Monkey Business
Tuesday, May 30th, 2006After a bus trip along what must have been the worlds second most dangerous road we miraculously arrived in Rurrenabaque (Rurre) early morning, then onto a boat two hours later in the pissing rain on our way to the start of our jungle tour.
The weather improved from here on, and with our guide, Mr Miyagi of Karate Kid fame, we set off from camp to climb through thick vegetation, across rivers, upto to high lookout points and out at night to try to find some of the ever-elusive wildlife, which prefers to stay hidden by day. We managed to find very little but wandering around in the dark with nothing more than flashlights was fun of a scarey kind.
The Mexican singer Pedro Fernandez shows us which hand he prefers to wank with in the jungle
After 2 days in the jungle we returned to Rurre for a night before heading out the next day for a 3 day pampas tour. The Pampas are the level wetlands that back onto the jungle and cross over the border into Brazil, where they get renamed the Pantanal. This was the place to come and see wildlife. After several hours in a 4×4 we boarded a wobbly little boat which would be our transport for the next few days.
The tour took in cruising down the river looking at the many birds, turtles, aligators etc., then out at night to shine torches in the aligators eyes, and even to catch a baby one for voyeuristic purposes. Another day we went out trudging through foul smelling swamp water in search of an anaconda (and water bourne tropical diseases). Didn`t find an anaconda, but lovely walking through shitty water and grasses all the same.
The cutest rabies carriers you`re ever likely to meet
The last day we did a spot of piranha fishing, saw some gay pink dolphins and had it all topped off with a monkey invasion on the boat. The tours had been fantastic, and after returning to Rurre for a night we took a cheap flight back to La Paz, where I stopped for a few days and said goodbye to Rico, Ben and Dan who were on a tighter time schedule. Bumped into some guys I`d met in Santiago though, small world that it is here on the gringo trail.
Now down at Lake Titikaka, which spans the Bolivia/Peru border, at a place called Copacabana (I don`t think the Rolling Stones will be playing at this one). Heading out to the Isla del Sol (mythical Inca island) tomorrow for a couple nights before heading on into Peru friday to Cuzco.
Valle de La Luna bathed in the light of the setting sun
Myself and the aussie couple, Andrew and Megan, booked ourselves onto a two night/three day 4x4 trip across the ... 
Plaza España in Mendoza
I spent my last couple days in Argentina in the heart of wine country in a place called Mendoza, in the east of Argentina level with Buenos ... 
Ed