We slept in a little bit as yesterday felt pretty long. Our first activity was a boat ride to the Peruvian Amazon across the river, which is considered a “low land” area because of its close proximity to the water level.
This area is walkable in January.
The water level change throughout the year is extraordinary. Flooding helps to diversify the plant ecosystem by transplanting seeds and berries to different locations each season.
During the dry season, water is far more stagnant. Its color is black instead of brown from the lack of moving sediment. The locals will drink the waters when they are black.
As we crossed into smaller rivers, we were surrounded by trees with smaller plants hanging from them.
This one’s got a few tarantula nests. Good eye, Pax!
Then we went to see a few lotus plants. We should be fishing.
On the way back we stopped to see a few night monkeys hanging out in a tree.
The night monkeys used to be tested on for vaccinations because of their close genetic composition to humans. That got banned with the surge of the environmentalist mindset.
After our tributary visit, we made our way back onto the main waterway. At Peru’s Happy Village, we stopped to fish from the bank of the Amazon river.
Hudson and I caught some baby catfish. Back you go!
Let’s shove off!
A quick bedtime story
Here’s a bit of folklore-one type of snake the indigenous people fear is called the Verrugosa. It looks like a boa and it makes a sound similar to a chicken. It will follow and stalk you or its prey and bite you with its long fangs. Then after a minute or two it will listen for your heartbeat. If your heart is still beating it will bite you again (and again) until your heart stops beating. Then its dinner time for the snake. Sweet dreams!
Mud Shaman
In the afternoon we split the fam into 2 groups. June and I were to go upriver to visit a shaman near his town, and the boys stayed back at camp to do ceramics to bring back a memorable souvenir.
The shaman came to pick us up in his boat. I shook his hand and meant to tell him my name in Spanish but instead said “I love you, Marvin.” Oops at least I’m trying.
He brought us off the main river up a tributary to his ceremonial area. Shamen typically are located slightly away from the main areas of their tribe. They usually hand down their knowledge (thus occupation) from generation to generation. Different shaman use different media to link to the jungles spirit world. This shaman’s connection is through tobacco. He is like a conduit for humans into the spirit world of the jungle.
First we got briefed about the custom. The shaman said that we should try to have a purpose in mind during the ceremony. Mine was peace and oneness with nature. June just wanted to check it out. In the spirit, I walked barefoot in the jungle for the first time.
First we got massaged by the shaman as he puffed on a piece of hand rolled tobacco. I thought he was just having a smoke before making the tobacco as a media connection. He would make a sudden “puh” sound each time and blow tobacco onto different parts of my body. By his hand motions during the smokey ritual I imagined he was physically removing negative energy, grasping and pulling the air around me away from my body.
Next we got sprinkled with water from sprigs of herbs. It was warm and soft and I could smell the herbs. It reminded me of citrus or basil but I don’t think it was either. After that he rubbed a special mud mask over our bodies by hand. We had the choice of doing it ourselves or letting him do it. I like it when the pros to do the work!
We sat for a few minutes taking about the ceremony while the mud dried. Mosquitoes tried to land on me but they ended up flying away instead. Then we jumped into the river for a swim with the water spirit and to rinse off.
Where the heck are we going anyway? Our shaman reassured us that there were no piranhas, anacondas, scorpions, etc. We swam halfway across the small river, where we felt around for and clung onto the submerged branches of trees and talked for a bit.
Gloria took pics for us and then she swam over to hang out.
After chatting about our experience for a bit, the shaman asked me if I wanted to try ayahuasca. I thought I had graduated to the next level of cleansing and said yeah but as it turns out it would have to be a different shaman- typically older and from a different tribe. I was bit disappointed but also relieved that I wouldn’t have to tell my kids that I abandoned them for a few hours to do psychedelics lol.
Gloria told me that ayuhasca is very powerful and it would erase all my memory and make me relive each and all of my problems from the past. In turn it would help me to deal with them and move past them.
The typical trip lasts 4-5 hours and involves throwing up. Maybe next time.
As we swam back I followed the shaman as I dipped my head under the cloudy water while feeling the jungle engulf me. It was amazing to hear the sounds of the jungle-the crickets and frogs and birds. We also got rained on lightly and could hear thunder rumbling off in the distance. Afterward I felt beautifully at peace with the jungle and my heart. The experience is what you make of it. For me it was pretty magical.
Back at the lodge I went fishing with Gloria at the pier. She caught another catfish. This one had a really hard side and top fin/spikes.
Hudson and I went into the kitchen to help out with the cooking. We helped with a few items for dinner.
The boys had their clay items drying in the kitchen fire next to some bbq chicken, hah.
That evening we were visited by a different shaman-the smoke shaman- and the boys did a smoke ritual back at the lodge. At dinner time they smelled of fragrant smoke.
The WOO family page 