Day on the Amazon 
Well, I decided that there was one place that I have never been that I have always wanted to go. The largest river by volume in the world, the Rio Amazonas, or the Amazon.
I boarded the plane this morning out of Los Angeles, California. Now, with about an hour left of the flight, we fly over the Amazon rainforest. From above, it looks like a twisting strip of silver outlined in green. From here, it looks like a green forest. Down there, though, I know it is a different story...
We pass over the forest to get to a place we can land. As soon as I exit the plane, I go get a meal, and hop in my rental jeep to get as clost to the river as possible. I took dirt roads until I came as close as I could to the river. I take my supplies out of my turck and enter the forest. I make way to a clearer spot in the forest. Here I see my first animal.
Before I knew it, I saw a pair of brazilian tapirs. The male rushed me, but I held my ground, and he backed off.
http://img84.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedrb6.jpgThey entered the river and started to swim across. This was when i realized I must have found a tributary because the river was very thin here. I new we were on the Rio Negro just by the water. I had always read about it in books, and now I am here.
http://img175.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedhn6.jpghttp://img84.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedgs3.jpghttp://img84.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedsd6.jpghttp://img175.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedwz3.jpghttp://img156.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedda3.jpghttp://img340.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedas4.jpgThey emerged on the other side of the river and sauntered along the bank for a while. We went our seperate ways when they again made there way into the forest.
http://img156.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedtn5.jpghttp://img156.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedtn5.jpghttp://img175.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedbs3.jpg http://img296.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedbb2.jpgI looked up and saw a macaw. Macaws barely ever flew outside of the rainforest, so I took this as a good sign.
http://img296.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedgc7.jpgI got out my snorkel and goggle and looked down the river. This river had many, many fish.
http://img296.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedlh2.jpghttp://img340.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedbu2.jpgHere are some pirhanas. I almost freaked when I remembered that they would only do that if you were a potential food source. Some tambaqui also lived in the river.
http://img340.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedle4.jpghttp://img340.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedgc7.jpgThen I spotted this little guy. The yellow-spotted river turtle was just swimming around when I came upon him. He tried to swim away, but I kept in pursuit.
http://img137.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedvd2.jpghttp://img148.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedeg6.jpghttp://img137.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedwc2.jpgSo then I got out to take a little breather. I almost sat on this beautiful chelonian. It was a red-footed tortoise, and a fine specimen at that.
http://img137.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedjj1.jpgThen i hopped back in and i started to hear odd noises. Then this little head of a giant river otter popped out of the water, beckoning me to play.
http://img137.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedhj9.jpgI took this pic underwater.
http://img148.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedfg9.jpgThey were investigating this bank. It would probably be the site of their burrow later.
http://img183.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedky4.jpghttp://img84.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedtk4.jpghttp://img84.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedmm7.jpgThese otters were so curious about me. I couldn't believe how much they love to play near this floating meadow.
http://img84.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedta5.jpghttp://img84.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedig5.jpgAgain I hopped out to take a breath and let the otters do what they needed. That was when I stumbled upon this bank of nesting yellow-spotted river turtles. They were all in a trance like state that I didn't even bother them.
http://img183.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedrg0.jpghttp://img84.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedye7.jpgThis female slid her way back into the water under the cover of this amazonian bamboo plant. At any moment a jaguar could come and make her his next dinner.
http://img263.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedvj3.jpghttp://img84.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedvo2.jpgNow that she was in the water she lingered near the surface for a while until she was ready to go back to swimming.
http://img85.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedoz5.jpgThen she dove down to get some food after the tiring job of nesting.
http://img84.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedgp7.jpgI spotted a few small-eared zorros on the opposite bank nearby. They must have been waiting to get some of the freshly laid eggs or maybe a tired turtle.
http://img85.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedek8.jpghttp://img263.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedbj2.jpghttp://img263.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedqn3.jpghttp://img148.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedof4.jpgThat was when they started wading into the river! This was barely ever seen amongst this species of zorros. (in the seconf pic you can see someone else resting on the back bank)
http://img263.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedet1.jpghttp://img85.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedtn8.jpgThen I heard some splashing. I looked into the river and saw a pod of Botos was passing through! I could not believe it! I always read about the pink dolphins but had never dreamed of seeing them because I thought they would be extinct by now. These dolphins were so playful that I felt that I should just hop in and start playing.
http://img85.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedvx4.jpghttp://img148.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargeddv0.jpgThere was even this one that was almost white.
http://img148.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedvv4.jpghttp://img148.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedwt4.jpghttp://img339.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedqe9.jpgThere was even purple ones! (my fav. pic)
http://img85.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedjz6.jpghttp://img246.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedoo2.jpgThey all swam as a pod.
http://img339.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedpw9.jpghttp://img246.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedlr8.jpghttp://img147.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedsy2.jpgThen, in a flash they were gone. And, amzaongly, another pod of cetaceans came to take their place.! Tucuxi came and started to be as playful as the botos.
http://img246.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedpm6.jpghttp://img339.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedwn8.jpghttp://img339.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedsu3.jpgThey were so beautiful. I almost wanted to touch them.
http://img246.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedmz8.jpghttp://img147.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedeh0.jpgThey seemd to feed on the bottom of the river.
http://img136.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedui9.jpgThey vocalized so much to eachother that the water was alive with clicking and squealing.
http://img147.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedvf1.jpghttp://img147.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedpw9.jpgThey loved to swim around and just play.
http://img147.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedvv9.jpghttp://img101.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargednm1.jpgAnd then they left. So I wnet to the bank and saw these female trumpeters all browsing.
http://img101.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargednm1.jpghttp://img147.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedet3.jpghttp://img136.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedkx2.jpgA little turtle wanted to investigate. Then he turned around once he got stuck in a rut.
http://img101.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedlq3.jpgThis male was calling to his females, making sure they stayed near.
http://img90.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedom8.jpghttp://img90.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedui4.jpgI went back in the water for the last time today. Immediately I saw these amazonian manatees grazing from the grasses in the river.
http://img90.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedhv0.jpghttp://img180.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedsp3.jpgThe endangered manatees must have never had any contact with humans because I got this close.
http://img90.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargediq2.jpgAlmost like they said goodbye, they swam off and I had to leave the water.
http://img180.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedhd9.jpgI went to the other bank to sit because it was starting to get dark. I thought I was done seing naimals when this great cat emerged from the forest. I glanced at me and entered the water.
http://img180.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedzu1.jpgIt waded around for a while.
http://img147.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedvm1.jpgThen it sat in the water, cooling itself from the hot day, almost as if beckoning me.
http://img90.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedyt1.jpgThen it emerged again on this bank. It walked all the way doen the bank into the sunset. I decided that was a good way to end my day on the Amazon.
http://img180.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enlargedao2.jpgI got into my jeep and went back to my plane to go back home. I guess that is the end of this wonderful experience. We saw some of the Amazon's rarest. So, until next time, this is the Turtlestorks Experience.
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