February 11, 2008 - Anavilhanas, Amazonas, Brasil

February 11, 2008 - Anavilhanas, Amazonas, Brasil
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I had a leisurely wakeup and headed for breakfast where I bid adieu to the English (Indian / Sri Lankan) girls. I shared my breakfast table with an elderly Indian gent. There was yet another Indian family of 4 seated at the next table. 8 South Asians in the same place! This is the first time that has happened during my 9-week travel.

I had my final excursion at 8:30. 4 of us (with our Italian Guide) sped off in a canoe at 8:30 AM. 3 other canoes (that were tied to our canoe) trailed behind us. We reached branch of the Rio Negro after 20 minutes. The 3 canoes were detached from ours. The elderly Indian gent and I got into a canoe, a middle eastern couple got into the second canoe and the Italian guide got into the 3rd canoe by himself. We were to paddle in the Amazon! I let my partner sit up front and steer the boat while I sat behind and got into the paddling rhythm.

We spotted a few birds and a trio of insect eating bats. As neither of us were good paddlers, I lad left my camera bag behind in the motorized canoe which was being piloted by a driver well behind us. In the event I need the camera, I could always signal and take it from him. It was a fantastic experience. The only sounds were the sounds of the Jungle and our paddles swishing the waters of the Rio Negro.

We paddled to the end of the tributary where the middle eastern couple and our guide took a dip in the waters. The paddling during our return journey appeared a bit easier. In all we paddled about 2 kilometres (1.2 miles approx) before boarding out motorized canoe for our ride back to the lodge.

We got back to the lodge around 12:15 PM. I showered and packed up as I was scheduled to leave for Manaus after Lunch. After Lunch, I paid up the hotel bill and provided a very positive feedback on my experience there. I requested that neither Cell phone nor internet connection EVER be established here. I met the young couple from Sao Paulo who own and operate this place. Although this place has been in operation for less than a year, the NY Times review boosted their visibility immensely and many of the folks at the lodge were booked at this place by their travel agents. Needless to say, I was the lone exception in that I contacted the lodge and booked my stay with them directly.

The waste water from the cabins in treated and then sent into the ground (NOT the river). They run a very eco-friendly operation. The exchange rate given to me during the billing process was quite bad as it increased my bill by at least US$70.

I have cruised the Amazon, trekked in it, observed the sun rise and paddled in it and have large welts (from the numerous insects that relished my blood) to prove it. I hope the welts are not permanent :) I am completely satisfied.

Cassio (my guide for the past 2 days) was headed back to Manaus as well. I was the sole passenger headed back to Manaus. The three of us (Including the driver) were driven in a cross-over vehicle to Manaus. Cassio works only 10-days per month at the lodge. He works for the rest of the month in Manaus as a tour guide (for different cruise ships that stop at Manaus) taking tourists to the "Meeting of the Waters" and "Janaury Island". He is too good a guide to be wasted on small stuff like that!

The weather during our drive was the very definition of unpredictable. It rained for 2 minutes, the sun shone for 2 minutes and then it rained again for 3 minutes and so on. We stopped to see a dead snake on the road. It was a poisonous one. After making sure it was dead, Cassio picked it up and I snapped a picture :)

We reached the other side of the Amazon (across from Manaus) 2 hours after departing the lodge. As we had to wait for 30 minutes to board the next ferry to Manaus, I headed to the nearest post office to mail my post cards. After the ferry crossing, I was dropped at my Hotel. Cassio gave me his contact information.

February 11, 2008 - Manaus. Brasil
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After checking-in (I requested and got the same room) and dropping my bags, I headed out in search of an IPOD Charger. A locally made charger was being sold was 70 Reais (US$ 40). I gave up. I headed to a nearby internet cafe and backed up all my memory cards from the Amazon trip and updated my blog for 3 days. (Still a long way to go before I am current).

I also researched things to do in Recife (my next stop) and Salvador (the subsequent stop after Recife). I leave tomorrow afternoon for Recife.