Monkey see, monkey do, then ten other monkeys do, too!

These pictures are from several weeks ago.  I've been slacking on posting, but in my defense, we've been through a lot in the past couple of weeks!  There was major drama at the school that was stressing us out, and our apartment was under construction.  I was trying my hardest to stay out of the apartment, both so that I wouldn't get depressed by how dirty it was, and so that I wouldn't get dirty myself while they were tearing it apart!

We found these monkeys at a park in Barra.  I think they are both ugly and cute at the same time.

I had a bad peach that I didn't want, so I put it on the ground for the monkeys.

One came over.

Soon there were two...

then three...

then four...

then five...

then six.

This is just so you can see how long their tails are.

Several watched from the trees.

(Count them plus the ones on the ground and you could call it a posse of monkeys!)

This guy got tired of the other guys barging in on his peach, so he ran off with it.

Peter felt bad for the peach-less ones, so he gave them grapes.  Soon he was swarmed by monkeys, so we hastily ran away!  We really shouldn't have been messing with them, because they can get aggressive and have been known to bite.  

Moral of the story is - these tiny monkeys look cute, and we got some good pictures out of it, but we must advise that you not feed them, because they can be mean.  Also, once you start feeding one, a dozen others will show up, and soon you'll be out of food.

Sand fleas - a trip down memory lane

A couple of weeks ago I got a bite on my foot that itched for hours before I realized what it was.  It was a pesky little sand flea bite.  Actually, I'm not sure what the real name of the bug is, but both times I've been bit have been in sand, so I figure that's close enough.  These bites are about the size of mosquito bites, with a weird blood bubble at the top, and they itch like cah-razy!!!

Ok, so now it's two weeks later, I have this one little bite on my foot that's driving me crazy, itching so bad it's overtaking my entire foot!  And I suddenly realize why this seems so familiar... 

(I only have one bite right now and I'm about to go crazy.  How did I cope three years ago when that happened???)

Remember this post about how much I love the jungle?  Yes, well I definitely don't love these bug bites.  How could I forget something like this?!?!  Well, I decided something about traveling overseas:  It's like going through childbirth (ok, I've never been through childbirth, but I think I've heard enough about it to use it in an analogy).  

So when you go through childbirth it's crazy and painful and you swear you're never ever going to let your husband even look at you ever again.  Yet, somehow, a year or two later, there you are in the hospital giving birth again.  Maybe the joy of your baby (or maybe the post pregnancy hormones) made you forget the delivery and recovery.  

Well that's how it is traveling overseas - you swear you're never going to endure the long flights, exhaustion, crazy food, upset stomachs, and weird bugs (and bug bites).  Yet the excitement of new places to see, yummy food to try (regardless of how it affects your intestines), amazing people to meet, and fun things to do make you forget about the painful experiences.  

And pretty soon, a year after you've sworn off airplanes forever (for the 10th time), there you are, living in Brazil, scratching your foot, and remembering the last time you were in the jungle...

Things that grow on other things

You all remember how I love trees, right?  Well there is something unique about the trees around Barra that I noticed right away!  I don't know if this is a Brazil thing or a Rio thing, but everywhere you look, there are things growing on other things.  And not normal things like vines or other jungle-y items, such as this:

a typical occurrence in the jungle

I'm talking orchids and other houseplants growing on trees...

Here it is not uncommon to see orchids, and other random plants, tied to trees, and freely growing. 

No room in your apartment?  Hang your houseplants from your trees!

I love the pop of color this orchid provides!

 I have no idea what's going on with this little guy, but he looks quite comfortable...

(Sorry for the spotty/blurry photos - it was raining when I snapped the pics! Don't worry, we have a waterproof camera!)

I love these random plants growing on other plants!  I think they are so whimsical and cute.  The added vegetation makes the neighborhood look more green and luscious.  At first it was confusing, because the way they are attached, I thought they were naturally growing there.  I think after awhile the roots start to wrap around the tree and they survive for a long time!

What do you think of this "decor" idea?  Something you would try in your yard?

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View from Parque Lage

You may remember our trip to Parque Lage.  This was the view from one of the trails.  I'm not sure what part of the city it is, but I thought it was a pretty picture.

More from the birthday hike - Pico da Tijuca

I know these are a long time coming, but here are some more pictures of the hike we took a couple of weekends ago.

Jungle mornings

Poem by E. E. Cummings; you can take your grammar issues up with him... ;)
Photo by Julie, taken in Peru


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Sounds you never forget...

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xo,

Julie

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Sleepy Peruvian

I love this photo but wish it weren't so dark.  

It was about 4:30 in the morning, the sun was thinking about getting up, and every 5 minutes or so a lone canoe-er would glide by on the river.  I would have enjoyed it so much more if it weren't 4 in the morning!

Photo taken by me.

Camu-Camu

The Camu-Camu fruit in Peru.  Yucky when eaten raw... yummy when made into a slushy-lemonadey type of drink!  It's very beneficial, too - lots of vitamin C!

Panama Canal

I went to Panama in 2004 on a mission trip.  Time has flown since then!  I'd love to go back soon!

(above) A view of the Panama Canal (river) in the middle of the jungle.

It eventually leads to the most famous area where the locks are:

It is pretty amazing!  

I love the jungle

I love living in the U.S.A.  We have an easy life for which I am grateful, especially in the midst of all my health problems.  But sometimes I get in these moods where I just really miss the jungle.

I miss it.  All of it - the humidity, the foliage, the sounds, the rain, the views!  

I have loved every country I've visited, every experience I've had - Korea, Romania, Italy, etc, but I never just sit around and miss it like I miss the jungle.  Does that make sense?

Some photos of my 2010 trip to Peru:

(Don't you want to be on that hammock right now?)

Video:

We were on a canoe looking for alligators.  It was pitch black, but as you can hear, very noisy.  :) 

Video:

In a float-plane, landing on the river.

(This photo was taken by my friend, Ayumi)

(I don't miss the bugs)

Some photos of my 2004 trip to Panama (the first 4 photos were taken on a disposable camera and then scanned to the computer, hence the grainy quality):

View from the hotel in Panama... I highly recommend that hotel, it was amazing: Gamboa Rainforest Resort

xo,

Julie