Dark and Light for Cee’s challenge – much of that in the rainforest, but also the reflections on the poles every lodge was sitting upon. Here some bats resting after their night adventures.
Memories
Travel theme: Leaves – Beautiful Dead and Alive
Leaves for Ailsa. Trees and their leaves do represent life, and in China I always admire the ancient Ginko tree with its beautifully designed leaves. But on our last trip there, I found these traditionally painted leaves and could not resist buying one. They were framed in glass, otherwise not possible to take home.
From China – so thin and fragile – a handpainted leaf from a Banyan tree. Some lamp light from the right side, but hopefully you can understand what it looks like on my wall.
Amazonas – Goodbye and Happy New Year!
The very last shimmering hours at Sacha Lodge, we spent canoeing again – and finally, for the sunset over the Amazon, in a high tree tower up in a giant kapok tree.
Let us start with the canoe ride – full up with fresh food and ready for the last adventure!
Into the forest again, on silent waterways
And the beauty of the dense rainforest
Finally we reached the last path, hiking to the old kapok tree.
Breathtaking views..
…in every direction
Do you hear a loud, cartoonish water-droplet noise? A Russet backed Oropendola! (The oriole family)
Tucans – this one as striped as a bumble bee
Orchids on the heavy branches
Slowly the sun was fading and the light smoothened out both the landscape and the minds of us six friends sitting in the kapok tree. Each one in his own world…knowing this was the last day, the last hours of our great adventure. The Amazon saying its goodbyes…and us contemplating life’s beauty, in this moment in time
No words needed – only the sounds of the rainforest. A sadness and a joy, a thankfulness and a hope for this wonder to survive, to be given to our children and grandchildren.
In the early morning, we left this Paradise. Of course it showed its most glorious face this day – for us to treasure and to keep in our hearts.
Sacha Lodge will go on helping the locals with free water taxi, school supplies and a medical assistance program – and ecotourism to positively influence the course of land management in the area.
On reaching the Napo River again – a tiny, but clear rainbow appeared in the sky –
I want to thank you all, readers, followers, everyone who finds joy in my posts – it is you who make me tick…I hope to see you again next year – 2017. All the best!
Amazonas – Almost Airborne!
The last days at Sacha Lodge, we spent most of the time 40 metres up – above the canopy of the rainforest. In fact, ”Sacha” means ”forest” in Quichua, the local language here.
The biodiversity is extremely rich in the Amazon, and the list of birds sighted at Sacha, for example, is at 605 species – in an area of 5000 acres. 12 species of monkeys and plants somewhere in the thousands. Trees are about 100 species per acre – no wonder my treeloving spirit soared in the canopy!
This walk offered splendid views of the canopy and of the birds living here
Luis and Pablo spotted everything of interest
most of the birds seen had to be through the tube, but some came really close. Blue Dacnis, female.
Paradise Tanager – maybe 15 fluttering neonlights all over this tree!
Climbing down again and walking back to the lodge – Luis Andi shared some of his extensive knowledge of the medicinal plants in the rainforest. We had noticed him being an excellent scout, moving soundlessly on the narrow paths, but also an excellent birdman – he knew about 400 birds (and could sound like most of them!) I do not have to say he was born and bred in the Amazon. 90% of Sacha’s staff is made up of locals from Ecuador’s Amazon region.
Pablo listening to Luis’ stories
This butterfly would not leave my arm…finally I had another guest to handle him. But some ten minutes later, he found me again!
Iron palm or walking palm
The mushrooms were lovely, these looked like flowers…
Indeed they were all heavenly small and exquisite!
We were all very impressed – to say the least – of our guides’ knowledge. There was not one single question about birds or animals that Pablo could not answer, and Luis and him were the perfect couple to guide us through the secrets of the tropical rainforest.
But, now we were extremely hungry…knowing that a delicious lunch was waiting back at our lodge. We would need it before the afternoon and night adventures.
Amazonas Day Two – On The Napo River
A foggy morning, but no wind, only the sounds of the rainforest and the river. After a divine breakfast at the lodge by the lake, we started off early heading for the parrot lick.
Unfortunately the traffic on the Napo River also brings long vehicles for the oil business here…They told us that the oil people are building a road across the Amazon forest. We had read about it, but now we could even see the trailers and the flames. This just makes me feel so helpless…Their government had promised not to give in to big business – but money always wins over nature and our life on this beautiful planet. So far. Maybe one day, when everything is dead and gone…
Finally the fog lifted, and we could admire the parakeets using the clay to neutralize the poisonous metals in their food. Notice the one hanging upside down!
Friendly people washing
Great Egret
Spoonbills
Howler monkey
We continued canoeing to a village on the other side of the river. Here a women’s collective worked to inform about the old ways of living, the life of the Amazon indigenous people and of their cooking, art and craft.
Overall view
Cooking was, and mostly is, the mothers’ task. This was made for us – Yucca, fish baked in leaves, sugar canes, roasted nuts and baked banana. Totally Delicious!
Demostrating fishing tools
Fausto Andi was born and raised in the rainforest, and could tell us about everything from his childhood. This wivel he ate fresh…alive and kicking…
…but not curare. The cotton is used to fill up the pipe and give a smooth flight to the thin arrow
He hit the pumpkin – of course!
Goodbye to the shy and gentle ladies!
Back to the lodge for some lunch – and then on to our next adventure!
Travel theme: Forest
Oh, Ailsa…where to begin…? My favourite motif and my major love – the Forest. Of course I love my own forest best…and in spring when the wild apple trees and cherries greet me when I walk across the meadows to where the forest starts. But…
Tane Mahuta
Te Matua Ngahere
Te Matua Ngahere – full view
…the Kauri forest on the North Island, New Zealand, is so impressive, dense and full of giants when you least expect it…I have never seen anything like it and I just never wanted to leave.
On the South Island, we met another type of mystical forest on our way to Milford Sound – The Enchanted Forest.
WPC: It’s Not This Time of The Year Without…
For WPC…
…my youngsters filling the kitchen with good friends and happy, (or sad…) tasty, Swedish Lussebullar!
WPC: Magic
Jen at WordPress asks us to bring along some magic…Some of the most magical memories I have, are from the Moroccan desert – the Sahara night. This, is true magic to me.
Thursday Thoughts – A Story of …Love
In Vilnius I saw this young couple coming out of a church. They did not hold hands. The young lady was holding her dress instead. He was walking casually right behind her.
In one of the old city’s most famous spots, they were photographed.
They looked so young…yet I believe they had known each other for a while. No infatuation shining, no signs of being ”in love”. I watched them silently walking down the street – no sign of guests or friends. Still not holding hands. Half an hour later we saw them sitting on a bench in the square, munching some fast food and watching the air balloons sailing across the sky.
I wonder what they were thinking. I wonder about their lives and their future. I would have liked to listen to their story.
Travel theme: Dark
For Ailsa – Dark. As a child I was afraid of the dark. I read many books and had a vivid imagination. Today I can still be afraid sometimes…
In the header, a beautifully lit sky on my own doorstep an early morning.
The darkest country I have ever visited was Tibet. But high above Lhasa there is a soaring, shining light – the Potala Palace.
Leya 
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