Back from the Amazon

[asakiyume]

I have so much in my head that the words pile up behind... my mouth? or my typing fingers? jostling to be first to come out. So before I try to say anything, I'll just share two clusters of photos, first an assortment of four I shared on Facebook (but you guys here get more context!)



In general whenever I saw a plant that interested me, I asked what it was and scribbled down notes. But this one I just saw and snapped a picture of because it was so pretty... and I didn't ask what it was. ETA: amaebi suggests it's likely an ismene, called variously a kind of spider lily or "Peruvian daffodil."(You can click through any of these to see them bigger.) Further ID suggests it is officially "Amazon lily, Urceolina amazonica".



This is me helping with fariña roasting! What a dream come true! I'll have more photos when I do a post about this day.



This is a shot from the dock of the mixed-ethnicity Indigenous community of Mocagua, a community of 800 people. I liked the kid, just entertaining himself on the small boat. The father of the family that runs the lodging where I stayed is involved in the Organización Nacional Indígena de Colombia (National Indigenous Organization of Colombia, a self-governance body).



And here is a banyan in the flooded forest, the part of the rain forest that the Amazon rises up and covers each year. So architectural!



And here is a lower-water, higher-water comparison. The first photo is one I took in July, when we went when the water was low, but not as low as it gets. The second is a photo in the same spot that I took this trip. I thought March was the highest-level time, but it turn out that's in April. So this is high--but not as high as it gets!


....lower


... higher


More to come ... and slowly slowly I will also be reading entries I've missed while away (though probably not all...)

Comments

[ranunculus]

Looks like an amazing trip!

[asakiyume]

It was indeed; truly wonderful!

[sovay]

This is me helping with fariña roasting! What a dream come true!

This picture is my favorite of this set, for that reason, but I do love the flooded banyan.

[asakiyume]

When I said wistfully that it would be fun to climb up into one, Ramiro very kindly got close to one that it was possible to climb into, and I did... though not very far, because I was in big rubber boots and a bit more chicken in practice than in imagination. But it was very fun and very satisfying ^_^

[osprey_archer]

Oh climbing a banyan (even just a little way) sounds AMAZING.

[asakiyume]

:D

It was pretty fun!

[sovay]

Ramiro very kindly got close to one that it was possible to climb into, and I did...

YAY.

[asakiyume]

Maybe pictures of that will be forthcoming later too ;-)

[sovay]

Maybe pictures of that will be forthcoming later too

Always share pictures of yourself in cool trees!

[cmcmck]

Amazing pics!

We're off on our own travels on Wednesday, but not quite as far as you.

[asakiyume]

Where are you off to?

[cmcmck]

Chester as we've heard so many good things about it and neither of us has ever been.

[asakiyume]

Nice! I'll look forward to your reports :-)

[mallorys_camera]

Welcome back!!! I'm so glad you made this trip! And glad you're returned. ❤️

[asakiyume]

I am equally glad of both things too, LOL! (And YOU are about to go off on yours, no?)

[mallorys_camera]

Ten more days.

I'm sure you'll get anxious texts. 😀

[asakiyume]

I am here for them! Throw 'em at me!

[amaebi]

Thank you for sharing! I particularly love the farina photo.

FWIW, I *think* the plant is an Ismene.

[asakiyume]

That looks highly probable! Thank you for the tentative ID; I appreciate it!

[shewhomust]

My friend who knows about plants says 'from the lily family' and will ask someone who knows. So that fits with ismene.

[asakiyume]

*thumbs up*
Thank you for the confirmation!

[shewhomust]

Message from above-mentioned 'someone who knows':

sorry for the long delay - my amazonian contact was exploring in Cambodia (no signal!)
The plant is most probably the Amazon lily, Urceolina amazonica.

[asakiyume]

NICE. I'm going to label it thus in my photos.

[smokingboot]

This is so inspiring, thank you for sharing your experiences!

[asakiyume]

You're very welcome! I'll be posting more--hopefully not to the point I send readers running away screaming at another post with the word "Amazon" in it ;-)

[wayfaringwordhack]

These are lovely! Looking forward to seeing more. We just got back from Egypt, and I was thinking I should post, too, but I am busy trying to catch up with my drawing.

That banyan gives me fodder for my MG story. :). And I love that you got to help with the fariña roasting and that I get to *see* you doing it.

[asakiyume]

I still need to write up some of the experiences for myself, before I forget them all, so I hear you on "busy trying to catch up"! (And of course this week I'm completely scheduled with work.) But I need to write to you, personally, because of a movie I saw on the flight back--I've had you in mind ever since. I'll send an email at some point!

[wayfaringwordhack]

Looking forward to receiving it! May work not be too overwhelming.

[asakiyume]

🙏🏻🙏🏻

[osprey_archer]

Love the comparison photos of the boardwalk! So interesting to see the contrast between low and high water. And the banyan tree! And the fariña roasting! It looks like an incredible trip.

[asakiyume]

It truly was everything I hoped it would be, which is just... an incredible gift.

[oracne]

It's so soothing to me to be able to see the horizon. (I grew up in Louisiana.)

[asakiyume]

Oh yes! Then you would feel at home here :-)

[yamamanama]

So much green, especially compared to here.

[asakiyume]

Yeah, it's the most ALIVE place I've ever been.

[sartorias]

Great pix! Banyans are so odd. Fascinating tree communities.

[asakiyume]

They are! We'd paddle past groups of them, and Ramiro would say, "These are actually all one tree."

[queenoftheskies]

I love your photos! Can't wait to hear more about your trip!!!

[asakiyume]

Thank you so much! I'm delighted to be able to share them!