Morning has broken to the usual sound of the squabbling parrots and screeches of the impatient hungry monkeys, but for me, I can have a bit of a long lie before heading to Curimana!

Because of the rain and the torrent current, the embankment down to the river to catch the canoe was treturous and the men had to help me board. It was a bit of a scary ride across as we were three people in the boat and the water came within inches of the lip.

But we made it safely and I caught the pick-up truck into Curimana. Across a second river on the ‘ferry’ avoiding the large amount of debris that had found its way into the river after the storm. These locals know no boundaries when it comes to danger and health and safety.

Arriving in Curimana one and a half hours later I went straight to the internet to connect to the WiFi to phone home. It was so wonderful to hear their voices once again and we chatted for such a long time and I sent loads of photos of the animals in the campus to Rachel. The lovely generous man who owned the internet facilities allowed me to sit outside his shop and surf for free as he was shutting for lunch and I had just arrived.

After an hour or so, I walked along to the restaurant to have lunch – a delicious bowl of barley with vegetables and a bottle of coke from the fridge. I don’t normally like fizz but this tasted particarly cold, sweet and thirst quenching in the heat of mid day sun.

There was not much to do in Curimana as I didn’t need any more messages so rather than hang around, I went and sat in the taxi pick-up shop and waited for my transport to take me back to Esperanza Verde.

Not long later – 20 mins or so, the 4×4 arrived full of people and the only way I was taking the return journey was to climb into the back of the truck – it was going to be a bumpy ride but it was also a cool journey in both sense of the word.

At the port (el Porte) it was almost impossible to descend down to the canoe and yet again the boatman came to my rescue by supporting me and leading the way.

On the other side, from the bank to the top was ridiculously steep, muddy and slippery and the only way I could get up was to remove my socks and shoes and wade right in – it was hilarious, the boatman clambered over the

top of me and firmly planted a pole into the sludge and hauled me up with all his might – we both were laughing so much I feared I would lose my slippery foothold and fall back down into the river and be swept far away downstream! But nope, we both made it safety with thick mud covered legs. I walked the rest of the way barefooted as there was no water around to wash my legs and feet.

Back at Esperanza Verde, I made myself a delicious toasted bun with jam that I had bought in Bayou on the other side of the river and washed it down with a wonderfully refreshing lemon tea- it was delicious.

What a gorgeous day I had! 😎😍

In the evening Roger and Dylan made dinner – roast vegetables with boiled rice and Charley, Selene, Holly, Anna, Sophie and I all played Rummy till almost 11pm.

It will be Charley and Selene’s last day tomorrow and I will miss them dearly as they have been good fun and we get on well.

9th October

What a day, hated it, every single minute. The mosquitoes that bit every square inch of my exposed skin, the fire ants who just appeared on my arms and nipped my skin at every opportunity, the monkeys that wanted to tear me limb from limb, the deer who punctured two big holes in poor Annas’ leg, the ‘Unable to identify the baby monkey’ milk session and the heat, the bloody heat, I could go on and on!!! I just wanted the day to be over.

To try to lighten my mood, I took some photos while doing the duties of the tour,

I put up my mozzy net and was looking forward to having a good few beers to say goodbye to Solene and Charlie round the campfire – the French couple who have been a wee oasis in a very dry dessert – I’ll miss them hugely. I probably stayed up way too late but it was something I wanted to hang on to

Even though this mozzy net is almost touching my nose, I feel safe and secure knowing that nothing can bite or land on me during the night.

Baby monkey tour again tomorrow, a long hard day!! Whoopee!!

Alex wants me to go in the clinic Sunday – Wednesday, no better place I’d rather be on my birthday!

I put my earphones in and my playlist on and drifted off to sleep thinking of those I miss so much.

🌙✨😢

10th October

I have decided to leave early – maybe only do three weeks instead of six and head back to Lima. I have to endure the residents tour tomorrow and then the clinic next week then I will make my decision.

Well what can so say about today – was it good? Nope, was it worse that yesterday? Yip! Am I enjoying this experience? Nope!! Why? Because the Bogeda is truly stressful and chaotic, because I was trapped in an enclosure and attacked by two monkeys and even though I shouted for help but no-body came, because I was bitten to death by ants, mosquitoes and other bugs and we can’t wear insect repellant because it’s bad for the animals!!!!!!), Because one of the the little woolly baby monkeys was hanging from the branches by his back legs and kept pulling my hair and slapping my head when I was in cleaning their cage, because the heat is so unbearable, because I have dread dysentery diarrhoea almost every day and there is no privacy and only one open air toilet between 13 volunteers, because Charly and Solene left and I feel so alone – is that not enough!

I returned to the volo house, lit the candles, climbed into a hammock and read some of my book until I was tired enough for bed