Its a jungle out there

Manu Jungle, its part of the cloud forest on the outskirts of the

Amazon. We stayed at an "Eco" lodge. Which Im now sure "Eco" is just a good way to charge a high rate but give a low product/ service. Considering that there was no power there fore no hot water! It was an interesting experience starting with the bus ride!

Leaving the house at 4.30 the day after Macha Picchu was a big ask. Because I didn't get home till around 10 the night before and by the time I had packed for the jungle, I probably only managed around 3 hours sleep. I didn't think it would be an issue given that I was staring down the barrel of a 10 hour bus ride.

However due the the first half being ridiculous cold and the 2nd half being a 4wd track that was  not suited for bus's of any kind. Before we hit the gravel I decided to try and lie down on the back seat. However the road was so bumpy I felt like I was back on the Indiana Jones Ride at Disneyland!

I was dropped off a couple of hundred meters up from the lodge, and give 2 box's of food a 20 liter bottle of water as well as my gear. Well not all the water made it, I put the bottle down too fast and on the wrong angle and cracked it. Oppps....

Once I found the place and tried to explain who I was and checking if it was the right place. I went back for the water only to have lost a small amount. Well maybe a 1/4 but the glass was still over half full! 

I was there to volunteer to plant trees which we only ended up doing twice. But it was quite draining having to do physical work again. Which was either  because of the vegetarian diet, the fact that I haven't worked physically in 2 months or due to the humidity. What ever the cause it was more taxing than I would have liked.

I have to admit that by wednesday I was going a bit stir crazy there's only so much reading one can do. I decided not to wear my watch so I found it interesting when after dinner (which we would have when it was dark) my body would tell me to go to sleep. And on the occasion that I looked at my watch it was only 7.30!

One of the highlights was repelling down a water fall without any safety gear of any kind. The rope was more of an aid so that you had to have something to hold on to.

But the monkey was just cool, now I want one as a pet!