc-ti-on

Gill says we raised lots of Money

 

So many memories I take away

Like that bird, what gave me a gash

Not knowing what's worse, the smoke or the mossies

Rugby abuse from the French and the Aussies

Or a festering tropical rash

 

Hitchhiking for hours just to use a computer

First it's pouring, then it's blazing

The bugs are biting, while the fish are not

It's really quite humid, but at least it's hot

Yet all of it was amazing.

 

Futbol with Sandro, Oso and Iver

CLOSE THE DOOR and please use the lock

Da-me  Cho-co-la-te and birthday cakes

The sound removing a Pitohu makes

And Roi's Bokel Tov Matok

 

Nick and his ringworm, jungle Walking Trees

Potatoes, Mike and his guitar

Monkey vandals and starlit skies

Talking with students, the fireflies

Weeks spent alone with my jaguar

 

For seven weeks I tried to give

A better life to Ru

Climbing, running, construction, stalks,

Licking, feeding, siestas, talks

He bettered my life too

 

It's a difficult thing to say goodbye

For I'll come back who knows when

I worked and helped, was sometimes sore

Yet Chantal and others did so much more

I hope we meet again

 

I wanted to say to you so much more

Before I left at ten

The camp, Ru and you will stay in my head

I-ron-ic-a-ly the last thing you said,

"The Door Here is Always Open"

New pics from Ambue Ari

Last post and thoughts after 2.5 months in Bolivia

Nosy Pecary(chancho) disturbing my outhouse time

Butterfly with an obvious eye spot.   But look close, on the left you see the nostrils, eye, lips and scales of a snake.   Immitating such as to frighten predators

Most of the volunteers after breakfast awaiting morning announcements on my second last day

Some friends waiting for a passing truck so we can hitch a ride back to camp.

Below.

Last night BBQ and music.     Then on to Rosario and eventually Buenos Aires, to say goodbye to friends, watch a football game or 3, enjoy some Asado and wine, then back home to Canada......for now.

After 5 weeks in the jungle

I saw my first annaconda recently. She was long and fat, swimming slowly across my trail. I was excited to finally see one up close after spending so many weeks imagining them...... and their methods of killing. They throw a couple coils of muscle around you and one around a tree or root so they can upend you into the water. They crack ribs and dislocate joints while biting you repeatedly. They also constrict your chest so that you will have difficulty breathing in the event you manage to get your face above the water. They refrain from breaking bones lest they harm themselves whilst swallowing you whole. Yes these thoughts run through my head now and then (read "daily") as I am wading along my trail. Alone. In the dark. The other day while walking with Chantel and her jaguar Amira (I feel like I´m cheating on Ru when I spend time with her, as she is so amazing) we bumped into a branch and onto Chantel´s shoulder plopped a yellowish snake. This caused a little bit of anxiety as she brushed it to the ground. "What kind of snake is it?" I asked in voice pitched slightly higher than normal. "I didn´t get a good look at it", she said. "And stay calm, if Amira senses you are panicky she will get agrivated. Nice one I thought, as the snake slid under the leaves, on the trail at our feet. There are somewhere between 1 and several venemous snakes down here, depending on whom you ask. I´ve seen as many as 7 different snakes on a good day and they all inspire different reactions depending on their size, colouring, and how confidently they seem as they wriggle towards you. We have had several in camp including some in the dorms where we sleep, happily hunting rats which is a mixed blessing. All in all its there is probably more danger hitching a ride to town to use the computer than from all the jungle animals put together, save the disease carrying mosquitoes. After 5 weeks helping my jaguar I have grown quite fond. I can read his disposition by his walk and his eyes, most of the time, and he has shown a lot of patience with me. One of my best days was spent with my cat Yaguaru in the morning and then with Yaguarupini in the afternoon. I took him for a walk with Mike, one of the longer term volunteers, and I was so captivated that I didn´t really even want to chat with Mike. He walked us very fast, with purpose and confidence, hunting along the trails that he decided on, for about 3 hours. He and my cat are the 2 biggest in the park. Ru is a mountain variety with a bigger head and heavier frame and Rupi is a jungle variety with longer legs and a more lithe build. Rupi took me for a bit of a sprint and also gave me a few friendly jumps. He did manage to throw me down but I swear it was only because my legs were wrapped up in his rope, in other words he cheated. Unlike my cat, Rupì does not use his teeth or claws, however, and despite being forwarned that he will jump me near this tree or that other one, and despite seeing his eyes and demeanor change while 3 metres away in the foliage, there is such a surge of adrenalin, at least on my part, and afterwards a grateful humility that he can play with so much control. I confess, I may be adicted to this. As I said, I´ve been fortunate to walk with a jaguar named Amira 8 or 10 times, and her volunteer Chantel, whose opinions and suggestions I respect greatly. Amira is 40 or 50 kg lighter, yet gets walked with two ropes for better control due to her being less predictable and being more inlined to jump. I´ve been jumped by her many times and taken to the ground as well. However, I compare this to walking with Rupi or working with my jaguar Ru and I can safely say to you that Size Does Matter. I have met many, many amazing volunteers in my time here. People who go hard for 60 to 80 hours a week and who contribute such a great energy to the work down here. I am constantly reminded of many of the great volunteers I work with at home and am grateful for the chance to know them all. Still a couple weeks to go. All the best from the Bolivian jungle, Roy

Yaguaru contimplating whether to nap or not

Howler Monkey harassing me and my cat

Ru with eyes closed but notice the spots which give enemies the impression that his eyes are open

South American Taipir

more jungle critters

Female Spider Monkey

My back up Jaguar, Amira who loves swimming, sometimes completely underwater and you can see her eyes as she swims towards you like a fish. I love walking with her

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jungle animals

Yaguaru, giving a little bit of affection

Ru´s eyes turn green before he jumps you as his pupils enlarge so much before the pounce.

Eyes turn green, shorts to clean

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