inhale, exhale

[asakiyume]

I learned so much in the Amazon: one, that the river inhales and exhales: when it has breathed in deeply and its waters extend the farthest, tall trees are underwater and the fish feed on palm fruits. Maximum expansion is March. And then it exhales, shrinks-shrinks-shrinks, and temporary islands appear, and people rush out and take advantage of the 40 cm of rich soil the river has left to grow quick crops that can be harvested before the river rises and swallows the islands back up again. The river is at its lowest point in September--at which time you can walk to the island across from the pier where we got boats when we went out on the water (this is on a tiny tributary--one of our guides called it a creek--but it looked pretty big to us!)

I saw all the types of liminal houses: houses on stilts, floating houses, and house boats. Here is a floating house.



I have more stories to share (of course!) but we caught Covid (despite everything; we were vaxxed and masked to the max), so I'll probably still be a little scarce around here for a bit.

One more thing before I go: I loved how indoors and outdoors blended. Here's a coffee shop and bakery where we stopped on the way back from a bike ride:

Comments

[sovay]

I saw all the types of liminal houses: houses on stilts, floating houses, and house boats.

I am glad you had so much of the liminal. Heal well and completely. I like the tree waiting in line at the coffee shop. It looks like it parked the bike.

[squirrelitude]

Wow! I didn't know the river did that. That cycle must drive so many of the rhythms of life there, both human and everyone else.

The vague delineation between indoors and out in tropical places has fascinated me for a while. A few years back I realized it was to some degree a matter of scale: I'm fairly sure that the ants that walk in under the cruddy weatherstripping on our front door in Somerville don't know they're "indoors". :-) The larger the gaps, the more "friends" you end up with.

[minoanmiss]

*hugs you* when you;'re ready I'm eager to listen.

[wayfaringwordhack]

So sorry to hear you got covid. I hope you recover quickly.

I can't wait to hear more about your trip, but the lead in with the "breathing" cycle of the water is fascinating!

[sartorias]

That is so cool about the river inhaling and exhaling! Yeah, when it's warm all the time, you can have roof supports instead of walls and windows. (Though you often need mosquito netting as a kind of wall around your bed.) Nifty photo!

I look forward to more pix--after you get rid of the plague. Feel better soon!

[anna_wing]

The Irrawaddy does the same! Based on the monsoon, so very similar.

I hope you recover quickly and fully.

[heleninwales]

I'm sorry to hear you both caught covid, but at least it was while having an epic adventure and not just visiting a local shop. I hope you get over it quickly.

I didn't know the Amazon expanded and contracted like that. I'm familiar with river levels rising and falling with the seasons and the rainfall, but not to that extent.

[mallorys_camera]

You caught COVID? While you were in Columbia? Or when you got back?

Glad it was a great trip. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

[osprey_archer]

So sorry to hear you got Covid, but so glad you had a great trip! The breathing river is fascinating, and the open-air coffee shop looks like such a nice place to sit and relax.

[amaebi]

How very Mermaid's Hands.

[cmcmck]

Hope you get over the lurgi easily.

I still think people overrate the protection given by masks- they protect others from you (a bit at least) not you from others.

[http://lotuslandfineart.com/velvetrope/]

That sounds like a magical trip, COVID notwithstanding. Heal quickly and take all of the time you need to completely recover.