Living in the Amazon jungle

The jungle. The Amazon jungle. We lived in the Ecuadorian Amazon jungle for almost 4 weeks with the Indigenous Shuar community. No electricity, no running water, no beds, no cars. A wasp built two nests in our room. A dog slept directly under us beneath the floor boards. A swarm of 20-30 butterflies flew around our house and one sat on Dean’s forehead for 10 minutes. A huge prickly caterpillar was lying on Dean’s pillow one morning and stung him. Two tarantulas lived in our roof. We bathed, washed our clothes and dishes in the river. We taught English at the local primary school and donated resources. Dean learnt to make spears and hunt. Lina learnt to put in contact lenses without a mirror. We built bamboo walls with machetes, wore gum boots and became Solitaire experts. We ate frog, lizard, snail and other interesting animals. We learnt about hallucinogenic medicinal plants, shrunken heads (tsantsa) and Shuar culture. We fell alseep to rain on the tin roof, saw rainbows, played cards by candlelight and swept ants out of the house. We have had the most amazing experience, one that we could not have bought.