For the last week the organization has been hosting a short term volunteer group from Oregon Institute of Technology. The group worked with the local dental school and did clinics in primary and secondary schools in the area. They taught the kids the importance of brushing your teeth using small circles and gave them all toothbrushes. They also picked some kids that needed some extensive work on their teeth and worked with them during the week filling in cavities, root canals, etc.This past Sunday Nathanael and I joined the group on a trip to the jungle. We were told to bring thick pants, long socks, long sleeve shirts, and mosquito repellent with a lot of deet. We took a bus from the organization to the dock down town. We loaded all our things on to the organizations boat and began our journey. We got on the Nanay River which is one of the many tributaries of the Amazon. We got to see a few pink dolphins along the way. We got on the Amazon and started heading to La Isla de los Monos (Monkey Island).
There we were introduced to a few kinds of monkeys, Wholly Monkeys, Spider Monkeys, Tamarines, and a few other kinds. The monkeys had interesting behaviors and were pretty cleaver. You had to be careful with your things because they would get into your backpack and take some things. Others knew a few tricks, like how to play dead, "sing" or hang itself using its tale. After visiting the monkeys we went on a hike to the other side of the island and saw all the different kinds of vegetation they had. They had star fruit, cocoa trees, coconuts, all of which we tried.
After we left Monkey Island, we toured a few other islands around the area. We finally made our way to the island were the Bora tribe lived which is found off the Momon River. We set up camp in the little village of San Andres. We did not have showers so we went to the river and swam around to get the sweat and dirt off our bodies.We woke up early the next morning, gathered our stuff and headed out. We began our hike to the Boras. Our guide, Walter, was the Bora Chief's son. Walter took us out to the jungle and
taught us a little about natural remedies that can be found in many plants in the jungle. He also taught us where you could find water if you were stranded in the jungle with out any, and even what bugs to eat. The jungle is rich in resources and natural remedies. Some of the remedies are a bit extremely, but seem to work. The indigenous people of the Amazon survive on its resources. In the jungle you do not have easy access to a pharmacy to fill a prescription for a high fever or bronchitis.We finally arrived at the Bora tribe around noon.They performed a few of their ritual dances and showed us a few of their art work.
All in all the jungle experience was great. We did sweat and we were extremely dirty, but enjoyed every second of it!
