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Thread: The Amazon

  1. #26
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    Quote Originally Posted by NamPikToot View Post
    The perils of Preston you didn't warn me about.

    SA is a great place and part of the world, forest and woods hold a special place in my heart.

    Was lucky to go up the umbongobongo twice but by christ the mozzies love me and basically anything bitey, i had so many i looked like one of doctor pimple poppers most challenging cases. Watch out for the Chagas.
    I took all sorts of spray with me and got fucking murdered by the mozzies....in my hotel room.

    Quote Originally Posted by Chittychangchang View Post
    Cool pics Hal, I bet that dodgy bar is like a home from home for you
    ..
    That bar was my favourite and was part of my final day piss up tour across 3 countries; the pics of which I was starting to upload before my shit computer crashed 5 minutes ago.

    The Amazon-malecon-drunk-jpg


    Roll up, get pissed, fall asleep and start again. Happy days!

    Quote Originally Posted by sabang View Post
    I made it to the Amazon in 1989, but not that far up to my regret. Manaus is over 1000km inland, but even moderate sized ocean liners can get up there, and you can only just see the other side of the river. It even has a fine old opera house- from the colonial rubber plantation days. But cocaine processing was probably the biggest industry when I was there. This is the 'big Amazon'- just after the Rio Negro and Amazon merge, and the two colored river effect is quite famous.
    The boat still goes down the Amazon from Tabatinga on the Brazilian side to Manaus and takes around 4 days. We've been thinking about doing it, but there's just so much to see and do S America and it's not cheap to get around.

    Quote Originally Posted by sabang View Post
    Of course where you are/were Hal (about another 800km inland at a guess) there are three countries bordering the Amazon- Bra, Col & Peru. It seems Peru gets most of the tourist numbers.
    As I was saying to Chitty above, I was just uploading pics of my final day piss up across las 3 fronteras when my crap computer crashed! The Colombian side is the most developed these days and gets most of the numbers for the Amazon but, as you say, Peru and Cuzco attract the majority of the hordes in general.

    Quote Originally Posted by sabang View Post
    Piranha meat is quite delicious btw, I just had it plain grilled. No probs at all with the bigger ones, guess the smaller ones they stew. Great thread- keep it going.
    Yeah, the food was good. Lots of fish and very tasty too. I'll try again later to get more pics up. In the meantime here's a few of the "border crossing" from Colombia to Brazil.

    The Amazon-3-borders-jpg


    The Amazon-bus-jpg


    About 50p to travel from Colombia to Brazil.

    The Amazon-fares-jpg
    Last edited by hallelujah; 12-02-2020 at 09:17 PM.

  2. #27
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    Re: the cost of travel in SA...

    Yeah, what gives? It's not labour costs. Sure corruption and crap infrastructure could be a factor, but Southeast Asia has corruption and poor infrastructure too and flying around SEA is relatively cheap.

  3. #28
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    Quote Originally Posted by happynz View Post
    flying around SEA is relatively cheap.
    But inly since Tony Fernandez started Air Asia . . . plus, initially the distances were quite short; MY-TH, MY-VN, MY-IN, MY-SG etc . . . plus you have the population density . . .


    But yes, that part of SA is very enticing. I've only been to Chile, Argentina and Iguassu Falls, so I can add Brazil

    An amazing continent

  4. #29
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    Quote Originally Posted by happynz View Post
    Re: the cost of travel in SA...

    Yeah, what gives? It's not labour costs. Sure corruption and crap infrastructure could be a factor, but Southeast Asia has corruption and poor infrastructure too and flying around SEA is relatively cheap.
    I believe supply and demand is one thing (there are more people travelling between countries in Asia), but the main issue is the absence of low cost airlines that fly internationally and the competition they generate (there are a few routes these days but nothing like Europe or Asia). I don't know why that is, but the flag carriers dominate and keep prices at a premium.

  5. #30
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    ^ come on mate. Where's these hookers you went there for?

  6. #31
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    Great thread and photos, hal. Out of ammo, but keep the pics coming.

  7. #32
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    Quote Originally Posted by Dillinger View Post
    ^ come on mate. Where's these hookers you went there for?
    I think they were in the back of this burger van.

    The Amazon-go-go-3-jpg


    Anyway, Tabatinga on the Brazilian side. We crossed over to one of the most dangerous border towns in the world...

    The Amazon-sign-1-jpg


    ...and went to a chocolate factory.

    The Amazon-chocolate-7-jpg


    Plenty of brass in these places later on, Dil.

    The Amazon-babylon-disco-2-jpg


    The Amazon-gomes-4-jpg



    There's no real border to speak of, but you know you're in Brazil 'cos the football shirts and lingo change although most people still speak Spanish as well.

    The Amazon-football-shirts-11-jpg


    The Amazon-market-11-jpg


    The Amazon-brazil-bars-11-jpg


    To be fair to the chocolate place, the sweet stuff took up only the front of the shop and the rest of the place was set aside for various types of alcohol.

    The Amazon-server-8-jpg


    Beer 1 of the day: Brazil.

    The Amazon-brazil-sign-9-jpg


    The Amazon-brazil-11-jpg


    The Amazon-beer-brazil-sign-10-jpg


    Next stop Peru.

  8. #33
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    So, off we set in a tuk tuk to the port to cross over to Peru. Football fans will recognise the face of this 1990s Colombian star on the back of the tuk tuk.

    The Amazon-valderam-jpg


    The Amazon-tuk-tuk-peru-jpg


    before a short 10 minute boat trip across the Amazon took us to the Peruvian border town of Santa Rosa.

    The Amazon-peru-boat-jpg


    The Amazon-welcome-peru-jpg


    A nicer little town than Tabatinga on the Brazilian side with loads of cosy little bars and restaurants.

    The Amazon-another-restaurant-jpg


    Machu Picchu in the photo below. I'll be there shortly for a few days.

    The Amazon-menu-sign-jpg


    The Amazon-coloured-house-jpg


    The Amazon-road-peru-2-jpg


    Plenty of gloryhunters about though.

    The Amazon-gloryhunters-jpg


    I was in this hammock not long after it was vacated by the fella and his mate.

    The Amazon-hammock-jpg


    And then it was time for lunch (Peruvian food is quite good as it has a big Chinese influence).

    The Amazon-lomo-salt-jpg


    Together with another beer in another country: Peru.

    The Amazon-peruvian-beer-jpg


    (Un)Fortunately, a tropical storm descended and I was forced to sample a few more of these in the bar with my mate keeping me entertained while the storm passed and he showered.

    The Amazon-parr-jpg
    Last edited by hallelujah; 16-02-2020 at 12:12 AM.

  9. #34
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    Evening was approaching and it was time to head back to Colombia for beer 3 of the day in the third different country.

    The Amazon-peru-ferry-port-jpg


    Bizarrely, we passed this place on the Colombian side.

    The Amazon-korean-school-jpg


    Ahead of the local elections, there was a bit of campaigning going on (it wasn't the local Fiorentina supporters club).
    The Amazon-political-protest-jpg


    and after some grilled chicken on the way to my favourite bar

    The Amazon-chicken-jpg


    the objective of getting pissed in 3 different countries in one day had been achieved.

    The Amazon-beer-colombia-jpg

  10. #35
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    Wow, never thought of that goal, good one. I have been in several "states" yea, confusion, disarray, shock ect. Thanks, I'll be retooling my objectives going forward. Kinda gives me something to shoot for.

    Cheers, fishy.

  11. #36
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    HAl, keep em coming.

    1. You didn't get pissed in three countries? apologies but my inner pedant couldn't let that pass
    2. Did you also miss out on passaporte stanps? - one of my prized ones is one of 3 i have from Argentina but the Sgt at one of the immigration crossings took delight in stamping over the falklands is stamp and writing Islas Malvinas with a big grin - all good though

  12. #37
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    The final day's piss up was well deserved as I must confess to not having got stuck into the ale the previous few days. I was goosed after the trip down the Amazon and into the jungle the next day, so had instead been enjoying the local fruit juices (the variety of tropical fruit in Colombia is even better than Thailand).

    The Amazon-fruit-jpg


    As per above, after the day on a boat down the Amazon, we did a bit of a hike into the jungle itself with a local guide.

    The Amazon-painu-1-jpg


    The Painu are one of the local indigenous groups, with their own language, who do a lot of the trips into the jungle and down the Amazon. The main man was keen to give us a bit of rocket fuel (for good luck) before we set off.

    The Amazon-jose-2-jpg


    The Amazon-map-3-jpg


    The Amazon-guide-4-jpg


    We were hoping to see a couple of sloths in the morning, but had to settle for a load of mushrooms and lots of weird looking insects instead. I'm sure you'd have a good few hours on these mushies should you be so inclined.

    The Amazon-mushies-5-jpg


    Anyone know what this is?

    The Amazon-insect-6-jpg


    The afternoon was spent out on the lakes that make up parts of the Amazon fishing for piranhas. I wasn't too sure about the boat at first.

    The Amazon-guide-7-jpg



    The Amazon-guide-lake-8-jpg



    The Amazon-lake-9-jpg


    The Amazon-rainbow-10-jpg


    Nothing big enough to eat though, so back they went.

    The Amazon-20191016-165455-jpg


    We stuck around on the lake a little bit too long, so a short run to the other side of the island wasn't quite quick enough to catch the sunset, unfortunately.

    The Amazon-out-jungle-11-jpg


    The Amazon-sunset-12-jpg


    More local elections as we passed through villages on the way back and Fuker would definitely get my vote.

    The Amazon-fuker-13-jpg

  13. #38
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    Quote Originally Posted by NamPikToot View Post
    HAl, keep em coming.

    1. You didn't get pissed in three countries? apologies but my inner pedant couldn't let that pass
    2. Did you also miss out on passaporte stanps? - one of my prized ones is one of 3 i have from Argentina but the Sgt at one of the immigration crossings took delight in stamping over the falklands is stamp and writing Islas Malvinas with a big grin - all good though
    1. Technically, no, but I began the job in Brazil, was tipsy by the time we left Peru and can only barely remember hitting the hay back in Colombia.

    2. Sadly, no. You only get stamped at the airports (Colombia and Brazil) and there are no controls between the three towns themselves.

  14. #39
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    Football fans will recognise the face of this 1990s Colombian star on the back of the tuk tuk.
    Did Pablo Escobar play football? Jeez, you'd wanna be on his team.

    Anyway, getting pissed before sundown in three countries- a mans effort. Well done.
    Last edited by sabang; 16-02-2020 at 05:19 AM.

  15. #40
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    The Amazon-gomes-4-jpg

    He plays for Watford
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails The Amazon-gomes-4-jpg  

  16. #41
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    ^ So did Justin Fashanu. Would you venture into his bar?

  17. #42
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    ^ Nah there would be no room unless he pushed a stool in a bit further.

  18. #43
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    ^ & ^^ you two are going to hell.

  19. #44
    Isle of discombobulation Joe 90's Avatar
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    How's it going Hal?

    Anymore trips planned?

    Found these pics tonight, thought you might like them..

    IMAGE COPYRIGHTSEBASTIÃO SALGADO
    image captionBank of the Rio Negro, near the Anavilhanas archipelago, in the state of Amazonas, 2019
    Brazilian photographer Sebastião Salgado spent six years travelling around the Amazon region, capturing images of the forest, rivers and mountains for his latest book, Amazônia.


    "For me, it is the last frontier, a mysterious universe of its own, where the immense power of nature can be felt as nowhere else on Earth," he says.


    IMAGE COPYRIGHTSEBASTIÃO SALGADO
    image captionCotingo River Falls, in the state of Roraima, 2018
    "Here is a forest stretching to infinity that contains one tenth of all living plant and animal species, the world's largest single natural laboratory."


    IMAGE COPYRIGHTSEBASTIÃO SALGADO
    image captionMarauiá mountain range, state of Amazonas, 2018
    A lifelong advocate for the Amazon's indigenous people, Salgado documented the daily lives of a dozen of the tribes scattered throughout the rainforest - from hunting and fishing expeditions, to dances and rituals.


    IMAGE COPYRIGHTSEBASTIÃO SALGADO
    image captionThe painted designs on this girl's face indicates that she is not yet engaged. Photographed in Kampa do Rio Amônea Indigenous Territory, state of Acre, 2016


    Born in 1944, Salgado left a career in economics to start as a photographer in 1973.


    He worked on international assignments for a variety of photography agencies before forming his own, Amazonas Images, with his wife, Lélia, in 1994.


    IMAGE COPYRIGHTSEBASTIÃO SALGADO
    image captionA man making feather adornments, photographed in Rio Gregório Indigenous Territory, state of Acre, 2016
    Over the years, Salgado's work has featured in numerous exhibitions and books, the latest of which brings together his Amazon photography.


    IMAGE COPYRIGHTSEBASTIÃO SALGADO
    image captionRain falls over Serra do Divisor National Park, state of Acre, 2016
    "My wish, with all my heart, with all my energy, with all the passion I possess, is that in 50 years' time this book will not resemble a record of a lost world," he says.


    "Amazônia must live on."


    IMAGE COPYRIGHTSEBASTIÃO SALGADO
    image captionA young woman paints her face in the mirror. Photographed in Kampa do Rio Amônea Indigenous Territory, state of Acre, 2016


    Amazônia, by Sebastião Salgado, is published by Taschen.
    Shalom

  20. #45
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    Smart pics. The guide who took us into the jungle still Whatsapps me from time to time; they had it tough for a while with Covid in the Amazon region but things have been settling down since then.

    I just got back actually from a few days away on the coast last week. Nothing special, but I'm hoping to do something decent in the summer and get out of the country for a few weeks.

    I might even be able to get back to the UK and have a pint with you if I get to Europe and a country on the green list.

  21. #46
    Isle of discombobulation Joe 90's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by hallelujah View Post
    might even be able to get back to the UK and have a pint with you if I get to Europe and a country on the green list.
    It'll be more than one this time mate a proper session.

    Look forward to it.

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