Wandering through Time and Place

Exploring the world with Curtis and Peggy Mekemson
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    • Good Monkey; Bad Monkey… A Visit to an Eco-Tourist Lodge in the Amazon

      Posted at 5:00 am by Curt Mekemson
      Feb 14th
      Spider Monkey hug

      This spider monkey adopted Peggy. Here it gives Peggy a monkey hug. Later, Peggy wondered where all of her flea bites came from…

      Spider monkey hitches a ride

      Monkey hug from the back.

       

      “The war of the future will be between those who defend nature and those who destroy it. The Amazon will be in the eye of the hurricane. Scientists, politicians, and artists will land here to see what is being done to the forest.” —Jacques Cousteau

       

      Cousteau’s statement to Dr. Francisco Bernardino inspired him to erect the Ariau Amazon Tower Lodge in the mid 80s to accommodate the expected influx of ‘artists, scientists and politicians,’  which it did up until it was closed in 2015, attracting such luminaries as Bill Gates, Prince Charles and Jimmy Carter, not to mention the Mekemsons.

      Since it was located a mere 30 miles outside of Manaus on the Rio Negro River, Peggy and I decided to visit. We ended up staying in the same room that Jimmy Carter had occupied. Today’s photo essay reflects our stay there and how we hung out with the monkeys…

      Amazon jungle lodges

      The Ariau is located at number 3 on the map. We took a boat out of Manaus to get there.

      Map of Ariau Amazon Tower

      This is a map of the complex with its long walkways that wander throughout the rainforest.

      Jungle walkway in Brazil

      A view of the walkways. Peggy and I had a lot of fun hiking on them, whether we were accompanied by our monkey friends or not.

      Peggy Mekemson on jungle walkway

      Peggy on one of the walkways in the tree canopy.

      Jungle walkway at Ariau Lodge in Brazil

      Another view.

      View from Ariau Lodge walkway

      Looking out at one of the sights along the walkway.

      Boat on Rio Negro River

      We arrived from Manaus on this double-decker boat.

      Ariau Lodge pickup stick look

      You didn’t want to spend a lot of time thinking about the structure. I doubt that it would meet earthquake standards. Pickup sticks come to mind.

      Our room at the Ariau Lodge

      We stayed in the Jimmy Carter room. The eel reminded me of current politics. You don’t want to be a small fish.

      Treehouse room at Ariau Lodge

      Not to disparage Carter, who I really like, but I would have preferred to stay in the Tarzan suite shown here. It was nestled up in the top of a tall ebony tree.

      Snake tongue and Bone

      Bone put in an appearance.

      Wooley Amazon monkey

      Wooly and Spider Monkeys were found around the lodge and out on the walkways. This Wooly Monkey was behaving how monkeys are supposed to behave, dangling by his tail from a tree.

      Wooly monkey hat

      And this one wasn’t. It isn’t my best photo. (grin) I was not happy about having a monkey for a hat!

      Monkey rear view

      When I suggested that he go play with an anaconda out in the jungle, he wrapped his tail around my arm and treated me to this view.

      Scary monkey

      And then gave me the evil monkey look…

      a handful of monkey

      Before threatening to take a chunk out of my hand.

      Spider monkey near Manaus

      Peggy got the good monkey. Given its heart-shaped face and adoring look, this seems an appropriate time to wish everyone a Happy Valentines Day!

      Spider Monkey mouth

      I will note that the spider monkey had an impressive set of choppers.

      Peggy with spider monkey

      When Peggy sat down, it settled into her lap and hammed it up for the camera..

      Spider monkey in lap

      Before deciding to take a nap.

      Spider monkey on Peggy's lap

      Monkey feet

      I decided its feet and our “Travelers’ Tales of Brazil” would make a fitting photo to close my posts on the Amazon.

       

      FRIDAY’S POST: I learn about cross-cultural relations as a second-grader— on a queen sized bed.

      MONDAY’S POST: We finally start to make our way down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon while fighting a strong headwind.

      WEDNESDAY’S Photo Essay POST: Peggy and I begin a trip up the Alaska-Canada Highway, one of the world’s premier adventure-travel roads.

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      Posted in Memoirs, Outdoor Adventures, Wandering The World | Tagged Ariau Lodge in the Amazon, Eco-tourist Lodge on the Rio Negro River, photography, Spider Monkey, travel blog, Wooly Monkey, writing
    • Bush Devil Ate Sam

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