Day 20 .. Back to absolute reality

I had to get up very early in order to catch the boat back to ‘civilization’. Breakfast at 0500... boat at 0530!! It did mean that I got to see the dawn rising again and marvel at the colours...
That was about the only benefit. I thanked the staff that cooked all the meals and left them a tip and contrary to the English person in me, gave a tip to Fernando for his efforts in finding the elusive animals of the jungle. And then into the waiting boat for the 4 hour trip back to Coca.

The trip back seemed much quicker than on the way out and it was with a little surprise that I realised we were already back at the port of Coca.  I was greeted with noise from the docks and people waiting to board boats, traffic beeping their horns.... a far cry from the peace I had left behind.   I had formulated a plan on the way back... I still had three days before I needed to be back in Quito...  perhaps I could organise another trip. I had been very lucky in how many animals I had seen in the jungle, but there was one nagging omission... no snakes.

Given that reptiles would rank as my favourite class of animal, this was a disgrace. Most of all I would love to see an anaconda in the wild. The heaviest snakes in the world, they are a prehistoric looking creature, beautifully camouflaged for the environment they lived in. I would need more than a small dose of luck to glimpse one, but it was worth a few more days of looking... if the budget would allow it!

I remembered seeing a ‘travel agent’ on the way to the docks 5 days ago and I decided to ask there. On the way there I found another one and went to enquire about the feasibility of an anaconda hunting trip. The gentleman there came up.with a plan and then told me a price... I couldnt justify spending that much on 3 days...perhaps the anaconda hunt would have to be shelved.

I wandered up the road to Amazon Travel, where I met a chap called Pedro, who on hearing my budget came up with a plan for travel around 3 lagoons where I might find an anaconda... just over budget, I agreed to the price. Cash only of course so I asked him where the nearest ATM was. He offered me a lift on the back of his motorbike, adding to the multitude of modes of transport I am taking on this journey.
Fortunately there were no cash flow problems this time and I went away from Amazon travel with a booking for another 3 days in the jungle starting from tomorrow. I went away wuth a spring in my step... I didnt have to return to reality properly just yet!
That said, a night in the Imperial Coca Hotel was not without its benefits. Having been in the jungle for 5 days with 1 pair of  trousers, 1 pair of shorts (still damp) and one pair of socks (able to walk on their own), it was with pleasure that I discovered that the hotel had a laundry service!!! Clothes bagged up and handed to the desk clerk, I discovered that the service was just him dashing over to the laundry down the street... still clean clothes, worth every penny!!!!

I discovered as I went for a shower that a mosquito had gone to town, literally biting pretty much every inch of my arse and the backs of my legs... It looked like a chickenpox outbreak ( apologies if too much info) ... what with that and the thousands of bites on my hands (fingers are the worst) elbows, legs, feet... I guess you could say that the bugs had a field day...
It led to a slightly restless night for me!!
Hopefully the next lot of mosquitoes would decide I had already been claimed and leave me alone!
Back out to the jungle tomorrow... cant wait!!