nueva luna, amazonia

Wow. Every week is better. Honestly.

Wednesday I was ill. I believe it was sun overexposure. After work I stayed in bed and slept for several hours. Thursday I was weak but better, and a better me by Friday. But Wednesday I missed bridge jumping. SAD! That would have been quite the experience. wednesday was the new moon. i spent a lot of time thinking and processing. i am in a new place now, better stronger happier. i feel more solid. i really feel myself growing. the new moon really was a transformative time for me. and is she ever beautiful here...i think the moon shines brighter here. but maybe it is just me glowing.

Thursday Al, our friend Sarah, and I went on a weaving tour in Salasaca, an indegenous community near Baños. Alonso Pilla and his family are one of few families that still use the traditional back strap loom. They do amazing work, so intricate. It is hard work. It takes two years to make a traditional poncho in this method, they use fine fiber. Alonso´s son taught me how and I got to use the back strap loom! It was an increadible experience to sit on the floor of this man´s house and weave the way these people have been for hundreds, thousands(?) of years.

Friday we (Al Sarah and I) went to Tena, a city in the jungle. It was so hot and humid. Jungle life is much more sultry. Saturday we went to Mishualli, a small lazy jungle village almost an hour from Tena. There we hung out on the beach of the Rio Napo. In the evening Al and I went for a private boat ride and an unexpected tour of a small indegenous community. A shaman cleansed our energy, it was cleansing and strengthening. then we had chicha in the kitchen with the women. Chicha is a fermented yucca drink that is traditionally chewed and spit out by women. Ours was mashed not chewed. It is very strengthening. Ours was 4 days old, at five or six it is alcoholic. It was strange to walk around and observe these people while they are living their daily lives. We kinda felt like we were making them specimens or something, but I am very appreciative of the experience. I learned a lot and had some experiences I will never forget.

Sunday we went to el mariposario, a butterfly garden where they study butterflies. We got to see butterflies at all four stages of development (eggs, larvae, chrysalis, and butterflies). It was really cool to see the stages of different species. The butterflies are so bright and delicate and amazing! We got to see the legendary blue morphos flying about. and the one that looks like owl eyes. a bright orange one landed on me and hung out with me for a bit.

and then! (I sound like an overexcited kid probably, but i guess i am) we went tubing down the Rio Napo! oh wow. it was really exhilirating. we stopped and climbed up to a waterfall and stood underneath it, then slid down the smooth rocks. it was so fun.

i have more to tell of all these experiences of course, but that will wait until i see you!

but life is grand. i am so loving this experience, it really gets better all the time.


right now our plan is to stay in baños at the farm until saturday morning. then we will return to tena and mishualli for a few more days for more adventures and beach time (the amazon rainforest is hypnotizing) Then midweek we will head back up the andes to the northern highlands, back to the otavalo area for a few days. Then sunday we will be in quito and we leave monday and arrive in asheville late on tuesday. i have a feeling the last two weeks will be the best yet.