Journey to the Andes: Into the Amazon

Tuesday, May 09, 2006

Into the Amazon

Hey guys, sorry for the delay in the update. I just got back from a trip down the River Beni (i think) to a place called Rurrenebaque! After traveling on the world's most dangerous road from La Paz to Coroico (at night in the fog...again...) for a second time, I caught a bus to some town and then a taxi stuffed with 9 people to Guanay, where I found a guy that was doing a 3 day boat trip to Rurre. So I hopped aboard! We slept outside under tarps and mosquito nets, walked through the rainforest, stayed with a tiny local community (only 50 people live there!) and learned a few things about their lifestyle (they use plants from the rainforest as medicine...it's a huge wealth of knowledge that they have) Here in Rurre everybody rides motorcycles, it's neat. And you can get fish here! The group of travelers that I went with was less then inspiring, so I have to find some more people to travel with...I'm probably going to go on another 3 day trip to the jungle, so that should be interesting, and then off to Trindad. My first parcel arrived home safely, thank god, and my other one should be arriving sometime soon...I'm a little sick, my throat hurts, so I'm off to the Pharmacy. Take care everyone, see you all in a couple months!

posted by Ben @ 11:14 AM

7 Comments:

At 11:55 AM, Anonymous said…

Hi Be

Thanks for the update. Sounds like you are really having an adventure!! I'm glad you aren't waiting before going to the pharmacy. Lord only knows what bug you might pick up in the "jungle". Your second parcel arrived yesterday. Dad is picking it up today so we'll have fun going through it!! Be safe. Love Mom
At 12:30 PM, Andrés Paz said…

Yo, Ben-star,

Post some more photos man, travel should not be left to the imagination, that is so awesome, time in the jungle! Try not to get killed, either by the bugs, driving or illness.

Peace
At 12:34 PM, Andrés Paz said…

Oh, one other thing, I have a diary collection of my travels on blog now,

see, www.awesomezen.blogspot.com
At 4:09 PM, Anonymous said…

Hey, Ben!
A friend of mine just got home from Bolivia and he told me wild stories of gringoes going crazy in sleezy Bolivian bars and shagging policecars in front of the local police, too terrified to interfere. Have you ever heard of such??? I was quite shocked when I heard about it. No wonder why the gringoes are not very popular in South Amreica......Enjoy your jungleadventure and come back in one peace!!!
Anne ;)
At 11:52 PM, Anonymous said…

Hey Ben,
Apparently the insects in the amazon are HUGE! Is that true? Speaking of huge FD is playing at a bar in West Ed mall on Friday on a HUGE stage! I think they're pretty excited, but I'm not sure how many people will come to see them and how many will just stick around after the hockey game and kind of ignore them.
So you don't really tell us about the river or anything. What was it like?! You don't even say it was fucking awesome, or is blew chunks or "I got picked up by a giant mosquito, and attacked by pirrannah, etc. etc." I know you probably don't wanna waste your time in Bolivia on a computer but I can't wait until you come back to hear the freakin' details!
Stay off the dangerous roads at night in the fog, take care, and all that.
Love Ellie
At 10:08 AM, Andrés Paz said…

hey,

would you be interested (and able) to play for an aid concert on Aug. 18th?
At 11:55 AM, forsaken said…

hello,
hey i was reading your blog and found it great, how do you start a trip like that and progress throughout it travel wise and living wise, how did you get started are set up on some kind of registered packaged or just freestyling it, i saw those pictures and i couldnt believe those beachs actually existed if you can or dont mind filling me in on how i could make a trip there myself- Dennis terrogore@hotmail.com