Following the natives - the hike through the jungle

Our brave team consisting of 5 members was supposed to get up early in the morning to watch birds but unfortunately we had to skip it due to the weather - torrential rain. Luckily, around the noon, the sun appeared again and we could set out on our trip. We boarded the canoe one more time, however, this time not for so long.

Now, when we got to the shore and disembarked the canoe, the educational part of our tour started. The guide explained everything about the plants and the jungle around us and how the natives use it in their daily life. It's amazing how strongly we, humans, are connected to the nature and, at the same time, how much we have moved away from it. A few days in The Amazon demonstrates it perfectly.

The number of various trees, plants and even insects used by the Amazon Indians is staggering. Some of the species are known to have medicinal purposes (sap of one of the trees works as both mosquito repellent and cures the bites), other are poisonous. Some are very dangerous, other are helpful, like for example the "telegraph tree" which, when hit, produces muffled sounds carried by the echo all over the jungle - a perfect communication device. Another useful plant is "Pente de Macaco", meaning "monkey's brush". Its fruit has the unique shape of a comb or sponge. If you want to snack on something, no problem, you can simply find the "chickle tree" that produces white, thick resin which can later be used as... chewing gum. Not to be confused with the "rubber tree" (also found in the Amazon)!

The strange Chambira and Awara palm trees belong to the same family (astrocaryum), and one of their main features are protruding in all directions pointy spikes. Natives use them to kill the prey, after dipping the tip in some poison obtained from a plant or frog and attaching it to the arrow of a bow. These palms also have orange, edible fruit containing black seeds from which the natives make rings and jewellery.

When it gets dark, and you need fire, Chambira will help you, too. Its black, thick sap is perfectly flammable and burns for a considerable amount of time.

Let's say now you got bored of chewing the natural gum and you would eat something more substantial. To get protein, there's no need to run around with spears and hunt animals. You just have to find one of the jungle nuts, open it with a stone and indulge in fat, nutritious white larvae that reside inside. Don't worry if they are still moving, they are ready to be served.

Our guide had no problems whatsoever with consuming them and one member of our team also took chances to try that delicacy, however the poor woman spat it out as soon as she put it into her mouth. I, to be honest, wasn't brave enough to even touch it...