From the Field

14 Dec 2001

Sometimes “piranha” means it’s necessary to return to the canoe for more hooks and steel leader. Roberto tries out Lances fish net, for the first time! We are not sure if Roberto was impressed. But Lance was sure impressed with his net.

The small tropical fish we net today will go back with us to Puerto Maldonado and into our fish tank where they will be on display. Later in “From the Field” we will show how well they survived the trip. ??

Roberto gave us a history lesson this day. Here are rubber trees showing evidence of the rubber boom that found this area during 1960s. The hunt for wild rubber was accelerated with the outbreak of World War II.

We see raw rubber dripping across old slash marks left years ago. The rubber hunters would cut the horizontal slashes then leave and come back every week to collect the rubber that dripped into buckets placed at the bottom of the slash mark. Week after week rubber was collected then exported to countries who demanded it.

Giant spider webs.

Giant people.

Giant trees.

GIANT COCKROACHES !!!!

Belinda is rather fond of cockroaches and she has no problem admitting it either. This one would make a splendid broach, wouldn’t you think?

Shown here actual size……. GEORGEOUS

Roberto is not laughing at Belinda.
He is getting a refreshing drink of water from paca bamboo. It pays to pay attention to a native.

“Aquajal” a seasonally flooded swamp forest with its characteristic tall aguaje palms. This palm is one of the main food suppliments of the native people who eat the fruit of the palm. Scientific name Mauritia flexuosa

A very interesting fungi called “dead mans fingers” by the locals is usually found growing from fell trees that have begun to decay.

After our long but successful day, we returned to our boat for food and some time to relax. We spend the night on the playa and enjoy the beautiful sunset.