On a hike in the Amazon
This morning we set out early from Heliconia in a canoe, led by our local guide through tangles of submerged trees. Our target was a remote area that was suffciently large and above the Amazonian water level to be home to larger fauna. The water by the bank was shallow and from the point where we secured the boat we had some way to walk in ankle/calf high water. Even on the 'dry' land, the terrain remained damp and squelched underfoot as my boots sank through leaves into the earth or mud beneath. Among the fauna on our wish list were anacondas - ideally to be found resting in the pools. Otherwise they might be hiding under the fallen leaves waiting to catch a passing meal. I saw none in the pools. Nor was I attacked. The main fauna we encountered were monkeys, high up in the canopy. At ground level it was the flora that was interesting - curling lianas, red palm roots, weird fungus, and local fruit, often the discarded shells of fruit popular with the monkeys above. It was a hot, sweaty walk and we relished the air current on the canoe back.
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In 2022, I returned to Colombia. The main purpose of this trip was to explore the Amazonian rainforest areas near Leticia and then on the Rio Negro. In 2007 I was in the Leticia area on a volunteering project and the 2022 trip gave me the chance to see more of the area.
As these are border areas, with the rivers travelled actually being the borders, I also visited / transitted through Brazil, Peru and Venezuela. I will create one master set / album for the entire six week trip, plus separate country albums to help viewers who are interested only in a specific country.
I also spent time in Bogota and in the Boyaca region. Overall intinerary: London - Leticia - Bogota - Villavincenzio - Rio Negro - Puerto Inirida - Bogota (incl Nemocon) - Villa de Leyva - Tunja - Bogota - London.
Carsten ten Brink is also a writer of fiction and nonfiction - for further information see www.carstentenbrink.com/Writing.html. 'The Nicotine Solution,' a piece relating to his time in the Amazon in 2022, has appeared in the US publication The Write Launch - see thewritelaunch.com/2024/12/the-nicotine-solution/. It also features several of his photos.
On a hike in the Amazon
This morning we set out early from Heliconia in a canoe, led by our local guide through tangles of submerged trees. Our target was a remote area that was suffciently large and above the Amazonian water level to be home to larger fauna. The water by the bank was shallow and from the point where we secured the boat we had some way to walk in ankle/calf high water. Even on the 'dry' land, the terrain remained damp and squelched underfoot as my boots sank through leaves into the earth or mud beneath. Among the fauna on our wish list were anacondas - ideally to be found resting in the pools. Otherwise they might be hiding under the fallen leaves waiting to catch a passing meal. I saw none in the pools. Nor was I attacked. The main fauna we encountered were monkeys, high up in the canopy. At ground level it was the flora that was interesting - curling lianas, red palm roots, weird fungus, and local fruit, often the discarded shells of fruit popular with the monkeys above. It was a hot, sweaty walk and we relished the air current on the canoe back.
---
In 2022, I returned to Colombia. The main purpose of this trip was to explore the Amazonian rainforest areas near Leticia and then on the Rio Negro. In 2007 I was in the Leticia area on a volunteering project and the 2022 trip gave me the chance to see more of the area.
As these are border areas, with the rivers travelled actually being the borders, I also visited / transitted through Brazil, Peru and Venezuela. I will create one master set / album for the entire six week trip, plus separate country albums to help viewers who are interested only in a specific country.
I also spent time in Bogota and in the Boyaca region. Overall intinerary: London - Leticia - Bogota - Villavincenzio - Rio Negro - Puerto Inirida - Bogota (incl Nemocon) - Villa de Leyva - Tunja - Bogota - London.
Carsten ten Brink is also a writer of fiction and nonfiction - for further information see www.carstentenbrink.com/Writing.html. 'The Nicotine Solution,' a piece relating to his time in the Amazon in 2022, has appeared in the US publication The Write Launch - see thewritelaunch.com/2024/12/the-nicotine-solution/. It also features several of his photos.