Im in Puerto Maldonado, its a port city on the Rio Madre de Dios which is a tributary of the Amazon, and it is everything a port city should be. Its dirty, smells like a sewer, theres bikes everywhere, dirt roads that turn to mud in the rain and night markets. This is the third world country I came to see. Its hot as hell and raining. You wish for rain to ease the humidity. I went for a walk and walked straight into a protest. I put my fist up and said Viva Revolution and kept walking. There are protests happening all over town. I dont know what they are protesting about cos I cant find anyone who speaks enough english. Whereever the protesters are there are truck loads of cops. They are all armed to the teeth with full riot gear including tear gas grenades. After dinner I walked into another demonstration, they are becoming anoying. It took ages to find a hotel yesterday. I walked for ages looking at dives, was even offered a dungeon, 4 walls no window and matress on the floor, for 15s. I declined. I got sick of looking so caught a cab back to the place I stayed last week. They were full so I had to start looking again. Eventually found a place that was OK. In the morning was a different story. At 4am the hotel noises started, people moving around etc. 5am the noise got louder and the smell was overpowering. It smelt like an open sewer right next to my room and I coped it everytime someone flushed. 6am the night shift guy went home. He parked his motorbike in the foyer overnight so when he left at 6am he started it in the foyer, reved it a few times and rode out. I got up to have a shower and there was no water, hot or cold. Ive had enough, time to look for a new hotel. I went to a really posh place that I turned down yesterday cos it was too expensive but it was full. In desperation I went back to the place I stayed last week and they had a room. I booked in and went straight back to get my gear. When I checked out I told them what I thought of the place. That sorted I had a mission today to see the sights. On the road in from the airport are a few places I wanted to see. First stop was El Jaguar Zoo. What a pathetic excuse for a zoo it is. I read it was bad but they have a tame Jaguar you can pat. The place is disgusting and if it was in any other country would be shut down. I didnt get to pat the jaguar cos he was locked up and the old bloke wouldnt let me. I walked further toward the airport to the reptile park. Well really it is a reptile shed with a few snakes and they wanted 15s to get in. I thought overpriced so kept walking toward the butterfly house. This place is very well known and even rates in Lonely planet: For this reason the price is up to $25 US. That is crazy. To see a few butterflies. I dont think so. Besides I could see a lot from the outside and they were the same ones I had seen in the jungle last week. So I started the 8km walk back to town and there was a bar, with chicha, so I thought I would have lunch. I went in and ordered a chicha and of course it was different to the others I have had. It was purplish and tasted a bit like rasbery, but still a bit chunky. The mother was helping her kid do homework and cos it was english she asked me the months. I ended up spending the afternoon teaching this 12 year old girl, Fatima, English. We went through the months, days, body parts and numbers. I realised afterwards I taught her to count with an Ausie accent. Then we went to things in the room or we could draw and she told me spanish I told her english. Mum kept up the chicha, I think she was happy to not have to do homework. The weather has turned nasty this arvo and it has ****** down a few times. I spose this is the rain forest after all. Theres not a lot to see around here so that is about it. Im flying up to Lima tomorrow, I think for a couple of days then off home.