May!! Amazon!!

     

This month was yet again a huge one. This month saw myself and several other exchange students frequenting the huge Ibirapuera Park in the afternoons. Having a bit of fun participating in extreme sports such as ghosting and planking. In hindsight, it was a good idea, because we got to soak up the last of the warmth before winter started here in São Paulo. In more recent days it has been hanging around the 14⁰ C mark. 

Almost half of this month was taken up by an exchange student trip to the amazon in the second half of May. This started with all of the 87 exchange students from several different districts rendezvousing in Manaus (Capital of the state of Amazonas). A large contingent of which already met in São Paulo Airport. When we finally all met up at 2am in Manaus we then hopped on two coaches and drove 2 hours to the town of Presidente Figueredo. 

The second day saw us wake after 4 hours sleep, eat a large breakfast and then receive the inevitably boring rules talk from the leaders of our Amazonian Expedition. After grabbing another few minutes sleep we boarded the buses once again and drove for 2 hours to go for a jungle trek along which we saw many waterfalls and a bat refuge. It was also a chance to get to know a few more exchangers from different countries and districts. Whilst myself and another exchange student contemplated our possible error in wearing thongs for a jungle hike we then were relieved of worry as we saw that this jungle “trek” was rather a jungle “mudslide”. One of the best things about the trip was that it was actually hot!!! So during the jungle slide we stopped at many waterfalls to cool off and generally run amok. After the jungle slide we returned home to chill out and chat. This included some fiercely competitive soccer, slightly more relaxing touch rugby and those that just wished to swim a bit. The evening then concluded with dinner and some really interesting discussions with many other exchange students. Whether they were about the state of international politics or the education systems we had all experienced, it was very interesting to hear the opinions of other young people.

A few of us appreciating the cooling qualities of the waterfall.

On the third day we visited our first zoo, after the bus breaking down and having to wait an hour to change the tyre we made it to the zoo. It contained mainly water living animals such as huge otters, amazon pexie boi (sea cows), numerous types of turtles and some birds as well: macaws, toucans, and many parrots. After this we hopped back on the buses, literally for the German girl that had sprained her ankle, and drove on to visit another set of waterfalls. This set of waterfalls were far bigger than the ones we had seen the previous day, so much that we had to swim a bit down stream from them. Though they did have the added advantage of having a platform from which we could jump into the water. This started a competition to see who could do the coolest dive and was ultimately won by the Australian Synchronized Amazonian Diving Team (Tom Ruehl and myself). The evening then followed the same program as the day before, basically just chatting and chilling.

Waiting for a ride

The falls

The fourth day was the sick day. Everyone (slightly exaggerated more like 75%) were sick on this day. Unfortunately, I was one of this percentile though luckily I was only a little sick and wasn’t vomiting all over the joint. Anyway, continuing on, we packed up our gear and loaded the buses for the drive back to Manaus. Along the way we stopped for some lunch, lets just say that for many lunch was spent in the bathrooms, it wasn’t the most delicious of meals and most people just stuck to rice and fresh fruit. After lunch we visited another zoo, though this one had the more famous inhabitants of the Amazon Forest. Everything from monkeys and tapirs to anacondas and panthers featured at this zoo, even a cheeky monkey that escaped its enclosure. After this zoo we then visited yet another, though the second was far more boring. This zoo only contained pexie boi and capybara which everyone had seen before. We then went to a shopping center to get some dinner and then on to our hotel. The hotel we stayed at in Manaus was 5 stars and awesome. 

The fleeing monkey

The majority of the Aussies on tour

Day 5 was yet another sick day. Those of us who were feeling well enough went to visit Teatro Amazonas (Amazon Theatre) and then to the Municipal Market of Manaus where everyone bought plenty of souvenirs to take home with them. In the afternoon we had some free time which for most was spent swimming or sleeping. In the evening we had a large birthday cake for the three of us who would celebrate our birthdays on the trip then we went to a practice performance of a samba school. All 87 exchange students clad in our Amazon t-shirts went to the Manaus Sambadromo and had great fun dancing around for those that were feeling well enough.

The big group, minus some sickies

Those of us lucky enough to celebrate our birthday on the Amazon

Day 6 saw us board the boats. We left our 5 star hotel for 3 boats on which we would sleep for 4 days. We boarded the boats, ditched the t-shirts and donned the sunscreen. We cruised for about two hours upstream past Manaus and on the the Meeting of the Waters. The Meeting of the Waters is where the Rio Negro and the Rio Solimões meet and travel down river without mixing because of a difference in density and temperature between the rivers. We then continued on to a small wildlife park that featured the famous Victoria Lilies that are the iconic plant of the Amazon. The lilies were huge! We also then went on our first rainforest cruise, during the high season in May-July over 50% of the Amazon is covered in water which makes it possible for us to cruise through the upper canopy in small boats. We were then treated to the best food of the trip so far onboard our boats. Then it came time to sleep, this wasn’t the most comfortable of affairs as we slept in hammocks the were rather cramped.

Our boats

An American, a Mexican and myself on the Rio Negro

Mat and I in the Jungle

Victoria Lilies

Canopy Cruise

Day 2 on the boats saw me awake just before the crack of dawn and watch the most magnificent sunrise I have ever seen. It was possible to not only see this amazing event in the sky but also in the perfect reflection given by the still morning water. After a delicious breakfast we then went on our second jungle walk, though this consisted of far less sliding. On the walk the guides also showed us numerous survival techniques such as how to start a fire several ways, how to build shelter, climb a tree, catch an armadillo, catch a fish and spear a tapir. Lastly, we ate a huge lunch of fish, cooked banana, and sausages. After lunch we went to the house of one of the guides where he and two other families make acai juice. After another attempt at climbing a palm tree we returned to the big boats for dinner. The nights activities consisted of jacarei (mini-crocs) spotting which was a bit of a let down because they were all about 30cm long, a long way from what you see in the Daintree. Then me and a few devoted guys decided to see in my last hours of childhood sharing stories from school and our different countries. After a swelling rendition of “Happy Birthday” on the chime of midnight from the few boys still awake the girls, on two separate boats parked 200 metres away then decided to chime in singing Happy Birthday in two languages, twice.

Sunrise on the Rio Negro

Hammocks = uncomfortable 

Drinking from the magical water branch

Gettin' my jungle on!

A very very very very very small crocodile

Happy Birthday! Thanks Dad!

Day 3 on the boats, day 8 of the trip, and day 1 of adulthood was another early day. It was planned that those who wanted to would wake up to see the sunrise from the smaller boats. After us 7 boys were loaded onto our boat we then continued to wait 20 minutes for the girls to do so and hence missing all the sunrise. We then went for a cruise in our little boats to waste the time we had before breakfast. Whilst my boat cruised around and saw birds and returned, the other boats all saw sloths and got to hold them, needless to say I was rather annoyed to miss out. After a big breakfast and another few Happy Birthdays we then split up to go swimming with pink dolphins. Not only did we get to swim with them but we were also able to feed them, though unfortunately they also liked feeding on our fingers.  After another awesome lunch we then visited an indian tribe, exchanged gifts and played some soccer against our boat crews. I somehow managed to score two sweet goals, one against the indians and one against the other exchange students, which was a bit of birthday luck as I am horrendous soccer player. After licking our wounds from our 4-0 defeat in the final game we retreated to our boats for a tasty birthday dinner.

Bout time the girls got up... Still water

DOLPHIN!

Pink Dolphin

The teams Intercambistas x Indians/Boat Crew

Birthday Boy and Girl... 18!

Birthday Dinner

Day 9 of the trip was spent mainly relaxing as everyone was very tired. We did go for another jungle walk where we went jungle swinging, some ate worms and we all used the magical indian telephone (a large tree that echoes when the roots are struck). After this we went fishing, for flesh eating piranhas! Though none were caught on my mini boat, several were caught on the other boats. Being our last night of the trip we then moored up on a beach, had a swim and then ate churrasco (barbecue), took photos with everyone and said a big thanks to the staff of the trip. 

Jungle Swing

Fishing for piranha

Snapped my rod pulling in the big one

Last sunset on the amazon.

Churrasco!

The Gossip Crew!! Kate, Vera, Kelsey and Me

Day 10, the final day, started with a 2 hour boat trip to an Indian tribe close to Manaus, where we were shown many traditional indigenous dances and some even had there faces painted. After this we packed up and cleaned the boats as we rushed back to Manaus so that some could catch and early flight. While they hooned of to the airport the majority of us went to see a movie and have some dinner. After this we checked in to our flight back to São Paulo and said our good-byes. I would say the flight back was good but I slept through the whole thing so I really have no idea how it was. After our epic adventure to the Amazon myself and another exchange student (Mat Gabel) returned to my house and slept for a solid 20 hours. 

The Boys

Indian Chief 

Indians and Aussies

Indian building and I.

The week after the trip I went to my Rotary meeting to do presentation on my sponsor district and my life in Australia. I would like to say that my host club listened and thoroughly enjoyed it, but I cant as unfortunately several people chattered  through it. I was rather disappointed that they didn’t show me this basic respect especially when I was speaking without a script in Portuguese. After the presentation everyone that had listened said that they thoroughly enjoyed it. I also met my next host parents at the meeting, they are very nice people and I look forward to living with them.

Rotary Presentation

Current host dad, Mat, next host parents and I after my presentation.